One of the newest members of the Florida Panthers just had his day with the Stanley Cup.

Defenseman Seth Jones was acquired by Florida a few days ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, with goaltender Spencer Knight and a first-round pick heading back to the Chicago Blackhawks in the exchange.

Jones was not the typical deadline add, though.

He arrived with plenty of term on his contract, which doesn’t expire until the summer of 2030, but part of the trade was Chicago retaining 26% of Jones’ salary, so Jones’ annual cap hit for Florida is $7 million (his full AAV is $9.5 million).

Funnily enough, Jones has played more playoff games with the Panthers than regular season games.

He finished the regular season with two goals and nine points to go along with four penalty minutes and a minus-nine on-ice rating in 21 outings while working hard to acclimate himself to Florida’s systems.

When the playoffs rolled around, Jones scored four goals and added five helpers in 23 postseason contests, but his plus-minus shot up to a plus-11, a strong indicator of how much he was adjusting to Florida’s style of playing the game.

On Wednesday, the 30-year-old Texas native brought the Stanley Cup back to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where Jones spent much of his upbringing.

“My family's here, this is where I call home in the summertime when I'm not in Florida,” Jones said. “I skate here; I do a lot of things around this area. This was definitely a place I wanted to come back to.”

On a day that included plans to take the Stanley Cup golfing and to host an intimate party with close friends and family, Jones’ first stop with the historic trophy was at the Children’s Health StarCenter, where he enjoyed playing youth hockey and being a part of the program during some very important years in his growth as a player.

“I played almost five years here, and it was in a really prime spot in my development, about 10 years old to 15 years old,” he said. “Those are some big years when you talk about youth hockey.”

Video of Jones' visit can be seen in the video below:

Dozens of young hockey players and their families packed the rink for a chance to see Jones and catch a glimpse of the Stanley Cup.

During Wednesday’s visit, Jones signed autographs and took photos with the youngsters who came out, hoping to inspire some of the next generation of hockey players to reach for the stars, just as he did.

“I wanted to come in and give back to the kids here at the youth hockey program,” Jones said. “I think growing up, when I moved here to Texas, I spent a lot of time here for a lot of different coaches, a lot of different teams, and without the development of Texas youth hockey and the growth that we've seen over the last 10-15, years, I know I wouldn't be where I'm standing today.”

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Photo caption: Seth Jones carries the Stanley Cup through the Children's Health Star Center while surrounded by youth hockey players. (Florida Panthers)

Even for players like Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov, making your first NHL appearance can be a little frazzling.

Michkov, 20, made his NHL debut on Oct. 11, playing against Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Quinn Hughes, and reining Jack Adams Award winner (and his new head coach) Rick Tocchet.

Things didn't go the Canucks' way last season, of course, but it's always a challenge going up against guys like that.

In a recent interview with ЛЁД (Translated: Ice) Special, Michkov reflected on his first regular season game with the Flyers, offering up some comedic but very real insights on his experience.

 When I went out against Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, it was like I was playing on a PlayStation. The players were skating around me, my head was spinning, I didn't understand where I was at all, even the light was falling on the rink differently, everything was different," Michkov recounted. "I was under the impression when I was still doing the rookie lap. I thought, 'Damn, where did I end up?' It was such a pleasant excitement."

Michkov ultimately played 18:32, third amongst all Flyers forwards, recording four shots on goal, taking a hooking penalty in the first period, and drawing a tripping penalty from Filip Hronek in the second period.

Matvei Michkov Praises Oleg Znarok's Work with FlyersStar rookie Matvei Michkov took flight for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, but he wasn't able to adapt and do it all on his own.

Michkov ultimately missed his first NHL shootout attempt, but that ended up being insignificant. Now-traded center Morgan Frost got the job done with the 10th total attempt in the shootout.

"The game started, the first period was a bit shaky, but the second and third periods were more or less played. They even trusted me to shoot the penalty shot, though I didn't score, but it gave me even more of a push and motivation for the next game to concentrate and really start scoring and passing, helping the team," added Michkov.

Ultimately, the Russian phenom finished his rookie season by leading all rookies in goals (26), while tying Macklin Celebrini for the second-most points amongst the newcomers (63).

Flyers' Matvei Michkov Dishes on Rookie Season: 'There Is No Limit to Perfection'Budding Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov had quite the strong rookie season in the NHL last year, but he's already looking ahead to bigger and better things in the future.

Of course, Michkov missed out on a unanimous selection to the NHL All-Rookie Team by one point, while fellow rookies Dustin Wolf, Lane Hutson, and Celebrini were all unanimous picks.

That's neither here nor there now, though. Michkov showed obvious signs of growth throughout the season, and now we have a point of reference for where he was at mentally at the beginning of the year.

All signs point to the 2025-26 season being even better for Michkov and the Flyers.

Matt Martin might be retired, but he remembers playing with Mitch Marner on the Toronto Maple Leafs like it was yesterday.

The 36-year-old, now the special assistant to New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche, appeared on The Cam & Strick Podcast with Cam Janssen and Andy Strickland earlier this week and reminisced on playing with Marner in Toronto and his departure from the Maple Leafs.

Toronto moved Marner in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, where the Maple Leafs acquired Nicolas Roy in return. The former Toronto forward signed an eight-year, $96 million contract before being traded to the Golden Knights.

"First of all, he's an exceptional player, probably in a discussion for one of the best in the league. Any given year, he's top three winger in the NHL, obviously [Nikita] Kucherov being pretty special as well. But he does it all; power play, penalty kill. I mean, they had him playing defense when they were down (players) in games a few years ago," Martin said.

"I think Vegas is going to be a great situation for him. Just kind of a totally different market, really good team. He's kind of got that Vegas flair to him, too. But I know he loved the Leafs. He loved the Leafs, playing for the Leafs, and he really wanted to get the job done there. It didn't work out and that's the end of it now."

Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies Grateful For Mitch Marner’s Guidance, Won’t Call Games Against Golden Knights ‘A Rivalry’Matthew Knies won't go as far as saying the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights will be rivals after Mitch Marner joined their organization.

Martin and Marner were teammates on the Maple Leafs for two seasons, from 2016 to 2018. Being more of a veteran in the NHL at the time, Martin took Marner under his wing, and the two players became great friends.

"I really don't think there's better personality off the ice. He's just a guy that, even at 18,19, he was a guy that just brought everybody together. Loved to spend time with the guys, loves to hang out." added Martin.

