Former Florida Panthers forward Peter Mueller has retired from professional hockey at the age of 37. 

Mueller played just one season with the Panthers, scoring eight goals and 17 points in 43 games during the 2012-13 season. 

Mueller was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. He was a standout rookie, notching 22 goals and 54 points, finishing fifth in Calder voting during the 2007-08 season. 

Following his rookie season, injuries began to plague Mueller’s career. The 6-foot-2 forward was blessed with blazing speed that coincided with his slick hands and heavy shot, but his injuries began to hamper him. He went on to play just 297 games throughout six NHL seasons with the Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and the Panthers, recording 63 goals and 160 points. 

His season with the Panthers was his final season in the NHL, departing for the Kloten Flyers in Switzerland. He played in Switzerland for a pair of seasons before joining Malmö in the SHL in Sweden. He returned to North America to play with the Boston Bruins’ AHL team, the Providence Bruins, but continued to look a step too slow. 

He once again packed his bags for Europe, joining EC Salzburg in Austria. Mueller found a home in Czechia, joining HC Kometa Brno for four seasons of point-per-game production. He played with HC Vitkovice for two seasons prior to joining Grizzlys Wolfsburg in Germany. After playing one season in Germany, he returned to Brno for what was his final season of his hockey career. 

In May, Mueller signed a contract extension with Kometa but has apparently had second thoughts about that decision this summer due to ongoing back issues.

“This is an unexpected decision for us,” said Kometa GM Libor Zábranský. “I have been in contact with Peter for the last 14 days, and I respect his decision. Of course, we will miss him and it will be difficult to replace him at this time, but that’s just the way it is. We all wish his entire family only the best for the next stage of their lives.”

Mueller won a championship in Czechia and took home the regular season MVP as well. The skilled forward may not go down as an NHL great he had hoped to be, but he carved out an impressive career.

Former NHL First-Rounder Retires In EuropeAmerican forward Peter Mueller, 37, has announced his retirement from hockey through the website of his last club, Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings have always seemed to have stability in net. That stability goes back to the dawn of the Jonathan Quick era. That era, and the strength of their crease, gave the team the confidence to trade backups like Martin Jones, Jonathan Bernier, and Ben Scrivens to 'win-now. ' It's been over a decade since the team was in a genuine 'win-now' mode and as they claw at that same approach, their crease has taken new shapes. Quick was traded during the 2022-23 season, and the Kings have now seen three starters in their crease since then. 

Even with the goaltending volatility, the Kings' system has fostered some unexpectedly grand results. Two of the three goalies have experienced excellent, bounce-back type tenures in Los Angeles, in the form of Cam Talbot and Darcy Kuemper. But in all due respect to Talbot and his one-year renaissance in LA, which was primarily backed by the league's best penalty killing performances by a goaltender that season, Kuemper delivered one of the most impressive seasons from a Kings' goaltender since Quick's Jennings Trophy-winning season in 2017-18.

DARCY KUEMPER 😲 pic.twitter.com/EagSgkUm8A

— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 8, 2025

At 34 years old, Kuemper, the former and current King, posted a .922 save percentage (second-best in the NHL among goaltenders with 40+ games played), alongside a 2.02 goals-against average, also the second-best. His 31–11–7 record and five shutouts became fuel for the Kings to threaten first in the Pacific Division most of the season, while his performance down the stretch: 1.31 GAA and .943 SV% over the final 14 games, was nothing short of elite. A well-deserved Vezina Trophy finalist, Kuemper didn't just bounce back from prior inconsistency during his time with the Capitals; he elevated himself into the top tier of NHL netminders.

For the Kings, his success wasn't just a pleasant surprise; it became a reliable defensive product to lean on. There is a difference between leaning on your goaltender to help close out a 3-1 game and entirely relying on your netminder to keep you competitive throughout. The Kings of last season were consistently in the former, with a few games here and there where he had to stand on his head. That's playing in Los Angeles for you, as the Kings don't necessarily rely on elite-level goaltending. However, heading into the 2025–26 season, the reliance on Kuemper should now be viewed as a lifeline. 

The situation should be viewed as tenuous, as the help Kuemper has behind him isn't exactly a frightening 'call to arms.' The franchise's goaltending prospects offer hope, but their ability to step in now is far from being ready to take over a backup role. The depth behind Kuemper remains uncertain, while the team's competitive window remains unclear, with three of their top positional players (Kuemper, Drew Doughty, and Anze Kopitar) all over the age of 34. There are, however, three other centers to back up Kopitar, and a platoon of defenseman to back up Doughty. That can't be said for Kuemper, and if he can't replicate last season's performance, or stay healthy, there may be no safety net beneath him. The team could be exposed in a rather unflattering way.

The Goaltending Depth Problem

As of now, the Kings' goaltending room features Kuemper, veteran backups Anton Forsberg and Pheonix Copley, as well as somewhat unseasoned Erik Portillo, a promising AHL talent who remains largely untested at the NHL level. Copley, 32, has carved out a solid career as a depth option but holds a lifetime save percentage under .900. Anton Forsberg, another journeyman option acquired for depth, has shown flashes of reliability but lacks the body of work to inspire confidence as a primary backup.

