Welcome back to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s Coaches as Players series. Last time, we looked at Canucks icon and player development coach Henrik Sedin’s playing career. Today, we’ll be taking a look at skills and skating coach Jason Krog’s NHL career with the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Canucks. 

Krog, an undrafted forward, specialized in faceoffs during his time in the NHL. Originally from Fernie, BC, he played with the Creston Valley Thunder and Chilliwack Chiefs from 1992 to 1995 before embarking on a four-year NCAA journey with the University of New Hampshire. He enjoyed back-to-back 66-point seasons, the latter of which he scored 33 goals during, and finished his time there with a total of 94 goals and 144 assists in 152 games. Krog was named captain in his final year and scored an NCAA career-high of 34 goals and 51 assists in 41 games. 

The 1999–2000 season was Krog’s first in the NHL, during which he played with the Islanders. He made his NHL debut on December 4, 1999, in a 4–3 loss to the Thrashers. Krog’s first NHL point came on February 10, 2000 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, after tallying an assist on the game’s opening goal scored by Mariusz Czerkawski. The game after, he had his first multi-point game with two assists against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game after that, he scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers. Krog finished his first NHL season with two goals and four assists in 17 games played. During this season, he also spent time with the Lowell Lock Monsters and Providence Bruins of the AHL. 

Krog spent most of the season after, 2000–01, in the AHL. While he did slot into the Islanders’ lineup for nine games, tallying three assists in this span of time, he split most of his season with the Lock Monsters and Springfield Falcons. He tallied 11 goals and 16 assists with Lowell and seven goals and 23 assists with the Falcons, adding up to 57 points in 60 AHL games. 

In 2001–02, Krog played in 64 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 26 goals and 36 assists. He only played in two games for the Islanders, but had the chance to join Bridgeport in their quest for the 2002 Calder Cup. Despite a 10-goal, 13-assist effort in 20 playoff games, Krog and the Tigers lost 4–1 to the Chicago Wolves in the Calder Cup Final. Even so, this was only the beginning of Krog’s experience with Calder Cup Finals action. 

2002–03 marked the start of a different journey for Krog. Newly acquired by the Ducks organization, Krog spent 67 games with Anaheim in his first season with the club. It only took him two games to get his first point as a Duck and five to get his first goal. He had his first two-goal game on January 9, 2003 against the Colorado Avalanche, and recorded three assists against the Phoenix Coyotes on February 7. He finished the season with 10 goals and 15 assists. 

The 2003–04 season was Krog’s first full season spent in the NHL, as he played in 80 of the Ducks’ games. However, he saw a decline in his overall point production, scoring six goals and 12 assists — seven points less than what he had the season prior. During the lockout the year after, Krog played for Villacher SV of the EBEL, posting 27 goals and 33 assists in 48 games. While the NHL returned to play the year afterm Krog remained in Europe, spending the season with Genève-Servette HC of the NLA and Frölunda HC in Elitserien. 

Krog made his return to the NHL in 2006–07, joining the Thrashers for only 14 games. He potted a goal and three assists before ending up with the Rangers. With New York, Krog found his way to the Wolves — the team that had beaten him in the Calder Cup Final only five years prior. In 44 games with the Wolves, he scored an impressive 26 goals and 54 assists. In the postseason, he posted five goals and 14 assists in Chicago’s 15-game run. 

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In 2007–08, Krog stuck solely with the Wolves in the AHL. This seemed to have paid off, however, as he finished the season with 39 goals and 73 assists in 80 games played, making this his first 100-point season in any league. This effort earned him the Les Cunningham Award, which is given to the most valuable player in the AHL. Krog was a beast in the postseason as well, scoring 12 goals and 26 assists in 24 games and being named MVP of the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs. Six seasons after losing to the Wolves in the Calder Cup Final, Krog hoisted the Calder Cup as a member of the very team that defeated him back then. 

After the success of his 2007–08 season with Chicago, Krog ended up signing a deal with none other than the Canucks. Despite only playing in four games and scoring a goal for Vancouver, Krog had yet another offensively-prolific season in the AHL — this time with the Manitoba Moose. He put together his second consecutive 30-goal season and added 56 assists to this, also stringing together an eight-goal, 15-assist performance in the postseason. While Krog had come out victorious in the 2008 Calder Cup Final, he and the Moose were on the opposite side in 2009, losing in six games to the Hershey Bears. 

Krog’s four games with the Canucks were the final games of his NHL career, as after this, he played in the AHL and a variety of European leagues before hanging up the skates in 2016–17. Before departing for Europe, he spent two more seasons with the Wolves, both as captain, and put together back-to-back 75-point seasons. 

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The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed earlier this month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

The name of Calgary winger Joel Farabee has been linked to the Sabres in the past, going back to his days with the Philadelphia Flyers. Farabee was a 2018 first round pick out of the US National Development Program and turned pro after one NCAA season at Boston University. After playing briefly in the AHL, he played 52 games as a 19-year-old rookie with the Flyers, and as a sophomore posted 20 goals in the post-COVID 56-game 2020-21 season. 

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Philadelphia was proactive and signed the winger to a six-year, $30 million extension, but the next few seasons saw a regression in his game due to injuries and a lack of confidence brought about by Flyers head coach John Tortorella. After a career-high 22 goals in 2023.24, the Syracuse native was dealt to the Flames mostly to clear the final three years of his contract off their books. 

Calgary is looking to challenge for a playoff spot, but there continues to be chatter that players like veteran center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Rasmus Andersson (who is entering the final year of his contract) could be dealt if the Flames show signs of not being in the mix.

What Would It Cost?