"Ultimately, I think he poured his heart into everything. I do believe that. I think he really wore it. He took a lot of criticism when they didn't get the job done. And with making that kind of money, all those guys are going to get extreme criticism for not getting the job done, that's part of it."

You’ll Need Prime Video To Watch These 6 Key Maple Leafs Games in 2025-26Amazon’s streaming service, Prime Video, has released its upcoming schedule of games for the 2025-26 season, which will exclusively feature six Toronto Maple Leafs games for the second consecutive year.

During the podcast, Martin admitted that his final season in Toronto was difficult because of the lack of playing time. He spoke with then-GM Lou Lamiorello about being traded, and while Lamiorello tried to move him in-season, there wasn't a good enough fit for the Maple Leafs.

Lamiorello would leave Toronto in 2018 and join the New York Islanders as the president of hockey operations. One of his first orders of business was to acquire Martin from Toronto in exchange for goaltender Eamon McAdam, who wouldn't play a game for the Maple Leafs.

"Most of the guys I was playing with (on the Islanders before joining the Maple Leafs) were still here and it felt like home and it felt right," said Martin.

"It was a great situation to come back into. It's not often you get that opportunity to go back to where you came from, so I'm extremely fortunate for that and grateful for that because who knows what would've happened if that trade didn't transpire."

'Looking Forward To Playing A Long Time Here Like (Phil) Kessel': Why Dakota Joshua Will Wear No. 81 With Maple Leafs This SeasonWhen Dakota Joshua puts on a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey for the first time, he'll be wearing a number that many fans are familiar with.

Amid Martin's situation, former Islanders captain John Tavares was figuring out where he'd land in free agency. Two days before Martin was traded, Tavares signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with Toronto, ending his tenure with the Islanders, who drafted him first overall in 2009.

Martin vividly remembers Tavares' return to Long Island. Toronto fell 6-1 to New York on February 28, 2019, in a building where the crowd was giving it to Tavares the entire night. It was an evening many won't forget, even if you weren't in the arena for that game.

Martin played in that game.

"That was a crazy, crazy game. I think it was a pretty incredible game to be a part of, and I'm not saying that to dig at Johnny. Listen, he did what he did, he wanted to go to Toronto, that's fine by me. Go play where you want to play. He's a friend of mine, I'm happy for him," Martin said.

"I don't know if we really feel that bad for one another when it comes to like a hockey environment. Like, to me, it was just a crazy, crazy game to be a part of. The energy in there was insane. I'l never forget that hockey game. They're throwing stuff at him, and some of that you can do without, but in terms of atmosphere, I loved playing in that game."

'Always Working His Ass Off': Sharks' Ryan Reaves Praises Auston Matthews After First Year As Maple Leafs CaptainAuston Matthews might have had a down year with goalscoring, but there was growth in other facets of his game.

Since joining the Maple Leafs in 2018, Tavares has scored 493 points (222 goals and 271 assists) in 515 games. The Maple Leafs named Tavares captain in 2019, after a year with the club. He served in the role for five years, passing it on to Auston Matthews in August 2024.

Tavares could've tested free agency on July 1st, however, instead, he signed a four-year, $17.55 million extension with the Maple Leafs on June 27. The annual average value of the veteran forward's contract is $4.39 million.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 'I Think He Really Wore It': Matt Martin Reflects On Mitch Marner's Move To Golden Knights And His Two Seasons With Maple Leafs

(Top photo of Marner and Martin: Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images)

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The Kitchener Rangers might have discovered their new goaltender to step in for the reigning Goaltender of the Year, Jackson Parsons.

On Thursday, the Rangers organization announced that they have signed Swiss netminder Christian Kirsch to an OHL Standard Player Agreement. 

Press Release: Rangers Sign Goaltender Christian Kirsch To Standard Player Agreement

🗞️ https://t.co/Tqi78kdE8K#RTown | #BattleBuiltpic.twitter.com/9dRMB2HYko

— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) July 24, 2025

The 6-foot-4, 201-pound netminder was drafted in the fourth round (116th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are still in their rebuild and on the search for a goaltender they feel will be their starter for years to come. Is Kirsch the answer?

The Basel, Switzerland native was picked in the first round (44th overall) by Kitchener in the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Ottawa 67’s forward Kimi Korbler was the only Swiss forward in the OHL last season, and he is expected to return home to play for the EHC Kloten organization. 

Kitchener Rangers Announce Roster Changes For The 2025-26 Season, Two NHL Prospects Set To ReturnThe Kitchener Rangers announced updates to their roster regarding five of their players for the upcoming 2025-26 season. 

Kirsch recorded an 8-15-0 record with a 3.16 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage for the Janesville Jets of the NAHL during the 2024-25 season. He also played three games in the USHL for the Green Bay Gamblers, but struggled in his appearances in the crease, posting a 5.09 goals-against-average and a .842 save percentage. 

The Gamblers traded Kirsch to the Chicago Steel in exchange for a Phase 2 seventh-round draft pick, and he was recently at their development camp. However, Rangers GM Mike McKenzie mentioned after drafting him earlier this month that Kirsch sounded very keen and excited to join Kitchener and play in the OHL next season. 

The Rangers roll into the 2025-26 season now with a one-two punch in the net with the Sharks prospect Kirsch and 2026 NHL draft-eligible Jason Schaubel. 

North Bay Battalion Sign Russian Import First-Round Pick The import signings in the OHL continue, with another first-round pick from the 2025 CHL Import Draft committing. After the Niagara IceDogs were able to sign all three of their draft picks, the North Bay Battalion have joined in on the action. 

Although the 2008-born Schaubel didn’t perform poorly as the backup to Parsons last season, asking the kid to take on the role of a starter would’ve been a task, potentially setting him up for failure in a pivotal season of his career. 

Kirsch represented his country at the 2025 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship, recording a 3.52 goals-against-average and a .878 save percentage. He stopped 11-of-12 against Kazakhstan in Switzerland’s only win of the tournament, a victory that saved them from the relegation game. 

Kirsch becomes the eighth NHL-affiliated prospect on the Rangers’ roster for the 2025-26 season. There will be many NHL scouts watching Kitchener this season, tracking their players' development. 