This places enormous pressure on Kuemper to carry the load in a way that he didn't experience with mostly the same group from last year. The issue is that his defensive corps in front of him has just become a lot slower and older. Given his age and the players managing the defensive end in front of him, managing his workload will be critical even if the alternatives present a clear risk. If Kuemper plays 55+ games and regresses even modestly from his .922 SV%, the team could lose crucial ground in the Pacific and Western Conference standings. And if he misses significant time due to injury, the goaltending tandem of Copley and Forsberg could quickly prove inadequate.

Erik Portillo: Talented, But Not Quite Ready

There is hope in the system. Erik Portillo, 24, had a breakout AHL season with Ontario, finishing with a 24–11–3 record, a 2.50 GAA, and a .918 SV% in 39 starts. He set a new rookie wins record for the Reign and earned strong internal praise. However, he has played just one NHL game and remains a work in progress at the highest level. Portillo could see a few starts this season, but expecting him to carry the torch, or even serve as a full-time NHL backup, should be seen as premature. He'll need another year of development before he can be relied on consistently. For now, he's a promising Plan C, locked into a long-term plan to grow an in-house 1A option.

LA Goalie Haven — But The Clock Is Ticking

As discussed, historically, the Kings have provided a haven for goaltenders. Whether it was Quick's decade-long dominance, Talbot's brief surge, or Kuemper's current resurgence, the Kings' defensive structure and coaching have allowed goalies to thrive. But success in net has masked structural issues elsewhere, especially in goaltending depth. For all their defensive identity, the Kings have failed to develop a long-term heir in goal. Portillo could be that answer, but until he proves it at the NHL level, he remains a bet on the future rather than a solution for the present. There's also Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky, but both are extremely young players trying to fill a role that has traditionally been voodoo to gauge readiness, threshold, and ceiling.

In the post-Jonathan Quick era, the Kings have made Cam Talbot an All-Star, Darcy Kuemper a Vezina candidate, and have 3 certified studs waiting in the wings #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/1O1CvYbjry

— Toxic Kings Fan (@fialafallo) April 13, 2025

What If Kuemper Can't Repeat?

Let's assume the worst-case scenario: Kuemper regresses to a .910 SV% or misses 15–20 games due to injury. Based on historical goaltending replacement value, that alone could result in a swing of 6–8 points in the standings, which would be enough to shift the Kings from a playoff lock to a bubble team. The Pacific Division offers little margin for error, especially with teams like Seattle and Vancouver likely to be much more competitive than they were in the previous season. The same could be said of San Jose and Anaheim, too, despite projections of them again being at the bottom.

If the Kings are forced to lean on Forsberg or even Copley for extended stretches, the results may be average at best and disastrous at worst. The organization would then face a dilemma: gamble on Portillo's NHL readiness or trade away assets for an emergency rental. Neither is ideal in a season that demands stability.

Kuemper's 2024–25 season was a revelation. But the Kings' dependence on him now borders on necessity. The Kings have dealt with having lukewarm backups before, but they have never looked so exposed on the backend in front of their netminder. That, combined with prospects still maturing in the AHL, means the stakes have never been higher for Kuemper to remain healthy and effective.

LA has built a system that allows goaltenders to succeed, but that reputation won't protect them forever. Unless Kuemper repeats his performance from last season, the Kings risk wasting Kopitar's potential final year while taking a massive step back from their 2nd place, 105 point finish with their aging core.

The Buffalo Sabres have missed out on Stanley Cup playoff hockey for the past 14 seasons. They intend on being a playoff team next year, but to do so, they'll need to be relatively dominant with every team they encounter. And while we at THN.com have just finished our series against the Sabres' seven Atlantic Division rivals, it's also a good time of year to focus on the Metropolitan Division teams Buffalo will take on.

We're starting this new leg of the series in alphabetical order, with the Carolina Hurricanes as the main topic of discussion. Let's get right to it.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEW HURRICANES PLAYERS: Nikolaj Ehlers, LW; K'Andre Miller, D; Mike Reilly, D

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

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  November 8 at Carolina; November 23 at Buffalo; January 19 at Carolina 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres bookended their season series against the Hurricanes with wins in Buffalo, but that didn't get them into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But the 'Canes have retooled this year, with much of their defense corps leaving -- including stars Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov -- and one major addition up front in winger Ehlers. As well, Carolina GM Eric Tulsky acquired former New York Rangers D-man Miller, and depth defenseman Reilly came into the organization as a free agent.

All things considered, the Hurricanes are surely going to be one of the teams picked to finish at or near the top of the Metropolitan Division, and many will also make them the sexy pick to win a Cup next season. But for this writer, the Hurricanes don't feel like a completed unit just yet -- and with $10.6 million in salary cap space still available for the 'Canes, Tulsky can afford to be patient and use it to address needs that become apparent once the regular-season begins.

