The Stanley Cup is getting ready to hit the road for the summer.

Now that the Cup has been freshly engraved with the names of the 2024-25 Panthers, the historic trophy is starting its summer tour with the winning team.

It makes sense that the team’s Cup visits began in Quebec, as that’s where the special engraving process takes place.

After a fun day on Sunday, one that included a parade, in Joliette, the hometown of Panthers forward A.J. Greer, the Stanley Cup made the short trip south to the Montreal area.

That’s where it linked up with longtime Panthers goaltender and executive Roberto Luongo, in his hometown of Saint-Leonard.

Luongo posted a photo of himself with Cup, and there was something interesting, and perhaps equally cute, nestled inside of it.

Unlike last summer, when Luongo enjoyed some delicious pasta and gnocchi out of the Cup, this time he posted with four Labubu dolls.

For those unaware of what Labubu dolls are (like I was) they are popular collectable dolls that come in unmarked boxes, so you don’t know which doll you get until you open it.

You know, kind of like a pack of cards. 

They are cute and cuddly and growing in popularity, and in value. 

Luongo wasn’t the only celebrity to post some Labubu-related content this week.

Megan Thee Stallion went viral after posting a video of her opening a box of Labubu dolls while sitting on the lap of her new beau, Klay Thompson.

Thankfully, Luongo kept his Labubu social media moment a bit more family-friendly.

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Image caption: Photo posted by Roberto Luongo to his Instagram account @thestrombone1 during his time with the Stanley Cup. (Source: @thestrombone1 on Instagram)

The Detroit Red Wings are the latest focus in our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Red Wings’ 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 some exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

The Red Wings are stuck in the mushy middle. They’ve been good enough to be in the playoff race for a few years now. By the time the races near the end, they’ve fallen off. Even a couple of seasons back, when they missed the post-season in their final game, they had a chance to take a stranglehold on the final playoff spot but toiled away.

The constant middling results, as well as arguably the worst luck in NHL draft lottery history, landed the Wings with a prospect pool that’s full of good but not great players. 

These prospects will build out the middle six of their roster, but they don’t have many potential elite impact players right now. 

Carter Bear, their most recent first-round pick, might have the highest realistic upside of any forward in the system, and he seems destined to be a very capable second-line winger who can score, hit and do just about everything a coach wants from a player. 

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has the most realistic shot of challenging Bear for the highest upside in the group. He plays a similar brand of hockey with a sound two-way game, physical maturity, excellent board play and a great shot. 

Brandsegg-Nygard just does it all with a more refined package of tools. He doesn’t have as high a motor as Bear, but it’s still high-end, and he plays such a tactical brand of hockey. Brandsegg-Nygard might be the best hope to fill the Wings’ hole on the top line alongside Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin, but that’s a lot to ask of a player coming to North America for the first time this upcoming season.

Carter Mazur can play up and down the lineup. He likely fits better in the bottom six, but he could be a serviceable fill-in higher in the lineup. He had a rough season riddled with injuries, including an upper-body injury that ended his year just two shifts into his NHL debut. That said, Mazur has a sneaky possibility of playing in the NHL this year. He brings a high motor, a very good shot and some interesting hard skills.. 

Detroit would love it if Nate Danielson could take a step and arrive in the NHL. His first AHL season was solid with 39 points in 71 games, but he didn’t blow the doors off. Danielson isn’t the flashiest player, and he has more functional skill than elite creativity, but that’s how the Wings are building their roster. They want players who outwork and outskate their opponents, and Danielson could be a key part of that. Whether he makes the NHL roster out of camp or not, Danielson could be a quick call-up if performance or injuries become a concern. 

One of the most intriguing and high-upside prospects in the Wings’ system is Russian left winger Dmitri Buchelnikov. His skill and puckhandling can be dazzling at times. He has incredible vision and some of the slickest passing in the KHL. Buchelnikov skates like the wind and uses that to his advantage in the offensive zone to pull away and create space for himself. 

Buchelnikov is a boom-or-bust prospect who could be a major addition to the Wings' roster in a year or two. His 54 points in the KHL this past year were among the league’s top 20 scorers and second among U-22 players. His KHL deal expires after next season, so he could be making the trek over as soon as the end of this season. 

