The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the best 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. 

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#32 - Noah Laberge - D (Acadie-Bathurst - QMJHL)

 The Sabres selected three defensemen in the 2025 Draft class, including their top two picks in first-rounder Radim Mrtka, and hulking third-rounder David Bedkowski in the third round. With their pick in the fifth round, Buffalo selected blueliner Noah Laberge from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL. The 18-year-old tripled his goal total from four to 12 in his draft year and scored 35 points for the Titan, who are moving to St. John's, Newfoundland, this season. 

According to the Elite Prospects Draft Guide, the 6’1”. 187 lb. defenseaman “is an intelligent and mobile blueliner who specializes in suppressing opposing rushes. He plays a patient defensive game based mostly on his stick work. He funnels puck carriers to the outside, anticipates their movement and matches them, and cuts passes as they’re fired, limiting the opposition’s ability to orchestrate chances. When he regains possession, he immediately looks to the inside for an outlet, connecting with teammates as they rush up the ice, before following their movement.”

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The Vancouver Canucks are today’s focus in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into Canucks’ strengths and weaknesses, the latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

The Canucks don’t have a particularly strong prospect pool, which is a bit perplexing considering they made the playoffs twice in the past decade.

The underwhelming prospect pool can be explained a bit when you consider the Canucks have had arguably the worst luck in the draft lottery, moving down more spots than just about any team in the NHL. Even so, they should have more in the cupboard, considering their lack of sustained success. 

That’s not to say the Canucks have nothing in the pipeline, though. 

Jonathan Lekkerimaki is a very talented right winger with a fantastic shot. He had 19 goals in 36 games with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, which was impressive. What was a bit more concerning was that he only had nine assists over that time. While he did get into 24 NHL games, he was a bit behind the pace, but he had moments where his skill shone through. The 21-year-old will likely split the year between the AHL and NHL once again, and hopefully, the puck skill and shooting talent will lead to more even-keeled production. 

When Vancouver traded for Aatu Raty a couple of years ago, the hope was that he could become a fixture in the Canucks’ middle six. So far, he has shown well in the AHL, and he’s been improving with every NHL call-up. This upcoming season, Raty will get every chance to make the NHL roster out of camp. He’s a good skater who excels in transition, and his shot is a real weapon. Playing on the third line would give him the ability to use his physical edge as well. Raty could be a very steady two-way center who plays important minutes. 

Danila Klimovich has four AHL seasons under his belt at just 22 years old, and last year, he seemed to break out with a 25-goal season. Klimovich gets into excellent positions and bangs pucks in from all around the net. He’s still a bit unrefined, and he needs to work on some of his play-connecting passes throughout the game. If he continues to improve as a goal-scorer and refine some of those other things, he could be a nifty depth scorer one day.

Josh Bloom’s had an up-and-down stock over the years. He was drafted as a gritty, go-to-the-net, goal-scorer who could play a nice physical game. He jumped into the AHL, but it wasn’t working out, so he was sent back to the OHL, where he helped the Saginaw Spirit win the Memorial Cup, even scoring the championship-winning goal with seconds to go in the game. Last year was his first full pro season, and he spent most of it in the ECHL, where he averaged nearly a point per game. Hopefully he can repeat that in the AHL and continue to make progress. 

While he goes by the same name as the Canucks’ star center, the other Elias Pettersson is a steady, defensive blueliner who relies on his mobility and size. ‘D-Petey’ has been on an impressive upward trajectory, rising through the ranks faster than anyone would have expected. Pettersson has all of the tools to be a strong defensive player, and his puckhandling and passing ability give him utility on the breakout. 

In his first pro season, Kirill Kudryavtsev looked quite solid as a puck-moving option on the back end in the AHL. His size and strength are still issues against pro-level competition, but he showed some really nice habits positionally. There is still a lot to do, but Kudryavtsev is still one of the more intriguing prospects in the Canucks’ system.

Vancouver’s top prospect, Tom Willander, signed his entry-level contract after a solid two-year run at Boston University. He became one of the Terriers' most well-rounded defenders, playing essential minutes at both ends of the ice. 

Willander is a fluid, quick skater who uses his mobility at both ends of the ice. Willander’s defensive reads have improved drastically over his time in the NCAA, which has only boosted his ability to make an impact at the offensive end. Now embarking on his pro career, Willander will fight for a spot in training camp, but regardless of whether he stars in the AHL or NHL, Canucks fans will be watching his every move.  

U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season

Aatu Raty (C/LW), Elias Pettersson (D), Jonathan Lekkerimaki (RW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 15th overall - Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)

Round 2, 47th overall - Alexei Medvedev, G, London (OHL)

Round 3, 65th overall - Kieren Dervin, C, Kingston (OHL)

Round 5, 143rd overall - Wilson Bjorck, C, Djurgarden Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 175th overall - Gabriel Chiarot, RW, Brampton (OHL)

Round 7, 207th overall - Matthew Lansing, C, Fargo (USHL)

Braeden Cootes going to the Canucks at 15th overall was a frequent prediction in NHL mock drafts. They need some center depth, and Cootes was the best mid-round center available unless one of the top-end guys fell drastically. 

