Welcome back to  THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site. In recent days and weeks, we've been focusing on the teams the Sabres will square off against next season. And in today's file, we're turning our attention to a team Buffalo will be taking on in the latest battl(es) of New York (state) -- the New York Islanders.

After missing out on the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, the Islanders fired GM Lou Lamoriello and replaced him with former NHL player Mathieu Darche. And the Islanders were blessed by the hockey gods when they won this year's draft lottery and selected cornerstone defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first-overall pick.

But that doesn't mean that there isn't pain ahead for the Isles as they chart a new course. As we'll explore below, the Islanders are in the early stages of a rebuild, and while they have many veterans who'll be pushing for a playoff berth this coming season, earning a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division will be a tall order indeed for the Islanders. And the Sabres need to beat the Isles to help their cause as a legitimate playoff team in 2025-26.

So for now let's explore Buffalo's recent history with the Islanders, and whether or not the Sabres will and should be beating the Isles next season.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS

NEW ISLANDERS PLAYERS: Jonathan Drouin, LW; Emil Heineman, LW; Maxim Shabanov, LW; David Rittich, G

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

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  December 20 at Buffalo; January 24 at Long Island; March 31 at Buffalo

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres and Islanders got all three of their games out of the way before Christmas time last season, with Buffalo dropping the first two games before blowing out the Isles 7-1 two days before Christmas. But this coming season, the first of their three games dosn't come until Dec. 20 -- and their final showdown will be the Sabres' eighth-to-last game of the season on March 31. At that point, the rosters of both Buffalo and the Isles could look significantly different, with the Islanders potentially being a seller at the trade deadline, and the Sabres potentially being a buyer.

New Isles GM Darche has already shown he's unafraid of taking a big swing in the trade department, sending star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in a blockbuster deal that sent a message -- the Islanders are open for business.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Will Devils Remain Formidable Metro Team -- And Will New Jersey Once Again Beat Sabres In Season Series?The Buffalo Sabres are a team that needs to make a playoff appearance this coming season. But in a continuing series, we're examining each of Buffalo's Eastern Conference-rivals that could be in the way of the Sabres making it into the post-season. And in this file, we're examining the rivalry between the Sabres and New Jersey Devils.

That means many Isles veterans could be on the trade block this year -- including (but not limited to) captain Anders Lee, who is entering the final season of his contract; and center J-G Pageau, who also has only one year remaining on his deal. Still, there are Islanders veterans who are extremely unlikely to be dealt anywhere, including star forward Mathew Barzal, center Bo Horvat, winger Kyle Palmieri, newcomer Drouin, defensemen Alexander Romanov, Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, and star goalie Ilya Sorokin. That doesn't mean any or many of them are guaranteed to not be dealt out of Long Island, but it would take quite the offer to get Darche to part ways with them.

Thus, while most prognosticators won't be picking the Islanders as a playoff team in the Metropolitan Division, there are more than enough veterans on the Isles' roster who won't be rolling over and playing dead because nobody had much faith in them. With coach Patrick Roy setting a high bar for his players, the Islanders are likely to stay competitive all year long, and that almost certainly means the Sabres are going to have to be at their best if they want to win at least two of the three games they'll play against the Isles.

If Buffalo is intent on beating the Islanders next year, they'll need to exploit the Isles' defense (which finished 20th in the league last season at 3.13 goals-against per game) while limiting the Islanders' offense (which finished 27th in the league averaging 2.71 goals-for per game). 

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Sabres Could Be Battling Up-And-Coming Blue Jackets For Wild Card BerthThe Buffalo Sabres are one of the teams most desperate to make the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. And one of the teams the Sabres could be battling for one of the two wild card berths next season is another team desperate to end a prolonged playoff drought -- the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Also important: shaking the confidence of Sorokin. The 29-year-old Russian was not at his best last season, as Sorokin's save percentage dropped for the third consecutive season, falling to a career-worst .907 SP in a whopping 61 appearances. Granted, Sorokin was playing behind a porous Islanders defense corps, but even if Schaefer comes in and thrives as a rookie defenseman, the rest of the Isles' defense isn't renowned for locking down opponents' offensive attack.

In any case, the games between the three teams from New York State always have that little extra edge to them. And that's not going to be any different in the 2025-26 campaign. The Sabres are absolutely desperate to end their 14-year playoff drought, while the Islanders look to be focused on retooling on the fly. So the three tilts between Buffalo and the Isles promise to be must-see TV.

The St. Louis Blues could use another winger in their top nine after trading Zack Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux earlier this off-season. Due to this, one remaining unrestricted free agent (UFA) who they should consider targeting is forward Victor Olofsson. 

If the Blues signed Olofsson, he would offer them another solid option to consider for their third-line right wing spot, as the 30-year-old forward provides solid secondary scoring when playing at his best. Thus, he could be a good player for the Blues to bring in on an affordable one-year contract or even a professional tryout (PTO).

Olofsson is coming off a solid 2024-25 season, as he recorded 15 goals, 14 assists, 29 points, and a plus-17 rating in 56 games with the Vegas Golden Knights. He has also scored at least 20 goals and recorded at least 40 points three times during his career. Had he played all 82 games during the 2024-25 campaign, he would have been on pace to hit the 20-goal and 40-point marks for the fourth time in his career. Thus, there is no question that he is capable of making an impact offensively. 

With all of this, Olofsson could be an interesting player for the Blues to take a chance on. He would have the potential to give their third line and second power-play unit a bit of a boost, so it will be interesting to see if they target him from here. 

Former Blues Forward Still Looking For New HomeWith August just about here, plenty of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed. However, a former St. Louis Blues forward is still looking for his new home, as Jakub Vrana remains without a contract and is a UFA. 

Photo Credit:  © Candice Ward-Imagn Images

The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings roll on with Team No. 19, the Minnesota Wild. 

In our summer splash rankings, we’re examining each NHL team’s off-season from the teams that got worse to those that improved the most. We’re focusing on every team’s departures, additions and coaching and management hirings and firings.

