Five years ago today, the Vancouver Canucks embarked on their first playoff (plus play-in) run in five years. Granted, this playoff series took place without the help of home-ice advantage and with extensive COVID-19 procedures in place — but it was still a playoff series nonetheless. Let’s take a look back at the 2020 Bubble Playoffs and how the Canucks performed during them. 

The Bubble Playoffs were the first taste of playoff action that the majority of the Canucks’ young core had been exposed to at the time. Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat had only played in six postseason games back in 2015. Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, and Thatcher Demko had no playoff experience. Prior to this run, J.T. Miller had 61 playoff games under his belt, while veterans and career Canucks (at the time) Chris Tanev and Alex Edler had 16 and 65 respectively (both of which included games played during the 2011 Stanley Cup run). 

Because of the league-wide shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, no NHL teams were able to finish their regular season. As a result, the league introduced a play-in tournament that allowed teams to clinch their spot in the playoffs by beating another competitor in a best-of-five series. The top-four teams in each conference were automatically guaranteed a playoff spot, though they still had to take part in a round-robin tournament that would later determine playoff seeding. Vancouver finished their season seventh in the Western Conference with 78 points in 69 games, placing them in the play-in group. To officially qualify for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they had to beat the Minnesota Wild in five games. 

Vancouver got off to a poor start to their bubble playoff run, surrendering two power play goals to the Wild in what ultimately resulted in a 3–0 loss. Micheal Ferland and Marcus Foligno kicked the series off with a fight a little over a minute into the game. A little over a minute later, Edler took a tripping penalty that sent the Wild onto the power play, where Kevin Fiala captialized on the opportunity. The Canucks took two more penalties before the end of the first period, one on Tyler Myers for cross-checking, and one on the bench for too many men.  

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Vancouver Canucks Podcast Rundown: Hockey, Actually, Episode 3

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Center Elias Pettersson

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Season Series Preview: St. Louis Blues

The Canucks’ second penalty didn’t come until halfway through the second period, when Tanner Pearson slashed Carson Soucy, sending Minnesota on the power play once again. This time, it was Jared Spurgeon who scored for the Wild. Spurgeon also got an empty-net goal near the end of the game to seal the deal for Minnesota, who left the game with a 1–0 lead in the series. By the end of the game, Vancouver had taken six penalties as well as Ferland’s fighting major and a game misconduct for Antoine Roussel. 

This game’s result was not encouraging for Canucks fans. Minnesota goaltender Alex Stalock had stopped all 28 of Vancouver’s shots on net, with Horvat and Tyler Toffoli being held to none. The Canucks were not alone in their misery, however, as both the Nashville Predators and the Toronto Maple Leafs also lost their series-opening games on the same day. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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 Columbus winger Dmitri Voronkov has continued to circulate in trade chatter in spite of the 25-year-old signing a two-year contract extension last month. The hulking 6’5”, 227 lb. forward was a fourth-round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2019 and spent four seasons in the KHL before breaking out with 18 goals with Ak-Bars Kazan in 2023. After signing a two-year entry-level contract, he posted the same number of goals as an NHL rookie in 2024 and set a career-high with 23 goals last season. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

There are reasons to be skeptical of Columbus having any interest in trading Voronkov, as he is locked up for two more seasons at a $4.175 million AAV and is retainable for another year as an arbitration-eligible RFA. Unless he is not happy with the Blue Jackets like fellow countryman Yegor Chinakhov is, GM Don Waddell will want to make a hockey deal involving an NHL player. 

What Would It Cost?

The Sabres again would have some insight on Voronkov with Jarmo Kekalainen as a senior advisor, and undoubtedly would be interested in the 24-year-old, since he has size and would be able to plug the hole created by the trade of Peterka to Utah. The cost would likely have to be a young forward with years of control, since the Blue Jackets have four defensemen making over $4 million signed for multiple years. Zach Benson, Jack Quinn or Jiri Kulich would have to be part of the deal.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of intriguing prospects in their system. One of them is goaltender Drew Commesso, as many feel that the 23-year-old netminder could become a nice part of the Blackhawks' future.

