Category: Ice Hockey

Welcome back to another Vancouver Canucks 2024–25 Report Card. Today, we’ll be taking a look at how Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki’s season went as a member of both Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks. 

This was Lekkerimäki’s first full season with both Vancouver and Abbotsford. Prior to 2024–25, Lekkerimäki’s only experiences on North American ice were the six games he played with the AHL Canucks at the end of the 2023–24 season. His first AHL game of the 2024–25 season was Abbotsford’s home-opener on October 25, during which he tallied an assist and three shots on goal. In his first seven games with Abbotsford, he scored five goals and two assists while tallying a total of 39 shots. 

Lekkerimäki stayed in Abbotsford’s lineup until the start of November, as he was called up to Vancouver while the team dealt with injuries. He made his NHL debut on November 12 against the Calgary Flames, putting up two shots in 14:07 minutes played. The game after, against the New York Islanders on November 14, he scored his first NHL goal against Ilya Sorokin with a sweet shot off the rush. He stayed in the lineup for the following three games before being sent back down to Abbotsford. 

From mid-November to early January, Lekkerimäki continued playing with Abbotsford, putting up seven goals and three assists in 14 games. This included back-to-back three-point games on December 7 and 8. While he was still shooting at a high rate of around three shots per game, this wasn’t as close to the offence he’d produced at the start of the season. With injuries once again striking the Canucks, he was called up to Vancouver and placed in the lineup on January 6 against the Montréal Canadiens. In a high-scoring 5–4 overtime loss for Vancouver, Lekkerimäki had a goal and an assist in 13:47 minutes played. 

Lekkerimäki’s stint in Vancouver’s lineup ended after January 16 and didn’t continue until mid-March. During this time, he continued to build on his offensive successes in Abbotsford, contributing a goal and two assists in his first game back from Vancouver on January 19. He registered a four-game and three-game point streak that were only separated by one game in which he did not get a goal or an assist. 

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While Vancouver’s lineup was unsteady throughout the season, Lekkerimäki was able to find some consistency within it towards the end of 2024–25. With a crop of Abbotsford players playing for the Canucks from mid-March to the end of the season, there was enough familiarity in the dressing room for Lekkerimäki to become a little more comfortable with the NHL. By the end of Vancouver’s 2024–25 season, he had three goals and three assists in 24 games. With Abbotsford, he had 19 goals and nine assists in 36 games. 

In Abbotsford’s Calder Cup victory, Lekkerimäki was noticeable at a bunch of different points for many reasons. First, he missed three games due to complications from dental surgery early in Abbotsford’s playoff run. Then, he was healthy-scratched for four games, including the team’s Western Conference Championship win. Finally, in his second game back in the lineup during the Calder Cup Final, he potted two goals and also played excellently without the puck on his stick to help Abbotsford take a 3–1 series lead. While many may have expected more from him offensively during this playoff run, Lekkerimäki still showed up when the team needed him most. 

Two-Goal Game 4 Performance A Big Momentum Shifter For Abbotsford Canucks’ Jonathan LekkerimäkiFor a while, Vancouver Canucks and Abbotsford Canucks fans alike were intrigued. The AHL Canucks were rolling through the Calder Cup Playoffs with a lineup full of stellar players like Artūrs Šilovs and Linus Karlsson. Virtually everyone not-injured was accounted for — except for one player. 

The movement to-and-from lineups can be a bit difficult for a player who is still adjusting to a multitude of things. Positively speaking, Lekkerimäki was able to gain valuable NHL experience while honing his skills in the AHL — but this shifting can also be tough to work with when still trying to learn specific systems and skills. Because of this, Lekkerimäki gets a B- for his rookie season. Though many may have expected a little more from him at the NHL level, he’s still adjusting to AHL and NHL play. With that being said, fans may see an even more dangerous Lekkerimäki come the 2025–26 season. 

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Signing Connor Zary should be near the top of Flames’ GM Craig Conroy’s to-do list.

The 23-year-old forward is a Restricted Free Agent (RFA), and while his numbers don’t scream ‘super star’ just yet— 13 goals, 14 assists, 27 points in 53 games last season—there’s no mistaking the upside.

Zary showed flashes of top-six potential before two fluke injuries derailed his year: first, a knee-on-knee collision in Anaheim and then an awkward fall after being hauled down against Dallas.

Still, when he’s healthy, Zary drives play and creates dynamic offence. A full season could see him push 25 goals and 50 points. His scoring touch showed in 2022–23 with the AHL’s Wranglers, where he played all 72 games and racked up 21 goals and 58 points.

He also has the potential to slide from wing to centre, which would give the Flames much needed stability down the middle. 

Zary can be streaky at times, but his game is still maturing. If he finds another level of consistency, he becomes a key piece in Calgary’s forward group.

The regular NHL season schedule is out, with Marner set to return to Toronto on January 23, 2026.

