Category: Ice Hockey

In Part One of our Atlantic Division offseason series, we compared the Senators to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that finished 21 points behind Ottawa and responded with a massive summer overhaul.

Part Two presents a very different challenge.

The Montreal Canadiens aren't trying to climb back into the playoff picture. As a team that made the Conference Final after taking down the Atlantic's top two teams in the playoffs, they are by definition, a Stanley Cup contender.

Montreal finished with 106 points last season, seven more than Ottawa, and then went all the way to the Eastern Final before losing to Carolina, the eventual Cup winner.

So while the Senators were forced into some roster changes this summer, the Canadiens decided not to pick at theirs.

Senators Offseason Summary

This just in: the Senators' offseason turned on a dime when Brady Tkachuk requested a trade and was eventually sent to Florida for the ninth and 25th picks in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-rounder, and a 2029 first-round pick.

GM Steve Staios then flipped the ninth pick to San Jose for William Eklund and prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.

Ottawa also acquired veteran winger Andre Burakovsky from Chicago and RFA goalie Samuel Ersson from Toronto.

In free agency, the Senators mostly took care of their own, re-signing Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, Jordan Spence, Leevi Merilainen, and the newly acquired Ersson.

Lars Eller, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert, Lassi Thomson, Arthur Kaliyev, Olle Lycksell, James Reimer and Mads Sogaard were among those who departed.

The two big questions for most fans: Can Eklund and Burakovsky supply the offence lost with Tkachuk's exit? Can Ersson start and thrive in 35-40 games to provide Linus Ullmark with the major support he needs to be effective?

Canadiens Trades: Additions

Compared to Ottawa, Montreal's offseason has been quiet. 

GM Kent Hughes made a handful of very small depth trades, acquiring forward Brett Berard, centre Hunter McKown and Polish defenseman Maksymilian Szuber, who all mostly played in the AHL last season.

Canadiens Trades: Subtractions

The most recognizable player Montreal traded away was Brendan Gallagher.

After 14 seasons with the Canadiens, Gallagher was sent to Vancouver for future considerations, with Montreal retaining half his salary. There were no tears shed about that in Ottawa, where fans still chuckle about Gallagher's sanctimonious public rant about Tim Stutzle.

Gallagher was once an important player for the Canadiens, but now they're paying him big money to play for someone else.

The Habs also traded Roy, which was a big headline 30 years ago, but shipping out Joshua Roy didn't quite move the needle the same way this summer. Along with Roy, they also traded William Trudeau and Luke Tuch in the deals that brought in Berard, Szuber and McKown.

Canadiens Free Agent Signings

If you were waiting for Hughes to make a major splash on July 1, you're still waiting.

Like their trades, Montreal's external free-agent additions were mostly depth guys, including forward Samuel Poulin, goalie Kaapo Kahkonen and defenseman Reilly Walsh and Ethan Samson. Walsh was 3rd in KHL scoring among defensemen last season.

Just like the Sens, their more important business was taking care of some in-house signings.

The Canadiens signed Ivan Demidov to an eight-year extension, re-signed goalie Jakub Dobes for three years and brought back Kirby Dach on a one-year deal.

Demidov's extension is Montreal's most important transaction of the summer. At 20, he's one of the brightest emerging offensive talents in hockey and is now locked up at an AAV of $9.125 million.

He's a big part of a young core that already includes Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson. 

Canadiens Free Agent Losses

After 5 points in 61 games with Montreal last season, forward Joe Veleno was allowed to walk into free agency where he signed with the New York Rangers.

Despite his frequent injury absence, the most notable free agent departure is the talented by oft-injured Patrik Laine, who remains an unrestricted free agent.

Sammy Blais also left the Canadiens organization and, interestingly enough, signed with the Sens. He should be one of Ottawa's first calls if they run into injury trouble up front.

There isn't anything here that changes the Canadiens.

Montreal's Biggest Addition May Come From Within

Like the Senators, the Canadiens have a lot of excellent young players who haven't hit their prime yet. 

Caufield is 25. Slafkovsky is 22. Hutson is 22. Demidov is 20. Suzuki is 26.

Montreal is betting that another year of development from that group will provide an upgrade all by itself.

Suzuki broke the 100-point barrier last season, while the Canadiens finished seventh in the NHL in goals. And after winning two seven-game playoff series, they now have serious postseason experience.

There are still question marks, and every team has them. The biggest is this: Can Dobes repeat last season's performance in goal? He has just 59 career NHL games under his belt, so despite his new three-year contract, the jury is still out on whether he's ready to handle the workload and expectations of being a number one over a full season.

Verdict 1: Who Had The Better Offseason?

The Senators were busier, and handled the Tkachuk thing about as well as they could, but you can't deal away Tkachuk and say it's been a great offseason.

Steve Staios did well, turning the situation into Eklund, first-rounder Jonas Lagerberg-Hoen, a 2029 first-rounder, two prospects, and a second-rounder. Adding Burakovsky gives Ottawa another potential top-six option as well.

Internally, both teams re-signed the players they wanted to keep.

But Montreal wins because, for the sake of this comparison, they didn't have to trade Nick Suzuki and then scramble to try and replace him. 

Verdict 2: Who Will Be The Better Team This Season?

