Jun 3, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) during the third period in game three of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

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Jul 17, 2017/vol. 71, issue 01

GAME 3

BRIDGESTONE ARENA JUNE 3, 2017

THE FLOODGATES OPENED for the Penguins 10 seconds into the third period of Game 2 when Bryan Rust put a shot off Pekka Rinne’s pad, with the rebound coming out to Jake Guentzel, who scored to put Pittsburgh ahead for good.

After the game, the Penguins almost bragged about it being a set play, one they work on all the time.

Fast-forward three long, agonizing days for Rinne, with his team ahead 2-1 and the Pens pressing in Game 3. This time it was Phil Kessel who directed one off Rinne’s pad right to Chris Kunitz, but Rinne was ready for the rebound and robbed Kunitz, prompting P.K. Subban to get really excited and say a very bad word.

Neither Rinne nor Subban would reveal exactly what was said. At least Subban didn’t get close enough for Rinne to smell his breath.

According to Subban, Sidney Crosby pointed out that it was offensive.

“When guys chirp after the game or during the game, it’s usually about your game or something personal, but he went on to tell me that my breath smelled bad,” Subban said. “I really don’t understand why, because I used Listerine before the game, so I thought my breath smelled great.”

Rinne stepped up for his teammate’s sense of oral hygiene.

“He’s a classy guy,” Rinne said. “He flosses every day.”

For the third straight game, the Preds were indisputably the superior team on the ice. The differences in Game 3 were that Rinne was much, much better, they had some bounces go their way, and coach Peter Laviolette’s lineup changes had the desired effect.

Of more importance to the Penguins was the fact their three best offensive players – Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kessel – were rendered impotent. Crosby and Malkin didn’t have a shot between them.

When you're born and raised in Hockeytown, your first NHL game at Little Caesars Arena should be a cherished memory. But by the time Frank Nazar checked that box in January 2025 with a 5-3 Chicago Blackhawks loss to the Detroit Red Wings, he was already a grizzled vet at that barn. “I played a pre-season game, a few college games – actually scored my first college goal at Little Caesars,” he said. “Every time I play there, it’s a blast. I always have, like, 100 family members, so that makes it a lot of fun. It’s great.”

Until he turned pro with the Blackhawks in April of 2024, Nazar had always stuck to his home state. He played with Detroit’s famed Honeybaked youth program, then developed in Plymouth with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program before shifting to Ann Arbor for two seasons at NCAA Michigan.

But it was a positional shift that may have had the biggest impact on Nazar’s development. Young players often move from center to the wing as they reach higher levels. Naturally speedy and somewhat undersized, Nazar went the other way – pining to play in the middle before finally getting his chance in his age-17 season. “I had asked my coaches my whole life, ‘Put me at center,’ and they always told me ‘No, you’re wing,” he said. “Finally, my first year at the NTDP, I started off as a wing, and I was not doing well at all. Actually, I was pretty horrible, I’m not going to lie. Then we had a bunch of guys get sick with COVID, and we needed a center. I told the coach, ‘Hey, put me at center.’ I was joking with him, and he’s like, ‘All right, we’ll see.’ He put me at center, and I had an amazing game and never looked back from there.”

"I think it was really, really good for my development."

- Frank Nazar on his AHL time with coach Anders Sorensen

It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. By the end of 2020-21, Nazar was the leading scorer on a U-17 squad that also included talents such as Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier and Lane Hutson. He finished third on the U-18 squad in 2021-22, and that June, the Blackhawks picked him 13th overall.

Though Nazar missed the first four months of his freshman NCAA season due to injury, his Wolverines reached the Frozen Four in both of his college years. He, along with many of his NTDP mates, won his first international gold medal at the 2024 world juniors. Then, in April, he scored his first NHL goal in his pro debut against the Carolina Hurricanes.

This was no ordinary Stanley Cup run, this was a Rat Race! 🐀

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Last fall, Nazar was assigned to AHL Rockford to learn the pro game. Playing big minutes in a first-line center role, he thrived under longtime IceHogs coach Anders Sorensen. “He allowed me to just go out there and play my game, playing all types of situations,” Nazar said. “He let me be free, as well, in creating plays and making plays and having fun out there. He let me be free in that regard, and I think it was really, really good for my development.”

When Sorensen was summoned to Chicago to replace Luke Richardson Dec. 5, Nazar followed a week later, and he never looked back. “I texted him congratulations, and he texted me right after: ‘It was a great time in Rockford’ – stuff like that – and ‘we’ll see you soon,’” Nazar said. “It was really cool to see him say something like that, and I know that he knows what I bring to the table.”