(Top photo credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

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Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Latest OHL News:

Guelph Storm Add Size With New Imports; Both 2025 CHL Import Draft Selections SignedThe Guelph Storm are looking to bounce back after a challenging season, where they finished second-last in the league with a record of 21-38-9. They also allowed the second-most goals against, with a total of 301. The organization is hopeful that their young players are prepared to improve, and they have provided additional support through the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Niagara IceDogs ForwardPorter Martone is reportedly leaving the OHL to join Michigan State University in the NCAA, but the Niagara IceDogs won't be losing one of their top six forwards, after he signed his entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday morning.  The Misiak Family Continues On In Erie; Otters Sign Younger Brother Of Chicago Blackhawks Prospect As older brother Martin heads out the door, younger brother Alex steps in to keep the fun going. The Misiak family in Erie carries on.

At the NHL’s 2025 Club Business Meetings, the Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils were awarded the Stanley Award for Best Venue Business Initiative.

The Stanley Award recognizes the club and arena that have most significantly enhanced the fan experience through innovations in premium offerings, food and beverage, guest services, or mixed-use developments. This marks the third time the Devils and their home arena have earned this honor.

This year, the Devils were recognized for two standout initiatives: Eastback Kitchen and the Pier Club, both of which elevated the game-day experience in unique and meaningful ways.

Eastback Kitchen 

First, the Eastback Kitchen is a culinary and white label hospitality brand. It offers fans 20 signature offerings that range from a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich to Funnel Cake Fries. 

Not only does the Eastback Kitchen offer good food, they also strive to do good in the community. 

They partner with companies like Greens Do Good and Popcorn for the People. Greens Do Good works with the neurodivergent community while Popcorn for the People works with those on the autism spectrum. 

“Like me, so many chefs on our culinary team grew up cooking across Jersey, and we’re incredibly passionate about making sure the arena reflects the dishes fans know and love,” said Aron Zaks, Executive Chef of Eastback Kitchen, told the Prudential Center. “We spent the offseason out in the community, eating and taking notes to create our own recipes made fresh at the arena. From diner classics to favorite local restaurants and purveyors, we’re showcasing Jersey in every area fans experience hospitality at Prudential Center.”

The Pier Club

The second initiative that helped them win the honor was the Pier Club. The club is a space in the Prudential for fans to hang out. They have the option to watch whatever game is going on in the arena, a private bar, access to the Eastback Kitchen, and more. This initiative pushed the Prudential Center above others when the NHL met to determine who would be awarded this season. 

“As a Top 5 venue worldwide, Prudential Center prides itself on the continuous rollout of renovations to ensure that guests are offered the best experience possible,” said Stephen Rosebrook, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Prudential Center told the Prudential Center.

Other NHL Business Award Winners

While the Devils and the Prudential Center stood out for venue innovation, several other teams were honored across a range of categories during Tuesday night’s ceremony in Boston:

• Anaheim Ducks – Best Marketing Campaign
• Washington Capitals – Best Social Impact & Growth Initiatives
• Boston Bruins – Best Sponsorship Activation
• Philadelphia Flyers – Social Media Club of the Year
• Calgary Flames – Best Ticketing Initiative (First-time winner)
• Vegas Golden Knights – Game Presentation of the Year (Third win)
• New York Islanders – Venue Business Initiative for The Park at UBS Arena (First Stanley Award)
• Dallas Stars – Best in Strategy, Analytics & Innovation

The recognition for the Prudential Center highlights the Devils’ continued commitment to enhancing the fan experience both on and off the ice.

Photo Credit: © Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres happen to play in the NHL's most competitive division, the Atlantic Division, Every one of the Atlantic's eight teams have designs on being a playoff team next season -- and as part of this continuing THN.com series, we're analyzing each of the Sabres' seven divisional rivals to see what chance Buffalo has against each of them.

We've moved alphabetically through the first four teams in the Atlantic, including Boston, Detroit, Florida and Montreal. And in this file, we're turning to the Ottawa Senators, the team that ended a seven-season playoff drought last year, when they finished with the Atlantic's fourth-best record (45-30-7). How did the Sabres fare against the Senators last season -- and what chance does Buffalo have at getting the best of Ottawa this coming year? Those are the questions you'll find answers to below.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. OTTAWA SENATORS

NEW SENATORS PLAYERS: Lars Eller, C; Arthur Kaliyev, LW; Jordan Spence, D

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 4-0-0, Senators 0-4-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  October 15 at Buffalo; December 23 at Ottawa; April 2 at Ottawa

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres laid out the Senators last season, winning all four of their regular-season games. And with the Senators making few additions to their roster -- including greybeard Eller, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings castoff Kaliyev, and young defenseman Spence (a move we actually really like for Ottawa) -- the Sens could be prone to losing repeatedly to Buffalo again this season.

The teams only play on three occasions next year -- and two of them are essentially season-opening and season-closing bookmarks: the first game will be the Sabres' fourth game of the year, while the third game will be Buffalo's seventh-to-last game of the year. So it's rather likely the Sens team the Sabres see in October will be significantly different than the Sens team that greets them in April.

With that said, we like Buffalo's chances of being better than the Senators the way they were better than them last season. Ottawa was a mediocre defensive team last season, but their offense was worse, ranking 19th in the league at an average of 2.95 goals-for per game.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Will The New-Look Montreal Canadiens Edge Out Buffalo For A Playoff Spot?The Buffalo Sabres are desperate to be a playoff team next season -- but they're in the NHL's toughest division -- the Atlantic Division. And their games against Atlantic teams will be crucial to help decided whether or not they'll be a playoff team next year. As such, we're analyzing Buffalo's chances against each Atlantic team in a THN.com series; We started alphabetically with the Boston Bruins, then turned our attention to the Detroit Red Wings, followed by the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers.

Let's return, then, to see what Ottawa did this summer: they brought in Eller, who won't move the needle offensively; they brought in Kaliyev, who couldn't produce enough offense to justify the Kings or Rangers hanging onto him. And they brought in Spence, who can contribute some offense, but who also isn't regarded for his defensive play. 

So it seems, then, that the Sabres can indeed take advantage of their structural advantages over the Senators. Buffalo's offense, even without the departed J.J. Peterka, should be able to poke holes in Ottawa's defense, The Sabres' defense corps, meanwhile, is deeper and more talented than the Sens' group of blueliners. And while Ottawa's netminding is better than Buffalo's, the Sabres still managed to outscore the Senators 17-5 last year. 

