During the 2022 NHL off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks elected not to send forward Dylan Strome a qualifying offer. As a result, he became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals in July of that year. This was after Strome posted 22 goals and 48 points with the Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season. 

The move to Washington immediately benefited Strome, as he posted 23 goals and 65 points in 81 games during the 2022-23 season. This led to him to landing a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Capitals in February of 2023. He then followed this campaign up by recording then-career highs with 27 goals, 40 assists, and 67 points in 82 contests during the 2023-24 season.

Yet, as well as Strome played in each of his first two seasons with the Capitals, he hit a new level with the Metropolitan Division club during this past season. In 82 games during 2024-25 campaign, the former Blackhawks forward recorded new career highs with 29 goals, 53 assists, and 82 points in 82 regular-season games. He was also a bright spot during the playoffs for the Capitals, posting two goals and 11 points in 10 games. 

Strome only seems to be getting better with each season that passes and produced like a true star in 2024-25. The Blackhawks' decision to let Strome walk for nothing certainly looks more questionable after the campaign he just had, but it is clear that the 2015 third-overall pick has thrived since leaving Chicago. 

It will now be interesting to see what kind of season Strome puts together in 2025-26 after his career year. 

Blackhawks Exciting Forward Is Big Breakout CandidateThe Chicago Blackhawks have one of the strongest prospect pools in the NHL. It is not difficult to understand why, as they have been rebuilding for multiple years now. As a result, they have brought in several exciting youngsters who have the potential to become long-term parts of their future. 

Photo Credit: © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

The Anaheim Ducks have missed the playoffs every year since 2017-18 and in doing so, have drafted in the top ten for seven consecutive seasons and procured one of the NHL’s deepest and most potent prospect pools.

Despite several young players having graduated and become full-time NHLers, such as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger, the Ducks still have an impressive pipeline of potential impact and depth prospects yet to make the jump.

Lukas Dostal: Increased Pressure, Journey from 'No-Name Goalie' to Paid Among NHL Elite

Ducks Sign Drew Helleson to Two-Year Extension

Ducks Sign Lukas Dostal to Five-Year Extension

For this exercise, only players who haven’t lost rookie status are eligible for a ranking, and to be clear, these are my (Patrick Present) subjective rankings.

Honorable Mentions: Yegor Sidorov, Herman Traff, Tarin Smith, Lasse Boelius, Calle Clang

Top Ten:

10. Nathan Gaucher, 21, C, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

9. Ian Moore, 23, RHD, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

8. Sasha Pastujov, 22, W, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

If one were to look at this list in early November 2024, it would be understandable to feel genuinely surprised to see Pastujov’s name this high in a ranking of Ducks prospects.

Pastujov had a poor camp heading into the 2024-25 season. To the extent that the organization deemed it best for him to begin the year in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers. A trip to the ECHL is one few prospects recover from, but Pastujov’s mental fortitude during that time is a significant contributing factor to his ranking on this list.

“Sasha showed lots of character by going to the E,” Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden told The Hockey News: Anaheim Ducks. “I think he would be the first to say he didn't have a good camp and probably deserved to be in the ECHL to start the year, but he didn't hang his head, and he had put in lots of work in the summer.

“He's a great kid, but he's got character. He worked his butt off all summer to get stronger and to get a little faster because that's what he needs to improve. His speed and skating overall, but his speed in particular, and he put in the work, and for some reason, it didn't come through during training camp. He went back there, got his confidence back, got his legs back going, and didn’t miss a beat by the time he got back to San Diego.”

After a successful career at the junior level, both with the USNTDP leading up to his draft year (66th overall in 2021) and in the OHL in the two years that followed. He averaged well over a point-per-game at both levels, but struggled to find that same production at the AHL level in his rookie 2023-24 campaign, which saw him tally 23 points (10-13=23) in 46 games.

“His capacity to adapt to read the play, to handle the puck, is natural,” Madden continued. “When he was able to come back and play at pace, production followed. I don't think producing is ever going to be a big, difficult thing for Sasha. I think he's got that naturally. His awareness is great, his touch is very good.”

Pastujov’s skating will always be his most substantial drawback. His stride is somewhat clunky and lacks explosion while his edges and four-way mobility are average at best. However, while these aspects aren’t ideal and a difficult hill to climb if one is to build an NHL career, they can be overcome with high levels of skill, IQ, and competitiveness, areas where Pastujov has now proven proficient.

His puck skills and release are above NHL-average, but his separating factor is his vision and hockey sense. He excels at recognizing lanes and involving himself in the building of every offensive play. While his 6-foot, 187-pound frame isn’t an advantage, he manipulates defenders when in possession by inviting pressure and connecting with linemates from small areas of the ice.