Commesso appeared in his first two NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he sported a 0-1-0 record, a .846 save percentage, and a 3.36 goals-against average. The Norwell, Massachusetts native spent the bulk of the campaign in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, however. In 39 games with the AHL squad in 2024-25, he had an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.54 goals-against average.

During his first season with the AHL club in 2023-24, Commesso had a .906 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average in 38 games. Thus, the 2020 second-round pick took a bit of a step forward in his development this past season with Rockford. Now, his goal from here will be to continue to improve to increase his odds of getting more NHL time in 2025-26. 

When looking at the Blackhawks' current goalie depth, it is likely that Commesso will start the season in the AHL. However, if he continues to trend in the right direction, it certainly should open the door for him to get more chances with the Blackhawks. The potential for him to become a good NHL goaltender is there, and it will be fascinating to see if he can hit a new level next season from here. 

Blackhawks: 3 Teams Who Could Target Connor MurphyChicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy is a player to keep an eye on. The right-shot blueliner is entering the final season of his contract, so he certainly stands out as a potential trade chip for the rebuilding Blackhawks. This is especially so when NHL teams are often willing to pay more for big, right-shot defenseman.

Photo Credit:  © Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Flyers have been connected to a host of different centers in trade rumors this offseason, but there's still one nobody is talking about.

Young centers like Mason McTavish and Marco Rossi are drawing most of the attention these days, but rarely, if ever, does the Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell get brought up in these discussions.

But, why should he after winning the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years?

The answer is simple: the Panthers may not be able to afford to keep him due to their salary cap situation; they're currently $3.725 million over the cap ceiling.

Forward Evan Rodrigues has been floated as a trade candidate due to his $3 million cap hit. The Panthers can then make up the difference by assigning another forward to the AHL if and when necessary.

But, teams know the Panthers need to shed money to become cap compliant. That's where a team like the Flyers, with all their prospects and future draft capital, can strong-arm the Panthers into giving up a higher value asset like Lundell.

Lundell, 23, is signed through 2030 at a $5 million cap hit and doesn't have trade protection at any point in the deal.

Flyers Should Pull the Plug, Trade Ryan Ellis's Contract NowThe Philadelphia Flyers have officially reached the point where they can't afford to hold onto the rotting contract of Ryan Ellis any longer.

Despite slotting in behind Sam Bennett and captain Sasha Barkov in the Panthers' lineup, Lundell has still impressively managed 44 and 45 points, respectively, in two of his four NHL seasons so far.

Most importantly, at least for the Flyers, is the Finn's playoff performances thus far.

Lundell has already played 77 playoff games, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last three years and winning the Cup in 2024 and 2025.

In those 77 games, the former No. 12 overall pick has 12 goals, 34 assists, and 46 points, including nine goals, 26 assists, and 35 points in his last 47 games, which culminated in two Stanley Cups.

Between Lundell, Trevor Zegras, Jack Nesbitt, Jett Luchanko, Jack Berglund, and Heikki Ruohonen, the Flyers should be set down the middle for the long haul.

As for a potential Flyers trade package, Philadelphia doesn't have much, at least for the sake of saving cap space, of use to Florida, though a player like Bobby Brink could make some sense, just not on his own.

The 24-year-old winger has one year remaining on his contract at an extraordinarily reasonable $1.5 million cap hit and will be an RFA upon its expiry next summer.

Flyers Below NHL Average in Contract Discounts, Data ShowsThe 2025 NHL free agent market was not one conducive to the Philadelphia Flyers saving money or driving bargains, but, historically, the Flyers haven't negotiated favorable contracts anyway.

Brink quietly posted a career-high 41 points last season, even while primarily featuring on a checking line alongside Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster.

That would bode well for the Panthers, given the style they like to play.

So long as Brink continues to develop, or even maintains this level of play, he's as much of a long-term asset as Lundell, just at a different position.

It should be noted that the Flyers have their first three picks in each of the next three drafts, including two first-round picks in 2027.

