Former New Jersey Devil Brendan Smith is looking to continue his NHL career. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed Smith to a professional tryout (PTO) contract.

🚨 Team Update 🚨

We’ve signed veteran D Brendan Smith to a professional tryout contract.https://t.co/ky8vZ92LlF

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 19, 2025

Smith spent this past season as a depth defenseman for the Dallas Stars. In 32 games with the Central Division club, he recorded one goal, six assists, 33 penalty minutes, and 41 blocks. 

Before joining the Stars for the 2024-25 campaign, Smith played the two previous seasons with the Devils. In 123 games as a Devil over that span, he recorded five goals, 15 assists, 20 points, 124 penalty minutes, 219 hits, and an even plus/minus rating. Most of his offense with the Devils came during the 2023-24 campaign, as he had five goals, 10 assists, and 15 points in 63 games that season. 

If Smith impresses during training camp for the Blue Jackets and earns a contract for the season, he would give Columbus another experienced depth blueliner to work with. In 726 career NHL games over 14 seasons, he has recorded 39 goals, 144 points, 787 penalty minutes, and 972 hits. 

Devils Forward Named Top Breakout CandidateNHL.com has been highlighting one player from each team who has the potential to break out during the 2025-26 season. They revealed their pick for the New Jersey Devils on August 17, and they went with an interesting forward.

On August 15th, the Muskegon Lumberjacks announced the addition of three-time Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Maroon to their coaching staff. Maroon retired from the NHL this past March, where he ended his career with the Blackhawks after winning three consecutive Stanley Cups from 2019 to 2021.

Drafted in 2007 by the Philadelphia Flyers, Maroon played a long tenured career of 14 years before starting his new coaching journey in Muskegon.

The NHL veteran finished his playing career with 323 total points on 126/197 splits. Nicknamed “The Big Rig”, Maroon jumped between a couple different teams before he won his first championship with his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues. After his season at home, the Blues decided not to offer Maroon a contract to re-sign with the team, so he decided to take his talents to Tampa Bay on a one year deal in 2020. The 2020 and 2021 seasons both concluded with the Lightning taking home the Stanley Cup, giving Maroon his second and third Stanley Cup title.

Maroon is excited to begin a new chapter in his hockey career, stating “I'm really looking forward to working with a winning organization and learning from the coaches, players, and management.”

The staff at Muskegon is also extremely excited about the new addition. Head Coach Colten St. Clair said “Bringing Pat Maroon into our organization is a game-changing move… Pat knows what it takes to win, and his influence will elevate our locker room, our culture, and our pursuit of excellence."

You can catch the first game of the Lumberjacks’ season on September 17th as they take on the Waterloo Black Hawks in the DICK’S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic.

Is it October yet? 

Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player. 

Today's player profile is forward Michael Bunting. 

24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series 

Adam Wilsby

Jordan Oesterle

Andreas Engulund

Cole Smith

Michael McCarron

Justin Barron

Zachary L’Heureux

Matthew Wood

Nick Blankenburg

Brady Martin

As an NHL prospect 

Bunting spent just one season in the OHL before he was drafted as he had been passed over in prior OHL Drafts. He was eventually selected 160th overall in the OHL's Priority Draft. 

He joined the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds for the 2013-14 season, scoring 42 points in 48 games and recording six points in nine playoff games. In the 2014 NHL Draft, he was selected 117th overall by the Arizona Coyotes. 

Bunting returned to Soo for the 2014-15 season, scoring 74 points in 57 games and was third in scoring on the team that year.

In the playoffs, Bunting scored 14 points in 14 games in the Greyhounds' run to the OHL Western Conference Finals, falling to Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters. 

In July 2015, Bunting signed a three-year entry-level contract to officially join the Coyotes organization. 

Professional career 

Bunting started his professional career with the Springfield Falcons, scoring 25 points in 63 games and logging 41 penalty minutes. He made a brief trip to the Rapid City Rush, playing in seven games and scoring two points before returning to Springfield. 