Still, the Sabres should feel good about taking on the Hurricanes next season. Buffalo fared well enough against this 'Canes group this past year, and the changes the Sabres have made in theory make them slightly better. So in the three games Carolina and Buffalo play against one another -- even if two of them will be road games for the Sabres -- Buffalo should be competitive enough to be at least as successful against the Hurricanes as they were last season.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Will Marner-Less Maple Leafs Continue Dominating Buffalo?The Buffalo Sabres will have many important games to play next season, but their most important games could prove to be against their rivals in the Atlantic Division.

The Sabres also still have some cap space to use to improve during the year -- $5.19-million, approximately -- but unless they have injuries to deal with on defense, the area Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is likely to spend his cap space on will be at forward. And whether Adams spends it on pure rental players, or on younger players who can be part of the long-term solution in Buffalo, there's little question there will be pressure on Sabres brass to spend right to the upper ceiling of the cap.

Regardless of who eventually gets added to Buffalo's lineup, to keep up with the Hurricanes, the Sabres will need to add speed and skill at some point and regularly crash Carolina's net to adversely impact veteran goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. And they'll need a tight defensive attack to turn back 'Canes star forwards Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Ehlers and Seth Jarvis.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Can Buffalo Jump Past Tampa Bay Into Third Place In Atlantic Division?The Buffalo Sabres are facing massive pressure to at least qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years. But there's intense competition for each and every standings point teams can generate,  and the Sabres' don't benefit by playing in the Atlantic Division -- the most competitive division, in our estimation, in the league. And Buffalo is going to have to get a leg up on more than a few Atlantic rival teams, Tampa Bay included if they really intend to claim a Cup anytime soon.

At the end of the day, the Hurricanes are going to present a high competitive bar for the Sabres to try to clear. Carolina still needs a good deal of playoff success if they're going to reward Tulsky for investing in them, but if things go right for both Buffalo and the Hurricanes, they're eventually going to clash in the post-season once each of the two teams makes it our of their respective divisional showdowns.

And if it does get to that point this year and all of Buffalo's ducks line up just right, the Sabres should have a decent chance at surprising the 'Canes and embarking on a true Cinderella-level playoff run. 

THN’s Summer Splash series is in full swing. And in this part of the series, we’re analyzing Team No. 22 in our rankings of each NHL team’s off-season – the Washington Capitals.

In this team-by-team series, we’re breaking down each NHL team’s off-season, putting the spotlight on the teams that got the worst to those that had the best off-season, and the ones that finished in between those two extremes. To put the rankings together, we’re focusing on every franchise’s additions and departures, including trades, free-agent acquisitions, departures and, where applicable, front-office hirings and firings.

We’re currently at the point in the rankings where we’re discussing teams that have basically stayed the same this summer. And while you’ll see the teams that finished below the Capitals at the bottom of this column, right now, our focus is on the Caps.

Additions

Justin Sourdif (RW), Declan Chisholm (D) 

The Breakdown: The Capitals were the Eastern Conference’s top regular-season team last season, and only the Winnipeg Jets were a better regular-season team last year. So you can understand why Washington GM Chris Patrick didn’t want to tinker too much with a lineup that performed so well.

Indeed, with the Capitals’ only additions being depth players Sourdif (formerly of the Florida Panthers) and Chisholm (formerly of the Minnesota Wild), Washington has more or less decided to run it back with the same group. Re-signing winger Anthony Beauviller this summer bolstered Washington’s depth. And the Caps still have approximately $4.12 milion in salary cap space, so Patrick can eventually augment his core talent with a veteran hand or two. But right now, Capitals brass are essentially telling the team, “We like what you’ve done – now do it again.”

Departures

Andrew Mangiapane (LW), Lars Eller (C), Taylor Raddysh (RW), Alexander Alexeyev (D)

The Breakdown: Just as there were few additions of note this summer for Washington, there have been few departures as well. The Capitals did lose some veteran know-how with the loss of left winger Mangiapane (who signed with the Edmonton Oilers) and center Eller (who signed with the Ottawa Senators). But Mangiapane only had 14 goals and 28 points last year, while Eller only had six goals and 15 points for the Caps last season. Their loss isn’t going to be felt that much, if at all, at the Capitals’ opponent’s end of the ice.

As noted above, the Caps’ current cap room will sooner or later allow Patrick to bring aboard a talent that can make up for the loss of Mangiapane’s and Eller’s offense. But Patrick has found a way to bring back most of the talent that did so well for Washington. And that has to be considered a win for the Capitals.

The Bottom Line

All things considered, the Capitals finished near the mid-tier of our Summer Splash rankings because they stayed the same as the group that finished the season last year. It’s true Washington wanted a longer Stanley Cup playoff run than only getting to the second round as they did last season, so it would’ve been understandable if Caps brass decided to make more notable additions. But patience can be a virtue under the right circumstances, and the Capitals’ cap space will allow the team to address any issues that arise once the 2025-26 season begins.

