Fans of the Florida Panthers are in an enviable situation.

Not only is the team back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, which is amazing in and of itself, but the club’s roster is full of high-end players in the prime years of their career and they are all signed to long-term deals.

That means that Cats fans can feel confident in shelling out large amounts of cash to get a jersey with their favorite player’s name and number on the back, as odds are that player is going to be with the team for quite a while.

When looking at Florida’s core, an interesting thought occurred recently.

How many players on the Panthers current roster will end up with their jersey number hanging in the rafters?

Currently, Florida’s only retired numbers are 1, 37 and 93.

The 93 is for Bill Torrey, the team’s first president, and 37 is for team founder and original owner Wayne Huizenga.

No. 1 is for Roberto Luongo, the only actual player to have his jersey number retired by the team.

That is surely going to change sometime in the future, and we’re currently watching the player or players who will be immortalized in Panthers lore once they hang up their skates.

But who could it be?

Over the coming days, THN Florida will make a potential case for several players currently on Florida’s roster who could end up being the last to wear their respective numbers for the franchise.

The first player is probably the most obvious choice on the roster, and that’s Florida captain Sasha Barkov.

In all likelihood, Barkov will play the entirety of his NHL career with the Panthers.

Drafted second overall by Florida at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Barkov was in the lineup for the following Opening Night.

He scored his first NHL goal that night in Dallas and has been a mainstay atop the forward ranks ever since.

Barkov was named the tenth captain in Panthers history prior to the 2018-19 season and has developed into the league’s best two-way forward, earning Selke Trophies in 2021, 2024 and 2025.

At it stands, Barkov leads the team in almost every significant statistical category.

He’s the Panthers franchise leader in games played, goals, assists, points, shots on goal, power play goals, even strength goals and game-winning goals.

Barkov is also the only Florida captain to lead the team to a Stanley Cup championship, becoming the first ever Finnish-born captain to hoist the Cup in the process.

Barkov is Florida’s highest paid forward but still carries a reasonable (for a superstar) $10 million AAV (average annual value). That contract expires following the 2029-30 season, when Barkov will be 34 years old.

It’s hard to imagine Barkov, who is as good of a person off the ice as he is a player on the ice, not becoming a Panthers lifer whose jersey hangs in the rafters forever.

As we get further down the potential retired number list, there will be more to debate than there is with Barkov.

Stay tuned to see who we discuss next.

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Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) skates between play during the third period against the Edmonton Oilers in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Daniel Sprong is heading overseas, as he has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.

Sprong was selected by the Penguins with the 46th overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Following being drafted, he immediately got some NHL time with the Penguins, posting two goals and a minus-1 rating in 18 games during the 2015-16 campaign. From there, he played three seasons with the Penguins, where he posted four goals, five assists, nine points, and a minus-6 rating in 42 games.

After struggling to find his fit with the Penguins, Sprong was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018-19 season in exchange for defenseman Marcus Pettersson. From there, he had stops with the Ducks, Washington Capitals, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils. 

In 374 games over nine NHL seasons, Sprong recorded 87 goals, 79 assists, 166 points, and a minus-3 rating. It will now be intriguing to see how Sprong performs over in the KHL from here. If he impresses, perhaps it could lead to him getting interest from NHL clubs again next summer. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-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. 

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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)

7. Tomas Suchanek, 22, G, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

Despite the Ducks having a wide collection of dart throws in the organization when it comes to goaltending prospects like Damian Clara, Calle Clang, Elijah Neuenschwander, and Vyacheslav Buteyets, only one made the top ten list of their overall prospects: Tomas Suchanek.

After a sparkling rookie AHL season with the Gulls, Suchanek sustained a gruesome ACL injury during offseason training in the summer of 2024, after returning home to his native Czechia following Ducks development camp. His injury required surgery, and he was forced to miss the entire 2024-25 season.

Suchanek’s road hadn’t been the smoothest leading up to the injury, and he, along with the Ducks organization, is hoping it’s nothing more than a speed bump, as he’s already overcome numerous obstacles to get to this point in his career.