We’ve fully settled into the point in the summer splash ratings where we’re looking at teams that more or less stayed the same this summer. You can find the teams that finished below Minnesota at the bottom, but we’re turning our attention to the state of the Wild.

Additions

Vladimir Tarasenko (LW), Nico Sturm (LW), Nicolas Aube-Kubel (RW), Cal Petersen (G)

The Breakdown: The Wild were a Stanley Cup playoff team last season, so Minnesota GM Bill Guerin felt no need to make widespread changes to his roster. 

The biggest name he acquired was former Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues right winger Tarasenko. The veteran posted only 11 goals and 33 points in 80 games this past year with Detroit, and Tarasenko is now 33. He projects to be a middle-six winger on the Wild, and time will tell how much he has left in the tank.

Meanwhile, Guerin’s other additions are fourth-line winger and former Florida Panther Sturm, rugged journeyman winger Aube-Kubel and third-string goaltender Cal Petersen. 

Up-and-coming blueliner Buium made his NHL debut in the playoffs but will also join the NHL full-time. Buium, star D-man Brock Faber and 21-year-old defenseman David Jiricek are a solid foundation for Minnesota’s back end.

For the most part, the Wild will be sending back the same lineup that got them to fourth place in the highly competitive Central Division. Guerin still has $10.1 million in cap space, so he can augment his roster. But he may wait until the season begins – and until next season’s trade deadline – to really bring in a big fish to help Minnesota battle the Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars for one of the top three positions in the Central.

Departures

Frederick Gaudreau (C), Gustav Nyquist (LW), Justin Brazeau (RW), Brendan Gaunce (C), Jon Merrill (D), Declan Chisholm (D), Travis Dermott (D), Marc-Andre Fleury (G)

The Breakdown: While the Wild didn’t make too many additions of note, the same goes for the players who’ve departed from the organization. 

Guerin traded bottom-six center Gaudreau, who netted 18 goals and 37 points in 82 games this past season, and 2025 trade deadline acquisitions Nyquist and Brazeau left the Wild as free agents.

Longtime NHL star Fleury headed into retirement after a Hockey Hall of Fame-worthy career. He’s a big name and personality to leave the team, but his playing time was reduced in his final season anyway.

You can’t look at the Wild’s departures and successfully argue Minnesota will take a major step backward in 2025-26. Guerin is clearly counting on his young players to develop into difference-makers at the NHL level, and allowing fringe players like Gaunce, Merrill, Chisholm and Dermott to move on is a direction the team is comfortable with. 

So long as the aforementioned youngsters reward Guerin for investing in them, and so long as Minnesota’s veterans play as they did last season, the Wild will once again be a playoff team. But that’s far from assured.

Could The Flames, Leafs, Oilers, Canadiens And Wild Still Make Moves This Summer?It may feel like many NHL franchises will be in airplane mode over the next few weeks, but don't rule out any action.

The Bottom Line

We’re not here to tell you the Wild are guaranteed to maintain their position in the Central – or to improve on it. 

Superstar left winger Kirill Kaprizov is a top-five player in the NHL, and veterans including center Joel Eriksson-Ek and winger Mats Zucarello are part of the core of this Minnesota team. Youngsters, including Faber, right winger Matt Boldy and the goaltending tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt will give the Wild a chance to win night in and night out. There’s a lot to like about this organization.

That said, the Central’s powerhouse teams are currently a level above Minnesota. If the playoffs were to start today, we don’t know of many NHL pundits who would pick the Wild to beat the Jets, Stars or Avalanche. That’s not a condemnation of the pieces that Guerin has put together. Rather, it’s a frank observation on where the Wild are in their competitive cycle.

The day may come down the line when Minnesota’s high-end young players can take that next competitive step and deliver the Wild into a top-three spot in the Central, but that day probably isn’t today. That’s why they’re in the middle part of our summer splash series.

That said, Guerin has pretty important business to care of to ensure his team doesn’t take a massive step back after next season. Kaprizov is entering the final season of a contract carrying a $9 million cap hit, and he’ll almost certainly get at least $11 million annually on his next deal. He scores at a wicked pace, with 25 goals and 56 points in 41 games this past season, and he drives the Wild’s offense. Getting his name on a contract extension this summer would be a huge win.

The Wild also must decide what to do with RFA center Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old recorded 60 points in his second full NHL season, and yet, his ice time tanked in the playoffs. A good chunk of the team’s cap space will go to re-signing him, unless they think Rossi is worth trading in exchange for an upgrade. 

If Kaprizov and Rossi are dealt with and there’s cap space left over, the Wild can accrue cap space and make a bigger splash at the trade deadline. But for now, Guerin’s relatively quiet summer is likely to lead to his team having a similar finish as in 2024-25. Although the Wild may overachieve and surprise some people next year, we’re going to be cautiously skeptical until we see it happening.

Summer Splash Rankings

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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Earlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. This is easily one of the most intriguing trades of the summer, as Bolduc and Mailloux are both former first-round picks with very bright futures. Yet, with the Canadiens bringing in star right-shot defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, it makes sense that they were willing to part ways with Mailloux to land a young forward like Bolduc. 

When looking at the season Bolduc just put together with the Blues, he should be a good addition to the Canadiens' roster. In 72 games this past season with the Blues, he recorded new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points, 108 hits, and a plus-20 rating. With numbers like these, he demonstrated that he has the ability to not only be a solid point producer at the NHL level but also provide a nice degree of grit to go along with it. 

Yet, when noting this was just Bolduc's second NHL season and he has only 97 career games on his resume, there is no question that he still could hit an even higher level. Thus, he is, without a doubt, a prime breakout candidate for the Canadiens heading into next season. 

Bolduc performed incredibly well for the Blues this past season, so it would not be surprising if he continued to trend in the right direction with the Canadiens. This is especially so when noting that he has the chance to have a more significant role in Montreal than he did in St. Louis.

Overall, it is hard not to feel optimistic about Bolduc heading into the 2025-26 season. The potential for him to emerge as a legitimate top-six forward for the Canadiens is there, and it will be intriguing to see what kind of season he has for the Original Six club from here. 