After posting 16 points (9-7=16) in 12 ECHL games to start his 2024-25, Pastujov finished the season with 45 points (17-28=45) in 43 games in the AHL with the Gulls. He unfortunately missed six weeks in the latter half of the season due to injury, but picked up where he left off upon return to the lineup.

Among AHL players who played a minimum of 25 games last season, Pastujov ranked eighth in scoring on a per-game basis (1.05 points per game).

His road to the NHL is still a murky one, especially when considering the Ducks, their general manager’s player archetype preferences, their loaded pipeline, and Pastujov’s requirement to assume a scoring role on a depth chart, as he lacks exceptional forechecking or defensive prowess.

Despite the notable work done to improve his 200-foot game and details, nothing about Pastujov or his game screams “Pat Verbeek player.” However, if he can hit the ground running in 2025-26, continue to improve, and produce, he’s not one to bet against carving out an NHL career for himself.

Projecting Future Extensions for Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier

Ducks Sign Clang, Myšák to One-Year Deals

Ducks Prospect Uljanskis Chooses CHL for 2025-26 Season

Photo Credit: Derek Lee-The Hockey News

The Buffalo Sabres seemed quite enthused with the acquisition of Conor Timmins from the Pittsburgh Penguins on NHL Draft weekend, as the 26-year-old appears to be a better fit from a size and salary perspective than Connor Clifton. GM Kevyn Adams indicated after the trade that the 30-year-old former Bruin would have likely not returned to the Sabres after next season, while Timmins has a year to decide on his future.  

The St. Catharines, ON native is an arbitration-eligible RFA and one year away from unrestricted free agency. He will have a hearing at some point over the next two weeks, unless the Sabres and agent Paul Capizzano agree on a deal beforehand. Timmins is coming off a 15-point season with Toronto and the Penguins, and it is expected that he will earn a slight raise from his $1.1 million salary with the cap going up.

That price point fits better with Timmins expected role as a bottom-pairing defender over Clifton, who was slated to earn $3.33 million next season.

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Free agent signings have ground to a halt as the NHL has reached their summer vacation phase. Former Sabre Jeff Skinner found a home, signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks, but at this point the two most attractive scoring forwards left unsigned are former Carolina Hurricane Jack Roslovic and former Sabre Victor Oloffson.  

Olofsson scored 20 or more goals three times with the Sabres and had a solid injury-shortened season with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, but will not be brought back by the Golden Knights, who added winger Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with Toronto. The 29-year-old is likely to still be in the mix for a guaranteed one-year contract with some NHL club, but if he goes unsigned through August, he may get a look on a professional tryout contract. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

The Chicago Blackhawks have one of the strongest prospect pools in the NHL. It is not difficult to understand why, as they have been rebuilding for multiple years now. As a result, they have brought in several exciting youngsters who have the potential to become long-term parts of their future. 

One specific Blackhawks prospect who fans should be excited about is forward Oliver Moore. The 2023 first-round pick has the potential to become a good NHL player, and the prospect of him having a breakout season for the Blackhawks in 2025-26 is certainly there.

After signing his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks in late March, Moore left a solid first impression with the Original Six club. In nine games with the Blackhawks in 2024-25, the Minnesota native recorded four assists. Overall, the young forward had a nice start to his NHL career and did not look out of place in the slightest. 

Moore's play at the collegiate level also shows that he possesses good upside. In 38 games during the 2024-25 season with the University of Minnesota, he posted 12 goals, 21 assists, 33 points, and a plus-13 rating. This was after he had nine goals and 24 assists in 39 games with the school during his freshman year. 

With the Blackhawks not making too many additions to their forward group this off-season, Moore should have a real shot at making their NHL roster out of training camp. If he does, it would not be surprising if we see him take a nice step forward in his development in 2025-26. When looking at Chicago's roster, he could become a real answer for their top nine in the near future, and it will be fascinating to see if he breaks out next season because of it. 

Ex-Blackhawks Defender Still Looking For New HomeDuring this past off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman TJ Brodie to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.75 million. The hope was that the veteran blueliner would provide their top four with a nice boost. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Dallas Stars traded defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok. 

Dumba, 30, recorded 79 goals, 157 assists, 236 points, and 816 hits in 598 games across ten seasons in his Wild career after he was the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Last season with the Stars, Dumba recorded one goal and ten points in 63 games. He will now be on his fourth team in the last two seasons since playing his first ten seasons with the Wild. 

Other Wild News

Wild's Matt Boldy Joins Some Elite Company In NHLThe NHL put together a list of the top ten forwards in the league who are under the age of 25. One Minnesota Wild player made the list at No. 3.  Wild Forward Signs One-Year Contract With Division RivalFormer Minnesota Wild forward Gustav Nyquist signed a contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 2nd. It was a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. 