He signed with the Gulls on a standard player contract in 2023 after having gone undrafted in 2021, 2022, and 2023, despite a quality season in Czechia’s second tier professional division in 2020-21, a solid two seasons after making the jump to the WHL playing for the Tri-City Americans between 2021 and 2023, and a simply spectacular showing at the 2023 World Junior Championship, where he backstopped Czechia to a silver medal (lost in overtime of the championship game) and posted a 5-0-2 record, a .934 SV%, and one shutout.

He earned a development, rookie, and training camp invite from the Ducks ahead of the 2023-24 season. In his first professional season in North America, he battled his way out of the ECHL with a 3-5-0 record and .906 SV% and competed for AHL starts with Alex Stalock and Calle Clang, where he shined brightest with a 14-10-5 record, a .910 SV%, and three shutouts. 

Similar to friend and countryman, as well as starting Ducks goaltender, Lukas Dostal, Suchanek exudes poise and enthusiasm off the ice, as well as a focused calm in the crease. He displays true angles and stays square as pucks are moved throughout the defensive zone in front of him. He can flash dazzling athleticism at times, especially with his hands, both glove and blocker sides.

The aspect that jumps out and is most impressive from a young netminder is his ability to play the puck with his stick and manage the game in front of him. Having him stop pucks behind the net is akin to having a third defenseman to assist in puck retrievals, and he can ignite breakouts with crisp outlets. 

Suchanek is fully recovered and attended Ducks development camp following the 2025 NHL Draft and noted how difficult it was to get his reaction time back up to speed. 

"It went better than I thought," Suchanek said. "I thought (that) I'm going to have to learn how to skate again, but it went pretty good, so I was pretty happy. 

"The biggest focus is to go step-by-step right now. You can have some goals, but I need to come back to the camp and prove to everyone and show everyone I'm still able to play hockey, as I did before the injuries. So, my main goal right now is to just show everyone that I can still play."

Suchanek has used his resilience as a motivating factor in the past and will look to do the same as he heads into rookie and training camps in September. 

"It's been very long," Suchanek said. ”Took a lot (longer) than I thought it was gonna take. It's been pretty hard, but I'm super excited to be back and anxious to play hockey again.”

The 2025-26 season will be year two of a three-year entry-level contract Suchanek signed with the Ducks in March 2024.

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Photo Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

Former New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko has signed a three-year, $14.25 million contract extension with the Seattle Kraken. 

The deal comes out at $4.525 million annually. 

“Getting a contract done with Kaapo was a top priority this summer," Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said. "We knew quickly he'd be a big part of our team moving forward. He's got size, skill and tremendous playmaking ability, and isn't afraid of going to the net. He fit in immediately with our group, and we're thrilled to have him under contract.”

Kakko filed for salary arbitration after negotiations with the Kraken were at a standstill, but the two sides were able to reach a deal before the hearing was supposed to take place on July 25.

The Rangers traded Kakko to the Kraken this past season in exchange for Will Borgen and two draft picks. 

Upon arriving in Seattle, the 24-year-old elevated his game and showed positive signs of improvement.

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In 49 games with the Kraken, Kakko recorded 10 goals, 20 assists, and 30 points while averaging 17:03 minutes. 

Dutch-Canadian winger Daniel Sprong, 28, has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

Born in the Netherlands, Sprong has lived and played hockey in North America since the age of eight. This is his first professional contract to play hockey in Europe.

Sprong played junior hockey for the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders and was selected in the second round, 46th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Sprong made the Penguins out of training camp as an 18-year-old but, after scoring two goals in 18 games was sent back to junior. Between 2015 and 2025, he recorded 166 points and 68 penalty minutes in 374 NHL regular season games with the Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils. He also had three points in 14 playoff games with Washington, Seattle and New Jersey.

The 2023-24 season was chaotic for Sprong, who started in Vancouver before being traded back to Seattle, getting sent down to the AHL for 19 games before being traded to New Jersey at the deadline.

