Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart finds his name in fourth place on The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn's top 10 NHL contracts in 2025.

The 29-year-old was once again stellar for the Panthers, scoring 39 goals and 81 points in 79 games, while also finishing second in Selke Trophy voting. In his four seasons in Florida, Reinhart has scored over 30 goals in each season and over 80 points in three. He set a career-high 57 goals and 94 points in the 2023-24 season, prior to signing his eight-year, $8.625 million contract.

Reinhart's do-it-all play style fits in perfectly on the Panthers roster. On the power play, he plays the net front and the bumper to perfection, leading the Panthers in power-play goals in four consecutive seasons. He's also valuable due to his penalty killing prowess, forming a dominant duo with Aleksander Barkov.

Reinhart's value increases due to his faceoff abilities. Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues are the only right-handed shooting forwards who can take faceoffs on the Panthers roster, and in high-leverage situations where draws are on Reinhart's strong side, he wins over 40 percent of them.

"Of all of Florida’s deals that make non-Panthers fans scream “come on” in unison and blame state taxes, this one remains the most infuriating. For Panthers fans, it’s yet another substantial win.

Fresh off a year where Reinhart scored 57 goals and finished fourth in Selke voting, the Panthers seemingly got to pretend that season never happened during contract negotiations. Reinhart’s $8.6 million cap hit makes a lot more sense based on what he was after his 2023-24 season, and not based on the seismic leap he took in 2024-25. 

Was regression likely? Yes. But not to the degree that Reinhart ended up making $3 million less than his contemporaries such as William Nylander and Elias Pettersson. If that was the market for a 90-point forward, Florida went way under it. Those savings probably afforded the Panthers the ability to trade for Brad Marchand — and the rest is history.

What adds further salt to the wound is that Reinhart is not only cheaper than Nylander and Pettersson but also probably better. That’s because of his defensive game, which has finally received the respect it deserves over the last two years. While Reinhart’s production did predictably regress last season, his defensive game took another step — enough to finish second in Selke voting behind teammate Aleksander Barkov.

Over the last two seasons, Reinhart has cemented himself as one of the league’s best players. For the next seven years, he’ll be an absolute steal," said Luszczyszyn.

Finishing ahead of Reinhart were Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes). Also included on the rankings were Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers), Dylan Guenther (Utah Mammoth), Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings), Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild) and Tim Stutzle (Ottawa Senators). 

The Panthers pride themselves on the culture they've built, characterized by a selfless attitude and a pride in being hard to play against. You won't find many players who embrace the organization's philosophies more than Reinhart.

The 2025 calendar will soon switch over to August. For many players around the NHL, it is a month that represents the final weeks with their friends and family before traveling to their respective hockey cities for the 2025-26 season. 

Currently, two former New Jersey Devils defensemen are unemployed and seeking their next opportunity in professional hockey. 

Jon Merrill

Former Team: Minnesota Wild 

Merrill has previously played for the Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, Detroit Red Wings, Montréal Canadiens, and Minnesota Wild. Now a veteran with 682 NHL games under his belt, the defenseman is an unrestricted free agent, looking for his next home. 

The 33-year-old became expendable to the Wild with youngster Zeev Buium in the fold. Considered a stay-at-home defenseman, he scored two goals and earned six points last season. 

Merrill would be a good addition for any team looking for depth on the blue line.  

Brendan Smith 

Former Team: Dallas Stars 

Dave McCarthy of NHL.com was the first to report that the veteran defenseman was looking to play one more season. At 36 years old, he is coming off a season in which he appeared in 32 games for the Dallas Stars. 

Brendan Smith will be hitting the market on Tuesday.

The defenseman is looking to play at least one more season.

There are few guys better than him to surround young players with if a team is looking for defensive depth.

— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) June 29, 2025

Smith will fill whatever role a team needs, including the transition to a forward. A leader in the locker room, Smith has played for the Red Wings, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Devils, and Stars, playing 726 career games. 

Smith would be a great mentor to a team with a young blue line and add the depth teams need throughout an 82-game season. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Photo Credit: © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

The Ottawa Senators are next in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Senators’ 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 Senators finally did it. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and gave the rival Toronto Maple Leafs a scare in the Battle of Ontario. 

Although they didn’t take down the Leafs in the first round, they had some enlightening performances from some of their most promising young players. Brady Tkachuk was a bit up-and-down, but he ended up with seven points across the six-game series. Tim Stutzle added five points. Jake Sanderson had moments where he looked like one of the best defensemen in the NHL, playing high-level hockey at both ends of the ice. 

The Senators will look to go further next year. Unfortunately for the Sens, they don’t have much in the pipeline that could be highly effective in the NHL, at least not this season. 

The team’s top prospect, Carter Yakemchuk, didn’t have the best year in the WHL, taking a fairly large step back statistically from 30 goals and 71 points in his draft year to 17 goals and 49 points this past season. He did play 10 fewer games, but that isn’t enough to warrant a 22-point drop-off. It’s hard to be a 30-goal defender, and that’s why there was some concern with the realistic projection of his numbers last year.

That said, Yakemchuk is still quite the prospect. He should have been included in Canada’s world juniors camp last year, and there was talk of him joining the Sens at the end of the season. He still has a big shot, but his mean streak and physicality will get him into the NHL. Yakemchuk could be a very interesting addition to the Sens in another year, but a season in the AHL will likely be good for his development. 

A few of the Sens' more intriguing prospects are also on the back end, with most of them being more defensive-minded than offensive defensemen.

Jorian Donovan had his first full AHL season, and it went well for the defensive-minded blueliner. His game is efficient and simple for the most part. He just tries to snuff out attackers and eliminate the scoring chance. When he gets the puck, he’ll make the most immediate and simple play to get the puck to safety.

When it comes to Gabriel Eliasson, it’s all about adding the physical edge. The hulking 6-foot-7 defenseman is out to eliminate opponents from the ice when he takes his shift. He uses his size to his advantage, crushing players in open ice or along the boards. There isn’t much offense in Eliasson’s game, but he’s a strong physical presence. 