Though he managed just one point in his first 10 games after his call-up, Nazar picked up the pace from there. From Jan. 5 to the end of the season, he logged 25 points in 43 games, including five goals and nine points in Chicago’s last nine games, while playing second-line center behind Connor Bedard.

"I had an amazing game and never looked back from there."

- Frank Nazar on getting a chance to play center

Brimming with confidence and looking to play more hockey, he accepted the invitation to play at the men’s worlds for the first time, and he shone. He was named one of the United States’ top three players and tied his NTDP running mate Cooley for the team lead with 12 points in 10 games as the Americans snapped a gold-medal drought that stretched all the way back to 1933.

And while the Blackhawks may have struggled to put wins together last season, Nazar is a glass-half-full guy. He appreciates the historic moments that were part of his rookie season: the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, Alex Ovechkin’s record-tying goal against the Blackhawks in April and the final NHL games for newly retired teammates Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez.

With Jeff Blashill now installed behind the Chicago bench, next season is a clean slate for the team. “I know that every player,” Nazar said, “is going into the summer with a point to prove.”

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The final moments of this year’s Stanley Cup Final were quite different than the previous year.

In 2024, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers were fighting tooth and nail in the third period of a one-goal game in Game 7, so the intensity level on the Cats’ bench was likely at an all-time high.

It wasn’t until literally the final seconds ticked off the clock that the Panthers could begin celebrating.

For a reminder of how Game 7 ended last June, check out the video below: 

This year, while the teams remained the same, the ending to the Final was quite different.

While the Panthers were back on home ice, this time it was Game 6.

The series that had started out with a pair of overtime thrillers had shifted in Florida’s favor.

After leaving Edmonton with a two-game split to open the Final, the Panthers went on to win their next three games by a combined score of 16-4. Their only defeat, a 5-4 overtime loss in Game 4, saw the Oilers mount a furious comeback after Florida went up 3-0 early.

As it turned out, Game 6 was the most Panther-dominated night of the Final.

Florida was up 2-0 after one, 3-0 after two and held a four-goal lead with five minutes to go.

There was no last-minute drama this time. No nail biting, no hand wringing. Just a countdown to when the party would start.

Earlier this week, the Panthers continued their streak of putting out some extremely cool championship content by posting footage showing Florida’s bench as the final minute ticked away during Game 6.

With the game long decided, it shows the players, seemingly in their own time, allowing themselves to come to grips with winning the Stanley Cup.

You can check out the video below:

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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; The Florida Panthers celebrate in the final seconds of game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The roster that the Czechs have brought to a four-team summer tournament in Vierumäki, Finland includes 10 players who have been drafted by NHL teams, including defenseman Radim Mrtka, who as taken ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres this summer.

The roster also includes defenseman Vladimír Dravecký and winger Adam Novotný, both late-2007-born players who will be eligible to be drafted for the first time in 2026. It does not include any 2008-born players, such as winger Šimon Katolický, who are still eligible to play U-18 hockey and are preparing for this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The Czechs lost their opening game on Sunday, 3-2 in overtime to Finland A. They play Finland B on Monday. Then, after the Finns depart overseas for the World Junior Summer Showcase, the Czechs and Swiss will play two more head-to-head games in Finland before heading home.

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.

Goaltenders: Adam Ebenstreit (Slavia Praha), Jakub Milota (Cape Breton, QMJHL – Nashville Predators), Ondřej Štěbeták (Portland, WHL).

Defensemen: Tomáš Galvas (Liberec), Martin Švec (Pardubice), Pavel Průšek (Třinec), Jan Skok (Škoda Plzeň), Marek Chaloupka, Matyáš Man (both Vítkovice), Jakub Fibigr (Brampton, OHL – Seattle Kraken), Max Pšenička (Portland, WHL – Utah Mammoth), Vladimír Dravecký (Rögle, SWE), Radim Mrtka (Seattle, WHL – Buffalo Sabres). 

Forwards: Štěpán Hoch (České Budějovice – Utah Mammoth), Vojtěch Čihař (Karlovy Vary – Los Angeles Kings), Petr Sikora (Třinec – Washington Capitals), Matěj Kubiesa (Třinec), Adam Novotný (Peterborough, OHL), Oskar Lisler (Kladno), Adam Jecho (Edmonton, WHL – St. Louis Blues), Ondřej Kos (Ilves Tampere, FIN – St. Louis Blues), Vít Záhejský (Kamloops, WHL), Tomáš Poletín (Pelicans Lahti, FIN – New York Islanders), Václav Nestrašil (Muskegon, USHL – Chicago Blackhawks), Richard Žemlička (SaiPa Lappeenranta, FIN), Jiří Klíma (Shawinigan, QMJHL), Adam Titlbach (Vancouver, WHL), Samuel Drančák (Red Deer, WHL).