Goalie Spencer Martin Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

CSKA, colloquially known in North America as the Red Army team, is a perennial powerhouse in Russia but last season finished fifth in the KHL’s Western Conference and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

The club has had a busy off-season trying to improve its roster. In addition to Sprong, the team has also acquired Nikolai Kovalenko, Rhett Gardiner, Denis Zerov and goaltender Spencer Martin this month, with Egor Sokolov being signed and traded away in the process. In addition, it has under contract for 2025-26 ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk and Vladislav Kamenev.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images.

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It turns out there won’t be any drama surrounding highly touted right winger Porter Martone at the Philadelphia Flyers’ training camp this fall.

Martone, selected sixth overall in the recent NHL draft, won’t be competing for a Flyers roster spot this year because he committed to Michigan State on Monday.

He has the Flyers’ blessing.

“We are very supportive of the decision made by Porter and excited to see him developing into a Flyer very soon,” GM Danny Briere said on Tuesday night.

“Very soon” means he could sign an entry-level deal with the Flyers before the upcoming NHL season ends.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Martone, 18, spent one year at Michigan State and then joined the Flyers.

At Michigan State, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Martone will be teammates with Flyers prospect Shane Vansaghi – another plus for the Flyers because they could be on the same line and develop some chemistry that might have a carryover effect down the road. 

Vansaghi, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound winger called ‘The Truck,’ was drafted by the Flyers in the second round (48th overall) last month.

In any event, Martone changed plans after the Flyers’ recent development camp, when he said his goal was to play a “full season” in the NHL in 2025-26. He said at the time if Flyers management thinks differently, he would talk with his agent.

He will now bypass the Flyers’ training camp and be at Michigan State.

Flyers assistant GM Brent Flahr, who heads the Flyers’ draft room, loves Martone’s maturity as a player and his ability to make plays but recently said “the pace of his game is going to have to pick up.”

An Ontario native, Martone’s learning curve will progress in the NCAA, where he will play against bigger and stronger competition than he faced in juniors. 

With Brampton in the OHL this past season, Martone had 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) and 74 penalty minutes in 57 games with the Steelheads.

Michigan State won its second consecutive Big Ten championship last season but was eliminated by Cornell in the first round of the NCAA men’s hockey tournament.

The Spartans are loaded with NHL prospects and are expected to be a contender for the national title next season, with Martone in the middle of things.

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

When it comes to developing good young Ottawa Senators prospects, it would appear that the University of Wisconsin has become the new North Dakota.

The Fighting Hawks of North Dakota had four future Senators on their 2020–21 club – first-rounders Jake Sanderson and Jacob Bernard-Docker, and second-rounders Shane Pinto and Tyler Kleven. Remarkably, all four made it to the show and became NHL teammates, something that's rarely happened in NHL history, if ever.

Three of the four remain important players in Ottawa, but Bernard-Docker was displaced this year with the arrival of Nick Jensen and the emergence of Nik Matinpalo. After recovering from a leg injury at practice early in the season, JBD couldn't get back into the lineup, and with free agency looming, the Senators dealt him to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Josh Norris–Dylan Cozens trade in March.

"Hello, Wisconsin!"

Now, five years after North Dakota became an Ottawa prospect factory, there will once again be four Senator prospects all playing for the same school. But this foursome will be battling for the University of Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison, the second-biggest rink in the NCAA (15,359).

Logan Hensler, the 23rd overall pick at last month's NHL Draft, and Tyson Dyck, a 7th-rounder from 2022, were Badger teammates last season.

Now they'll be joined by forward Blake Montgomery, a 2024 4th-round pick fresh off a Memorial Cup title with the London Knights, and Croatian forward Bruno Idzan, a sixth-round pick last month.

Idzan joined the USHL's Lincoln Stars in mid-season, but started the year playing against men in the Alps Pro Hockey League. He destroyed it with 21 goals in 19 games, then came to North America and put up 44 points in 36 games in the USHL.