The Colorado Avalanche's 2025 free agency has been relatively quiet. Outside of re-signing some pending unrestricted and restricted free agents, the only actual free agent signing was Brent Burns. The Avalanche still has over $4 million in cap space to use. If the Avalanche want to make a  big splash this summer, then look no further than Columbus Blue Jackets Yegor Chinakhov.

Last week, his agent tweeted that his client would like a fresh start somewhere else. Stating that the 21st pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has had some misunderstandings with the coach and staff. Even doubling down in an interview, stating how his clients' best intentions are to be moved.

Columbus’ GM, Don Waddell, told Portzline that he wasn’t surprised by the request, and that Chinakhov didn’t take well to being healthy scratched after not playing well following a back injury. Chinakhov has dealt with injuries throughout his short NHL career; however, he exhibits many qualities that could help the Avalanche as an “overager” prospect who has yet to truly break out.

Chinakhov is listed at 6-foot-1, 201 lbs. He had seven goals and 15 points in 30 games this past season, but that came after a 16-goal, 29-point 2023-24 season in just 53 games. At 24 years old, this can help the Avalanche as a player who can contribute now, rather than trading for a 20-year-old prospect who is unhappy with his playing time and needs more time to develop. If there was a team that the Columbus Blue Jackets could feel “comfy” enough to deal with, look no further than the Avalanche and their recent trade that saw Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle be moved.

What Chinakhov Can Bring To The Lineup

Using the 2023-24 season as a baseline dataset, since it provided a larger sample than the previous season, let's examine Chinakhov's strengths he brings to a team. The biggest highlight is Chinakhov is a high-end skater, as his top skating speed ranked in the 94th percentile. This is an already fast team up and down the lineup, and it showed this past season, especially with the addition of Martin Necas.

Last season the Avalanche were in the 99th percentile of 18-20, 20-22, 22+ bursts and Top Speed (Mph).

Per NHL Edge:  Nathan MacKinnon led all forwards with the most 20 mph+ bursts (547) and 22 mph+ bursts (83). Necas finished second in 22 mph+ bursts (47) and fifth in 20 mph+ bursts (370). Cale Makar led all defenseman in 20 mph+ bursts (206) and 22 mph+ bursts (27).

Chinakhov possesses underrated shot , as his top shot speed ranked in the 97th percentile during the 2023-24 season (per NHL Edge). His goal-scoring rates over the past two seasons indicate significant breakout potential. If he can maintain his health, and if paired with the proper playmaker, it could set him up for the best position in his career so far.

Where Would Chinakhov Fit In The Lineup?

This is the biggest question if the Avalanche were to acquire him, and a significant one to say the least if they are considering doing so. The top six is currently the best it has been since the 2021-22 season, so moving someone out of that lineup would be a significant move.

In the event of an injury, he could take on the position for the time being, and, unfortunately, injuries can happen, allowing him to make the most of an unfortunate situation. However, this team currently faces some significant questions that must be addressed soon, especially for the upcoming seasons. Though they could be addressed by considering Chinakhov’s play if they do acquire him.

Martin Necas remains unsigned, a situation that has been a significant talking point throughout the summer. Artturi Lehkonen has two years remaining on his contract and will be 32 years old when it expires. Gabriel Landeskog, despite appearing strong in last season's playoffs, will be returning for his first full season after injury. It's uncertain how this will impact his physical condition, given his age of 32 and the three more seasons remaining on his contract after this upcoming season. Valeri Nichushkin is 30 and has four more years remaining on his contract as well.

If the Avalanche did acquire him, he could be that next key piece in the coming seasons, being the next man up in the top-six as current players slowly fill out a middle/bottom-six role. Getting young, fresh legs up in the top-six to lead the offense while taking pressure off the aging veterans.

What Could The Price Be To Get Chinakhov?

With a cap hit of $2.1 million and being an arbitration-eligible RFA next summer, what might the Blue Jackets ask for Chinakhov? More prospects? Picks? Depth NHLers? Depending on what it is, the Avalanche could penny up the asking price.

The Avalanche don’t have a first, second, or third-round pick this upcoming season, but they do have an extra fourth-round pick, two extra fifth-round picks, and two extra seventh-round picks. They don’t have a 2026 third-round pick, but they do have all of their original picks, plus an additional second-round pick from the Charlie Coyle trade and an extra fifth-round pick from the Mackenzie Blackwood trade.

At the end of the day, if the Avalanche do end up making a deal, it all comes down to what the cost looks like. He might or might not be a success story at the end of the day, just another trade that just didn’t pan out well for the team. Although he could also be a key piece that helps push the team into a better position, maybe not now, but down the road. A key young player who helps take a larger step each season to pivot the team's path as this team's core begins to age and take a step back.