Team Staff:

Manager: Otakar Černý. Head Coach: Patrik Augusta. Assistant Coaches: Robert Reichel, Pavel Trnka. Goaltending coach: Martin Láska.

Photo by Martin Voltr.

Kings 2nd-Round Draft Pick Contemplates Staying In Czechia Or Moving Overseas Czech left winger Vojtěch Čihař, who turned 18 in March, was drafted in the second round, 59th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, which happened to be in Los Angeles. Czech Petr Sikora: “It’s A Charley Horse – I Got Hit In The Thigh” By BeaudoinWhile Canadian hockey fans suffered through a near-existential crisis on Thursday during Canada’s 4-3 loss to Czechia in the IIHF World Junior Championship quarterfinals, one of the outlets for their anger and frustration – in addition to referees, coaches and Hockey Canada itself – was Czech center Petr Sikora. Czech Club Disappointed By Adam Novotný’s Decision To Go To OHL Czech winger Adam Novotný, who turns 17 in November, is currently projected by most sources to be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Slovaks react to Vladimír Dravecký Jr playing for CzechiaWhen Czechia announced its 24-man roster for this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Thursday, the player that received the most attention was 16-year-old Vladimír Dravecký Jr – a dual Czech-American citizen with Slovak parents who will be eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Star rookie Matvei Michkov took flight for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, but he wasn't able to adapt and do it all on his own.

Some of that responsibility was left up to Flyers European player development and scouting consultant Oleg Znarok, a four-time KHL coach of the year and Olympic Gold medalist as the head coach of the Olympic Athletes of Russia.

Znarok, 62, has worked with many of the NHL's Russian stars before Michkov and the Flyers, including Ilya Kovalchuk, Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin, Kirill Kaprizov, and Pavel Datsyuk, who all featured on that 2017-18 Olympic Gold team.

In a recent interview with ЛЁД (Translated: Ice) Special, Michkov took a moment to praise Znarok and his work with him thus far, and offered a little insight into what Znarok contributes to the Flyers.

"Oleg Valerievich is a separate story. He is a very legendary person, a great one. And you should always listen to him, because he is a person with a lot of experience," Michkov said of Znarok.

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"He has been through a lot and, of course, helps the players a lot and gives advice in different moments. And we are talking not only about hockey now, but also in life. He works with European players, including Russian ones."

At the time of this writing, the three-time KHL Gagarin Cup winner is still listed in his consultative role on the Flyers' staff directory, which would indicate that the veteran bench boss will reprise his role overseeing Michkov and the other foreign players for at least another season.

"He is in the locker room, constantly in this kitchen, and knows everything about everyone," added Michkov.

Znarok, like Michkov, will be dealing with some change in the locker room this year, too, at least as it relates to the people he'll have to work with every day.

New head coach Rick Tocchet will be the third head coach the two have dealt with at the NHL level, at least if ex-interim head coach Brad Shaw is included in that equation.

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But that's partly why Znarok is here, right? To be around the group and provide stability and mentorship to Michkov, Egor Zamula, Ivan Fedotov, and other European players.

And, according to Michkov, Znarok's appointment has been a big positive so far.

After being acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Winnipeg Jets last off-season, Rutger McGroarty signed his entry-level contract with the Metropolitan Division club. The 2022 first-round pick appeared in his first eight NHL games last season with Pittsburgh, where he had one goal, three points, and 12 hits. All three of his points came across his final four NHL appearances with the Penguins in April, so he ended the year on a high note. 

However, McGroarty spent the majority of the 2024-25 season down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Overall, the 21-year-old forward showed promise with the AHL squad, recording 14 goals, 25 assists, and 36 points in 60 games.

McGroarty had a nice start to his professional career, and there is no question that he is a clear breakout candidate heading into next season. The 6-foot-1 winger has all the tools to emerge as a legitimate top-six forward, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if we see his offense improve at the NHL level with Pittsburgh next season because of it. 

McGroarty should also be put into a position to succeed. When looking at the Penguins' current roster, there is a real chance that he could get a chance in their top six and on their power play. Yet, even if he has a top-nine role with the Penguins, the prospect of him giving them some much-needed secondary offensive production should not be ruled out.

It will be fascinating to see what kind of season McGroarty can put together in 2025-26 from here, but it is hard not to feel excited about the youngster's future.  

Penguins Still Have Big Roster Need To AddressThe Pittsburgh Penguins have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Some of the players they brought in this summer include Anthony Mantha, Matt Dumba, Justin Brazeau, Arturs Silovs, Connor Clifton, and Parker Wotherspoon. Overall, the Penguins have added to their depth so far this 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

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

It was a difficult decision to cut Sidorov from the list and rank Gaucher in the tenth spot. Ultimately, it came down to path and projectability. Based on his position demand, brand of hockey, and draft pedigree. It’s a near-certainty that Gaucher will play NHL games, likely well over 100, in his career, beginning within the next couple of seasons. Though having shown more electricity and offensive upside to this point in their careers, the same cannot be said for Sidorov.