Montgomery returned to play in Lincoln (USHL) for another year last season, but things weren't working out, so he left for London and scored 50 points in 51 games.

Hensler is seen as the best prospect of the bunch and appeared on the Locked On Senators podcast, published on Wednesday. Hensler spoke about his two new incoming teammates and said he was impressed with Montgomery when they faced off in the 2023-24 USHL season.

"A hundred percent," Hensler said. "I remember playing him when he was in Lincoln. Just the speed on him, the hands, it's the hockey sense overall. He's a great player. I'm excited he's on our team and to get to know him. So it's going to be fun."

As for Idzan, he joined the USHL's Lincoln Stars last season right around the time Montgomery left for London. Hensler was surprised Idzan didn't get picked until the sixth round, especially after he recently got to see his game up close for the first time.

"Crazy, yeah. Coming from Croatia, too. We've had some skates this summer. He's legit. So, I'm excited to see what he can do for us this year."

For Hensler, the expectation for the "WisconSens" is pretty simple, but it certainly won't be easy.

"I think the expectation is always a national championship, right? But I think this year the Big Ten is going to be pretty tough. So I think we'll fit in nicely with that. I'm just excited to see how the CHL players fit in and just how the Big Ten grows. So it's going to be pretty cool."

Select University of Wisconsin hockey games are expected to be streamed again this season on TSN+, and some games will also be shown on the Big Ten's streaming service B1G+ along with the NCAA website. We pass that along for Senators fans who like to keep an eye on prospects for the future – a future that keeps looking better by the day.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

Former Jets defenceman Nathan Beaulieu announced his retirement after only being 32 years old.

Former Winnipeg Jets defenceman Nathan Beaulieu has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey, bringing an end to an 11-year NHL career that saw him play for four teams and make a lasting impression as a reliable, stay-at-home defenseman.

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XCongratulations on a great career, and all the best in your retirement Beau!

The 32-year-old from Strathroy, Ontario, was drafted 17th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2011 and made his NHL debut during the 2012–13 season. Over the course of his career, Beaulieu skated in 471 regular season games and recorded 12 goals and 86 assists for a total of 98 points. He also added five assists in 21 playoff appearances.

Beaulieu spent time with the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks. His most productive season came in 2016–17 with Montreal when he registered 28 points in 74 games. 

But for Jets fans, Beaulieu’s name will always be tied to his gritty, physical play and steady defensive presence during his four seasons in Winnipeg. Acquired in a trade from Buffalo in 2019, Beaulieu played 124 games with the Jets and was often leaned on for his defensive play and penalty killing. He scored five points in 18 games during his first run with Winnipeg and remained a dependable depth option through the 2021–22 season.

After leaving the NHL, Beaulieu extended his professional career with stints in Switzerland and the KHL before deciding to hang up his skates. While he never became the offensive threat once projected of a first-round pick, Beaulieu carved out a long and respectable NHL career defined by toughness, work ethic and quiet consistency. His retirement marks the close of a steady, team-first chapter in modern NHL blue line history.

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Defenseman and Calder Cup champion Max Lajoie has signed with the KHL's Avangard Omsk, the team announced Tuesday.

Lajoie recorded four goals and 34 assists in 70 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds last season, leading the team in assists

The 27-year-old scored the Calder Cup winning goal and led the playoffs in goals by defensemen with the Chicago Wolves in 2022. He represented the Central Division at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game while serving as captain of the Wolves. 

Originally a fifth round selection of the Ottawa Senators in 2016, Lajoie has 34 goals and 194 points in 378 career AHL games with the Firebirds, Belleville Senators, Chicago Wolves, and Toronto Marlies. 

In 77 NHL games with the Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs he had seven goals and 16 points. 

A talented puck mover and smooth skater, Lajoie was one of the top remaining unsigned free agent defensemen and joins a growing wave of AHLers who have signed in the KHL this summer. 