Having one fewer game against one another might temporarily dampen the natural rivalry between Ottawa and Buffalo. But don't kid yourself -- if the Metropolitan Division improves next season and four Metro teams make it into the playoffs, only four teams will be getting a playoff berth in the Atlantic. And that almost certainly means one, if not both the Senators and Sabres will miss out on playoff action next year.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Does Buffalo Have Any Hope Of Beating The Defending Stanley Cup-Champion Panthers?The Buffalo Sabres are under massive pressure to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years. To do so, they're going to have to make the most of their games with their Atlantic Division rivals. And in this continuing THN.com series, we're analyzing Buffalo's chances against each of their seven Atlantic rivals.

You have to give the Sens their due -- they've got plenty to like, and reason for optimism next season and beyond. However, the sports world is littered with the husks of better-than-average teams that faltered under the weight of expectation.

We're not here to guarantee you that Ottawa is going to be one of those teams. However, if the Sabres are to end their 14-year playoff drought, they need to get a leg up on many, if not most Atlantic teams.

The Senators aren't yet regarded as a top-two-or-better team, and that may change soon enough. But Buffalo needs to do whatever it can to replicate the success they had against Ottawa last season. Because if they don't, and the Sabres miss out on the playoffs yet again, their losses at the hands of the Sens may be the reason why.

The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings are in full swing, with the Tampa Bay Lightning coming in 25th place.

We’re focusing on each NHL team’s off-season, weighing in on the teams that improved, stayed the same and got worse this off-season. We’ll be breaking down all additions and departures, including hirings and firings.

This isn’t about who had the best or worst off-season, although there are some exceptions if a team did more or less than expected to support their core.

You can see the teams that finished beneath the Lightning at the bottom. Now, let’s focus on the state of the Bolts.

Additions

Pontus Holmberg (LW), Boris Katchouk (LW), Sam O’Reilly (C)

The Breakdown: The Lightning made their big moves during the season, re-acquiring veteran center Yanni Gourde as well as right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken for their playoff run this past spring. 

Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois signed Gourde to a six-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.33 million – terrific value for a proven winner. 

In terms of NHL-level players added this summer, the Bolts only brought on former Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Holmberg. The 26-year-old Swede was mostly a bottom-six forward for the Maple Leafs last year, posting modest career highs in assists (12) and points (19) in 68 regular-season games.

Holmberg was a non-factor in the playoffs, generating just a single assist in 12 games. He’ll again be a third- or fourth-liner for Tampa Bay.

Katchouk, 27, was one of the Lightning’s additions signed to a two-way deal. He gets mentioned here because he’s played 176 career NHL games, but he spent all of this past season in the AHL, and his career high in the NHL is 16 points in 58 games in 2022-23.

O’Reilly, 19, is a prospect center acquired in the Isaac Howard trade with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s a smart player who could make the bottom six in the future, but he’s not expected to graduate to the NHL in 2025-26.

Departures

Nick Perbix (D), Cam Atkinson (RW), Luke Glendening (C), Isaac Howard (RW) 

The Breakdown: BriseBois spent most of his cap space to keep his team largely intact, but the Lightning did lose some experience on the free-agent market.

Veteran defenseman Perbix signed with the Nashville Predators. He was a third-pair blueliner for Tampa Bay, averaging only 14:41 of ice time in 74 games. But he got a significant raise from the Preds, going from $1.125 million this past season to $2.75 million on a two-year deal. That was too rich for BriseBois to accommodate, so the Lightning’s defense corps won’t be quite as deep next season.

Right winger Atkinson was mainly a fringe player this past year, with only four goals and nine points in 39 games. He was a frequent healthy scratch and was assigned to the AHL at times. 

Veteran center Glendening also appears to be moving on. The 36-year-old was a fourth-liner for Tampa Bay, averaging only 10:47 per game in 77 games. Neither Atkinson nor Glendening is irreplaceable, but their departure does affect the Lightning’s overall depth up front.

Ultimately, while things could’ve gone worse in the off-season for Brisebois and the Bolts, they did a decent-enough job keeping together a group that Lightning brass obviously still believes in. And the departures they did have aren’t going to hurt their bottom line. Speaking of bottom lines…

The Bottom Line

The Lightning were ousted in the first round of last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs by the back-to-back defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers. But there’s still plenty to like about Tampa Bay – whether it’s superstar sniper Nikita Kucherov, elite forwards Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel, accomplished defensemen in Victor Hedman, Erik Cernak and Ryan McDonagh, or superstar goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. You can’t credibly argue that’s not an impressive group.

Keeping Gourde was a priority for BriseBois to ensure there’s proven talent in the bottom six. Signing Hedman to a contract extension last July that kicks in this upcoming season was huge, and not having to trade core talent for cap space is a plus as well. 

Did Tampa Bay get better this summer? No. Did they stay the same? For the most part, yes – although there is, in our estimation, enough evidence to argue they got marginally worse for this upcoming season than their playoff roster in the grand scheme of things.

Because of those reasons and the tight margin between the clubs that stayed largely the same, they’re in the bottom quarter of the NHL summer splash rankings. 

We fully expect the Lightning to be a playoff team in the 2025-26 campaign. That said, we’re also not sure Tampa Bay will be able to get out of the first round in next spring’s playoffs. 

BriseBois has never been afraid to make big moves in-season, so that may be in the cards for the Bolts next year.

Summer Splash Rankings

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

While the Chicago Blackhawks had a quieter off-season than they did last summer, they still brought in a few new players to their roster. Among their newcomers are forwards Andrei Burakovsky, Sam Lafferty, and Dominic Toninato.

Now, the Blackhawks have announced the numbers that their new additions will wear for the 2025-26 season.

Burakovsky wore No. 95 with both the Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken, but that number is already taken by Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev. As a result, Burakovsky will instead wear No. 28 with the Blackhawks. He will be the 19th player in Blackhawks history to sport No. 28, which was last worn by current Chicago forward Colton Dach. Dach will be switching to No. 34, which was also announced by the team.

Just like he did during his first stint with the Blackhawks, Lafferty will once again sport No. 24 with the Blackhawks. Since his time with the Blackhawks ended during the 2022-23 season, forward Anders Bjork and defenseman Jaycob Megna have worn No. 24 for Chicago. The Blackhawks have had 17 players in total sport No. 24 in their franchise history. 