Gaucher is a straight-line, tenacious, and defensively detailed right-shot center who plays a heavy brand and is difficult to play against on a shift-by-shift basis. He’s an explosive skater, which he uses to cover a great amount of ice to eliminate time and space, whether that’s in defensive zone coverage, on the backcheck in the neutral zone, or on the forecheck in the offensive zone.

He utilizes his 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame to establish body position, protect pucks, and bully his way to the front of the opposing crease.

The Ducks selected Gaucher (22nd overall in 2022) in the first round of the 2022 draft, Pat Verbeek’s first draft as GM of the franchise, with a pick acquired in the trade of Hampus Lindholm to the Boston Bruins at the 2022 trade deadline.

Before his pro career, and in his four seasons playing in the CHL for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, he scored 158 points (80-78=158) in 199 regular season games and added 29 (11-18=29) in 36 playoff games, en route to QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships in 2023.

He won two World Junior Championship gold medals with Canada in 2022 and 2023, playing a shutdown, checking role and totaling six points (2-4=6) in 14 games between the two tournaments.

Offense has not been easy to come by since beginning his professional career in 2023-24 as a member of the San Diego Gulls, as he’s only produced 44 points (18-26=44) in 128 AHL games over the last two seasons. He is, however, making his trademark 200-foot impact on every game, and he quickly found his “B-game” when failing to find scoresheets.

“Nathan has had to deal with a couple of really important injuries that have set him back a little bit since we drafted him. And unfortunately, he hurt himself right before camp, so it took him a while to get going this year because of that,” Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden told The Hockey News: Anaheim Ducks, when asked about Gaucher’s progression. “And then, unfortunately, ended the season with injury as well.

“But he grew a lot in terms of his confidence with the puck, offensively. Overall, his offensive play grew as he gained confidence, establishing himself as a hard player to play against on the defensive side. They were using him in a checking role, PK. But as the season went on, his skating got better and better, and I think that helped with time and space, so he had more confidence in his hands. He had more confidence to look around and make plays.”

The offense was coming around for Gaucher toward the final stretch of the 2024-25 season, as he scored 11 points (5-6=11) in his final 12 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Unfortunately, Gaucher bookended his 2024-25 campaign with injuries: first, he missed a significant percentage of rookie and training camps with a lower body injury, and then sustained the aforementioned shoulder injury to end his season, requiring surgery.

He was given an estimated recovery time of 4-6 months after sustaining the injury in March and is expected to be fully healthy by rookie and training camps in September.

It’s plausible to believe Gaucher will rediscover what made him offensively successful at the end of last season, compound it with his defensive prowess, and hit the ground running in 2025-26, which will be his third season in the AHL. If he can continue to polish his two-way game and explore the reaches of his offensive capabilities, he will likely be playing NHL games within the next two seasons.

Projecting Future Extensions for Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier

Ducks Sign Clang, Myšák to One-Year Deals

Ducks Prospect Uljanskis Chooses CHL for 2025-26 Season

Photo Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

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.

Most of the A-team has already been drafted by NHL teams, including forwards Kosta Helenius and Emil Hemming, who were first-round picks in 2024 and have both already been signed by the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars, respectively. Both played for Finland in last year's World Juniors and are locks to make it again. 

Presumably, the Finns will take the players that impress them the most from these two games to Minnesota, with the A-team presumably supplying most or all of the squad.

A-Team:

Goaltenders: 1 Saarinen Kim, HPK Hämeenlinna – Seattle Kraken 30 Rimpinen Petteri, Kiekko-Espoo – Los Angeles Kings

Defensemen:  2 Jokinen Mitja, TPS Turku 3 Kiviharju Aron, HIFK Helsinki – Minnesota Wild 4 Nykyri Niklas, HIFK Helsinki 5 Muhonen Niilopekka, Medicine Hat Tigers WHL – Dallas Stars 6 Soini Sebastian, Ilves Tampere – Minnesota Wild 7 Nieminen Daniel, Pelicans Lahti – Nashville Predators 13 Väisänen Veeti, Medicine Hat Tigers WHL – Utah Mammoth 25 Boelius Lasse, Ässät Pori – Anaheim Ducks