In the grand scheme of things, the Capitals should be and will be favored to be at or near the top of the Metropolitan Division next season. But for the purposes of our Summer Splash rankings, they’re a middle-of-the-pack team that has embraced the status quo. And unless something notable changes between now and the start of the year, Washington has chosen to stick with the talent that brought them so much success last season.

Summer Splash Rankings

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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The Montreal Canadiens have brought in multiple new players this off-season. Their two most notable additions, who they acquired from separate trades, are defenseman Noah Dobson and forward Zack Bolduc. Yet, they also brought in some new depth players this summer through free agency. 

On July 1, the Canadiens added to their goalie depth by signing netminder Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year, $1.15 million contract. While this is one of the Canadiens' smaller moves of summer, it also has the potential to be a good one for the Original Six club. 

With this addition, the Canadiens have brought in another goalie with a good amount of NHL experience. This is certainly not a bad thing, as NHL teams can never have enough experienced depth between the pipes. Furthermore, Kahkonen now also offers them another potential option for their backup goalie spot if they feel youngster Jakub Dobes would benefit from more time in the AHL.

Yet, even if Kahkonen ends up starting the season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, he will still be a good goalie to have around. He would have the potential to help out Laval tremendously and would also be a clear call-up candidate for the Canadiens when injuries arise.

Thus, there is truly no risk in this minor move for the Habs, and it will be fascinating to see how much of an impact Kahkonen can make next season from here. 

New Canadiens Star Should Be Perfect FitEarlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens made a significant trade. They acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and picks Nos. 16 and 17 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Canadiens then immediately made Dobson a long-term part of their future, as they signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract.

Photo Credit: © James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

Just under a week before the two sides were scheduled for saiary arbitration, the Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Conor Timmins agreed on a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension. The 26-year-old blueliner was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a deal for veteran Connor Clifton and the Sabres 2025 second-round pick on day 2 of the NHL Draft last month. 

The St. Catharines, ON native coming off a 15-point season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins (3 goals, 12 assists) in 68 games was expected to get a slight raise from the $1.1 million salary he made last season, but with the cap going up and the Sabres buying an unrestricted free agent year, Timmins salary doubled to an AAV of $2.2 million. That amount is still $1.1 million less than Clifton’s 2025-26 salary.    

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Timmins ranks fifth in salary on the Sabres blueline, behind team captain Rasmus Dahlin ($11 million), Owen Power ($8.35 million), Bowen Byram ($6.25 million), and Mattias Samuelsson ($4.285 million), and ahead of the recently acquired Michael Kesselring ($1.4 million), Jacob Bryson and Zac Jones ($900,000). Although he will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may try to be proactive and try to get Kesselring extended, after he was the main piece in the trade that sent JJ Peterka to Utah.

The signing of Timmins leaves the Sabres with one remaining restricted free agent in goalie Devon Levi. The 23-year-old is not arbitration-eligible and cannot be signed to an offer sheet, but after spending the last one-and-a-half seasons in AHL Rochester and the signing of veteran Alex Lyon to a two-year contract earlier this month, there may begin to be some concern of how motivated Levi is to sign a new deal with Buffalo.  

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

Apr 11, 2006; St. Louis, MO, USA; Nashville Predators forward Paul Kariya (9) skates up ice against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, MO. Mandatory Credit:Scott Rovak-Imagn Images Copyright © Scott Rovak

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Sep 19, 2006/vol. 60, issue 03

Nashville pull

Predators attracting prime free agents as Music City emerges as hockey hot spot

BY JOHN GLENNON

In the old days of NHL free agency, players generally considered one variable – money – when it came to signing with a new team.

While that’s still usually the case, the league’s salary cap has evened out many offers, meaning players also are looking for what makes them feel warm and fuzzy in addition to rich and famous.

The short-term result has seen the small-market Nashville Predators become somewhat surprising players in free agency during the past two off-seasons.

The trend began last summer when left winger Paul Kariya stunned the hockey world by choosing to sign with Nashville, continued this past June when center Jason Arnott picked the Preds and resumed last month when right winger J-P Dumont selected Music City over a number of other suitors.

Dumont signed a two-year deal that will pay him $2 million this season and $2.5 million in 2007-08.

“We had some offers, but I talked to (former Predator) Joel Bouchard, who played there a few years ago and he told me good things about the town and organization,” Dumont said. “He told me (Nashville) would be the best pick by far and he didn’t even know who the other teams were.

“He said those guys really know how to treat everybody as a family. I wanted to go somewhere where I feel wanted and welcome.”

Dumont, who became a free agent when Buffalo chose to walk away from a salary arbitration award of $2.9 million, was one of the last significant players on the open market.

Carolina also made a notable late addition by signing defenseman David Tanabe to a one-year, $900,000 deal, after Boston walked away from Tanabe’s arbitration award of $1.275 million.

With training camp fast approaching, only a few notable free agents remained; winger Anson Carter being the most prominent.

In Nashville, management and coaches were excited over the arrival of Dumont, who has scored at least 20 goals in four of his past five seasons.

“I thought our forwards were (already) good and now in my mind they’re the best forwards we’ve ever had,” said Preds GM David Poile.

