Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

Next on our list is No. 14, and this is where we cover one of the Penguins' three first-round picks this year in forward Bill Zonnon.

#14: F Bill Zonnon

Zonnon was selected 22nd overall by the Penguins in this year's draft, and he had a great year for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL. He registered 28 goals and 83 points in 64 regular season games as well as eight goals and 16 points in 13 playoff games. 

There's no doubt that Zonnon, 18, can produce, but where his value really shines is in his all-around game. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound center has a power forward-like toolset and a ton of versatility to boot, playing in all situations and capable of filling many different roles in a lineup.

He can skate and has great edgework, he is a high-IQ playmaker, he's an elite forechecker, he's deceptive, and he works relentlessly to stay on the puck and keep plays alive. He has a physical edge to his game as well, and he has a shot with some pop.

🍎 Dyllan Gill (#10 in white) picks up the primary assist on this goal. He gets the puck from Daniil Bourosh (‘04), takes the shot and the rebound is put home by Bill Zonnon (‘06).
-@HuskiesRnpic.twitter.com/4hSDtcKYdp

— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) November 27, 2022

One of the most intriguing things about Zonnon is that he's a high-floor player. If he can maximize his offensive skillset and continue to grow and round out his overall game, he has the potential to be an effective top-six player who can rotate between center and the wing. Even if he doesn't, he's more than likely going to be a higher-profile bottom-six player who can play some tough minutes and produce enough to be an important piece on a third line.

There isn't much Zonnon can't do, and Penguins fans - as well as the organization - should be excited by his upside. And, honestly, he probably should be higher in this ranking, but as is the case with some others in this range, the Penguins simply have a lot more talent in their system than they have in recent years, making some of these decisions tough.

It's very possible that at this time next year, he will be sniffing the top-five. For now, we Zonnon him at 14, and there is a ton of room for him to continue to develop into a future impact NHL forward.

The list so far:

- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Swedish Forward Has IntrigueHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta has reportedly found his new home and will be taking his talents overseas.

According to Blick's Gregory Beaud, Geneve-Servette of the Swiss National League will be signing Rutta.

Rutta was one of the top unrestricted free agent (UFA) defensemen still available for the taking. Due to this, it certainly seemed possible that he could have landed a contract or at least a professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL club. However, based on this report, Rutta will instead be continuing his career overseas. 

Rutta spent the 2022-23 season with the Penguins, where he posted three goals, six assists, nine points, 70 blocks, 71 hits, and a plus-3 rating. His time with the Penguins ended when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks in the deal that brought star blueliner Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh. 

In 417 career NHL games split between the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Penguins, and Sharks, Rutta recorded 23 goals, 75 assists, 98 points, and a plus-25 rating. 

2 Penguins Who Could Be Nice SurprisesThe 2025-26 season is rapidly approaching, and it is going to be interesting to see how the Pittsburgh Penguins perform after their busy off-season. When looking at their current roster, they have some under-the-radar players who could end up being nice surprises for them in 2025-26. Let's discuss two of them. 

After paying his dues in Czechia for a long time, Jan Rutta finally earned an NHL opportunity. In 2017-18, Rutta made his NHL debut in his age-27 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

During his "rookie season", he played in 57 games for Chicago where he tallied six goals and 14 assists for 20 points. After that, he put together a respectable NHL career. 

Midway through the next season, 2018-19, Rutta was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. There, he won the Stanley Cup twice. He was a solid depth piece on a team loaded with talent on the back end. 

Rutta had one year with the Pittsburgh Penguins after leaving Tampa, followed by two years with the San Jose Sharks, coming into this off-season. 

Now, it sounds like Rutta, 35, will end his NHL career and take his talents to Europe. According to a report from Blick, a Swiss media outlet, Rutta will sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League.

This Swiss pro team is loaded with former NHL players, so they will have a chance to win a league title in 2025-26 with Rutta joining the squad. 

If this comes to fruition, it will end a nice NHL career for the Czech defender with 23 goals, 75 assists, and 98 points in 417 games.

For some time, Rutta was impactful enough to be a part of championship-caliber teams in Tampa Bay, which he should be proud of. He will now play overseas to end his hockey-playing career on his terms. 

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Much has been written about the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild and the way the team has progressed over the last few seasons, but the Habs are not the only team in rebuilding mode. The Chicago Blackhawks are as well, and they had the opportunity to draft a generational talent in Connor Bedard in 2023, who instantly became the franchise cornerstone.

A player doesn’t make a team, though, and the Hawks had a tough season, finishing in 15th place in the Western Conference and 31st place in the league. One would have thought the Habs could have taken advantage of the Illinois outfit, but it didn’t happen; Chicago skated away with four points in their two duels with the Canadiens.

