Category: Ice Hockey

The Ducks have now signed both of their arbitration-eligible restricted free agents.

On Friday, the Ducks announced that they signed defenseman Drew Helleson to a two-year extension with a $1.1 million AAV. This comes a day after Lukáš Dostál signed a five-year extension.

Helleson established himself as an NHL-caliber defensemen this past season, receiving a recall in November and never returning to the AHL after that. The then 23-year-old solidified a bottom pair spot alongside fellow Boston College alum Brian Dumoulin and, after a brief stint as a healthy scratch after Jacob Trouba was acquired from the New York Rangers in December, re-entered the lineup and continued to hold down that spot. Pavel Mintyukov became his most common defensive partner after Dumoulin was dealt to the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline. Helleson also received a Calder vote this offseason.

It’s possible that Helleson filed for arbitration to seek out long-term security after he had nailed down a spot in the Ducks’ lineup. There will be plenty of competition for the right-side bottom pair spot again with Tristan Luneau expected to make the full-time jump to the NHL next season. With Helleson signed, the Ducks now presumably have their blue line set for the 2025-26 season.

Mason McTavish, Sam Colangelo and Tim Washe are now the three restricted free agents left for the Ducks to sign after completing extensions with Dostál and Helleson.

Featured image caption: Apr 3, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (43) against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

It’s official, Canadian defenseman and former New Jersey Devils first-round pick Ty Smith has signed a one-year contract with Belarus-based KHL club Dinamo Minsk.

Rumors circulated earlier this week that the 2018 first-rounder would be leaving the NHL after five seasons in the league.

Smith initially made a strong impression in his rookie season (2020–21). After being selected 17th overall, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, tallying 23 points in 48 games. The following season, he recorded 20 points in 66 games.

However, his rookie year ultimately marked the peak of his NHL career. After 2020, his production began to decline. He saw a reduction in playing time and was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins after one more season with the Devils. Smith played just nine games for the Penguins, spending most of the season in the AHL, before being traded again, this time to the Carolina Hurricanes.

In total, Smith played 131 NHL games across five seasons and three teams, never matching the numbers from his debut campaign. Now, at 25, he’s officially headed to the KHL.

He turned 25 on July 1, qualifying him as an AHL veteran under league rules.

Smith spent most of last season with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, where he posted 28 points in 36 games and appeared in eight NHL games with the Hurricanes.

In free agency, the Hurricanes left him unprotected. He became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and has now opted to continue his career overseas.

According to Belarushockey.com, Smith signed a one-year deal worth $500,000 with Dinamo Minsk.

Russian sports site Championat.com confirmed the signing on Thursday, as did the team via Telegram.

His future beyond next season remains uncertain. While there’s a chance Smith could return to the NHL, there’s currently no indication of a comeback.

Seven years ago, he was a top prospect, a first-round pick expected to be a cornerstone of the Devils' blue line.

Had he sustained his rookie-level performance, Smith might be skating alongside Hughes, Hamilton, and Nemec today.

Instead, at just 25, he departs the NHL in search of a fresh start internationally.

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Kings are the latest focus of our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Kings’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

The Kings' once-admired prospect pool has taken a few hits in recent years.

They are an example of just how fickle prospect development can be. They’ve become a bit of a cautionary tale for people who rely on the promise of tomorrow because sometimes, tomorrow never materializes.

Whether it’s players who never make it to the next level or guys who settle into roles lower in the lineup than expected, development isn’t linear, and a plethora of prospects doesn’t guarantee future success.

That said, the Kings have had success with past prospects. Quinton Byfield is just 22, and he’s becoming one of the most entertaining players in the game. Brandt Clarke is just scratching the surface of what he can be in the NHL. Alex Laferriere and Samuel Helenius have become legitimate NHL options. Alex Turcotte and Akil Thomas may not be the players the team once hoped, but they are good NHLers. Turcotte still might even have another level.

When it comes to their current pipeline, right winger Liam Greentree is the prize prospect. There aren’t many players in junior hockey who can make plays with defenders on their back or play through contact.

Greentree is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound power forward with incredible vision and the softest hands as a passer. Whether there is pressure on him or not, Greentree can fire bullets through traffic or feather a saucer pass over a defender's stick. His skating is improving, but he will never be a burner. Greentree is a tactician who generates offense at a high level. 

The Kings have waited for Francesco Pinelli to pop off for a couple of years now, but he’s struggled in the AHL, with 29 points in 70 games this past season. Pinelli’s game is built around his intelligence and play-reading ability. He’s a step ahead of defenders and possesses the dual-threat scoring ability to take advantage of that, regardless of what is put in front of him. He must take a step and become an effective AHL player if he wants to remain a player worth tracking for Kings fans.

Martin Chromiak sits in a similar boat, but he’s had a bit more success in the AHL, with 39 points in 69 games this past season. He plays a very steady game, constantly looking to complement and play off his linemates. He doesn’t need to be the main guy on his line. He can settle into whatever role he needs to play, whether he’s the triggerman or the set-up guy. Chromiak can likely play some NHL games this year, but whether he can adapt and play a bottom-six role will affect his chances of sticking in The Show. 

While he doesn’t have high-end upside on offense, Koehn Ziemmer is a right winger with a heavy shot who loves to throw heavy hits as well. Whether he’s inviting contact and throwing reverse hits or battling in the corners to come out with the puck, Ziemmer has “bottom-six nuisance” all over him. He has a good enough shot that there is a chance he scores 20 goals at the NHL level as well. His first full AHL season will be fun to watch. 