The Sabres could see an opportunity to bring in a Western New York native at a favorable number and cost certainty the next three seasons for a reasonable return. If the Flames shop Farabee, they could have interest in younger forwards who they would give more of an opportunity to. An almost perfect fit might be Calgary native Peyton Krebs, who was rumored to be a target of Philadelphia and could pique the interest of Flames GM Craig Conroy.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Buffalo Sabres want nothing more than to qualify for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs. Ending Buffalo's 14-year drought without any playoff games is a gigantic stain on the organization, but there's no assurace the Sabres will be able to vault over many solid teams and grab a playoff berth.

Indeed, with all but a few Eastern Conference teams having legitimate designs on being in the next post-season, Buffalo has almost zero room for error this coming season. If they don't start strong coming out of the gate, it could be impossible for them to dig out of the crater they leave and knock off a top-level Atlantic Division rival like the Toronto Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning. The Atlantic standings could feature five teams getting into the playoffs next year, but that would have to come at the expense of the Metropolitan Division's slew of teams that will be vying for a post-season spot. So the Sabres need to play well against the Metro's teams.

To that end, we've been going team-by-team through the Metro and the Eastern Conference in general to examine all the rivalries the Sabres will be immersed in next year. In today's file, we're finishing up the East with a look at the best team in the conference this past season -- the Washington Capitals, who finished first in the Metro last season.

The difference between making and missing the playoffs could come down to a few points, so the Sabres need to win more series than they lose -- and that will be difficult against a Capitals team that was dominant last season. But let's break things down in our usual format, and figure out if Buffalo really has a legitimate shot at winning their series against the Caps.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS

NEW CAPITALS PLAYERS: Justin Sourdif, RW; Declan Chisholm, D 

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Capitals 1-1-1

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  November 1 at Buffalo; March 12 at Buffalo; April 4 at Washington 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres actually did fairly well against the Capitals last year, winning a 4-3 shootout game, then smacking Washington 8-5 in their final game of the season. That said, the Caps did win their first game against the Sabres, and they were on cruise control for a good portion of the latter part of the regular season, so Buffalo shouldn't be cocky that they can win two of three games against Washington this coming season.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Should Buffalo Dominate Showdowns Against Lowly Penguins Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres know their schedule for the 2025-26 campaign, and if Buffalo hopes to end their Stanley Cup playoff drought after 14 years, they're going to need to make the most of every rivalry they have in the league. And that includes the Pittsburgh Penguins -- the team that is the latest Metropolitan Division rival for the Sabres in THN.com's Sabres site rankings of all Buffalo's Eastern Conference's rivals.

The Capitals made very few changes to their roster this summer, adding only fringe players Sourdif and Chisholm. If either of those players sees significant time, it will mean one of two things: either the Caps find a way to play so well, they can affort to rest their regulars, or Buffalo has so many injuries and/or underwhelming performances from their veterans, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery has no choice but to play the two players.

We don't expect the Capitals will get to that point, though. And while Buffalo can point to their two wins over Washington last season as a building point for future showdowns against the Capitals, the truth is that the Caps didn't need to make many moves this summer, and that they match up very well against the Sabres on paper.

To wit: Washington's defense corps performed very well last season, and while Buffalo may have more high-end depth on 'D' than the Capitals, the Sabres' overall play in their defensive end was a major stumbling block to their success, in a way that obviously wasn't what we saw from the Caps. And the Caps have many skilled, experienced players to help them be not only a playoff team, but a top team in their division and conference, and the league in general. 

 

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Do Young Flyers Pose A Threat To Buffalo Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres desperately need to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. And while the Philadelphia Flyers aren't quite as desperate as the Sabres are to do so, Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere wouldn't object at all if the Flyers surprised people and got into the post-season this coming year.

Buffalo has two of its three games against Washington at home this coming year, and as we saw last season, the Sabres were a much better home team than they were on the road. And again, the NHL's playoff race could come down to one or two standings points. So having that second home game against the Capitals could be the difference between Buffalo making and missing the post-season next year.

So, to answer the above question -- can the Sabres beat this Capitals team? -- the answer is "Yes, they absolutely can". And if Buffalo does lose out on playoff hockey for a 15th consecutive season, and they lose the season series against Washington, their play against the Caps will underscore significant problems with the Sabres, problems that will be addressed next summer with many roster changes.

But if Buffalo wins their series against the Capitals, and they do get into the playoffs, the Sabres will be able to point to their play against Washington as one of the reasons they got into the post-season. There's no more excuses for Buffalo, and their performance against the Caps needs to prove to skeptics that this Sabres team is at long last ready to take the next competitive step.

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. 

#39 - Gustav Karlsson – Center (Falu IF -  HockeyEttan - SWE)

Karlsson was the second of the Sabres sixth-round picks at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, where Buffalo chose three Swedish prospects with their last three picks. The 6’1”, 165 lb. center was selected as a 19-year-old overager out of the Orebro HK juniors after scoring 31 goals in 41 games, but the following season his goal totals dropped to 14.

 

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The 21-year-old has earned a couple of stints totaling 11 games at the SHL level,  but has not shown he is ready to play at the top level yet. After another season in juniors, Karlsson was assigned to the third-level pro league (HockeyEttan) and posted five goals for Vimmerby. Last season, he played at the same level for Falu IF, and only showed marginal improvement. According to Elite Prospects, he is slated to play for a third different club in as many years. 

Hockey Prospect’s Black Book said in his draft year that Karlsson “doesn’t engage in puck battles hard enough and often goes in with the intent of letting someone else bring the physicality.” His inability to generate offense even at a lower level does not speak well of his future prospect of earning an NHL deal.

  

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Predicting what NHL teams might do at the NHL Draft every year is a tricky bit of business, and you can go at it from one of two angles. You can try and rank things based on where you believe players will be selected in the draft.  Or you can also rank things based on the level of impact you believe the player will one day have in the NHL. 

There's definitely some degree of overlap in the two projection styles, but it's unbelievably difficult to know for sure if a player who thrives at the pace and competition of the amateur level will be able to do the same against the bigger, stronger, faster pace of the NHL.