As for Toninato, the Blackhawks have announced that he will wear No. 25 for them. This is a popular number in Blackhawks history, as he will now be the 22nd player to wear it for the Chicago. The last player to do so was defenseman Alec Martinez, who sported it during this past season.

new season, new numbers👏 pic.twitter.com/6zuXKMeZq2

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 24, 2025

Ex-Blackhawks Forward Among Veteran Free Agents LeftThe NHL free agent market is significantly smaller than it was when it opened on July 1. This is understandable, as teams often make their moves during the early part of the month when it comes to free agency.

Photo Credit:  © Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Editors note: This story contains mention of sexual assault. Readers discretion is advised.  

Cal Foote, who played for the Nashville Predators for 24 games during the 2022-23 season, was one of five former Canadian junior hockey players found not guilty on Thursday in a sexual assault case that occurred in 2018. 

Foote, alongside Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton and Dillon Dubé, were all accused of engaging in the sexual assault of a woman anonymously known as E.M. She claimed she had been sexually assaulted over several hours in a hotel room in London, Ontario, in June 2018. 

The players were in London to celebrate their Gold Medal victory at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, which was held earlier that year in Buffalo, New York. 

Ontario Supreme Court Justice Maria Carroccia said during the decision on Thursday that she did not find E.M.’s evidence “credible or reliable." 

More specific details to the case and the ruling can be found here:

All Five Former World Junior Players Found Not Guilty In Hockey Canada Sexual Assault TrialWarning: coverage of the Hockey Canada trial includes details of alleged sexual assault that may be disturbing to readers.

Foote was drafted 14th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017 and bounced between the NHL and AHL for six and a half seasons before he was traded midseason to Nashville. The Predators dealt forward Tanner Jeannot to Tampa for Foote and five future draft picks.

During his time with the Predators, he scored four points in 24 games. In the offseason, he signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Devils but spent the bulk of his time with the organization in Utica, playing for the AHL franchise. 

In January 2024, when the sexual assault allegations were made against Foote, the Devils granted Foote an "indefinite leave of absence from the team," but did not re-sign him. 

He has spent the last season with Liptovsky Mikulas HK in the Slovak Extraliga, the top professional hockey league in Slovakia. 

None of the accused players were active in the NHL last season. 

It seems like Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are the subject of Pittsburgh hockey news just about every other day at this point.

Most of the “news” - or think pieces - involve discourse on where either player could end up if traded, if both of them will be traded, and how the Penguins need to trade both of them in order to properly manage the rebuild that they’re attempting to execute.

But something that isn’t talked about nearly enough is the possibility of them staying.

What if one or both of them stick around? And would one or both of them sticking around thwart any successful attempt at a rebuild?

It’s certainly fair to conclude that one of the two should be dealt, along with veteran offensive blueliner Erik Karlsson. The Penguins are still in the business of collecting high-value assets, whether that means first-round picks or young NHL talent. And that doesn’t figure to change through the end of next season. 

But if one of them is kept, is it really going to set back the rebuild to any tangible degree?

Honestly? Probably not. 

It’s worth noting that the 2026 NHL draft class is, by all accounts, a pretty strong one. The obvious prize comes along with the lottery, as Gavin McKenna is waiting in the wings for one lucky - or unlucky, depending on how it’s looked at - team. As such, it stands to reason that first-round picks simply have higher value in the trade market right now than they have for the past several seasons - especially for fringe teams that may or may not want to take the next step and make the playoffs.

Because of this, it’s fair to wonder whether or not any of those “fringe” teams - such as the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, or Vancouver Canucks - would want to be in on someone like Rakell or Rust, both of whom Penguins’ GM and POHO Kyle Dubas is, likely, seeking a first-round pick for. 

NHL Insider Says Red Wings Leading Race to Land Penguins' RustInsider reports indicate the Red Wings being the top contender to land Penguins winger Bryan Rust.

And if a first-round pick is his demand, that is understandable, considering the seasons that Rakell and Rust had. Rakell, 32, put together the best season of his NHL career in 2024-25, amassing 35 goals and 70 points, while Rust, 33, did the same with 31 goals and 65 points. Any team looking to get over the hump, or any contending team looking to add one more reliable finisher in their top-six, would love to have either player for three more seasons at around $5 million.

If those fringe teams aren’t willing to give up that asset, it’s understandable that Dubas would wait around to see who is willing to pony up. And, that likely leaves the true contenders.

While Rakell or Rust going to a contending team certainly makes sense, it’s key to remember that the presumed first-round pick coming back would, more than likely, not be anywhere near the lottery. And is it worth it to surrender both Rakell and Rust for two late-first-round picks?

According to a recent article by Jacob Billington of The Hockey Writers, it’s clear to see the dropoff in talent after the top-10 selections in NHL drafts from 1963 to 2023. According to the data, for players drafted 10th overall, 75.4 percent play more than 100 NHL games.

Beyond that? Much of the remaining first round is a total crapshoot, especially in the teens. For reference, 45 percent of players drafted at 11th overall - which is where the Penguins selected Ben Kindel in 2025 - end up playing more than 500 NHL games. While that exceeds the 36 percent for the same number of games at 10th overall, only 65 percent play more than 100 NHL games. 

Then, beyond 20, both numbers steadily drop, with 56.3 percent making it past 100 games and 25.8 percent hitting 500 games.

The point here is that - despite the respective ages of Rakell and Rust - they do have three years left on their current deals, and they both can put the puck in the net alongside Sidney Crosby. The chances of the Penguins getting a late-round franchise player - or, even, a very good complementary player - for both of them in a trade is low enough that it may not be worth giving both of them up.

Besides, there has to be a reason Dubas is hesitant to deal both that goes beyond nostalgia. The easiest and most logical explanation is that he’s letting the market play up for both of them only to pounce at its highest-value moment, which makes sense. 

Report: Price For Penguins' Top Winger 'Especially High'With few intriguing forward pieces remaining on the free agent market, many teams are turning to the RFA market and the trade market to upgrade their top-six.

But it cannot be understated how much these players mean to the Penguins and how much they mean to the young players in the room that they’re trying very hard to develop, especially Rust. Dubas has also reiterated the desire to get the Penguins back to contention “as urgently as possible,” and it’s very plausible that he sees a potential overlap in the team’s window of contention before both contracts expire. 

Look at it this way: Yes, he can net higher-value draft picks for Rakell and Rust. But the Penguins don’t necessarily need more than one in return, considering the fact that they own all of their first-round picks for the coming drafts. The Washington Capitals, for example - who had a top-notch 2024-25 campaign and seem to have successfully executed a rebuild on-the-fly - have managed to hit on their scouting and draft picks while only drafting once in the top-10 over the past decade and not having more than one first-round pick since 2012, when they selected now-veterans Filip Forsberg (11th overall) and Tom Wilson (16th overall). 