Forwards:  8 Kettunen Anton, Pelicans Lahti 9 Koivu Aatos, TPS Turku – Montreal Canadiens 10 Pulkkanen Akseli, KalPa Kuopio 11 Kalto Onni, TPS Turku 12 Saarelainen Joona, KalPa Kuopio – Tampa Bay Lightning 17 Tuuva Leo, Lukko Rauma 19 Helenius Konsta, Buffalo Sabres NHL 21 Westergård Max, Frölunda HC Sweden – Philadelphia Flyers 22 Hemming Emil, Dallas Stars NHL 23 Vesterinen Roope, HPK Hämeenlinna 26 Sinivuori Lauri, Oshawa Generals OHL 27 Miettinen Julius, Everett Silvertips WHL – Seattle Kraken 28 Ruohonen Heikki, Harvard University NCAA – Philadelphia Flyers

Kings 2nd-Round Draft Pick Contemplates Staying In Czechia Or Moving Overseas Czech left winger Vojtěch Čihař, who turned 18 in March, was drafted in the second round, 59th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, which happened to be in Los Angeles.

B-Team:

Goaltenders: 30 Härkönen Masi, Sport Vaasa 31 Kerkola Patrik, KalPa Kuopio

Defensemen: 2 Marila Eelis, Kiekko-Espoo 3 Jalasti Bruno, HIFK Helsinki 4 Kotajärvi Jesper, Tappara Tampere 5 Vikla Atte, Jokerit Helsinki 6 Välilä Arttu, Lukko Rauma 7 Wallenius Eerik, HPK Hämeenlinna – Ottawa Senators 8 Amhamdi Onni, Pelicans Lahti 9 Mononen Veikka, KalPa Kuopio

Forwards: 10 Loponen Markus, Victoria Royals WHL – Winnipeg Jets 11 Puolanne Elias, Kiekko-Espoo 12 Pikkarainen Kasper, TPS Turku – New Jersey Devils 13 Suoniemi Tuomas, Kiekko-Espoo 14 Teshome Nathan, Jukurit Mikkeli 15 Kuhta Jasper, HIFK Helsinki 16 Kopiloff Oliver, HPK Hämeenlinna 17 Räsänen Veeti, Jokerit Helsinki 18 Somervuori Jere, HIFK Helsinki 19 Joki Atte, Lukko Rauma – Dallas Stars 20 Vanhanen Matias, HIFK Helsinki 21 Pietilä Benjamin, Kärpät Oulu

Photo © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images: Buffalo Sabres center Konsta Helenius (94) shoots the puck as Ottawa Senators left wing Matthew Highmore (15) moves in during NHL pre-season action in September 2024.

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From Ex-players to current players and everything in between, we've got you covered. 

July 14 was the three year anniversary of Johnny Gaudreau signing with Columbus.  

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There were many exciting moments from this past season. What was yours?

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The 2025-26 schedule is here. 

Blue Jackets Announce 2025-26 Home OpenerThe Columbus Blue Jackets have officially announced their 2025-26 home opener. Blue Jackets' 2025-26 NHL Schedule ReleasedToday is the release day for the full NHL schedule for the 2025-26 season. Blue Jackets Sign Former Golden Knights Defensemen The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed former Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Dysin Mayo to a one-year, two-way contract.  From The Archive: Bob, Bread & ButterThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. Loading The Cannon: Dysin MayoYesterday, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed 28-year-old defenseman Dysin Mayo to a one-year, two-way contract. But who is Dysin Mayo? Let's take a look.  From The Archive: Columbus For The Cup!The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade. Read all about it below. 

Yegor Chinakhov Requests Trade?Per Shumi Babaev on X, his client, Yegor Chinakhov has reauested a trade out of Columbus.  What Is Yegor Chinakhov's Trade Value?With the news today that Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade away from the Columbus Blue Jackets, many are left to wonder what his worth is. Where Could Chinakhov Land If Traded?Yesterday, the Columbus Blue Jackets fan base was shocked by the news that Yegor Chinakhov is looking for a new place to play. His agent took to social media to explain the situation and the differences between him and the coaching staff. Now it has everyone thinking, where could he end up if traded. So, let's take a look at a few trade destinations that could make sense for Chinakhov. Does Columbus Have A Communication Issue Between Coaches And Players? Former Blue Jacket defenseman Jordan Harris gave an interview recently with the Boston Herald, and he said something about the Blue Jacket coaches that could be a cause for concern.  From The Archive: Whalers going to Columbus?The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 78 years of history, stories, and features. From The Archive: A Columbus DiscoveryDo you remember when Sergei Federov played for the Columbus Blue Jackets? Many younger fans do not. But for older fans, it was a fun time while he was here. Enjoy this piece from 2006!  86 Days Until Opening Night At Nationwide Arena: Kirill MarchenkoWith 86 days to go until opening night at Nationwide Arena, there's only one person to talk about - Kirill Marchenko. 