As we look back on The Hockey News' 2020 NHL Draft Preview Issue, published right before the greatest draft in Sens history, it sheds some light on just how hard these predictions are.

For example, everybody's number one that year was Alexis Lafreniere, but five years later, no one would rank him in that spot again in a re-draft. THN's 100 projections that year included six future Senators and one that didn't make the top 100 but was still drafted early in the second round.

• Tim Stutzle prediction: 3rd overall (picked 3rd overall) Correct

• Jake Sanderson prediction: 11th overall (picked 5th overall) 6 picks earlier

• Tyler Kleven prediction: 33rd overall (picked 44th overall) 11 picks earlier

• Ridly Greig prediction: 45th overall (picked 28th overall) 17 picks earlier

• Egor Sokolov prediction: 71st overall (picked 61st overall) 10 picks earlier
• Roby Jarventie prediction: Not in top 100 (picked 33rd overall)

• Donovan Sebrango prediction: 87th overall (picked 63rd overall - DET) 24 picks later

The die isn't fully cast on the 2020 Draft class, but it's getting there, and it's always interesting to look back at how people felt about certain players. Some players proved everyone right, while others proved everyone wrong.

---

The Hockey News Archive
May 11, 2020/vol. 73, issue 06

Prospect Rankings

Games were cancelled, but the show must go on. So we look ahead to a draft featuring elite-level talent and depth. Oh, and watch out for the Germans!

WHILE THE SEASON didn't end the way anyone predicted, scouts and GMs will still have to select their future – and by all accounts, it’s a great draft class.

Alexis Lafreniere went post-to-post as the No. 1-rated prospect, and the Rimouski Oceanic phenom only strengthened his grip on the top spot as the campaign went on. Quinton Byfield is a good bet to go No. 2 thanks to his incredible upside, but what happens next will be fascinating.

Tim Stutzle could become the highest-drafted German since Leon Draisaitl went third in 2014, but don’t count out Lucas Raymond or even Jamie Drysdale. No matter what happens, it’s going to be a celebratory draft for German hockey. Stutzle, J.J. Peterka and Lukas Reichel make up the nation’s best class ever.

In the following pages, you will find our ranking of the top 100 players in the 2020 draft class. The top 62 prospects get full reports, written by senior writers Ryan Kennedy and Ken Campbell, featuring quotes from NHL scouts, while we provide snapshot descriptions of the remaining hopefuls. From Alexis Lafreniere to Alex Laferriere, we’ve got you covered.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 

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We’re in the thick of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series – our rankings of the off-seasons of each NHL team, moving in reverse from the 32nd-place Buffalo Sabres to the No. 1 spot. And today’s team is No. 14 in the series – the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Looking at every team’s lineup additions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable, we’ve come up with a consensus on where teams are in the moves they’ve made this summer. Some teams have clearly improved, some teams have made a slight improvement or have been radio silent when it comes to trades and signings. And some teams have regressed. 

The Penguins are a good example of a team that’s made some extensive changes – particularly, regarding their defense and goaltending – and we’ve judged Pittsburgh to be slightly better than they were at the end of another disappointing season. As we’ll explore below, they’re a team that’s gotten slightly better, but that doesn’t mean you should start planning to see the Pens in the playoffs next year. They changed things up with trades and signings, but we’re not sure they’re even going to be in the mix for post-season hockey.

Additions

Arturs Silvovs (G), Anthony Mantha, LW; Justin Brazeau, RW; Matt Dumba, D; Connor Clifton, D; Parker Wotherspoon, D; Alexander Alexeyev, D

The Breakdown: When you’re fortunate enough to employ superstar Sidney Crosby, star forward Evgeni Malkin, and defensemen Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, you have fewer needs than many teams. Thus, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas went out and made seven additions to bolster his team, but we don’t expect all six of the above players to be needle-movers for Pittsburgh. 

The one big question mark that could propel the Pens into the playoffs is new goalie and former Vancouver Canuck Silovs. The Penguins desperately need better goaltending than they had last year, and if Silovs can provide it, that will be a huge advantage for Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, Mantha is a reclamation project who has hit the 20-goal mark just once since 2018-19. Brazeau is known for his physical play, but he’s not going to body-check the Penguins into the victory column. Dumba was a salary dump by the Dallas Stars, and Clifton and Wotherspoon were acquired to fill out the last defense pairing. 

All of this is to say that, weighed against the players they parted ways with, the Bruins have indeed slightly improved. But there’s still a long road ahead for some of these players, and Pittsburgh’s defense corps in particular was the focus of Dubas & Co. as he worked his way through the off-season. In sum, we’d say this is a “nothing to write home about, but technically speaking, they did improve” team.

Departures

Alex Nedeljkovic (G), Matt Grzelcyk, (D), Conor Timmins, (D), P.O. Joseph (D), Matt Nieto (LW)

The Breakdown: In some ways, this category is a plus for the Penguins. They didn’t move heaven and earth to trade Karlsson – but that may still happen – and after getting rid of five fringe players, they didn’t take too big a hit. The most visible loss is Nedeljkovic, who had some stretches of good play last season, but he didn’t do it consistently.

So, the primary loss for Pittsburgh is Grzelcyk – a decent-enough blueliner who somehow still is without a contract as of early August – and after that, you’re talking about a regular healthy scratch in Timmins, and two players (Joseph and Nieto) who combined to produce six points last year. Six. These players may be strong positive influences in the dressing room, but if we’re talking purely about how they slot in on paper, you can see why the Penguins weren’t notably better, but they still had a better off-season than half of the league.

Indeed, the focus of the Pens should be about the future, and sometimes, doing that means you have to strip things down. Dubas hasn’t bought into that concept at this point, but if the Penguins stall and start to spiral, there will be a strong push to trade veterans Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. And it’s getting close to high time that Dubas makes more substantial moves than he’s done this off-season.

