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. 

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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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Feature Image Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images

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.

Apple Podcasts

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Amazon

Promo photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames are next up in The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings.

As we count down the NHL teams based on who improved, stayed the same or got worse this off-season, we’re analyzing additions and departures, including any hirings and firings.

Catch up on the full rankings to date after seeing why the Flames are ranked 28th.

Additions

Ivan Prosvetov (G), Nick Cicek (D)

The Breakdown: The Flames finished tied with the St. Louis Blues for the final  Stanley Cup wild-card berth this past season, but the tiebreakers did not work in Calgary’s favor, so they missed out on the playoffs for the third straight season and the fourth time in the past five years.

Judging by the distinct lack of additions Calgary GM Craig Conroy made to this point, you’d have to believe this team is capable of doing more with less – or more with the same. And we don’t share that opinion. Most, if not all, of the Pacific Division teams made notable moves this summer, but Calgary can’t say the same thing.

When the Flames’ additions were Cicek, a depth defenseman who hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, and Prosvetov, a potential backup goalie who played in the KHL this past season and mainly in the AHL before that, there’s simply not enough there to say there’s an improvement.

Departures

Anthony Mantha (RW), Kevin Rooney (C), Dan Vladar (G), Tyson Barrie (D)

The Breakdown: Losing Mantha isn’t a big deal, as the veteran winger posted only four goals and seven points in 13 games before getting injured. Similarly, Rooney put up only five goals and 10 points in 70 games with the Flames, and Vladar had an .898 SP in 30 appearances. Barrie played 24 games between the Flames and AHL Wranglers combined.

Of the departures, Vladar’s may hurt the most, since he eased the workload for rookie Dustin Wolf and provided some veteran experience. Calgary now has Wolf as the sophomore No. 1 and either Devin Cooley or Prosvetov as his backup. 

Conroy will lean on Flames youngsters to improve rather than adding experienced hands to secure a playoff spot. Conroy didn’t lose much off the main roster, but the lack of meaningful additions stands out more than Calgary’s departures.

The Bottom Line

The lack of notable moves by Conroy tells us one of two things: either he expects his team to squeeze out a few more standings points and secure a wild-card berth, or he’s got big moves to make in terms of trading veterans – mostly likely defenseman Rasmus Andersson. 

Andersson enters the final year of his contract before he becomes a UFA next summer. He is a terrific bargain at just a $4.55-million cap hit, making him an easy fit into a true Cup contender’s salary structure. Center Nazem Kadri has also come up in trade speculation but not reports. He’s still got four years left on his contract, and the Flames have him as their No. 1 center.

In any case, if Conroy stands pat with the roster he has in late July, the Flames don’t have the quality depth to hang with the powerhouses in the relatively weak Pacific. Gambling on his youngsters is certainly a tactic, but it’s not guaranteed to pay off with positive results. If it doesn’t, the Flames could once again be in the mushy middle of the league – not good enough to be a playoff team and not terrible enough to land a difference-making young player at the top of the next draft.

It’s easy to see, then, why Flames fans would be frustrated with Calgary’s current competitive philosophy. They nearly lucked into a playoff spot last season, but they likely would’ve been post-season roadkill even if they did beat out the Blues for the final wild-card berth. This year could go south for them if Wolf doesn’t stand on his head and steal games the way he did in 2024-25. 

From our perspective, the lack of moves Calgary made – a baffling choice, given they still have $15.4 million in cap space – means a step back could be coming for the franchise. The only positive route from that is taking an even bigger step back than expected and getting a high draft pick.

Summer Splash Rankings

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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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.

The Kings were listed alongside the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Mammoth as the seven potential trade destinations. 

Robertson, who is 25 years old, is in the final season of his current contract that has a $7,750,000 cap hit. Last season, he scored 35 goals and added 45 assists for 80 points through 82 games, which comes out to a 0.98 points-per-game average. He's also from California, making this fit make sense.

The Kings have $6,768,33 in cap space right now, according to PuckPedia, and don't need to move much out in terms of money to bring him in. However, the asking price is likely quite high. They would have to be willing to part with at least one first-round pick and a prospect, and the Dallas Stars would likely want an NHL-ready player as well.

Time will tell if the Stars end up re-signing Robertson or if they decide to trade him, but if the Kings have a chance to land him and he's interested in extending long-term, they should be all over trying to acquire him.