Cootes is an incredibly well-rounded center who has a motor nearly unmatched in the 2025 NHL draft class. He is arguably the best two-way center in the draft as well. Cootes may not have the elite upside that some want from a top-end draft pick, but there is more than meets the eye. We saw him become an offensive force at the U-18s when surrounded with a few more high-end talents. Cootes has all of the tools to be a second-line, 200-foot center.

Vancouver looked to restock its goalie pipeline by adding Alexei Medvedev. He was one of the more intriguing netminders in the draft as he is lauded for his calm, cool and collected game in net. He plays a very structured game with excellent positioning and intuitive depth in his crease. Medvedev was the backup with the London Knights, but he was one of the OHL’s best netminders, which makes this a very good bet. 

While Kieren Dervin spent most of the season at St. Andrew’s College on the high school circuit, he made the jump to the Kingston Frontenacs and showed well in a depth role for the OHL club. Dervin has good size and a solid motor, which allowed him to play well down the lineup, simply doing what he had to do to ensure his line made positive impacts on the ice. He’s a good skater who can transition the puck as well. Committed to Penn State for the 2026-27 season, he should get more opportunities to move up the lineup next season in Kingston. 

In the fifth round, Vancouver took overage forward Wilson Bjorck, who came into his own this past season at Sweden’s U-20 league. He’s committed to Colorado College for next season, so he has a clear path of development, which is great, but it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the more physical environment. He often benefited from playing with his younger brother, 2026 top prospect Viggo Bjorck. Wilson Bjorck is a crafty playmaker who can make some really nifty passes. Developing in college will be a great path for him. 

The Canucks drafted Gabriel Chiarot in the sixth round, taking a bet on a player who consistently works hard with some nice finishing ability around the net. He isn’t much of a pace-setter, thriving more by hiding in the shadows and then jumping into pockets of space in tight to get his shot off. He needs to round things out a bit more, but Chiarot shows some nice hands in tight and could find a role as a pro by specializing in that.

One of the more interesting picks in Vancouver’s class was its final pick, Matthew Lansing, a solid forechecker who fills the gaps in the games of his more skilled linemates. Lansing is the responsible presence on the defensive end and the first player to get down low on the offensive end. He is an eager player who works to get himself into positive positions. Lansing must become more effective with his offensive touches, but he could be a really nice fourth-liner who brings the energy night in and night out. 

Strengths

The Canucks’ system isn’t particularly strong, as they have one or two decent prospects all over the system. 

The blueline has an interesting mix that includes their most impressive prospect in Willander as well as a player likely asserting himself into the NHL lineup this season in Pettersson. 

Mancini could also play NHL minutes this season after a solid run with the New York Rangers before the trade to Vancouver. With other intriguing names, such as Kudryavtsev and Sawyer Mynio, the blueline is an area of strength in terms of having a depth of interesting prospects, even if it’s not an incredibly strong area in general. 

Weaknesses

The Canucks really don’t have much on the wing aside from Lekkerimaki and Anthony Romani, both players who play on the right side. 

While you could point to the wing in general as a weakness, the left side is particularly weak. Josh Bloom had a solid season, but it was all in the ECHL. You hope he can stick at the AHL level this year and show signs of being a legitimate NHL prospect, but as of right now, he might be the best prospect on the left side. 

Anri Ravinskis is an interesting swing who had a good season in the Liiga, and he will head to the AHL this season, but he’s got some work to do to prove he’s an NHL prospect. 

Hidden Gem: Anthony Romani, RW

Although he was out of the lineup for a big chunk of last season with a broken clavicle, Anthony Romani still showed off his trademark finishing ability and excellent passing. 

His skating is slowly improving, and he’s becoming a more functionally physical player as well, winning battles and outworking opponents. 

Romani is an excellent second forward entering the offensive zone, using his tactical processing to read where the opposing team’s best breakout option is and then closing and attempting to pick off the pass. Romani loves to counterattack and really finds his groove off the rush. He’s heading off to Michigan State next season, which will be an excellent place for him to build on his solid OHL career.

Next Man Up: Elias Pettersson, D

In 28 NHL games last season, D-Petey looked quite well. 

When he was initially drafted, the projection was that he could be a safe, steady defender with size and mobility. He wouldn’t do anything remarkable, but he could crack an NHL lineup one day. 

Doing so about a week after his 21st birthday was not on anyone’s bingo card. Pettersson bulked up since being drafted, which has allowed him to use his size more effectively, and he’s managed to keep his mobility while doing so. 