The Bottom Line

The Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past three seasons, and they haven’t won a playoff round in seven years. And that’s with some of the top talent in the world on their team. That’s a stunning reality that should sober up Pens management and get them advocating a push to be out of the Mushy Middle of the league – not good enough for playoff action, and not bad enough to land a top prospect at the beginning of the draft.

So, when we have them relatively in the middle of the pack this summer in these ratings, don’t take it to mean we see the Penguins storming out and securing a playoff berth. They should be viewed with skepticism until they prove themselves worthy of fan and management confidence. And if things go sideways and they’re near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference standings, you better believe there will be a PR nightmare until Dubas shows he’s going ahead fully focused on the future and starts making blockbuster moves.

Otherwise, it all feels like the Penguins are running to stand still. They’ve got too many third-and-fourth-line talent and too many question marks on defense and in net. They were active this summer, but the bottom line is that we don’t see their additions/departures column as having moved them much at all in our summer splash rankings. Yes, they didn’t regress, but a slight progress isn’t much to write home about. And time will tell whether these moves were precursors to blockbuster deals during the year.

Summer Splash Rankings

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Colorado Avalanche

16. Ottawa Senators

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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Matthew Tkachuk of the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers has been announced as the cover athlete for the standard edition of NHL 26. 

The NHL 26 revel trailer will go live on EA SPORTS NHL's YouTube channel at 12pm EST Aug. 6.

This marks a return to a one-man cover star after the Hughes brothers graced the cover of NHL 25. 

Tkachuk finished tied for the team lead in scoring in both the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has 88 goals and 254 points in 211 regular season games and 69 points in 67 playoff games in three seasons with the Panthers. 

Florida have made the Stanley Cup Finals all three years Tkachuk has been on the team. 

He is the first Florida Panther to be on the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck in NHL 97. Olli Jokinen appeared on several editions of NHL 2005 is Europe.  

He’s loud. He’s relentless. He’s a problem. Now he’s the face of the game.
See the full #NHL26 reveal August 6th: https://t.co/dXmeA7gpdwpic.twitter.com/2s2cneeJMs

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 4, 2025

Given Tkachuk's recent success, his personality, and popularity in the sport this is a good choice for the cover. 

NHL 26 is expected to release in early September. 

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL 

Florida Panthers superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk has been revealed as EA Sports’ NHL 26 cover athlete, becoming the first Panther to grace the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck on NHL 97.

Tkachuk is as popular a hockey player as you’ll find nowadays. The two-time Stanley Cup winner totals 258,000 Instagram followers and 71,900 followers on X, but that’s just the start of his popularity.

While dealing with an injury following the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, The Pat McAfee Show and the Up and Adams Show, highlighting his personality and natural charisma in front of the camera. 

EA Sports' selection of the 27-year-old to be the cover athlete of NHL 26 seems to be a no-brainer, as his play on the ice backs up his media attention. 

Thank you to the ones who believed, and the ones who didn't.

The full #NHL26 reveal hits August 6th:https://t.co/Iq8zn3ltK5pic.twitter.com/07c0GGxUqH

— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) August 4, 2025

Tkachuk dealt with a major injury this season, forcing him to dress in just 52 games. He returned for the start of the post-season but was still nursing the injury. Despite the injury hampering his abilities, Tkachuk poured in eight goals and 23 points in 23 games. Unfortunately for the former sixth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, the injury issues will carry into the 2025-26 season, as he’s expected to miss several months while rehabbing from corrective surgery after suffering an adductor injury and a hernia.

Tkachuk joins a list consisting of the Hughes brothers, Cale Makar, Trevor Zegras, Sarah Nurse, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and former Panthers teammate Vladimir Tarasenko as recent players to appear on the cover.

A full preview for the game is set to come out on Wednesday, and the game itself is reportedly set for a Sept. 13 release.

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The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

Also, go to thn.com/free to subscribe.

Former Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateSportsbooks reveal head-to-head prop bet between former teammates in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Hockey Betting Is Growing Rapidly - Nov. 2 1990 - Vol. 44, Issue 07 - Stan Fischler

Though the NHL may officially object, hockey betting continues to grow. Evidence is abundant in the continent’s betting capital, Las Vegas, where casinos now regularly post NHL odds. And the second annual, 250-page book, Betting Hockey 90-91, has been published by the city’s foremost ice oddsmaker, Bobby Bryde. Bryde lists the Flames as 3-1 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, followed by Boston and Edmonton at 5-1. Quebec is the longshot at 100-1. Kirk Brooks, director of Vegas’ Imperial Palace sports book, also lists the Flames at 3-1 and Edmonton at 5-1. But Brooks places Boston and Buffalo in a tie for the next spot at 7-1 and Quebec at 200-1…Flyers’ leader Rick Tocchet is one of many NHLers who are concerned about a walkout next season. “We don’t want a strike,” says Tocchet. “Nobody wants a strike but we have to use the word ‘prepare.’ 

Right now we have things we’re looking at but this much is certain; it’s going to be an interesting summer for (NHLPA director) Bob Goodenow.”…The Flyers are understandably worried about Ron Hextall suffering yet another groin injury and the effect it may have on his future. “I felt good coming into camp this year,” the goalie insists. “I worked out all summer with Pat Croce (Flyers’ physical therapist) and didn’t even consider injuries-.”…Washington’s substantial early game attendance at home indicates that the blemish of last spring’s ‘sexpose’ has been effectively neutralized. Insiders say a summer-long advertising campaign by marketing head Lew Strudler saved the club from an image disaster.