Canadiens: Laine In Top Form In LSHL MatchIt was over 30 degrees yesterday in Montreal. With humidity factored in, it felt closer to 40 degrees on an end-of-July day during the construction holidays. One would have thought that most people would have been out of town, and yet, the fourth week of the LSHL was sold out at Hockeyetcetera. An hour before the doors opened, die-hard fans were already queuing outside in the heat, patiently waiting for their hockey fix in the dog days of Summer.

Photo Credit:  © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Dom Luszczyszyn, NHL analyst for The Athletic (a New York Times publication), recently ranked the best contracts across the NHL. From Leon Draisaitl’s eight-year, $14 million AAV deal (ranked 6th) to Brandon Hagel’s seven-year, $6.5 million AAV contract (ranked 2nd), some of the league’s biggest stars made the list.

But the top spot? That belongs to Jack Hughes.

That’s right, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes holds the most valuable contract in the NHL, according to Luszczyszyn’s analysis.

Hughes is currently on an eight-year, $64 million contract signed in 2022, with a projected surplus value of $38 million. Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald locked him into the deal early, and it’s already paying off in a big way. Now entering the fourth year of the contract, Hughes is signed through the 2029–30 season, when he will hit unrestricted free agency at 29 years old.

Originally drafted first overall by the Devils in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Hughes signed his entry-level contract that same year, a three-year, $2.78 million deal. Since then, he’s quickly become the face of the franchise, earning the love of the fanbase both on and off the ice.

There was never any doubt that Fitzgerald would keep Hughes long-term. At just an $8 million annual cap hit, his contract stands out as one of the best bargains in the league, especially considering his production and leadership.

To date, Hughes has played 368 NHL games, recording 141 goals, 210 assists, and 351 points. Last season, he put up 70 points in 62 games before being sidelined by injury. Injuries have been a challenge, shoulder surgeries have cut two of his seasons short,  but at only 24 years old, Hughes continues to trend upward.

Despite the injury concerns, his contract still offers unmatched value. As Luszczyszyn pointed out, the Devils are winning the NHL contract game, and with five years still remaining on the deal, the payoff is far from over.

Hughes continues to be the centerpiece of New Jersey’s resurgence. His performance is elite, his price tag modest, and his impact immeasurable.

Now, the focus shifts to his younger brother, Luke Hughes, who is expected to sign a new deal with the Devils any day. And with Jack’s contract setting the gold standard, fans are hopeful that Luke’s will follow a similar path, both in value and long-term potential.

Photo Credit:© Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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. 

Evan Rodrigues is a player who could be on the move, not because of his value to the Florida Panthers, but because they may not be able to be able to get under the salary cap after re-signing center Sam Bennett, winger Brad Marchand, and defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The Panthers are currently nearly $4 million over the cap, but the health status of Matthew Tkachuk to start the season may give GM Bill Zito a bit of a reprieve. 

 Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

The Toronto native was a teammate of Jack Eichel at Boston University when he signed with the Sabres as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He had limited success in Buffalo over four seasons before being traded by GM Jason Botterill to Pittsburgh just before the COVID shutdown. With the Penguins, Colorado, and in two years with Florida, the 32-year-old has averaged over 15 goals a season, and was a key performer for the Panthers in consecutive Cup victories.  

What Would It Cost?

With Zito’s cap issues and the fact that Florida is light on draft capital the next two seasons, the Panthers could be looking for a high draft pick or a prospect on their entry-level deal who could play in the AHL and come up at some point over the next year or two. A youngster like Josh Doan or Noah Ostlund would fit that criteria. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

There were few members of the Detroit Red Wings who were more disappointed in missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive season than team captain Dylan Larkin.

After all, Larkin is the only player on the current roster who was a member of Detroit's most recent playoff team. That took place in the 2015-16 campaign, his rookie season. 

Since then, the Red Wings embarked on a difficult rebuilding process which included the trying 2019-20 season in which they posted the NHL's worst record since the 1999-2000 expansion Atlanta Thrashers. 

Since then, the Red Wings have made progress under the tutelage of beloved former captain Steve Yzerman, now serving as the club's general manager. Although they came within a point of securing a playoff spot in 2024, ultimately losing out thanks to a tie-breaker, the 2024–25 season was the first time in the last five years that they failed to improve their point total from the previous campaign. 

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Larkin celebrates his 29th birthday today, and there's nothing that he wants more than to have his first postseason hockey experience by the time he celebrates his 30th birthday one year from now.

 

IT'S OUR CAPTAINS BIRTHDAY 🥳 pic.twitter.com/xDItcJ3FWo

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 30, 2025

71 days from 71's birthday 🤯

See you October 9th! pic.twitter.com/PEn8re3cT1

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 30, 2025

"It’s been difficult," Larkin said on Detroit's locker room clean-out day in late April. "I think about it every day for a long time during days, just bounce back and forth. But that doesn’t do you any good; you have to go out and win hockey games, and we came up about four or five wins short this year."

The month of March has been a difficult one for the Red Wings in the last three seasons, during each of which the team endured a prolonged losing skid that ultimately doomed their postseason chances. 

"It’s frustrating to go through it again and sit here outside the playoffs," Larkin said. "March was definitely not a good month for us and defined our season, unfortunately." 

Larkin has been nothing short of a good soldier for the Red Wings, having continued to proudly don the Winged Wheel and the captain's "C" on his jersey during some of the more challenging seasons for Detroit in recent memory. 

Not only does he want the thrill of playoff hockey action at Little Caesars Arena for what would be the first time in the venue's history, but for the Red Wings to take their place back in the upper echelons of the NHL and become yearly contenders for the Stanley Cup. 

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Spencer Gill is one Philadelphia Flyers prospect who doesn't draw nearly as much fanfare as he should, and that's not his fault.

Gill, 18, is not one to play a flashy game. The 6-foot-4 defenseman is quietly developing into one of the Flyers' best prospects in real time, even if he'll never be the type of player that puts up crazy numbers of points like Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar.

Instead, the 2024 second-round pick has been rounding out his defensive game and overall two-way game, which bodes well for his NHL future.