Pettersson is likely nothing more than a No. 4 or 5 defender, but he has the defensive game that could keep him in the top four as he continues to develop. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Josh Bloom, Jackson Kunz, Anri Ravinskis, Vilmer Alriksson

C: Braeden Cootes, Aatu Raty, Riley Patterson, Matthew Lansing, Kieren Dervin, Wilson Bjorck, Ty Mueller

RW: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Anthony Romani, Danila Klimovich, Chase Stillman, Gabriel Chiarot

LD: Elias Pettersson, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sawyer Mynio, Basile Sansonnens

RD: Tom Willander, Victor Mancini, Parker Alcos, Aiden Celebrini

G: Alexei Medvedev, Ty Young, Aku Koskenvuo

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

Detroit AHL head coach Dan Watson notes goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa will be in the conversation for the Red Wings backup goalie spot

The Detroit Red Wings are heading into a pivotal season for the franchise, marking their 100th anniversary while also aiming to break free from years of playoff struggles, they haven’t reached the postseason since 2016 and have just one series win since 2012.

After rebuilding the team over the last nine years, the Red Wings have built up an elite prospect pool that will hopefully come into fruition in the near future. Goaltending has been a longstanding issue since the days of Chris Osgood and GM Steve Yzerman made a temporary fix to the problem by adding former all-star goaltender John Gibson, who is signed on for two more seasons. The long term plan includes two high end goalie prospects in Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa. 

Red Wings Bring Back Famous 'Hockeytown' Slogan for 100th SeasonThe Detroit Red Wings have put their famous slogan "Hockeytown" back at centre ice.

Augustine is expected to go back to Michigan State for one or two more years. This leaves him a longer timetable than the Red Wings' 15th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft in Cossa, who may be finally nearing the jump to the NHL.

The Hockey News spoke with Grand Rapids Griffinshead coach Dan Watson and he explained to us that the uncertainty of if Cossa will be returning to the Griffins is at an all-time high. 

“He's committed, dedicated, he wants to get better, he wants to be the guy, whether it's in Grand Rapids, I know he's gonna be challenging mentally for a spot in Detroit," Watson explained "We're looking for him to take that next step and be a good starting goaltender for us in Grand Rapids, If not, he's going to be in Detroit."  

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Watson emphasized that another season with the Griffins would be valuable for Cossa as he would have the opportunity to handle the majority of the starts, just as he did early last season when his strong performance earned him a spot at the AHL all-star game. Veteran goaltenders like Jack Campbell and Husso would go on to limit his workload later on in the season. If he returns to Grand Rapids next season, Watson expects him to take on the bulk workload for the team.

“This year, I'd love to see him take the reins and then if he's in Grand Rapids, be the guy, get those as many starts as you possibly can where we obviously have to manage his workload and everything, but he can get a lot of starts and get to feel the puck and then see it well, like he did this our last year," Watson said "I think that's going to elevate him to that next step is being the guy in Grand Rapids." 

Cossa has played 84 games with the Griffins and during that stretch has posted a 44-25-15 record with a 2.52 goals against average and a .909 save percentage. The 22-year-old Hamilton native made his NHL debut in December 2024, coming in as relief for starter Ville Husso. He stopped 12 shots and turned aside two shootout attempts against the Buffalo Sabres to secure his first career win.

Having coached Cossa throughout his time with the team, Watson knows his game better than most and noted that the two share a strong relationship. 

"We have a great relationship, being with each other now for the last three seasons. I want to make sure there's invested interest with him, and I want to make sure that we do everything we can and provide the resources necessary for him to have success," Watson stated.  

Cossa will likely be competing with another veteran goaltender in Cam Talbot, currently serving as Detroit’s backup, during training camp. The 38-year-old journeyman will be challenged by the youngster, setting up an intriguing storyline to watch as camp unfolds. From the sounds of it, Cossa is closer than ever to bridging the gap and claiming the role, with a slow start from Talbot potentially being the difference.

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Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar certainly took a nice step in the right direction with his development this past season with the Original Six club. In 53 games with the Blackhawks on the year, he set new career highs with 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points. With this, he certainly demonstrated that he can provide solid offense at the NHL level already. 

What's even more encouraging about Nazar is that he ended the 2024-25 season on a high note. In his final eight games of the campaign, the 2022 first-round pick recorded five goals and nine points. This included posting three goals and five points in the Blackhawks' final three games of the season, so he undoubtedly impressed. 

With Nazar being a young player on the rise, he should have zero trouble hitting new offensive career highs for the Blackhawks in 2025-26. This is especially so when noting that he only got better as this past season rolled on and that he should have a spot in Chicago's top six and on their power play. 

It will be very interesting to see what kind of campaign Nazar will put together for the Blackhawks in 2025-26, but it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future in Chicago. 

Blackhawks Have Decision To Make With 20-Goal ScorerIlya Mikheyev was among the Chicago Blackhawks' bright spots from their 2024-25 season. After being traded by the Vancouver Canucks to the Blackhawks in a cap dump move, Mikheyev proved to be a nice fit on the Blackhawks' roster. In 80 games on the year, the 6-foot-2 winger scored 20 goals and recorded a career-high 34 points. 

The Montreal Canadiens have brought in multiple new players this off-season, and forward Zack Bolduc is undoubtedly among the most notable. The Canadiens acquired Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux last month. With this, Montreal and St. Louis swapped two 2021 first-round picks in one of the most intriguing trades of the summer. 

