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 defenseman Jordan Oesterle. 

As an NHL prospect 

Oesterle played his first year of juniors with the Sioux Falls Stampede during the 2010-11 season, scoring 15 points in 54 games. Going underrated, Oesterle committed to Western Michigan University and played there for three seasons. 

He attracted the attention of NHL teams following his junior season after 17 points in 34 games. Oesterle would then sign a two-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers, splitting time between Edmonton and Oklahoma City. 

Professional career 

Over three seasons in the Oilers organization, Oesterle played just 25 games with the Oilers before he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks to start the 2017-18 season. He'd eventually find a rhythm on Chicago's third pairing, scoring 15 points in 55 games 

In the 2018 offseason, Oesterle was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, where he had the most successful stretch of his career. He played 172 games over a three-season stretch, scoring 44 points. 

He'd then sign with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 offseason, scoring 19 points in 97 games. 

Oesterle then made the move to Calgary, signing a one-year deal with the Flames and splitting time between the NHL and AHL for the first time since the 2016-17 season. He played 30 games with the Wranglers, scoring 19 points, and 22 games with the Flames, scoring two points.

Oesterle moved again, signing with the Boston Bruins on a two-year contract. He'd split time between Boston and Providence during the 2024-25 season, scoring six points in 22 games in Boston.

He was eventually waived by the Bruins and claimed by the Predators in March. Oesterle played 15 games in Nashville last season, scoring four points. 

Nashville took on a $775,000 hit in picking Oesterle up off of waivers. 

What role will he play this season? 

The Predators were in need of a defenseman last season due to injuries, so it makes sense that they scooped up Oesterle. 

Considering he is a veteran and was able to score in his short time with the Predators last season, he could be a good piece for the third pairing. Having Nick Perbix and Nic Hague now in the rotation makes it hard for Oesterle to move up, so he'll have to prove it in camp. 

They are going to need a lot more out of him in order for him to stay in Nashville the full season. He hasn't scored more than 10 points since the 2020-21 season and hasn't played more than half a season since the 2022-23 season. 

Oesterle needs to find a little bit more consistency and figure out if he wants to take an active role in scoring or supplement other players. 

How much Oesterle has moved over his career his also a bit alarming. Either the teams don't want to resign him, or he doesn't want to stay. He's been traded once and waived once, so only two moves were out of his control. 

If he gets bumped down to Milwaukee, who's to say the Predators won't waive him or if he'll try to leave. His contract does expire at the end of this season. 

If the Philadelphia Flyers are hoping to get the absolute most out of important trade acquisition Trevor Zegras, they need to avoid the mistake the Anaheim Ducks made in each of the last two years before dealing him away.

Publicly, the Flyers haven't committed to Zegras, 24, playing center for them full-time in the 2025-26 season.

But, the former top Ducks draft pick played left wing in each of the last two seasons, scoring just 18 goals, 29 assists, and 47 points in 88 regular season games.

Prior to that, Zegras had reached no fewer than 23 goals and 61 points in his only two full NHL seasons.

This offseason, much of the online discourse has centered around if Zegras plays center, and what happens if he doesn't play center.

Maybe I missed something somewhere along the line here, but there is simply no reason to take Zegras off the center position. How much of a coincidence can it be that a former No. 11 pick enjoyed the two most prolific seasons of his career playing his preferred position?

Faceoffs are a concern, yes; Zegras has cracked a 40% success rate on his draws just once in four seasons as a full-time NHL player.

But, that wasn't enough to hold back Jack Hughes, one of his buddies from the USNTDP, at this level.

In fact, the New Jersey Devils, particularly under the now-departed Lindy Ruff, solved this issue by pairing Hughes with Erik Haula, a defensively-inclined forward who excelled in the faceoff circle and otherwise played on the left wing.

The Flyers can do something similar with free agent signing Christian Dvorak, for example. But it shouldn't be the other way around, where Zegras plays the left wing for someone else.

Between Zegras, Jett Luchanko, and Jack Nesbitt, the Flyers should come away with at least two long-term, top-nine centers to build a contender with.

And, as long as the Flyers don't find themselves overachieving this season, they are still perfectly capable of landing that high-end piece to put the icing on the cake in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Plus, who knows how good Zegras can really be? He approached 70 points on a bad Ducks team in his age-21 season.