Like Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipOn Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

They were also successful in identifying veterans on their roster who were worth keeping around for their retool in Wilson, John Carlson, and Nic Dowd. Washington didn’t rid of every veteran with trade value on their roster for a reason - and that was because they understood that their value to the team’s ultimate goal of competing “as urgently as possible” exceeded the value they’d net in return.

So, say one of Rakell and Rust is traded. Dubas would, hypothetically, have two first-round picks next season - one of which may very well be a lottery selection - and he already has NHL-ready talent knocking at the door and vying for spots on the NHL roster.

If any of the Penguins’ three first-round picks from the 2025 draft crack the NHL roster within two years - Kindle, for example - plus that 2026 lottery pick, plus good complementary players like Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Owen Pickering, Harrison Brunicke, and Tristan Broz, doesn’t having one of either Rust or Rakell around in addition to that significantly increase their chances of contending sooner?

Penguins' Roster Breakdown: Which Young Players Have Realistic Hopes Of Cracking NHL Roster Next Season?The Pittsburgh Penguins are heading into the 2025-26 season with full intentions of having a youth movement on their NHL roster.

It’s better to have all of the aforementioned guys PLUS a Rust or a Rakell for another year or two, in addition to Crosby. All of a sudden, the lineup is guaranteed deeper in 2026-27 and 2027-28. The Penguins would still have a lot of high-value picks to build out their organization from the draft, and some of those players may - or may not - make a sooner-than-expected impact.

Simply put, there is an avenue to contention with one of those guys still on the roster, and not dealing one of them is not a colossal failure for that reason. Of course, if the Penguins get a good, young player in return for each of them - preferably some higher-ceiling help on the blue line - maybe the tune is different. And, if the Penguins are still bottom-feeders in 2026-27, they should still be able to net decent value in a later trade for whichever of the two they decide to stick with. 

But if this is mostly about first-round draft capital? It’s probably worth eating that potential asset and keeping one of them around through the final year or two of their current deal to help bridge the Penguins into a new window of contention. Successful rebuilds, realistically, don't hinge on one singular move - or lack of a move - to define that success.

Regardless of what happens with Rakell and Rust - if you’re putting all the pieces of the puzzle together - contention may not be as far off as many seem to think if Dubas and the Penguins can successfully execute this phase of the rebuild in nearly every other facet.

Dubas May Have Sought Quantity In This Year's Draft. But That Doesn't Mean He Missed On Quality.In the aftermath of every NHL Draft, the analysis always comes due.

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Feature Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres acquisition of defenseman Conor Timmins from the Pittsburgh Penguins on NHL Draft weekend was due in part to the 26-year-old’s price point being less than Connor Clifton’s $3.33 million salary, but at the time of the trade, the Sabres did not know for certain what the righty defenseman would cost for next season.

The St. Catharines, ON native is an arbitration-eligible RFA and one year away from unrestricted free agency and according to a report from Puckpedia, Timmins hearing date will be on Saturday, August 2nd. The Sabres and agent Paul Capizzano are likely negotiating on a deal beforehand, but have less than two weeks before going into what usually is an adversarial process.  

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

The club’s pairings to start the season are expected to be team captain Rasmus Dahlin playing with recently signed Bowen Byram, Owen Power playing with newly acquired righty Michael Kesselring, and Timmins playing with Mattias Samuelsson. The Sabres are currently fifth in the NHL at 34.6% of the cap allocated towards their blueline behind Washington, Vegas, Edmonton, and Columbus, and would have been near the top of the league had they kept Clifton,  who was slated to earn $3.33 million next season.

Timmins is coming off a 15-point season with Toronto and the Penguins, and it is expected that he will get a slight raise from his $1.1 million salary last season with the cap going up. That price point fits better with Timmins expected role as a bottom-pairing defender over Clifton.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

Former Ottawa Senators winger Alex Formenton has been found not guilty of sexual assault.

The 26-year-old was one of five players on Canada's 2018 World Junior Hockey team charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ontario hotel room in June of that year. The players had gathered in London for a Hockey Canada gala and golf event to celebrate the team's gold medal victory five months earlier.

All of the other players involved in the case, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé, and Cal Foote were also acquitted on all charges. 

In front of a packed courtroom, Justice Maria Carroccia delivered her decision on Thursday and ruled that the testimony from the complainant, referred to throughout the case as E.M., was "not credible or reliable." The judge also said, "In this case, I have found actual consent, not vitiated by fear," and that the Crown did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

This was a trial that took eight weeks, but the investigation, the scandal over how it was handled, and the intense national media coverage has gone on for several years. The trial sparked further dialogue on the issue of consent, which was at the heart of this case, and a Canadian junior hockey culture that's often been described as entitled and toxic.

The not-guilty verdict means the players are all free to go and move on with their lives. The Crown does have the option to appeal and has 30 days to decide whether or not to do that.

In Formenton's case, according to court documents obtained by the CBC, he has "moved on from a hockey career" and now works full-time in construction.

Formenton was Ottawa's second-round draft pick in 2017 and played 109 games for the club. When he became an RFA in 2022, that was right around the time that the news emerged about this case.

He was an emerging NHL player at the time, completing his first full season as a Senator and scoring 18 goals and 32 points. He was also probably the fastest skater in club history. So when the Sens didn't re-sign him, it certainly wasn't a decision made for hockey reasons.

Instead, Formenton agreed to a $125,000 contract with Ambri-Piotta, a pro hockey team in Switzerland, where he played parts of two seasons until he returned home to stand trial. His NHL playing rights still belong to Ottawa.

Last year, according to TSN, Formenton filed a $20.5 million lawsuit against Newport Sports Management and Wade Arnott, his former agent, alleging negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

This story originally appearedat The Hockey News-Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:
Former Ottawa Senator Returns To NHL After Three-Year KHL Stint
Sens Captain Brady Tkachuk Celebrates Hard at Brother Matthew's Wedding
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Senators Re-Sign 2021 First-Round Pick To One-Year Deal
An Early Glance At The Senators’ 2026 Free Agent Class
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

In the whirlwind that has been the last two weeks, one signing slipped past me: the contract former Montreal Canadiens draft pick and player Jordan Harris signed with the Boston Bruins for a one-year deal.