On the blueline, the Kings have drafted, developed and traded quite a few of their prospects, and that’s left them a little barren on the back end. 

Jakub Dvorak is a big, physical defender who played his rookie season in the AHL this past year and looked better than his four points and minus-8 rating would imply. He isn’t much of a puck-mover, but he kills play, uses his full 6-foot-5 frame to shut things down with his stick and with his body. He is simple, but he can be very effective. 

This will be Kirill Kirsanov’s first season in North America, so it will be interesting to see how his game translates. He’s got some size and physical presence. He’s a good skater as well. He knows how to get the puck up ice, and he gets involved in the rush at times. When Kirsanov is in his own end, he tries to close out and engage as much as he can, but he can get a bit too eager. Playing within a more structured system in the AHL could really help his game. 

U-23 Players Likely to Play NHL Games This Season

Brandt Clarke (D), Samuel Helenius (C/W), Martin Chromiak (LW/RW), Quinton Byfield (C/LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 31st overall - Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL)

Round 2, 59th overall - Vojtech Cihar, LW, Karlovy Vary (Cze.)

Round 3, 88th overall - Kristian Epperson, LW, Saginaw (OHL)

Round 4, 120th overall - Caeden Herrington, D, Lincoln (USHL)

Round 4, 125th overall - Jimmy Lombardi, C, Flint (OHL)

Round 5, 152nd overall - Petteri Rimpinen, G, Kiekko-Espoo (Fin.)

Round 6, 184th overall - Jan Chovan, C, Tappara Jr. (Fin.)

Round 7, 196th overall - Brendan McMorrow, C, Waterloo (USHL)

Round 7, 216th overall - Will Sharpe, D, Kelowna (WHL)

The Kings had a big draft class, with nine total picks. This allowed them to add solid players to their pipeline right at a time when Los Angeles’ prospect pool needed them.

At the tail end of the first round, the Kings added one of the more intriguing prospects in the class, Henry Brzustewicz. He has some fascinating offensive tools as a playmaker. He moves fairly well, especially when on the attack. Brzustewicz also has some really nice creativity, which allowed him to make an impact as a draft eligible on a loaded London Knights squad. His defensive game is a bit of a concern, especially when the puck is in the tough areas along the boards or down low. In space, he can be exposed a bit by quicker forwards who like to go east-west. There’s some nice upside, but he needs work. 

Vojtech Cihar is a raw prospect with some nice mobility. He’s been fairly noticeable when playing for Czechia at international tournaments. He’s a depth player at the pro level who can outwork opponents on the forecheck and on the backcheck. Cihar is a safe pick, and he could be a solid third-liner one day. 

The Kings took overage left winger Kristian Epperson, who played with San Jose's second overall pick, Michael Misa. He was consistently the “Robin” to Misa’s “Batman,” and just like the comic book sidekick, Epperson found ways to provide value. His lone OHL season was quite impressive, as he demonstrated some slick skills and passing ability. He’s committed to the University of Denver, where he can get stronger and faster, which should help address some of his pace issues. Epperson will be a solid complementary offensive player as a pro if he can increase his pace. 

Another overage draft pick, Caeden Herrington has some physical tools and joins the play. But he isn’t the most fluid skater, which holds him back. He is an incomplete picture at the moment, but after a couple of years at the University of Vermont, he could become an interesting two-way defender.

Jimmy Lombardi is a ball of clay waiting for the right organization to mold him. He has some really enticing skills with the puck, some really creative passing and a very good shot. When Lombardi can dictate play at times, but he seemed tentative occasionally. He’s very intelligent on the defensive side and is the rare prospect who projects as a potential center later in the draft. Lombardi is a really nice upside pick for the Kings.

In the fifth round, the Kings nabbed goalie Petteri Rimpinen, who was arguably the most valuable player to his team at the World Junior Championship. He carried a lackluster roster to the final before losing to the powerhouse Americans. Rimpinen’s standout performances weren’t isolated to international play, though, as he was stellar in the Liiga against the top competition in Finland. He’s an overage prospect, but he was one of the top goalies in the draft regardless of age.

There was some hype about Jan Chovan coming into his draft year, but it died down after he didn’t blow anyone away at the Finnish junior level. Chovan showed some solid defensive ability, but his offensive tools were simple and even ineffective at times. He didn’t seem to find a way to bridge his power and skill, which left him trying to figure out what he was. He’s going to the OHL next season, so hopefully he can find some offensive touch in the more structured North American game.

Brendan McMorrow showed some nice speed and energy this past season with the United States League’s Waterloo Black Hawks. He found ways to score 24 goals, but he faded in and out. He could be a solid energy line guy who crashes the net and creates havoc. Taking this kind of swing late makes a ton of sense for the Kings. 

Will Sharpe’s tools on defense are certainly worth the bet. Quite honestly, I was expecting him to go a little earlier in the draft. When he’s on his game, Sharpe will make plays at both ends of the ice, throwing some big hits and firing crisp passes. His defensive consistency and engagement were issues at times, but he still showed enough in his own end to believe they could improve. In the offensive zone, he moves the puck and shows some creative thinking.

Strengths

The Kings' pipeline in net is pretty impressive, and that's on top of 24-year-old Erik Portillo being AHL Ontario's backup for a couple of years now and playing his first NHL game this past season.