The Flyers, somewhat similarly to the Ducks, are finally aspiring to come up from the water and be a decent team.

That opportunity has to be exciting for a guy who got ran out of Anaheim, even after playing out of position for his teammates to try and win games.

Jakub Vrana's short stint with the Nashville Predators has officially come to an end. 

The forward signed with Linköping HC in the Swedish Hockey League on Friday. He played 13 games with the Predators last season, scoring three points and logging four penalty minutes.

Vrana returned to the Washington Capitals during the 2024-25 season, signing a one-year contract after a professional tryout agreement. 

After scoring 11 points in 26 games, Vrana was placed on waivers by the Capitals and was eventually claimed by the Predators. The Predators took on a $775,000 contract when claiming Vrana.

The Predators chose to not to sign Vrana at the end of the regular season. 

It's a true fall from grace for Vrana, as just five years ago, he had 52 points in 69 games and was two years off winning the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals. He had a strong five-year stint in Washington before he traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 2021. 

Vrana has played with Linköping HC before. He played four seasons within the organization at various levels from 2011 to 2015 and at one point was the youngest foreign player in the history of the league. In 2014, Vrana was drafted by the Capitals 13th overall out of Linköping HC. 

A significant amount of success occurred during the era led by Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith in the 2010s. That doesn't mean that the Chicago Blackhawks didn't have legends put on their sweater before that. 

One of those legends is Denis Savard, who spent parts of his Hall of Fame career with the Blackhawks, spanning 13 years out of 17. 

Savard's best year came in 1987-88, where he set career highs in goals (44), assists (87), and points (131). Those 131 points were also the most that any Blackhawks player has ever had in a single season, a record that stands to this day. 

NHL (@NHL) on XSome of these point totals are so ridiculous... 🤯

The NHL put out a list of each team's single-season points leader in franchise history, and Savard's name is on the list for Chicago. Plenty of legends like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Mike Bossy are on the list. Some newer players who are on their way to significant careers, like Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, and Clayton Keller, also find themselves on the list. 

Former Blackhawks superstars Marian Hossa and Artemi Panarin are there too, as they hold franchise records for other franchises. Hossa is the leader for the Winnipeg Jets franchise from when they were the Atlanta Thrashers (100 points in 2006-07), while Panarin is on there with the Columbus Blue Jackets (87 points in 2018-19). 

Savard's record in Chicago broke the mark previously set by himself in 1982-83. He has the four highest single-season totals in franchise history, all alone. Kane is 5th from his 110-point campaign in 2018-19. 

Although the Blackhawks have lots of young stars on the rise, it is hard to see any of them ever coming close to Savard's single-season record. Only a few players have reached that mark on other teams in recent memory. It's not easy in today's NHL. 

Savard, in addition to some of these single-season marks, has a very decorated career. He was a Stanley Cup champion, an All-Star, and was named as one of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players during the centennial season of the league. It's an understatement to call him a legend of the game. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The Chicago Blackhawks moved on from multiple players this off-season. One of them was forward Andreas Athanasiou, as he became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 after the Blackhawks did not re-sign him. Now, with the halfway point of August almost here, the 31-year-old is still looking for his new home.

Seeing Athanasiou still being a UFA at this juncture of the summer is understandable, as he had a tough 2024-25 season. He most notably was placed on waivers by the Blackhawks back in November and spent the bulk of the season at the AHL level with the Rockford IceHogs after not being claimed by another NHL team. 

Athanasiou appeared in just eight games for the Blackhawks in 2024-25, where he had one goal, six hits, and a minus-1 rating. Overall, he struggled to produce offense when with the NHL club this past season. Down in the AHL with the IceHogs this past campaign, he had 11 goals, 16 assists, and 27 points in 30 games. 

While Athanasiou struggled at the NHL level during the 2024-25 season, the possibility of him receiving a professional tryout (PTO) from a team before the pre-season is here would not be too surprising. Keep in mind, this is a player who posted 20 goals and 40 points in 81 games just back in 2022-23 with the Blackhawks.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what happens with the former Blackhawk from here.

Blackhawks Intriguing Prospect Can't Be IgnoredThe Chicago Blackhawks have several exciting prospects who will be looking to cement themselves spots on their NHL roster next season. One interesting prospect who fans should not ignore heading into the 2025-26 season is forward Ryan Greene.