See, Gill, when he was drafted, was considered more of a project pick due to his large but wiry frame (only 180 pounds) and evident offensive talents. The then-Rimouski Oceanic blueliner was best regarded for his puck skills, mobility, and willingness to activate in the play, but not so much for his defense.

A little unusual for a guy that big, isn't it?

But, when I saw Gill play during rookie camp and training camp last year, he was physical, unrelenting, petulant defensively, and efficient using his stick to disrupt plays.

If and when Gill can tap into and hone his physicality and defensive play, he's a surefire top-four defenseman at the NHL level for the Flyers. And if he can bring 30 to 40 points to the table offensively, maybe a complementary top-pair player as well.

Why Flyers' Porter Martone Chose Michigan State, NCAATop Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone has been praised a ton for his move to the NCAA with Michigan State University, but nobody fully knew why he made that decision. Until now.

Some were surprised when I ranked Gill ahead of Oliver Bonk, the Flyers' second 2023 first-round pick after Matvei Michkov, in my end-of-season Flyers prospect rankings.

For me, the rationale is simple: I feel Gill is better suited for the role the two defenders will play at the NHL level than Bonk. And that's not to say Bonk won't excel, because he has his own unique skillset.

But, part of Bonk's skillset will, presumably, be erased when he no longer plays the bumper position on the power play.

That's a big reason as to why the 20-year-old went from 24 goals 67 points in 60 games last year to 11 goals and 40 points in 52 games this year.

It remains to be seen if the Flyers or Lehigh Valley Phantoms allow Bonk to reprise that role, but if not, he's likely to be a second- or third-pairing defenseman with some offensive upside and the potential to fill in higher in the lineup if and when needed.

Gill, on the other hand, is bigger, more athletic, and has produced at roughly the same level despite not having a featured power play role on one of the best teams in the entire CHL.

Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Receives Mystery Advice from Alexander Ovechkin Ahead of NHL PushNikita Grebenkin is gearing up for his push to make the Philadelphia Flyers out of training camp this fall, and he's gotten some advice from Washington Capitals star and NHL legend Alexander Ovechkin on how to do it.

Now, the 18-year-old will head into what will be his last season in the QMJHL with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, the team to which he was only recently traded to, playing alongside top 2025 draft picks Bill Zonnon, Justin Carbonneau, and Arseni Radkov.

And, after suffering a broken ankle last season, Gill is beginning to create some momentum for himself leading into the new season.

In the Canada Red vs. Canada White intra-squad scrimmage at the World Junior Summer Showcase, Gill scored a nice long-range goal, taking a D-to-D pass, walking the line neatly, and firing a screened shot into the top right corner from the point.

Manipulating shooting lanes and getting shots in through them are skills that will translate to the NHL level, especially with how the Flyers have liked to play in recent years.

Spencer Gill is a way better prospect than you think, and soon, you'll be hearing his name from the Flyers as a candidate to make the NHL roster.

Once upon a time, the Chicago Blackhawks employed goaltender Kevin Lankinen. During those years, Chicago was trying to avoid a rebuild, so the patience to let him develop wasn’t where it needed to be. 

After a couple of years with the Nashville Predators, Lankinen ended up with the Vancouver Canucks in 2024-25. Since landing there, things have been going great for him. 

Lankinen played in 51 games for the Canucks. The season started with their perceived number one, Thatcher Demko, on the shelf. Lankinen took over as the starter and played well. He went 25-15-10 with a 2.62 goals against average, .902 save percentage, and four shutouts. On a team loaded with off-ice drama, he played magnificently.

Demko came back and appeared in 23 games, but he wasn’t the high-end starter that he was used to being before his injury. In the process of it all, Lankinen was rewarded with a five-year $22.5 million contract. His average annual value is $4.5 million per year. 

Behind Lankinen (and Demko) on the depth chart used to be a great young goalie in Arturs Silovs, who has now been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Between this trade and his contract extension, Lankinen can focus on hockey without worrying about his security in the NHL. 

After the success that Demko and Lankinen have had at different points in their career, why would Silovs being there make them uneasy?

Well, he was incredible for the Abbotsford Canucks en route to winning the Calder Cup last spring. Silovs was the MVP of the Playoffs for his efforts. With him out of the mix, the two veteran netminders can go about their business as usual without worrying about losing their jobs. 

Although the goaltending in Chicago has been shaky since Lankinen departed, they now seem to have it under control with three young goalies who they believe in. Spencer Knight is the plan as the long-term starter, while Arvid Soderblom and Drew Commesso battle it out for the backup role.

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

A newly opened arena in Connecticut aims to become the No. 1 spot for hockey and athlete development in the state.

Companies EN Hockey and Matterhorn Fit are bringing on-site skill development, performance coaching and advanced rehabilitation to Wings Arena in Stamford, Conn., which opened July 21.

Leading Wings Arena is CEO Francois Magnant, who grew up in Montreal and played four years of NCAA hockey at Yale University.

“Our vision is to bring together top-tier resources under one roof and create an environment where athletes – and anyone committed to health and fitness – feel inspired to reach their full potential,” Magnant said in a news release.

The two-story arena can fit more than 300 spectators in the rink and has off-ice training and video rooms, skate services and a cafe. It’s also the latest facility to host programs by EN Hockey, a hockey school that runs summer clinics in seven states. NHL players who trained with founder Erik Nates, who played Div. 1 hockey, include Kevin Shattenkirk, Brett Pesce, William Nylander, Trevor Zegras, Charlie McAvoy and more.

“Wings Arena is a launchpad,” Nates said in a statement. “It’s where players will come to level up every aspect of their game, from skating and stickhandling to decision-making and recovery. We’re proud to bring this vision to life in Stamford.”

Matterhorn Fit is set to open at Wings Arena in the fall to provide neurologically based rehabilitation and performance services to athletes by private appointment. Its CEO, Ryan Vesce, played 19 NHL games for the San Jose Sharks, 262 AHL games, 226 KHL games and in Sweden, Switzerland and Finland.

Instead of treating the pain, Matterhorn Fit says it scans the body to find the pain and the compensation before implementing movements that address the root cause.