Carter George is one of the most interesting goalie prospects in hockey, putting up outstanding numbers wherever he goes. 

He was Canada’s best player at the world juniors and posted a .936 save percentage despite being an 18-year-old playing behind one of the most uninspiring U-20 Canadian rosters we’ve seen in quite some time. 

George had a two-game stint in the AHL to finish his season, allowing just one goal. 

Rimpinen was maybe the only netminder better than George at the world juniors, leading Finland to a silver medal. 

The veteran of the group is Hampton Slukynsky, and he might just be the sneakiest great goalie prospect in hockey. We’ll get into that in the Hidden Gem portion below, though. 

Weaknesses

For a team that once had one of the best prospect pools in hockey, not that long ago, the holes all over the Kings' pipeline are concerning. 

They have a couple of decent forwards, and they have managed to build up a solid goalie pipeline, but the defense group is low upside at best. 

Dvorak, Kirsanov and Salin are fine prospects, but they don’t have much upside. The one defender with a bit more upside is a recent draftee, Brzustewicz, who is an offensively gifted player, but he has holes elsewhere. They must add to the back end because some of their NHL defenders are getting a little older and losing their A-game. 

Hidden Gem: Hampton Slukynsky, G

Slukynsky has been on an impressive run since being drafted 118th overall in 2023. 

Slukynsky was dominant for the Fargo Force in his draft-plus-one season, helping them win the Clark Cup as USHL champions.

As a freshman at the University of Western Michigan in 2024-25, he put up excellent numbers to help lead the nation’s most under-the-radar team to the Frozen Four. Once there, Slukynsky was a wall for the Mustangs as they took down two juggernauts, the defending-champion University of Denver and heavily favored Boston University, to capture the NCAA title. 

All Slukynsky has done since being drafted is win. As the backup at the World Junior Championship this past year, he played in just two round-robin games and came away with a gold medal. Even as the third goalie at the World Championship, where he didn‘t get into a game, Slukynsky came home with a gold medal. Slukynsky might not be the hottest name in the Kings system, but he’s undoubtedly one of their top prospects.

Next Man Up: Martin Chromiak, RW/LW

The Kings don’t have an obvious “Next Man Up.” There’s a chance Greentree ends up getting a chance in the NHL as he’s racked up over 200 points over the past two seasons in the OHL, and playing there another season might not help that much. Having signed his entry-level contract already, the NCAA route isn’t an option for the 19-year-old. 

Martin Chromiak might be a call-up option after a decent couple of seasons in the AHL. Chromiak is an excellent complementary player who reads off linemates quite well and fills the gaps. He can function as a playmaker or finisher, help in transition or even use his reads to help on the forecheck. He could be a bottom-six depth scorer. He’s not the fun option or the obvious “Next Man Up,” but he could be the more realistic. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Vojtech Cihar, Kristian Epperson, Brendan McMorrow

C: Francesco Pinelli, Jan Chovan, Jimmy Lombardi, Jack Hughes, Kenny Connors

RW: Liam Greentree, Koehn Ziemmer, James Reeder, Martin Chromiak, Jared Wright

LD: Jakub Dvorak, Kirill Kirsanov, Angus Booth, Will Sharpe, Jared Woolley

RD: Henry Brzustewicz, Otto Salin, Jack Sparkes

G: Erik Portillo, Carter George, Petteri Rimpinen, Hampton Slukynsky

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari is currently putting together his 2025-26 prospect pool overview for each NHL team, and recently, he covered the Florida Panthers, who received a fair bit of praise.

When teams are winning Stanley Cups, their prospect pool is usually on the weaker side, as they often trade many of their draft picks and prospects for NHL-caliber players to bolster their roster. While that has been true for the Panthers, they've done an adamant job of keeping some pieces who could carve out roles in the future, even if they don't project to be future star players.

Jack Devine headlined Ferrari's overview, who he believes is the next man up after Mackie Samoskevich graduated to a full-time NHL player last season. Devine is a 6-foot right-winger who doesn't play a very flashy game, but is aggressive on the forecheck and forces his way into high-danger scoring areas. 

After four standout seasons at the University of Denver, which included two National Championship wins, Devine is expected to play the 2025-26 season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, where he has already garnered some experience. 

Sandis Vilmanis and Linus Eriksson were the next two Panther prospects to get rave reviews from Ferrari. Vilmanis completed his first professional season in North America, scoring nine goals and 27 points in 61 AHL games. The 6-foot-2 Latvian winger has a very strong shot and great hands in tight, which gives the 21-year-old projectable NHL skills.

Eriksson had a strong season defensively in Sweden, but the offensive part of his game didn't really translate. The 19-year-old appears to have the game of a solid bottom-six NHL center, but the Panthers will likely hope Eriksson can push for more.

Gracyn Sawchyn continued to put up staggering offensive numbers in the WHL, notching 30 goals and 78 points this past season, leading the Edmonton Oil Kings in both statistics. His jump from the WHL to the AHL next season should tell more about how he projects, but there is a firm belief that his game can continue to improve. 

Ferrari believes Simon Zether is the Panthers' hidden gem. The 19-year-old is a two-way center who had a strong season with Vasteras in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second league. He put up four goals and 12 points in 25 games, while continuing to be a physical presence and winning a majority of his puck battles. Listed at 6-foot-3, 194 pounds, the right-handed faceoff man could carve out a future NHL role as a bottom-six center if he continues his development path. 