There is no question that Mailloux has the potential to become a nice part of the Blues' defensive group, as he is a promising prospect who should give them a much-needed boost on the right side of their blueline. However, the Canadiens bringing in a forward like Bolduc for him undoubtedly has the potential to benefit them immensely, as he has the tools to blossom into a very impactful NHL forward.

Bolduc already took a notable step forward in his development this past season for the Blues, as he set new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points, and 108 hits in 72 games. With numbers like these, he has shown that he can produce solid offense at the NHL level, and he should only improve as he continues to gain more experience. 

Bolduc has the potential to become a big piece of the Canadiens' roster. When looking at their current group, he should have a real shot of playing in their top six and on their power play. Thus, he could end up being a significant part of their group moving forward, especially if he continues to trend in the right direction.

Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season Bolduc can put together for the Canadiens from here. 

Canadiens Veteran Is Big Player To WatchThe Montreal Canadiens are one of the NHL's most intriguing teams, as they have several promising young players who have the potential to become big parts of their future. However, they also have some veterans on their roster to watch in 2025-26, and forward Brendan Gallagher is certainly one of them.

By Sal Barry, Puck Culture and In The Cards writer

Since 1982-83, the Professional Hockey Writers Association has selected an NHL all-rookie team, comprised of six of the best first-year players. Along the way, there have been some interesting selections – and a notable omission.

1. We Three Kings

Luc Robitaille, Jimmy Carson, Steve Duchesne (1987)

Two players from the same NHL club have been named to an all-rookie team several times. Brock Faber and Marco Rossi of Minnesota were the most recent teammates to achieve this when both were named to the 2024 team.

But only once have three players from the same team received this honor. It happened when left winger Luc Robitaille, center Jimmy Carson and defenseman Steve Duchesne of the Los Angeles Kings were named to the 1987 all-rookie team. Robitaille also won Calder Trophy honors as the league’s top rookie.

2. Rocket Rejected

Pavel Bure (1992)

Usually, the player who wins the Calder Trophy is also named to the all-rookie team. But Pavel Bure was an inadvertent snub. Although he got the most votes for the Calder Trophy in 1992, ‘The Russian Rocket’ was not selected for the all-rookie team. He had split the season between playing left wing and right wing, so Bure’s votes were also divided among the positions.

Tony Amonte ended up with the most votes at right wing, while Gilbert Dionne won the most votes for left wing.

For 1993, the rule was changed so that voters chose two wingers and a center. Two years after that, votes went to the best three rookie forwards regardless of position.

3. Eagle Takes Flight

Ed Belfour (1991)

Sometimes, the top rookie picks up another award in the same season. Tony Esposito won the Calder and Vezina Trophies in 1970. Tom Barrasso repeated this feat in 1984.

However, only one time has a freshman won three awards.

Ed Belfour accomplished it for his stellar rookie season in 1990-91, when he led NHL goalies in games played, wins, goals against average and save percentage. Belfour was awarded the Calder, Vezina, and Jennings Trophies. He was also named a first-team all-star.

4. Old Flame

Sergei Makarov (1990)

Former Russian star Sergei Makarov led rookies in scoring during 1989-90, when he scored 86 points for the Calgary Flames. He also happened to be 31 years old. Makarov was 12 years older than Mike Modano – who finished second in rookie scoring – and had 13 years of prior pro experience in the Soviet League.

Despite being over a decade older than his peers, Makarov was still considered a rookie by NHL standards. He won the Calder Trophy and was named to the all-rookie team in 1990, becoming the oldest NHLer to accomplish each feat. The following season, the NHL deemed that only players 25 and younger could be eligible for rookie honors.

5. Two-Time Teamers

Jamie Storr (1998 & 1999) and Jake Allen (2013 & 2015)

Two players have been named to the all-rookie team twice – and both were goalies.

Jamie Storr played 17 games with the Kings in 1997-98, posting a 2.22 GAA and two shutouts, which landed him on the 1998 all-rookie team. Since Storr played in fewer than 25 games that season, he was still considered a rookie the following year. In 28 games during 1998-99, Storr posted a 2.40 GAA and four shutouts to win all-rookie team honors for a second time.

Fifteen years later, Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues accomplished the same feat – though in non-consecutive seasons. Allen played 15 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, earning nine wins and one shutout, resulting in his first all-rookie-team nod. Two seasons later, Allen posted a 22-7-4 record, including four shutouts, and he gained all-rookie-team honors again in 2015.

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Ville Koivunen certainly left a strong first impression during his full professional season in North America this past campaign.

Koivunen spent the bulk of the season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and undoubtedly made a big impact. In 63 games with the AHL squad in 2024-25, he recorded 21 goals, 35 assists, and 56 points. With numbers like these, he demonstrated his offensive upside. 

Koivunen also ended the regular-season at the NHL level with Pittsburgh, and it could not have gone much better for the 2021 second-round pick. In eight games with Pittsburgh, he recorded seven assists. This included him ending the season on a five-game point streak, where he posted six assists over that span.