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: Kings' Kopitar Believed To Be Entering Final NHL SeasonThe Los Angeles Kings have made some changes to their roster this offseason, and one thing that fans have been waiting for is a potential extension for long-time forward Anze Kopitar. Report: Kings' Adrian Kempe Asking Price On Next Contract RevealedThe Los Angeles Kings will soon have to focus on trying to re-sign forward Adrian Kempe, and while there is no indication he has any interest in leaving the organization, his asking price was revealed in a recent report from The Fourth Period, and the two sides are expected to ramp up contract talks soon.

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.

We kicked off the process with an analysis of the Boston Bruins, and on Sunday, we focused on the Detroit Red Wings. In today's file, we're putting the back-to-back Cup-champion Florida Panthers under the spotlight.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS

NEW PANTHERS PLAYERS: Jeff Petry, D; Daniil Tarasov, G

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-2-1, Panthers 3-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  October 18, at Buffalo; January 12 at Buffalo; February 2 at Florida; February 27 at Florida

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Panthers weren't the best regular-season team in the Atlantic last year -- that would be the Toronto Maple Leafs -- but Florida dominated the Sabres, winning by a combined seven-goal total in two of their three victories over Buffalo. And had the Sabres beaten the odds and qualified for the 2025 post-season, does anyone really believe Buffalo would've been anything other than roadkill against a Panthers team that ate up every opponent they faced? No, we didn't think so. 

That's why we believe the Sabres aren't going to have much hope against Florida this coming season. The Panthers managed to hold onto all three key UFA veterans they had to address this summer -- center Sam Bennett, winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad all re-signed at relative bargains, giving Florida's Atlantic rivals a sobering dose of reality as they all try to envision a year in which the Panthers aren't once again world-beaters.

Now, there are some different small elements that have changed for Florida. With the departure of veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt to Utah, Panthers GM Bill Zito went out and signed veteran Petry away from the Detroit Red Wings. The 37-year-old Petry may not have much left in the tank, but we have to defer to Zito's strengths as an asset-acquisition specialist and predict Petry will fit right in as a third-pair option who can chip in with a bit of offense.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Can Buffalo Beat The Playoff-Desperate Detroit Red Wings?The Buffalo Sabres have completed most of their off-season moves this summer. We've examined the most-likely trade partners for Buffalo, and in this file, we're continuing our new THN.com series "Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition". In this series, we're breaking down the Sabres' seven Atlantic Division rivals, focusing on what changes those seven teams have made, Buffalo's record against them last season, their games against each other this coming year, and our opinion of whether the team is one the Sabres should be beating next year.

Another difference for the Panthers is the addition of goalie Tarasov. The 26-year-old had poor numbers in Columbus last season (including an .881 save percentage and 3.54 goals-against average in 20 appearances), but something funny happens to goalies when they play behind Florida's relentless backcheck and their pressure in all zones -- those goalies almost always get better. And with star Sergei Bobrovsky entering the final year of his contract, we expect Bobrovsky is going to play the bulk of the games yet again.

The Panthers may be without star winger Matthew Tkachuk for a long stretch of the begininng of the regular-season, and the Sabres have one of their first games against Florida when they'll be without Tkachuk. So the Sabres need to make the most of that opportunity -- and brace themselves for the three games they've got against the Panthers from January through the rest of the regular season. By that point, Zito will probably have made his team even stronger, and that could be bad news for the Sabres down the stretch.

Unfortunately for Buffalo fans, not enough has improved on the Sabres end and nothing has declined on the Panthers end to give us an inkling that Buffalo is going to change the head-to-head battles we saw between the two teams this past season. The Panthers weren't the best regular-season team in the league last year, and we suppose that will give the Sabres some motivation to win early against them. But when both teams are at full strength, Buffalo pales in comparison to what Florida has to offer.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: How Will Buffalo Do Against The Boston Bruins?The Buffalo Sabres have made most, if. not all of their off-season moves. And before we get around to making our pre-season predictions as is custom at THN.com, we're going to take a different approach to our picks this time around. Instead of just giving you all the picks at once, we're going to break things down for the Sabres by looking into who their divisional opponents will be next season -- and why that contributes to them either making, or missing, the Stanley Cup playoffs.

We're not saying the Sabres have zero chance at winning a game or two against the Panthers. The NHL is an any-team-can-win-at-any-point type of league, but on paper, at least, Florida has too much talent and too much veteran knowhow for Buffalo to reliably beat. 