Nashville also was pleased with its growing reputation as a players’ choice destination. Arnott’s signing process, for instance, actually began when his agent asked Poile why the Predators hadn’t been inquiring about Arnott, explaining Arnott had Nashville on his wish list.

Dumont seemed equally enthusiastic about his move.

“His interest was as great, if not more, than ours from that standpoint,” Poile said. “It points out two things: We’re a very competitive team and the city of Nashville is a great place to play.”

Only four players who don't wear visors remain under an NHL contract.

Two years ago, TheHockeyNews.com examined the eight players who were still playing NHL games without the visor on their helmets. Half of those players either retired or didn't play in the NHL in 2024-25.

The NHL introduced the mandatory visor rule in 2013-14. All players who appeared in fewer than 25 NHL games before that season must wear a visor "properly affixed to their helmet."

Of all the league's active players, 101 of them played games before the 2013-14 season. Of that group, 83 played at least 25 games. In fact, Alex Ovechkin had already played 601 games by that point. Corey Perry, Brent Burns, Anze Kopitar and Shea Weber, who hasn't played since 2021 due to injury but is under contract for one more season, each passed 500 games as well.

That said, all those longtime NHLers wear visors. Let's take a fresh look at the four active visor-less players before seeing who dropped off the list since April 2023.

Ryan O'Reilly, C, Nashville Predators

O'Reilly, 34, played 265 regular-season NHL games and recorded 45 goals and 82 assists for 127 points before the visor rule came into effect.

The 6-foot-1 center from Clinton, Ont., is currently an alternate captain on the Nashville Predators. He has two years left on his contract at a $4.5-million cap hit, and he's still bringing some scoring power and two-way play to the lineup. He followed up his 69-point campaign in 2023-24 with 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in 79 games in 2024-25. His 746 faceoff wins were the 11th-most in the NHL, good for a 55.7 win percentage.

O'Reilly is also 48 games away from 1,200 in his NHL career.

Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

Benn, 36, has been the Dallas Stars' captain for as long as the visor rule's been in effect. Before 2013-14, he had 82 goals and 111 assists for 193 points in 263 games.

The 6-foot-3 left winger from Victoria, B.C., re-signed with the Stars on a one-year contract with a $1-million cap hit and $3 million worth of performance bonuses – $500,000 each at 20, 30, 50 and 60 games played, $500,000 for winning the third round and another $500,000 for winning the Stanley Cup while playing in at least half of his team's playoff games. 

After recording 78 points in 2022-23 and 60 points in 2023-24, Benn put up 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points in 80 games this past season while winning 56 percent of his faceoffs, going 296-for-529. He's eight games away from 1,200 in his career, one goal away from 400 and 44 points away from 1,000.

Zach Bogosian, D, Minnesota Wild

Bogosian, 35, played 297 games before mandatory visors became grandfathered in, recording 34 goals and 69 assists for 103 points.

Bogosian played 81 games in 2024-25, which ties a career high set initially with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009-10, his sophomore season. He had four goals and 12 assists for 16 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2024-25. He averaged 15:48 of ice time and had 80 blocked shots and 81 hits.

The 6-foot-3 blueliner from Massena, N.Y., has one season left on a two-year contract worth $1.25 million annually.

Ryan Reaves, RW, San Jose Sharks

Reaves, 38, played 131 games and recorded nine goals, five assists, 14 points and 281 penalty minutes before 2013-14. His 29 major penalties are the most among the NHL's active players who played before the visor rule took effect.

The 6-foot-2 right winger from Winnipeg still has the most major penalties among active players to date, with 93. He's arguably the most feared fighter in the NHL, with Georges Laraque, Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet each ranking him as the league's top active fighter in 2023.

After recording two assists in 35 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs put Reaves through waivers in March and traded him to the San Jose Sharks on July 10. He has one season left on a three-year contract with a $1.35-million cap hit.

Who Else Was In The Final Eight?

Jordie Benn, Zack Kassian, Milan Lucic and Matt Martin were among the final eight visor-less NHL players in 2022-23.

Jordie Benn, 38, is now a development coach and amateur scout on the Stars, recently working with the team's prospect pipeline at development camp. He retired from professional hockey in September 2024.

Martin, 36, retired on June 24 after playing 987 regular-season games and recording 3,936 hits, the second-most in the NHL since 2005-06 when the stat was first tracked. The New York Islanders hired him as a special assistant to GM Mathieu Darche.

Kassian, 34, retired from the NHL in October 2023 and played eight games in Czechia in 2023-24. He spent the 2024-25 season as a pro scout with the Edmonton Oilers.

Lucic, 37, last played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins in October 2023. He took a leave of absence from the Bruins after being arrested on a domestic violence charge, but the case was later dismissed. His partner, Brittany Lucic, posted a photo of her and Milan Lucic smiling to Instagram on July 22, with the caption saying, "healing is real... and it's exactly what this world needs more of."

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Daniel Brown, the lawyer for former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton, made a statement to the media this week after his client was found not guilty of sexual assault charges. Formenton and four other members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Team were accused of sexual assault by a then 20-year-old woman in a London, Ontario hotel room.