Overall, Koivunen has shown early on that he has the potential to become a solid NHL forward, and he certainly could take a major step forward in his development next season because of it. When looking at the Penguins' current group, he has a strong chance of playing in their middle six and getting power-play time. This could end up benefiting a young and skilled player like Koivunen tremendously.

It is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season Koivunen can put together for the Penguins in 2025-26. If he continues to trend in the right direction, he could cement himself as a big part of Pittsburgh's roster moving forward. 

Penguins Have Interesting Goalie Battle To WatchWith it now being the middle of August, NHL training camps are not too far away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for an interesting one. After bringing in several new players this off-season, there will be plenty of players fighting for spots on their NHL roster.

The Minnesota Wild did not qualify defenseman Ryan O'Rourke following his fourth season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild.

O'Rourke, 23, had spent the last four years playing in the Wild's organization. He has recorded six goals, 34 assists and 40 points in 229 career AHL games.

The Wild selected O'Rourke with the 39th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He recorded two goals and 12 points in 59 games last season for the Iowa Wild and was a minus-eight. The season before he had three goals, 12 points and was a minus-30.

The 6-foot-1 defenseman was not qualified by the Wild and entered free agency. He signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Laval Rocket of the AHL. They are the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate.

Other Wild News

Where Wild's Zeev Buium Ranks In Calder Trophy VotingMinnesota Wild rookie defenseman Zeev Buium burst onto the scene in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round. He had just finished his sophomore season at the University of Denver where he was up for the NCAA's Hobey Baker Award as the top player in College Hockey.Minnesota Wild Potential PTO Candidate: Victor OlofssonThe 2025-26 season is just a few months away. Training camp for the Minnesota Wild will begin in just over a month from now. Wild hockey will be here before we know it. Where Wild's Kirill Kaprizov Ranks Among Wingers In The NHLThe NHL Network is putting together some lists of the top players in the NHL among different positions before the 2025-26 season starts. They just dropped the top-20 wingers in the NHL list.

On August 11, 2020 the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning started their first round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fans of the CBJ were hoping that the Jackets could pull off another huge upset against the Lightning. 

Long story short, the Lightning would go on to get their revenge by beating the Blue Jackets 4-1 in the series. But game one is something that no one will soon forget. 

Columbus and Tampa played the 4th longest game in NHL history. The game lasted 150 minutes and 27 seconds, or 6 hours and 13 minutes in real time. The game started at 3 PM and ended at 9:22 PM. The game would end in the 5th overtime when Brayden Point scored his second of the game to put the Lightning up 1-0 in the series.

But for CBJ fans, it was watching Joonas Korpisalo that made it the most exciting. The young Finnish goalie would take the loss, but would set an NHL playoff record for most saves in a game with 85 saves. That record still stands today. 

The Lightning pumped 88 shots at Korpisalo, which included 12 or more shots in 6 of the periods, and 14 shots in four of the periods. The Lightning were trying their hardest to bury the Blue Jackets all game, but Korpisalo just wouldn't let it happen. 

The Jackets would lose the game and series, and send Columbus off into a rebuild, but Jackets fans always look back at this game will pride and will always cheer for Joonas Korpisalo. 

Did you watch this game and Korpisalo's performance? 

Let us know what you think below.

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More From THN Columbus

64 Days Until Opening Night At Nationwide ArenaThere have only been two players wear the #64 for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unfortunately for Columbus, neither one of them made a significant impact for Columbus. Cleveland is a different story, however.  An Early Look At The Blue Jackets' 2025-26 Projected Opening Night RosterWe've officially entered the last month of the calendar that doesn't have NHL games in it. We are only a bit over a month away from the start of 2025 NHL training camp and then preseason. Because of that, I thought it would be fun to take an early look at what the Columbus Blue Jackets' projected opening night lineup could look like. Former Monsters Forward Rumored To Be Signing In KHLFormer Monsters forward Rocco Grimaldi is rumored to be joining SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

For the second time in less than a week, the Nashville Predators players' contracts have come under scrutiny again by The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn. 

After saying that Nic Hague and Brady Skjei had two of the worst contracts in the NHL, Luszczyszyn ranked the Predators 30th out of 32 in the NHL's contract efficiency rankings. 

"No team is expected to spend more for less than the Predators, whose total surplus value comes in at minus-$63 million," Luszczyszyn wrote. 

Age is the main problem he cited, claiming that the Predators are taking big bets on players who are older and have failed to produce this past season. To his credit, "big splash signings" like Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei and Jonathan Marchessault didn't pan out last season. 

The Predators signed Stamkos to a 4-year, $32 million contract, meaning that Stamkos will be pushing 40 by the time the contract expires. After taking a 28-point dip last season from the previous, he needs a bounce-back year, or this signing could be a bust. 

Stamkos is a player of his generation, but the dip in production could be signaling the twilight of his career. A four-year contract looked safe enough, but the Predators could see themselves shelling out money to a past-their-prime superstar. 