Insider Lists Three Avalanche Players as Top Trade TargetsWith the Colorado Avalanche only having $1.2 million in cap space left after re-signing Brock Nelson, they will need to make some moves to free up cap space if they want to re-sign their pending unrestricted free agents or sign other players heading into free agency. Is It Farewell for Jonathan Drouin and the Colorado Avalanche?With  Brock Nelson re-signing and numerous unrestricted free agents the Colorado Avalanche can re-sign, how high does Jonathan Drouin rank in terms of importance to the Avalanche?

Name a player on the Calgary Flames with a quicker, more deceptive release than Matt Coronato.

Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Sure, Yegor Sharangovich might come to mind. He’s got a laser of a shot when he decides to unleash it. But that’s the thing—he picks his spots. Coronato, on the other hand, doesn’t need an invitation. The kid has a shoot-first mentality that few young players possess, and that trait is quickly becoming his calling card.

Last season, the Greenlawn, New York native peppered opposing goaltenders with a career-high 180 shots on net. That’s not just volume—it’s confidence, instinct, and opportunity all rolled into one. For a 22-year-old still finding his full stride in the NHL, Coronato is already showing signs of becoming a lethal offensive threat for years to come.

The Flames clearly agree.

Back on May 3, 2025, Calgary locked up the talented winger to a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension—an average annual value of $6.5 million. It was a decisive move from GM Craig Conroy, ensuring that one of the team’s most promising young players remains a central piece of the puzzle deep into the next decade.

And frankly, the deal could end up looking like a bargain.

Coronato didn’t just earn the extension—he demanded it with his play. In the final season of his three-year entry-level contract, the former 13th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft finished third on the Flames in both goals (24) and points (47). He consistently found ways to contribute, whether on the power play, at even strength, or in key moments late in games. His offensive instincts, combined with a tireless work ethic, make him a player you can build around.

Here’s how Coronato’s numbers stacked up in 2024-25:

• Goals: 24 (3rd on team)
• Assists: 23
• Points: 47 (T-3rd on team)
• Shots on Goal: 180
• Power Play Goals: 5
• Game-Winning Goals: 4
• Shooting Percentage: 13.3%

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XSkinner is headed to the San Jose Sharks after coming off the Stanley Cup Final loss with the Oilers. THN Hosts @kelsey_surmacz4 , @emma_lingan , @MikeInBuffalo discuss the latest updates, trades and other hockey news on the newest episode of the Wrap Around. Listen now on

Off the ice, Coronato is as humble and likeable as they come. He’s the kind of guy teammates rally around—low maintenance, high impact. But make no mistake: it’s not his personality that got him paid. It’s the production. It’s the trajectory. It’s the fact that he’s still getting better.

If the Flames are betting on Coronato to be a core offensive driver as they reshape their roster for the future, it’s a safe bet. He’s got the tools, the temperament, and most importantly, the trigger.

If he keeps shooting the way he has, he might just find his way into the upper echelon of NHL scorers—maybe even before this new deal hits the halfway mark.

One thing’s for sure: no one’s telling Coronato to shoot the puck.

He already knows.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

© Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

On July 27, the San Jose Sharks selected Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa with the second overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Not going as far as to say the 18-year-old was playing on easy mode in his draft-eligible season, but it sure looked that way, racking up 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games.

Over his three OHL seasons, Misa has just been dominant. Which is why, when he said that New York Islanders prospect Matthew Maggio was the best hockey player he's ever played against, that statement should hold tremendous weight. 

NHL (@NHL) on XThe ultimate compliment! 💪 #NHLYoungStarsWeek

"He's nasty. He's a really special player," Maggio said about Misa at Islanders development camp. "He has a really good hockey IQ with an unreal skillset. He dictates the game."

Maggio, who played three seasons for the Windsor Spitfires (2019-2023), played against Misa during the 2022-23 campaign. That's the year that Maggio put up video game-like numbers, recording 111 points (54 goals, 57 assists), the season after the Islanders selected him in the fifth round (No. 142) of the 2022 NHL Draft. 

The 22-year-old is about to begin his third full professional season with the hope that Bridgeport Islanders head coach Rocky Thompson can help take his game, and so many other prospects' games, to the next level after a year or so of stagnant growth in what was a not-so-ideal situation for development the last few seasons. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

PHOTO: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Athletic published its ranking of the various NHL broadcasts on Monday, as voted by fans. Team’s fans were asked to rate their favourite team’s broadcast on a scale from one to five and to vote on as many national broadcasts as they wanted. Then, the values were computed, and the rankings were born.

The Boston Bruins come in last at number 32, with the Pittsburgh Penguins coming in at 31, and the Toronto Maple Leafs wrapping up the bottom three. At the other end of the spectrum, the Detroit Red Wings took first place, followed by the Seattle Kraken and the Utah Mammoth. As for the Montreal Canadiens, they came in at number 10.