RISKY BUSINESS

The latest issue of Financial World magazine describes the NHL’s 1990s expansion plans as “a risky strategy that could backfire on president John Ziegler.” FW asserts that what makes “the NHL’s scheme truly agamble”, is the $50 million franchise price. “How do you justify investing $50 million, when each club’s media revenues are so small,” asks Mike Megna of Minneapolis-based American Appraisals. “It’s unrealistic. Hockey isn’t like other sports that have a network TV contract. It is primarily a local market revenue generator. 

Ranger fans will be shocked on Nov. 7 when arch-foe Denis Potvin strides to center ice before the Sabres game for a Rangers’ presentation. The hook is that Potvin has become frontman for the Alka-Seltzer plus-minus award (formerly the Emery Edge) and gives the prizes in arenas across the league. Crowd control that night might be a problem, but Madison Square Garden’ has embarked on a program to curb the negative behavior of rowdy fans. During the summer, MSG enforced its policy by cancelling the subscriptions of 25 Ranger season ticket-holders. “We’re drawing the line in the use of language that is no longer acceptable,” says MSG’s communications director Bobby Goldwater. But based on early games this season, there has been no significant change for the better.

NHL Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights Lead the PackSportsbooks release betting odds for NHL divisional races for 2025-26 season. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The feeling among many Penguins is that Mario Lemieux will not be available until the New Year, at the earliest. The sombre air in the Penguins’ organization is echoed by teammates who say, all we can do now is hope and pray. Speculation is Pittsburgh management is looking to the future without Mario in its plans…One of the better comeback stories belongs to Brennan Maley, who signed a one-year contract with Tom McVie’s AHL club (Utica) after being out of competitive hockey for four years. 

Kid brother of New Jersey’s David Maley, Brennan spent four years at Omaha’s Creighton University where he pitched for the varsity baseball team and tied a record for most appearances with 24. “I feel like I have a new lease on life,” says Brennan. “I know I’m a longshot but I always wondered if I could play hockey at this level…Scouting for the Edmonton Oilers, Hall of Fame defenseman Harry Howell says the difference between contemporary back-liners and his ilk is that “today’s defensemen feel they have to be offensive. In my day it was defense first. Goals were a bonus. But that all changed with the advent of Bobby Orr of the Bruins.” So, who are 1990-91’s best defensive defensemen in Howell’s mind? “Kevin Lowe, Rod Langway, Mike Ramsey, Brad Marsh and Scott Stevens. Ramsey is the best of them all. Marsh isn’t pretty but he’s very effective and knows how to get in the way.”

ON THE MOVE?

North Stars’ defenseman Peter Taglianetti is one Minnesotan who’s not anxious to move to San Jose next season. “I thought I was secure in Winnipeg,” says Taglianetti. “But I moved to Bloomington and got settled. Maybe the weather is nicer in California but I wonder about the hockey atmosphere. Most of the players on the North Stars feel the club was mismanaged before and they’re wondering if it’s going to happen again.” 

Teammate Dave Gagner says he’s not concerned about moving to California. “What’s more on our mind is the low turnout of fans in Minnesota,” says Gagner. “It’s very disappointing but I don’t know one guy on the team who doesn’t like being in the Twin Cities. When I played for the Rangers, everyone left New York for the summer. In Minnesota, the players all stay.”

…Mats Sundin has been winning raves since becoming a Nordique, but the best statement comes from Whalers’ defenseman Ulf Samuelsson who says, “He reminds me a lot of Lemieux.”

Isaac Howard Offers Serious Value in NHL Rookie Props on Loaded Oilers LineRookie winger Isaac Howard could be the value play bettors are searching for if he sticks on Edmonton’s top line with Connor McDavid.

American forward Jimmy Vesey, 32, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Monday.

It’s an interesting move for Vesey, who has played exclusively in the NHL over the past nine seasons. This is his first contract to play in Europe.

“I’m thrilled to be coming to Geneva and starting a new chapter in my career,” said Vesey. “I’ve heard nothing but praise, not only about Switzerland, but also about the city and the organization. It’s great to be part of such a strong team, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve this season and beyond. Our goal is to get back to the top of the league, and I can’t wait to get started.”

“We are very pleased with to have Jimmy on board,” said club sports manager Marc Gautschi. “Thanks to his excellent hockey IQ and his very reliable two-way game, he can be used in all situations and at key moments. In addition, with his immense experience, he will be an important leader in the locker room. We expect him to regain his offensive performance in our league with his passing skills, and his direct and powerful game.”

Born in Boston, Vesey was drafted out of the Eastern Junior Hockey League in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. However, he never signed with Nashville, instead spending the next four years at Harvard University and then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 2016.

American Ex-NHLer Wins Swiss National League MVPThe Swiss Ice Hockey Federation held its annual awards ceremony for the 2024-25 hockey season on Thursday night in Solothurn.

Since 2016, Vesey has played 626 regular-season games in the NHL with the Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, recording 194 points and 144 penalty minutes.

It was with the Rangers that he played the majority of his NHL games in two separate tours of duty and notched his five most productive seasons, peaking at 35 points in 2018-19. It’s also with the Rangers that he played all 31 of his playoff games, recording nine points.

In 2024-25, he was limited to 43 games split between the Rangers and Avalanche, netting five goals and two assists.

Markus Granlund signs with Swiss club Genève-ServetteFinnish forward Markus Granlund has signed a contract to play with Swiss club Genève-Servette, the reigning club champion of Europe.

Internationally, Vesey won a gold medal for the USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia and also won a bronze at the 2015 senior men’s World Championship in Czechia.

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

In addition to Vesey, Genève-Servette has under contract for 2025-26 former NHLers Jesse Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Josh Jooris, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Taylor Beck and Tim Berni, whose NHL rights are still retained by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Photo © Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.

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

Former Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Anton Khudobin is reportedly retiring from professional hockey after a 17-year career.

Khudobin, 39, played in the NHL in parts of 14 seasons and for six different teams, most notably Dallas and Carolina.