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Kent Hughes has had an active Summer so far. Before the draft, he acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders to address one of the Montreal Canadiens’ pressing needs. While some were arguing that Logan Mailloux could fill the void left by David Savard’s retirement, the GM wanted a proven commodity to strengthen his lineup. Additionally, his decision to trade Mailloux might have already been made. The young defenseman was sacrificed to acquire some help up front in Zachary Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues, a 22-year-old with scoring upside.

The one question that remains is who will skate on the second line alongside Ivan Demidov. Plenty of teams were in the market this offseason for a top-six center, and all signs seem to point toward an internal solution. While the most obvious one seems to be giving yet another audition to Kirby Dach, The Sick Podcast collaborator Grant McCagg suggests it could be an idea to give Oliver Kapanen a look.

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I can see the logic in that suggestion, after all, Kapanen impressed at training camp last season. It’s worth noting, however, that he had a bit of a head start. The then 20-year-old had already been through Timra IK’s training camp in the Swedish league, and he had already started playing games with them, which gave him a bit of an advantage.

As we got deeper into the camp, that advantage faded, and once the competition improved in preseason games with more real NHL skaters, it became harder for the youngster. He made the team out of camp, but after 12 games, the organization decided that he wasn’t quite ready and sent him back to Sweden since he still had a contract with Timra, which prevented him from being sent down to the AHL.

Will it be different this season? Has he made enough progress to be ready not only to play a regular role in the NHL but also to do so alongside Demidov, who will start his NHL career facing huge expectations? The Russian wonder had already shown that he can cut it in the best league in the world, but can he do that with a center that’s only a couple of years older than himself and only has 18 regular-season games under his belt?

The answer will depend on how much progress Kapanen made in Timra, playing big minutes and being used in all situations by coach Olli Jokinen. The former NHL player made it a mission to give the youngster plenty of experience, ensuring his transition to the NHL would be as smooth as possible.

McCagg also believes that the newly acquired Bolduc would be a good option to complete the line. The right winger has shown he has some scoring skills, putting up 36 points in 72 games in St. Louis, but 12 of those points came on the power play. The 22-year-old spent an average of 1:18 on the power play per game and averaged 12:49 of ice time in all situations. Would he be ready to get that much ice time? Furthermore, Demidov is a right winger as well, so one of the two would be playing on his offside. The idea is worth exploring, and that’s what training camp is about. There’s no doubt that Martin St-Louis will be making adjustments in the preseason; he will have no other choice, as the departures of Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia mean there’s no status quo heading into the season.

McCagg further suggests that Dach should be used with Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook. The three did spend some time together last year, and while they didn’t exactly hit it off, it wasn’t as bad a combination as the one formed with Laine, Dach, and Juraj Slafkovsky, which was in dire need of speed. That combination was painful to watch as it lacked dynamism and speed. Adding Newhook instead of Slafkovsky fixes the speed issue, but it creates a line that lacks a player to retrieve pucks in the deep zone.

It’s not an issue if the Canadiens enter the zone in possession rather than dumping the puck in, though. Newhook has demonstrated that he can be in charge of zone entries on the power play, primarily relying on his speed. However, once in the zone, he struggled to find options to keep the play going, even with the man-advantage. At even strength, could Dach and Laine get there in time to offer a viable option? It’s far from a foregone conclusion.

However, both Laine and Dach will be playing out the last year of their contracts, and they’ll have a lot to play for, starting with a contract extension or the value to hit the market as a UFA in Laine’s case. Will that be enough incentive for the Finn to play a more complete game? It remains to be seen, as he has yet to demonstrate that he can play that kind of game either with the Winnipeg Jets or the Columbus Blue Jackets.

At the end of the season, Laine’s then fiancée and now wife Jordan Leigh took to Instagram and thanked Montreal for making him love the game again. Does he love it enough to turn up his efforts a notch? Time will tell, but if a line formed by him, Dach, and Newhook is to succeed, he will have to.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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The Philadelphia Flyers are not emblems of prospect development nor goalie development, but they are positioned to turn the page on that chapter.

For my returning readers, especially over the years, welcome back to what is effectively a daily column.

You know, the "Bailey's Daily" kind of thing. Conversational, relevant, informative, all of that stuff.

It can be hard to reliably produce content this late in the summer, but we here at The Hockey News are putting a bigger focus on community-building, so I thought it might be a good time for a daily "wrap" of sorts.

Let's see how it goes!

You can't talk Flyers this summer without talking Flyers prospects,  which was at least somewhat to be expected.

GM Danny Briere and Co. haven't gone out and made too many big additions, bar Trevor Zegras, so it would seem that this regime is putting most of their eggs in the baskets of player development.

I didn't love every pick they made in the 2025 NHL Draft, but they ultimately came away with more talent than most other teams.