Some of Detroit’s best prospects who graduated in the NHL in recent years come from the back end, such as Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. 

The next potential high-impact blueliner is Axel Sandin-Pellikka. 

The shifty, skilled Swedish blueliner has been nothing but phenomenal, showcasing just how talented he is in the Swedish League. He won the Salming Trophy as defender of the year in 2023-24 and was the best defenseman at the 2025 world juniors. He was recognized as the best junior-aged Swedish player, and he’s won an SHL championship. He’ll be in the AHL this season, but don’t be surprised if he finds his way into NHL games as well. 

Shai Buium had a great AHL season as a rookie blueliner. He has a bit of an offensive lean to his game, which may be a bit redundant with some of the young talent the Wings have on the roster and in the pipeline. He’s also shown to be an adaptable player who can really help move the puck in transition. He may not get much power-play time in the NHL, but he can be a solid third-pairing puck-mover. 

William Wallinder is a sneaky potential call-up this season. After two seasons in the AHL with some steady improvement, the big, mobile defender could be in line for a chance in the NHL this year. He is a toolsy defender who likely won’t play much higher than a third-pair role, but he could be a very interesting addition. 

The Red Wings have prioritized filling their goalie pipeline, and as a result, they have a couple of top-tier goalie prospects: Sebastian Cossa (15th overall in 2021) and Trey Augustine (41st overall in 2023).

Cossa’s had an up-and-down development so far, but his size and athletic ability make him such an intriguing prospect. He carried the load in the AHL and looked quite good. It would be ideal for him to play one more year in the AHL and potentially dominate, with a cup of coffee or two in the NHL being a possibility.

Augustine has begun to make a big impression. He’s been dominant for Michigan State, helping revitalize that program and show it’s a force in the NCAA. He’s been dominant for Team USA at the World Junior Championship and even played wonderfully a couple of seasons ago at the men’s worlds. Augustine doesn’t have the size Cossa has, but this athletic ability is unreal, and his puck-tracking is elite. Augustine is the more technically sound of the two netminders as well. The hope is they form a rock-solid tandem one day, with one of them establishing themselves as the bona fide No. 1.

Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season

Marco Kasper (C/W), Simon Edvinsson (D), Lucas Raymond (RW), Carter Mazur (LW), Nate Danielson (C)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 13th overall - Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)

Round 2, 44th overall - Eddie Genborg, RW, Linkoping (Swe.)

Round 3, 75th overall - Michal Pradel, G, Tri-City (USHL)

Round 4, 109th overall - Brent Solomon, RW, Champlin Park (Minn. H.S.)

Round 4, 119th overall - Michal Svrcek, LW, Brynas Jr. (Swe.)

Round 5, 140th overall - Nikita Tyurin, D, Spartak Moscow Jr. (Rus.)

Round 6, 172nd overall - Will Murphy, D, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

Round 7, 204th overall - Grayden Robertson-Palmer, C, Phillips-Andover (Mass. H.S.)

The Detroit Red Wings clearly have a type in the draft, which includes players with a high motor and physicality.

This year, they at least picked a high-upside version of that type in the first round with Bear. His stock took a hit when his season ended due to an Achilles' tear, but all signs pointed to a full recovery when he returned to the ice prior to the draft.

Bear is a high-octane forward who never stops moving his feet and looks to get involved at both ends of the ice. His work ethic was nearly unmatched in this draft class, using his endless motor to throw hits on the forecheck or drive the puck to the net front. He has an excellent shot and makes some really nice passes out of trouble when he goes into those battles down low and along the boards. Bear has the potential to be a top-six scoring winger with some really impressive two-way utility. 

In Round 2, the Red Wings took Swedish right winger Eddie Genborg. He’s a safe, steady prospect who brings a physical edge and a sound defensive game. He doesn’t present a ton of upside, but he does have a good shot and establishes position around the net quite well. His bottom-six utility will be an asset at the next level as the Wings look to fill their third and fourth lines with functional NHLers. 

Every year, the Wings bolster their pipeline in the crease. This year, Michal Pradel was their pick. The Slovak netminder was fantastic at the World Men’s Under-18s, leading the underdog squad to the bronze medal game against the Americans. Pradel helped push the game to overtime with some massive saves before falling in extra time. Pradel has great size, and he moves fluidly around his crease. He isn’t always the most technical goalie, but he makes the first save and gives his team a chance to clear and get out of trouble.