After starting the season in the United States League, Blake Montgomery joined the OHL’s London Knights and helped them win the Memorial Cup. He has an enticing package of tools with a power game to go along with his speed, but this past year was the closest we’ve seen to him putting it all together. There is still room to refine some of the smaller details in his game, but there were plenty of encouraging signs after he arrived in London. He’ll be heading to the University of Wisconsin in the fall, where he can further refine those details. 

When the Sens traded for Xavier Bourgault, there was hope that he could rekindle his game in their system with a fresh set of opportunities. Unfortunately, that bounceback didn’t quite happen, and Bourgault remains a prospect with a frustrating path. His skill and offensive mind are NHL caliber. He understands how to generate offense. He’s just been unable to piece play together consistently enough to produce at the level he is capable of. Turning 23 in October, this might just be the last season in which Bourgault is viewed as a potential NHLer. 

Tyler Boucher will be one of the most interesting case studies to look back on. He was probably drafted a bit too high at 10th overall, but he’s had some tough luck with injuries as well. Last season marked the first time he played over 42 games in a year since his age-16 season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. 

Boucher is a physical forward who loves to engage and impose his will on opponents. He has a great shot as well. We haven’t seen Boucher even get the chance at becoming the fully realized version of himself, and we may never get that chance. This season could be the start of the next chapter for Boucher, though. 

After potentially saving the Senators' season in his 12-game run, Leevi Merilainen is set to be the full-time backup for Ottawa. He showed plenty of potential, and his presence could help make Linus Ullmark the best version of himself. Merilainen has built himself into the Sens' top goalie prospect thanks to his size and technical ability.

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

Leevi Merilainen (G), Ridly Greig (C/W)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 23rd overall - Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA)

Round 3, 93rd overall - Blake Vanek, RW, Stillwater (Minn. H.S.)

Round 4, 97th overall - Lucas Beckman, G, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

Round 5, 149th overall - Dmitri Isayev, LW, Yekaterinburg Jr. (Rus.)

Round 6, 181st overall - Bruno Idzan, LW, Lincoln (USHL)

Round 7, 213th overall - Andrei Trofimov, G, Magnitogorsk Jr (Rus.)

Logan Hensler’s draft stock was interesting to follow. Coming into this past year, he was a potential top-10 pick after a successful run with the NTDP. A slow start at the University of Wisconsin had him sitting outside of the first round on many public lists, but a strong finish ultimately got him drafted in the first round at 23rd overall. 

Hensler is a highly mobile defender who is quite effective moving the puck in transition. Henlser’s defensive game took a step this year as well, using his feet to retrieve dump-ins and evade pressure or cut off attackers looking to go wide, forcing them down into the corner. Hensler finished his freshman season strong, but he will likely play another year or two before turning pro. He immediately becomes one of the Sens’ top prospects. 

When Ottawa took Blake Vanek, the son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek, it was a bit surprising. He put up 22 goals and 53 points at the Minnesota high school level, and he played a handful of games with the NTDP and the USHL’s Chicago Steel. He has great size and an excellent shot, and he flashes some nice puckhandling. He struggles to keep up with the pace of play at times, though, so he likes to slow things down with the puck or come in as the third man, trying to attack high-to-low after teammates have already pushed defenders back. He’s heading to the WHL next season, where he will look to work on some of the details in his game. 

The Senators drafting Lucas Beckman in the fourth round was one of the more intriguing selections of the draft. The QMJHL netminder looked great for Baie-Comeau this past season, and when he joined Canada at the World Men’s Under-18s, he was stellar in a backup role, winning both games he played. Beckman doesn’t try to do too much, relying on his mobility and fluidity in the crease. He stays calm in chaos around the net and just looks to cut down angles. He could be the sneakiest goalie pick of the draft. 

In what was a bit of a shock, the Senators took Russian winger Dmitri Isayev. Ottawa doesn’t regularly draft Russians, and Isayev doesn’t even fit the style Ottawa generally goes for. He’s small and skilled, but he tries hard defensively and has some games where he is constantly stripping pucks from his opponents. He plays with pace and has some creativity, but there are plenty of habits to eliminate to find success in North America, but he could be a very good Russian pro in the next couple of years. Isayev will be a very interesting player to track. 

The Senators have never shied away from drafting overage players, and this year, it was USHL standout Bruno Idzan. He started the year playing in the Alps Hockey League with Croatian club Sisak, where he was scoring the lights out with 21 goals in 19 games. He moved to the USHL where he continued to score a ton in preparation for his freshman NCAA season at the University of Wisconsin. Idzan has always been able to flash his speed in transition, and he’s become a very good shooter from all over the zone. He is going to need some refinement, so college is a great route for him. 

To cap off their draft, the Senators took a swing on a Russian netminder, which is always a very good bet to take late in the draft. Andrei Trofimov has decent size and plays with a good technical base. His numbers in Russian junior hockey were very good, and he allowed no goals in a relief effort at the VHL level in his pro debut.

Strengths

Arguably, the Senators’ top two prospects are both right-shot defenders, with Yakemchuk and Hensler looking like legitimate NHLers in different roles. Beyond those two, the projects they have at right defense could be quite interesting. 

Hoyt Stanley is a big defender who has had a couple of solid seasons at Cornell in the NCAA. Djibril Toure is a project who brings incredible size at 6-foot-7 and some very solid skating. He isn’t a refined player and spent time in the ECHL this past year, but there is hope that in the long run, he may be a solid bet who can play some NHL minutes. 

Weaknesses

The reality of the Senators’ prospect pool is that aside from Stephen Halliday and Bourgault, both of whom will likely play on the wing in the NHL level if they make it there, the center depth is incredibly poor. 

The Senators have a prospect pool that’s not indicative of a team that has been out of the playoffs for much of the last decade. They haven’t had a ton of success drafting outside of the franchise-altering 2020 class that brought in Stutzle, Sanderson and Greig. This has left the pipeline with little to no high-end talent, and the pivot position is where that’s most obvious. 