A decision has yet to be made regarding Matthew Tkachuk and potential offseason surgery.

Tkachuk recently spoke to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski about several topics ahead of the NHL 26 cover reveal, and during the chat, the issue of going under the knife sometime this summer found its way into the conversation.

After the postseason, when Tkachuk revealed that he’d been playing through a torn hip abductor and a hernia, he said that he was 50-50 on whether or not to have surgery.

Since then, Tkachuk has had his day with the Stanley Cup, gotten married and enjoyed some traveling.

Surgery?

Tkachuk told Wyshynski that the decision on having any procedure had yet to be made.

He also added that if he does have surgery, he would expect to miss 2-3 months of the regular season.

Recently, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Tkachuk was expected to miss the start of the season and return in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, which would sync up with Tkachuk’s timeline if he were to have the surgery.

If there is one thing we know about the Panthers, it’s that they are fine utilizing time during the regular season for players to get as healthy as possible for the games that really count: the playoffs.

Florida famously rested many of their key players down the stretch last season, despite the team seemingly fighting for positioning at the top of the Atlantic Division.

Did it matter that the Panthers fell to third and lost any home ice advantage they would’ve had during a potential Stanley Cup run? Nope.

Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice and General Manager Bill Zito agree that it’s better to have a healthier team playing on the road than a banged-up team on home ice.

The numbers back that up, as under Maurice, Florida has gone 8-1 in playoff series that they start on the road.

We’ll see how things play out with Tkachuk in the coming weeks, as a decision on surgery is likely to come sometime in the foreseeable future.

TEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers players Aaron Ekblad, Carter Verhaeghe make appearance on Good Morning America

Stanley Cup returns to Finland for hometown visit with Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola

Report: Evan Rodrigues won't be traded, considered a 'really important player' by Panthers

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Joined By Brother And Father On Deluxe Edition Of EA Sports NHL 26

Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist brings Stanley Cup to hometown in Sweden

Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates scoring during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

Since we are in August, the majority of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have signed their new contracts. While this is the case, there are still some interesting veteran players looking for their new homes. One of them is former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jon Merrill.

Merrill spent this past season with the Minnesota Wild, where he recorded two goals, four assists, six points, 85 blocks, and a minus-8 rating. This was after the 12-year NHL veteran recorded four goals, seven assists, and 11 points in 65 games with the Wild during the 2023-24 campaign.

When noting that Merrill is among the top blueliners still unsigned, it would not be particularly surprising if he landed a one-year contract or professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL team before training camp is here. The 33-year-old could be a nice bottom-pairing or seventh defenseman for teams looking to improve their defensive depth.

In 13 regular-season games for the Canadiens during the 2020-21 season, Merrill recorded zero points, four penalty minutes, 10 hits, and a minus-11 rating. He also played in 13 playoff games for the Habs during the 2021 post-season. His time with the Habs ended during the 2021 NHL off-season when he signed with the Wild in free agency.

Canadiens Star Nearing New Impressive MilestoneMontreal Canadiens star Nick Suzuki was undoubtedly a major reason why the Habs got into the playoffs this past spring. He simply thrived for the Canadiens in 2024-25, as he scored 30 goals and led the team with an impressive 89 points in 82 games. With this, it was the best year of the Canadiens captain's career so far. 

Minnesota 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.

The 6-foot defender had 11 goals and 50 points during his freshman year in 42 games for Denver. He recorded 13 goals and 48 points in 41 games during his second season at Denver.

He signed with the Wild after his season at Denver ended. In four playoff games for the Wild, Buium recorded one assist. His one assist was a primary assist on a Kirill Kaprizov power-play goal.

Buium, 19, is set to enter his first season in the NHL. He is currently being ranked second in Calder Trophy betting. The Calder Trophy is given to the NHL's top rookie during the season.

Montreal Canadiens' forward Ivan Demidov is currently the favorite but Buium is not far behind.

Other Wild News

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. Who's In Charge? Wild's Power Play Has Three CommandersST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild enter the 2025-26 season with a good problem on its hands. Who runs the top power play? In previous years, the Wild never really had a sure-fire number one type of defenseman who could run the top unit. 

With 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.

One of the most notable battles to watch at training camp this year for the Penguins is for the backup goaltender spot. With the Penguins acquiring Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks, he should compete for the backup role with Joel Blomqvist.