The veteran netminder played for Carolina from 2013-2015, appearing in 70 games for the franchise.

In those games, the Russian netminder had a 27-31-7 record, but a 0.914 save percentage and 2.5 goals against average along with two shutouts.

Khudobin makes unreal diving save on KarlssonCarolina Hurricanes goalie Anton Khudobin dives across the crease to make an unreal arm save on Ottawa Senators defensemen Erik Karlsson.

The most notable accomplishment in his NHL career included a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 as a member of the Stars.

Khudobin, who had only seen action in two playoff games previously, appeared in 25 games that postseason, posting a 0.917 save percentage. He had a 0.910 save percentage in the six-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Congrats to Khudobin on his retirement.

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This past weekend, William Nylander was awarded the GuldPucken, or Golden Puck, as the best hockey player in the world from Sweden. He then did an interview with Swedish media where he spoke about the award, the recent season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and his future both on and off the ice. 

“It’s a very special feeling,” Nylander told Expressen’s Adam Johansson. “It's maybe a goal I’ve always had in the back of my mind, to try to be Sweden’s best player. I appreciate being chosen for that because we have so many good Swedish hockey players.”

As Nick Barden of THN’s Toronto page wrote today, William’s father Michael Nylander was a winner of the award. But although the elder Nylander had a lengthy career which included 15 seasons in the NHL, he never won the award. (Scroll down for a complete list of winners.)

“The season just flew by,” Nylander said about 2024-25. “The Four Nations was an incredible experience. Then came the playoffs, which was a disappointment in game seven (against the Florida Panthers). It was tough, but then I went to the World Championship. The fact that we managed to get a bronze, you have to look at that positively.”

For the third straight season, Nylander hit the 40-goal plateau, reaching a career high with 45, which was second in the league, behind only Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers.

“I don’t know, I play with good players,” Nylander replied when asked about his scoring success. “I can’t say exactly what it is, but maybe I’ve become a little more hungry to score goals. Before, maybe I passed the puck first, but I don’t really know. It just happened, I think.”

Former First-Rounder Kieffer Bellows Signs In Sweden American left winger Kieffer Bellows, 27, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Sunday.

Nylander was drafted eighth overall by the Leafs in 2014 and, since part-way through the 2014-15 season, has played continuously in Toronto, either for the Leafs or AHL Marlies. However, he returns home every summer to Stockholm. He was asked if that’s where he will put down roots when his career is over.

“Yes, 100 percent,” he confirmed about the Swedish capital. “This is home. Toronto is home in the same way. I love being in both places. I’ve considered Toronto home for 10 years – that’s the longest I’ve lived in one place in my entire life. But here in Stockholm I have all my family and friends, so I love coming back home and seeing them. And then of course I love Stockholm – a wonderful city and it’s just nice to be in Sweden.”

And although he was born in Calgary, Sweden is, of course, the country that Nylander represents internationally, which he has done on a number of times. In June, he was named one of the first six players of the Swedish team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Olympic Men’s Hockey Teams Name First Six Players All 12 teams that will compete in the men’s tournament of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy have now announced their rosters.

“It’s a special feeling to get to put on that jersey and play with the best Swedes in the world. We have many incredibly talented Swedes, which makes it so exciting. 

“I’ve never been to an Olympics before, so that’ll be even more special,” he condinued. “Milan is a cool city and everything around will be really fun. I’m really excited.”

Reminded that he’s turning 30 this year, Nylander was asked about his future from a personal standpoint.

“I’ve always known that I want children and a family, but it will come when it comes,” he said. “I’m not stressed about it, but I hope it happens one day. When it happens, it happens.”

Ukrainian-Born Ex-Leaf Heads Back To KHLUkrainian-born Swedish winger Dmytro Timashov, 28, has signed a two-year contract with Admiral Vladivostok, several Swedish media outlets have reported.

Golden Puck Previous Winners:

2023–24 Gustav Forsling Florida Panthers D

2022–23 Erik Karlsson San Jose Sharks D

2021–22 Gabriel Landeskog Colorado Avalanche LW

2020–21 Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning D

2019–20 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

2018–19 Robin Lehner New York Islanders G

2017–18 William Karlsson Vegas Golden Knights C

2016–17 Erik Karlsson Ottawa Senators D

2015–16 Erik Karlsson Ottawa Senators D

2014–15 Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning D

2013–14 Joakim Lindström Skellefteå AIK C

2012–13 Jimmie Ericsson Skellefteå AIK LW

2011–12 Jakob Silfverberg Brynäs IF LW

2010–11 Viktor Fasth AIK G

2009–10 Magnus Johansson Linköpings HC D

2008–09 Jonas Gustavsson Färjestad BK G

2007–08 Stefan Liv HV71 G

2006–07 Per Svartvadet Modo Hockey C

2005–06 Kenny Jönsson Rögle BK D

2004–05 Henrik Lundqvist Frölunda HC G

2003–04 Johan Davidsson HV71 C

2002–03 Niklas Andersson Västra Frölunda HC LW

2001–02 Henrik Zetterberg Timrå IK C

2000–01 Mikael Renberg Luleå HF RW

1999–00 Mikael Johansson Djurgårdens IF C

1998–99 Daniel Sedin Modo Hockey LW

1998–99 Henrik Sedin Modo Hockey C

1997–98 Ulf Dahlén HV71 RW

1996–97 Jörgen Jönsson Färjestad BK C

1995–96 Jonas Bergqvist Leksands IF RW

1994–95 Tomas Jonsson Leksands IF D

1993–94 Peter Forsberg Modo Hockey C

1992–93 Peter Forsberg Modo Hockey C

1991–92 Tommy Sjödin Brynäs IF D

1990–91 Thomas Rundqvist Färjestad BK F

1989–90 Rolf Ridderwall Djurgårdens IF G

1988–89 Kent Nilsson Djurgårdens IF C

1987–88 Bo Berglund AIK F

1986–87 Håkan Södergren Djurgårdens IF LW

1985–86 Tommy Samuelsson Färjestad BK D

1984–85 Anders Eldebrink Södertälje SK D

1983–84 Per-Erik Eklund AIK C

1982–83 Håkan Loob Färjestad BK RW

1981–82 Patrik Sundström IF Björklöven C

1980–81 Peter Lindmark Timrå IK G

1979–80 Mats Näslund Brynäs IF LW

1978–79 Anders Kallur Djurgårdens IF W

1977–78 Rolf Edberg AIK C

1976–77 Kent-Erik Andersson Färjestad BK RW

1975–76 Mats Waltin Södertälje SK D

1974–75 Stig Östling Brynäs IF D

1973–74 Christer Abrahamsson Leksands IF G

1972–73 Thommy Abrahamsson Leksands IF D

1971–72 William Löfqvist Brynäs IF G

1970–71 Håkan Wickberg Brynäs IF C

1969–70 Leif Holmqvist AIK G

1968–69 Lars-Erik Sjöberg Leksands IF D

1967–68 Leif Holmqvist AIK G

1966–67 Bert-Ola Nordlander AIK D

1965–66 Nisse Nilsson Leksands IF C

1964–65 Gert Blomé Västra Frölunda IF D

1963–64 Nils Johansson Alfredshems IK D

1962–63 Ulf Sterner Västra Frölunda IF RW

1961–62 Anders Andersson Skellefteå AIK C

1960–61 Anders Andersson Skellefteå AIK C

1959–60 Ronald Pettersson Södertälje SK RW

1958–59 Roland Stoltz Djurgårdens IF D

1957–58 Hans Svedberg Skellefteå AIK D

1956–57 Hans Öberg Gävle Godtemplares IK LW

1955–56 Åke Lassas Leksands IF D

Multiple winners:

3 – Erik Karlsson

2 – Anders Andersson

2 – Leif Holmqvist

2 – Peter Forsberg

2 – Victor Hedman

Photo © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.

Victor Soderstrom Wins Borje Salming Trophy As SHL’s Top Defenseman Victor Söderström has been named the top defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024-25 season. As a result, he has been awarded the Börje Salming Trophy.

At the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Montreal Canadiens selected forward Florian Xhekaj with the 101st overall pick. This was after Xhekaj posted 13 goals, 25 points, and 76 penalty minutes in 68 games during the 2022-23 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Xhekaj certainly created more hype surrounding him during the 2023-24 with the Brantford Bulldogs, however, as he recorded 34 goals and 65 points in 63 games with the OHL club. He also played in three games with the Laval Rocket that season, recording zero points and a minus-1 rating. 

Xhekaj just completed his first full season in the AHL with Laval, and he undoubtedly stood out. In 69 games with the AHL squad, he recorded 24 goals, 35 points, and 175 penalty minutes. With this, he certainly showed off his scoring touch and provided a ton of grit for Laval in the process. As a result, there is no question that he is one of the Canadiens' most fascinating prospects heading into the 2025-26 season.

If Xhekaj continues to improve next season with Laval, he could make a real case for himself to see time in the Canadiens' bottom six. His mix of toughness and skill is certainly encouraging, so he is a prospect who fans should not sleep on. The possibility of him becoming a nice part of the Canadiens' roster in the future is certainly there.

Canadiens' Blueline Ranked Among NHL's BestIt is no secret that the Montreal Canadiens have a strong defensive group. They only improved upon this off-season, too, as they acquired star blueliner Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders last month.

Photo Credit: © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Heading into the 2025-26 NHL season, the Colorado Avalanche finally have something that they haven’t had since the 2021-22 season: a true second-line center that's under contract for the next couple of seasons.

Since the departure of Nazem Kadri after winning the Stanley Cup to go and sign with the Calgary Flames in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, the Avalanche have struggled to find the right replacement that can fill in that 2C hole the Kadri left, and have been pretty unsuccessful. 

They thought Alex Newhook could have taken that next step with increased playing time and a bigger role attached, but it didn’t work out as well as many hoped. Fourteen goals and 16 assists for 30 points in 82 games isn’t bad, but he was moved around a lot and was clear that they needed something more, especially with a faceoff percentage just over 40%. 

J.T. Compher was also slotted in at times as the 2C, and it worked well at times, but he worked his best on the wing. Finishing with 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points and nodding some Selke Trophy votes, but again, he wasn't a “true” center, just someone they slotted in to play the position.

Enter the 2023-24 season, J.T. Compher leaves in free agency to sign with the Detroit Red Wings, and Newhook is traded to the Montreal Canadiens, leaving an even bigger hole in the 2C spot. Ross Colton was acquired in the offseason, leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning in hopes to fill that position, and did well his first season, finishing with 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points, but again, was moved up and down a lot, still struggling to find the right piece that can stick on that second line.

This brings in the NHL 2024 Trade Deadline and the Avalanche acquiring Casey Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Bowen Byram. Finally, someone who has shown a lot of promise in a struggling Sabres team is ready to make that next step on a contending team. He showed signs when he first came over, finishing with four goals and six assists for 10 points, but it was about a good offseason and ready for the next season to show off what he can do.

Which, as we now know, wasn't much. Finishing with 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 63 games, once again bouncing up and down the lineup. It was at this point that many thought this 2C would just be a carousel of players signing or being traded to try to fill that spot, and either leaving in free agency or being traded out if they underperformed.

It wasn’t until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline that a new chapter would be written into the books for the search for a 2C. Enter Brock Nelson, from the New York Islanders, a proven performer in both the regular season and postseason, big, physical, and heavy shot, who does come with some downsides, but the offense can outshine the flaws. 