“That’s what makes our method so different, and so effective,” Vesce said in the press release. “We’re combining cutting-edge neuroscience with elite-level training to help people heal faster, move better, and perform at their peak – on or off the ice.”

In 2024-25, USA Hockey had 12,338 players register in Connecticut, compared to 11,954 in 2023-24, 12,887 in 2022-23 and 12,729 in 2021-22. The all-time leading NHL scorer born in Connecticut is Craig Janney, who had 751 points in 760 games between 1988 and 1999, while Max Pacioretty (681 points), Chris Drury (615), Cam Atkinson (489) and Nick Bonino (358) round out the top five.

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It may feel like many NHL franchises will be in airplane mode over the next few weeks, but don't rule out any action.

Not every franchise will stick with their roster, even after the bulk of free-agent action came and went. In fact, five NHL teams appear to have some business still to do. Let’s look at them below.

Calgary Flames

The Flames were one of the least-busy teams in free agency and trades, mainly adding depth defenseman Nick Cicek and goalie insurance Ivan Prosvetov.

But Calgary GM Craig Conroy has a massive trade chip still to play in experienced two-way defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who's entering the final year of his contract and had 31 points this past season. In a market that is extremely thin at defense, Conroy could command quite the asset package in any deal for Andersson.

What’s holding back Conroy? Well, probably the fact that the Flames would likely take a step backward next season without him. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Calgary doesn’t have the horses to race against the top teams in the Pacific Division, and the most proven method to acquire those young, elite players is to trade veterans for assets and get high draft picks. The Flames aren’t at that stage right now, but moving Andersson would do great things for the team in the long run.

So few will be shocked if Andersson is moved sooner rather than later. He's in his prime years at 28, and the Flames aren't.

Edmonton Oilers

Are the Oilers really going to run it back with their same goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard? That’s the biggest question in Edmonton aside from a Connor McDavid contract extension, and it’s not going to go away simply because the off-season is in the dog days.

Skinner and Pickard brought the Oilers to the Cup final in back-to-back years, so yes, it’s possible that they could help them win it all. But with both goalies recording a sub-.900 save percentage in the playoffs, having somebody else who can be a bit more consistent in the biggest moments could be the difference-maker.

At the same time, it’s difficult to envision the Oilers coming away with a more experienced hand in net. 

Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and James Reimer are the top three remaining goalie options on the free-agent front, but the Oilers have only $225,834 in salary cap space, so even if Bowman wanted a change in goal, he’d have to move around other players to free up sufficient cap space to do so.

That said, sticking with the status quo won’t make Oilers fans confident that Skinner and Pickard will be far more consistent than they were this past year and will lead them to a Stanley Cup championship. Bowman may wait until the NHL’s next trade deadline to see what possible goaltending solutions are out there, but it may make more sense to strike now.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild did very little in terms of notable roster changes this summer, adding Vladimir Tarasenki, Nico Sturm and Nicolas Aube-Kubel. In doing so, Minnesota GM Bill Guerin now has about $10.1 million in salary cap space, but looming large over the Wild’s financial future is the status of RFA center Marco Rossi. 

The 23-year-old posted career highs in goals (24) assists (36) and points (60) this past year, but Rossi was barely used in the Wild’s playoff series. That suggested Rossi isn’t a long-term piece of the puzzle in Minnesota.

For that reason, we wouldn't be surprised if Guerin pulled the trigger on a trade centered around Rossi. It also wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that Rossi agrees to a one-or two-year contract extension with the Wild and sees if they believe in him more. Regardless, there will be some sort of development between the two sides, and it’s best to make that happen now instead of facing the questions at training camp.

NHL Free Agency: Why Samsonov, Georgiev And Reimer Are Worth SigningOf the NHL’s remaining free agents, goaltenders are the most intriguing position. 

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens pulled off the biggest trade of the off-season with the acquisition of former New York Islanders star defenseman Noah Dobson. But while Montreal is technically $5.93 million over the salary cap ceiling, that’s only because former star goalie Carey Price’s contract isn’t yet on long-term injured reserve. Once Price’s $10.5 million cap hit is on LTIR, the Habs have about $4.57 million in cap space. That’s more than enough money to improve their group of forwards, which could use as much depth as Canadiens GM Kent Hughes can provide.

Hughes has done terrific work in building his team’s roster up from scratch, and he may choose to hang onto that cap room until holes pop up during the season. But the Canadiens have the expectation of making the playoffs for the second year in a row, and that almost certainly means their brass will spend every bit of cap space to improve by next year’s trade deadline. Whether or not those moves happen in the next few weeks or months is yet to be seen, but the days of the Habs taking a back seat to other franchises in trades are over. That has to be thrilling for Canadiens fans.  

Toronto Maple Leafs

After the Mitch Marner saga came to an end on July 1, the Maple Leafs were flush with cap space. That was an unfamiliar feeling for Toronto fans accustomed to seeing the Leafs spend right to the cap ceiling. But Buds GM Brad Treliving didn’t keep that cap space for very long, instead adding center Nicolas Roy, left winger Dakota Joshua and right winger Matias Maccelli in trades.

Those moves left the Maple Leafs with about $2.93 million in cap space, but some of that money is likely earmarked for young RFA winger Nick Robertson. That said, it’s tough to see a fit for Robertson in the Leafs roster anymore after they added Joshua. He’s the only RFA left who’s scheduled for arbitration. The Leafs could see an option to trade him for some kind of asset at this point.

Whether the Leafs keep Robertson or not, there could be enough to add a veteran forward on a professional tryout contract and then sign them later on. That move paid off for Toronto last season with Max Pacioretty. 

But at a time where depth matters for legitimate Cup contenders, the Leafs’ decision on what they do with their remaining cap space will be the source of great debate and discussion among Leafs Nation.

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The Philadelphia Flyers are the latest focus in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

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

Initial Thoughts

The Flyers had a bit of a weird season. Tensions seemed to grow throughout the season as coach John Tortorella was trying to get his team to play the game the right way in his eyes. 

Matvei Michkov and Cam York, especially the latter, seemed to be the biggest focus for Tortorella as he tried to instill good habits into his young players. 