These two teams are so close. The Sens actually had a better goal differential and more regulation wins than the Canadiens last season. Internal growth, fewer injuries, better goaltending, and a little less drama could make a massive difference next season.

But it's still tracking to be Montreal again.

The Habs finished seven points ahead of the Sens and then backed it up with a trip to the Eastern Final.

There's no denying both young cores are impressive.

Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov and Hutson versus Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto and Jake Sanderson makes for an interesting comparison. It should continue to be a fantastic rivalry, although with antagonists like Tkachuk and Gallagher both gone, things may be a little less feisty.

While anything can happen, right now Montreal gets the edge.

Neither team vastly improved this offseason so we have no choice but to defer to last year's results, which were clear.

Since then, Ottawa had to trade its young captain and Montreal didn't. The Senators are a really good young team that did a solid job of damage control this summer, but that's not the same thing as closing the gap and surpassing a 106-point conference finalist.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Sizing Up The Atlantic: How Do The Senators Compare Now To The Leafs?Following Brady Tkachuk's exit from Ottawa and Toronto’s extreme makeover, how do the two Ontario teams compare now?

The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures. 

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago.  Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

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Kekalainen ideally would like to make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six. 

Someone who has yet to be signed, and could provide some secondary scoring and additional agitation is veteran Michael Bunting. The 30-year-old began his career as an Arizona Coyotes draft pick in 2014 and spent five seasons in the American Hockey League before getting a brief look in the NHL during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. 

The Scarborough, ON native scored 10 goals in 21 games and due to his lengthy service time in the minors, qualified for unrestricted free agency at age 25. The feisty winger was signed by former Soo Greyhounds GM Kyel Dubas in Toronto, and turned into an incredible bargain at a sub-$1 million salary, scoring 23 goals each of his two seasons playing on the wing with Auston Matthews and being nominated for the Calder Trophy in 2022. 

He became a free agent again in 2023 and signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal with Carolina, but became a victim of his high cap hit, as in each of his three seasons, he has been traded at the deadline. From Carolina to Pittsburgh in 2024, Pittsburgh to Nashville in 2025, and Nashville to Dallas last season. His production has not appreciably declined over that time (19, 19, and 14 goals), which means he could be a great value at a lower salary. 

Bunting is not particualrly strong defensively, which means he is likely not a candidate for special teams usage, but is a decent passer who could be utilized in a second power play/middle-six forward role five-on-five. Still being unsigned at the end of July could mean that Bunting is open to a lesser amount, which could be a better fit for the Sabres in their current cap situation. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

If James Malatesta can put it all together, he can be a force in the NHL.

Malatesta turned pro in 2023 after spending four outstanding years with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. After amassing 187 points in junior and winning the QMJHL playoff MVP, he was off to the pros. He would total 56 goals if you take into account all the games he played in the Q, Q playoffs, and Memorial Cup.

James Malatesta played in 56 games for the Cleveland Monsters in his rookie season. He would score 12 goals and total 22 points. He has a motor that never quits and can skate really well, and it showed. Malatesta finished 11th on the team in scoring and 10th in games played. He did have a team-high 79 PIMs, though, which is how he plays his game.

Late in the season, in a surprising move, Malatesta was called up to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Due to the injury situation, Malatesta and several other Monsters got an opportunity to play some real NHL minutes.

He would make his NHL debut on March 26th against the Arizona Coyotes. He didn't get on the score sheet, but he did make his presence known. He would get 11:43 of ice time and get into a fight. Not a bad night.

Malatesta would get his first NHL point against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 6th, an assist. He played 10:58.

On April 13th in Smashville, after playing 9 games, he would have a career game. He played 12:55, had 3 shots, and scored his first goal. He also added an assist in the loss to the Predators. He was flying around the ice all night; he was fun to watch.

In the next game, the season finale at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, he would again have a good game. Malatesta scored his 2nd NHL goal while playing 13:01 on the ice. He is making himself highly visible.

He was returned to the Monsters after the CBJ season to help them win their division and the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Malatesta only played 9 games throughout the playoffs, scoring only a single goal and adding one assist.

The 2024-25 season saw Malatesta play a pair of games for Columbus in December. He averaged around 10:30 of ice time and was held off the score sheet. But he needed to play. 

For Cleveland, he played in only 41 games and scored 14 points. Unfortunately for Malatesta and the Monsters, he suffered an upper-body injury that held him out of the lineup until March. In a combo of injuries and a sophomore slump, Malatesta did not have the year he wanted. 

Last season, Malatesta set a career-high in games played at 57. He scored 10 goals and totaled 18 points, while setting a career-high with 87 PIMs. He was signed to a one-year extension by Columbus last month and will be an RFA once again at the end of 2027. 

With the Jackets having Mathieu Olivier and Ryan Lomberg on the roster, I'm not sure Malatesta will get another shot in Columbus. 

James Malatesta isn't expected to put in 25 goals or collect 50 points, but he is expected to contribute. He has a scoring touch and brings physicality to the ice. 

James Malatesta Scouting Report

Strengths:

Skating: Malatesta's skating is an asset, with excellent acceleration, speed, and the ability to drive the puck through the neutral zone. 

Energy and Intensity: He plays with a high motor, is not afraid to throw hits, and engages physically to win puck battles and create turnovers. 