He'd spend the next two seasons full-time with the Tucson Roadrunners, playing in 134 games and scoring 71 points. During the 2017-18 season, the Roadrunners did make the Calder Cup Playoffs, where Bunting scored four points in nine games. 

Bunting made his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season, playing five games with the Coyotes and scoring one point, which was his first career goal against the Boston Bruins. In Tucson, he played 58 games, scoring 49 points. 

The following season, Bunting spent the entire year in Tucson, scoring 49 points in 58 games, but then split time between the Coyotes and Roadrunners for the 2020-21 season. He had 13 points in 21 games with the Coyotes

That offseason, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent, earning a full-time roster spot. 

As his game count in the NHL began to rise, so did his penalty minutes. In his first season as a Maple Leaf, Bunting had a career-high 63 points in 79 games and logged 80 penalty minutes.

During the 2022-23 season, he played all 82 games, scoring 49 points and recording 103 penalty minutes, the first time he had surpassed 100+ penalty minutes in his career.

Bunting entered the 2023 offseason as a free agent and signed a three-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, but only spent a season with the team. He scored a sound 36 points in 60 games before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the deadline. 

Bunting was in Pittsburgh for a season and a half, scoring 48 points in 79 games before he was traded to Nashville at the deadline for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn. He played the ladder end of the season, scoring nine points in 18 games. 

He is entering the final year of the 3-year, $13.5 million contract he signed with the Hurricanes. 

What role will he play this season?

Bunting has the potential to be a decent player in this lineup. 

He found success being a physical player in Toronto, but realized that the penalty minutes were becoming an issue, especially after the scoring had slowed down.  

This is a player who has a good balance of offensive production and defensive effectiveness. He can score and he can shove other players around if need be. The question is, can he harness that and be a force for the Predators?

With a lack of depth at center, having a veteran presence at wing and someone who can average 30, 40, or 50 points in the bottom six would be huge. Depending on how well the youth works on the second line, Bunting could work his way up to there. 

Again, this is a player who has scored over 50 points in an NHL season before. He knows how to be productive, but just needs the right people around him.

If Erik Haula and Bunting can establish some sort of chemistry on the third line, that'd be a gigantic gain for the Predators. 

ST. LOUIS -- Jim Montgomery is back in his familiar stomping grounds, coaching the St. Louis Blues after being hired on Nov. 25, 2025, the same Blues that signed Montgomery out of the University of Maine in 1993.

But did you know that on this date, Aug. 19, exactly 31 years ago, that the Blues traded their current coach to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Guy Carbonneau, who was a popular player with the Canadiens and spent the first 13 seasons of his NHL career there?

Montgomery, a Montreal native who played in 67 games with the Blues (20 points; six goals, 14 assists) in 1993-94, didn't last long with the Canadiens; he played just five games there (zero points) before being claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers and played in just a combined 13 games in Philadelphia the remainder of the 1994-95 and 95-96 seasons.

Montgomery, who would close out his NHL career with one season with the San Jose Sharks (2000-01) and Dallas Stars (2001-03), played in 122 NHL games (34 points; nine goals, 25 assists).

Carbonneau spent just the one season (1994-95) with the Blues and played in just 42 games, collecting 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) and another three points (one goal, two assists) in seven playoff games before signing as a free agent with the Stars, finishing out his career there playing five more seasons.

As the current Blues coach, are you glad to see Montgomery guiding the franchise through its current retool and do you feel like he can get them back to where it was was not long ago?

The Kings have reached the playoffs four years in a row but have not gotten past the first round.

With depth and talent, they've fallen behind Pacific division rivals like Edmonton and Vegas.

This season is a crossroads — roster changes, new GM, contracts, and a new mix of youth/veterans leave the Kings with giant questions that will decide if they finally make that next step.

Same Old Kings, or a New Chapter?

The Kings enter 2025–26 with a mix of optimism and skepticism. Kopitar's guidance is steady, Doughty continues to patrol the blue line, and the lineup has been strengthened with veterans who know how to win in the playoffs. 