THN Hosts @Michael_Traikos, @katie_gaus , and @THNRyanKennedy debate Toronto's reception of Marner after being traded to Vegas, the latest NHL news, and more on the newest episode… pic.twitter.com/6WvVagG399

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) July 17, 2025

Drafted 24th overall in 2020, Zary is coming off a three-year entry-level deal with a modest $863,334 cap hit.

The Flames are in a great spot to sign him at value. The production may not match the ceiling just yet—but it’s coming. Zary isn’t just part of the future—he’s shown he can make an impact now.

© Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Yesterday, we reported that Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield had made NHL.com’s top 10 under-25 forwards ranking, and today, it’s Jacob Fowler’s turn to make the Top 10 under-25 goaltenders ranking. We’ve been saying for years that the future was bright in Montreal, and it looks like, slowly but surely, the future is arriving.

Just like Caufield, Fowler is ranked fifth in the list behind Calder Trophy finalist and Calgary Flames netminder Dustin Wolf, Chicago Blackhawks’ Spencer Knight (who was drafted two spots before Caufield at the 2019 draft), San Jose Sharks’ Yaroslav Askarov, and Ottawa Senators’ Leevi Merilainen. Interestingly, Jakub Dobes, who’s under 25 as well and has better stats than a lot of goaltenders on the list, was ignored.

Fowler is one of only two goaltenders, alongside Trey Augustine, to make the list without having played a single game in the NHL. The latter hasn’t even signed his ELC with the Detroit Red Wings yet and will be heading back to the NCAA with Michigan State University for a fourth year, meaning the Wings will have to be patient and wait for their second-round pick at the 2023 draft to be done with school before he suits up for them.

Given Fowler’s non-existent NHL stats, his NCAA career, and his limited experience in the AHL sealed the deal. He finished his season with Boston College with a 25-7-2 record, a 1.63 goals-against average, and a .940 save percentage. The masked man also posted seven shutouts, up from three in his rookie year.

The youngster also showed a bit of a mean streak, hitting an opponent who got a bit too close to his liking with his blocker, which earned him an ejection and a one-game suspension.

Yeah, you can’t do that. Fowler was ejected pic.twitter.com/Yt68nT8dB1

— Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) November 16, 2024

After signing his contract, the 20-year-old appeared in three regular-season games with the Laval Rocket, going 2-1-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .914 SV. He also played eight games in the postseason, going 3-3 with a 2.48 GAA and a .902 save percentage. It will be interesting to see what he can do in his first full year of professional hockey, which he is highly likely to spend with the Rocket as the number one netminder.

The question now becomes how the Canadiens do in NHL.com’s top 10 under-25 defenseman ranking. I have a slight suspicion that a certain Lane Hutson will find his way there and that he’ll be higher than fifth. Could another one make it? I expect we’ll find out in the next few hours or days…

Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

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Earlier this month, the Stanley Cup was freshly engraved with the names of the latest NHL champions.

In case you forgot, that just happened to be the Florida Panthers, who claimed the Cup for the second straight season.

That means the new engravings were placed directly next to last year’s Panthers’ names, which is one of the cool things about winning back-to-back Cups.

Other than the side-by-side glory that will live on forever, there was another interesting element about the placement of the new engravings that caught some attention.

Before getting to that, let’s take a moment to appreciate the efforts of a certain Trade Deadline addition who played a massive role in Florida’s postseason success this year.

Brad Marchand, acquired at the deadline for a second-round pick that has since become a first-round pick, seemed to get better and better as the playoffs went by.

The plays he made and the goals he scored during the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers were something out of a storybook.

He’ll get a good chance to keep the magic going after signing a six-year extension to stay with the Panthers through the end of his Hall of Fame career.

Whether the 37-year-old and the Cats get another few cracks at the Stanley Cup remains to be seen, but seeing him step up during Florida’s playoff run was something Panthers fans will never forget.

Getting back to the Cup, here’s the interesting thing referenced earlier.

Directly above the 2024-25 Florida Panthers’ names that have been freshly engraved on the historic trophy are the 2010-11 Boston Bruins.

Photo caption: The Stanley Cup made an appearance at the Flanigans in Hallandale Beach on Wednesday. (Photo source: @miamiguydylan on X) 

That means anytime a Panthers fan checks out the Cats’ names on the Stanley Cup, they won’t have to look far to find Marchand’s name from when he won the Cup with Boston.

Of course, that also means that when Bruins fans seek out their latest Stanley Cup win, and only since the early 70s, they might also catch a glimpse of Marchand’s name under the Panthers banner.

We’ll get an idea of how the longtime Bruins star will be received back in Boston when the Panthers visit TD Garden on Oct. 21.

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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

It's safe to say that most of the Ottawa Senators’ 2025 free agent summer homework is done.

They've signed UFAs like Lars Eller and Arthur Kaliyev off the open market, and they've already re-signed most of the free agents they wanted to keep. That list includes Fabian Zetterlund, Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, Tyler Kleven, Nik Matinpalo, and goaltender Leevi Meriläinen.

GM Steve Staios still has a few summer chores down on the farm. RFAs Max Guenette, Xavier Bourgault, Jan Jeník, and Donovan Sebrango all received qualifying offers, so they’ll likely figure something out this summer.