Shooting: He possesses a quick and accurate wrist shot, often firing on the fly, and is a threat on odd-man rushes. 

Offensive Instincts: Malatesta is good at finding open ice, jumping on opportunities, and making quick plays to generate scoring chances. 

Weaknesses:

Decision-Making: Needs to improve his passing and off-puck play, as he can sometimes prioritize intensity over making the best play. He takes bad penalties sometimes due to his physicality. 

Offensive Creativity: While he can finish plays, he doesn't possess the vision or playmaking skills of a top-tier offensive player. 

Consistency: His production can be inconsistent, and he needs to find a way to translate his energy and physical play into more consistent offensive contributions. 

Overall:

Malatesta is a prospect with a high floor, likely to become a reliable bottom-six forward in the NHL. He brings a lot of energy, a strong work ethic, and the ability to contribute in various ways, making him a player who can impact the game even without elite offensive skills. If he can put it together, expect him to be pushing for a roster spot in Columbus soon. But first, he has to prove it in 26-27.    

Does he have a chance to make the team? Many say no, but I wouldn't count him out if I were you.

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The Buffalo Sabres delivered Stanley Cup playoff hockey to their long-suffering fans this year, ending a decade-and-a-half playoff drought. But while the Sabres didn’t make the Eastern Conference final – losing to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2 – Buffalo beat the Boston Bruins in Round 1, gaining valuable experience in the process. 

But in our annual grading of the Sabres, TheHockeyNews.com’s 2025-26 grades will mostly be positive, as there was plenty for Sabres fans to appreciate. Whether it was young players evolving into Grade-A talent, or veterans delivering big-time performances, Buffalo got important contributions from many, if not most players. And that’s reflected in their grades.

The Sabres have a ways to go before they’re a legitimate Cup front-runner like last year’s eventual-champion Carolina Hurricanes. However, for the first time in many years, everything meshed positively for Buffalo, and the Sabres elevated their playoff game to beat Boston. 

And in this “Sabres Grades” file, we’re grading Buffalo’s best defenseman – superstar D-man and team captain Rasmus Dahlin:

Rasmus Dahlin

Position: Defenseman

Grade: A+

The Skinny: It’s hard to imagine how Dahlin could’ve been better for Buffalo last season. Dahlin posted 55 assists and a career-best 74 points in 77 games in 2025-26, and he averaged 24:10 of ice time. Those numbers are almost identical to Dahlin’s performance in 2024-25, when he generated 51 assists and 68 points in 73 games while averaging 24:14 of ice time. The consistency there is to marvel at.

However, Dahlin also set a career-high in shooting percentage this past season, averaging 9.8 percent to beat his previous career-high of 8.5 percent. At 26 years old, the Swedish blueliner is entering his prime, and he’s doing so while earning $11-million for the next six seasons. 

A salary that high carries with it sky-high expectations, but nobody in Buffalo is begrudging Dahlin his money. In fact, as the salary cap goes up and we see defensemen earn into the $16-to-$18-million-per-year range, Dahlin’s contract is going to be seen as a massive bargain for the Sabres.

There are precious few legitimate No. 1 defensemen in the league, but Dahlin certainly is one of them. Dahlin got his first taste of playoff hockey last season, and with 10 assists and 14 points – including six power-play points – in 13 games, Dahlin was a point-per-game post-season player. That’s exactly the type of performance Buffalo needed to get from him.

As Dahlin's game continues maturing, his playoff experience last year is only going to help him and the Sabres. If Buffalo had’ve careened through the Atlantic Division rankings and missed the 2025-26 playoffs, we'd be having a very different conversation about Dahlin’s future in Western New York. But winning cures a lot of ailments, and it now looks like the best road ahead for Dahlin is remaining in Buffalo and serving as the Sabres’ bedrock for this generation of the team.

Dahlin’s poise and patience are two of the things that led him to earning a nomination this past year for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. Columbus Blue Jackets superstar blueliner Zach Werenski wound up winning this year’s Norris, but Dahlin deserved his nomination for the honor. And it now feels like, sooner or later, Dahlin is going to be claiming his first of what could be multiple Norris Trophies.

Although there may be room for Dahlin to grow his game, we’re of the opinion he's already firing on all pistons. Dahlin’s vision, two-way game and overall impact on the Sabres is hard to measure strictly in data sets. When he’s on the ice, good things happen, and Dahlin’s challenge now is to raise his game when games matter most. 

He can’t get a higher grade than the grade we’re giving him this year, but multiple A+ grades certainly aren’t out of the question for Dahlin. He’s a no-brainer foundational talent for Buffalo, and the Sabres are likely only going as far in the next decade as Dahlin and the rest of Buffalo’s core carries them.

According to RG.org, Daria Tuboltseva, the Montreal Canadiens' reported trade target, Kirill Marchenko, from the Columbus Blue Jackets, is likely to move soon. The reporter mentions that a source close to the player has said that the Jackets and another team are currently finalizing the terms of a trade and that he is therefore between teams as of now. The Ohio outfit’s offseason got off to a disastrous start when it leaked out that Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski and power forward Kirill Marchenko were both unlikely to re-up with the team once their current contract runs out.