Silovs spent most of this past season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, where he posted a 14-5-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average in 21 games. However, he more notably thrived in the playoffs during Abbotsford's Calder Cup championship run, recording a 16-7 record, a .931 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average. With this fantastic play, he won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP. 

Given how well Silovs played in the AHL with Abbotsford, especially in the playoffs, he undoubtedly will be in the running for the Penguins' backup job. The 24-year-old has limited NHL experience, however, as he has recorded an 8-8-2 record, a 3.13 goals-against average, and a .880 save percentage in 19 career regular-season NHL games. He also appeared in 10 playoff games for Vancouver in 2024, posting a 5-5 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, a .898 save percentage, and one shutout. 

Blomqvist, on the other hand, appeared in his first 15 NHL games this past season with Pittsburgh. During them, he had a 4-9-1 record, a 3.81 goals-against average, and a .885 save percentage. Overall, he had some troubles during his first NHL action, but he should compete for the Penguins' backup role at camp. 

Blomqvist also played in 18 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2024-25, where he had an 8-7-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.84 goals-against average. This was after he had a 25-12-6 record, a 2.16 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage in 45 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With this, there is no question that he has good upside. 

Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see who ends up winning the Penguins' backup goalie role from here. 

Penguins Gritty Forward Is Player To WatchAt the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins quietly acquired defenseman Connor Timmins and forward Connor Dewar from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. While the Penguins have since traded Timmins to the Buffalo Sabres, Dewar remains on Pittsburgh's roster heading into the 2025-26 season.

By Ella Tsotsos, The Hockey News intern

Tyler Seguin, born in Brampton, Ont. has had many incredible seasons in professional leagues. Seguin was selected second overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins and accomplished a Stanley Cup win in his rookie year.

In his major-junior years, Seguin played for the Plymouth Whalers and became the first member of the team to win the Red Tilson Trophy as an MVP in the OHL. His best season with the Whalers was in the 2009-10 season, in which he had 48 goals and 58 assists and 106 points. 

During the 2024-25 season, Seguin suffered a significant injury that required surgery. Seguin returned to play in the season finale in the playoffs with the Dallas Stars.

Last season. Seguin played 20 games and had 21 points, and with his major hip surgery, he was unable to play until the playoffs. After a successful surgery, the 33-year-old Seguin played in one pre-playoff game with the Stars in Nashville. His physical recovery was praised, as there was much work to be done for regaining his mobility and ensuring he would be fit for play, but he managed to average 15:06 minutes of ice time on average for Dallas in the playoffs. His post-season concluded with four goals and four assists in 18 games.

Seguin’s best season with the Stars came in his first season with the team in 2013-14, during which he recorded 37 goals, 47 assists and 84 points in 80 games. Seguin is a six-time All-Star and won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, as stated earlier.

Although, like any hockey player, goals and milestones are in place. He has played 989 games and has 809 points, and Seguin is inches away from having 1000 in both categories. However, a major remaining goal is to win a cup with the Stars.

During his rookie year in 2010-11, Seguin played amongst significant veteran players including Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Tim Thomas, who are players that rookies looked up to for guidance. Learning from veteran players and being under their wing is admired, and for Seguin, this is a role that is now becoming his.

During an interview, Seguin answered the question regarding any advice he had for players in the minors who want to succeed and enjoy the game.

“Just have fun with it, make sacrifices, don’t party too much and enjoy your time, " Seguin said.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have several exciting prospects who will be looking to cement themselves spots on their NHL roster next season. One interesting prospect who fans should not ignore heading into the 2025-26 season is forward Ryan Greene.

Greene, 21, was selected by the Blackhawks with the 57th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, the 6-foot-1 has shown good promise, and this was undoubtedly the case this past season with Boston University. In 40 games with the school in 2024-25, he recorded career highs with 13 goals, 25 assists, and 38 points. This was after he had 31 points in 38 games during his freshman year with BU in 2022-23 and 36 points in 40 games with the school in 2023-24. 

After completing his third season with BU in 2024-25, Greene signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks, officially marking the end of his time with the school. 

Following signing his entry-level deal, Greene appeared in his first two NHL games with Chicago in 2024-25, where he had zero points, one shot, and three blocks. While he did not get on the scoresheet in his first two NHL games, he showed promise and will certainly be a youngster to watch next season because of it. 