They more than likely won't be willing to move their 2026 first-round pick, which could land them Gavin McKenna, but the Flyers have plenty of draft capital to pony up for the Panthers.

The Panthers can then, in turn, convert those assets into a player at the trade deadline to aid them in their quest for a three-peat and beyond.

Panthers GM Bill Zito is smarter than to be coerced into giving up a young stud like Lundell, but even Tom Brady had bad games.

Let's see how the next few weeks unfold if the Flyers attempt to stay active.

It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are open to making trades right now as they continue to retool their roster. Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson, and Rickard Rakell are three notable names who have been discussed heavily in the rumor mill this off-season. However, with the Penguins willing to make changes, it is fair to wonder if some of their depth players could end up moved, whether that is during the summer or the season. 

When looking at the Penguins' roster, one player who has the potential to generate interest around the league is forward Blake Lizotte.

Lizotte is certainly a player to keep an eye on moving forward. The 27-year-old center is entering the final season of his contract and is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). With this, he could be a player who the Penguins make available if they do not view him as a long-term part of their plans. When noting that he has an affordable $1.85 million cap hit, there would likely be some suitors out there for him if he is shopped.

Lizotte just completed his first season with the Penguins after spending the previous six with the Los Angeles Kings. In 59 games this past season with the Penguins, he recorded 11 goals, 20 points, and 60 hits. When noting that he can provide decent secondary offensive production and grit, he could be a nice addition for a playoff club looking to boost its bottom six at the center position. He can also kill penalties, which adds to his appeal. 

Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see what the Penguins end up doing with Lizotte this season. 

Former Penguins Winger Still A Free Agent With it now being August, things around the NHL have naturally slowed down significantly. It is not surprising, as most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed. However, there are still some veterans who are UFAs at this point in the summer, and one of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Former New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey may not be on an NHL team this upcoming season, but that does not mean he’s done playing hockey. 

According to Daria Tuboltseva of RG Sports, Vesey may play in the KHL next season with SKA St. Petersburg reportedly the frontrunners to land the veteran forward. 

“Jimmy has been asking a lot of questions about how things work in the KHL and is seriously considering offers from the top European league,” Tuboltseva wrote.

Vesey spent the first three seasons of his career with the Rangers, and he actually made a return to New York in 2022 after playing for the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils. 

This past season, Vesey’s role with the Rangers diminished to the point where he was scratched out of the lineup for multiple games in a row. 

His frustration ultimately got the best of him, and he spoke out about his limited playing time. 

“I love being a Ranger, and I think everyone knows that. The six years I’ve been here have been the best and most fun I’ve had as a player,” Vesey said via Larry Brooks of The New York Post. “But this stretch where I haven’t dressed for the last [nine] games and have no indication that this is going to change, it’s been extremely difficult for me.”

Will Cuylle Will Be The Rangers' Biggest X-Factor For the 2025-26 SeasonThe New York Rangers’ biggest X-factor going into the 2025-25 season is Will Cuylle. 

“It seems that I’ve fallen out of favor and have just been cast aside over an extended period of time. It feels like I have no role or purpose on this team.

At around the time of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Vesey, along with Ryan Lindgren, were traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

By Dillon Collins, Features writer

How many 21-year-olds have the chance to play alongside one of the greatest of all-time? Ville Koivunen found himself occupying such rarefied air during his first taste of NHL play with the Pittsburgh Penguins, operating on the top line alongside Bryan Rust and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby.

“When I went to the NHL, it was like a dream come true,” Koivunen said. “It was pretty nice and a lot of fun. And, of course, playing with Crosby and Malkin, Rusty, those guys were pretty awesome.”

But Koivunen skating alongside ‘The Kid’ wasn’t initially in the cards. While the Oulu native has all the requisite tools to become a top-six attraction, it appeared he’d spend his future plying his trade with the likes of Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov after the Carolina Hurricanes selected Koivunen in the second round of the 2021 draft, 51st overall.