It became very public that the Jackets had started taking trade calls on the defenseman before GM Don Waddell released a statement, saying that he would remain with the team for the foreseeable future. Werenski did the same on his end. Waddell didn’t stop there; he also told reporters that Marchenko would be going nowhere this summer and would start the season in Columbus, despite entering the last year of his contract.

Tuboltseva’s report contradicts the GM’s stance, but it’s hardly surprising if Waddell and co. know that they won’t be able to sign the power forward to a new contract; moving him makes sense. Marchenko, a Dan Milstein client, is embarking on the third year of a three-year deal with a very team-friendly $3.85 million cap hit. However, the player is not in full control of his situation: unlike players like Jason Robertson or Dylan Larkin, he doesn’t have a no-movement clause, meaning Waddell can trade him to whichever team he wants, and he doesn’t get a say in the matter.

However, to maximize the return he can get, Waddell would do well to make a sign-and-trade deal, as he’s unlikely to get very much value by trading Marchenko on an expiring deal, even if he will be an RFA at the end of the season and the team will therefore still hold his rights.

According to the article, the Canadiens remain very much interested in Marchenko, which is hardly surprising given he’s exactly what Montreal needs to dynamize its second line and help Ivan Demidov unlock his full potential. He’s 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds and has the size and the speed to retrieve pucks in the corners to keep the play going. He’s just turned 26, and he’s never scored less than 21 goals in his four NHL seasons, even breaking the 30-goal mark once when he gathered 31 lamplighters in 2024-25. He finished the last campaign with 27 goals, 40 assists and 67 points, 23 of which came on the power play. He has a lethal shot, with a 13.6% shooting rate over the course of his career, including a 12.4% success rate last season.

Kirill Marchenko (#86) All 27 Goals of the 2025-26 NHL SeasonKirill Marchenko’s 27 goals scored in the 2025-26 NHL season. Comment a player for next!-------------------------------------------Check Out These Hockey Ch...

If the Canadiens are the team that’s finalizing the terms of the trade with the Jackets, fans should brace themselves for a high cost. Waddell isn’t handcuffed by an NMC here, and the Jackets are not a rebuilding side, which means that at least part of the package would have to be players that can land in their lineup now. Offering Kirby Dach and Jayden Struble certainly won’t be enough; that’s not to say that they couldn’t be included in a package, but they’d be add-ons rather than main pieces.

If Kent Hughes does a good selling job, perhaps he could interest Waddell in a player like Zachary Bolduc, who’s a former first-round pick with potential yet to be fully reached. If the Jackets know that Werenski won’t sign a new deal, they could also be after some help on the blueline, but you don’t replace your number one defenseman with a sixth or seventh blueliner. Kaiden Guhle is a left-shot defenseman, and while he’s not the same style as Werenski, he’s got a good pedigree and brings an interesting blend of skills to the table.

The Jackets could also ask for some futures to complete the deal; a first-round pick and a top prospect wouldn’t be an outlandish idea. Hughes is unlikely to include Michael Hage in a trade that doesn’t land him a center, but it wouldn’t be shocking if Columbus were after someone like Alexander Zharovsky, who may not have been a first-round pick but is still seen as an elite prospect. Someone like Adam Engstrom, who’s an NHL-ready blueliner who can play on both sides, could also be of interest for a team that’s not looking to rebuild.

The Canadiens are no longer at the stage where they just acquire talented assets to see if they work out; they now have very specific needs for which they will be willing to pay a hefty price tag. They'll have to, as their trading partner will be well aware of how keen they are to get those specific missing pieces. 

Granted, that might be seen as a hefty price tag, but Hughes wouldn’t be trading from a position of force there. Waddell has something the Canadiens are very keen to acquire, and he’s entitled to set the price here. You’ve got to give something to get something, especially when you’re the initiating party.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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While waiting to sign his mega contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche, superstar defenseman Cale Makar is keeping busy along with PWHL star Hilary Knight as they took the time to try out some hockey gear from Bauer. One of the tidbits revealed in the video is that Cale changes out his skates to new ones every four to five games.

Time to circle the calendars as word on the street is hinting that the NHL trade deadline will fall on Monday, March 1st next year. This is due to the regular season beginning and ending earlier starting next season.

NEWS: The 2027 NHL trade deadline has been set for Monday, March 1 per @RussoHockey

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) July 24, 2026

More former Avalanche players are getting new jobs this summer. Now Stanley Cup champion Jack Johnson is leaving the Vancouver Canucks organization to help the women’s hockey program at Ohio State.

Excited to announce the addition of Jack Johnson to our coaching staff! #GoBucks | 🔗 https://t.co/5oFdT25DlSpic.twitter.com/8roxzA4WDC

— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) July 23, 2026

Andrew Agozzino recently announced his retirement from hockey and also already has a new gig with the Utah Mammoth. The former Avalanche forward joins the Tucson Roadrunners staff.

Excited to keep Agozzino in the organization!

Recently retired forward Andrew Agozzino will remain in the organization as an assistant coach for the Tucson Roadrunners.

Read more here: https://t.co/rgdAox4YPFpic.twitter.com/YgJEkRIGmm

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) July 24, 2026

Welcome to the 2025–26 installment of The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks’ Player Report Card Series. Throughout the off-season, THN will conduct a deep dive into how each member of the Canucks performed throughout the 2025–26 season. Today’s article will focus on forward Arshdeep Bains. 