But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Prospect rankings can be highly subjective at times.

Resurgent Flyers Prospect Returns on AHL ContractResurgent Philadelphia Flyers prospect Zayde Wisdom has officially re-upped with the organization that drafted him after testing NHL free agency.

Top Flyers goalie prospect Egor Zavragin barely made a recent top-20 list of NHL-drafted goalie prospects, so, like always, the only thing that matters is what happens on the ice.

Speaking of goalies and prospects, the Anaheim Ducks (I know, I know) might be one place to look to see how it's done.

De facto starting goalie Lukas Dostal, 25, just signed a five-year, $32.5 million ($6.5 million AAV) contract with the Ducks, but it didn't just happen for him overnight.

Let's analyze his path:

In 2020-21, Dostal played 35 games combined between Ilves in Liiga and the AHL San Diego Gulls.

The following year, Dostal played 40 games for the Gulls as the full-time starter and snuck his way into four NHL games for the Ducks.

In 2022-23, the Czech netminder played 19 NHL games and 34 AHL games. By 2023-24, Dostal was a full-time NHLer, and this year, Dostal played 54 games and permanently usurped the starting goalie position from the now-traded John Gibson.

So, when you look at the Flyers and Sam Ersson, who's also 25, you have a 2021-22 season when he played five games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Ersson played 12 games for the Flyers in 2022-23 but otherwise played 42 AHL games down in Allentown.

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Then, with the loss of Carter Hart and the failure to address the backup goalie position, Ersson played 98 NHL games in the last two seasons combined.

This dish didn't spend a lot of time in the oven, and the Flyers are now actively deciding whether to re-fire it or throw it away and start anew.

The Flyers somehow haven't drafted a goalie in either of the last two drafts, leaving them with Ersson, Aleksei Kolosov, Carson Bjarnason, and Zavragin as the four young-ish goalie prospects with conceivable NHL upside.

They may want to get this one right if they aren't going to continue adding to the pool, because developing this position can take upwards of five years most of the time.

The Ottawa Senators announced Saturday that they have signed restricted free agent forward Xavier Bourgault to a one-year, two-way contract.

Bourgault spent last season with the Belleville Senators, where he appeared in 61 games and recorded 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points. The 22-year-old isn't far removed from blue-chip NHL prospect status, being selected 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2021 NHL Draft.

That followed a standout junior career with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. Over four seasons, Bourgault tallied an impressive 206 points (97 goals, 109 assists) in 197 games. Following his draft year, he emerged as one of the Q's most dynamic offensive players, posting 75 points in 43 games and helping lead Shawinigan to the Quebec Junior title in 2022.

Sens GM Steve Staios would have gotten a good look at Bourgault at the Memorial Cup that year as his Hamilton Bulldogs faced the Cataractes twice in that tournament, where Bourgault put up 7 points in 4 games. That fall, both of them turned pro with Edmonton, where Staios joined the club for the 2022-23 season as a special advisor to the club's hockey operations staff. 

At 5-foot-11, 179 pounds, Bourgault was slow out of the gate in his first two years in Bakersfield with 54 points in his 117 games. So Staios, now in Ottawa, traded for him last summer, along with forward Jake Chiasson, for Roby Jarventie and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Bourgault admitted at year's end that it took some adjustment going from the AHL team in Bakersfield, California, to the one in Belleville, Ontario.

"I think it's always stressful, a bit, coming into a new group," Bourgault told Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. "You don't know many guys, but I think the guys were pretty welcoming with me. And overall, I liked it on the ice. And off the ice with the guys was fun."

Bourgault was also asked to do some self-evaluation of his own 2024-25 season.

"Overall, I think I was pretty happy with how I finished the season. I think as an offensive guy, you always want to produce and help the team with that. For sure, some ups and downs. But I think as the season was going, I was getting more confident on the ice making plays.

"I think our line towards the end with Philli and Jany (Philippe Daoust and Jan Jenik) we were doing pretty good together. So now I think overall, I'm pretty happy. And just some improvement without the puck as well."

Bourgault will have to try and keep his late-season momentum (12 points in his final 16 AHL games) going this fall with at least one new face on his line. Daoust is now a UFA after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Sens, and while Jenik was qualified, he remains an RFA.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa
Image Credit: Belleville Senators, Jana Chytilova-Freestyle Photography

More Sens Headlines:
An Early Glance At The Ottawa Senators’ 2026 Free Agent Class
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Ottawa Senators
NHL Announces Ottawa Senators 2025–26 Regular Season Schedule
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Expectations For The Senators' Mount Rushmore Of Old Guys
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Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke has a new gig for the 2024-25 BCHL season. 