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The two teams met for the first time of the season on January 3, 2025, in Chicago, and the host team won 4-2. While the Canadiens dominated in the shots department with a 40-26 edge, it was the Hawks who managed to score the most goals, a direct result of the 15 giveaways the Habs committed. Captain Nick Foligno led the charge for Chicago with a pair of goals, and veterans Tyler Bertuzzi and Patrick Maroon also found the back of the net. Meanwhile, Cole Caufield and Emil Heineman were the only Habs able to beat Arvid Soderblom, who finished the game with a .950 save percentage, while Samuel Montembeault had a .846 SV.

The Canadiens were hoping for revenge in the second-to-last game of the season and for a win that would allow them to make the playoffs when the Hawks came to town on April 14th, but it wasn’t to be. Chicago spoiled Ivan Demidov’s debut with a 4-3 shootout win. Frank Nazard, whom the Hawks drafted with the pick the Canadiens sent them to obtain Kirby Dach, got a goal and an assist in the win. Bertuzzi added another goal to his account against Montreal, and Lukas Reichel scored their third regulation goal. The Habs had taken an early two-goal lead through Alex Newhook and Demidov (who also had an assist), but they allowed the visitor to score three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead with under 15 minutes left in the game. It was a Juraj Slafkovsky marker that allowed the Tricolore to get a consolation point. In the shootout, Nazar was the sole scorer. Montreal had 18 giveaways in the loss, and Montembeault’s save percentage stood at .880.

The second loss of the season came at the most inopportune time as the Canadiens desperately needed points to punch their ticket to the playoffs, but the occasion seemed to be too big for the young Habs, who were playing with jitters.

If Chicago’s win in the first duel was the result of veteran leadership, it was the team’s youth that stood tall in the second game. Unlike the Canadiens, though, the Hawks were skating in yet another meaningless game.

Chicago made some changes this summer, but wasn’t very active on the free agency market, only signing Dominic Toninato to a two-year, two-way deal. They acquired Andre Burakovsky in a trade with the Seattle Kraken, sending Joe Veleno the other way and Sam Lafferty from the Buffalo Sabres. They bought out veteran defenseman TJ Brodie, and cut ties with Philip Kurashev, but extended Ryan Donato with a four-year contract. Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez both retired, meaning the Hawks will be even younger this year.

Chicago is behind Montreal in its rebuilding process, and the Canadiens need to perform accordingly against Bedard and co. The Atlantic division is set to be even tougher this season, and if the Habs want to qualify for the playoffs for a second year in a row, they need to learn not to play down to the opposition.

Suppose Montembeault can get back to his former form against the Hawks; it would go a long way toward achieving that goal. In both games this season, his SV was below .900; in his three duels with them before, he had .903, .938, and .933. This is the kind of numbers the goaltender of a contending team needs to put up. Soon, there will be real competition for the role of starting goaltender in Montreal, and the Becancour native needs to stake his claim right now. While most pundits believe Jacob Fowler will be the Canadiens’ goaltender by the time the team is ready to contend, he will still need to earn that role, and the Habs brass certainly won’t complain if they end up with two starter-quality goaltenders.

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Top Philadelphia Flyers center prospect Jett Luchanko may be closer to making the NHL full-time than most realize.

Luchanko, still just 18, already played in four NHL games for the Flyers last season. Not making the Flyers' NHL roster again this season and/or failing to stick around longer would objectively be a step backwards in his development.

So, how close is the 2024 No. 13 overall pick to the NHL really?

According to EliteProspects, Luchanko is the 30th-best drafted prospect on their list of the top 100 youngsters, placing ahead of other forward prospects with NHL seasoning, like Jimmy Snuggerud, Oliver Moore, Dalibor Dvorsky, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Ville Koivunen.

Given that the Flyers did not use their top 2025 draft selection on a center (RW Porter Martone), a prominent role on the Flyers is still in the cards for Luchanko.

"Jett Luchanko has a clear path to a top centre role in the Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup. Already a mature defensive player, aware passer, and high-end skater, he should be able to build chemistry with some of the team’s more creative players, helping him to further develop his offensive skills," writes EliteProspects director of amateur scouting Mitch Brown.

Flyers Suddenly Boast Robust Group of Center Prospects After 2 Strong DraftsCenter has long been seen as a position of great weakness for the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers, but that just doesn't seem to be accurate anymore.

"Luchanko added more deception to his passing this season. The next step is developing his scoring skills from afar and near the net. A high-floor prospect, he could push his upside over the next season and become a second-line pivot candidate."