Bains’s 2025–26 Season Review 

Bains entered the 2025–26 season as one of a few players looking to push for a roster spot with a strong pre-season effort. Coming off 13 NHL games in 2024–25, as well as a Calder Cup win with the Abbotsford Canucks, Bains looked primed to try and fill a depth role at the NHL level. 

Despite strong efforts from a variety of forwards including Braeden Cootes, Linus Karlsson, and Max Sasson, Bains ended up being one of the depth forwards that made the Canucks’ opening-night roster. He collected one assist in the team’s opening-night effort and followed that up with another helper two games after. 

While he did begin the season with Vancouver, Bains didn’t quite find an even amount of playing time by the time mid-November came around. By mid-December, the forward was placed on waivers and sent back down to Abbotsford, with Bains not getting another call-up until the beginning of January. His final NHL game of the season was played on January 17 against the Edmonton Oilers. 

Upon returning to the AHL in December, Bains provided Abbotsford with a solid two-way presence that the team had sorely missed with their lineup absences from injuries and NHL call-ups. He scored a goal and an assist in his first game back with the AHL Canucks, racking up three goals and three assists in his first five games with the team. 

Throughout the remainder of the 2025–26 season, Bains stuck with Abbotsford. He finished the year with 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 games played, coming seventh on his team in points and tying Chase Wouters for fifth in goals scored. 

Bains also managed to set some new franchise records for Abbotsford during the 2025–26 season. He scored a short-handed goal against the Henderson Silver Knights on February 20 to set Abbotsford’s new record for total points scored by an AHL Canuck with 149. As it stands, Bains’ record is now 160, which he can build on if he returns to Abbotsford next season. The forward has also tied former defenceman Christian Wolanin for the team’s franchise high in total assists collected with 109. 

Bains’s 2025–26 Letter Grade 

Bains managed to build on his 2024–25 season campaign in 2025–26, playing in 28 games and scoring a goal and four assists. He also continued to make his mark at the AHL-level, setting new records for Abbotsford while contributing consistent offence. That said, the forward still requires a bit of work regarding effectiveness when it comes to making a full-time jump to the NHL. Given the route Vancouver is expected to go in through the next few seasons, a strong pre-season and training camp effort in 2026 could help Bains get the opportunity he’s looking for. 

Bains gets a C+ for his performance in 2025–26. 

Canucks 2025–26 Letter Grades 

Liam Öhgren

Kirill Kudryavtsev

Victor Mancini

Filip Chytil

Braeden Cootes

Nikita Tolopilo

Elias Pettersson (D)

Marco Rossi

Kevin Lankinen

Thatcher Demko

Jake DeBrusk

Drew O’Connor 

Aatu Räty

Max Sasson 

Tom Willander

Linus Karlsson 

Zeev Buium

Brock Boeser

Filip Hronek

Elias Pettersson 

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, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Earlier this off-season, the Buffalo Sabres signed forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract extension. The 28-year-old was a pending unrestricted free agent but ended up re-signing in Buffalo instead of testing the market. 

While this is a long contract for a bottom-six forward, the Sabres made the right call bringing back Malenstyn.

Malenstyn's hard-nosed style of play, speed, and strong defensive play make him a very important part of the Sabres' forward group. Playoff teams need heart-and-soul players like Malenstyn, so it is certainly good news that he will be staying in Buffalo as the Sabres look to build off their great 2025-26 season. 

Furthermore, with the salary cap continuing to go up, Malenstyn's $2.92 million cap hit is not too high for what he provides. The 28-year-old will continue to be a key part of the Sabres' bottom six and make them a difficult team to go up against when he is on the ice. 

In 81 games during this past season with the Sabres, Malenstyn posted seven goals, seven assists, 14 points, and a career-high 282 hits. If he can continue to play a solid defensive game and provide a lot of grit, it would be significant for a Sabres club that is looking to continue to get better. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets just can't stay out of the news cycle. 

News came out yesterday from RG.org's Daria Tuboltseva that there is still smoke surrounding the CBJ's Kirill Marchenko, saying that he will be traded soon and that two teams are aiming to land the winger. Montreal has apparently been trying to land Marchenko for weeks and is still in the mix. Utah might be the other team interested in Marchenko as well, from what we're hearing. 

A source close to Kirill Marchenko tells @TheRGMedia he's "essentially between two teams right now" — and Montreal hasn't given up. Here's where the trade talks stand 👇https://t.co/XNoJmZPf4l

— RG (@TheRGMedia) July 25, 2026

With Montreal seemingly the frontrunner to land Marchenko, fans and some people in the media have begun speculating on a return. We even did one here at THN-Columbus a few weeks ago, which you can read below.

Kirill Marchenko Trade Scenario #1: Montréal CanadiensWith Kirill Marchenko unlikely to extend in Columbus, let us take a crack at a trade scenario.

Most of the trades that people have brought up involve guys like David Reinbacher and/or Michael Hage. But the player people seem always to bring up is forward Kirby Dach. 

If Kirby Dach's name is brought up, GM Don Waddell should immediately hang up and move on to the next team. There shouldn't be any arguments either. 

Dach is a former 3rd overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019. After playing 152 games for the Blackhawks, he was traded to Montreal by Chicago for a 1st-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and a 3rd-round pick in 2022 July 7, 2022.