Many experts and fans believe it’s time for the Kings to move on from Kopitar and Doughty, given their age and ability don’t align with their current depth chart positions. At this point, Kopitar is a low-end 2C in his career, and Doughty is just a solid second-pairing guy at this point in his career. 

In contrast, giant questions — depth scoring, balance on the blue line, goaltender stability, young player development, and coaching adjustment — hover over the team.

If the Kings can answer yes to even a handful of these questions, they have the pieces to make a deep playoff push. Otherwise, they risk being the NHL version of déjà vu: good enough to get in, but never good enough to get out.

HBD QB 🥳 pic.twitter.com/AAeXPKfEBY

— LA Kings (@LAKings) August 19, 2025

Can Jim Hiller Push the Right Buttons?

Behind the bench, head coach Jim Hiller has his proving ground. The Kings have been criticized the last couple of years for failing to make in-game adjustments, particularly in playoff series when the same issues — neutral zone breakdowns, stagnant power play — plagued them again.

It was especially ugly this last postseason when the Kings had a 2-0 series lead and blew multiple leads in the third period, when they were leading for most of the game until it came down to the clutch. 

Special teams, particularly, need to be worked on. The Kings' last season was at the bottom of the league in power-play efficiency, but they struggled at generating zone entries against organized defenses. The penalty kill, a one-time strength, is now middle-of-the-pack.

For the Kings to advance, Hiller will have to figure out how to draw the best out of his team's mix of older vets and youthful speed, as well as out-coach their opponents in X’s and O’s. 

Can the Kings Finally Put Their Scoring Problems to Rest?

The Kings' offense has been defined by structure and possession — and not explosiveness. They finished last season in the top 10  in the NHL overall and were unable to generate high-danger scoring chances against elite defensive units.

In the playoffs, the issue worsened. The Kings managed a paltry 2.4 goals per game in the series against Edmonton as stars Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe were unable to break through consistently.

This offseason, the Kings brought in Corey Perry and Joel Armia, postseason veterans with scoring depth, to augment the offense. Alex Laferriere, who inked a three-year, $12.3 million deal, is expected to step into a top-six position.

The question is whether this team can muster enough secondary scoring to support Kopitar, Kempe, and Fiala. Without that, the Kings' ceiling on offense remains limited. 

Is the Defense Built to Last?

The blue line has been anchored for years by Drew Doughty, but he's now 35 and entering the back half of his career. While still sound, the Kings have depended on him for first-pair minutes heavily, often leaving depth liabilities bare.

To address this, LA signed Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci in free agency — stoic, stay-home defensemen who can play minutes and bring playoff acumen. Neither is a true game-breaker, though, so the question remains as to whether the Kings have enough mobility and puck-movement on the back end to keep up with high-scoring attacks like Edmonton or Colorado.

The highlight will also be on Brandt Clarke, the 22-year-old former first-round pick, who should be an even more significant contributor. 

If Clarke can be a reliable top-four defenseman, it has the potential to transform the appearance of LA's defense entirely. If not, the group may still lag behind the West's elite.

Will the Youth Break Through?

For some time, the Kings have boasted one of the league's stronger crops of prospects. Now, it's time for those prospects to deliver.

Alex Laferriere is the most glaring case in point. A one-time dark horse, he linked a lucrative extension over the summer after showing top-six potential. The Kings will need him to mature from a complementary player into one who can be a feared scorer.

On the blue line, Brandt Clarke needs to leap, and Samuel Helenius will be watched closely at camp as a bottom-six center with size and penalty killing.

If these guys can evolve into larger roles, the Kings will possess the young strength needed to complement their veteran core. If not, the club is at risk of depending too heavily on veterans who can no longer carry the load throughout an 82-game season.

Milan Lucic is attempting an NHL comeback by joining the St. Louis Blues on a professional tryout.

The Blues announced the PTO signing Tuesday morning, adding that the NHL reinstated Lucic.