It could also be a similar situation for Marchessault. Nashville essentially took the bait that Vegas didn't. Marchessault wanted a five-year contract, but the Golden Knights passed due to Marchessault's age, 38, by the time it had expired. 

With a similar mindset to signing Stamkos, the Predators weren't worried about the ladder end of the contract and gave Marchessault his 5-year, $27.5 million contract. This season, he took a 13-point dip in production. 

Skjei was signed on in the expectation that he was going to supplement Josi's scoring on the back end. Since the 2021-22 season, his production has spiked, but again, Nashville offered a lengthy contract to an older player, 7 years for $49 million. 

While 33 points is solid, it was a 14-point decline. Heading into a long contract, again, the Predators need a bounce-back year from Josi or they could see themselves dealing with a lengthy contract with a aging player. 

Then you have the two additions on defense that were supposed to "fix" the unit: Nicolas Hague and Nick Perbix.

Perbix is a little bit more understandable. A 2-year, $5.5 million contract for a defenseman producing about 20 points a season isn't awful. They want to get more out of him, but he isn't going to be a superstar out of the game. 

The contract issues arise again with Hague's contract and their intentions. The Predators gave him a 4 year, $22 million contract, expecting him to be in Nashville's top four. He's never had that role in his entire career. 

Hague hasn't scored more than 17 points in a season, played in Vegas' bottom pairing nearly every season and had the lowest plus/minus in the Golden Knights' defensive corps last season. It's an acquisition that makes no sense. 

There are also all the players the Predators claimed off waivers late last season, seemingly out of desperation. 

Andreas Englund, Jordan Oesterle and Jakub Vrana were all claimed off waivers last season, and the Predators kept two. Englund and Oesterle are both in the final year of a $775,000 contract. 

They don't have substantial financial hits, but neither brings much to the table. Englund racks up the penalty minutes, and Oesterle hasn't really contributed at all statistically. The Predators will likely put them back on waivers or trade them, but any intentions of keeping them in the lineup shouldn't really be justified. 

One of the less popular conversations that Luszczyszyn mentioned was about goaltender Juuse Saros. He is still one of the top Finnish goalies in the league, but struggled substantially last season. 

He had a 2.97 goals against average and a .896 save percentage, the lowest of his career as a full-time NHL goaltender. Saros' GAA has risen over the last four seasons and is going to need a bounce-back season in order to get into the conversation as one of the best goalies in the league. 

Saros is in the first year of a gigantic 8 year, $61.92 million contract. He will be 38 by the end of it. 

The Predators appear to be counting on players in their early to mid-30s experiencing a resurgence, which is typically when their play declines, and essentially locking them in until retirement. 

On the bright side, the Predators' strengths have come in drafting and building their prospects. There are numerous prospects, most of whom are yet to enter the Predators system, that have a ton of upside. Managing that pool well will pay off in the future.

However, at the same time, the Predators are still figuring out the right contract for Luke Evangelista. Although there's still time to secure Evangelista a new contract, it's concerning that one hasn't been drafted yet. 

Following the same pattern as their recent signings, general manager Barry Trotz stated that Evangelista's representation disliked the original contract term, which was likely longer than expected. 

The big question that Luszczyszyn is bringing forward is whether the Predators are signing the right players to the right contracts. That answer looks like it's a no. 

Former Belleville and Ottawa Senators broadcaster Jack Miller has officially called it a career.

Miller, the first voice of the Belleville Senators and a broadcaster for more than five decades, officially retired last week, closing the book on a fine 51-year broadcasting career. Miller’s work reached beyond the B-Sens to junior and international hockey, and even a few seasons spent calling Ottawa Senators games.

Miller began his career in his hometown of Cornwall before moving to Belleville in September 1974 for a job on CJBQ radio, and it didn’t take long before hockey became his specialty. In 1979, he began filling in on Bulls broadcasts, and his work in hockey took off from there.

For many Ottawa fans, they heard Miller’s voice for the first time on the Global TV Game of the Week between 1988 and 2002. For much of that era, regular-season NHL games were only on once or twice per week, so a little extra hockey on TV on Saturday afternoons was well received, particularly when the 67s were on the card. 

Miller also served as a play-by-play announcer and colour commentator for Ottawa Senators radio broadcasts from 1998 to 2002. Internationally, Miller worked on TSN Radio’s coverage of the World Juniors for 13 years, including tournaments across Europe.

Over the course of his career, Miller figures he called more than 3,000 games at the various levels. 

“My departure comes after a full career filled with things I never thought I’d be doing, or even set out to do,” Miller said in an interview on the CHL website when he announced his decision back in July. “I’ll miss the sports coverage on the air, going around doing hockey games.”

When the Belleville Senators joined the AHL in 2017, Miller was the natural choice to become their first play-by-play guy. He held that role until 2022, when the City of Belleville and the Senators organization honoured him on Jack Miller Day, by renaming the B-Sens press box the Jack Miller Broadcast and Media Centre.

Miller, who was inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, was presented with a Belleville Senators jersey by team staff members this week, including David Foot, who succeeded him in the booth.