Instead, Koivunen – then in his third season with Liiga squad Karpat – became the key prospect Pittsburgh coveted in the 2024 deadline deal that saw winger Jake Guentzel head to Carolina. “It came out of the blue,” said Koivunen, now 22. “I was pretty surprised when I woke up and saw the trade. The first hour, I was a little bit shocked. Like, what’s going to happen now? And what do I have to do now? But after one hour, I was very excited about where I get to with the organization, what they have done and what kind of players they have. And of course, the good part, maybe getting chances to play in the NHL, too.”

This was no ordinary Stanley Cup run, this was a Rat Race! 🐀

Introducing the brand new 2025 CHAMPIONS Issue @FlaPanthers

Now available at: https://t.co/smKk3NQdgQpic.twitter.com/xHu9pde38l

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 27, 2025

Koivunen made an immediate impact in his first full season with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, blowing past expectations to lead the team with 56 points and tie for third in goals with 21 in 63 games, earning a spot on the AHL’s all-rookie team. “They’re a great group,” Koivunen said. “It was easy to play with them – a skillful group. And coach Kirk (MacDonald) helped me a lot. He gave me a chance to play with my strengths and use them, which was pretty great.”

"When I went to the NHL, it was like a dream come true."

- Ville Koivunen

After being recalled from the AHL on March 28, Koivunen made his NHL debut two days later in a 1-0 Pittsburgh win over Ottawa. And he showed no sign of jitters, putting up seven assists in his seven games after being held off the scoresheet in Game 1. With the NHL squad missing the playoffs, Koivunen earned further big-game experience after returning to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and banking two assists in as many games in the Baby Pens’ brief post-season run. “Every game, I felt a little more comfortable,” he said. “I felt like I could make more plays in every game and have a lot of confidence. The game’s faster, of course. There’s a lot of skill – like how they play with the puck. I just went there to play with my strengths, and then you feel it, and it is a little bit like a different level.”

Though Koivunen is not big at six-foot and 172 pounds, he has a great complete level, and his smarts and natural playmaking ability make him dangerous. He now must work on rounding out his game and adjust to the rigors of North American hockey. “I’m just trying to get more explosiveness and be faster, and also a bit more strength on the battles, on the corners and trying to win the puck battles more,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing I’m trying to improve.”

And what has he learned from his brief time sharing a dressing room with Crosby, Malkin and Co.? “I just try to watch how they play and what they do off the ice,” he said. “Just try to do everything as good as you can. I think that’s going to help me a lot there.”

"I just try to make the team. In the NHL, I think that's the biggest thing that I have to think about."

- Ville Koivunen

Back home in Oulu, Koivunen spends his summer maintaining a consistent training regimen while reconnecting with friends and family. “I just try to practise hard, train hard and also be with my friends – hang out with them,” he said. “I haven’t seen them the whole season, so that’s a lot of fun. Also, with my girlfriend, I try to do something with her and hang out with my family, too. I don’t see them a lot, either, so I try to be with them. I also like to play every kind of ball game. I like to play tennis, golf and also floorball sometimes.”

Koivunen is in a prime position to benefit from a change in philosophy within a Penguins front office that is increasingly focused on the future. With the Pens’ youth movement intermingling with the Crosby-led legacy squad, Koivunen has every opportunity to establish himself as much more than an everyday NHLer. “I just try to make the team,” Koivunen said of his mindset going into next season. “In the NHL, I think that’s the biggest thing that I have to think about. I just try to make the team.”

---

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.

Jan 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) takes a shot on goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

As disappointing as the 2024-25 season was for the Nashville Predators, there were some milestones and positive moments that, albeit briefly, put smiles on the faces of Preds fans.

Here’s a look at three great moments from last season.

Forsberg Gets No. 300

Jan. 16, 2025, was a great night all around for the Predators.

Filip Forsberg’s 300th career goal came in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena.

Forsberg’s goal tied the score at 2-2 with less than three minutes left in the third period, as he fired a slapshot home from the right side.

After overtime came and went without a tally from either side, the Predators got scores from Gustav Nyquist, Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos in the shootout to secure the victory. It was the Preds’ first shootout of the season.