Captain coast-to-coast 😮‍💨@max_lajoiepic.twitter.com/5LuACMzKo5

— Chicago Wolves (@Chicago_Wolves) April 12, 2023

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.   

Photo Credit: © Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has been seen skating in Vegas Golden Knights gear for the first time since signing with the club.

The 28-year-old was on the ice in Muskoka, Ontario, this week with Muskoka Hockey, wearing all white gear, which included Golden Knights pants and gloves. Marner joined Vegas in a sign-and-trade with the Maple Leafs, where the forward inked an eight-year, $96 million deal, before being moved to the Golden Knights for Nicolas Roy.

Marner's contract will see him earn $12 million annually, $1.1 million more than his last contract with Toronto (a six-year deal with an AAV of $10.903 million) signed in September 2019. The Maple Leafs' fourth overall pick in 2015 scored 741 points (221 goals and 520 assists) in 657 games with the club.

He's fifth all-time on the franchise's points list (741 points in 657 games), fourth in assists (520), and fifth in the team's all-time playoff points (63 points in 70 postseason games).

"Leaving isn't easy. This city is where I grew up, where I fell in love with hockey, and where I've had the incredible honour of living out my childhood dream. Wearing the Maple Leaf on my chest wasn't just about playing for a team, it was about representing my home," Marner said in an Instagram post to Maple Leafs fans after joining Vegas.

'I Was Just Being Honest': Ryan Reaves Defends Advising Mitch Marner On Vegas While Still Technically With Maple LeafsWhen Mitch Marner made his first public comments as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, he mentioned speaking with former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Ryan Reaves and Max Pacioretty about their experiences with living arrangements in the city during the final weeks of June. This revelation upset some Maple Leafs fans, who felt Marner had been disengaged for weeks. While perhaps not as infuriated as they were upon discovering Marner spoke to current Vegas Golden Knights players in February while competing for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, fans were still displeased.

"When I was drafted, all I wanted was to help bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. That was always the goal, and came up short. I know how much this team means to this city, and I know the expectations that come with wearing this jersey. I gave everything I had, but in the end, it wasn't enough. That's hard to admit, because I wanted it so badly, for all of us."

In acquiring Roy, the Maple Leafs are getting a serviceable third-line center who'll add depth to Toronto's lineup. The 28-year-old, who's entering the fourth season of a five-year deal with an AAV of $3 million, scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 71 games with Vegas last season.

The Amos, Quebec-born forward has 32 points (10 goals and 22 assists) in 79 career playoff games with the Golden Knights. He also won the Stanley Cup with the club during the 2022-23 season, scoring three goals and eight assists in that span.

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Marner will face his former team for the first time in Vegas at T-Mobile Arena on January 15 before returning home to Toronto to go up against the Maple Leafs on January 23.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner Spotted Skating In Golden Knights Gear In Muskoka

(Top photo of Marner: @muskokahockey / Instagram)

When you look back at the history of Slovak hockey, elite goaltenders have been few and far between. There used to be a common joke: Slovakia had A-level forwards, B-level defensemen, and C-level goalies.

One notable exception during the Czechoslovak era was Vladimír Dzurilla. At the 1976 Canada Cup, he stole the show and stunned the North American audience by shutting down a roster of Canadian stars. Due to the Iron Curtain, he never got a chance in the NHL, but he was on their radar. Dzurilla collected medals at World Championships and Olympics, and to this day, many consider him the greatest Slovak goalie ever.

Breaking into the NHL wasn’t easy for Slovak netminders. Ján Lašák and Rastislav Staňa only had brief stints despite success in international play. Peter Budaj was the first to stick, carving out a solid career with the Colorado Avalanche and eventually backing up Jonathan Quick with the Los Angeles Kings. He ended with 368 NHL games and is now a respected goalie coach with the Anaheim Ducks.

But the biggest breakthrough came from the smallest guy.

Jaroslav Halák, listed at under six feet tall, was passed over repeatedly at the 2003 NHL Draft despite backstopping Slovakia to a surprise silver at the U-18 World Championship. NHL teams doubted his size. The Montreal Canadiens took a flyer on him in the ninth round and it paid off.