Brent Solomon was an interesting pick as a high schooler from Minnesota. His one standout trait is his shot, which is a weapon all over the ice. He must take a significant step in other areas to take advantage of that weapon. A year in the United States League and then a couple of college campaigns could do wonders for Soloman.

In what might be one of the steals of the draft, Detroit took Michal Svrcek at 119th overall. While a little undersized at 5-foot-11, Svrcek plays with the vigor and pace teams want from a productive middle-six scorer. His speed and playmaking put defenders on their heels. Svrcek sets the table for his linemates. He does so many of the little things to drive play up ice and put them in an excellent position. He was a bit snakebitten at the U-18 level for Slovakia, but he consistently generated good results.

Fifth-round pick Nikita Tyurin is an interesting prospect because he hasn’t figured out how to leverage his skating and passing from the back end to be a truly effective defender. He’s already a solid transitional player, but his play at both ends of the ice must become more consistent. He has the tools and play-reading ability, and he flashes those skills often, but he also has some misreads and underwhelming execution at times. 

In the sixth round, the Wings picked Will Murphy. The big, strong defender loves to get involved physically, and he can kill plays along the boards. His habits when defending the cycle are simple and effective, as he aims to stall all momentum. Murphy hasn’t had much success offensively, and he’s not much of a puck-mover. He generally opts to go D-to-D or find the easiest outlet. He’s not much of a fun pick, but he’s a defensively focused, physical player.  

Detroit’s final pick was a dart throw, selecting high school athlete Grayden Robertson-Palmer. He’s a downhill attacker who has a bit of an unrefined game, but he loves to amp up the pace, get defenders thinking and force them to move on the rush. He’s a very incomplete player, but with some patience and growth over the next few years, Robertson-Palmer could be a very interesting NCAA player and NHL prospect. 

Strengths

How can you not talk about the goalies here? 

With Cossa and Augustine both ranking among the best netminders outside of the NHL and the Wings' tendency to draft solid netminders in just about every draft, the Wings should have a goalie of the future. Whether it’s one of the big two, Pradel from the 2025 draft or Rudy Guimond or Landon Miller from recent drafts, the Wings have goalies for days in the system. 

Weaknesses

The Red Wings don’t have a true glaring weakness, but they could use a center or two because most of the pivots they’ve drafted project to be lower in the lineup. 

Even Kasper, who has shown some flashes of potential in the top six, would likely settle into a third-line center role long-term. 

That puts the Wings' true weakness on display. They have plenty of depth in their prospect pool, but they lack high-end, elite impact and skill. Sandin-Pellikka can provide some skill and offensive impact on the back end, and they have goalies galore, but the forward group is missing that stud who could help give Detroit a scary top six when added to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

Hidden Gem: Jesse Kiiskinen, RW

Since the Red Wings acquired Kiiskinen in exchange for Andrew Gibson in 2024, Detroit fans have been all over how impressive he has been. The 19-year-old was nearly a point-per-game player in the Liiga against men this past season, and he will jump to AHL Grand Rapids this upcoming year. Kiiskinen is shifty more than he’s fast, using his puckhandling and skill to evade pressure. His shot is pro-ready, so that should translate to North America with ease, and his passing his better than it’s given credit for. Kiiskinen has been one of the buzziest names of the development camp cycle for any team, so he’ll be a name to watch in the fall.

Next Man Up: Nate Danielson, C

This could easily be Mazur, but Danielson gets the nod here because he has the upside the Wings need. He can play just about anywhere in the top nine and possibly solidify the center position behind Larkin and Kasper. His arrival would also help push J.T. Compher and Andrew Copp to lesser roles, which they both need at this stage of their careers. Danielson may not be the true ‘Next Man Up,’ but the Red Wings and their fans are certainly hoping a solid camp and impressive pre-season can earn him a shot.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Carter Bear, Michal Svrcek, Carter Mazur, Max Plante, Emmitt Finnie, Dmitri Buchelnikov

C: Nate Danielson, Ondrej Becher, Noah Dower-Nilsson, Amadeus Lombardi

RW: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Eddie Genborg, Jesse Kiiskinen

LD: Shai Buium, John Whipple, William Wallinder, Brady Cleveland, Eemil Viro

RD: Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Anton Johansson 

G: Trey Augustine, Sebastian Cossa, Rudy Guimond, Landon Miller, Michal Pradel

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.