Forsberg’s milestone wasn’t the only thrill that night. The team honored the inaugural class of its Preds Golden Hall. David Poile, Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne dropped the ceremonial puck before the game got underway. It was also the Predators’ 1001st victory in franchise history.

Saros Notches Career Win Milestone

On March 25, 2025, Preds goalie Juuse Saros earned his 200th career victory in a road triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes at LenovoCenter.

Saros stopped 34 shots in the win, while Luke Evangelista helped the cause with two goals. The victory also gave Nashville a sweep of the season series with the Canes.

Michael Bunting put the Predators in front 1-0 on a power-play goal, his second as a member of the Preds.

Evangelista’s backhander made the score 2-0 before Carolina narrowed the gap on a second-period goal by Taylor Hall.

Saros was tested throughout the game, particularly in the middle frame, but made some clutch saves to keep his team in front.

Evangelista added some insurance after tipping in a Marc Del Gaizo shot in the third.

Saros became the sixth Finnish-born goaltender in NHL history to reach the 200-win milestone. Rinne tops that list with 369.

Preds End Season With Win Over Dallas

Playoffs wouldn’t be in the cards for the Predators, but pride still mattered as they took on the Dallas Stars in the final game of the regular season Apr. 16 at Bridgestone Arena.

It was Fan Appreciation Night, and the home crowd definitely appreciated the send-off. Five different Preds skaters scored in a 5-1 victory over the Stars, who ultimately got to the Western Conference Finals.

Jordan Oesterle, Jakub Vrana, Justin Barron, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O’Reilly all tallied for the Preds, while Juuse Saros made 29 saves in goal to conclude the season.

The game didn’t start in Nashville’s favor. Mason Marchment scored just 16 seconds in to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

That was all the visitors would get, however, as the Preds reeled off five unanswered goals for a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Saros took care of the rest, and the Smashville faithful gave their team a final ovation after the game.

The San Jose Sharks have an abundance of prospects who will be battling for spots in the NHL and the American Hockey League this coming season.

While there will be other prospects playing in a variety of leagues, today we’re going to focus on prospects who are expected to start the season with the San Jose Barracuda. Let’s take a look at some first-year professionals (in North America) whom head coach John McCarthy will be able to count on to push the Barracuda forward and further their development.

Quentin Musty had a strange 2024-25 season. It started with a holdout, as he refused to report to the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League to start the season. Eventually, he’d return to the team, but it did prevent him from participating in the Wolves’ first 12 games.

Less than a month after reporting to Sudbury, Musty broke his hand against the Oshawa Generals. Not only did that knock him out of OHL action, but it also prevented him from participating in the IIHF World Junior Championship.

All things considered, he had a pretty strong season for the Wolves but did take a step backward production-wise. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 1.92 points-per-game, a number that dropped to 1.79 in his most recent outing. While there are many factors that contributed to that occurring, it wasn’t ideal to see from one of the Sharks’ top young prospects.

Musty made his debut with the Barracuda after the Wolves’ season came to an end. He played three games in the AHL, but failed to record a point. Once he gets a full professional training camp, though, things will likely be different for the 20-year-old winger.

The Sharks’ second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, Kasper Halttunen, has been successful at any level he’s played. He’s played at essentially every level of Finnish hockey, including a 27-game stint with HIFK in Liiga. Although he only recorded a single assist during that stretch, playing at that level as a teenager was an impressive feat in its own right.

Halttunen made the jump to North America immediately after being drafted, joining the OHL’s London Knights, where he’d play alongside fellow Sharks prospect Sam Dickinson.

Under head coach Dale Hunter, Halttunen made an instant impact for the Knights. In his first year, he scored 32 goals and totaled 61 points in 57 games while learning to adapt to the North American style of play.

After training camp last season, general manager Mike Grier faced a decision regarding Halttunen. As a European, Halttunen was eligible for the American Hockey League as a 19-year-old, but they also had the option to send him back to London alongside Dickinson and allow them to develop together.

Ultimately, Halttunen was given a stint in the AHL to start the season, but it didn’t last long. In six games, he scored two goals and added two assists before Grier decided to send him north of the border to rejoin the Knights in London.