Fittingly, Halak learned of his selection while in line at a McDonald’s.

“They told me I could go in the second or third round,” Halák recalled. “I watched the first five rounds, didn’t hear my name, so I turned it off. Then I went to McDonald’s with some friends for ice cream before in-line hockey game. While I was in line, an unknown number from the U.S. called. It was my agent. He told me Montreal took me in the ninth round. I said thank you, hung up, and went back to my friends.”

From a young age, Halák was obsessed with goalie gear. What he called “knight’s armor.”

“I’ve wanted to be a goalie since I was three or four. Most kids dream of scoring goals, but I always wanted to stop them. I loved the equipment the pads, the mask, it was like a different world to me.”

Halak fought his way through Montreal’s system, eventually going toe-to-toe with the highly touted Carey Price. In 2010, Halák cemented his place in Habs lore with a magical playoff run. Splitting starts with Price, the Slovak stole the headlines and series against Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals, knocking out two Cup favorites with jaw-dropping performances.

Montreal’s Cinderella run ended in the conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, but Halák had already made his mark. The Canadiens chose to build around Price, trading Halák to the St. Louis Blues, where he formed a formidable tandem with Brian Elliott. Together, they captured the William M. Jennings Trophy, both as ninth-round picks.

Few sub-six-foot goalies have had Halák’s impact in the modern NHL after 2000s. His technique made him appear bigger than he actually was.

“He looks way taller than he is because he plays nearly upright, which no one else in the NHL does,” said Ján Lašák, Slovakia’s national team longtime goalie coach. “Most goalies crouch and stay low. Halák plays tall and challenges the shot. It’s unique.”

Halák didn’t have a personal goalie coach until he was 16. His development took off when he started working with Roland Melanson, who taught him to hold his stance longer and maximize his size in net. “There weren’t many goalie coaches back then,” he said. “The first one who really taught me to hold my stance and stay up as long as possible to look bigger was Roland Melanson. He worked with me during camps run by my agent, that was even before I got drafted by the Montreal Canadiens,“ Halák recalled.

Predicting Slovakia's 2026 Olympic roster By winning their group at the final round of qualifying this past weekend, the Slovaks have qualified for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

He spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Blues, never replicating his 2010 playoff magic, then had brief stops with the Buffalo Sabres and Washington before landing with the New York Islanders, where he had arguably the best stretch of his career.

In 2014–15, Halák became a fan favorite at Nassau Coliseum, setting a franchise record with 11 straight wins, earning an All-Star nod, and finishing the season with 38 victories, still an Isles single-season record. He led the Islanders to the playoffs, narrowly losing a seven-game series to Washington.

He also faced his toughest challenge there. Despite leading Team Europe to the final at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, playing lights-out for a roster cobbled together from Slovakia, Germany, and Switzerland, Halák found himself demoted in Brooklyn. Thomas Greiss took over the No. 1 job, Jean-François Bérubé was in the mix, and Halák was sent to the AHL at 31.

“That didn’t break me, it motivated me,” Halák said. “I wanted to prove I still belonged in the NHL.” And he did. Halák bounced back to reclaim the Isles’ crease the next season, then joined the Boston Bruins, where he formed a steady tandem with Tuukka Rask.

Ironically, his brilliant NHL career never translated to international medals, much like his compatriot Marián Hossa. Halak came closest at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, where Slovakia led Finland 3–1 in the bronze medal game after two periods, but fell apart in the third and lost 5–3.

“I still think about that game,” Halák admitted. “We took bad penalties, gave up a fluky goal — (Kimmo) Timonen just flung it from the blue line and it deflected in. That was the turning point. Like trying to stop an avalanche.”

Halák’s other great chance came in Boston’s run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in Game 7 to St. Louis, his former team. “You picture yourself lifting the Cup… and then it slips away,” he said.