If the Sabres do make the playoffs, they'll have to beat lesser teams than the Panthers. Because the way Florida is contstructed, Buffalo simply doesn't compare to the Panthers.

Hockey Canada has announced its coaching and support staff for the 2026 Winter Olympics and there's some love for Ottawa in the mix.

The Senators will be represented by John Forget, their Head Equipment Manager, and Dom Nicoletta, their Head Athletic Therapist. They'll both join Team Canada in their pursuit of this country's first Olympic men's hockey gold in 11 years.

Forget and Nicoletta are no strangers to international competition. Forget will be on his seventh assignment with Team Canada, including five appearances at the IIHF Men's World Championship. He’s earned two gold medals and one silver during those tournaments.

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Nicoletta has donned the red leaf on four occasions, including three Worlds. He's the guy who's sometimes known to Sens fans as the bearer of bad news. When a Sens player goes down the tunnel with injury, the TV cameras frequently catch Nicoletta coming out from the room and whispering news about the player's status/diagnosis into the coach's ear.

He and Forget helped Canada claim gold in 2021 and secure a silver medal in 2019. Most recently, the pair were part of the off-ice crew that helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off this past February.

#Sens fans join us in congratulating Head Athletic Therapist Dom Nicoletta and Head Equipment Manager John Forget on winning the #4Nations trophy with @HockeyCanada last night 🙌#GoSensGo 🤝 #4Nationspic.twitter.com/8KBjdzrXJx

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 21, 2025

But this will be the first Olympic Games for both Forget and Nicoletta, giving them a shot at not only adding an Olympic medal, but also a chance to enjoy all the things that make the games special – the Olympic Village, the other sports, and of course, the opening and closing ceremonies.

They're not likely to be joined in Italy by any of the Sens' Canadian players, but they will be joined at the Games by Senators forwards Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle, who are set to represent the U.S. and Germany, respectively. All countries unveiled the first six players for their preliminary rosters last month, and both players made the top six. The other players will be named later this year.

Other Senators who might make their way to the Olympics include Jake Sanderson (USA), Nik Matinpalo and Leevi Merilainen (FIN), Linus Ullmark (SWE) and Lars Eller (DEN).

Basically, Hockey Canada declared on Monday they're sticking with what's working because not a lot has in recent years. They did win at the 4 Nations Face-off in February, so they're running it back with the same coaching and support staff this coming February.

From Hockey Canada:

Assistant coaches Bruce Cassidy (Ottawa, ON / Vegas, NHL), Peter DeBoer (Dunnville, ON) and Rick Tocchet (Scarborough, ON / Philadelphia, NHL), assistant coach and eye-in-the-sky Misha Donskov (London, ON), consultant David Alexander (Moncton, NB / St. Louis, NHL), director of performance analysis James Emery (Calgary, AB) and video coordinator Elliott Mondou (Grand-Mère, QC/St. Louis, NHL) have been named to the coaching staff alongside Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC / Tampa Bay, NHL), who was named head coach for the 2026 Olympics last June.

The coaching staff was selected by Cooper, general manager Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON / St. Louis, NHL), assistant general managers Julien BriseBois (Greenfield Park, QC / Tampa Bay, NHL), Jim Nill (Hanna, AB / Dallas, NHL) and Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB / Boston, NHL), and director of player personnel Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie, ON / Pittsburgh, NHL).

There are plenty of Ottawa 67's ties as well. Cassidy starred for the 67's back in the 80's. Donskov is a former 67's associate coach. And the club's current Head of Athlete Performance & Strength and Conditioning, Sean Young, was also named to Canada's staff.

Big news! Sean Young, our Head of Athlete Performance & Strength and Conditioning, has been named to the staff of the 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey Team! 🇨🇦

Congratulations, Younger - @TeamCanada is lucky to have you! 🏒

🔗 https://t.co/j2Cil0qp4Vpic.twitter.com/iMEckXrL2f

— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) July 21, 2025

Here's the full list of Canada's support staff from Hockey Canada:

• Sport physiotherapist Kent Kobelka (Revelstoke, BC/Calgary, NHL)
• Athletic therapist Domenic Nicoletta (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Ottawa, NHL)
• Massage therapists Marcin Goszczynski (Calgary, AB) and Andy Hüppi (Schmerikon, SUI)
• Team physician Dr. Ian Auld (Victoria, BC/Calgary, NHL)
• Equipment managers John Forget (Oshawa, ON/Ottawa, NHL) and Darren Granger (Brandon, MB/Los Angeles, NHL)
• Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, ON/Ottawa, OHL)
• Mental performance consultant Dr. Ryan Hamilton (Fredericton, NB/Tampa Bay, NHL)
• Hockey operations managers Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB) and Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, MB)
• Hockey operations coordinator Miah Armitage (Creston, BC)
• Media relations vice-president Sean Kelso (Vancouver, BC/Calgary, NHL)
• Media relations manager Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, ON)

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

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Jan 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Former Nashville Predators players defenseman Shea Weber, goalie Pekka Rivne (35) and General Manager David Poiledo a ceremonial puck drop with Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones (4) as part of the Gold Jacket presentation , at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Shea Weber spent 11 seasons with the Nashville Predators during his NHL career, and one would be hard-pressed to come up with enough adjectives to describe his accomplishments.

The accolades he has received recently certainly speak for themselves. After being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last November, the former Preds captain was inducted into the inaugural class of the Predators Golden Hall.

Over the weekend, Weber received his third entry into a Hall this past year after being officially inducted as a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in Nashville. He was one of 20 members inducted into this year’s class after an official announcement was made back in April.

Mike Maguire, a longtime friend of Weber was in attendance at the ceremony and accepted the honor on Weber’s behalf.

“Shea Weber exemplifies the grit, leadership, and dedication that define a true champion," Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, said in a statement. “From his years as the backbone of the Nashville Predators to his impact on the sport of hockey as a whole, Shea has left a lasting legacy in Tennessee. We are honored to welcome him to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.”

Weber joins former Predators teammates Pekka Rinne, Mike Fisher and David Legwand as TSHF members, along with former GM David Poile and team broadcaster Terry Crisp.

In 20 NHL seasons, Weber played in 1,038 regular-season games, totaling 589 points (224-365-589). In 97 playoff contests, he recorded 42 points (18-24-42).

Weber spent six of his 11 seasons with the Predators as their captain, and quickly established himself as an elite right-shot two-way defenseman. In 2016, he captured the Mark Messier Leadership Award and finished twice as the runner-up for the Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top blueliner.

Weber’s reputation as a hard shooter was well-earned. He took home NHL Hardest Shot Competition honors four times, including three consecutive years from 2015-17. One topped out at 108.5 miles an hour.

The seven-time NHL All-Star also won gold twice with Team Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.

Weber was taken as the 49th overall pick by the Predators in the 2003 NHL Draft. It was fitting that the draft was held in Nashville that year. After 11 seasons with the Predators, Weber was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in late June of 2016 for P.K. Subban.

Norwegian forward Mathias Emilio Pettersen, 25, has signed a two-year contract with Djurgården IF, the Stockholm-based SHL club announced on Monday.

“I’m super excited to play the next two years with Djurgården,” Pettersen is quoted in the club’s announcement. “I’m incredibly excited to play in front of a packed Hovet (the team’s home rink) and the best fans in all of hockey.”

For Pettersen, this marks a return to Europe after playing overseas since 2014.

“He has come a long way in North America with college hockey and a number of years in the AHL,” said Djurgården GM Niklas Wikegård. “Emilio is already very talented, but we believe we can make him even better.”

Pettersen was born in Manglerud, Norway but at the age of 14, went overseas to play youth hockey in Connecticut. He then spent two seasons in the USHL and was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round, 167th overall, in 2018. That was followed by two years at the University of Denver.

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.

Between 2020 and 2025, the 5-foot-10, 178-pound Pettersen played 322 AHL regular-season and playoff games for the Stockton Heat, Calgary Wranglers and Texas Stars, recording 164 points and 144 penalty minutes. In 2024, he was traded by the Flames to the Dallas Stars for Riley Damiani, but the only NHL games he played for either organization were in the preseason.

Internationally, Pettersen has represented Norway at two IIHF U-18 World Championships and one World Junior Championship – all at the Division I Group A level – and at two senior-elite-level World Championships. 

Pettersen joins a Djurgården team that was just promoted to the SHL from the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan but is trying to build a competitive roster. The team will notably feature two 18-year-old forwards who were chosen in the first round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft – Victor Eklund and Anton Frondell.

In addition to Pettersen, Eklund and Frondell, Djurgården’s lineup for the upcoming season will also include veteran center Marcus Krüger, who was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Finnish right winger Jesse Ylönen, Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, and Swedish goaltender Magnus Hellberg.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images.

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.