As Brown alluded to, Luchanko did feature alongside Matvei Michkov for a good portion of rookie camp this time last year. Playing together in an NHL game with stakes is a different story, obviously, but maybe a year of maturing and learning helps that.

With 21 goals and 56 points in 46 games with the OHL Guelph Storm last season, Luchanko didn't blow the doors off, but Guelph is also one of the least-talented teams in the OHL.

If the key to his further development is all about scoring, like Brown noted above, the 18-year-old would be better suited playing with NHL-caliber players who can create for him and finish the chances he creates.

Flyers' Jett Luchanko Thriving in First True Playoff ExperienceTop Philadelphia Flyers forward prospect Jett Luchanko is coming into his own during his first postseason experience as a pro player.

This is especially prudent given that Luchanko is not yet eligible to be assigned to the AHL full-time. It's the OHL or the NHL, and the AHL can follow at the end of the season like it did just a few months ago.

The good news is that, while Luchanko's stock appeared to drop amongst Flyers fans after a so-so 2024-25 season, the experts have actually gotten higher on the 5-foot-11 pivot over time.

What comes next is up to him, but a top-30 placement is about as good a spot for Luchanko to be as the Flyers could have asked for.

With less than a month before the opening of training camps, there are still a number of unrestricted free agents looking to find a landing spot, either on a professional tryout contract or a one-year deal. Earlier this week, the St. Louis Blues invited veteran winger Milan Lucic in on a PTO, and on Wednesday, former Sabres winger Victor Olofsson signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche for $1.575 million. 

The 30-year-old Swede was a seventh-round pick of Buffalo in 2014 and spent four years in Sweden before coming to North America in 2018. After scoring 30 goals in AHL Rochester in 2019, the winger scored 20 goals as a rookie in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season, 20 goals in 2022, and a career-high 28 in 2023, when the Sabres came within a point of making the playoffs.

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Olofsson’s decline to seven goals in 51 games in his final season with Buffalo was due more to a demotion to a fourth-line role by head coach Don Granato than an inability to score. After signing a one-year deal with former teammate Jack Eichel in Vegas, Olofsson bounced back with an injury-shortened 15 goals in 56 games (which again would average over 20 in a full year).

The signing with Colorado appears to be to fill the role vacated by the departed Jonathan Drouin, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the NY Islanders Olofsson can still put the puck in the net, especially on the power play, and may be insurance as a potential top-six forward replacement with the questionable health status of veteran Gabriel Landeskog. 

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Montreal Canadiens fans and followers were shocked Lane Hutson isn’t attending USA Hockey’s Olympic orientation camp, to say the least.

"I don't understand this at all," Global TV Montreal hockey analyst Brian Wilde said onThe Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro on Tuesday. "It's crazy. The Calder winner, the guy in the playoffs that (averaged) 25 minutes is the best Montreal Canadien."

Added Habs fan Dustin Degree on X: "Not inviting Lane Hutson is ridiculous."

With the NHL’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games less than half a year away, Hutson was not among the 44 players attending the United States' orientation camp. Alex Vlasic and Jackson LaCombe were among the younger blueliners who are attending. Hutson, who ranked third among U.S.-born defenders in scoring last season, with 66 points, isn't.

We have to say to those aggrieved Canadiens fans – chill out. Hutson's absence from the camp is not the end of the world, and even if he doesn't make the actual roster, it won't hinder his development as a budding NHL star.

First of all, USA Hockey noted in its announcement that just because a player isn't attending the camp, it doesn't mean they're automatically removed from consideration for the Olympic roster. This camp is not a tryout; it is mainly happening to cover administrative topics and include some team-building activities.

As Nazem Kadri noted to The Athletic when he wasn't invited to Hockey Canada's camp, there’s still a chance, however remote, that players can sway the opinion of Olympics GMs in their favor. That could easily be a great motivation for Hutson as he kicks off his sophomore NHL season.

Canada Just Doesn't Need Flames' Nazem Kadri At The OlympicsWith Hockey Canada’s Olympic orientation camp a week away, the debate continues about who should make the men’s squad.

That said, look at the defensemen on America’s orientation camp list who are locks to make the team, and tell us who Hutson should be ahead of on the depth chart for the final roster.

For the camp itself, if budding solid NHL blueliners Vlasic and LaCombe are attending, then Hutson should have been as well, unless he was invited but couldn't make it. The same goes with Washington Capitals stalwart No. 1 blueliner John Carlson.