Are you wondering when the NJ Devils play this season? You don’t have to wait much longer. 

The NHL has announced that it will release the full 2025–26 season schedule tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.

This year’s schedule announcement is later than usual. Last season, the 2024–25 schedule dropped on July 2, just one day after free agency began.

Now, after one year and 14 days, we’re less than 24 hours away from seeing the full slate of games.

While the NHL has teased the opening night schedule, the Devils won’t be playing that night. Here’s what’s confirmed so far:

NHL 2025–26 Opening Night Tripleheader – Tuesday, Oct. 7

• 5:00 p.m. ET: #Blackhawks at #FlaPanthers
• 8:00 p.m. ET: #LetsGoPens at #NYR
• 10:30 p.m. ET: #GoAvsGo at #LAKings

Although the regular season schedule is still under wraps, the NHL has already released the Devils’ preseason schedule. The team will play seven games, three at the Prudential Center and four on the road.

Devils 2025 Preseason Schedule

• Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. NYR – Prudential Center – 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 23 vs. NYI – Prudential Center – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 26 @ NYI – UBS Arena – 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 28 (*Split Squad) @ OTT – Videotron Centre, Quebec City – 3:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 28 (*Split Squad) vs. WAS – Prudential Center – 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 2 @ NYR – Madison Square Garden – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 4 @ PHI – Wells Fargo Center – 3:00 p.m.

During preseason, the Devils will face the Rangers and Islanders twice each, along with matchups against the Senators, Capitals, and Flyers.

The game against Ottawa will be held at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, home of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. The arena seats 18,295 fans. That day, the Devils will split the squad, with one group facing the Senators in Quebec and the other hosting the Rangers at the Prudential Center.

Fans are eagerly awaiting tomorrow’s full schedule drop so they can start planning their NHL season.

Inquiries are now open for those interested in joining the team’s season ticket membership program, The Black and Red Membership.

While there are no international or outdoor games scheduled for the Devils this season, other teams will be playing in special events. The Rangers and Panthers will face off in the Winter Classic in Miami on January 2. The Bruins and Lightning will meet in a Stadium Series game in Tampa. Additionally, the Penguins and Predators will play a two-game series in Sweden.

So get ready, Devils fans, start planning those NJ Transit or PATH trips to the Prudential Center. The full schedule will be live in less than 24 hours.

Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images

EDMONTON – Scouting and development are vital.

Organizations like the Edmonton Oilers need to be leaders in the NHL in scouting and developing, particularly the latter more than the former. Without having the draft capital to bring in blue-chip prospects, it places a higher emphasis on developing the talent they currently have.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

Enter new goalie coach, Peter Aubry. 

He’s not the flashy hire that Sean Burke or Ian Clark would have been. However, just because a candidate doesn’t have extensive experience at the same level doesn’t mean they can’t be effective.

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After all, Kris Knoblauch’s closest sniff at an NHL head coach position was being an assistant NHL coach for the Philadelphia Flyers eight years ago.

While the jury is out regarding how Aubry could help the likes of Stuart Skinner, there is another goalie (or two) who could benefit from the Oilers' newest hire. 

European Goalies Have Adjusted Well Under Aubry

Aubry has a history of helping European goaltenders acclimate to the smaller North American ice surface. The European goalies he worked with during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks organization have seen an uptick in their performances and results.

Kevin Lankinen and Arvid Soderblom are the two goalies in question.

Lankinen is probably the biggest success story of the two at this point. The Finnish netminder is coming off a 49-game, 25-win regular season with the Vancouver Canucks. He was heavily leaned upon while Thatcher Demko recovered from several injuries.

Soderblom has seen a steady increase in workload year after year with the Blackhawks. In 2024-25, he started 33 games, posting a 10-18-7 record to go along with a 3.18 goals against average (GAA), and a .898 save percentage (SV%). It’s also important to keep in mind that the Blackhawks were not a good team, which skews these numbers negatively.