Hidden Gem: Stephen Halliday, C

Stephen Halliday led the AHL’s Belleville Senators in scoring in his first full pro season. His mobility and pace have always been the two issues that have led to some doubting his NHL upside, but he excels at slowing the game down. 

He was drafted as an overage prospect, and now that he’s 23, it might be time for him to get an NHL shot to see if he can slow things down and produce at the NHL level as he did at the NCAA and AHL levels. If he can’t, there may not be much of an NHL future, but if he can, he will bring a unique element to the Sens' bottom six and the kind of depth scoring they need moving forward.

Next Man Up: Leevi Merilainen, G

The Senators don’t have a skater who is ready to jump into the NHL roster, but they’ll have Merilainen start the year as their backup. His run from last season likely should have earned him the role then, but with Anton Forsberg locked in as the backup primarily because of his cap hit, it wasn’t quite time for Merilainen to be in the NHL full-time. 

Merilainen can play somewhere between 25 to 30 games or more. That would allow Ullmark to stay fresh for the playoffs when the Sens are hopefully back in it for a second straight year. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Javon Moore, Blake Montgomery, Dmitri Isayev, Lucas Ellinas, Bruno Idzan

C: Stephen Halliday, Xavier Bourgault, Jake Chiasson, Owen Beckner

RW: Tyler Boucher, Blake Vanek, Oskar Pettersson

LD: Jorian Donovan, Gabriel Eliasson, Matthew Andonovski, Filip Nordberg, Tomas Hamara, Theo Wallberg, Eerik Wallenius

RD: Carter Yakemchuk, Logan Hensler, Hoyt Stanley, Djibril Toure

G: Leevi Merilainen, Mads Sogaard, Lucas Beckman, Vladimir Nikitin, Kevin Reidler, Jackson Parsons, Andrei Trofimov

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.

No one on the current roster has been an Ottawa Senator longer than defenseman Thomas Chabot. Chabot played his first game for the club back in the 2016–17 season, so he's been around for a while. He’s seen some things.

A lot of players have come and gone during his time — including no fewer than 18 goaltenders across eight seasons.

Yes, 18 goaltenders.

With a nod to X users @OilersAdam and Senators superfan @JulioHashem, who were both tracking the ugly goalie history of their NHL teams on the social media platform this week, here is every goaltender that Thomas Chabot has played with during his time as an Ottawa Senator:

Craig Anderson
Mike Condon
Daniel Taylor
Anders Nilsson
Mike McKenna
Marcus Högberg
Matt Murray
Anton Forsberg
Joey Daccord
Filip Gustavsson
Mads Søgaard
Cam Talbot
Kevin Mandolese
Dylan Ferguson
Leevi Meriläinen
Magnus Hellberg
Joonas Korpisalo
and Linus Ullmark.

My inside NHL sources tell me that's too many goalies.

It's part of why the Senators have often been labelled a “goalie graveyard,” although the moniker actually predates Chabot's tenure. I thought it started around the time Dominik Hasek mangled his adductor (and we all know how painful that can be) at the 2006 Olympics. But it's even older than that.

The name was coined by my former TSN 1200 radio co-host, John Rodenberg, during the old Battle of Ontario more than 20 years ago. The first time he said it on the air, and he'd say it often after that, I felt like it was maybe a little harsh at first.

But after years of witnessing the struggles – my god, the struggles – and the revolving door in net, the name became so uncannily accurate that I sometimes wondered if JR had inadvertently placed a curse — some kind of voodoo hex — on the men who protect Ottawa’s crease.

"Hasek's injury cemented the label," Rodenburg recalls. "But it dates back to the scars of the losses to the Leafs and especially 2004 and Patrick Lalime in Game 7.

"And it ALWAYS manifested itself, one way or the other, it felt like every season. It's always about the goalie here in Ottawa. Just change the year, rinse and repeat."

With the team having a reputation like that, it was not a surprise that one of Steve Staios' first big moves as a new GM was to try and solve things by going after one of the NHL's best. He managed to pull off a deal last summer for Linus Ullmark, the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner.

Ullmark's first season was pretty decent with flashes of excellence, but injury absences were a concern. Not big enough to get swept into the goalie graveyard conversation, but not insignificant enough to be excused from it either.

Ullmark and his understudy, the very young Leevi Merilainen, do seem nicely poised to finally bury the label once and for all. 

But if they can’t do it, then there's really no choice but to flood JR at TSN 1200 with cards, emails, and maybe a goat sacrifice or two. Because someone’s gotta figure out how to lift the Curse of the Goalie Graveyard.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images 

This article orginally appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa, where you'll find all the latest Senators news:
Formenton's Lawyer: 'The Crown Knowingly Forged Ahead With A Hopeless Prosecution'
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Of the NHL’s remaining free agents, goaltenders are the most intriguing position. 

Three UFA goalies who played at least 20 games last season have yet to sign a new contract: Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and James Reimer.

They’re at different points in their NHL careers, but they have potential of being bargain options in the crease.

Ilya Samsonov

Samsonov may be the most intriguing of the trio. The 28-year-old posted a subpar save percentage of .891 with the Vegas Golden Knights this past season, but he had 0.6 goals saved above expected in 29 appearances, meaning he stopped the scoring chances he was generally supposed to stop. 

Samsonov isn’t all that far removed from his stellar 2022-23 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he had a .919 SP and 2.33 GAA in 42 games. He earned $1.8 million this past season with Vegas, and he likely wouldn’t get more this time. That said, among goalies who played at least 15 games, 28 goalies had a worse goals saved above expected rating, according to moneypuck.com.

Alexandar Georgiev

One of those goaltenders is Georgiev, who put up a minus-17.9 goals saved above expected, which was the second-worst. 

Georgiev split last season between the Colorado Avalanche – where he had an .874 SP and 3.38 GAA in 14 games – and the San Jose Sharks, where he posted a 3.88 GAA and .875 SP in 31 appearances. 

The 29-year-old will certainly have to take a pay cut from the $3.5 million he’s earned in each of the past four seasons, but in the right circumstances, Georgiev could provide some value and support for a younger goalie tandem. While he’s had a goals-against average of more than 3.00 and a sub-.900 save percentage in the last two seasons, he did have a 2.53 GAA and .919 SP in 2022-23, so he has the potential to bounce back.