But with several players now eligible for extensions, the class of 2026 will soon creep onto the radar like a daily Ottawa summer thunderstorm.

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Giroux, Cousins, and Meriläinen all signed one-year deals this summer, so their agents will be back at it before long, probably feeling like they just got up from the bargaining table. Giroux and Cousins are probably in one-year mode for the rest of their careers.

Meriläinen, however, is an RFA who has a chance to be in Ottawa for a long time. The young Finn will make $1.05 million this season, a sharp contrast to Linus Ullmark's $8.25 million. Meriläinen only got into 12 games, but he was fantastic, with substantially better numbers than Ullmark and Anton Forsberg. It would be nice if we could check in on the Sens in a parallel universe where Merilainen wasn't sent down to the minors to make room for the outgoing Forsberg.

It will be interesting to see how that all works out this season, and whether Meriläinen will suddenly need to demand more money.

Staios will have to closely monitor the career fuel gauge on his four oldest veterans — Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller, and Nick Jensen. All of them will be north of 35 and playing this season on expiring deals.

It’s a group that brings some valuable experience, and if the Sens are in the mix for a playoff spot again, as they're expected to be, they’ll surely hold on to them, even at the risk of losing them for nothing in the summer. 

Giroux, Perron, and Eller were all happy to sign here so they may be in the mix again next summer. But what of Jensen, who was traded from the Washington Capitals in the Jakob Chychrun deal? Does he want to be in Ottawa? Will that repaired hip affect his game? We don't have those answers yet, so Jensen's is the 2026 UFA storyline I find most intriguing in Ottawa.

On the RFA side, along with Merilainen, it's Shane Pinto, who's currently eligible to sign his third contract with the Sens since January of last year.

The RFA list includes Pinto, Meriläinen, Kaliyev, Jordan Spence and prospect Stephen Halliday. Lassi Thomson could be an RFA as well, but unless he plays most of the season in Ottawa, he’s more likely looking at Group 6 free agency (UFA).

Still just 23, Pinto was primarily used last season on the third line, saw limited power-play time, and missed 12 games with injury. Yet he still finished fourth in Sens' goal scoring (21). Frankly, he's probably a more impactful player than some of his teammates who are expected to be slotted above him on the depth chart.

There’s also a real chance he could push Dylan Cozens for the second-line center role — and if he does, that would have financial implications. Cozens is locked in at $7.1 million AAV for five more years and will be given every opportunity to succeed at 2C. But if Pinto becomes the 2C, he'll want 2C money. 

One could imagine experimenting with Pinto on the wing to give him more offensive opportunities. That said, his chemistry with Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio last season created one of Ottawa’s most effective lines at both ends of the ice on many nights, so there’s something to be said for not messing with that.

As an aside, even that line is getting expensive at almost $10 million right now, with Pinto about to add to that.

It certainly appears so far that Staios prefers to handle his free agency business during the off-season. But there have been exceptions, like signing Pinto two deals ago when he was coming off his suspension in early 2024, or Ridly Greig in January of this year. Ullmark almost made the list, but he signed his extension on the eve of the 2024-25 season opener.

There's already a lot to think about with the 2026 class, and the whole process is a little like a game of chess. Sure, you have to be focusing on the pieces in front of you and making smart moves. But you always have to be thinking several moves ahead.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa

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New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes had another excellent season in 2024-25. In 62 games with the Metropolitan Division club on the year, he posted 27 goals, 43 assists, and 70 points. It was the fourth season in a row where he averaged over a point per game. 

Now, due to his incredible play over the years, Hughes has received some major praise. In a recent article for NHL.com, Adam Kimelman ranked the 10 best players in the NHL who are under 25. For it, Hughes ranked second on the list, with Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle being the only player ahead of him. 

Given how much success Hughes has had early on in his career, it is understandable that he has been ranked so highly by Kimelman. The 2019 first-overall pick has lived up to the hype early on in his career, and he should only get better as he continues to inch closer to his prime years. 

In 368 career NHL games over six seasons, Hughes has recorded 141 goals, 210 assists, and 315 points. His best season so far was in 2022-23, as he set career highs with 43 goals, 56 assists, and 99 points in 78 games. 

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Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

He hasn’t played a competitive hockey game in more than two years, but Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halák never officially ended his career … until now.

“I’m done,” he said in a recent interview with Tomáš Prokop of Denník Šport. “I’ll never wear the pads again.”

Halák played 25 games for the New York Rangers in 2022-23 backing up all-star goalie Igor Shesterkin. Since then, there was a PTO with the Carolina Hurricanes in the autumn of 2023 that lasted only two weeks. Then in February of 2024 he signed with his hometown club, Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga, but that didn’t lead to any games either.

“We agreed on the last day of the transfer period, which was already a pretty crucial date in the season,” Halák was quoted last summer. “After signing, I evaluated all the pros and cons.”

His last real shot was last summer, when he was hoping to get one final chance to try out for an NHL team.