Because the Panthers have been all in on winning Stanley Cups for the past three seasons, the draft picks they've expended finally caught up to them. At the 2025 NHL Draft, the Panthers did not make a selection until the fourth round. Each player they selected seemed to fit the mold of being very raw, which tends to happen when selecting in the middle rounds. 

NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Florida Panthers’ Pipeline Isn’t Completely BarrenThe Florida Panthers are next up in our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Ferrari's Panthers' Prospect Pool Strengths:

"The Panthers’ one area of strength in their pipeline is on the wing. Even the players listed down the middle are more likely to find success at the pro level on the wing."

"Sawchyn is a highly skilled, pace-pushing forward who could be a fun winger. Vilmanis is getting closer to being an impact player in the pros. Devine very well could play NHL games this upcoming season. Drott is a raw, speedy forward with a great shot, but must refine things as he develops. They don’t have a star prospect in general, but they have a few wingers who could be effective depth pieces."

Ferrari's Panthers' Prospect Pool Weaknesses:

"The Panthers’ prospect pool as a whole is weaker than most, but it’s not nearly as barren as some would expect. With that said, the defense group is lacking in a major way."  

"Michael Benning is an unsigned RFA. Shuravin took a nice step last year, proving himself to be at least a capable puck-mover, but he played primarily at the Russian junior level. Vladislav Lukashevich transferred from Michigan State to Miami-Ohio this off-season as he couldn’t really secure a role with MSU. Evan Nause has struggled to break out of the ECHL over the last two seasons. There just doesn’t seem to be much in the way of NHL-caliber defenders in the system." 

Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard just completed his second NHL season, and it is hard not to be optimistic about his future with the Original Six club. In 82 games on the year, the 5-foot-10 forward set new career highs with 23 goals, 44 assists, and 67 points. When noting that he was only 19 years old throughout the entire 2024-25 campaign, this kind of production is quite impressive.

In two NHL seasons, Bedard has recorded 45 goals, 83 assists, and 128 points in 150 games. The 2023 first-overall pick is already a star, and he has now gotten some serious praise for his excellent play because of it. 

Nine writers at NHL.com voted for the 25 best players under 23 years old, and Bedard had the most voting points with 236. With this, he ranked ahead of fellow exciting young NHL stars like Macklin Celebrini (232 voting points), Lane Hutson (229 voting points), and Wyatt Johnston (217 voting points). 

Given how incredible a talent he is, it is understandable that Bedard ended up with the most voting points with this list. The potential for Bedard to become a legitimate superstar is certainly there, and it will be a blast to see what kind of season he puts together in 2025-26. The possibility of him producing over a point per game cannot be ruled out. 

Connor Bedard Had Very Impressive Pre-20s NHL ShowingConnor Bedard just turned 20 years old, so that means he can't tack on anymore points as a teenager. But given what he did on a bad Chicago Blackhawks team for his first two seasons in the NHL, it was very impressive.

Photo Credit:  © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a busy off-season, as they have brought in multiple new players. One of them is goaltender Arturs Silovs, as the Penguins acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick earlier this month.

With the Penguins needing help between the pipes, bringing in a young goalie like Silovs was undoubtedly a smart move by the Metropolitan Division club. This is especially so when noting that they did not need to give up much at all to get him. 

As a young goalie, Silovs is naturally still adjusting to the NHL level. In 19 career regular-season games over three seasons, he has recorded an 8-8-2 record, a .880 save percentage, and a 3.13 goals-against average.

While Silovs has had some struggles in the NHL early on, he also notably had a solid post-season with Vancouver in 2024. During it, he helped lead the Canucks past the Nashville Predators in the first round and memorably had a 28-save shutout in Vancouver's series-clinching win. He also won three games during the Canucks' second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers that year. 

Silovs' outstanding post-season play this year in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks was also very encouraging. In 24 games, he had a 16-7 record, a 2.01 goals-against, and a .931 save percentage. Due to his remarkable play, he helped Abbotsford win the Calder Cup, and he was the recipient of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the AHL's playoff MVP. 

Given what Silovs has shown, especially during the playoffs, it is hard not to feel some optimism about his future. Bringing him in is an incredibly low-risk move for the Penguins, and the possibility of him emerging as a true NHL goalie is certainly there. If Silovs can build off his excellent 2025 AHL post-season, he could be a strong pickup for the Penguins. 

It will be fascinating to see what kind of season Silovs has in his first year with the Penguins organization from here. 

Exciting Penguins Prospect Named Among Top Young GoaliesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are hopeful that goaltender Joel Blomqvist will become a long-term answer for them between the pipes. It is understandable, as the 23-year-old has shown promise at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins early on in his career.

Photo Credit: © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

There’s a running joke in Philadelphia Flyers circles these days that GM Danny Brière is building a rehab clinic for Anaheim Ducks alumni.

From Jamie Drysdale to Trevor Zegras to now the mere whisper of interest in Mason McTavish, it’s starting to feel like Brière might be scouring Orange County for his next reclamation project like he’s shopping at a vintage store: looking for something young, well-made, slightly scuffed, but with timeless value.

But in McTavish’s case, the joke only goes so far. This isn’t a player who needs “fixing” so much as one who could thrive in a different system, under different expectations, with a more defined role—and in Philadelphia, that opportunity could be staring both sides in the face.