Aubry helped Lankinen in many ways. When he first adjusted to playing on the smaller North American rinks, he focused on the fundamentals, which remain the same regardless of the rink size.

The dimensions between the faceoff dots are the same. However, the distance between the faceoff dots and the boards is shorter. According to Aubry, this is where goalies need to be more prepared. NHL players tend to throw the pucks on net more from this position than in Europe.

Under Aubry’s tutelage, Soderblom recognized that he needed to focus on his explosiveness and flexibility to be a great goalie in the NHL. Soderblom also realized that these are traits shared by the best goalies in the NHL.

Aubry Could Be The Key For Oilers' Goalie Prospects

Because of his work with Lankinen and Soderblom, it’s easy to trace a connection to the several Oilers goalie prospects who could benefit from his coaching.

Samuel Jonsson, Eemil Vinni, and newly drafted Daniel Salonen are all European goalies in the Oilers system. Aubry could be the key to helping these youngsters fulfill their NHL potential.

Aubry’s ability to help Lankinen and Soderblom adjust to the North American rink size, as well as help them assess areas of growth, are the two biggest reasons why Jonsson, Vinni, and Salonen are the biggest winners of this coaching change.

The Oilers' goalie prospects just got significantly more interesting.

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Sam Dickinson is one of the most interesting prospects to follow this coming season for the San Jose Sharks. 

He’s outgrown the Ontario Hockey League, that much is very clear. However, unlike many in that situation, he’s unable to go the NCAA route since he’s already signed an entry-level contract with the Sharks. 

Dickinson is also still ineligible for the American Hockey League since he’s just 19 years old. As a result,  the only options he has are to make the NHL roster, or spend another season dominating the OHL which does little for his development. It is important to note first note though, there is an example the Sharks can look at to help influence their decision.

The Chicago Blackhawks went through a similar situation with former seventh-overall pick Kevin Korchinski a few seasons ago. He stayed in the NHL for the entirety of the 2023-24 season, but never truly found his footing. While he played some games in the NHL this past season, he ended up spending the most of his time with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL where he seemed much more comfortable.

Even though Dickinson is performing at a higher level than Korchinski was at this point in his development, it’s a comparable that shouldn’t be ignored.

Neither option is perfect for Dickinson, but let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each possibility.

With the London Knights of the OHL last year, Dickinson had what can only be described as a dominant season. In the regular season he lit the lamp 29 times, and totaled 91 points in just 55 games. He went to another level in the playoffs as well, with 31 points in just 17 games. He was a key contributor in the Knights’ eventual Memorial Cup victory and earned some other hardware along the way. 

Dickinson was named both the OHL and Canadian Hockey League Defenseman of the Year, and was named to the CHL First All-Star team as well. Ultimately, he’s accomplished everything there is to do in Junior hockey. 

The main advantage to the London Knights is Dickinson can certainly learn a lot from head coach Dale Hunter, but compared to what he’d learn playing at a higher level, it’s minimal at best. He would also be guaranteed an abundance of playing time in the OHL, which may not be the case if he were to make it to the NHL.

Looking at the Sharks roster, even after trading away Henry Thrun, there’s an abundance of left-handed defensemen competing for very few spots. Mario Ferraro, Dmitry Orlov, and Nick Leddy seem almost guaranteed to be on the opening night roster. Only one of them, Leddy, has proven that he can comfortably play on his off-side which does open up one spot that Dickinson can compete for.

There’s an abundance of competition beyond Orlov and Ferraro though, as Shakir Mukhamadullin will be looking to finally prove he can stick in the NHL, as will Luca Cagnoni and Jack Thompson, who is a right-handed defenseman.

If Dickinson does make the roster, he’d likely be put on the Sharks’ top-pairing almost immediately, which is a mighty task for a 19-year-old defenseman. There’s also the concern of who the Sharks would be able to pair him with. Considering Dickinson likes to jump into the play, having him alongside John Klingberg for example could be dangerous, as it would likely lead to quite a few offensive rushes for the opposition. Nick Leddy at this stage of his career likely shouldn’t be getting top-four minutes, at least to start the season and as a result that would take him out of the running.