Brown said in his statement that London Police "got it right" when they first investigated this case seven years ago and decided then not to lay charges against Formenton.  Brown asserts that it was political and media pressure that brought the case back into the spotlight, and the Crown Attorney knowingly forged ahead with a hopeless prosecution.

Here is Brown's full statement:

Alex Formenton was barely 18 years old, on the verge of a promising hockey career that came to a screeching halt on June 18th, 2018, after what was meant to be a night of celebration with coaches in two minutes.

For the last seven years, he's lived under a dark cloud.

The public now knows what Alex has always maintained, that he is completely innocent of this false allegation. But only after his case has erupted into a massively publicized social cause.

Alex's face has appeared on millions of screens and newspaper pages, and there can be little doubt that an untold number of people out there believed he was guilty simply because he was accused of a crime, long before any evidence was presented in court.

This rush to judgment, to believe the worst of people, is one of the most regrettable of human traits. So, too, is our reluctance to change that opinion, even when it's proven wrong, after a full and fair trial.

Notwithstanding, just as Justice Carroccia’s unequivocal exoneration of Alex today, there will inevitably be those who will still believe he committed a crime.

Nobody in room 209 that night has emerged unscarred from this event. The criminal court process is a bruising experience for everyone, but never more than when a case's high profile incorporates such high stakes.

In Alex's case, he was condemned and felt banished from society. This experience for him has been crushing. Nonetheless, the impact of this case has changed Alex as a person, and he's matured well beyond his years.

It is inevitable that some people will not forgive Alex for what he was accused of doing. Others, however, will understand that this tragic matter rightly comes to an end today.

Alex has never minimized his role in the sexual encounter, or denied engaging in consensual sexual activity with the complainant. He fully cooperated with the police investigation, and provided investigators with a complete account of his behavior back in 2018.

Alex's narrative isn't conjecture. His police statement was corroborated at trial by several crown witnesses, by video evidence, and was even supported in large measure by the complainant’s evidence herself.

Even Justice Carroccia said today that she accepted that Alex told the truth in that police statement. And while no police investigation is perfect, the London police got it right seven years ago when they decided it would be a mistake to charge Alex.

The evidence always demonstrated that he didn't commit a sexual assault. However, political and media pressure brought this allegation back into the spotlight in 2022, and the Crown Attorney knowingly forged ahead with a hopeless prosecution.

Besides the human toll on everyone involved, this lengthy legal process exhausted valuable resources that could have been deployed elsewhere in the justice system, but were lost here.

Alex, his family, and his defense team are grateful to Justice Carroccia for her careful consideration of all the evidence that was presented at this trial. She's reached a just and correct verdict that must be respected.

Nobody disputes that sexual assault is a terrible societal plague, and Alex sincerely hopes that this prosecution doesn't stop the quest to combat sexual violence and to bring genuine offenders to justice.

However, an accusation is just that, an accusation. This case stands to the fact that we must never lose sight of the fundamental right to be presumed innocent. Now more than ever before, a fair response to sexual assault claims requires a balanced perspective and public trust in the decision-making of the courts.

Anything less only harms the justice system and the cause of eliminating sexual violence.

---

The complainant's lawyer, Karen Bellehumeur, said on Thursday her client was very disappointed with the judge's evaluation of the evidence, which the judge described as not credible or reliable.

"When a person summons the courage to disclose their story, the worst possible outcome is to feel disbelieved. It's a gutting experience that no one deserves. That's why today's verdict is so devastating. E.M. did everything in her power to recount her experience honestly and to the best of her ability.

"She agreed to do everything asked of her by the criminal justice system. She spoke to the police whenever requested, she reviewed her evidence, she prepared her testimony, she answered every question, she spoke with intelligence and from her heart.

"Yet it was not enough."

---

It's not clear yet whether Formenton will now attempt to resume a pro hockey career. The 26-year-old is an RFA whose playing rights are still held by the Senators. The CBC reported that there are court documents that indicate Formenton has embarked on a career in construction and has moved on from hockey. Whether his acquittal alters those plans remains to be seen.

If he does decide to return to hockey, he could return to play professionally in Switzerland, where he spent parts of two recent seasons, or somewhere else in Europe, the NHL says all five players remain ineligible to play in their league until they can thoroughly review the judge's findings.

The NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) has issued a statement saying that Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod should be ruled eligible to play, particularly after they’ve already missed more than a full season. The union also raised concerns that the findings could be inconsistent with the disciplinary procedures outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article orginally appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa, where you'll find all the latest Senators news:
2018 World Junior Trial Ends: Former Senator Alex Formenton Found Not Guilty
Croatia's NHL Trailblazer: Sens Prospect Bruno Idžan Takes NHL Road Less Travelled
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Senators Re-Sign 2021 First-Round Pick To One-Year Deal
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

American forward Peter Mueller, 37, has announced his retirement from hockey through the website of his last club, Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.