“Last year I completed summer training,” Halák said. “I wanted to go on the ice in Boston, but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless. After that I didn’t even try anymore. I’m officially ending my career. I would like to thank my family, friends, fans and especially my wife Petra, who has been by my side my entire career.”

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As recently as two weeks ago, there were rumblings that a Czech team was interested in Halák.

“Maybe there was something, but it went away,” Halák dismissed. “I wanted to stay in America, especially for the kids, since they go to school there and the sports training there is better than in Europe.”

So Halák, who turned 40 in May, won’t play long enough to match the uniform number 41, which he wore for much of his career.

A native of Bratislava, Halák was a ninth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2006 and 2023, he played 581 NHL regular-season games and 39 more in the playoffs for the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Rangers.

The defining year of Halák’s career was 2010. That February, he backstopped Slovakia to a fourth-place finish at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, playing all seven of his team’s games while posting a 2.41 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Then in April and May, he led eighth-seeded Montreal to playoff upsets over Alexander Ovechkin’s Capitals and Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins in the first two rounds.

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Halák finishes with 295 career NHL wins. He admitted last summer that getting to 300 wins was part of his motivation for wanting to continue, but he’s since backed off that stance.

“It’s been two years and I’ve come to terms with not reaching 300,” he admitted. “Looking back on my career, it’s been a good one. It would have been nicer with 300 wins, but I’ll be happy with 295.”

Now, his focus is primarily on his children. At least two of them are trying to follow in his footsteps.

“Since my son Nathan has been a goalie for three years, I’ve been focusing on him,” said Halák. “This year, my older daughter Inna joined him. Since January, she’s been trying to be a goalie as well.”

Photo © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images.

Another Goalie Moves From NHL To KHL Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Thursday.

Welcome back to the second part of our summer-long series ranking NHL media meals. With the schedule revealed this week, I've started booking road trips for the upcoming season, which is also making me hungry and excited for the media meals next season. This week, we count down the No. 17 through 24 media meals in the NHL.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

These are better than most media meals, but not what I would call S-tier. But who knows? Perhaps that will change in 2025-26. One of my plans for this season is to give every city a chance to move up or down the rankings following each visit.

With that said, here are rankings for the mid-tier to lower-ranked media meals in the NHL.

TikTok · David AlterCheck out David Alter’s video.

No. 17:Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers boast one of the fanciest setups in the NHL, featuring a small, specially-appointed table with a fancy cloth and real cutlery reserved for home front office executives. This meal used to be quite expensive at $20 plus tax and tip, but they've since reduced it to $15, which was a welcome change. The decreased price appeared to correlate with a smaller protein selection, though the quality remained decent. For some reason, they had an abundance of salad dressings. You name it, they had it. And they had a lot of it. They also offered a great dessert selection from a local Alberta creamery. Even though there was a fee, I was on a list and didn't have to pay, which I appreciated. They also serve pizza during intermissions and offer various snacks and assorted drinks.

No. 18:Florida Panthers

From Stanley Cup finalists to Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers are not winners of the media meal prize. They usually offer a choice of one or two proteins. It's not bad for just $13 US. They have cherry coke on fountain, which I always appreciate, as many venues do not. You also get hot dogs and cookies; during the playoffs, they even changed it up, offering a marshmallow and Rice Krispy treat covered in chocolate on a stick. Upstairs, they usually have some sort of hot food, such as chicken 'tendies' or empanadas, along with chips. They also had candied popcorn in the colors of the Florida Panthers, which I really liked. It's these little bonuses that stopped them from falling further down the list.

TikTok · David Alter331 likes, 9 comments. “#Leafs #media #meal for Game 6 against the Panthers. The hot dog was great. Same with the chicken and plantains. Hopefully there will be some more left this #NHL season.”

No. 19: Vegas Golden Knights

The drawback to Vegas is that they take cash only, and I actually didn't have any on me. So, a shout-out to the Mayor of Las Vegas, Gary Lawless, for telling the staff not to charge me for dinner, which I very much appreciated. They offered a good selection, although I didn't have time for the three-color cauliflower. What truly elevates the Vegas experience is the amazing candy and treat selection upstairs. This contributed to a great dining experience. They also offer cold brew coffee for those hot Vegas nights, which I definitely dig.

No. 20:Toronto Maple Leafs

Since I am based in Toronto, I don't have to frequent the media meals. However, I often choose to partake. During the height of the pandemic, they reverted to free meal vouchers, which I loved because I could use the $25 credit and pay a few extra dollars to get some delicious Edo sushi. In December 2023, the media meals returned. They were okay, but sometimes consisted of nothing more than basic burgers and worse. It's not bad, but for $15 plus taxes, it could be better. Sometimes they'd offer Mexican food, and it was okay. Their best nights are when they offer Asian cuisine. During the playoffs, they switched to vouchers where $15 would get you $25 worth of concession food. It's not a great value proposition, and the selection was limited to 300-level choices, excluding any of the new, fancier restaurants due to renovations. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for next year, as I believe they have the potential to move up the list. Upstairs, many media members settle for the free Pizza Pizza.