From there, Halttunen had a decent showing with the Knights; however, he didn’t take the jump forward that the Sharks were likely hoping for during the regular season. He finished with 21 goals and 41 points in 38 games for the Knights, but he truly found his game in the playoffs.

During the postseason, Halttunen was a key contributor to the Knights’ run to the Memorial Cup. He scored 15 goals in 17 games, while adding six more assists for a total of 21 points. When all was said and done, Halttunen would end the season as a Memorial Cup champion and was named MVP of the OHL playoffs.

Now, he gets the opportunity to show what he can do as a full-time professional. The 2025-26 season will undoubtedly be crucial for Halttunen’s development, and if he’s not a key player for the Barracuda, that could indicate some issues ahead.

Like Halttunen, Igor Chernyshov does have a decent amount of professional experience. He played a total of 39 games in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League before making the jump to North America for the 2024-25 season. However, he has only played three professional games on North American soil. He made his debut for the Barracuda late last season and scored his first goal in May against the Colorado Eagles in his only postseason appearance under McCarthy.

The Sharks’ second-round pick in 2024, Chernyshov, brings size and powerful skating to the team, but also much more. According to Elite Prospects’ 2024 Draft Guide, “Chernyshov excels at anticipating openings and exploiting them. He beats defenders consistently by properly setting up his dekes, building up speed below the puck, and then attacking with a speed advantage and working give-and-goes.”

Although the Sharks will have an abundance of high-end talent at the AHL level, the Barracuda’s rookies should be some of McCarthy’s most dominant players. If that's not the case, it could be cause for some concern.

Photo Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks have made some impactful draft picks since Kyle Davidson took over as the General Manager. A lot of the notable ones are the most talented. Players like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Anton Frondell come to mind as the high-end, skilled players in the organization. 

With that said, you need depth to make deep runs in the NHL. Not every prospect is going to reach the highest level and become a superstar. Being a high-end offensive producer isn’t needed out of every player on a playoff-worthy roster. The top teams have a balanced lineup. 

Nothing is set in stone, but the foundation of a solid bottom six may already be in Chicago’s pipeline. A free agent or acquired player via trade is likely to join the mix more than once, but the Blackhawks have a lot of young talents who could form great 3rd and 4th lines. 

Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, AJ Spellacy, and Colton Dach are your prototypical bottom-six forwards who can play with speed and physicality. There are also players like Sacha Boisvert, Nick Lardis, and Marek Vanacker who have top-six ceilings with bottom-six abilities. 

What is it you look for from guys who play this role? Forechecking, winning face-offs, and producing offensively here and there is a great start. 

When you think back to Chicago’s championship years, guys like Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik, Marcus Kruger, and Viktor Stalberg made a huge impact in the bottom six. Players like Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell were those guys who could play anywhere in the lineup. They’re all important complements to stars like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Sharp. 

Not all of these prospects are going to end up with the Chicago Blackhawks. Not all of them will even be NHL players for long. The ones who accept their role and execute it the best will stick around.

Chicago still has some work to do to add/develop star power at the top of their forward group, but the organizational depth gives them a chance to build a great bottom-six. 

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

Quinten Byfield is officially on Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

The 21-year-old Los Angeles Kings Forward was one of 42 NHL players invited to Hockey Canada’s Olympic orientation camp, boosting his status as a young rising star prospect to join a legitimate national team contender. 

Hockey Canada has invited 42 NHL players to orientation camp in preparation for the 2026 Italy Olympics:

26 Forwards: Bedard, Bennett, Byfield, Celebrini, Cirelli, Crosby, Hagel, Horvat, Hyman, Jarvis, Johnston, Konecny, MacKinnon, Marchand, Marner, McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins,…

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) August 1, 2025

Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, has taken significant steps in the last two seasons, posting career-high numbers in goals, assists, and points while lifting the Kings to playoff contention. 

In a camp that includes veterans like Sidney Crosby and Conor McDavid alongside emerging stars like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, Byfield will get to learn a lot from these veteran players, ushering in the next generation. 