He later had stints with the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, where he wrapped up his NHL career in 2022–23. He played just 25 games that year, but won seven straight starts a club record for a backup.

Halak finished with 295 career wins, five short of the 300 milestone that haunted him for two years. “I’ve come to terms with it,” he said. “Would’ve been nice to hit 300, but I’m proud of 295. It was a good career.”

He made one final push in the Carolina Hurricanes’ training camp in 2023, but refused an AHL assignment. That’s when he knew it was over.

Still, the numbers speak for themselves: 581 games, 295 wins, 53 shutouts, two Jennings Trophies. No Slovak goalie has come close.

Jaroslav Halák didn’t just overcome the odds, he redefined them. He’s remained humble throughout his career. Even today, if you ask him whether he’s the best goalie in Slovak hockey history, he just smiles and says: “I’ll let others decide that. I’m proud of what I achieved and the name I made for myself in the NHL. For an underestimated kid from (the Bratislava neighborhood of) Petržalka, I’d say that’s pretty good.”

Photo © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images.

Jaroslav Halák Officially Retires: “I’ll Never Wear The Pads Again” He hasn’t played a competitive hockey game in more than two years, but Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halák never officially ended his career … until now.

The television broadcast duo of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond have been an institution for multiple generations of Detroit Red Wings fans, and they're once again being recognized for their contributions to local broadcasts. 

In the latest survey conducted by The Athletic, Daniels and Redmond came in at No. 1 overall for the second consecutive season, clearly cementing their status as elites in their positions. 

No surprise here. 📺🙌 pic.twitter.com/MVjxtiZgzD

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 21, 2025

"It’s been a tough go for the Red Wings on the ice, and sometimes that can make life difficult for the broadcasters," authors Harman Dayal and James Mirtle wrote. "No matter how many times they miss the playoffs in Detroit, however, fans still love this duo, who have been together nearly 30 years now.....Fans praised this team’s ability to offer insights into opponents and the league in general, as well as their encyclopedic knowledge of the Red Wings."

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On the 1-5 scale that fans were asked to vote upon, Daniels and Redmond earned a 4.96 overall rating from local fans and a 3.83 rating among national fans. 

They've been in place together since the beginning of the 1997-98 NHL season, which was Detroit's first season as defending Stanley Cup champions since 1955-56. 

Redmond, the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a Red Wings uniform, has been a long-time color commentator for the Red Wings, working with the late Dave Strader for many years and seeing the rise of Detroit from a playoff contender to a yearly Stanley Cup juggernaut. 

Meanwhile, Daniels joined Detroit's broadcasts in 1997, and has remained as the lead play-by-play man ever since. He had previously worked for CBC Sports for over a decade.

While things haven't been the easiest for Daniels and Redmond given the struggles of the Red Wings that they've overseen in the last several years, they continue to deliver nothing short of professional, engaging and entertaining broadcasts that fans of the Red Wings and neutral fans alike enjoy. 

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Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Nathan Beaulieu has retired from professional hockey, as announced by the NHLPA.

Beaulieu, 32, was selected by the Canadiens with the 17th overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he played his first five NHL seasons with the Canadiens from 2012-13 to 2016-17, posting seven goals, 53 assists, 60 points, 152 penalty minutes, and a plus-19 rating in 225 games.

Congratulations to Nathan Beaulieu, who has officially announced his retirement from pro hockey 🏒⁰
Wishing the former first-round pick the best of luck in the future! pic.twitter.com/yYHEIxRy0j

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 23, 2025

Beaulieu's time with the Canadiens ended during the 2017 NHL off-season, as he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2017 third-round pick. From there, he had stints with the Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, and Anaheim Ducks. In 471 career NHL games over 11 seasons, he had 12 goals, 86 assists, 98 points, and a minus-14 rating. 

Beaulieu's last season in the NHL was in 2022-23 with the Ducks. He then played his final two professional seasons overseas. During the 2023-24 season, he played for Kloten HC of Switzerland's National League, where he had two assists and a minus-6 rating in 13 games. He then played eight games this past season with Barys Astana of the KHL, recording one assist, 12 penalty minutes, and a minus-5 rating. After being released by Barys Astana, he signed with HC Nove Zamky in Slovakia but did not play in a game for them due to injury trouble. 