The tensions ultimately led to Tortorella being fired after an awkward incident with York and a post-game comment about how he’s “not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season,” in reference to the Flyers' down year while rebuilding.

All that said, the Flyers now have Rick Tocchet behind the bench. While he wants to hold players accountable, he’s also been vocal about wanting the stars to shine.

Michkov is the star of this team moving forward. Although he didn’t finish as a Calder Trophy finalist, he finished second in rookie scoring and led all first-year players in goals. Had things been a bit less hectic in Philly, maybe Michkov would have finished higher than fourth in rookie of the year voting.

Still just 20, Michkov is no longer a prospect. Instead, he’s one of the most exciting young players in the NHL. His goal-scoring only scratched the surface last year, and his creativity really started to come alive late in the season. With a full season and a summer of training under his belt, Michkov might be one of the biggest breakout candidates in the NHL. 

The Flyers have assembled quite a solid prospect pool over the last few years. 

Jett Luchanko started the year in Philly, playing in four games before heading back to junior hockey, but the energetic forward showed just how engaged and effective he could be in that short span. He needed to get a bit stronger, but his intelligence and 200-foot commitment make him a candidate to jump into the NHL this fall once again. He was on one of the weakest teams in the OHL this past year and still managed to produce at a solid clip, but going back to the CHL won’t offer much aside from beating up on junior competition offensively.

One OHLer who won’t return to major junior is Denver Barkey. He captained the London Knights as they won the Memorial Cup. His high-energy game and playmaker's mindset will be a welcome addition to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL. He’s undersized and must prove he can hang with the physicality of pro hockey, but Barkey doesn’t shy away from that aspect of the game. He’s a menace on and off the puck, using his speed and passing to push the pace of play. He’s going to be very fun to track this season. 

Alexis Gendron and Samu Tuomaala had solid AHL seasons, with 28 and 32 points, respectively. 

Gendron is still coming into his own, looking to lead the offensive rush and facilitate things for his linemates. Tuomaala is more of a complementary player who is OK playing off the puck, attacking through space and using his shot when he gets the puck in the offensive zone. Both need some refinement defensively, but the steps they took in the AHL were big for Philly. 

Alex Ciernik is heading to the Liiga after a few seasons spent primarily in Sweden’s second pro tier, the Allsvenskan. He’s shown growth, but there is more offensive skill to give. His speed helped him become an effective player in transition, but he just didn’t seem to mesh with linemates despite a desire to create offensively. The change of scenery might be good for Ciernik, but hopefully, his stop in Finland is a one-year experiment, and he can get into the AHL by season’s end.

On the back end, Barley’s London teammate, Oliver Bonk, is jumping to pro hockey as well. He has more of a chance to make the NHL roster in camp, but he could play most of the season in Lehigh Valley with Barkey. Bonk is a true do-it-all defender with a big shot and a physical edge that highlight his strengths at both ends of the ice. He has all of the tools to be an all-situation player for the Flyers, and if he gets a shot this year, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him play on both special teams. 

Helge Grans had a bounce-back season in the AHL this past year, putting up 23 points after recording just eight the year before. At 23, there isn’t much more runway for Grans to make himself a legitimate impact player. He is a mobile defender with size and the puck-moving ability that could make him a solid breakout artist. His defensive game has grown over the last couple of years as well. The question will be whether Grans is ever able to put all of his tools together or ends up being a very good AHL blueliner.

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

Matvei Michkov (RW), Jett Luchanko (C), Oliver Bonk (D)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 6th overall - Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)

Round 1, 12th overall - Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)

Round 2, 38th overall - Carter Amico, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 2, 40th overall - Jack Murtagh, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 2, 48th overall - Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State (NCAA)

Round 2, 57th overall - Matthew Gard, C, Red Deer (WHL)

Round 5, 132nd overall - Max Westergard, LW, Frolunda Jr. (Swe.)

Round 5, 157th overall - Luke Vlooswyk, D, Red Deer (WHL)

Round 6, 164th overall - Nathan Quinn, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

The Flyers added size, skill and some jam to the prospect pipeline with a few bets on skill as well. Porter Martone exemplifies all of that. While some look at his frame at 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds and assume that he’s a physical monster and a power forward who drives to the net, he isn’t quite that. He’s more of a power playmaker who uses his size to protect the puck and shield defenders with the puck on his stick while having the skill to make slick passes out of pressure.

Martone is a skilled puckhandler with some of the best vision in the draft. He identifies passing lanes incredibly well and fires pucks with purpose through lanes as they develop. Martone also has a very heavy shot, but he doesn’t use it nearly enough. Martone has 30-goal potential at the NHL level, especially if he starts to drive the net a bit more. If he ever develops a mean streak, something we’ve seen in brief glimpses, he could be an incredibly valuable player for Philly and potentially a future captain.

In one of the more surprising twists of the first round, Philly traded up from 22nd and 31st in the draft to select 12th overall in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The surprising part was that they drafted Jack Nesbitt, a very divisive player in this draft class, because he has the size and shooting talent of a top 15 player, but his mobility and impact outside of the offensive zone are concerns. 

He has grown as a skater over the last two years, but he’s gone from unacceptable to passable at the junior level, and that means there is still work to be done. What drew the Flyers to Nesbitt was his 6-foot-5 frame with a power game. As a finisher, Nesbitt could be a very solid complementary guy. His passing was a big area of growth in his game this year as well. This is a bet on development because the upside is intriguing, but the concerns are also legitimate.

Although he was injured for much of the season, Carter Amico was a solid pick in the second round. He plays a really physical, defensive game without trying to do too much when he has the puck. He’s smooth on his feet and uses his length well to kill play in his zone with stick checks. At 6-foot-5, he can erase players along the boards. The injury was unfortunate, but it shouldn’t be a big worry moving forward.

Jack Murtagh is an interesting complementary forward who is able to just make a bunch of little plays, using his hard skill and smart tactical game. He is also a player who can drive the net and create a mess in front. He likes to get involved in all facets of play in the offensive zone. He’s got some work to do defensively, but his time at Boston University will help with that. 