The Fit: A Natural Center for a Roster in Transition

First, the obvious: the Flyers need help down the middle. Sean Couturier is still a steady, solid option, but he's not getting any younger. Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak offer responsible two-way play, but that still leaves the depth chart somewhere in wading pool territory. And while there’s hope in young prospects like Jett Luchanko, there’s no denying that a long-term, high-upside, NHL-ready center is still a missing piece in Philadelphia’s rebuild.

Enter McTavish.

At 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, McTavish brings an appealing blend of physicality, play-driving skill, and natural scoring ability. He’s a classic power center in the making—capable of bullying his way through defenders but also possessing the finesse to finish plays and quarterback a line. His hockey sense, especially in the offensive zone, pops off the screen. He’s hard on pucks, he hunts space, and he makes life miserable for defenders in the slot.

Mason McTavish is so casual with it 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/NxYipyrmRe

— NHL (@NHL) April 8, 2025

More than anything, he competes. That’s the hallmark of McTavish’s game. The Flyers, under new head coach Rick Tocchet, are preaching a system built on pace, structure, and relentless pressure. McTavish would slot into that identity seamlessly. He’s still just 22, but he already plays like someone with postseason scars and something to prove.

The Numbers: Room to Grow, But a Solid Foundation

Last season, McTavish quietly put up 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 76 games on a Ducks team that was—let’s be honest—often unwatchable.

Yet McTavish still managed to put together respectable numbers, particularly in stretches when he was asked to drive play on his own. He logged just about 17 minutes a night, saw usage on both the power play and penalty kill, and finished with respectable underlying metrics given the team context.

With better linemates and more offensive structure, his ceiling could climb significantly.

A Trade That Makes Sense for Both Sides

The Ducks, reportedly, are listening—not shopping, but listening. That’s telling. It could mean they’re recalibrating their own vision of the rebuild. Or maybe they just see a chance to cash in before committing to a long-term extension.

Frank Seravalli: Re Mason McTavish: I think a change of scenery would be good for him, I think there's a lot of teams that are interested; some teams have tried to work on...an offer sheet - Bleacher Report (Jul 15)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 18, 2025

For the Flyers, the risk is worth exploring. Would a package built around someone like Egor Zamula, a first-round pick, and a secondary piece be enough to pry McTavish loose? Maybe not. (Although you have to consider that the Flyers clearly have a good working relationship with Anaheim, and Brière has proven that he can acquire a lot without having to give up too much in return. Case and point, getting Trevor Zegras for Ryan Poehling and a 2026 fourth-round pick—come on.) But that’s why you check in. That’s why you push. Because players like McTavish don’t become available very often.

Why It Works for McTavish, Too

There’s also a strong case to be made that a change of scenery could benefit McTavish just as much as it would help the Flyers.

Anaheim hasn't exactly been lauded for proper development of its talented young players (see: Zegras and Drysdale), and the entire team identity remains in flux under new head coach Joel Quenneville. It’s not hard to imagine McTavish being miscast in a role that doesn’t maximize his gifts, or simply yearning for a team with more ambition, structure, and more promise of postseason success. It might not be immediate gratification with the Flyers, but if we're making comparisons, the projections do, indeed, make it look more sunny in Philadelphia. 

On the East Coast, McTavish could grow into a clear-cut top-six center. He’d get powerplay time, he’d be leaned on defensively, and he’d have a head coach in Tocchet who values grit and hockey IQ in equal measure. And the Flyers’ emerging forward group—players like Zegras, Matvei Michkov, Tyson Foerster, even a Porter Martone or Denver Barkey in the near future—could complement McTavish beautifully, creating a dynamic offensive core for the coming years.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t about collecting Ducks memorabilia. This is about vision—and acceleration. Brière has been clear that this rebuild won’t take a decade, nor will it be rushed. But sometimes, opportunity knocks at just the right time.

Mason McTavish is still scratching the surface of what he can be. If the Flyers believe in his trajectory—and if Anaheim is truly open to a deal—they owe it to themselves to be at the front of the line.

In the right context, McTavish could be the kind of player that strengthens your offense and lends you the invaluable advantage of having all lines be dangerous ones. He's relentless, talented, and on the cusp of becoming something special.

And if that next step happens to be in a slightly different shade of orange and black?

Even better.

Exploring options for top-six winger with high-end prospects Nikita Chibrikov and Brad Lambert being potential options. 

The Winnipeg Jets suffered big causalities in the lineup when losing forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Mason Appleton to free agency. In response, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff made a few moves that seemingly improved the team's top six with a new second line centre in Jonathan Toews, effectively pushing centre Vladislav Namestnikov to the third line where he appears to be a better fit for his talents. 

To replace Ehlers, they added Nashville's Gustav Nyquist, who has proven to be a consistent 40-50 point producer with upside as high as 75 points, which he recorded in the 2023-24 season. The hope is that he would replicate this success however, Nyquist is coming off a tough year in which he recorded career-worst numbers across the board with 28 points through 79 games. The 35-year-old winger may be starting to see his production decline with age and if the Jets want to remain competitive, they should have a backup plan. 

Projecting Jets' Forward Lines For The 2025-26 SeasonAs the Winnipeg Jets prepare for the next NHL season, the buzz around their projected lineup has started to commence with fans wondering what they can expect to see from the 2025-26 team. 