Canadiens Intriguing Prospect Can't Be Slept On
The Hockey News Awards- Montreal Canadiens Edition
Two Canadiens’ Stars in NHL.com’s Young Stars Highlight Reel

As can be expected, the Canadiens are a unique market in this regard, as they offer both French and English broadcasts, which are further split into National and Local games.

In English, TSN provides local coverage, while Sportsnet offers national coverage. In French, TVA Sports receives the national broadcast, while RDS receives the local one. RDS’ duo of Pierre Houde to run the play-by-play and Marc Denis provides the colour commentary.

For years, French-speaking fans have said that the Houde-Denis duo is the best in the business, and they voted accordingly. It seems to be a valid opinion since Houde was honored with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame this past season.

In his first post-induction game, Houde was celebrated in the Jacques Beauchamp media room with presents and speeches from Chantal Machabee, who was one of his colleagues for years, and France Margaret Belander. He was given a number 50 jersey (representing the number of years in the field), autographed by the players, an autographed Guy Lafleur Gin bottle, and scotch glasses.

Houde received an autographed jersey, scotch glasses and an autographed Guy Lafleur gin bottle #GoHabsGo#BravoPierreHoude#THNpic.twitter.com/ZdvV9Xp0gt

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) November 18, 2024

Members of the media were also all given a special Molson Beer featuring the play-by-play experts. The unanimous praise for their broadcast boosted the Canadiens' ratings here.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund will not play for Sweden at the upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association tweeted on Monday.

According to HockeyNews.se, both players have a busy summer with NHL development camps and Djurgården’s professional summer training camp. The pair of 18-year-olds were part of the team that helped Djurgården ascend from the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan to the top-tier SHL, and the move up is seen as a big step in their development.

Frondell was drafted third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks and Eklund went 16th to the New York Islanders. Both have already signed entry-level NHL contracts and both have been loaned back to Djurgården for the upcoming season.

That leaves 16 drafted players on the 25-man roster – scroll down for the complete list.

Report: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training Camp Swedish center Anton Frondell will sign an entry-level contract this upcoming week with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that took him third overall at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, according to Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström.

The roster includes a pair of 17-year-olds who are consensus top-10 picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft: Ivar Stenberg, a late-2007-born player, and 2008-born Viggo Björck. Due to his birth year, Björck is still U-18 eligible but his inclusion on this roster likely means he will not play for Sweden at this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. That would be consistent with how the Swedes have prioritized the U-20 Showcase over the U-18 summer tournament in the past.

The World Junior Summer Showcase runs from July 27 to Aug. 2 in Minneapolis, Minn. It features the junior national teams of Sweden and Finland and two teams each of Canadian and U.S. players. It is generally used as an evaluation tournament for the IIHF World Junior Championship, which this year will also be in the state of Minnesota from Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026.

Islanders Sign Victor Eklund But He’s Probably Returning To Sweden Too Swedish winger Victor Eklund, 18, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him 16th overall at the recent NHL Entry Draft, the club announced on Monday.

Goaltenders: Herman Liv, Örebro HK; Carl Axelsson, Sioux Falls Stampede USHL; Love Härenstam, Skellefteå AIK – St. Louis Blues.

Defensemen: Felix Öhrqvist, Linköping HC; Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Växjö Lakers – San Jose Sharks; Sascha Boumedienne, Boston University NCAA – Winnipeg Jets; Victor Johansson, Leksands IF – Toronto Maple Leafs; Alfons Freij, IF Björklöven – Winnipeg Jets; Carl-Otto Magnusson, Frölunda HC; Viggo Gustafsson, HV71 – Nashville Predators; Gabriel Eliasson, Barrie Colts OHL – Ottawa Senators.

Forwards: Lucas Pettersson, MoDo Hockey – Anaheim Ducks; Melvin Fernström, Örebro HK – Pittsburgh Penguins; Linus Eriksson, Timrå IK – Florida Panthers; Ivar Stenberg, Frölunda HC; Viggo Nordlund, Skellefteå AIK – Carolina Hurricanes; Eric Nilson, Djurgårdens IF – Anaheim Ducks; Jack Berglund, Färjestad BK – Philadelphia Flyers; Wilson Björck, Djurgårdens IF – Vancouver Canucks; Valter Lindberg, Skellefteå AIK; Liam Danielsson, Örebro HK; Alexander Zetterberg, Minnesota State University NCAA; Viggo Björck, Djurgårdens IF; Filip Ekberg, Ottawa 67’s OHL – Carolina Hurricanes; Eddie Genborg, Linköping HC – Detroit Red Wings.

Photo © David Reginek-Imagn Images: Coach Magnus Hävelid oversees the Swedish bench at last year's World Junior Summer Showcase.

Helenius & Hemming Highlight Finnish U-20 Roster In Home Tournament Ahead of next week’s World Junior Summer Challenge in Minnesota, a series of games involving four U-20 teams is taking place in Vierumäki, Finland on Sunday and Monday. Two teams from Finland – essentially an A-team and a B-team – will host the Czech and Swiss national junior teams once each.