But ultimately, when the United States' top defensemen are easily Vancouver Canucks superstar  Quinn Hughes, the Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski,  Carolina Hurricanes' Jaccob Slavin, Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy and New York Rangers' Adam Fox, there's only one spot really up for grabs on the left side. The Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson and Vegas Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin are likely the front-runners for that spot after their time at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

That group is an elite mix of offensive production from the back end and strong defensive play. Unless any of these players are injured, they likely wouldn't get worse enough by roster selection time for Hutson to leapfrog somebody on the Americans' depth chart.

Even if Hutson ultimately fails to make it, does that take away anything from him or his career trajectory? Absolutely not.

He’s the type of generational talent teams crave, and that’s not going to change. This was true of Chicago Blackhawks star center Connor Bedard when he wasn’t named to Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad. They have plenty of time to make the national teams later on when older players age out, and they continue to improve.

USA! USA! Americans Embarking On World Hockey DominationWhen USA defeated Sweden 5-3 in the gold-medal game of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on the weekend, it marked the second time less than three months that the Americans have won a tournament that they traditionally almost never win.

Ultimately, not being part of a team’s Olympic roster is definitely a snub, but that doesn’t mean it’s not warranted. The truth is there’s a plethora of talent on the United States, and there are precious few spots to accommodate them all.

Canadiens fans may not be happy that Hutson isn’t on America’s orientation camp list, but he is very much a special player, and nothing that’s happened this summer, nor in the next season, is going to change that.

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The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#23 - Gavin McCarthy - D (Boston University - NCAA)

McCarthy was the Sabres third-round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. The Western New York native is well known to GM Kevyn Adams and the club’s scouting staff since he played three seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres.

The 6’2”, 185 lb. blueliner scored 27 points (8 goals, 19 assists) and 88 penalty minutes with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL in his draft year, and moved on to play with 2024 top overall pick Macklin Celebrini at Boston University. The 20-year-old had five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 38 games in his freshman year and was invited to Team USA’s summer camp for the 2025 IIHF World Junior squad, but did not make the WJC gold medal-winning squad last December. 

In his sophomore year at BU, McCarthy showed some offensive growth, tripling his freshman point total with 16 (3 goals, 13 assists) in 39 games. Elite Prospects says he is “part-robust defender and part-clever creator” and that “there’s plenty of flash to McCarthy’s puck game” with an “angle-changing wrister and a non-stop activation game make him a constant threat.”

The Sabres will be looking for the young defender to take a big step as a junior, which will determine whether they pursue signing him to a pro contract or let him sty in college for his senior season.

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The Hockey News Big Show has a special guest on this summer episode: longtime NHL netminder Devan Dubnyk, who launched Dubnyk Development.

Devan Dubnyk On The Mental Side, Stuart Skinner, Sergei Bobrovsky And More by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Dubnyk discussed in this episode:

1:19: Why did Dubnyk start Dubnyk Development?

6:12: Looking back, what are some of the most important bench marks in your career getting to the NHL ? 

17:38: How important was Sean Burke (and the role of a "mentor") for Dubnyk midway through his career, when confidence may have been waning?

23:17: Why is the mental side to being a goalie more difficult than the mental side of other positions?

25:49: Which goalies in the NHL does he admire for their ability to process the highs/lows and stay consistent?

29:38: Thoughts on Stuart Skinner and the fact that Edmonton change the goaltending in the off-season?

37:30: How much time did Dubnyk spend on puckhandling during his playing days?

41:44: Which goalie do you want in a do-or-die Game 7?

44:21: Favorite goalie mask?

47:04: Who’s your favorite or the best goalie of all-time?

49:00:  Who will win the Vezina Trophy this year?

50:18: Dustin Wolf or Joseph Woll: who would you pick to start a franchise?

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Czech defenseman Jan Rutta is about to sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League, according to a Swiss media report.

Gregory Beaud reports that his media outlet Blick has information that indicates the deal is imminent. No details about the length of the contract are mentioned, other than “for the upcoming season.”

If correct, it would mean a return to Europe after eight years in the NHL for the 35-year-old. Rutta has 98 points and 219 penalty minutes in 417 NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks. He also has 11 points in 49 playoff games and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay.

Earlier this off-season, Blick reported that Jesse Puljujärvi was on his way to Switzerland.Two weeks later, the Finnish winger indeed signed with the same Genève-Servette team.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

According to the report, Genève-Servette sports director Marc Gautschi has said that he wants to start the upcoming season with seven import players. The club already has under contract for the 2025-26 season Finns Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey.

Genève-Servette team won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 after a century of existance and then won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

Jan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for finalThe Czechs will play for the gold medal on home ice in Prague but they’ll do so without defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been suspended one game by the IIHF World Championship Disciplinary Panel for an elbow to the head of Swedish forward Isac Lundeström.