It cost a good bit to acquire him, but he was the best they had since Kadri, and while he struggled a bit in his short span, finishing the season with six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 19 games. There was a glimpse of what he really could bring next season.

He was a pending unrestricted free agent, so many held their breath over whether he would be extended and what the cost could look like. He was extended to a three-year $22.5 million contract, a cap hit of $7.5 million per season. While it might be a higher AAV that many would like for a 33-year-old center, the Avalanche are in win-now mode. Signing Nelson is the best for this team to compete, and it ensures they don't lose everything they gave up for 19 regular-season games and seven playoff games.

The line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nelson, and Valeri Nichushkin in the playoffs was one of, if not the best, lines they had all series against the Dallas Stars. This move not only locks their top-six but allows them to work on the bottom-six in any trades or signings as the cap continues to increase drastically in the coming seasons, and focus on other pending contracts, like Cale Makar’s awaiting extension.

It's going to be a big season for Nelson, a shortened season and now a whole summer, training camp, and preseason to get further acclimated with this team and his linemates. Could he still be a 30-35 goal guy that we saw with the Islanders just a few seasons ago? He could. The supporting cast around him helps supply all the tools he needs to find spots on the ice to shoot, it's up to him to continue to be aggressive and use his teammates skills to the best of his abilities to help put the puck in the net and win hockey games, not just for this season but for the the next two following.

Should the Avalanche Pursue a Trade for Yegor Chinakhov?The Colorado Avalanche's 2025 free agency has been relatively quiet. Outside of re-signing some pending unrestricted and restricted free agents, the only actual free agent signing was Brent Burns. The Avalanche still has over $4 million in cap space to use. If the Avalanche want to make a  big splash this summer, then look no further than Columbus Blue Jackets Yegor Chinakhov. Avalanche Swap Prospects with the San Jose Sharks, Acquire Forward Danil GushchinThe Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday that they have acquired forward Danil Gushchin from the San Jose Sharks in return for forward Oskar Olausson.

By Jared Clinton, features writer

New seasons provide new opportunities, which create avenues for players to break out. The 2025-26 season will be no different, and in this article, The Hockey News take a look at the strongest candidates to make a name for themselves or ascend into stardom on the Atlantic Division teams. 

Boston Bruins: Matthew Poitras

It was a surprise when Matthew Poitras made the 2023-24 Bruins out of camp, but a mid-season shoulder injury derailed his campaign. Then, amid this season’s rocky results, Boston bumped him back to the AHL to aid his development. He fared well in Providence, posting 17 goals and 41 points in 40 games with the baby B’s, earning his way back to The Show by season’s end. The 21-year-old is primed for a middle-six NHL role in 2025-26. His playmaking and two-way game could see him help rejuvenate the big club.

Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich

If the increase in ice time Jiri Kulich saw post-trade deadline is any indication, the Sabres view him as a top-six center. That alone should result in a sharp rise in production for the 21-year-old, who was among Buffalo’s most effective five-a-side scorers this year. Per 60 minutes, he ranked third on the team in goals and seventh in points. A gifted goal-scorer with a heavy shot, Kulich will be challenging for opposing defensemen to contain. A 20-goal season is the baseline expectation for him next year.

Detroit Red Wings: Marco Kasper

The patient approach Detroit takes with prospects has paid dividends, and the development system has another success story after the rookie season Marco Kasper just had. The 21-year-old made a seamless leap to life in the NHL, with his 19 goals (fourth) and 37 points (seventh) placing him top 10 in freshman scoring. If not handed the second-line center job, Kasper will at least have a chance to earn it. His blend of speed, smarts and two-way play will make him a key cog as Detroit seeks to return to the post-season.

Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich

Mackie Samoskevich grew into his role in the bottom six as 2024-25 went on, but the greatest indicator that the 22-year-old is ready to take on a larger role is how he fared down the stretch. Given a top-six role – he played 17-plus minutes in eight of Florida’s final 26 games – Samoskevich turned in eight goals and 15 points. That accounted for half of his ’24-25 output. He was bumped from the playoff lineup, primarily by the incoming Brad Marchand, but Samoskevich is in position to take a middle-six spot next season.

Montreal Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle

Despite scoring goals at a career-best pace last season, the likelihood of Kaiden Guhle, 23, becoming a 40-point player is slim. Even regular 30-point years could be a stretch. But becoming a big, physical shutdown defenseman who 31 other clubs would love to get their hands on? That’s becoming a reality. Perhaps as early as next season, Guhle could become the perfect partner for Lane Hutson. That would give the Canadiens a dynamic defensive duo who can play against any foe in any situation.

Ottawa Senators: Ridly Greig

Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson lead the Senators’ revival, but the heart-and-soul style of Ridly Greig has quickly made him a fan favorite and a thorn in opponents’ sides. Greig, 22, has already proven valuable in all situations, but age and experience stand to help him grow into a more consistent offensive contributor. Greig now has two 13-goal campaigns, and he had a career-high 34 points in 2024-25. The next step is flirting with 20 goals and 40 points. Both are realistic goals in 2025-26.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Gage Goncalves

Have the Tampa Bay Lightning unearthed another gem in Gage Goncalves? The 2020 second-rounder had spent the past three seasons as a key contributor for the Syracuse Crunch and even led the AHL squad in scoring in 2023-24, but he stepped into the Lightning lineup in 2024-25 and clung to a steady bottom-six role. Even more promising for Goncalves, 24, was the post-season. His four points tied him for second in Bolts scoring, and he played his way into top-six minutes.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson

Cap constraints and roster reshuffling will provide chances for youngsters to step into larger roles in Toronto, and Nick Robertson is among those who should benefit most. The 23-year-old has been saddled with bottom-six minutes and limited special-teams time over the past two seasons, but his natural goal-scoring acumen makes him a prime candidate for elevation to the second power-play unit. Robertson ranked fourth on the Leafs in goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time this season.

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.