In the summer of 2024, the Pittsburgh Penguins had, apparently, reached out to then-free agent forward Anthony Mantha.

“Last summer, when I was a free agent, they were scooping around,” Mantha said Monday to Pittsburgh reporters. “They offered something last summer. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite go that way.”

Well, fast forward one year later, and Kyle Dubas and the Penguins reached out once again. But, this time, everything fell into place. On Jul. 2, Mantha - the 20th overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2013 - agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, which came following a Nov. 5 ACL injury that ended his 2024-25 season with the Calgary Flames after just 13 games played.

It has been a long, long road to recovery for Mantha, and there is still a ways to go heading into training camp. But the 6-foot-5, 234-pound right winger has made it his goal to be ready for training camp and for the season - and he doesn’t plan on letting up.

“It feels great, but it’s been a long time,” Mantha said. “I should be ready for camp. That was my main goal when I did get surgery… I mean, it’s going to be almost 10 months post-op at the start of camp. So, I should be all set and running, and I’ll be ready. That’s the ultimate goal, and that’s exactly what I told [Pittsburgh] when we were talking to each other over the summer.”

And the decision to come to Pittsburgh is something that, kind of, fell into place for Mantha, who admits that his injury led to a pretty high degree of uncertainty heading into free agency this season. 

“For me, obviously, playing 13 games last year was, kind of, ‘Which team would give me a chance?’” Mantha said. “And, luckily enough, [Pittsburgh] came through and, I think, gave me a great opportunity and great deal from the start of free agency, and it was hard to look past them this year. 

“I’m just excited to join the Penguins, and like I said, after 13 games, I didn’t know what to expect over the summer. I focused a lot on myself and trying to prove that I’ll be ready for camp. Things went good, and here we are.”

Penguins Promising Forward Should Hit New LevelDuring this past season, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Philip Tomasino from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Overall, this was a low-risk move for the Penguins, as they did not need to give up much for the young forward. 

Mantha mentioned something that drew him to Pittsburgh was the opportunity to learn from “four of the best players” in the NHL during the past decade-plus in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson. But it’s not the first time Mantha has suited up alongside all-time great veterans. 

From 2021-24, Mantha represented the Washington Capitals, where he had a chance to play alongside Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and Tom Wilson. He pulled a lot from that experience, mentioning how much he looked up to them and how he took some of their experience and applied it to his own game. 

“I’m just excited to kind of do the same thing in [Pittsburgh],” Mantha said. “Yes, I’m 30 years old, but we live and we learn every year, and for me, that’s the biggest thing this year again.”

Mantha is also aware of the crossroads the Penguins’ organization finds itself in. The team is in the midst of a rebuild, having missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. While he understands the situation, he also knows that the veterans in the room that the Penguins have had for the better part of two decades are still capable of turning the tide of a season.

Anthony Mantha has signed 1x$2.5M with PIT. No player card last year because he got hurt, but he's an efficient scorer with decent speed who pushes play in the right direction. Often maligned because he's 6'5 234 and plays like he's much smaller than that. #LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/RqSf5VJgIp

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 2, 2025

“Just those four guys - they could switch an entire season around,” Mantha said. “So, yes, you’re talking rebuild in Pittsburgh, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be the case this year. It might be, it might not be, but again, for me, it’s to bring the best hockey that I can and to find some confidence and make things happen.”

And he may have some additional help regaining that confidence, as he does have another Penguins’ connection. Mantha was coached by new Penguins’ assistant Todd Nelson when their time overlapped with the Grand Rapids Griffins - Detroit’s AHL affiliate - from 2015-17, and he said Nelson helped propel his career in an upward trajectory.

“It’s the year he kind of pushed me forward,” Mantha said. “Took a good step forward, meaning, after that, I didn’t see him again in the American League. So, he helped me take that step and bring me to the NHL level.”

'It's A Nice Mix': New Penguins' Coaching Staff Ready To Focus On DevelopmentIt’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins have begun to shift into a new era. With the organization in a transitional period - and in the midst of a rebuild - the Penguins are putting the focus on youth and development.

But - personnel aside - Mantha knows that, at the end of the day, the onus is on him to get back to the level he knows he’s capable of. He has three career 20-plus goal seasons, and he has 146 goals and 303 points in 507 games across parts of 10 NHL seasons. His injury derailed him last year, but he still has all the tools to be an effective player, even as he’s entering the back half of his NHL career.

At the end of the day, Mantha is putting in the work to get both his legs and his confidence back, and he knows he will have to bring the energy from the moment the puck drops on training camp. 