The 37-year-old last played on Oct. 21, 2023, with the Boston Bruins. After that, he took a leave of absence from the team and later joined the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Lucic was reportedly charged with domestic violence around the time he took his leave, but the case was later dismissed.

Brittany Lucic, his partner, posted a photo of the two smiling together on Instagram in July. She reposted it on her Instagram story on Tuesday.

"Some people would rather see you broken than see you heal," she wrote in the caption. "They question your strength and recovery like it’s not real. But healing is real… and it’s exactly what this world needs more of." 

If Lucic signs an NHL contract, he has a chance at reaching 1,200 career NHL games and 600 points in his 18th season. He's currently at 1,177 matches played and 586 points, so he'd need to play in 23 contests and record 14 points to reach those milestones.

Before Lucic recorded two assists in four games with the Bruins in 2023-24, he played 77 games with the Calgary Flames in 2022-23, putting up seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points. He also recorded 168 hits that season.

Lucic could also increase the number of active NHL players who don't wear a visor.

Right now, that small group consists of four players under contract: Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly, Zach Bogosian and Ryan Reaves. Lucic hasn't regularly worn a visor during his NHL career, either.

All those players were NHL regulars by the time the league introduced a rule in 2013-14 that made any skater who had played fewer than 25 games by that point wear a visor.

When the rule was introduced, Lucic had already played 405 games, recording 97 goals, 142 assists, 239 points, 600 penalty minutes and 1,091 hits. He also had 84 playoff games under his belt, with 22 goals, 54 points and a Stanley Cup championship with the Bruins in 2010-11. His career playoff totals are 136 games, 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points.

The Final Four NHL Skaters Who Play Without VisorsOnly four players who don't wear visors remain under an NHL contract.

Lucic played eight seasons with the Bruins before joining the Los Angeles Kings for one year, then spent three campaigns with the Edmonton Oilers and four in Calgary before rejoining Boston.

The soonest game action Lucic could appear in for the Blues is Saturday, Sept. 20, when they take on the Dallas Stars, whose captain is the visor-less Benn, in a pre-season contest at 7 p.m. ET.

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The Los Angeles Kings are hoping they can make a deep run into the playoffs next season, and while some fans questioned their moves this offseason, they seem confident in their ability to finally get past the first round.

There has been some speculation recently that the Boston Bruins could be looking to trade Fabian Lysell, and the Kings could be a strong fit.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bruins would be willing to move him after he has failed to break into the NHL, but they may be looking for a steep return.

Lysell, who is 22 years old, has 3 points in just 12 NHL games in his career. Last season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins, he scored 11 goals and added 23 assists for 34 points through 52 games. 

He is a strong offensive player, and having been a first-round pick back in 2021, Bruins fans were hoping he could’ve broken into the big leagues by now, but that hasn’t happened.

The Kings could flip a couple of future mid-round picks for Lysell, but realistically, it may cost them a conditional second-round pick to get the deal even close to coming to fruition. 

He could step into a depth role with the Kings as a bottom-six forward as soon as next season, and if he gels well with a new team, he could move his way up the lineup fast.  

Matvei Michkov had an excellent rookie year for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, but don't expect him to reach his full potential overnight.

Michkov, 20, quietly led all NHL rookies in goals last season with 26, and ultimately finished joint-second amongst all rookies in scoring, tying Macklin Celebrini with 63 points and narrowly trailing Lane Hutson's 66.

A big step forward is in the cards for the Flyers' Russian sensation, but a step forward and a leap are different.

Semantics, yes, but let's just say Michkov should be allowed at least another season to really come into his own for the Flyers at the NHL level.

Aside from the offseason trade for Trevor Zegras, who has to find his own way as well, the Flyers did very little to further assist Michkov on the ice--literally and figuratively--otherwise.

Flyers' Matvei Michkov Reveals One Important Goal for 2025-26 SeasonWhile star Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov has been careful about speaking about his individual goals and aspirations, one target for the 2025-26 season should make everyone excited despite being vague in nature.