More Jets: Winnipeg Jets' All-Time Lineup

Many contending teams are utilizing some of their young talent to prop up the rest of their lineup by giving a prospect an opportunity to play in the top six. This can be seen in Edmonton, where high-end prospect Isaac Howard is expected to play with Connor McDavid on the top line as well as in St. Louis with Jimmy Snuggerud, who is expected to play top line minutes with Robert Thomas. 

The Jets could do something similar with their high-end prospects looking to make the jump to the NHL with one of them being Brad Lambert. The 2022 first round pick had a down year last season, along with the rest of the Manitoba Moose, as he recorded just 35 points through 61 games. Lambert has shown bursts of offence like in the 2023-24 season, when he put up 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points through 64 games with the Moose and forced his way into five games with the Jets. 

The 21-year-old Finnish winger has a 0.67 point-per-game average at the AHL level and will be looking to challenge for a roster spot this upcoming training camp and preseason. Competition for the fourth line right wing position will likely be between Lambert, newcomer from the Bruins in Cole Koepke, and another young prospect from the Moose in Nikita Chibrikov.

With a slightly worse 0.65 point-per-game average, Chibrikov offers the Jets another high-end prospect option at right wing and is slightly more matured at 22 years old. The position battle will be a fierce one as the former 2021 second round pick has played five NHL games and has excelled when given an opportunity with three goals and an assist for four points compared to Lambert's two through six NHL games. 

Both prospects will be battling for an everyday spot and could challenge bench boss Scott Arniel to make some adjustments to the lineup. If Nyquist has another down year and sees his production drop to roughly 30-35 points once again, it could persuade Arniel to move him down the lineup and onto the third line, where it's typical to put up that many points. This would then allow Arniel to test drive a young player in Lambert or Chibrikov with a chance to play alongside quality forwards like Toews and Perfetti. 

Winnipeg Jets Announce 2025-26 Schedule with Matchups Against the Panthers, Oilers and StarsThe Winnipeg Jets announced their 82-game schedule for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday with some notable games that fans will have to keep an eye on. The Jets open the season on home ice in a postseason rematch against the Dallas Stars on Thursday Oct. 9th, in what will be a thrilling start to the new campaign. 

With his point-per-game production, it's worth exploring the option with Chibrikov as it could provide the Jets with another top end talent. If things don't go the way they hope they can always make adjustments and move Chibrikov back to the bottom of the lineup. 

The developing talent of these young Moose players will provide an intriguing storyline heading into training camp and could lead to roster moves that could move the Jets towards another Stanley Cup contending roster.

The 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.

In a recent report, it was revealed that Kopitar could be entering his last season in the NHL and isn't expected to sign an extension with the Kings.

Not expecting Kopitar to sign an extension of any sort. Enjoy his final season in the NHL.

— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) July 18, 2025

Kopitar, who is 37 years old, has scored 440 goals and added 838 assists for 1278 points through 1454 games in his career. He has spent his entire career with the Kings, helping them win two Stanley Cups in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons.

Time will tell if he ends up hanging up his skates, but if this is his last season in the NHL with the Kings, he has built himself a potential Hall of Fame career.

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. 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. LA Kings & NHL Announce 2025-26 Regular Season ScheduleThe Los Angeles Kings & the National Hockey League revealed the Kings' 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday (Jul. 16).

Drafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Alexander Wennberg joined the Seattle Kraken as an unrestricted free agent on July 28th, 2021 after six seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a single season with the Florida Panthers. 

A fan favorite, Wennberg is known for his quick feet and playmaking ability.   In his (almost) three seasons with the Kraken, Wennberg played in 222 games scoring 33 goals and amassing 67 assists.  He was responsible for scoring the game-winning goal nine times.

 

In March of 2024, the Kraken traded Wennberg to the New York Rangers for a 2024 2nd round draft pick and a conditional 4th-round pick in the 2025 draft.  He finished out the season in New York where he reached 700 NHL games.

Once again a free agent, Wennberg signed a two-year, 10 million dollar contract with the San Jose Sharks.  The 2025-26 season marks the second year of that contract.  In the 2024-25 season, Wennberg played in 77 games with the Sharks.  He amassed 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in that time.  Time will tell if the Sharks will re-sign the veteran center or use him for trade collateral.  The team is young and rebuilding, and it is not clear if there is a permanent place for Alexander Wennberg.

 

Related:

Kraken's Recently Acquired and Bought-Out Forward Signs With CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens have signed recently acquired and then bought out Seattle Kraken forward Joe Veleno to a one-year, $900,000 contract. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins are hopeful that goaltender Joel Blomqvist will become a long-term answer for them between the pipes. It is understandable, as the 23-year-old has shown promise at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins early on in his career.

During the 2023-24 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he had a 25-12-6 record, a .921 save percentage, and a 2.16 goals-against average. He followed that up with an 8-7-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.84 goals-against average this past season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He also played in his first 15 games with Pittsburgh in 2024-25, recording a 4-9-1 record, a .885 save percentage, and a 3.81 goals-against average.

Due to his strong AHL play and solid upside, Blomqvist has now gotten some praise. In a recent article for NHL.com, Kevin Woodley ranked the 10 best goalies who are under 25, and Blomqvist secured the final spot on the list. 