James Reimer

Reimer put up a .901 SP and 2.90 GAA in 22 appearances with the Buffalo Sabres this past season while earning a very reasonable $1 million for his efforts. Of the three goalies here, Reimer's 8.0 goals saved above expected was the best as well.

Reimer is now 37, but if he doesn’t retire, he can prove he has something left in the tank at somewhere close to the league-minimum salary. He proved that this past season, after all.

At a time when every salary cap dollar counts, Reimer can step in and give a team some reassurance that they effectively have goalie insurance.

It's not out of the ordinary for teams to line up three experienced goalies to get them through next year. 

The Buffalo Sabres have presumptive starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, youngster Devon Levi and veteran newcomer Alex Lyon. 

The Anaheim Ducks have emerging No. 1 Lukas Dostal, veteran Petr Mrazek and bubble goalie Ville Husso. 

And the Utah Mammoth have three experienced goalies in Karel Vejmelka, Connor Ingram (who entered the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program in March) and first-year Mammoth Vitek Vanecek. As you can see, you can never have more than enough quality netminding.

The Edmonton Oilers could have benefited from signing one of these goalies right now if they had more than $226,000 in cap space. Stuart Skinner had an .896 SP this past season, while Pickard had a .900 SP. They had some solid outings in the playoffs but an inconsistent performance overall, and if the Oilers aren’t ready to give Olivier Rodrigue a larger role, having another veteran wouldn’t hurt.

Whether Samsonov, Georgiev and Reimer get to play NHL hockey next season, or whether they ply their trade overseas is yet to be determined.

Another option for those three goalies would be earning their keep on a professional tryout this fall – Edmonton could be a fit in that case. Alternatively, they can be patient and wait for an injury or disappointing performance from a goalie to open up a roster opportunity for them. At this stage, beggars can’t be choosers, so if Georgiev, Samsonov and Reimer get a solid employment offer, they should take it.

In any case, it will be compelling viewing to see how the rest of the NHL’s goalie market shakes out. Teams that are satisfied with their netminding today might not be satisfied tomorrow, and teams that are healthy in net today might not be healthy between the pipes tomorrow. Things can change in an instant for NHL goalies, and we’ll be watching closely to see where every netminder of note eventually lands.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Welcome to this edition of THN's Vancouver Canucks 2024-25 Report Card. This recurring 2025 off-season series features a deep dive into how each Canucks player performed last year. Today's article will focus on winger Arshdeep Bains, who finished the season with one points in 13 games. 

Bains received a couple of call-ups throughout the 2024-25 season. He also scored his first NHL goal, which came on October 26 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. While he did put forth some noticeable performances at the NHL level, most of his success came in the AHL, where he helped the Abbotsford Canucks capture the 2025 Calder Cup. 

There were few players better than Bains during the 2025 Calder Cup Finals. The 24-year-old recorded 10 points in six games, while finishing the playoffs with 24 points in 24 games. Ultimately, Bains showed that he can be relied upon in crucial moments, as he recorded multi-point performances in both Games 5 and 6 of the Finals. 

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As for Bains' time in the NHL, he averaged 10:30 of ice time while playing on the fourth line. During his 13 games, he recorded eight shots while also throwing 17 hits. Bains also saw some time on the power play, logging 9:49 of ice time with the man advantage. 

From BC To The Big Club: Arshdeep Bains’ Path To The CanucksThe forward looks to be in Vancouver’s lineup on October 9th’s season opener against the Calgary Flames.

After the season was complete, Bains signed a two-year extension with Vancouver. The first year of the deal is a two-way contract, while the second season is a one-way contract. Based on the current roster, Bains will be one of a handful of players fighting for a spot in the bottom six and, if sent to the AHL, will most likely be one of the first forwards called up if injuries or trades occur.

In the end, Bains had a successful third campaign with the organization. He played 13 NHL games and led Abbotsford to a championship. Based on his performance, Bains receives a B+ grade for the 2024-25 season.

Player Review Series Articles: 

Derek Forbort

Max Sasson

Elias Pettersson (D)

Teddy Blueger

Filip Chytil

Nils Åman

Nils Höglander

Drew O'Connor

Aatu Räty

Kiefer Sherwood

Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Marcus Pettersson

Linus Karlsson

Kevin Lankinen

Thatcher Demko

Jake DeBrusk

Filip Hronek

Brock Boeser

Tyler Myers

Conor Garland

Elias Pettersson (F) 

Quinn Hughes 

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 from The Hockey News. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

When looking at the Chicago Blackhawks' current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use a bit more forward depth. Due to this, bringing in another potential option for their bottom six could be smart for the Original Six club. 

When looking at players who are still available on the free-agent market, one interesting option is forward Jakub Lauko. 

Lauko became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 after the Boston Bruins elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. Since then, he has not found his new home, but he would have the potential to be a solid addition for the Blackhawks if brought in. 

Lauko spent this past season split between the Minnesota Wild and Bruins, where he set new career highs with five goals and 11 points in 56 games. He also made an impact when it came to his physicality, as he finished the year with 119 hits. 

Lauko is known for being an energy player who provides a lot of grit and toughness, so he could be a nice depth pickup for the Blackhawks. He would offer them another option for their fourth line, and he is still young enough that he could be a nice fit on a rebuilding club like the Blackhawks. This is especially so when noting that he can play both on the wing and down the middle.

Thus, on a one-year deal or professional tryout (PTO), Lauko could be worth taking a shot on. 

Former Blackhawks Forward Still A Free AgentWith August just about here, we have seen the majority of this year's NHL unrestricted free agents (UFAs) get signed. As a result of this, things around the league have naturally slowed down, which is a common occurrence during this part of the summer.

This past season was the biggest of defenseman Tanner Molendyk's career. 

The Nashville Predators' 2023 1st round draft pick started his final season in juniors with the Saskatoon Blades, where he was on a point-per-game pace (21 points in 21 games). 