TikTok · David Alter143 likes, 14 comments. “It’s #media #meal time for Game 5 between the #Leafs and Panthers in the #NHL #stanleycup playoffs. Refusing to have the voucher so I enjoyed the free #pizza. And jelly beans.”

No. 21: Calgary Flames

The Flames' media meal is fairly basic, with the main event typically being chicken thighs. For Alberta, I was hoping for some Grade-A beef. The real saving grace that kept them from falling further down the list is the adjacent commissary for employees, which offers a vast and reasonably priced selection. Media members were also allowed to partake, and I opted for this over the main meal, at a fraction of the cost.

No. 22: Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets offer a decent meal at an okay price, but it's not particularly memorable. The best part of their offerings is an ice cream machine. Also, their Tim Hortons coffee seems to be superior to any other Tim Hortons coffee I've had. This could be because there's a standalone Tim Hortons location right next to Nationwide Arena. It's hard to explain. The Blue Jackets are the only team that has an emotional support dog greeting you as you come out of the elevator. His name is Jaxon, and he's a very good boy.

TikTok · David Alter1292 likes, 36 comments. “Media #meal time in Calgary for #Leafs vs #Flames. Unique to this city, they have a staff cafeteria where the value proposition absolutely slaps.”

No. 23:Washington Capitals

The Capitals actually spent a season operating on a voucher system similar to the Maple Leafs, where $10 would get you $30 worth of food, and it was actually really good. However, I do like that they eventually transitioned to a traditional media meal. It's another one of those small buffet spreads, typically featuring only one protein option. If you didn't like the dressing they put on the beef, you pretty much weren't eating. The Caps do have a good snack game in the press box, though, with more sweets than savory options.

No. 24:Winnipeg Jets

The Jets' meal is fairly pricey at $17 plus tax, and there wasn't much going for it. Winnipeg is a very underrated food city, and they actually have an awesome food court next door that many of my colleagues opt for instead. I went to Saburo for an awesome Korean Fried Chicken platter. It was delicious.

(Top Image Credit: David Alter on TikTok)

The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t made any huge splashes this offseason. They have made it clear that 2025-26 is another developmental year. There was no reason to overspend on free agents who won’t be as helpful when the team is ready to win. 

Kyle Davidson, however, is not shy about adding pieces that he thinks can help the team in the long term. On Thursday, a player like that may have become available. 

Rumors are out there that Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade away from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, every team that could use a talented forward for their bottom-six is going to be inquiring. 

Yegor Chinakhov, 24, still has youth on his side, so he will be attractive to the Blackhawks. There is some upside to his game, which makes him worth considering for a team that lacks NHL forward depth. 

His upside likely won't lead to him becoming a star, but he's a productive bottom-six forward with some skill. In 175 games with the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov has 71 points. Having that many points in a limited role isn't anything to ignore.

When he's healthy, which has been somewhat of an issue, he can be a productive player. He has a great shot, which is his ace tool, but he has to be on the ice to use it. If a fresh start is what he's looking for, Chicago may be a good landing spot for him to rejuvenate his career. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been full of surprises throughout the summer.

And - aside from the hypothetical day when some big trade news drops about Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, or Bryan Rust - perhaps they'll have yet another one up their sleeve.

On Thursday, it was reported by agent Shumi Babaev that Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade. The trade request, reportedly, comes as a result of "misunderstandings" with Blue Jackets' head caoch Dean Evason.

Chinakhov, 24, just finished his fourth NHL season with Columbus, registering seven goals and 15 points in 30 games. The intriguing young forward has the ability to put the puck in the net with his sniping ability, and his high hockey-IQ and excellent vision would pair well with both the veterans and the other young players in Pittsburgh's top-nine.

The biggest issue for Chinakhov throughout his NHL career up to this point has been his ability to stay healthy. Across four seasons, he has played in a total of only 175 games, and he has put up 34 goals and 71 points in that time. He was sidelined with a back injury that kept him out for most of last season and in 2023-24, which would be a reasonable concern for any GM or team interested in his services.

Through his agent, Shumi Babaev, it appears that #CBJ Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade https://t.co/0DrRnTtWlm

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 17, 2025

It was even a concern for his own GM in Don Waddell, who admitted that the winger struggled after his return last season - and was surprised that Babaev went public with the trade request. 

“I’m surprised he went public,” Waddell said. “But I’m not surprised because we’ve talked about it. He got back [from injury] and didn’t play well, and [he and Evason] fell out of favor. I told [Babaev], 'He has value, I will talk to teams. I have talked to teams. But I’m not just going to trade him because you said to trade him'.”

Given all of this, is this a player worth taking a chance on if you're Dubas and the Penguins?

For the past several weeks, there have been rumors abound concerning the future of Penguins' winger Rust, who has generated a ton of interest on the trade market. Per a report from The Fourth Period on Tuesday, Rust has recently been linked to three teams: the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Columbus. We did discuss the idea of a Rust trade to Columbus involving Chinakhov a few weeks back, but with Chinakhov on the block, could it make even more sense now?