Cooke, who spent five seasons with the Penguins and helped them win the 2009 Stanley Cup, is the general manager and head coach of the BCHL's Vernon Vipers. They announced the news on July 18. 

BREAKING!!! - The Vernon Vipers are pleased to announce Matt Cooke as the next Head Coach and GM of the franchise!

Follow the link for comments from Matt Cooke and owner Tom Glenhttps://t.co/AS0IE8bgPlpic.twitter.com/UzpG1wuyIM

— Vernon Vipers (@VernonVipers) July 19, 2025

Cooke played in the NHL for 16 seasons, spending time with the Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota Wild. He played in 1,046 games, compiling 167 goals and 398 points. Cooke also played in 110 playoff games, scoring 13 goals and accumulating 38 points. 

His best individual season with the Penguins came in 2011-12 when he finished with 19 goals and 38 points in 82 games. 

He got into coaching after retiring as a player and was most recently the head coach of the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers during the 2023-24 season. 

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Featured Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

It goes without saying that Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond's exclusion from NHL.com's recent list of the best 10 players aged 25 or younger was at best a bizarre oversight, and at worst, a blatant snub. 

It was especially ironic since Raymond literally outscored all 10 players who made the list. 

Nevertheless, the Red Wings know that they have a budding star in the making with Raymond, who was their Round 1 selection in the 2020 NHL Draft after they somehow fell back multiple spots despite having posted the NHL's worst record by a wide margin in the difficult 2019-20 season. 

Not only did Raymond amass a new career-high in points with 80 this past season, but he's also very close to joining a select list of his own in Red Wings lore. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Raymond, who is only two goals away from 100 in his career, will soon become the 10th player in Red Wings history to reach the century mark in goals scored before turning 24 years of age. 

Lucas Raymond has led the @DetroitRedWings in points throughout each of the past two seasons, which included a career-high 80 points in 2024-25. #NHLYoungStarsWeek highlights the 23-year-old who sits within striking distance of 100 career goals this season. #NHLStatspic.twitter.com/eqPGysN7vL

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 19, 2025

The most recent player in this current era of Red Wings hockey to achieve the feat is Dylan Larkin, who did so during the aforementioned 2019-20 campaign. 

Other names on the list include Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Gordie Howe, Marcel Dionne, Ted Lindsay, Dale McCourt, John Ogrodnick, and Petr Klima. 

Talk about some pretty incredible company in Red Wings history that Raymond will soon join, including five who are forever enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and in the case of Howe, Lindsay, Klima, in the hearts of Detroit fans everywhere as they are no longer with us. 

Raymond is preparing to play the second year of his eight-year contract that he inked with Detroit last September, a nearly identical pact to that of teammate Moritz Seider, who was also a rookie that entered the NHL in the 2021-22 campaign. 

If he continues trending upward, 80 points may soon only seem like child's play for Raymond. 

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After taking a big step in the right direction last season, the Montreal Canadiens have been very busy this off-season. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has undoubtedly been aggressive this off-season, as he made several notable roster moves. 

The Canadiens' upgraded the right side of their defense in a big way, as they acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and picks Nos. 16 and 17 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Canadiens then immediately signed Dobson to an eight-year, $76 million contract, cementing him as a long-term part of their core. 

This was not the only exciting trade the Canadiens made this off-season, though. They also brought in promising young forward Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect defenseman Logan Mailloux. Bolduc should be a nice pickup, as he has shown very good promise early on his career. In 72 games last season, he set new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points.

The Canadiens also improved their depth by bringing in players like Joe Veleno, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Sammy Blais. They also re-signed young goaltender Jakub Dobes to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $965,000.

Overall, it is hard not to be happy with the moves the Canadiens have made so far this off-season. Due to their strong moves, they have now received some serious praise. 

In a recent article for The Athletic, Dom Luszczyszyn listed the Canadiens as the second-most improved this off-season. The only team ahead of the Canadiens on The Athletic's list are the San Jose Sharks.

When looking at the additions the Canadiens have made this off-season, it is understandable that they are viewed as a club that has significantly improved. They added a legitimate top-pairing defenseman in Dobson, a skilled forward on the rise in Bolduc, and some experienced depth players. Thus, it is hard not to feel optimistic about the Canadiens heading into 2025-26. 

It will be intriguing to see how the Canadiens perform next season after their strong off-season, but it is fair to say that their roster looks better than it was last year. 

Canadiens Have The Most Expensive Goaltending This Season (On Paper)According to Puckpedia’s numbers, the Montreal Canadiens have the most expensive goaltending in the NHL this season. They devote $14.8 million in salary to masked men, which accounts for the three goaltenders they have on NHL contracts and who aren’t waivers exempt: Carey Price, Samuel Montembeault, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Jakub Dobes. That works out to 15,5% of their cap.

Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images