For the Kings, it’s another payoff on their long-term investment. After patiently developing Byfield through injuries and early struggles, Los Angeles now sees him evolving into a core piece of their future — and potentially one of the youngest players on Canada’s Olympic roster.

After just 139 games in the NHL, the former Minnesota Wild forward Jakub Lauko is heading to Europe to play for Dynamo Pardubice, in the Czech Extraliga League. 

He signed a three-year contract with the team. He had spent the previous three seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and the Wild. 

Lauko, 25, was traded to the Wild from the Bruins before the 2024-25 season in a deal for forward Vinni Lettieri. He played 38 games with the Wild where he recorded three goals, six points, 27 penalty minutes and 69 hits. 

After an injury-riddled season, the Wild decided to move Lauko back to the Bruins at the deadline along with Marat Khusnutdinov in exchange for forward Justin Brazeau. Lauko recorded two goals, five points and 50 hits in 18 games with the Bruins following the trade. 

He now returns home to play for Dynamo after 139 career NHL games. He recorded 11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points, 90 penalty minutes and 339 hits.

Other Wild News

Wild's Marco Rossi Training With Hall Of Famer Joe Thornton The offseason is in full swing and players have begun to start training with training camp and preseason just under two months from now.  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.  Minnesota Wild Youngster Is Having A Big OffseasonThe 2025-26 season will be a big one for the Minnesota Wild youngsters. Guys like David Jiricek, Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, and Zeev Buium will all be a big part of the upcoming season's success. 

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.

Betting On Hockey: Numbers Don't Lie - Oct. 19 2021 - Vol. 75, Issue 05 - W. Graeme Roustan

I placed a bet that I would love hockey at the age of three when I first stepped onto the ice at the outdoor rink in Notre Dame de Grace park in Montreal, and has it ever paid off handsomely.

Placing a financial or barter bet on the outcome of a hockey game has been done since the very first game more than a hundred years ago. Until recent years, many billions of dollars of bets were made between friends, coworkers, teammates and family, usually on a face-to-face basis. Bets placed with strangers were done through third parties, which has been the subject of investigations into organized crime, gangs and offshore illegal activity. The numbers are staggering.

On Nov. 20, 2019, I sat down with Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Capitals, who has been a leading advocate for the legalization of single-game betting on NHL games. Ted has always been a visionary when it comes to big ideas and is always clairvoyant when it comes to being on the cutting edge of technology and trends. Here is an excerpt from my Q&A with Ted from two years ago:

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.

GRAEME: “I was in Las Vegas learning about gaming and what impact it’s going to have on the league. How do you see gambling coming into, not just hockey, but professional sports?”

TED: “First, you’re in this big, beautiful building. We spent $40 million last off-season reinvesting in the building, the previous off-season we did over $100 million, we pour money into this building. And it’s an iconic building, we have about three million people come in for all of our events and we’ve got the dumbest business model in real estate I’ve ever seen. We own the building and it’s shut down until six o’clock on a game night. 

You go to Las Vegas, it’s open 24 hours a day, there’s no clocks, it’s really bright, they’re pumping in oxygen, the last thing they want you to do is leave the resort, the casino. You eat there, you’re entertained there. What do we do in pro hockey? We put a cage up to lock our fans out, ‘We don’t want you in.’ Six o’clock the cage rolls out, thousands of people go in, then the game ends and we hustle people out, ‘We don’t want you in here!’

“It’s nuts when you think about it. Sports gambling will be soon legal here in Washington and we want to be the first arena that has a sportsbook right in the building. And it’ll make our building come alive. When we were in the Stanley Cup final, we opened the building and 20,000 people came and watched the game in the arena and outside there were 50,000 people. 

That was a wonderful community-building experience, but they’ll be able to do that and eat and gamble, right? It seems farfetched for us, but all you have to do is look to Europe. There are more William Hill and Ladbrokes betting parlors in Britain than there are Domino’s Pizzas and Starbucks, right? It’s a socially accepted industry there. It’s not legal yet here. It probably will be next year, and we’ll do it next season. I go, ‘OK, we’ll be patient, we want this to be regulated the right way.’ But do you think…the Caps are in first place, best record in the NHL, the Nationals just won the World Series, the Mystics just won the WNBA championship, do you think no one was gambling? 