“How to get the confidence back? I mean, it’s a lot of puck touches, a lot of shots… hopefully, I get to play a couple scrimmages here and there during the summer before I show up to camp,” Mantha said. “Then, obviously, camp this year is going to be different than the last couple years where, for me, it’s going to be almost season-type where I need to really get back into it, really focus, and play my best hockey from camp on.”

Will Owen Pickering Make The Opening Night Roster?The Pittsburgh Penguins will have a lot of decisions to make regarding some of their young players before the puck drops on the regular season Oct. 7 against the New York Rangers.

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It was reported on Monday (Jul. 21) night that the Calgary Flames and forward Connor Zary remained far apart in negotiations about a new contract. While the Flames have $15.4 million in cap space, it doesn’t seem like they’re willing to budge from their original offer, which is “in the low 3s.”

CGY and Zary's camp have had discussions over the past several days. Things are still slow moving and there is still a sizeable separation on AAV; CGY is looking in the low 3s, the player is obviously looking for more, or this would have been done.@DailyFaceoff

— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) July 21, 2025

If the Flames and Zary can’t get a deal done and they’re too far apart, the Los Angeles Kings should be all over trying to acquire him. If they can find a way to bring him in at a reasonable price, he could be a solid addition to their middle-six forward group.

Zary, who is 23 years old, scored 13 goals and added 14 assists for 27 points through 54 games last season, which comes out to a 0.50 points-per-game average. All signs point to him getting a three-year contract, but if he gets traded and the Kings can bring him in, they should offer him a long-term deal.

Zary has shown signs of being a promising two-way forward, and his potential shows him having more than what he’s been able to show with the Flames. A fresh start on a contending team could help him flourish, but time will tell if he ends up being available. 

Kings Among Seven Potential Trade Destinations For Jason Robertson The Los Angeles Kings are trying to make it back to the playoffs next season, and this time, make a deep run into the postseason as they push to try and make a deep playoff run. They made some additions this summer, but they were recently listed as a potential destination for superstar forward Jason Robertson. Debunking Ridiculous Rumor Connecting Kings To Sidney CrosbyThe Los Angeles Kings were recently linked to Sidney Crosby, but it's time to shut any speculation down before it gets out of hand. Report: LA Kings GM Claims Anze Kopitar Extension Won't Come This SummerWhile the Los Angeles Kings try to build a roster capable of going deep into the playoffs next season, fans have begun to wonder what is next for forwards Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. While general manager Ken Holland mentioned that extension discussions were going to get underway with Kempe, he delivered some not-so-positive news about Kopitar.

Last season, the San Jose Sharks had a finalist for the Calder Trophy, Macklin Celebrini, and another finished sixth in voting, Will Smith. Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Sharks are essentially guaranteed to have one candidate for the Calder, but there’s a chance they could have as many as three players with a legitimate shot of winning the Award at the end of the season.

First, a quick reminder of the NHL’s definition of a rookie. Per the NHL’s Hockey Operations Guidelines, “To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons.”

Due to those rules, players like Shakir Mukhamadullin and Collin Graf are no longer considered rookies, but players like Yegor Afanasyev or Cam Lund will be rookies this coming season. Now, with that said, let’s look at the three potential Sharks rookies who could compete for the Calder Trophy this coming season.

Yaroslav Askarov will see quite a bit of game time for the Sharks as he’s currently projected to be the team’s starting netminder to start the season. He has only played a total of 16 NHL games over his career, 13 of which came during the 2024-25 season, allowing him to maintain his rookie status.

Askarov has been a phenomenal goaltender at the American Hockey League level, and although his numbers from last season weren’t great, he played much better than statistics show. He had some rough moments, but many project him as one of the best goaltending prospects in the NHL, and it’s time for him to show he can last at that high of a level.

For Askarov, there’s an easy comparison for how he needs to perform in order to finish as a finalist for the Calder. If he can play at a level similar to Dustin Wolf, who finished second in voting for the trophy last season, then he’ll likely find himself in a similar position come the end of the season. That will certainly be easier said than done, but Askarov definitely has the talent to do so.

Next, the Sharks’ second overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, Michael Misa, could make a massive impact if he’s able to make the roster out of training camp. It’s far from guaranteed that the 18-year-old captain of the Saginaw Spirit will make the jump to the professional game next season, and there’s even a chance he joins his brother, Luke Misa, in the NCAA come this fall. If he does impress enough at training camp to earn a spot though, there’s a very high chance that he contributes at a high level for the Sharks. In my roster projection, I had Misa starting on the third line, but if he were to play well enough, he could certainly play his way into the top-six within a couple of months under head coach Ryan Warsofsky.

Lastly, the Sharks will also have Sam Dickinson looking to make their opening night roster. The 19-year-old defenseman dominated the Ontario Hockey League last season, but making the jump to the NHL at such a young age is a difficult task for any blue-liner, except for potentially a generational talent.