3 Trade Destinations For Penguins’ Winger Bryan Rust - And What The Return Should Look LikeAccording to many, Day One of free agency has been a bit of letdown.

It very well could. 

With teams still poking around on Rust - and Chinakhov now in play - he could be the kind of player that pushes a deal over the finish line. If a hypothetical deal were to happen between Pittsburgh and Columbus involving Rust and Chinakhov, though, more would have to come back from Columbus in the deal.

Rust is a proven top-six scoring winger, having registered six consecutive 20-goal seasons, including a career-high 31 goals in 2024-25. Dubas has also reiterated on a few occasions that Rust will not come cheap and that he and the Penguins would have to be "blown away" in order to accept an offer for the 33-year-old veteran, who is a valuable piece of the puzzle both on the ice and in the locker room for the Penguins.

So - that being said - the starting point is, probably, a first-round pick for Rust. 2026 first-round picks are going to be valuable commodities in terms of trade value this season - especially fringe teams like Columbus - because the draft lottery happens to feature a generational talent in Gavin McKenna next season.

If Chinakhov is part of the deal, Pittsburgh may either need to accept a 2026 conditional first-round pick or a straight-up 2027 first-round pick. Pushing back the first-rounder could also, potentially, mean that the Penguins may be able to squeeze one more asset out of the Blue Jackets in this trade scenario - possibly a B-level prospect or another pick.

Is this the right price for Rust? Honestly, who knows. It was reported by Frank Seravalli on Thursday that the Penguins are still "asking for a ton" for both Rust and Rakell, who has also generated a high degree of interest on the trade market after a career year (35 goals, 70 points). It's fair to assume that any Rust trade proposals thrown out into existence are, likely, lacking something if the asking price is truly that high.

Frank Seravalli: Dubas has been asking for a ton for both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, he's still asking for a lot for Erik Karlsson on the basis he's going to retain - Bleacher Report (Jul 15)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 17, 2025

But if the Penguins are truly interested in getting younger and acquiring young talent given the chance, Chinakhov is probably the type of player to take a flier on. Although Chinakhov alone isn't enough for Rust, he did register 10 goals and 17 points in 32 games for Omsk Avangard of the KHL in 2020-21 as well as 27 goals and 69 points in 56 games for Omskie Yastreby of the MHL - Russia's top junior league - during his draft year in 2019-20.

The 21st overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Draft, Chinakhov has not quite met expectations yet in the NHL. But it's safe to say that the talent and the potential is there, and these higher-ceiling young players are the exact kinds of guys Dubas should be taking chances on.

Even if Rust isn't the player going to Columbus as part of a bigger package, the Penguins have more than enough assets at this point to expend a few and take a chance on a player in need of a change of scenery. At the very least, Dubas should be making some phone calls to Waddell. 

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.

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue is continuing his playing career overseas.

Domingue signed a one-year deal with the KHL's Sibir Novosibirsk on Thursday after spending the 2024-25 season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL team of the New York Rangers. He finished the season with a 7-20-1 record, a 3.32 goals-against average, and a .896 save percentage. 

He had been with the Wolf Pack for the previous three seasons after spending the 2021-22 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Domingue played in six playoff games for the Penguins against the Rangers in 2022 because of injuries to Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, finishing with three wins, a 3.65 goals-against average, and a .898 save percentage. 

DeSmith was the starter for Game 1 of the series but got hurt during the game, paving the way for Domingue to take the net until Jarry was healthy enough for Game 7. The Penguins had a 3-1 lead in the series before the Rangers stormed back to win it in seven games thanks to an Artemi Panarin overtime goal. 

Domingue was picked by the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Mammoth) in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft. 

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Featured Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Patrick Kane is back for another season with the Detroit Red Wings after agreeing to another one-year extension, and he could soon set NHL history. 

Kane, who has amassed 1,343 career points, is only 32 from passing Mike Modano's record of 1,374 points to become the highest scoring U.S.-born player of all time. 

Looking ahead to 2025-26

Patrick Kane of the @DetroitRedWings sits 32 points away from passing Mike Modano for the most all-time by a U.S.-born player. Modano has held the mark since passing Phil Housley on Nov. 7, 2007. #NHLStatspic.twitter.com/nE8kYsYgWa

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 17, 2025

Modano spent the final season of his NHL career with the Red Wings in 2010-11, though he missed multiple weeks after suffering a frightening wrist injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets in November 2010. 

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

Kane, who only needs eight more goals to reach 500 for his career, has spoken glowingly about his time with the Red Wings, which was made easier when he first signed in December 2024 thanks to the presence of his former Chicago Blackhawks teammate and good friend Alex DeBrincat.

“It’s been great,” Kane said of his time with the Red Wings toward the end of last season. “Obviously really appreciative of Steve (Yzerman) and the organization to take a chance on me coming back from the surgery, and I think even last year it maybe didn’t so much feel like it was home, or like it was my team, or the team I played for. But coming into this year, and especially now, I definitely feel like a Red Wing now. It’s been a great place for me to continue my career, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Following a slower start than he or the Red Wings would have liked last season, Kane immediately returned to his dangerous form when Todd McLellan took over behind the bench in late December. 