Defensemen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert will end up as forgettable signings as fringe journeymen defensemen added to fill a temporary need, 

The same is likely true for forward Christian Dvorak, who will probably never share the ice with Michkov barring an unforeseen rash of injuries or struggles with performance from other centers higher in the lineup.

All three free agents, as well as Zegras, are under contract for one more season only.

They are temporary complements to a Flyers roster centered around Michkov, who will have to find his next step on his own accord.

Defensive awareness and skating are the two obvious areas in need of improvement from the 20-year-old, but less defense can sometimes lead to more offense, as we've already seen time and time again.

It would not be unrealistic to dream up a 70- or 80-point season from Michkov, especially if Zegras can turn back the clock to just two seasons ago.

There's also a point to be made for positive regression for other Flyers players, such as Travis Konecny.

Ex-Flyers Prospect Backs Matvei Michkov to Become Face of the FranchiseStar Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov doesn't lack supporters in and around the NHL these days, but he's just received even more big praise.

Konecny ended his season with just seven goals in his final 44 games, and two in his final 25.

Considering how much he and Michkov played together at times under John Tortorella, there's arguably 10 points Konecny left on the table for his Russian counterpart over that second-half slump.

That alone is enough to boost Michkov into the 70-point threshold, flirting with 80 points.

There's also the dreaded specter that is the Flyers' power play.

As a team, the Flyers had the third-worst power play percentage in the NHL last year at 15%, and they were one of four teams (Florida, Tampa Bay, Boston) to allow 10 or more short-handed goals.

Michkov (8), Konecny (8), and Tyson Foerster (6) combined for 22 of the Flyers' 32 power play goals last season; no other Flyers forward managed more than two.

If, say, Sean Couturier added five power play goals to the one he scored last season, he'd have reached 20 goals and 50 points. Would the conversation around the Flyers captain be different? Probably.

But, this is all to say that Michkov can't do it all on his own. He has his own work to do, and his Flyers teammates have theirs.

Michkov won't enter his Nikita Kucherov era overnight, but he's well on his way.

EA SPORTS NHL has released the first deep dive trailer for NHL 26's revamped Be A Pro mode, we break down what is new below.

As previously mentioned, the pricey pond hockey introduction that has been a long running joke in the community has been removed. 

Be A Pro careers will begin with a new starting point, the semi-finals of the World Junior Hockey Championship. The Memorial Cup can still be played before your draft. 

Players must prove themselves in pre-season, and can be sent to the AHL. Players can spend the entire season in the AHL and win the Calder Cup, complete with a trophy celebration. A players performance will impact progression and line promotion. 

Multiple new cutscenes and cinematics have been added, as well as voice actors for the first time in NHL franchise history. 

These cutscenes include the NHL draft, entering the dressing room for the first time, tunnel walkouts, and Stanley Cup Finals celebrations. These cinematics include new facial animations and emotions. 

Your path to the NHL starts here. See what’s new in the revamped #NHL26 Be A Pro.

Pre Order for 7 Day Early Access: https://t.co/Tr60L5Dwmipic.twitter.com/OybYjcm7fl

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 19, 2025

Be A Pro will feature less conversations than previous games, with each conversation having more consequences on your relationship with your brand, teammates, or management. 

New media scrums will have on and off ice impacts. 

The revamp to NHL 26's X-Factor system will allow players to emphasize certain traits and playstyles, shaping your character to your liking. 

The Be A Pro HUB has also received a facelift, pictured below.

 There were no specific mentions of updates to the contract negotiation process in NHL 26 so it will be interesting to see how that is handled. 

Using some metrics from PlayStation trophy tacker and from Thrash it is evident how popular the Be A Pro mode is within NHL games and how much time players dedicate.

These changes shown in the trailer are great on the surface, lets hope ICE-Q 2.0 along with these updates allows for a fresh Be A Pro experience.

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.  