Insider Shares Big Update On Canadiens Star Trade TargetThe Montreal Canadiens are one of the teams that have been connected to Calgary Flames star forward Nazem Kadri. It is easy to understand, as the Canadiens are in need of a second-line center, and acquiring Kadri would provide them with just that.

Photo Credit: © Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images

Entering the dog days of this NHL off-season, activity has slowed in the trade market. However, it hasn't kept Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson's name out of the rumor mill. 

The 26-year-old left winger became the subject of media trade gossip following the Stars' elimination from the 2025 Western Conference final.

Being a year away from RFA eligibility, pundits wondered if he would be moved to free up his $7.75-million cap hit to pursue a big-ticket player via the trade or free-agent markets.

Those rumors persisted despite subsequent reports claiming the Stars weren't peddling Robertson. If they intended to dump his salary to pursue a bigger star, the opportunity may have passed. The shallow free-agent pool quickly drained of talent, and trades involving notable players occurred weeks ago. 

The Stars became cap-compliant for this season by shipping defenseman Matt Dumba to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 10, putting them $1.085 million under the cap with 22 active roster players under contract. 

Still, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos has Robertson atop his latest off-season trade board. He wonders if the Stars will commit to signing him to a long-term extension.

Robertson has arbitration rights next summer, at which point he'll also be a year away from UFA eligibility. Kypreos believes the Stars prefer to avoid going down that path but pondered whether they'd be willing to pay him as much as teammate Mikko Rantanen, who signed a long-term deal worth $12 million annually earlier this year.

Kypreos' colleague, Ryan Dixon, noted that Robertson lacks no-trade protection, but moving a scorer of his caliber would still be a difficult task. While many teams would be interested, finding a trade partner willing to offer a suitable return with the cap space to re-sign him could prove challenging. 

Nevertheless, Dixon proposed seven potential trade partners, with the Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals leading the pack. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Seattle Kraken and Utah Mammoth rounded out his list.

The Hockey News’ Julian Gaudio said Robertson possesses the high-end skill the Kraken lack, and they have first-rounders and prospects to offer if Dallas wants those.

Stars GM Jim Nill could entertain offers for Robertson. Given his contract status and offensive value, he's in no rush to move him before next July. Jesse Courville-Lynch said the Kings should be all over trying to acquire Robertson if he becomes available, but they would need to move out salary to make room for him.

Robertson's role may have changed following the acquisition of Rantanen, but he remains their most reliable offensive forward, with 80 points in 82 games this past season. Nill can afford to let this season play out and see how his club performs before seriously considering trade opportunities for Robertson.

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A former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is heading overseas.

HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga has announced that they have signed former Penguins defenseman John Ludvig.

Ludvig played this past season with the Colorado Avalanche, where he recorded two assists, 16 hits, and a minus-4 rating in eight games. He spent the majority of the campaign down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Colorado Eagles, however, posting one goal, 12 points, 20 penalty minutes, and a plus-5 rating in 31 games.

Ludvig spent the 2023-24 season with the Penguins organization, splitting time between the NHL and AHL. In 33 games with Pittsburgh that campaign, he recorded three goals, two assists, 47 penalty minutes, 72 hits, and a minus-12 rating. The 6-foot-3 blueliner also recorded zero points and a minus-2 rating in four games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2023-24. 

Ludvig's time with the Penguins ended when he was claimed off waivers by the Avalanche before the start of the 2024-25 season. 

Report: Oilers Tried To Acquire New Penguins GoalieThe Pittsburgh Penguins made an interesting trade earlier this month, acquiring goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks. With the Canucks having goalies Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen locked up long-term, it ultimately made sense that they decided to move on from Silovs. There was just no room for him on Vancouver's roster.

Photo Credit:  © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images