He totaled 19 goals and 59 points in 152 games. 

Since his trade to Montreal, he's played in 154 games. He's scored 32 goals and totaled 77 points. His best year as a pro was the 22-23 season, which was his first in Montreal, in which he scored 14 goals and totaled 38 points. 

He hasn't had the best career for someone drafted third overall, and it sounds like the Canadiens fans may be hoping that Montreal GM Kent Hughes will try to get rid of his $3,600,000 per season salary, which is set to expire after next season. 

Don Waddell should not accept salary dumps in any Kirill Marchenko trade. He has said he wants NHL players who can step in and fill the role that would be vacated by the player leaving. In this case, it would be a top-line winger. 

Obviously, we're not naive enough to think the Canadiens would trade any of their top-line players for Kirill Marchenko, but players that they don't have room for on the NHL roster, such as David Reinbacher, or a soon-to-be NHLer like Michael Hage, would be a perfect return. 

But Kirby Dach should not be in any return for Kirill Marchenko. 

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have added multiple new forwards to their roster this off-season, including Andrei Kuzmenko, Nick Robertson, Hendrix Lapierre, and David Gustafsson. 

But could the Penguins look to add one more forward before the start of the season? 

When looking at Pittsburgh's current forward group, it is fair to argue that they could use another winger with skill. Because of this, one remaining free agent that could make sense for the Penguins to take a chance on is Patrik Laine. This is especially so if the sniper ends up being open to the idea of signing a professional tryout (PTO) agreement. 

If the Penguins invited Laine to training camp on a PTO, he would give them another scoring forward to consider. While the 28-year-old winger has suffered multiple injuries over the years, he has shown that he can make a real impact when healthy. Keep in mind, he has hit the 30-goal mark three times in his career and easily would have more if he stayed healthier in past seasons. 

Laine was limited to only five games last season with the Canadiens due to injury trouble. Yet, during the 2024-25 season, he posted 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games with Montreal. With this, he showed in a recent season that he can still put the puck in the net, and he could be worth taking a flier on for Pittsburgh because of it. 

It will be interesting to see if the Penguins bringing in Laine on a PTO or even a one-year contract from here. 

The Chicago Blackhawks have made some major moves this off-season, and none have been bigger than adding Bowen Byram via a trade that they made with the Buffalo Sabres. 

Byram was the 4th overall pick by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft, one spot after the Blackhawks selected Kirby Dach 3rd overall. 

After parts of four seasons and one Stanley Cup with the Avalanche, Byram was traded to the Sabres before making his way to Chicago in 2026.

Upon his arrival, the Hawks gave him a six-year extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million. As of now, when it kicks in after the 2026-27 season ends, Byram is set to become the highest-paid defenseman in the NHL with this deal that runs through 2032-33. 

Now, Byram has his chance to become a number-one defenseman in the NHL. Not only did he earn the opportunity with his play, but he is now on a roster where he won't be living in someone else's shadow. 

Byram played behind Cale Makar in Colorado and Rasmus Dahlin in Buffalo. There were other good defensemen around him as well, but they were the catalysts offensively, eating those big minutes at even strength and on the power play. 

In Chicago, Byram will lead a blue line with support from guys like Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser, while other young players like Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel continue their development. 

"He is going to be one of the best defensemen in the league," Connor Bedard said of Byram. "He's always shown that. When you play behind Cale [Makar] and [Rasmus] Dahlin, it's not easy to take their spot. Just for him to get the opportunity to be that [number] one and prove himself in that way, he's one of the most skilled players in the league. His motivation to prove that is unbelievable. His excitement to be with us is great for the team."

Byram's most important teammate sees a desire to be great as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, so you'd think that it rubs off on everyone around him.

After years of being great despite limited opportunity playing behind some of the greats in the game, the door is open for him to show what he can do as the top guy in the lineup at that position. 

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With the 34th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected defenseman Xavier Villeneuve. When noting that many expected him to be selected in the first round, the Blackhawks were fortunate that he was still available for the taking once they were on the clock. 

There is a lot to like Villeneuve's game. The 18-year-old blueliner has the potential to emerge as an impactful offensive defenseman at the NHL level. With this, he is exactly the kind of prospect that the Blackhawks need in their system right now. 

If Villeneuve can tap into his full potential later down the road, it would be significant for the Blackhawks.

Villeneuve spent this past season in the QMJHL with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, where he posted six goals, 32 assists, and 38 points in 37 games. This was after he had 12 goals and 62 points in 61 games with the QMJHL club during the 2024-25 season. With this, he has shown a lot of promise as an offensive defenseman at the junior level, and Blackhawks fans should be excited about his future with the club because of it. 

It will now be interesting to see how Villeneuve develops his game after being selected by the Blackhawks from here. 

According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the NHL trade deadline has now officially been set for Monday, March 1. Usually, it is set on a Friday, and we had assumed it would be on March 5th, but this could be a game-changer for one former Montreal Canadiens. Brendan Gallagher’s 14-year tenure with the Habs came to an end after he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on June 29.

While the writing was on the wall for the respected winger, the divorce didn’t occur in an ideal manner, since the veteran didn’t get to play one last game on the Bell Centre ice to make his goodbyes. His last game came against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. He didn’t see the ice in the second round against the Buffalo Sabres or in the third round against the Carolina Hurricanes despite the Canadiens being unceremoniously dismissed by the champions in just five games.