We know there’s $100 billion bet illegally offshore and the bookies. So all we did was empower and activate more illegal gambling. It’s illegal, so that means you aren’t paying taxes. If you’re a consumer, you’re a criminal. There’s no jobs being created, there’s no regulatory body on what are fair odds. There’s no curation of, ‘You’ve got a problem, we’re not going to accept your bet, let us get you some help.’ There’s nothing good that’s happening on the dark web and offshore. 

So I go, ‘What are we afraid of? It’s happening.’ We know in Washington, D.C., we have this great social responsibility to do it the right way, but if it can work here and it promises, for the players, for the union, for the league, another revenue stream and more importantly, when you have skin in the game, when you’re doing fantasy gaming, when you’re gambling, you’re watching the whole game. 

When you have prop bets, every moment matters. How many power plays will there be? Will Alex Ovechkin score on the power play? These are things that can happen once we put in 5G and do real-time prop betting. The television partners, they want that. That guarantees them much higher levels of engagement. So what do we want as a league? 

We want bigger deals from our media partners. If we get bigger deals, then the salary cap goes up, half the money goes back to the players and the union, and the pie expands. So I say, ‘Wouldn’t you rather have the money go to the players and to the owners who built the buildings and own the teams than to the mafia, right?’” (laughs)

Ted knew a decade ago that the day would come when it would be legal to place a bet on an NHL game, and he prepared his team and the NHL for this day’s arrival. By bringing betting out from the shadows and into a regulated and taxed environment, society is better off, as will be the owners’ profits as numbers don’t lie.

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

Since the 2003 Heritage Classic, outdoor games have become a yearly event, happening multiple times over in the NHL. 

Nearly every NHL team has had the opportunity to play in an outdoor game over the last 22 years, including the Nashville Predators twice at the 2020 Winter Classic against the Dallas Stars at the Cotton Bowl and the 2022 Stadium Series against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nissan Stadium. 

With Bristol Motor Speedway, located four hours east of Nashville in Bristol, Tennessee, hosting its first MLB game against the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, there is the potential that the NHL could be next to host a game inside the nearly 150,000-seat venue. 

In an X/Twitter post by Sports Business Journal's Adam Stern, NHL officials will be in Bristol on Saturday to check out the venue, as Speedway Motorsports wants to bring NHL games and WWE events to Bristol. 

Depending on the rink's layout, a game at Bristol could potentially set a record for the most attended game in league history.

Professional sports at Bristol are nothing new, as the venue has a long history.

It has hosted an NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins in 1961. 

In 2013, it hosted two college football games between Tennessee and Virginia Tech and East Tennessee State and Western Carolina.

The record belongs to the 2014 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Michigan Wolverines, which was held at Michigan Stadium and had a crowd of 105,491. Saturday's setup for the MLB Speedway Classic is expected to sell over 85,000 tickets. 

A NHL game at the Speedway would also mark the first time a game would be played inside a motorsports venue, the majority of outdoor games have been played at football and baseball stadiums. 

When it comes to the teams that would potentially participate in an outdoor game at Bristol, the Predators would be a clear first choice. Not only are they the closest to the venue, but they would likely have the highest fan contingency. 

It would be the Predators third outdoor game. 

The next most likely regional option would be the Carolina Hurricanes. Not only is it another team located within the Southeast, but the North Carolina border is less than 40 miles from Bristol. You'd get a true Southern Showdown between these two teams in an iconic venue. 

The matchup would be the Hurricanes' second outdoor games, with their first being the 2023 Stadium Series at NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium. 

As of Saturday, the NHL has not made any public comments on whether or not they'd like to host an outdoor game at Bristol.

This season's Winter Classic will be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa between the Lightning and Boston Bruins on Jan. 1. The Stadium Series is also in Florida, between the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers on Feb. 1 at LoanDepot Park in Miami.