When noting that Blomqvist has the potential to emerge as an NHL starting goalie, it makes sense that he made Woodley's list. The Finnish netminder has been a very good goalie at the AHL level, and he should only improve as he continues to get more experience with Pittsburgh moving forward. 

Overall, it is hard not to feel optimistic about Blomqvist's future. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he can put together in 2025-26 from here.

NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins' Bryan Rust Linked To 3 TeamsPittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust is one of the NHL's top trade candidates right now. With the Penguins retooling, the 33-year-old winger would have the potential to land them a significant return if they decided to trade him.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The NHL's 2026 UFA class contains several notable stars who could become available to the highest bidders. Topping the list is Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. 

It seems unthinkable that McDavid would depart the Oilers and chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere. Nevertheless, the possibility is reportedly being talked about in league circles. 

TSN analyst Chris Johnston discussed the issue with the SDPN panel on Monday. While he believes McDavid will re-sign with the Oilers, he felt there could be 10 teams that would become serious suitors if the 28-year-old superstar hits the open market. 

“I'm sure it has occurred to the Kings,” said Johnston. “I'm sure it has occurred to the Rangers. You don't think Julien BriseBois down in Tampa Bay is looking at his long-term roster?”

Those clubs could indeed think of it. With the salary cap projected to rise to $104 million for 2026-27, the Kings, Rangers and Lightning will have the cap room to sign McDavid even if he seeks to become the highest-paid player in the NHL.

However, if McDavid seeks upward of $20 million annually, that would still take a huge bite out of any team's salary-cap payroll.

It could leave the Kings lacking sufficient cap room to re-sign UFA-eligible winger Adrian Kempe. The Rangers would have to part ways with Artemi Panarin. The Lightning have all their core players under contract for 2026-27, but adding McDavid would make it difficult to fill out the rest of their roster with suitable depth talent.

Meanwhile, the possibility of Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes reuniting with his brothers Jack and Luke on the New Jersey Devils created a stir in the rumor mill this spring. Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford raised that issue during his club's end-of-season media availability in April. 

Hughes, 25, is UFA-eligible in 2027. Rutherford indicated his club would do all it can to keep their captain in the fold, but his off-the-cuff remarks rattled Canucks followers while exciting Devils fans. 

However, Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers doesn't buy the notion of his teammate joining his brothers in New Jersey. The Hockey News’ Adam Kierszenblat cited the blueliner's recent appearance on the Cam and Strick Podcast, where he said he felt the story was overblown. 

Myers said Hughes loves his brothers, but he doesn't go around the dressing room saying he wants to play with them. 

“I know it's a big, big story around the hockey world, but everyone makes it a lot more than it is,” Myers said. 

Nevertheless, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now wondered if Myers was trying to downplay the speculation, or if Rutherford said what he did to gauge his captain's value in the trade market. 

Despite Myers' remarks, this story isn't going away until Rutherford or Hughes address it directly.

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Former New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday.

A member of the franchise for four seasons, the netminder hangs up the pads following a 17-year NHL career. 

Tomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) on XJaroslav Halák has officially retired at age 40. He played in the NHL from 2006 to 2023, appeared in 581 games, suited up for eight teams, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice. He confirmed it to me in an interview for @DennikSport

Halak joined the Islanders in the 2014 offseason as part of an offseason overhaul, joining the Islanders in the summer of 2014 in exchange for a fourth-round pick. 

Halak and Chad Johnson were the new names in goal for the team, joining incoming defensemen Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk and forwards Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. Halak became the new starter in net and immediately paid dividends, making the All-Star Game in his first season. He finished his first season with a 38-17-4 record, 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. His 38 wins still stand as an Islanders single-season record. 

He followed the season up with another solid season, making 36 with an 18-13-4 record with a 2.30 GAA and .919 SV%. However, his season was cut short, suffering a season-ending injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 8, 2016. 

Halak’s final two years were filled with ups and downs, starting in 2016-17 with an underwhelming start to the season. He started the season 6-8-5 with a 3.23 GAA and .904 SV%, with additional controversy surrounding a three-goalie room with Thomas Greiss and Jean-Francois Berube. 

Ultimately, Halak was sent down to AHL Bridgeport on Dec. 30, getting recalled to finish the year in March. He was able to salvage his season with a 12-9-5 record, 2.80 GAA and .915 SV%. 

His final year with the team was a down season, mired by underperformance and shaky team defense. The season was his only one with a losing record with the Islanders, finishing with a 20-26-6 record, 3.19 GAA, and .908 SV%. The following offseason, Halak signed a contract with the Boston Bruins, splitting time with Tuukka Rask for three seasons. 

Halak finishes his NHL career with a 295-189-69 record in 581 games, posting a 2.50 GAA and .915 SV% across seven different teams. He also split a pair of Jennings Trophies for the fewest goals allowed in the league in the 2011-12 and 2019-20 seasons with Brian Elliott and Rask, respectively.

Matthew Page wrote this story. 

PHOTO: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

A former Montreal Canadiens goalie is officially hanging up the skates. 

While speaking with Dennik Sport's Tomas Prokop, former Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak shared that he has officially retired. 

Jaroslav Halák has officially retired at age 40. He played in the NHL from 2006 to 2023, appeared in 581 games, suited up for eight teams, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice. He confirmed it to me in an interview for @DennikSportpic.twitter.com/OD8sjkAEaB

— Tomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) July 18, 2025

Halak, 40, has not played in each of the last two seasons, as his last NHL campaign was in 2022-23 with the New York Rangers. Now, his career is officially over, and it was a very good one. 