The jersey number was 51, honouring his 51 years in broadcasting. That's truly a remarkable feat, to be in the volatile, ever-shrinking radio industry for that long and going out on his own terms. Not many do anymore.

For Belleville sports fans who grew up with his voice, as it emanated from either the rink or the station, Miller’s official retirement marks the end of an era. The Hockey News wishes one of the industry's true gentlemen a very happy retirement.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News website: 

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When Nicolas Roy puts on a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, he'll be wearing a number he has never worn in the NHL before. The player will wear No. 55, a number he last used while playing in Junior with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL.

Roy was a guest on Leafs Morning Take with hosts Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill. When asked about the number's significance, Roy explained that when he played junior hockey as a 14-year-old, he was the youngest player and the last one picked.

“I ended up with 55 and was kind of surprised a little bit and didn't really like it at first," Roy said. "But by the time I played two years with it and then got to juniors, I picked it for four years. Then when I got to Vegas, obviously 55 was already picked, so I picked 10 and obviously couldn't get 10 in Toronto, so I went back with 55".

Roy's No. 10, which he wore with the Vegas Golden Knights, was retired by the Maple Leafs in 2016 during a ceremony where all honored numbers became retired. The number was honored for George Armstrong and his tenure with Toronto.

Since the 2019-20 season, Vegas right-winger Keegan Kolesar has worn No. 55. Roy joined Vegas in the same season after previously playing in the Carolina Hurricanes organization.

Maple Leafs Reveal Jersey Numbers For Newly Acquired PlayersMost of the Toronto Maple Leafs' summer additions officially have numbers with their new club.

While defenseman Mark Giordano wore No. 55 with Toronto from 2022-2024, Roy is the first forward to wear the number since Jason Blake, who played three seasons with the team from 2007-2010. Prior to Roy, Blake was the only Toronto forward to have ever worn No. 55.

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner Deal

Nic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Overall, the 2024-25 season was a good one for the young Montreal Canadiens. Not only were they in the mix, but they even managed to make the Stanley Cup season after a fantastic second half of the season. Thankfully for the Pittsburgh Penguins, though, they only took on the Habs in the first half of the season.

Montreal took some time to get into gear this year, and Sidney Crosby and co. took advantage. They won all three meetings and obliterated the Canadiens on the scoreboard, winning the season series 18-6.

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The first meeting between the two teams took place on October 14 at the Bell Centre, and the fans in attendance didn’t get an excellent performance from their favorites. While the Penguins committed 23 giveaways, the Habs were unable to take advantage. Although they held their own in the first half of the game, they led 3-2 with less than five minutes left in the second frame. The Pens then scored four unanswered goals to skate away with a 6-3 win.

Two and a half weeks later, in Pittsburgh, the host posted a 3-1 win on the back of a great performance by captain Sidney Crosby, who scored a pair of goals early on. Christian Dvorak got the Habs back within one, but it was too little too late, and Blake Lizotte sealed the win with an empty netter with less than a minute left in the game.

Finally, in December, the Pens destroyed the Canadiens 9-2, in front of their fans, at the Bell Centre. It would turn out to be the last blowout loss Montreal would suffer on the season. Montreal only took 23 shots on net while Pittsburgh had 33. The Habs were unable to score on the man-advantage, despite having four opportunities, while Pittsburgh converted on two of their three opportunities. After that game, something clicked, and the Canadiens never looked back.

Over the three duels, Rikard Rakell had six points, Crosby five, and Kris Letang four. The Penguins’ experienced core had no trouble evading the Habs' coverage and hitting the team on the scoreboard. The question is, will they be around to continue their dominance over the Canadiens next season?

Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has already said that he’s willing to listen to offers on his veteran as a rebuild is looming in Pittsburgh, but so far, none of the big names have moved. Bryan Rust, Rakell, and Erik Karlsson are all still in Pittsburgh. The fact that Dubas is looking for young NHL-ready talent for the two aforementioned forwards cuts down the number of potential suitors for the aging players.

Still, the Penguins managed to land Anthony Mantha and Matt Dumba to bolster their lineup and brought in a new coach in Dan Muse. Meanwhile, Matt Nieto, Matt Grzelcyk, P.O. Joseph, and Alex Nedeljkovic have all left town.

There’s also been talk and rumblings about Crosby’s availability, but Elliotte Friedman put an end to speculation, saying the captain would be starting the season in Pittsburgh. As things stand, the Pens will be a tougher outfit to take on this season than they were last year, but the same can be said for the Canadiens with the additions of Noah Dobson and Zach Bolduc, to name a few.

While it will take some time before the Habs can try their hand at beating the Penguins again, fans will be treated to three duels between the two sides in December. On the 11th in Pittsburgh, the 20th in Montreal, and the 21st in Pittsburgh again. Suppose the Canadiens hope to beat Crosby and co. They’ll need Samuel Montembeault to step up. The starter was in the net for all three defeats last season, with a 4.75 goals-against average and a .833 save percentage. He needs to improve these numbers if the Canadiens are to have a chance.