McLellan soon began skating Kane on a line with DeBrincat centered by rookie Marco Kasper, a combination that Red Wings fans can likely expect to see at the start of next season. 

The Red Wings will need Kane at his best next season if they are to have a chance at bringing playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time next spring. 

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The Stanley Cup is back in South Florida.

After spending some time in Quebec with A.J. Greer and Roberto Luongo once it was engraved with the names of the 2025-26 Florida Panthers, the Stanley Cup made the trip back to Broward County this week for some fun in the sun.

On Wednesday, longtime Panthers equipment manager Scott Tinkler took his turn with the historic trophy.

Tinkler, who has been with the Panthers since their first season all the way back in 1993, did one of the most South Florida things you could do with the Stanley Cup.

He brought it to Flanigan's.

According to a video posted by Flanigan's on social media, and photos posted by @maimiguydylan on X, the Cup was filled with several of the restaurant’s staple items.

We’re talking chicken wings, the banzai brownie dessert and, of course, Flanigan's famous rib rolls.

While there have been plenty of exotic and memorable Panthers’ Stanley Cup days over the past year-plus, this is one of the more localized ones.

Flanigan's has been staple in South Florida since opening in the 1950s.

The image of Joe “Big Daddy” Flanigan on the eatery’s large, green plastic cups are famously seen all over the region, from parties on the boats and the beach to random kitchen cabinets, and even in the Amerant Bank Arena press box during Panthers games.

If you’re from South Florida and don’t have a Flanigan's cup somewhere in your home, you might be one of the only ones.

And that being the case, close your computer or put down your phone right now and drive to the nearest Flanigan's.

You won’t be sorry, and hey, you might run into the Stanley Cup while you’re there!

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Photo caption: The Stanley Cup made an appearance at the Flanigans in Hallandale Beach on Wednesday. (Photo source: @miamiguydylan on X) 

The Vancouver Canucks’ schedule for the 2025–26 season has officially been released. The team begins 2025–26 at home on October 9 against the Calgary Flames, and concludes the regular season on April 16 on the road against the Edmonton Oilers. Let’s take a look at some of Vancouver’s can’t-miss games occurring throughout the season. 

October 9: Home Opener Versus Calgary

As mentioned, the Canucks start the 2025–26 season at home against the Flames, with this game beginning at 7:00pm PT. This is the second year in a row that Vancouver has started their season at home against Calgary on October 9, as they had the exact same season-opening date and matchup the year prior. Many remember last season’s opening blunder in which Vancouver got off to an early 4–1 lead in the first period only to lose 6–5 in overtime. In 2025–26, the team will look to repair this with a win to start off their season. 

October 11: First Match Against Edmonton

Vancouver’s next game in 2025–26 is none other than a match against the Oilers in Edmonton. Edmonton is coming off their second straight Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Florida Panthers, meaning they’ll be coming into the season with revenge on their minds. Previous Canucks and Oilers matchups have been very entertaining — for example, the January 18 game in Vancouver in which both Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers were suspended for three games due to some end-of-game action. 

Another aspect of this game that makes it intriguing is the fact that this will be newly-acquired Canuck Evander Kane’s first game against his former team. It’s no secret that Kane plays with an edge, so any in-game scrappiness could be due to something he starts. Regardless, Canucks vs. Oilers games are always exciting ones for both fanbases to watch. 

October 17: Kiefer Sherwood’s Revenge

On March 15, in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Vancouver, former Canuck Jason Dickinson threw a dirty hit on Filip Chytil that crunched the latter painfully into the boards. Chytil was taken out of the game and ultimately did not play again for the rest of the season. Postgame, a few players expressed their disdain for the hit, but none more than newcomer Kiefer Sherwood. 

“[Dickinson’s] going to have to answer the bell next year because I know we don’t play them again. That was a dirty hit,” Sherwood had said at the time. “And then he doesn’t have the ‘whatever’ to step on the ice afterwards. [Forbort] asked him [to fight] and it is what it is. We’ll get him next year.” 

With this in mind, Vancouver’s first game against the Blackhawks during the 2025–26 season is on October 17 in Chicago. Whether Dickinson fights or not is something that will remain answerless until both teams step on the ice, but regardless, Vancouver clearly has plans to exact their revenge. 

October 28: J.T. Miller Returns To Vancouver

October 28 may be one of the highest-awaited games of the Canucks’ calendar year. Former Canuck J.T. Miller will be playing at Rogers Arena for the first time since being traded, with his last game in front of Canucks fans being January 25 against the Washington Capitals. With how popular Miller was in his time with Vancouver, it’s likely that he’ll be getting a pretty long tribute video when he arrives. 

Sentimental aspects aside, it’ll surely be a game to watch when the Canucks take on the New York Rangers for the first time in Vancouver with Miller in the lineup. With a healthy Elias Pettersson hopefully in the lineup, many will likely be comparing the two players’ performances against one-another. 