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 - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#25 - Matteo Costantini - C (Western Michigan - NCAA)

Costantini was the Sabres fifth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, held in October because of the COVID pandemic. GM Kevyn Adams had only five picks in his first year as Sabres GM, but hit the jackpot with his first two picks; first-rounder Jack Quinn and second-rounder J.J. Peterka. Costantini is a local product from nearby St. Catharines, ON, and scored 68 points (36 goals, 32 assists) in 50 games for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. He played one season in the USHL with Sioux City before two years at the University of North Dakota.

After a successful freshman season (21 points in 35 games), his sophomore year was a disaster, with three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 25 games. After being sat out frequently during the regular season and playoffs, he used the NCAA transfer portal and shifted to Western Michigan. The change resulted in more opportunities to play up the middle, which was beneficial, as Costantini scored 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) and an excellent +20 plus/minus in 38 games. His senior season was not as productive personally, with 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 40 games, but the 23-year-old was part of the Broncos NCAA Championship run. 

The Sabres signed Costantini to a two-year AHL deal on July 1, giving him an opportunity to earn himself an NHL entry-level contract.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The 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. 

Due to this, let's take a look at two potential PTO targets who the Blues should consider taking a chance on.

Luke Kunin

The Blues' bottom six could use a boost, so bringing in a player like Luke Kunin on a PTO could be worth considering. The 27-year-old has shown throughout his career that he can make an impact due to his physicality and penalty-killing ability. The Chesterfield, Missouri native is also capable of playing both center and on the wing, which adds to his appeal. 

In 75 games this past season split between the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets, Kunin recorded 11 goals, 18 points, and 187 hits. 

Victor Olofsson 

Victor Olofsson is another interesting unrestricted free agent (UFA) who could be a good player for the Blues to invite to training camp on a PTO. While he does not offer the same kind of physicality as players like Lucic and Kunin, he would give the Blues another scorer to take a look at. 

In 56 games this past season with the Vegas Golden Knights, Olofsson posted 15 goals and 29 points. With numbers like these, the three-time 20-goal scorer could compete for a spot on the Blues' third line. 

Ex-Blues Forward Joins New Team After Historic YearFormer St. Louis Blues forward Josh Leivo had a historic season in the KHL with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in 2024-25. In 62 games, he scored a KHL record 49 goals and recorded 80 points. He then followed that up by posting two goals and 15 points in 14 playoff games for the KHL squad.

The St. Louis Blues confirmed Tuesday that former Edmonton Oilers veteran forward Milan Lucic will attend training camp on a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

We've signed Milan Lucic to a professional tryout. #stlblues

DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/fsCekt9xnjhttps://t.co/fsCekt9xnj

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) August 19, 2025

Following a stint in the NHL Players' Assistance Program and rumors back in August of 2024 that he was looking to make a return, his attempt at a comeback is happening. Lucic has since completed the program and been reinstated by the NHL.

For Oilers fans, the news brings back memories of a high-profile free agency signing that was supposed to be the first big thing to go with Connor McDavid, but never lived up to expectations.

Signed to a massive ticket at $42 million, the Oilers went all in on Lucic, thinking he would be the team's big power forward success story. For a while, he was effective, scoring 23 goals and 50 points in his first season with the team in 2016-17. 

Things went downhill not long after. 

Related: McDavid v. the Decade of Darkness: Part 1: My Introduction to the Oilers

He played two additional seasons with the team before being traded to the Calgary Flames for James Neal. The Oilers moved the contract but took on salary retention, a conditional pick, and eventually bought out James Neal — leaving the Oilers still paying for players no longer on the roster.

Lucic, 37, has played 17 NHL seasons in the NHL. His most recent run was a second go-round with the Boston Bruins, but he also spent time in Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Calgary. He won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, likely one of the big reasons the Oilers spent so much to acquire him a few seasons later. 

At one point, Lucic was viewed as a game-changer. The idea was he could score, hit, and put fear into his opponents, all while protecting Connor McDavid. This was the duo that was supposed to lead Edmonton into the playoffs and help the team turn the corner. McDavid had called him a dream teammate prior to his arrival. 