He also competed in the IIHF World Junior Championships for the first time in his career, scoring two points in five games with Team Canada, which finished in fifth place.

Upon returning to the WHL, Molendyk found himself on the move, having been traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

He only benefited from the trade, scoring 26 points in 28 games and reaching the Memorial Cup Championship game. 

En route to the Tigers' first Ed Chynoweth Cup championship and Memorial Cup appearance in 18 years, Molendyk scored 20 points in 18 games. 

In the offseason, the big question remains: Is Molendyk ready to step into the Predators lineup? 

One area where the Predators' defense is in need of improvement is scoring depth, which would help compensate for the shortcomings at center. 

Roman Josi and Brady Skjei have already proven that they can get involved from the blue line, but there's a drop-off from there.

The Predators are expecting a lot of Nic Hague, who only had 12 points last season. Nick Perbix's numbers were a bit better at 19 points and had 24 the season before. Both Nick Blankenburg and Justin Barron had fewer than 17 points last season. 

Considering Molendyk's continued success at the junior level and the need to expand scoring depth in the defense, it's absolutely worth trying him in the third pairing or possibly the second. 

From his junior highlights, it is clear that he is a player with the confidence to take the puck below the blue line and has good control of it. While he'll need to adjust to the NHL pace, in juniors, he has shown himself to be a strong skater. 

In possibly wanting to "remold" the Predators' defensive model, Molendyk would be a substantial addition or at least a good piece to put in place to start the season. Figuring out a defensive identity is critical for this team, and if Molendyk can help, why not have him up?  

There are two potential downsides to this. 

Shot variation is one of them. Nashville has six lefties and only three righties. Molendyk is also a lefty, meaning that the imbalance can get bigger.

This isn't a huge problem, as most NHL defensemen can play on both sides, but if the Predators wanted their defensemen to play on their strongest sides, Molendyk would fall down the pecking order. 

The other thing is Molendyk's build. At 6 feet and 181 pounds, he'd be on the smaller end of the Predators' defensemen.

Considering Nashville wants Josi and Hague on the first pairing, who average nearly 6-foot-3-inches and 223 pounds between them, the Predators are looking for size and strength.

All of this really sums up to training camp being crucial for Molendyk, as it showcases his speed and skill against the rest of the roster. 

Splitting time between Nashville and Milwaukee wouldn't be bad either, as it would help Molendyk become comfortable in the pros while also providing a bit more flexibility in the AHL.  

Welcome back to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s Coaches as Players series. Last time, we looked at assistant coach Brett McLean’s time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers. Today’s player needs no introduction to the Canucks fanbase, so let’s dive right into player development coach Daniel Sedin’s historic career with Vancouver. 

In one of the most memorable NHL Draft moments in the league’s history, Sedin was taken second overall in the 1999 NHL Draft alongside twin brother, Henrik. Canucks General Manager at the time, Brian Burke, pulled off an elaborate asset-gymnastics routine in order to acquire the second-overall pick, allowing Vancouver to pick second and third overall. With the two selections, both Sedins ended up in Vancouver, marking the start of what would be two of the most spellbinding NHL careers in franchise history. 

Sedin’s first season with the Canucks was 2000–01, during which he scored 20 goals and 14 assists in 75 games played. During this year, he and the Canucks made the playoffs, but were quickly swept in the first round by a Colorado Avalanche team that sported current Canucks head coach Adam Foote. The three following seasons followed a similar pattern, with Sedin’s 2003–04 season ending with a total of 18 goals and 36 assists collected — a career-high at the time. 

The NHL lockout of 2004–05 resulted in Sedin heading back to Sweden to play. He signed with his former club, MoDo Hockey of Elitserien, where he picked up 13 goals and 20 assists in 49 games. This same year, Sedin represented Sweden internationally, tallying five goals and four assists in nine IIHF World Championship games and placing fifth in tournament scoring. 

Something shifted when Sedin returned to the Canucks post-lockout. In 2005–06, he scored 22 goals and 49 assists in an 82-game season, setting a new career high that would only be broken the season after. He also hit the 200-mark in shots registered in a single season for the first time in his career. The year after, Sedin posted his first season in which he registered more than one point per game. He scored 36 goals and 48 assists in 81 games, with 34 of these points coming on the power play. In this postseason, Sedin and the Canucks defeated the Dallas Stars in six games in the first round, but unfortunately lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games the series after. 

While Sedin and the Canucks didn’t make the playoffs in 2007–08, this was the only season in which Vancouver failed to qualify for postseason contention from 2006 to 2014. Sedin recorded his second 30-goal season in 2008–09, tallying 31 and 51 assists in all 82 games. This particular season marked a shift for the Canucks, as captain Markus Näslund departed from the team and goaltender Roberto Luongo was subsequently given the title. In the postseason, Sedin averaged a point per game with four goals and six assists, though the Canucks lost to the Blackhawks in six games after sweeping the St. Louis Blues in the first round. 

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2009–10 was another offensively-successful season for Sedin, both in the regular season and playoffs, as the younger Sedin scored 29 goals and 56 assists in 63 regular season games. During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Sedin represented Sweden with a goal and two assists in four games. In the playoffs later on in the calendar year, he tallied five goals and nine assists in a 12-game postseason run that saw Vancouver lose in six games to the Blackhawks yet again. 

Individually speaking, the 2010–11 season was Sedin’s most successful. Posting his first 40-goal and 100-point season, he finished the year with 41 goals and 63 assists in all 82 games. These efforts won him the Art Ross Trophy (given to the NHL’s points leader) and Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player, voted on by players). This was also his first full season wearing the ‘A’ as one of the Canucks’ assistant captains. 

For the team as a whole, the 2010–11 season was one of hope and heartbreak. Vancouver finished their regular season at the top of the Western Conference with a record of 54–19–9 and 117 points, including a startling goal differential of +77. They bested their demons in the first round after taking Chicago to seven games and defeating them at home in overtime thanks to dragon-slayer Alex Burrows. They trounced the Nashville Predators in six games and took down the San Jose Sharks at home in five, sending them to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994. Everyone knows what happened after that. 