Overall, with how well Greene played in college, he is undoubtedly among the Blackhawks' promising prospects. It will be interesting to see how much of a step forward he takes in his development next season from here, but it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future. 

Blackhawks Have Intriguing Trade Target To ConsiderWhile the Chicago Blackhawks are still in the middle of a rebuild, it would be understandable if they looked to add another skilled forward before the 2025-26 campaign is here. This is especially so if it is a player who can help them beyond this upcoming season.

It was fascinating last season to watch the Montreal Canadiens take on the Philadelphia Flyers, not only because the three duels were close contests, but because, against all odds, Daniel Briere and co. had managed to get Matvei Michkov to cross the Atlantic faster than anyone expected.

The two sides were well matched last year; they both scored 11 goals in the season series, but the Canadiens came out on top with two one-goal lead wins. Two of the games were played in Philadelphia, and the teams split the honours of those two, while the Habs won the only game in Montreal.

Canadiens New Forward Is Intriguing Addition
Canadiens Immortalized Last Season In A Short Film
Canadiens Had Trouble With The Rangers

The first matchup took place in the last week of October, in Pennsylvania, and was a short 4-3 win for the Canadiens. It was one of Cayden Primeau’s good games, with the netminder making 23 saves on 26 shots, while Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher led the charge for the Habs with two points each. Both teams’ best rookies were kept off the score sheet as Montreal managed to contain Michkov, and Philadelphia did the same with Lane Hutson.

The second duel took place five months later, toward the end of March, and the result was different. The former Broad Street Bullies signed a 6-4 win in which Michkov shone brightly, scoring two goals and an assist. He missed a golden hat-trick opportunity in an empty net, and frustrated by the miss, he tried to storm to the dressing room at the buzzer, but the Flyers' leadership stopped him in his tracks and made him salute the crowd after his two-goal performance. Meanwhile, Hutson recorded two assists in the loss while Jakub Dobes struggled and surrendered six goals on 30 shots.

The final duel was on the last Saturday night home game of the season, and the Canadiens managed to rock the building with a 3-2 win. It was Samuel Montembeault’s only game against the Flyers, and he made 21 saves on 23 shots for a .913 save percentage.

If the Canadiens want to build on the success they enjoyed last season, they need to find a way to dominate teams that are lower than they are in the standings; they cannot afford to play down to the opposition. The Flyers finished the season dead last in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points and missed the playoffs. These are the kind of teams the young Canadiens need to learn to take advantage of.

The Flyers' most significant offseason move was the acquisition of Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks. The center had been rumoured to be on the market for a couple of seasons now, and it only cost Briere former Canadiens Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick at the 2025 draft, and a fourth-round pick at the 2026 draft.

On the free agency market, they signed former Hab blueliner Noah Juulsen and center Christian Dvorak to a six-year deal with a $4.45 M AAV. They also tried to improve in front of the net by adding Dan Vladar, who had spent the last four seasons with the Calgary Flames. The 27-year-old was stuck between star rookie Dustin Wolf in Alberta and will be hoping to play a bigger role with the Flyers. The situation in the net has been a constant issue in Philadelphia. Goalies Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov both struggled against the Canadiens this past season, and some new blood will surely help.

When the Flyers take on the Habs this upcoming season, it won’t be a battle of the star rookies between Michkov and Hutson anymore, a battle that the Canadiens’ defenseman won since he was the Calder Trophy winner. Still, it will be the battle of the two young Russians. Michkov will surely want to show Montreal that they should have grabbed him in 2023 rather than waiting for Ivan Demidov in 2024.

There will be plenty of expectations for the youngster in Canadiens’ land this season, but those expectations will more than likely take center stage when Philadelphia comes to town. Michkov had a great rookie season with 63 points, despite playing for John Tortorella. This year, playing for Rick Tocchet, he should be on a longer leash. As for Demidov, he will surely benefit from Martin St-Louis’ tutelage. The coach has always been supportive of his players and seems to do exceptionally well with young players.

The duel of the season will take place on November 4, at the Bell Center, and while that’s a Tuesday night, there’s little doubt that the building will be sold out.

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Undrafted Swedish Defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson Invited to Detroit Red Wings Training Camp

Despite being passed over in the 2025 NHL Draft, Swedish defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson will get a valuable opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the NHL.

Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) on XCarl-Otto Magnusson invited to Detroit camp according to agent Randy Edmonds. #LGRW

The 18-year-old has been invited to the Detroit Red Wings’ training camp ahead of the 2025–26 season, according to an announcement by his agent, Randy Edmonds, on Instagram.

Magnusson stands approximately 6 feet 6.7 inches and weighs 223 pounds, giving him the kind of size that’s hard to ignore on the blue line.

Though the Red Wings cannot sign him to a contract this season due to his undrafted and junior status, the camp invite allows the towering defenseman to gain valuable experience in an NHL setting.

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

Could the Red Wings Make a Competitive Offer for Devils’ Luke Hughes?New Jersey Devils may consider dealing restricted free agent Luke Hughes with the Red Wings being a potential suitor.

Magnusson recently made the move from Frölunda HC in Sweden to North America, joining the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats. Moncton selected him in the second round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Last season, he dressed for three games with Frölunda’s SHL team, logging ice time in one.

Internationally, Magnusson has featured for Sweden’s national junior team, most recently at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis. He went scoreless over five games in the tournament. He’s also been named to the Junior Crowns’ (Juniorkronorna) squad for the team's U.S. tour ahead of the upcoming season.

The Red Wings’ camp could mark an important step for Magnusson as he begins his North American hockey journey and looks to catch the eye of NHL scouts for future drafts.

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Although it’s just the beginning of August, October is just around the corner. It won’t be long before the United Center is packed with excited hockey fans cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks. 

It is unlikely that the Blackhawks are going to be a playoff-caliber team, but there will be excitement due to the youth on the roster. Stars like Connor Bedard, Artyom Levshunov, and Frank Nazar, among other young players, will lead the way. 

There may be a few prospects that make their NHL debuts during the 2025-26 season. We saw plenty of debuts at the end of last season. Even more are on the way. These three could be up with the big club before the season is complete: 

1. Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis had one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons in the history of the OHL while playing for the Brantford Bulldogs. In 65 games played, Lardis scored a total of 71 goals. He also added 46 assists for 117 points.

Now, Lardis is signed and is expected to turn pro in 2025-26. Although he is slated to start with the Rockford IceHogs, you never know what his training camp/preseason could earn him. 

"He's slotted to be a pro next year," said Assistant GM of player development Mark Eaton. "Which pro team [he ends up with] will be up to him in September". 

It sounds like the Blackhawks are going to let him decide where he lands with his play. After all the goals he scored in 2024-25, it's hard to ignore his potential to play in the NHL as soon as this year. 

"Hopefully, this will be my first year pro." Nick Lardis said on the topic. "That's going to be my goal going into the summer. Stay motivated, try to make the team. Whatever happens, happens. Keep getting better."

The good news for Chicago is that he is highly motivated to make the team. He is also okay knowing that if he falls short of making the NHL roster right out of camp, he will continue to work on his game wherever he's asked to play. The NHL is usually where players in his situation end up by the time it's all said and done. There's a great chance he makes his debut in 2025-26. 

2. AJ Spellacy

AJ Spellacy is on a nice little run. Since being drafted in the third round,  72nd overall, he’s made a great impression on the Chicago Blackhawks organization. He was so good in the 2024 preseason that he looked like someone who deserved to make the NHL team right out of the draft. 

The Blackhawks made the wise choice to send him back to major junior, where his development continued. Now, it’s fair to wonder if there is a chance to make the team this time around. He has a shot to make his NHL debut at some point in 2025-26. 

Spellacy's year with the Erie Otters wasn't as productive as some might have thought when he was dominating an NHL preseason, but that's how it goes sometimes. With better players around him, he seems to turn up the heat. 

It isn't Spellacy's specialty to be a high-end offensive player. He thrives as an energy guy who plays the game the right way in all three zones. 

If he has a good camp and preseason, he may get nine games before Chicago sends him back to Erie, but that is ultimately up to his play.

He played with the top-rated players at the World Junior Summer Showcase, which gives him an inside track to make the team in the Winter. Again, that will be up to his play, Chicago's plans for him, and how USA Hockey sees fit for their team. 

Getting a taste of the NHL, even if it's just a small bite, could be good for Spellacy and his development. The tools are there for him to be an impactful player full-time one day soon. 

3. Sacha Boisvert

The Chicago Blackhawks have an impressive player in Sacha Boisvert. The young two-way forward was a first-round pick by Chicago (18th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. 