One of the most spot-on stylistic picks any team made at the 2025 NHL draft was Philadelphia taking Shane Vansaghi in the second round. A relentless forechecker and one of the most purposely physical players in the entire draft class, Vansaghi is a Flyer through and through. He has some nice offensive tools as well, and when he was able to play up the lineup, which didn’t happen too often, he was able to show off his skills as well. He likely ends up being a really steady 200-foot winger who plays in the middle six, earning the title of fan favorite pretty quickly. 

The Flyers took another humongous forward in Matthew Gard. Another 6-foot-5 forward, Gard really likes to play north-south and attack defenders head-on. He isn’t going to make too many high-end skill plays, but he handles the puck fairly well and isn’t going to be a dead zone when the puck gets onto his stick. His floor is solid, and there could be a steady bottom-six depth scorer with size and physicality.

The Flyers deviated from the plan of drafting massive human beings when they selected Max Westergard, a small speedy winger with a good set of hands who happens to be one of the youngest players in the draft. My personal top player coming out of Finland this year, Westergard has one of the best first steps as a skater, getting to speed really quickly. He’s no sure thing, but if he ends up being a speedy, skilled winger along one of the behemoths that they drafted, it could provide some depth scoring for the Flyers down the road.

With their second pick in the fifth round, Philadelphia drafted Luke Vlooswyk, who brings a very simple, defensive game. He isn’t much fun to watch, but he’s also not fun to play against. Vlooswyk will close gaps and try to kill play in transition, and he ties guys up at the net front. He’s quick to pass the puck to a teammate when he gets it. Offense will never be a big part of his game, but not every defender needs to be a puck-mover.

Capping off their draft, Philly took sneaky skilled forward Nathan Quinn. He doesn’t blow you away, but he does a really good job of making area passes or jumping into space as an off-puck attacker. He finds himself around the net quite a bit, which allows him to bang in some garbage goals. He’s a project, but Quinn is a nice pick late in the draft when they’ve already added a plethora of big physical players.

Strengths

The Flyers have built up their right side up front and on the back end. Up front, they have the recently drafted Martone headlining the group of right wingers, and they also drafted the versatile Vansaghi. Tuomaala and Gendron are interesting prospects. Nikita Grebenkin is a potential diamond in the rough. The depth they have the right wing is impressive, and you could realistically see many of them on the Flyers in the not-so-distant future. 

On the back end, Bonk leads the way, but when you add 2025 draft pick Amico along with the bounceback from Grans and the interesting projects that are Ethan Samson and Spencer Gill, you have the makings of some really solid depth. While the left side isn’t likely to produce a single NHLer, there could be a few coming from the right side, which is excellent because NHL teams always need a right-shot defenseman.

Weaknesses

Sometimes it’s difficult to pick a weakness for teams with good prospect pools because they have at least one or two decent prospects at every position. 

With the Flyers, it was immediately evident that the weak point was left-shot defenders because, quite frankly, they have none. Ty Murchison is a fine defensive blueliner who is going to be playing his first full AHL season this year, but behind him, they have no one. 

Any other young defenseman is either right-handed or they aren’t prospects. It’s better to have a weakness on the left than the right, especially on the back end, but it’s pretty barren for Philly at the moment.

Hidden Gem: Nikita Grebenkin, RW

When the Flyers traded Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Flyers acquired a first-round pick in 2027 as well as Nikita Grebenkin. While the first-rounder is obviously the big prize in the deal for Philadelphia, Grebenkin might end up being a very valuable piece who can play in the middle six with a combination of high-end work rate, stickhandling, and tenacious play style. 

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right winger runs around the ice and creates chaos away from the puck. He’s throwing hits, getting in on the forecheck and simply trying to be involved in all aspects of the game. Grebenkin’s brash style of play should fit in perfectly with what the Flyers are trying to build as they enter a new era. His friendship with Michkov should be fun to watch as well, especially because Grebenkin has a boatload of personality.

Next Man Up: Oliver Bonk, D, And Jett Luchanko, C

Although they may not be guaranteed roster spots, both Bonk and Luchanko are in a position to fight for one in training camp, and the players slotted into roles may not put up much of a fight. In Bonk’s case, the third pair right-shot ‘D’ position is up for grabs. Noah Juulsen was signed, but he’s never been able to hold down an NHL job with any certainty, so if Bonk has a good camp, he could lock that down fairly easily.

Bonk is a potential minute-muncher who can grow into a bigger role throughout the season. Rasmus Ristolainen should return from his tricep injury in late October or early November, so if Bonk seems in over his head over the first few weeks, you have a replacement on the way. If Bonk succeeds, you have a nice problem on your hands when he returns.

For Luchanko, it won’t be the first time he’s competing for a job in camp. He won a roster spot to open last season as an 18-year-old before playing a few games and being sent back to the OHL. Ultimately, it was the right decision, but that taste of NHL action is sure to have the 2024 13th overall pick hungry for more. He’s a worker who pushes the pace, and the Flyers will need that, especially in their bottom six. As of now, Rodrigo Abols is slotted into the 4C role, but a good camp from Luchanko could unseat him, and the Flyers could shuffle things around to have Luchanko play center in the middle six with either Noah Cates or Christian Dvorak, likely the latter, playing on the fourth line.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Denver Barkey, Alex Ciernik, Jack Murtagh, Max Westergard, Jack Berglund 

C: Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, Matthew Gard, Nathan Quinn, Ryan MacPherson 

RW: Porter Martone, Shane Vansaghi, Nikita Grebenkin, Alexis Gendron, Samu Tuomaala, Ilya Pautov

LD: Ty Muchison

RD: Oliver Bonk, Carter Amico, Helge Grans, Ethan Samson, Spencer Gill, Luke Vlooswyk, Austin Moline

G: Yegor Zavragin, Carson Bjarnason, Aleksei Kolosov

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

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic cemented himself a full-time spot on the Original Six club's NHL roster during the 2023-24 season. In 76 games with the Blackhawks that season, the 6-foot-6 blueliner recorded two goals, 14 assists, 16 points, and 56 hits. Overall, the 2019 second-round pick certainly demonstrated that he has the ability to be a solid defensive defenseman at the NHL level.