By the end of their 25-game playoff run in 2011, Sedin had nine goals and 11 assists. He continued this offensive push in 2011–12 with another 30-goal season, during which he also scored 37 assists in 72 games. Sedin played in two of Vancouver’s five playoff games that season, posting two assists in the team’s first-round exit against the Los Angeles Kings. 

The seasons that followed were, to put it bluntly, bleak. Vancouver failed to get past the first round in 2013 and 2015, and ultimately didn’t end up making the postseason again until 2020. In a time when many of those Stanley Cup Final players ended up moving on, both of the Sedins stayed in Vancouver, remaining true to the organization that drafted them back in 1999. Despite getting older, Sedin still led the Canucks in points for a few seasons up until former captain Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser eventually took his place. In his final NHL season in 2017–18, Sedin still scored 23 goals and 32 assists in 81 games. 

After retirement, Sedin had his number ‘22’ retired by the Canucks alongside brother Henrik’s ‘33’. In 2022, both brothers, as well as teammate Luongo, were named to the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

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Goaltender Joel Blomqvist got into his first NHL action this past season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, the young goaltender ran into some trouble adjusting to the NHL level with Pittsburgh, as he had a 4-9-1 record, a 3.81 goals-against average, and a .885 save percentage in 15 appearances.

While Blomqvist struggled with consistency while on Pittsburgh's roster this past campaign, there is a clear reason to believe that things could change on that front in 2025-26. The 2020 second-round pick has shown plenty of promise while at the AHL level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and it would not be particularly surprising if he broke out with Pittsburgh next season because of it.

While down in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this past season, Blomqvist recorded an 8-7-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.84 goals-against average in 18 games. This was after he had a 25-12-6 record, a .921 save percentage, and a 2.16 goals-against average in 45 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2023-24. With numbers like these, it is hard not to feel some optimism about Blomqvist's future. It is now just a matter of him translating some of this kind of play over to the NHL level.

Overall, Blomqvist will certainly be a breakout candidate to watch for the Penguins in 2025-26. He has the potential to improve as he continues to gain more experience, and it will be fascinating to see what kind of campaign he has from here.

Ex-Penguins Defender Signs Multi-Year Deal With New TeamEarlier this off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Conor Timmins and prospect Isaac Belliveau to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for blueliner Connor Clifton and a second-round pick. 

Photo Credit:  © Charles LeClaire-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. 

Yegor Chinakhov is someone who is obviously available after the Columbus winger went to social media to indicate that he wanted the Blue Jackets to trade him. The 24-year-old was a first-round pick (21st overall) in 2020 and has encountered injury issues throughout his four-year NHL career, but the 6’1”, 201 lb. forward showed some upside in 2023-24, scoring 16 goals in 53 games. 

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Chinakhov is in the final year of a two-year, $4.2 million bridge deal with the Blue Jackets, is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent in 2026 and two years away from unrestricted free agency, which would give a team trading for him the flexibility to qualify him and holding on to him for another year or not qualifying him next summer. With Sabres Senior Advisor Jarmo Kekalainen having intimate knowledge as the GM who drafted him, Buffalo would obviously have some insight into what his ceiling is and whether he could play higher in the lineup as a replacement for JJ Peterka.  

What Would It Cost?

With the trade request out in the open, Columbus GM Don Waddell is not in a great bargaining position, in spite of his public pronouncements to the contrary. The Blue Jackets may want to get someone of a comparable age who is established in the NHL instead of a prospect or a draft pick, but if he is unable to extract that value for Chinakhov before the start of training camp, his presence could prove to be a distraction. The Sabres may be prepared to offer a prospect like Isak Rosen, who may have earned a legitimate shot at the NHL, but it is unlikely they would move someone off their roster for a risky proposition. 

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It's late July, and The Wraparound is still breaking down NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.

Which NHL Players Have Lots To Prove This Season? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Which NHL team has the longest competitive window?

5:00: Should the Vegas Golden Knights be concerned about their goaltending?

8:15: Can the Chicago Blackhawks eventually win with Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom as their goaltenders?

11:02: Will any remaining UFA goaltenders be signed before training camp?

14:53: Do the Buffalo Sabres need significant changes to their defensive group?

17:55: Which players have the most to prove this season?

21:43: Did the Seattle Kraken get closer to playoff contention after their off-season moves?

24:18: Grading the Minnesota Wild’s off-season

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Promo photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Niko Mikkola has played a crucial role in the Florida Panthers' recent success, putting the league on notice during the playoffs, yet his value to the organization can still be considered underrated. 

When the Panthers are at full health, Mikkola is the team's second-best left-handed defenseman after Gustav Forsling. He's also widely considered the third-best defenseman defensively and possibly the fourth or fifth-best defenseman offensively. It's because of this that Mikkola flies under the radar, but if given the opportunity or if it presented itself through injuries, Mikkola could very likely step into a larger role and thrive.

Prior to joining the Panthers, the 29-year-old was considered nothing more than a stay-at-home physical defenseman. With the St. Louis Blues and briefly with the New York Rangers, Mikkola thrived as a hard-hitting blue liner who blocked shots and killed penalties. While he continues to do so at a high level for the Panthers, he's shown that he can contribute in other ways.

In the playoffs, particularly, Mikkola demonstrated the offensive game that hasn't been tapped into at the NHL level. On multiple occasions, Mikkola fearlessly jumped into the playoff offensively, showcasing puck skills to make plays, a quick release to beat goaltenders and skating abilities to blend it all together. He finished the 2024-25 playoffs, averaging 20:13 of ice, scoring three goals and six points. 

NIKO MIKKOLA SNIPE SHOW 🎯

WHAT A RUN FOR THE D-MAN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/q9YM2sCgZ4

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 25, 2025

Although he demonstrated that he has more to offer, he still is best suited for the role he currently plays, as the team's No.4 defenseman, but the Panthers can feel at ease that if they do run into injury issues, the Kiiminki, FIN native can seamlessly step into a large role and do so comfortably. 