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The next time he steps on the Bell Centre ice, it will be in a Canucks uniform, or maybe not. Vancouver is only set to visit the Canadiens on March 6, after the trade deadline, and since Gallagher is in the last year of his contract, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he could be traded to a contender before the deadline. If that potential team has already been to Montreal, it would mean Gallagher could miss his long-awaited homecoming.

However, the veteran still controls his destiny as his no-movement clause followed him to Vancouver, so he could block any trade if he wanted to. Speaking to the media at the end of the last season, Gallagher made it clear that he feels like he still has plenty left in the tank, and it sounded like he was even hoping to play beyond this season. Even if that were the case, though, would he want to pass up another chance to chase Lord Stanley’s mug? One has to wonder, after all; that’s what has motivated him to play the game for the last 14 years.

Even if he were to miss his date with Habs fans this season and not get to play another season in the NHL, there is no doubt that the Canadiens will hold a Brendan Gallagher night down the line to offer him the send-off he deserves, no matter how overdue it ends up being.

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Last season all four players we spotlighted as potential NHL debutees for 2025-26 ended up making their debut (gotta give some props for the Ben Kindel inclusion). Add in Jake Livanavage and Sergei Murashov and six players took rookie laps ahead of their first game last year, not counting goalie Taylor Gauthier who sat on the bench for a game serving as backup without actually playing.

Who could be up for a first career NHL game this season?

The pickens are slim in that area. The Ruck twins aren’t expected to make the monumental WHL to NHL leap that Kindel did, and since Murashov and Harrison Brunicke have already played in the big league, there aren’t too many young players with strong cases to make debuts right off the bat. It’s more of a reload year in terms of the new additions that will need some time.

There could be a few choices, let’s get at it.

Bill Zonnon

The 2025 first round pick made a splash by scoring a goal in each of his first three pro games in the AHL playoffs this spring to jump onto the scene and announce his arrival. Zonnon only turns 20 in October, he’s almost certain to spend the bulk – if not the entirety- of the 2026-27 season with Wilkes. The Penguins did bring in David Gustafsson to play in a Joona Koppanen type of swing role, and Tristan Broz is still around too, so it would take quite the confluence with the timing of injuries and excellent performance for Zonnon to get an opportunity at center. Never say never, it’s a long now 84-game schedule and wouldn’t be a complete shock to see Zonnon make his NHL debut sooner than later if he keeps on the same upward trajectory that he’s been on. 2026-27 might be one year too soon to feel confident about calling the shot before he really gets into the mix, but he’s certainly somewhere on the radar.

Oliver Okluliar

OK, get your Conor McGregor ‘who the fook is that guy’ out of the way first and we’ll continue. Okuliar was acquired over the summer, he’s a 26-year old forward who did well in the AHL in his lone season in 2024-25 (41 points in 69 games with Charlotte), did well last year in Sweden (29 points in 41 games with Skelleftea) and scored a goal for Slovakia in the 2026 Olympics. Okuliar is a physical winger that forechecks hard, has limited skating and skill but isn’t a stretch to imagine him fitting in for a fourth line role for a few games in the middle of the season when some other players on the team get banged up. That can be hard to imagine at this point with the Pens flush with forwards at the moment, but keep in mind that Pittsburgh used seven forwards in NHL games last year that started the season in AHL Wilkes-Barre. It doesn’t take a lot to see a game or two from players that start out very deep within the organization.

Mikhail Ilyin

Ilyin fits in the Zonnon category of feeling more comfortable to predict an NHL debut in 2027-28, but the 21-year old Russian has too much skill to ignore as a possibility. Ilyin has the playmaking chops that made him one of the most productive teenaged players in KHL history, and he acquitted himself well in the AHL playoffs with nine points in 15 games. He might require some patience and acclimation time to adjust to the North American style of game, but again from the note above, lots of AHL players get at least a look in the NHL within this organization over the course of a season. It’s not difficult to imagine a scenario where Ilyin excels in the AHL enough to merit an opportunity at some point during the 2026-27 campaign.

That’s about it for this year, players like Chase Pietila and Finn Harding could be considered extreme longshots, but considering the depth at their position (right handed defensemen) it would be tough to see them with a pathway to the NHL this season. Similarly, it would take three goalies injured or sick at the same time for Gauthier to work his way up to the backup spot so he doesn’t look likely to make an NHL appearance this year. Some might squint and see a possibility for Tanner Howe or Melvin Fernstrom, but that looks too remote at this point given where their games are at coming into the season.

With August just around the corner, the onset of NHL training camps is drawing nearer and nearer, which means time is beginning to dwindle for any kind of roster reshuffling prior to the 2026-27 season.

And, if general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins elect not to change anything up in the meantime, things will be quite interesting once the season gets underway.

The Penguins have been a relatively active team since the end of the 2025-26 season, as they have added a few players via trade and free agency. However, one area that they have decided to, pretty much, stand pat on is goaltending. 

After Stuart Skinner departed in free agency, the Penguins extended goaltender Artūrs Šilovs to a one-year deal worth $2.8 million, but because Šilovs was already part of the tandem last season, that means that a spot is wide-open for a prospect to take.