A former NHLer, Mueller had played continuously in Europe since 2013 and was on his second tour of duty in Brno. Last season, he had 36 points in 36 regular season games and then 13 points in 20 playoff games. Mueller’s first-period goal in Game 7 of the finals against Dynamo Pardubice turned out to be the series-winner in a 3-0 Kometa victory.

In May, Mueller signed a contract extension with Kometa but has apparently had second thoughts about that decision this summer due to ongoing back issues.

“This is an unexpected decision for us,” said Kometa GM Libor Zábranský. “I have been in contact with Peter for the last 14 days and I respect his decision. Of course, we will miss him and it will be difficult to replace him at this time, but that’s just the way it is. We all wish his entire family only the best for the next stage of their lives.”

Eighteen years. Eighteen years of ups and downs, lots of different countries, different places, different styles and many adventures that always meant chasing the title.

I would like to take this opportunity to officially end my hockey career. Being able to play at the highest level for eighteen years and allowing hockey to take me and my family around the world has been the greatest gift I can imagine. Meeting amazing people along the way has turned into lifelong friendships. Thank you to all the organizations that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play.

I would like to thank my parents for introducing me to hockey. The early morning wake-ups, the long car rides, and the lakes to skate on whenever it froze. They were the first to believe in me and always supported me.

To my wife Taylar and children Charlie and Rosie, thank you for being with me on this adventure and being my biggest fans. Thank you for always supporting me and keeping me going on bad days. You tried to take my mind off hockey when I needed it. Your support on this journey has been truly amazing and I couldn't have done it without you.

I have been incredibly lucky to play this sport professionally for eighteen years and I look forward to what is to come.
And thank you, Libor, for your trust, for believing in me and allowing me to play for more than twenty minutes (smile). Under your leadership, I experienced some of my most fun years in hockey and I am forever grateful to you for that. I will always be here to support Kometa!

- Peter Mueller

Originally from Bloomington, Minn., Mueller starred in junior hockey for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and was chosen eighth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

However, he never lived up to his potential in the NHL. He recorded 54 points his rookie season in 2008-09, but was never able to reach that total again. In 297 NHL games over six season with the Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers, Mueller scored 63 goals and added 97 assists for 160 points with 98 penalty minutes. He also went to the training camps of the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.

Former Pens, Avs Defenseman Signs In CzechiaCzech-Canadian defenseman John Ludvig, 24, has signed a one-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

Internationally, Mueller has represented the USA at two U-18 World Championships (winning gold in 2005), two World Junior Championships and two senior men’s World Championships.

In his first tour of duty with Kometa, he was the Extraliga MVP in 2018-19 and led the league with 64 points in 2020-21.

In addition to Kometa, Mueller also played in Switzerland for the Kloten Flyers, in Sweden for the Malmö Redhawks, in Austria for Red Bull Salzburg, in Czechia for HC Vítkovice and in Germany for Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

Photo © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images.

Kometa Brno Returns To Top Of Czech Extraliga Kometa Brno is once again the champion of the Czech Extraliga, defeating Dynamo Pardubice 3-0 in the seventh and decisive game of the finals on Tuesday night in Pardubice. It was the second series in a row that the team won a seventh game on the road.

The Buffalo Sabres avoided arbitration with former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Conor Timmins, signing him to a two-year contract on Sunday. Timmins filed for salary arbitration just days after Buffalo acquired his rights, along with defenseman Isaac Belliveau, in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a second-round pick and defenseman Connor Clifton. The defender was previously scheduled for arbitration on August 2, according to PuckPedia.com, had he not been able to come to terms with the Sabres before then.

Timmins doubled the value of his previous two-year contract with the Leafs, which paid him $1.1 million AAV, by signing for $2.2 million AAV with the Sabres. The 26-year-old is coming off a career-high in games played last season (68) following a career that had been filled with injuries. With the Leafs, Timmins had two goals and six assists in 51 games before he was dealt, along with forward Connor Dewar, to the Pittsburgh Penguins \as part of a three-way deal and salary-cap clearing move that brought defenseman Brandon Carlo to Toronto.

Earlier this summer, Timmins shared his excitement about joining the Sabres, having grown up watching games in Buffalo since he is from nearby St. Catharines, Ontario. He will also be in proximity to several of his former Maple Leafs teammates. Timmins took to Instagram earlier this month, enjoying the Coldplay concert in Toronto with former Toronto teammates Bobby McMann and Joseph Woll.

Conor Timmins Shares Photos Attending Coldplay Concert In Toronto With Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann And Joseph WollToronto was abuzz with Coldplay's four recent concerts at the new Rogers Stadium, but for Maple Leafs fans, an extra layer of excitement came courtesy of defenseman Conor Timmins. Earlier this week, Timmins, now with the Buffalo Sabres but clearly still close with his former teammates, shared photos on Instagram of himself, Bobby McMann, and Joseph Woll soaking in one of the shows. Timmins even playfully dubbed the newly created venue 'Middle Of Nowhere' in his post.