The Panthers have built their success on depth and complete buy-in from each and every player, and there are very few players on the Panthers roster who exemplify this better than the 6-foot-6 defender. 

Ekblad, Forsling or Petry? Who's Best Suited To Run The Panthers Second Power Play UnitAs the dog days of the offseason continue and the excitement for the 2025-26 season continues to build, attempting to predict who fits where and what role they serve is always a fun topic. Today, we look at who is best suited to quarterback the Florida Panthers' second power play unit.

With August just about here, we have seen the majority of this year's NHL unrestricted free agents (UFAs) get signed. As a result of this, things around the league have naturally slowed down, which is a common occurrence during this part of the summer.

While this is the case, former Chicago Blackhawks forward Craig Smith is among this year's UFAs who have still not been signed by a new team just yet.

This is certainly a different story than it was for Smith this past year, as he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blackhawks on the first day of free agency last off-season. However, it is taking the veteran winger a little more time to get his next deal this year.

While Smith remains unsigned at this juncture of the summer, the possibility of this changing is certainly there. The 35-year-old's solid two-way play and high amount of experience could make him a nice addition for a team looking to add to their forward depth. Thus, it would not be particularly surprising if he landed a one-year deal or professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL club before training camp if he wishes to continue his career.

In 40 games with the Blackhawks this past season, Smith recorded nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, and a minus-2 rating. His time with the Blackhawks ended at the 2025 trade deadline when he and goaltender Petr Mrazek were dealt to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Joe Veleno.

Blackhawks Forward Is Extension Candidate To WatchThe Chicago Blackhawks will have several players in the final year of their contracts during the 2025-26 season. Due to this, there is certainly a chance that we could see them sign some of their players to contract extensions, whether that is this off-season or during the 2025-26 campaign. 

Photo Credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers are at bat in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Rangers’ 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

Last season was a rollercoaster for the Rangers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a fun coaster like at the local fair; it was a Final Destination movie. 

Almost nothing went right as soon as the season began, and if we’re being honest, it started in the summer last year when they were trying to move key veterans who were ultimately moved out at a later time. 

The team is in a weird spot. The Rangers haven’t committed to rebuilding or retooling because they have some pricey veterans on the roster, but they have made some moves that suggest they want to at least get younger. 

Since opening night last season, they’ve traded out trusted veterans and lineup staples, such as former captain Jacob Trouba, Ranger great Chris Kreider and even a young defender with promise, K’Andre Miller. 

The Kreider and Miller deals brought the Rangers two very solid prospects to add to their system: Scott Morrow and Carey Terrance.

Morrow is one of the top prospects in the Rangers' system after being acquired this summer. The former Shattuck St. Mary’s defender is a cerebral player, using his incredible puckhandling and slick passing to move the puck all over the ice. Morrow has the brain to run a power play or generate offense at even strength. His skating is good, but he doesn’t have the explosiveness you’d like. He’s fairly fluid in his movement, but he isn’t a powerful skater. Morrow could jump into the lineup at some point this season.

Terrance is a hard-working energy center who loves to fire pucks on net. He might have a limited ceiling, but he is a smart player who will do what a coach asks of him. His defensive game is solid, mostly thanks to his work ethic, which could keep him at center at the pro level. He’ll have the chance to prove he can bring a bit more offense with some better players when he gets to the AHL this fall.

After a 22-game stint with the Rangers this past year, Brennan Othmann will look to compete for a spot in the lineup immediately this season. The 22-year-old has been a very good AHLer for a couple of seasons, but he hasn’t made an impact yet in the NHL. Othmann is a crafty goal-scorer who brings some edge to the game. He likes getting under the skin of opponents as well. If he can keep up with the speed of the NHL game, he could be a very solid middle-six forward for the Rangers as soon as this season. 

Undersized forward Brett Berard is a fun story. He played in 35 NHL games last year, and although he’s no longer a rookie, he hasn’t established himself in the NHL yet. Berard is a worker who gets to the middle and consistently tries to stay involved in the play. He’s a high-paced winger who loves to push the puck up ice and use his teammates well. He could be a very solid depth scorer at the NHL level.

Slovak forward Adam Sykora is a fun player to watch because he consistently pushes the pace of play and tries to create. Defensively, Sykora is always putting in 110 percent effort, throwing hits and looking to play through the attacker's hands to dislodge the puck. When he has the puck, he’s passing it off in transition and immediately looking to present an option for a return pass. He wants to drive the puck into the high-danger areas and create chances. He could be in line for a big bump in his AHL production this season. 

The Rangers drafted EJ Emery last year as a bet on a player who loves to be physical and play defensive hockey with an athletic package that should allow him to develop his puck skills. While he showed some of that physicality and defensive play at the University of North Dakota this past season, he struggled with the puck. His one assist in 31 games was underwhelming, to say the least. Emery is still a very raw player, so time will tell whether he can develop his game with the puck. 

In his second year with Boston College, Drew Fortescue took a step as a complete player, but that came with an acceptance that he can be a bit more reserved offensively. He has good tools and makes decent decisions, but Fortescue must figure out what he’ll be at the next level. As of right now, he’s a work in progress.

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

Gabe Perreault (RW/LW), Scott Morrow (D), Brennan Othmann (LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 43rd overall - Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)

Round 3, 70th overall - Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque (USHL)

Round 3, 89th overall - Artem Gonchar, D, Magnitogorsk Jr. (Rus.)

Round 4, 111th overall - Mikkel Eriksen, C, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)

Round 5, 139th overall - Zeb Lindgren, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 166th overall - Samuel Jung, RW, Karpat (Fin.)

Round 6, 171st overall - Evan Passmore, D, Barrie (OHL)

Round 7, 203rd overall - Felix Farhammar, D, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)

Although they didn’t pick in the first round, the Rangers still landed Malcolm Spence. 

Spence was thought to be a potential top-10 pick coming into the year. A bit of an underwhelming year and some questions about just how high his upside is caused him to fall out of the first round. 

Spence plays a very pro-style game. He can play a physical game, especially on the forecheck and backcheck. He commits to putting in an effort on the defensive side of the puck as well. Spence has shown some creativity and skill as a playmaker, and he has a very good shot, but he should use it more.