As a reminder, for these purposes, we can't assume that any trades will be made. The Penguins have no shortage of prospect goaltending depth as is, since Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, Taylor Gauthier, and even youngster Gabrel D'Aigle are in the pipeline.

So, who will secure an NHL roster spot on opening night? And what should fans expect to see from the Penguins' goaltending situation this season?

Pittsburgh Penguins' 2026-27 Lineup Projections: DefensemenIf Pittsburgh's roster remains status quo heading into the 2026-27 seasons, their defensive corps will have a lot of question marks.

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Projected goaltending tandem:

1A Starter: Artūrs Šilovs

1B Starter: Sergei Murashov

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Šilovs says

Consistency wasn't exactly a hallmark for Šilovs during the 2025-26 regular season, as he would look like a legitimate NHL starting goaltender for stretches and completely lose his bearings during others. His most dominant stretch of the regular season came in a nine-game stretch after the turn of the new year, when he went 5-2-2 with a .934 save percentage.

So, it wasn't clear if he would be coming back or not. That is, until the playoffs happened.

After Skinner started the first three games of the Penguins' first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team needed a spark when buried 3-0 in the series. They switched things up and turned to Šilovs, who was, technically, still a rookie. And his three performances, especially in the decisive Game 6 in a 1-0 overtime win that sent the Flyers to the second round, are what earned him his stay in Pittsburgh, as he put up a .939 save percentage and sacrificed just five goals on 82 shots. 

Even if neither Šilovs or Murashov are experienced NHL goaltenders, Šilovs's NHL experience last season and his proven ability to come up big on the biggest stages probably give him a slight nod over Murashov, at least to start the season. It might also help to ease Murashov's transition and give Šilovs an earned opportunity to get a legitimate starter's look.

However, it's important to note that head coach Dan Muse went with a 50-50 split the entire season when it came to his goaltenders in 2025-26, and they only really deviated from the alternating starts when the playoffs began. So, it would not be surprising in the least to see the same thing next season.

Pittsburgh Penguins' 2026-27 Lineup Projections: ForwardsIf Pittsburgh's roster remains status quo heading into the 2026-27 seasons, they will have some interesting decisions to make on the forward front.

Murashov's moment

Then, there's the other half of the tandem, who happens to be the most highly touted goaltender in the Penguins' organization.

Of course, it should be said that it is no guarantee Murashov will make the NHL roster out of training camp. Anything could happen, and he has legitimate competition right on his heels in Blomqvist and Gauthier. If either of them show well, and Murashov shows poorly, they'll earn a spot.

However, the writing is on the wall for Murashov, and the organization thinks very highly of him. This was evidenced by Murashov's run of games in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, when he backstopped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins for all 15 games and put up a .931 save percentage with one shutout. He was magnificent in the postseason, and the organization certainly gave him the runway to keep it going.

So, it would be a surprise if Murashov isn't the other guy next to Šilovs. He did have a pedestrian five-game sample at the NHL level last season, when his video game AHL numbers in the first half of WBS's season earned him two brief late-fall call-ups and he finished with an .897 save percentage in those games.

But, he's shown dominance at every level of professional hockey, and it's time for him to make the jump full-time, even if that means being a 1B to Šilovs in the beginning. The Penguins believe he could be a franchise goaltender, and even if there are some growing pains next season, they are lined up to give him the opportunity to prove himself.

Even If Robertson's Door Might Not Be Shut Entirely, Penguins Must Shift GearsWith Dallas Stars superstar winger Jason Robertson inking a one-year deal with Dallas Tuesday to avoid arbitration, the Penguins - rumored to be in on Robertson - must look elsewhere if Dubas is to follow through on his summer plans.

Don't count them out

It's important not to rule out Blomqvist and Gauthier, either. D'Aigle will be entering his first full season of professional hockey, and his complicated situation with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL - who have the rights to him despite the Penguins breaking their affiliation with Wheeling and despite his signing of an NHL entry-level contract - makes it unlikely he'll see NHL ice next season.

As for Blomqvist, 24, it's pretty much go-time. Just as Murashov got his opportunity in 2025-26, Blomqvist got his the season prior, and two very different NHL stints with some injuries sprinkled in hindered his chances at playing in the NHL and, even, starting at the AHL level. With Murashov likely headed to the NHL, it should be a great battle between Blomqvist and Gauthier for playing time in the AHL, but Blomqvist needs to show this season that he is worthy of being part of the Penguins' plan moving forward.

Gauthier, 25, has also battled injuries for the past two training camps, which is - quite frankly - a bit of a shame. He has been dominant at the ECHL level for three straight seasons, never posting a save percentage below .923 and putting up a brilliant performance in this season's Kelly Cup Playoffs for Wheeling with a .922 save percentage and 9-6-2 record.

He earned himself an NHL entry-level contract to close out the 2025-26 season, and he signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract extension for $850,000 this season. Gauthier has had a limited AHL sample size, but he will put up a good fight and put himself in the conversation for first call-up, regardless of whether it's Murashov or Blomqvist in the NHL.

Opinion: If Penguins Are To Let Youth Shine, They Need To Make Some RoomIf the Penguins walk into the season with their roster as currenty constructed, it leaves no room for some of their NHL-ready youth to have a chance at establishing themselves in the NHL.

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