Harris was a third-round pick at the 2018 draft and had Habs fans worried when he decided to play his fourth and final year of eligibility in the NCAA with Northeastern University. Some feared the Haverhill, MA native would just wait to become a free agent and sign with his local team, the Bruins.

Canadiens: Trouble for Struble?
Canadiens: Wheeler Redrafts The 2022 Draft
Canadiens: Slafkovsky Joins The Fun

Harris was a first-team all-star in the Hockey East division, Northeastern’s captain, and the player who won them the Beanpot tournament in 2020 with a double overtime goal. He grew up just 36 miles north of Boston and had never left the area to play hockey, but he ultimately joined the Canadiens and signed an ELC contract at the end of the 2021-22 season, playing 10 NHL games.

He played the last year of his ELC before signing a two-year contract extension with a $1.4 M AAV with the Canadiens and skated in 56 games with the Habs in the first year of that contract, putting up 14 points.

In June 2024, he was named Sports Personality of the Year by the Cummings Center Foundation for his involvement in the community and for being a trailblazer in the NHL. At the time, he was the only Black Jewish player in the NHL.

Less than two months later, however, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in return for Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick. He joined the Jackets just days before the team was hit by an incredible tragedy when an alleged drunk driver killed star player and leader Johnny Gaudreau and his brother.

It was a tough season for the Jackets, but they still came painfully close to qualifying for the playoffs, only being eliminated when the Canadiens won their last game of the year. Still, even though Columbus struggled, Harris couldn’t establish himself as a regular in the lineup.

In the end, he only played 33 games with the Ohio outfit, scoring five points and finishing the year with a minus-one rating. At the end of the season, the Jackets decided not to extend a qualifying offer, and he became an unrestricted free agent.

Boston signed him on July 1 to a one-year contract with a $825,000 AAV, bringing him back home. Should he manage to get a regular spot in the lineup this season, he’ll take on his former Canadiens teammates four times.

Photo credit:  Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Matthew Kessel is off the board.

Not that the 25-year-old was ever on the board, but he made it official recently on his Instagram account that he's engaged to be married to girlfriend Allie.

Kessel, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, played in 29 games for the Blues last season and had three assists; he has 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 70 games spanning three seasons in the NHL.

Do you think Kessel can earn more playing time in St. Louis soon or will it be hard for him to grab much more playing time with the ascension of Tyler Tucker and acquisition of Logan Mallioux from the Montreal Canadiens? Share your vote in the poll above.

The New Jersey Devils are next up in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Devils’ 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 New Jersey Devils are on the rise with elite young talent on the roster and some of the most impressive offensive sequences in the NHL. 

Led by 24-year-old Jack Hughes and 26-year-old Nico Hischier, the Devils are well-positioned long-term down the middle, and they have shown flashes of being a truly elite team. 

The team has a handful of young defenders already looking like potentially effective players. Luke Hughes, Jack’s younger brother, is one of the most gifted young offensive blueliners in the game. In his two full seasons, Hughes has had 47 and 44 points, the latter coming in just 71 games. His skating and desire to jump up in the rush to help create man-advantage situations mean he could push past the 50-point plateau as a 22-year-old next season.

Simon Nemec isn’t a rookie anymore, having spent most of the 2023-24 season in the NHL. However, after being back and forth between the AHL and NHL this past season, Nemec is still fighting for his spot in the lineup. Nemec has a high-end offensive mind, and he has also shown flashes of solid defensive play. He has just about everything you want from a top-four defenseman aside from a nasty streak. He moves the puck well on the breakout, finding outlets along the wall as well as streaking forwards cutting through the neutral zone. This will be a big season for Nemec.

Lenni Hameenaho is one of the most productive U-21 players in the Liiga over the last 25 years. He’s used his tactical play to pick apart defensive schemes. He isn’t the flashiest or fleetest of foot, but he has the answer when a defender presents him with a problem. He passes under pressure and gets into position to receive a return pass. Hameenaho will be one of the most interesting prospects to watch in training camp as he tries to match the NHL pace.

It’s been a long time coming, but 2019 fourth-rounder Arseniy Gritsyuk finally signed his entry-level contract in May, and he’s set to join the Devils for this upcoming season. The speedy forward is one of the oldest prospects covered in this Prospect Pool Overview series, because a 24-year-old who hasn’t cracked the NHL will likely be a low-impact player if he ever makes it. Gritsyuk signed longer deals in the KHL and avoided coming over. Now that he is here, though, his skill and speed are ready to take on the NHL. He’s been all over the Twitter highlight reels, but now, it’s time to show he’s a legit NHLer.

At 6-foot-7, it’s hard to miss Anton Silayev on the ice. The big, mobile defender has plenty of tools at his disposal, showcasing impressive skating and defensive work. His offensive game doesn’t stand out, but he makes a good first pass and quickly gets the puck out of trouble. He uses his full wingspan to deter attackers, and when he closes, he finishes with full force along the boards. Silayev could help balance out some of the offensively gifted defenders in New Jersey in a couple of years.

Seamus Casey started and ended the season in the NHL, playing 14 games total, but he spent most of this past year in the AHL. He is one of the most intelligent defenders with the puck, finding a play and advancing the puck into a position to create offense. His strength and defensive game must continue to improve, and he must show he can handle the NHL’s physicality, but he should make some noise in training camp once again and challenge for even more NHL time. 

One of hockey’s most underrated goalie prospects, Mikhail Yegorov, was a monster for Boston University after joining them partway through the season. The Terriers were having a good season, but they were underperforming in relation to national title expectations early in the year. When Yegorov made the jump from the United States League to the NCAA mid-season, everything changed. His .927 save percentage gave BU a chance to win every night. Yegorov helped the team to the national title game, where they ultimately lost to a feisty Western Michigan squad, but BU might not have even made the Frozen Four without Yegorov’s heroics. 

U-23 Players Likely to Play NHL Games This Season

Simon Nemec (D), Luke Hughes (D), Seamus Casey (D)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 50th overall - Conrad Fondrk, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 2, 63rd overall - Ben Kevan, RW, Des Moines (USHL)

Round 3, 90th overall - Mason Moe, C, Madison (USHL)

Round 4, 99th overall - Trenten Bennett, G, Kemptville (Jr. A)

Round 4, 114th overall - Gustav Hillstrom, C, Brynas Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 161st overall - David Rozsival, RW, Liberec Jr. (Cze.)