Instead, Lucic’s stint in Edmonton became a cautionary tale.

His production plummeted, he slowed down to the point he struggled to keep pace, and his physical impact faded as the game changed. By the end, he was a $6 million forward who was vastly overpaid and viewed as nearly untradable.

The Oilers did eventually find a taker in Calgary, where he never scored more than 10 goals in a single season. 

His best days are clearly behind him and making a NHL roster could be a long shot. However, the Blues are going to give him a look. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Rasmus Andersson's future remains a hot topic in Calgary this summer. The 28-year-old Flames defenseman is UFA-eligible next July.

Contract extension talks in June failed to produce an agreement, making him the frequent subject of off-season media trade chatter.

Expressen.se recently reported that Andersson wasn't impressed with a media rumor suggesting that he would only accept a trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, claiming the story wasn't true. He doesn't have full no-trade protection, carrying a six-team no-trade list. 

Andersson also addressed a report by TSN's Darren Dreger claiming the Flames received a substantial offer from the Los Angeles Kings. He said he knew what the proposal was but declined to say which team it came from. The blueliner also indicated that he gave Flames management a list of clubs he'd agree to sign with if he were traded, but the team that made the proposal wasn't among them.

According to Andersson, he hasn't spoken with Flames management since the trade proposal was made over a month and a half ago.

Earlier this summer, Flames GM Craig Conroy indicated that he'd spoken with Andersson and there was no issue with him starting this season in Calgary. Nevertheless, it's expected that the veteran blueliner will be moved at some point before the March trade deadline.

Meanwhile, in Edmonton, most of this summer's speculation regarding the Oilers has focused on their limited options for improving their goaltending depth. However, a more pressing need is their salary cap space.

PuckPedia indicates the Oilers are under the $95.5 million cap by $225,000. Any attempt to add another player will require moving out salary in the deal, or a cost-cutting trade beforehand. 

On Aug. 7, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer suggesting Mattias Janmark could be a trade candidate. The 32-year-old left winger is earning an average annual value of $1.45 million through 2026-27, but he's now seeing fourth-line minutes. 

Stauffer believes the Oilers could shed a salary by the start of the season, accrue cap space and use it to acquire a player by the March trade deadline. There could be better options to upgrade between the pipes by then.

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The Detroit Red Wings announced they will retire Sergei Fedorov's jersey number this upcoming season.

Fedorov’s No. 91 will rise to the rafters on Jan. 12, 2026, when the Red Wings host the Carolina Hurricanes.

"We are honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his No. 91 to its rightful place hanging in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena,” Red Wings Governor and CEO Chris Ilitch said in a press release.

“His exceptional skill, relentless drive and lasting impact playing a pivotal role bringing three Stanley Cup championships to Detroit make him the perfect embodiment of the qualities deserving of our franchise’s most prestigious honor,” Ilitch added.

It has been a long time coming for Fedorov to earn this honor from the Detroit organization. It will be nearly 17 years since his last NHL game that Fedorov's number is retired.

Fedorov played 908 games over 13 seasons for Detroit, scoring 400 goals and 954 points in that span. In his overall NHL career, he played 1,248 regular-season games and recorded 483 goals, 696 assists and 1,179 points between the Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals.

Among all Russian NHL players, only Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin have more goals, assists and points than Fedorov.

“I’m extremely grateful for this tremendous honor,” Fedorov said. “Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise.

“I was fortunate to be part of some unforgettable teams, and above all, I’m proud of the three Stanley Cup championships we won for our amazing fans in Hockeytown,” he added.

On top of the Russian’s three Stanley Cup championships with the Wings, he earned several other accolades in his 18-year career.

The 1993-94 campaign was by far Fedorov’s best. In that season, he scored a career-high 56 goals and 120 points. With that, he was awarded the Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and one of his two Selke Trophy wins. He even finished fourth in the Lady Byng Trophy voting.

Over half a decade after retiring from the NHL, Fedorov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016.

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