---

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If the New York Islanders are going to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, starting netminder Ilya Sorokin is going to have to lead the way.

He's arguably the club's only superstar, and after back-to-back subpar statistical seasons — he posted a 3.01 GAA and a .908 SV% in 2023-24, followed by a 2.71 GAA with a .907 SV% in 2024-25 — the Islanders need him to be ready when the puck drops on Oct. 9 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Steel City. 

When the 2024-25 season began, Sorokin wasn't game-ready as he was still working his way back from offseason back surgery. Head coach Patrick Roy, fortunately, had the stable Semyon Varlamov to turn to for the start of the season.

Now, a year later, Sorokin is putting in the work to be ready, while Varlamov is working his way back from lower-body surgery after his season came to an end in late November.

Islanders Ilya Sorokin's Summer Training Tape A year ago, New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin was rehabbing after undergoing offseason back surgery. 

The goal for the Islanders is not to play Sorokin into the ground, as it's clear that he isn't an Andrei Vasilevskiy type, someone who can play 60-plus games at an elite level.

That's not a knock on Sorokin, who is still among the elite netminders in the game when he's on his game. Very few goaltenders are capable of doing what Vasilevskiy can do, and it does help that he's on a team with tremendous talent, even if that talent has changed throughout the course of his 11-year career.

Sorokin is a fascinating topic among the Islanders fan base, with one side focusing solely on the stat line and the other just watching.

While the stat line, as mentioned, was not pretty in 2024-25, looking at the game situation matters.

Out of 29 goalies at 5-on-5 who played 2,000-plus minutes, Sorokin ranked 11th with a .919 SV% and 12th with a 2.21 GAA. He ranked seventh in high-danger SV% with a .839 SV%.

Those aren't amazing numbers but much better than his overall stat line, eh?

However, Sorokin’s downfall came on the penalty kill, where the Islanders were second-to-last with a 72.2 PK percentage.

Of 34 goalies to play in 160-plus minutes on the penalty kill, Sorokin ranked 24th with an .847 SV% and 26th with an 8.65 GAA.

All statistics are courtesy of Natural Statrick. 

While the play in front of Sorokin down a man, or two, was subpar, Sorokin wasn't good enough — something he for sure knows.

With Bob Boughner now tasked with managing the penalty kill, the hope is that his system allows for Sorokin to have more success. It truly just comes down to decision-making, as the Islanders often got caught debating what to do, which led to more chaos and easier finishes for the opponent. 

Sorokin's job is to stop the shots he can see, but his struggles with screens was his Achilles heel.

For a goaltender, being aggressive on the PK is key to counteracting the screens and in-tight deflections. But, there's a lot of goalies that like to play deeper, to see around the screens -- it's just a style. 

It isn't a style that has worked well for Sorokin, that much is true, and one would think goaltender coach Piero Greco has pointed it out. 

The good news for Sorokin and the Islandeers is that if they can figure out the PK, they should be in solid shape since they were on the penalty kill only 5:43 minutes per game, which ranked second-best in the NHL.

That's the sad part of the Islanders penalty-kill struggles in 2024-25. 

In all situations, Sorokin faced the third-most shots in the NHL in 2024-25 (1,696) and the third-most high-danger shots (444).

The Islanders need to get those numbers down if they want Sorokin fresh, especially until Varlamov is ready to go. Yes, the Islanders brought in David Rittich on a one-year, $1 million deal, but in a season where the Los Angeles Kings were dominant and Darcy Kuemper was a Vezina finalist with a 2.02 GAA and a .921 SV%, Rittich struggled mightily, posting a 2.84 GAA with an .886 SV% in 34 appearances.

It's the Sorokin show until it's not.

Sorokin is two seasons removed from his 2022-23 Vezina finalist season, where he posted a 2.34 GAA with a .924 SV% in 56 games. He's looking to bounce back and lead the way as he ramps up for his sixth NHL season, entering the second season of an eight-year deal worth $8.25 million annually.

A year ago, New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin was rehabbing after undergoing offseason back surgery. 

He was unable to have a normal summer and wasn't game-ready for the start of the 2024-25 season. 

Islanders Goalie Ilya Sorokin Unveils Best Russian Chirper He's Faced In NHLChirping is an art. Some NHL players have mastered the art, while others should probably just let their game do the talking. Most chirps are directed from one skater to another, but chirping a goalie does happen.

Now, he's able to put in the work and preapre accordingly for the 2025-26 season and that's exactly what he's doing. 

Ilya Sorokin putting in some offseason work!

Remember he wasn’t healthy last offseason so this is great to see. Hopefully Semyon Varlamov is progressing as well.#Isles will need excellent goaltending from their tandem next season. pic.twitter.com/5bNv3FVTv1

— Isles Den (@IslesDen) August 11, 2025

Sorokin posted a 30-24-6 record in 61 games, 60 starts, with a 2.71 GAA (second highest of career) and a .907 SV% (lowest of his career). 

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