Round 6, 178th overall - Sigge Holmgren, D, Brynas Jr. (Swe.)

The New Jersey Devils traded their first-round pick in the Jacob Markstrom deal, so their first pick came in Round 2, where they drafted center Conrad Fondrk from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. In a weird season where injuries and an underwhelming NTDP group likely played a factor in his production, Fondrk showcased some enticing skill as a passer and shooter. His skating and defensive details are areas for improvement, but in the offensive zone, he could be an effective player. Heading to Boston University in the fall, he will have ample time to get bigger, faster and stronger. 

Ben Kevan, a speedy forward, has an impressive highlight reel. He isn’t the most physical player, but he will hunt down loose pucks in space and try to attack on the fly. He is at his best when attacking in motion, struggling a bit when things get bogged down or the puck is worked through the cycle. When he’s 1-on-1 with a defender, Kevan can embarrass an opponent with his slick hands and a burst of speed to blow by them. He must work on the details of his game, but he has a ton of promise. 

When the Devils snagged Mason Moe in the third round, they made a low-upside bet on a player who has good tools across the board while lacking a standout skill. Moe helped fill the gaps in Ryker Lee’s game this season, showing his attention to detail so that his hyper-skilled teammate could take advantage of his tools. Moe is a tactical two-way forward who almost always finds himself in an excellent position to make the next play. There’s a very good chance that he ends up being a solid NCAA player for the University of Minnesota.

The Devils took a swing on a massive goalie in the fourth round, drafting the 6-foot-8 Trenten Bennett. Primarily playing in the Jr. A CCHL before getting a stint with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, Bennett is an intimidating presence for shooters as they bear down on the net. His frame takes up so much of the net that they have to rely on making him move to open up holes. Bennett is a project, but he’s heading to St. Lawrence University in a year, so he will have plenty of time to refine some of the movement in his game. 

Nabbing Gustav Hillstrom in the fourth round might be the best value pick for New Jersey in the 2025 draft. He brings size, a high defensive work rate and value as a playmaker and a net-crashing scorer. Hillstrom isn’t the flashiest player, but he can bust out some fancy hands from time to time, using his length to evade pressure. His biggest strength offensively is his ability to read the play off the puck so that he can burst through seams and create off a pass. Hillstrom could end up as a very solid third-liner who does a bit of everything for a team with championship aspirations. 

Drafting out of the Czech junior league is always hit and miss, but the Devils made a nice bet on David Rozsival. He’s heading to the USHL, where he can adapt to the North American game. Dealing with physicality won’t be one of those adaptations, as he even invites contact at times. Rosival gets in on the forecheck and understands how to pressure a defender to force mistakes. He doesn’t have high-end offensive upside, but he plays like a solid third-liner. 

The Devils capped off the draft with one of the more interesting picks of the draft. Sigge Holmgren did not play this past year because of a shoulder injury before the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He’s tough to evaluate, but he has shown some puck-moving ability at the U-18 level in 2023-24. Taking a swing this late is well worth it if the Devils deemed him a player of interest before the injury.

Strengths

The Devils don’t have a position that jumps out as a crystal clear strength.

They have solid prospects at just about every position, but they don’t have a ton of depth. With Nemec being an exception to the typical rule that a player counts in this exercise if they are Calder-eligible, the defense is a strength, even if it doesn’t stand out. 

Nemec and Silayev could be top-four impact defenders in very different ways, with Nemec being the offensive foil to Silayev’s defensive acumen. Casey looks to prove he’s not just a tweener who is a top AHL defender who’s not quite good enough to be an NHLer. 

There are some interesting bets in the system, such as the raw Daniil Orlov, a growing defensive blueliner with a physical edge. Charlie Leddy is an intriguing depth prospect entering his senior NCAA season, playing a steady, simple game. 

It’s not like the Devils have incredible depth on the blueline, but they have some players worth following on the back end. 

Weaknesses

The Devils have solid centers in the NHL. Core pieces Jack Hughes and Hischier are an elite duo. Soon-to-be 24-year-old Dawson Mercer has promise as a third-line center. Cody Glass is an excellent option at fourth-line center. Glass and Hischier are the elder statesmen among the foursome at 26. 

That helps mitigate the weakness the Devils’ pipeline has down the middle. 

They added Fondrk, Hillstrom and Moe in the draft, which helps, but the prospects who were already in the pipeline haven’t given much for people to be excited about. 

Samu Salminen has struggled to establish his game in the NCAA. Matyas Melovsky is a solid two-way center, and he scored a bit in the QMJHL this past year, but he’s not really an offensive force, which limits his upside. 

The Devils don’t necessarily need a center soon, but if injuries strike and the team looks to its pipeline, there won’t be much to draw from. 

Hidden Gem: Mikhail Yegorov, G

Things were going well for Yegorov in the USHL, playing for Omaha and putting up good personal numbers, but the team couldn’t chain together wins. An opportunity to play regularly in the NCAA a year earlier than expected drove Yegorov to make the move mid-season. 

Switching leagues and teams in the middle of his season was a risk that paid off in a big way. 

Yegorov isn’t often mentioned with the top goalie prospects in the world, but after the showcase he put on this past season, maybe he should be. He saved BU’s season and helped the Terriers reach the national title game. He was stellar in just about every game, making massive saves behind a team that liked to push the pace. The Devils have finally fixed their NHL goaltending with Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, but when the time comes, Yegorov will be the answer in the blue paint for the next era.

Next Man Up: Simon Nemec, D

It’s time for Nemec to come into training camp and give the Devils no other option than to put him on the team. 

This past year, there was plenty of tension between the player and the organization, and a trade remains a possibility. If he is still there in training camp, Nemec must show his impact and worth at both ends of the ice. He must showcase his playmaking ability and creativity offensively and then use his skating and reads to play excellent defense. There is a spot for him on the NHL roster, and it’s on Nemec to take it. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Lenni Hameenaho, Cole Brown, Josh Filmon, Shane Lachance

C: Conrad Fondrk, Gustav Hillstrom, Samu Salminen, Matyas Melovsky, Mason Moe

RW: Arseniy Gritsyuk, Ben Kevan, Cam Squires, David Rozsival

LD: Anton Silayev, Daniil Orlov, Topias Vilen, Daniil Karpovich

RD: Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey, Sigge Holmstrom, Charlie Leddy

G: Mikhail Yegorov, Trenten Bennett, Veeti Louhivaara, Tyler Brennan, Jakub Malek 

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.