The reigning Calder winner, Lane Hutson, is a defenseman himself; however, he is a little bit older than Dickinson at 21 years of age. While it may seem like a minute difference, two years of development for defensemen is quite a big difference.

If Dickinson does make the NHL, he seems like the biggest long-shot of the three to find himself in contention for the Calder despite his obvious talent. Similar to Will Smith last season, Dickinson seems like the type of player who will have a bit of an extreme adjustment to the NHL and as a result, he may experience a rough start to the season before truly finding his game a few months into the season.

The Sharks have a great chance that one of their top prospects will walk away with the Calder Trophy at the end of the 2025-26 season, considering the number of players on their roster who could legitimately be in the conversation. With that being said, there’s quite a bit of competition with 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer, Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens, and Ryan Leonard of the Washington Capitals all being in the running as well.

For the second season in a row, the Calder Trophy race will undoubtedly be a big, but fun, subplot to the season in the Bay Area. While Macklin Celebrini came up just short of the award in his rookie season, it will be interesting to see if one of the next batch of newcomers will be able to walk away with some hardware.

Photo Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

80 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 80We are just 80 days away from the start of the San Jose Sharks season against the Vegas Golden Knights.81 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 81We’re officially just 81 days away from opening night, when the San Jose Sharks will host the Vegas Golden Knights to officially kick off the 2025-26 season. Sharks Roster Projection: Mid-July EditionThe San Jose Sharks have completed most of their business for the summer at this point, and we have a rough idea of what the roster should look like on opening night. With an abundance of players fighting for a limited number of spots, though, there will be hard decisions and we’ll likely see some veterans, or even some younger players, placed on waivers when preseason comes to a close.

Porter Martone's commitment to the NCAA's Michigan State means one less winger is battling for a roster spot with the Philadelphia Flyers this fall.

By extension, those players likely to make the NHL roster and those likely to be on the bubble have become increasingly clear.

Rookie forwards Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin are both expected to vie for a roster spot, and Bump has already drawn plaudits from Flyers AGM Brent Flahr, as is tradition, ahead of his first NHL training camp.

Grebenkin already garnered seven games of NHL experience playing for former Flyers head coach Craig Berube and the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, and impressed in his brief stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after arriving in March.

Flyers Prospects Among Favorites to Win NCAA TitleThe future of the Philadelphia Flyers is all about the player development of today, and many of their top prospects are set to be the chief competitors for this season's NCAA title.

From there, the Flyers' dire salary cap situation muddies things, but assuming new head coach Rick Tocchet isn't willing to make Nicolas Deslauriers an every-night player to start the season, and assuming Tyson Foerster isn't ready to play, there's one more opening at the forward position.

Deslauriers is a pure winger, so the Flyers may favor a player who can play center to round out the roster. Names like Karsen Dorwart and Rodrigo Abols come to mind, but with his size and experience, the latter is more likely to steal a roster spot.

Or, with the consideration of adding some speed to the bottom-six, it would be foolish to count out veteran sparkplug Anthony Richard.

I think 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko will have a real opportunity to compete and play in preseason games, but it was quite apparent in his NHL stint with the Flyers last season that this level of competition was too much for him at this point in his development.

The addition of Christian Dvorak in free agency effectively nuked Luchanko's chances of making the NHL roster outright, and the Trevor Zegras experiment at center, if it goes awry, won't have its plug pulled until later in the season.

Flyers Depth Chart 1.0: Early Prospects Outlook, Roster DepthThe Philadelphia Flyers didn't make too many additions to the roster this offseason, but they did enough to shake up the organizational depth chart for the time being.

Luchanko doesn't have that kind of time, and he didn't exactly set the OHL ablaze in his D+1 season last year. The 18-year-old center deserves to have a full training camp with the Guelph Storm and go from there.

Bump is as sure as sure can be at this stage, so long as he doesn't completely tank in training camp and the preseason.

Martone, who turns 19 in October, would have been Bump and Grebenkin's greatest threat to an NHL roster spot, but by going to Michigan State, the 2025 No. 6 pick won't even be competing for that privilege.

What happens this time next year, though, could be a different story.

Kick off a new week in the NHL off-season with a new episode of rapid-fire topics on The Wraparound.

What Will The Penguins Do With Rust And Rakell? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Adam Kierszenblat discussed in this episode:

0:00: Reflecting on the NHL career of Jaroslav Halak

5:30: Will Blake Wheeler go down as one of the best Winnipeg Jets ever?

9:20: Did the Jets get a good deal by extending Gabriel Vilardi?

13:30: What will the Pittsburgh Penguins end up doing with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell?

18:40: Could Nazem Kadri be traded by the Calgary Flames?

24:17: Will the Colorado Avalanche be able to keep Martin Necas?

30:40: Which players going through salary arbitration are due for the biggest raises?

34:30: What have been the best and worst contracts handed out this off-season?

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

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Promo photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images