Sean Barnhill’s game isn’t complicated or flashy. He’s a big defender and a smooth skater who plays a smart defensive game, building on his mobility and finishing plays with his massive frame when needed. Barnhill has room to grow offensively because he shows off the tools he’s working with and the odd flash of skill. If he ever develops an offensive edge, he could be a massive steal. If not, he has the floor of a solid defender. 

The nephew of longtime NHLer Sergei Gonchar, Artem Gonchar, plays a solid two-way game with excellent puck-moving and evasive skating. That said, he is very thin at six-foot and 157 pounds, and he lacks a physical edge to his game. Gonchar must fill out his frame because he does have some puck skills, but he can’t take full advantage of his tools without getting a bit stronger.

Mikkel Eriksen’s birth date was just two days away from being a 2026 NHL draft prospect, so he has plenty of runway for development. His puck skill and fluidity stand out. He is constantly looking to alter defenders' paths or draw their attention one way before cutting back. Eriksen has to round things out in his game, but there is plenty to like about his potential. 

The rise of Zeb Lindgren from a relative unknown to a legitimate NHL draft prospect was fun to watch. Lindgren leaves fans and observers entertained, happy with his overall play and also feeling like there was more to give. Lindgren has some really solid passing ability, deceptively quick skating and problem-solving. There are times when things can get hectic in his game, but he has a nice package to bet on. 

Drafted as an overage player, Samuel Jung is a good shooter who doesn’t bring a ton else to his game. He’s a fine north-south attacker, but he doesn’t have the pull-away speed to really break things open. This is a bet on a player who improved his overall tools year-over-year, but it might not be enough.

The Rangers kept things simple by taking Evan Passmore, a big defender who can move fairly well and can close down space. He loves to pin attackers to the wall and take the puck off of them, but he won’t do anything too crazy with it once he gets it. As a good pokechecker with a long wingspan, Passmore could wind up being a very steady bottom-pair guy one day. 

With their final pick of the 2025 NHL draft, the Rangers snagged Felix Farhammar, a two-way defender who is a bit unrefined, but he has some nice elements at both ends of the ice. He can throw some hits and shadow defenders, or he can make a breakout pass and join the rush. Farhammar could wind up being good value if they let him take his time and develop, hopefully in more than a couple of Swedish League games this season. 

Strengths

The left wing is one of the stronger position groups for the Rangers as it features a couple of good prospects and some depth. 

The right side of the defense has some good players at the top end, but it lacks depth. The left side of the blueline has depth but lacks the high-end player. 

With Perreault likely starting on the left wing, he’s the head of the left wing in the prospect pipeline, but he’s far from alone. 

When Spence fell to them in the draft, the Rangers were ecstatic because they were getting a first-round talent in the second round. Othmann might play games this season, and there is a world in which he brings some of the same elements that Will Cuylle brought the last couple of years. Berard and Sykora are a bit undersized, but they bring a ton of talent and work their tails off as well. Even Kalle Vaisanen is an intriguing depth option at 22 years old. 

Weaknesses

Once Perreault jumps into the NHL, the right wing will be fairly vacant. 

Brisson was acquired at the trade deadline from Vegas. He was a former first-rounder, but he’s struggled to break into the NHL. He has some promise as a finisher, but at 23 years old, it’s time for him to prove himself. 

Beyond Brisson, the Rangers don’t have much in the way of upside picks. Jaroslav Chmelar is a fine prospect, as is Brody Lamb. Neither has the kind of path or upside to be an impact player at the pro level. There will be centers that end up on the wing, so maybe the weak point is a bit muted because of that. Unfortunately, the centers aren’t nearly a strong enough group as they could have easily secured the spot here as the weak point of the pipeline. As of now, the right side up front looks tough.

Hidden Gem: Carey Terrance, C

Terrance’s offensive skill isn’t upper-echelon, and he has had some ups and downs to finish his junior career, but he could fit right into the bottom six in the NHL. 

Terrance has some speed and physicality. He never stops moving his feet, and he might produce a bit more offense once he’s surrounded by players with more playmaking ability. Terrance is a very good finisher when playing with a true creator. He has some very good defensive qualities, quick reads and consistent pressuring of attackers on the backcheck and even in his own zone. He’s unlikely to become a star, but he could be a very solid piece of the puzzle for the Rangers in a year or two, as he is making the jump to the AHL this upcoming season.

Next Man Up: Gabe Perreault, RW/LW

It’s been a dominant run over the last few years for Perreault. 

He solidified himself as one of the most dominant offensive players in the history of the USA National Team Development Program, putting up a record 132 points in his U-18 year. That season was capped off with a gold medal at the World Men’s Under-18 Championship.. 

Perreault then put up more than 100 points in just two years at Boston College. He helped BC to a Hockey East championship, and he was a second-team All-American in each season. The past couple of winters, he stepped away from BC to join Team USA at the World Junior Championship, and he won back-to-back gold medals. 

Perreault’s winning ways aren’t just a circumstance of being in the right place at the right time. Perreault has often been one of the catalysts to that success. Now, he will jump into the Rangers’ lineup after a brief stint to end last season. 

The Rangers are hoping to have Perreault use his play-connecting ability to bring some depth scoring to the lineup and elevate some of the middle six players' offensive ceilings. He’s played on the left and right wings, so he should be capable of doing either. If he ends up playing higher in the lineup and the Rangers bounce back, he could be in the Calder Trophy conversation. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Malcolm Spence, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora, Brett Berard, Kalle Vaisanen, Ty Henricks

C: Carey Terrance, Raoul Boilard, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Mikkel Eriksen

RW: Gabe Perreault, Jaroslav Chmelar, Brendan Brisson, Brody Lamb

LD: Drew Fortescue, Zeb Lindgren, Artem Gonchar, Jackson Dorrington, Rasmus Larsson

RD: Scott Morrow, EJ Emery, Sean Barnhill

G: Hugo Ollas, Dylan Garand, Talyn Boyko

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.