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November 5: Connor Bedard Comes To Vancouver

It’s always fun when a superstar rolls into town. For Vancouver, one of the most exciting players to watch at Rogers Arena is Connor Bedard. The forward, who is originally from North Vancouver, is expected to play against his hometown team on November 5 when the Blackhawks come to Vancouver. Bedard has already played at Rogers Arena twice in his NHL career, both in the 2024–25 season, which will make this matchup his third. 

November 17: First Match Against The Back-To-Back Stanley Cup Champions

As part of their usual annual trip to Florida, the Canucks will take on the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Panthers on November 17. Florida is coming off their second straight Stanley Cup. Despite many of their players being eligible for free agency in 2025, the Panthers retained all of their key free agents, meaning their championship core will stick around for quite some time. Last season, Vancouver secured their first win of the season against the Panthers in Florida. 

December 30: Rick Tocchet Returns To Vancouver

Vancouver’s December 30 match against the Philadelphia Flyers is important for more than just the fact that it’s their last game of 2025. This game also marks the return of former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, who will be coaching the Flyers in his first game back in Vancouver since April 16. Accompanying Tocchet back to Vancouver will be former Canucks assistant coach Yogi Švejkovský and former Canucks defenceman Noah Juulsen. 

January 23: The Hughes Bowl

On January 23, one of the more recent NHL traditions will take place — the Hughes Bowl. The New Jersey Devils, the team of Jack and Luke Hughes, will come to Vancouver and face the Canucks and their captain, Quinn Hughes. The first Hughes Bowl of 2025–26 will take place earlier in the year, on December 14 in New Jersey. This installment will be the first to occur in Vancouver since the Canucks were crushed 6–0 by the Devils on October 30, 2024. 

Vancouver Canucks Announce 2025-26 Regular Season ScheduleThe Vancouver Canucks have announced their schedule for the 2025-26 season. Just as last year, the Canucks will open the season at home, while the league will pause in February as players head to the 2026 Winter Olympics. Here is a look at Vancouver's schedule this season:

January 25: Artūrs Šilovs’ Return To Vancouver

Just two days after the Hughes Bowl, Canucks fans will welcome back a former fan favourite. Artūrs Šilovs, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, will return to Rogers Arena alongside his new team on January 25. It’s currently unknown whether Šilovs has a chance at starting in that game or not, but regardless, there’s a chance the Calder Cup champion could still be in the building for his first game back. 

April 14: Vancouver’s Final Home Game

Vancouver ends the 2025–26 regular season on the road, meaning their last home game will take place a little earlier than some other teams’. The Canucks will host the Los Angeles Kings on April 14 in their final regular season game in front of their fans. With that being said, there’s always the possibility that they could be back in the building after this date, but they’ll need to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in order to do so. 

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The Detroit Red Wings haven't had a true, homegrown goaltender since the days of both Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood, both of whom got their starts after being drafted by the club by working their way up through Detroit's minor-league affiliates. 

Osgood ultimately won the Stanley Cup three times with Detroit, twice as a starter. And while Howard unfortunately wasn't able to do so, he still ranks third all-time in franchise history in victories and games played. 

The Red Wings are hoping that both Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine, who are two of the more highly-regarded goaltending NHL prospects today, will fit the bill. 

Cossa has already begun his professional career with the Grand Rapids Griffins, amassing a total record of 43-24-15 over the last two combined seasons. He also picked up his first NHL victory in a relief appearance for the Red Wings last December in what has been his only appearance in the big show to date. 

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

Augustine, who has decided that he'll be returning to play his junior season with the Michigan State Spartans, has received attention from a recent NHL.com ranking of the best goaltenders 25 years old and under, clocking in at No. 6 overall. 

The puck stops here 🙅‍♂️ #NHLYoungStarsWeek

Read more from @NHLdotcom ➡️ https://t.co/l0ZQ2r2jN6pic.twitter.com/MiWZ1tEIz1

— NHL (@NHL) July 17, 2025

Additionally, Augustine was ranked third overall by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler in his recent rankings of the best drafted NHL goalie prospects; Cossa came in at No. 8 overall. 

My annual top 20 drafted NHL goalie prospects ranking is out at @TheAthletic!

Featuring full evaluations, projections, tiers, and more, all packaged in our user interface.

The 2025 edition: https://t.co/RTNrl8MyQ1pic.twitter.com/efFBmUQjjw

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) July 15, 2025

Augustine put together a sparking 19-7-4 record in his sophomore season with the Spartans, complete with an equally solid .924 save percentage and 2.08 goals-against average. Oh, and he was also named the 2024-25 Big Ten Goaltender of the Year. 

His skills have also been put to the test in international competition. He's a five-time medal winner, including consecutive gold medals at the 2024 and 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships. In doing so, he became the winningest goalie in United States history at the IIHF World Junior Championships.

A 2023 second-round Draft pick of the Red Wings, Augustine's career trajectory thus far shows no sign of not being able to eventually become a highly successful goaltender for Detroit in the future.

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