Halak was selected by the Canadiens with the 271st overall pick of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he spent his first four seasons in Montreal and was excellent. In 101 games as a Hab from 2006-07 to 2009-10, he had a 56-34-7 record, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.62 goals-against average.

Halak also memorably appeared in 18 playoff games for the Canadiens during their 2010 run, posting a 9-9 record, a .923 save percentage, and a 2.55 goals-against average. Following this outstanding post-season performance, Halak was traded to the St. Louis Blues, as the Canadiens opted to go with Carey Price as their full-time starting goalie.

In 581 career games over 17 seasons split between the Canadiens, Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Rangers, Halak had a 295-189-69 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals-against average. 

Canadiens Are One Big Move Away From Perfect Off-SeasonIt is hard not to be a fan of what the Montreal Canadiens have done this off-season. After taking a nice step forward in 2024-25, general manager Kent Hughes has improved the club's roster with some excellent moves. Among the most notable moves was acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders and trading for Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues.

Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images

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Whalers Going To Columbus? - Apr 11, 1997/vol. 50, issue 30

If the Hartford Whalers had to leave town, they couldn’t have picked a better time.

The NHL is in the midst of its expansion process, with site visits commencing in the first week of April, and that gives Whaler owner Peter Karmanos a built-in pool of relocation possibilities and chances for a nice, soft landing.

“We’re now into detailed research on the markets out there,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told The Hockey News. “The process we’re going through will be able to serve two purposes.”

That is, 1) decide how many of the six remaining applicants for expansion will be accepted; and 2) which of the others is best suited to be the new home of the Whalers.

Karmanos met with Bettman in New York on March 28, two days after the chairman of Compuware officially announced this would be the Whalers’ last season in Hartford.

Karmanos and the state of Connecticut, led by Gov. John Rowland, were unable to come to an agreement to save the Whale. The state had offered to build a new arena, but the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement on economic viability.

So Karmanos will pay a $20.5-million penalty to escape the final year of the agreement to remain in Hartford and seek greener pastures elsewhere.

“I feel bad,” Karmanos told THN, “we worked hard, but we lost. We failed, and I’m not used to that.”

Karmanos bought the Whalers in 1994 for the relatively modest fee of $22.5 million. Since then, though, the club has reported operating losses of $14.5 million two years ago, $21 million last season, and projected losses of $14 million this season. Throw in the $20.5 million penalty, and Karmanos’ investment in the Whalers amounts to approximately $92.5 million. getting dangerously close to or beyond what the franchise is actually worth. He figured it was time to cut his losses and get out of town.

He is no doubt hoping to make back some of that money with a sweetheart, incentive-laden deal with some other city desperately seeking an NHL franchise.

The smart money is on it being one of the remaining six expansion applicants, although Raleigh-Durham. N.C. is a distinct possibility.

For now, Atlanta, Houston, and Nashville are not considered to house the Whalers. Each expansion applicant there has arena rights locked up and isn’t about to let Karmanos in, not that the NHL necessarily would want him eliminating such prime expansion markets anyway.

However, the same cannot be said for Columbus, Ohio, St. Paul, Minnesota, Oklahoma City. Okla., and Raleigh-Durham.

“I don’t have a first choice,” Karmanos said. “It will depend upon the business deal in each place, and I want to see what the level of interest is.”

All things considered, though, it’s believed Karmanos would like to end up in central Ohio.

“There are 7.5 million people within a 100-mile radius of Columbus,” Karmanos said. “It’s the second most densely populated state in the union.”

The problem, however, is that there is no long-term commitment to an arena. A referendum will be held on May 6 to determine the arena issue. It’s assumed the outcome will be positive, but that still would leave the Whalers without a suitable arena for two or three seasons.

Karmanos is something of an unconventional businessman. That’s how he became as big as he is in computer software. He talks of “finding the biggest building possible that can be fitted with seats and an ice-making plant and making it work for a year.”

The possibility is there for an NHL team to move into Ohio State University’s new arena for 1998-99, but again, it would only be a temporary arrangement. Karmanos also said he would look at the 10,000-seat Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, and may even examine temporary homes in Cincinnati or Cleveland.

St. Paul is another possibility as civic authorities there continue to pledge support to refitting the St. Paul Civic Centre to NHL standards, but it’s doubtful the Twin Cities are high on the list. The best thing it has going for it is a No. 14 rank amongst U.S. TV markets.

Oklahoma City has already committed to building a new arena with a sweetheart lease/management agree-ment-and it has a 10,000-seat minor league facility that could do for now.

The question there is whether it’s a legitimate big-league market.

Raleigh-Durham is a solid dark horse candidate, a rather attractive and unique market that is committed to building a new arena. An interim home could be 60 miles down the road in Greensboro, which has a new 16,000-seat facility (home to the Carolina Monarchs of the American League).

Columbus has to be considered the favorite, pending the outcome of the May 6 referendum, but Raleigh-Durham shouldn’t be discounted even though the potential expansion ownership group there withdrew its bid.

A final decision on the Whalers’ destination is expected by the end of April, although it may be a week later to allow for the outcome of the May 6 referendum.

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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. Yegor Chinakhov Requests Trade?Per Shumi Babaev on X, his client, Yegor Chinakhov has reauested a trade out of Columbus.  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.