After breaking out during the 2023-24 season, Vlasic undoubtedly hit a new level this past campaign with the Blackhawks. In 82 games with the Blackhawks during the 2025-26 campaign, he set new career highs with four goals, 26 assists, and 30 points. With this, the young blueliner became more of an offensive threat for the Blackhawks, while also still being dependable when it came to his defensive play. As a result of this, he was used in all situations and emerged as the Blackhawks' top blueliner in the process.

While it was a tough 2024-25 season for the Blackhawks, it is hard not to be happy with the campaign Vlasic put together. He took another major step in the right direction, and only proved that the Blackhawks made the right call signing him to a six-year, $27.6 million contract extension during the 2023-24 season.

Now, Vlasic's goal from here will be to continue to reach new heights for the Blackhawks. He is an incredibly important part of the Blackhawks' rebuild, and it will be fascinating to see what kind of season he has in 2025-26 because of it.

Ex-Blackhawks Forward Found Perfect Fit With New TeamWith the Chicago Blackhawks being at the bottom portion of the NHL standings this past season, they traded veteran forward Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes back in January. Seeing the Blackhawks trade Hall was not surprising in the slightest, as he was a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) on a rebuilding Chicago squad. 

Photo Credit:  © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Why Sharp likes a Flyers prospect who has ‘won a lot already' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Patrick Sharp can relate to Denver Barkey.

Like exactly. At least when it comes to their draft status.

Both were selected by the Flyers in the third round at 95th overall. Identical pick, just different years.

Sharp made sure to inform Barkey of that distinction when the Flyers’ prospect was drafted in 2023.

“I said, ‘Hey, you’ve got some big shoes to fill there — third round, 95th overall,'” Sharp recalled with a smile earlier this month at Flyers development camp.

Sharp, a product of the 2001 draft, was traded by the Flyers to the Blackhawks in 2005. With Chicago, he won three Stanley Cup titles and scored 30-plus goals four times.

Barkey won and scored quite a bit at the junior ranks. The 20-year-old is now set to turn pro this season with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Last season, he captained the best team in Canadian major junior hockey. He led London to a Memorial Cup title, scoring two of the Knights’ four goals in the championship. In 10 OHL playoff games and five CHL Memorial Cup games combined, Barkey put up 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists).

Over his OHL career, the 5-foot-9 winger delivered 73 points (27 goals, 46 assists) and a plus-37 rating in 53 playoff games. He made the OHL championship series three times in four seasons and won the last two.

“He’s a guy that the players seem to gravitate to in the locker room,” Sharp, a special advisor to the Flyers’ hockey operations department, said. “Has a lot of tools to his game. Obviously people talk about his size, but his hockey IQ is exceptional, he has got great skating ability, he’s ultra competitive and he has won a lot already.”

The Flyers kept Barkey off the ice at development camp after he battled an ankle injury in the playoffs that cost him seven games.

“It’s a lot better, it’s feeling close to 100 percent right now,” Barkey said. “Just still trying to rest and recover from all the bumps and bruises of a long season.”

London’s Memorial Cup run finished just over a month before camp. It wasn’t easy keeping Barkey off the ice.

“He always comes to me every morning, ‘Hey, do you think you can get me out on the ice?'” Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong said. “I’m like, ‘No, you’re done.'”

As Barkey graduates from the junior level, he’ll have to prove his game translates against pros and that the lack of size won’t hamper him.

“It’s a big jump next year, I’m going to be playing against older men, strong guys,” Barkey said. “Continuing to get stronger, faster and I think the biggest thing is just using my brain and finding a way to adjust.

“Junior was really fun, learned a lot in London, but I’m ready for the next step, new journey with a new team. I’m just excited to get it going and see where it goes.”

Dawgs got that Barkey in em#MemorialCup | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/BunVNS07N5

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) June 2, 2025

Similar to 2023-24, when he racked up 102 points, Barkey was driven by another Team Canada snub last season. For a second straight year, he didn’t make his country’s world juniors roster. He went on to score 1.64 points per game, the best mark of his OHL career.

“Just continuing to use people that don’t believe in me, that kind of doubt me, just use it as fuel to my fire, motivation every day,” Barkey said. “I kind of just keep that in the back of my head.”

The Flyers know to not count him out.

“He has got that nice little chip on his shoulder of proving people wrong,” Armstrong said.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in multiple new players this off-season. One of them is defenseman Matt Dumba, as the Penguins acquired him and a 2028 second-round pick from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Vladislav Kolyachonok. 

With this move, the Penguins have added a veteran defenseman who has had past success in Dumba. The Penguins were also to land the second-round pick they received because the Stars needed to clear up cap space, and Pittsburgh took on Dumba's full $3.75 million cap hit.

While the primary reason the Penguins made this move was to get the second-rounder, the possibility of Dumba being a solid addition to Pittsburgh's blueline should not be ruled out. Although expecting him to regain his previous top-four form may be a big ask, he certainly could end up being a nice pickup for the Penguins' bottom pairing and penalty kill. 

In 63 games this past season with the Stars, Dumba recorded one goal, nine assists, 10 points, 60 penalty minutes, and 70 hits. While it was another quiet offensive season for Dumba, he provided some bite on the Stars' blueline, and he should give the Penguins plenty of grit next season, too. This is especially so when noting that Dumba had a career-high 202 hits in 2023-24 split between the Arizona Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Furthermore, if Dumba bounces back a bit next season, he could end up becoming a decent trade chip for the Penguins at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. There is no question that playoff teams love to add hard-nosed right-shot defenseman, so he could end up being a popular rental target for contenders if the Penguins are once again sellers next season.

Nevertheless, there is truly no harm in the Penguins taking on Dumba's contract for the season, especially with him only signed for one more year. It will be fascinating to see what kind of campaign he can put together for the Penguins from here. 

Penguins Intriguing Prospect Is Big Player To WatchWith the 21st overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected forward Sam Poulin. Since then, the 6-foot-2 winger has had trouble cementing himself as a full-time NHL player. Yet, while this is the case, the Blainville, Quebec native still has time to change that. 

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images