Boisvert attended the University of North Dakota in 2024-25, and he was one of the best freshmen in the country. However, his coach, Brad Berry, was fired. That didn't sit well with Boisvert, who was recruited by Berry. 

Early in the off-season, Boisvert announced that he'd be transferring to play for Jay Pandolfo at Boston University, which has an incredibly productive development program for young hockey players. 

"I know Jay Pandolfo personally, [I] played with him," Mark Eaton said. "I know what he's about and instilling pro habits in guys, playing a 200-foot game, being responsible on both sides of the puck. Sacha is that already, but it's just going to be driven home even further at BU. He's going to play a huge role on a good team, making deep runs."

When BU's season is over, whether that's ahead of the Frozen Four or as National Champions, there is a chance that Boisvert signs with the Blackhawks and makes his NHL debut. He'd likely only get 2-7 games with the Blackhawks, depending on when he signed, but it would be a great experience nonetheless. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Czech forward Jakub Vrána, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Linköping HC, the Swedish Hockey League club announced on Friday.

The move has been heavily rumored for more than two months and, for Vrána, it marks a return to the club where he played from age 15 to 19 and got his first tasted of professional hockey. He recorded 34 points in 98 SHL games as a teenager.

“I personally felt that this day would come at some point,” Vrána is quoted in the club’s announcement. “For me it was just a matter of time. I am very happy to represent Linköping again and now I just can’t wait to get to the city and the organization, and start working together with the team.”

Vrána was born in Prague and, for a while, there was also speculation that he’d sign with Sparta of the Czech Extraliga. However, Linköping was the clear front-runner.

“It’s been a pretty hectic summer for me to be honest,” Vrána continued. “I left the US and then I had a couple of options around Europe to choose from, but for me personally, I chose with my heart. I’m extremely happy to be coming back to Linköping again as I basically grew up in the city. I left my home country when I was 15 years old, played a lot in the academy, got the chance to play senior hockey for the first time and made a lot of friends that I still have close to me. All of that has helped shape me into the person and man I am today, and I’m very grateful for that.”

CONFIRMED: Nicklas Bäckström Is Back In SwedenSwedish center Nicklas Bäckström, 37, has signed a contract to play for Brynäs, the SHL club announced at a press conference on Monday morning. The contract is for one year plus an option.

“We’ve been very clear in recent years that he would be a dream signing for us and that we have now managed to land him of course feels fantastic,” said Linköping sports director Peter Jakobsson. “We know that Jakub’s first choice recently has been to get a new contract in North America, which we fully understand as it is every hockey player’s dream and vision. It indicates a hunger and drive in him which we value very highly. When the opportunity has not come, at the end of the day it has been funneled down to a couple of clubs in Europe and there he has, as he himself expressed in our conversations, chosen with his heart.”

While he played in Linköping, Vrána was chosen 14th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He established himself as a regular NHLer, recording 52 points in 69 games for Washington in 2019-20, and he regularly represented Czechia at the IIHF World Championships.

However, his career eventually became marred by injuries, declining play and a spell in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program. Over the last four seasons, Vrána has only played in 110 NHL games, recording 49 points. He was also unable to earn a spot on the Czech national team roster last spring, getting cut prior to the 2024 Worlds in Prague.

Jakub Lauko Returns Home To Czechia On Multi-Year DealCzech forward Jakub Lauko, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Friday.

Overall, Vrána has 223 points in 406 NHL regular season games with the Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators. He also has eight points in 38 playoff games, all with Washington, and was part of the 2018 Stanley Cup championship team.

“He has a fantastic shot and is a fantastic skater,” Jakobsson said of Vrána. “It’s easy to say he’s an offensive forward, but he’s developed his defense during his time in North America. We’re a team that wants to work hard and do the right thing all over the court with everything that means, and that goes for Jakub too. In our eyes, we’re getting a complete player.”

Vrána joins a Linköping team that finished 12th in the SHL standings last season and has missed the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. In addition to Vrána, the team’s roster includes ex-NHLers Nick Shore, Oscar Fantenberg, Christoffer Ehn, Remi Ellie and Ty Rattie.

Ducks’ Italian Goalie Prospect Loaned Back To Swedish ClubItalian goaltender Damian Clara, has been loaned by the Anaheim Ducks to Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Saturday.