Timmins has played 101 of his 159 NHL games with Toronto over three seasons, scoring five goals and adding 27 assists while averaging 16:04 of ice time. With the Sabres, Timmins currently slots in as a projected third-pair defenseman.

(Top image credit Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Earlier 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. 

Now, after being a restricted free agent (RFA) over the last few weeks, Timmins and the Sabres have come to terms on his new contract. The Sabres have announced that they have signed Timmins to a two-year, $4.4 million contract. With this, the former Penguins defenseman will carry a $2.2 million cap hit for the Sabres until the end of the 2026-27 season. 

Timmins and the Sabres were scheduled to go to arbitration soon, but they have now avoided it by getting this new contract finalized. 

Timmins appeared in 68 games this past season, split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins, where he posted three goals, 12 assists, 15 points, 55 hits, and a plus-11 rating. He notably improved his play after being traded to the Penguins, as he had one goal, six assists, seven points, and a plus-9 rating in just 17 games with the Metropolitan Division club. 

Now, Timmins will look to be a solid part of the Sabres' blueline after getting this nice two-year deal. There is no question that the Sabres need help on the right side of their defense, and it will be intriguing to see if the former Penguin can help them on that front from here. 

Exciting Penguins Prospect Is Big Player To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of promising youngsters in their system as they focus on the future. One of them is defenseman Owen Pickering, as many believe that the 2022 first-round pick will emerge as a key part of the Penguins' blueline for many years to come. 

Photo Credit:  © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

With 78 days to go until opening night at Nationwide Arena, there's only one person to talk about - Damon Severson. 

One of the hot topics going into this offseason was Damon Severson, the right-shot defenseman who was traded to Columbus by New Jersey for a 3rd-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, June 9, 2023. He was sent to Columbus in a sign-and-trade with a contract of 8 years, for $6,250,000 per season. 

Before coming to Columbus, Severson spent nine seasons with the New Jersey Devils, after being chosen 60th overall by the Devils in the 2012 NHL Draft. Severson was essentially let go by the Devils after the 2023 season because they weren't going to be able to afford him. After helping the Devils through a rebuild, it was time to pay some younger guys to step in, so he became expendable. 

His first season with Columbus wasn't terrible, minus missing games due to injury. He played in 67 games, had 9 goals, 28 points, and 51 PIMs. 

In his second season, however, the wheels would come off a bit between him and Dean Evason. Towards the end of the season, with a relatively healthy blue line, and with star rookie Denton Mateychuk playing well, Severson saw himself scratched a lot. 

After scoring 6 goals and totaling 25 points, Severson's last game of the season was on April 1 against the Nashville Predators. He would go on to miss the last nine games of the season as a healthy scratch. The last goal he scored was on December 6, 2024, and his last assist was on March 21. 

Despite all that, Don Waddell is in a position to keep Severson and try to get him to play better, as his options are limited to basically nothing. 

Severson and his contract probably can't be traded due to its value, and he isn't a buyout candidate at all. You can read about buying him out and why it won't happen below.

The NHL Buyout Window Is About To Open; Will The Blue Jackets Use it?Now that the Florida Panthers have won the 2025 Stanley Cup, the offseason will get into full swing, and the first piece of business will the NHL's buyout window. 

The Jackets also re-signed Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro a few weeks ago, so that puts even more pressure on Damon Severson to get better. The CBJ will have Erik Gudbranson, Denton Mateychuk, and Damon Severson, who are right-shot defensemen, plus Ivan Provorov, who is a left-shot D, but can play the right side just as well as he can the left. At exit interview day, he even mentioned that not too many guys can play both sides as well as he can. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Damon Severson must find a way for him to be better this season. They have guys that can play in case he's not, but the team is better when Damon Severson is playing up to his talent level. 

Here's the scouting report on Damon Severson:

Damon Severson is a right-shot, two-way defenseman known for his offensive upside and solid skating, but also for his occasional defensive lapses and turnovers. He's a reliable player in his own zone, using his body positioning and active stick, and can be effective in all situations, including power plays. While not a physical player, he can play a subtly physical game.

Strengths:

• Offensive Potential: Severson has a good point shot and passing ability, making him a threat on the power play and in transition.
• Two-Way Game: He's effective in both his own zone, using his positioning and stick, and in transition, with strong passing skills.
• Skating: He's a solid skater with good acceleration and agility, allowing him to skate the puck out of the zone.
• Intangibles: He possesses good hockey sense and is described as calm with the puck
• Experience: He has experience playing in all situations and against top-nine forwards.

Weaknesses:

• Defensive Consistency: He has occasional lapses in defensive zone play, leading to giveaways and turnovers.
• Offensive Consistency: While capable, his offensive production can be inconsistent.
• Physicality: He's not a player known for delivering big hits, though he can play a subtly physical game.

Overall: Severson is a solid, reliable defenseman who can contribute offensively and defensively. While he has occasional flaws, his overall game is well-rounded, and he can be a valuable asset for a team. He's a player who can be relied upon in all situations, but may not be a player who stands out with exceptional offensive numbers. 

Do you think Damon Severson will have a bounce back year?

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