The St. Louis Blues' goal this upcoming campaign will be to build off their strong 2024-25 season. When looking at the Blues' current roster, it is clear that they are trending in the right direction. This is especially so when noting that they brought in some good new talent this off-season.

With the Blues' season opener starting to get closer, let's take a look at two of their players who could be surprises for them during the 2025-26 campaign. 

Mathieu Joseph

Mathieu Joseph had a tough first season with the Blues, as he posted four goals, 10 assists, and a minus-6 rating in 60 games. While Joseph struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, his past seasons demonstrate that he has the potential to bounce back. 

Just back during the 2023-24 season with the Ottawa Senators, Joseph scored 11 goals and set career highs with 24 assists and 35 points. With this, the possibility of Joseph getting his offense back up and being a nice surprise for the Blues next season should not be ruled out. 

Logan Mailloux

Earlier this off-season, the Blues traded forward Zack Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. While Bolduc was a promising young forward for the Blues and had a solid 2024-25 season, fans should not ignore Mailloux. He has the potential to become a key piece for the Blues moving forward. 

Mailloux is a former first-round pick who is still trying to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman. The promising blueliner should get more opportunities on the Blues, and it will be fascinating to see if he can break out for the Central Division club because of it. In seven games last season with the Canadiens, he had two goals and four points. 

Blues: 2 More PTO Targets To ConsiderThe St. Louis Blues signed forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout (PTO) on Aug. 19. With training camp still being roughly a month away, there is still time for the Blues to bring in another player or two on a PTO before the pre-season begins if they wish to. 

The Montreal Canadiens are undoubtedly one of the NHL's most exciting teams heading into the 2025-26 season. They have plenty of young talent who have the potential to break out but also have a nice veteran core.

Yet, let's look at two Canadiens who could end up being nice surprises for the Original Six club next season.

Owen Beck 

Owen Beck will be an interesting prospect to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-old forward is still working on his development, and he certainly possesses good upside. With this, it would be significant for the Canadiens if he took a nice step forward next season and cemented himself a spot on their NHL roster. 

Beck had a solid first AHL season with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25, posting 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games. He also played in his first 12 career NHL games with the Habs in 2024-25, posting one assist. With a year of professional hockey experience under his belt, Beck is a sneaky breakout candidate to keep an eye on for next season. 

Joe Veleno

Joe Veleno is one of the new players the Canadiens have brought in this off-season. While he may not be as flashy as fellow newcomers like Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc, he is a player who fans should not sleep on.

Veleno showed during the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Red Wings that he can chip in offensively, as he posted career highs with 12 goals and 28 points in 80 games. If he can get his offense back up to these totals while maintaining his heavy style of play, the 25-year-old could end up being an excellent addition to Montreal's bottom six. 

Canadiens Soaring Goalie Should Only Get BetterIt is an exciting time for the Montreal Canadiens right now. The Atlantic Division club is a clear team on the rise due to their nice mix of impactful veterans and promising young players. With this, they are undoubtedly among the most intriguing teams to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. 

William Strömgren is a smooth-skating Swede with Top-Six potential.

Player Snapshot

Strömgren is a 6’3”, 175-pound left winger from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Selected by the Flames in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, he spent time in the SHL before making the jump to North American hockey. Known for his size-skating combo, Strömgren has the frame of a power forward but the finesse of a playmaker, making him an intriguing offensive piece in Calgary’s system.

Last Season in Review

In 2024–25, Strömgren appeared in 70 games for the Wranglers, scoring 14 goals and adding 35 assists for 49 points. It was a steady step up from his first full season in North America, where he posted 27 points (7 g, 20a) in 68 games. His confidence with the puck grew noticeably, as did his willingness to attack defenders one-on-one.

He also saw more time on the power play, where his quick release and ability to find soft spots in coverage helped generate scoring chances.

Playing Style & Strengths

Strömgren combines long, powerful strides with deceptive hands, allowing him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into dangerous areas. He’s comfortable on either wing, has a strong reach, and can protect the puck effectively along the boards.

His offensive instincts are sharp — he knows when to pull the trigger and when to look for a teammate — but his defensive game has also improved, earning him more trust from the coaching staff.

What’s Next for 2025–26

This season is about pushing his offensive ceiling. A 50 to 60-point season in the AHL would signal he’s getting ready to push for NHL looks. He’ll also aim to add a bit more size and strength to withstand the grind of top-six minutes and sharpen his play without the puck.

Bottom Line

With size, speed, and skill, Strömgren has the tools to develop into an NHL-caliber winger. Continued offensive growth and consistent defensive play will be his ticket to the next level.