Timothy Liljegren on the other hand, could be a decent option for the time being. Although, like Klingberg, Liljegren is an offensive minded defenseman, he’s more reliable defensively which should allow Dickinson to play his game with as minimal risk as possible defensively. 

In a perfect world, the best move for Dickinson at this stage of his career would be either a season in the NCAA or starting out in the American Hockey League to adapt to the professional game before getting called up mid season. Unfortunately for Grier, neither of those options are on the table.

I think it’s safe to say, Dickinson will start the season in the NHL.  However, after the ninth game of the season will be when Grier is forced to decide whether to keep the defenseman in San Jose and burn the first year of his entry-level contract, or send him back to the London Knights.

It’s a tough task to ask a 19-year-old to jump into the NHL under any circumstances, but it’s something that’s even more difficult for a defenseman. 

The Sharks’ general manager had nothing but praise for Dickinson following this season’s development camp and clearly believes in the defenseman's ability.  ”I think he's a little bit more mature, and he's carrying himself with just a little bit more confidence,” Grier said. “I thought he dominated most of the time, so it was a good first step for him and we feel like he's on the right track here.”

Overall, it’s not going to be as easy of a decision as it looks like on paper for how to approach Dickinson’s development. As the Sharks saw with Will Smith last season, sometimes a young player’s confidence can be damaged by playing in the NHL before they’re fully ready. Smith was able to eventually turn things around, and finished with a respectable rookie season, however with how how many goals the Sharks have given up over the past few seasons, that could be much harder for a defenseman like Dickinson to overcome.

Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Sharks Announce Changes To Hockey Operations StaffThe San Jose Sharks have made some changes to their hockey operations department. Former Sharks Tough Guy Signs With The LightningFormer San Jose Sharks enforcer Scott Sabourin has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a one-year, two-way deal. Former San Jose Sharks Forward Signs With San Diego GullsFormer San Jose Sharks forward Justin Bailey has signed an American Hockey League contract with the San Diego Gulls for the 2025-26 season.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ rebuilding squad will get quite the test on the opening night of the NHL regular season.

To kick off the tripleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Blackhawks are in Sunrise to take on the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Chicago, meanwhile, finished second-last this past season.

One game won’t tell the whole story, but it will set a first impression of how close these rebuilding Blackhawks are to competing against teams of the Panthers’ caliber with the pieces each squad has. Suffice it to say, Chicago has a ways to go to end the rebuild as it develops its young talent.

The Panthers’ top two defense pairings can compete with that of any team, especially after they acquired Seth Jones from the Blackhawks around the 2025 trade deadline. It’s another story for the Blackhawks.

When their highest-scoring blueliner this past season is youngster Alex Vlasic, whose 30 points were a career high, they can’t expect any sufficient offensive production from the back end. As for Connor Murphy, whose 117 hits and 160 blocked shots led Hawks blueliners, he’s entering the final year of his contract and could be trade bait. Only the Anaheim Ducks allowed more high-danger chances against than Chicago this past season, according to naturalstattrick.com.

That’s not to say there isn’t some talent in the pipeline, as Chicago has youngsters including Kevin Korchinski, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel who can grow into important NHL roles.

NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Chicago Blackhawks Brought In A Stellar Draft HaulThe Chicago Blackhawks are next up in Tony Ferrari's NHL prospect pool overview series.

Similarly, comparing the Hawks’ forwards with the Panthers’ forwards tells you how long their road to respectability truly is. 

Yes, the Blackhawks have cornerstone center Connor Bedard as their most important player and prospects Anton Frondell, Sacha Boisvert and Nick Lardis in the system. Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Donato had 58 and 62 points this past season, while Frank Nazar, 21, established his spot in the NHL full-time.

They’ll need Bedard to continue to grow as a difference-maker with help from his supporting cast, but they’re still over a season away from the wave of prospects taking this team to the next level. Right now, they don’t have enough true needle-movers to be in the same breath as a legitimate Cup contender like the Panthers, which are very deep at every position.

In net, the Hawks have a young goalie in Spencer Knight, who came over from Florida in the Jones trade, as well as veteran Laurent Brossoit. No goalie will be able to bail out the defensively lacking Blackhawks players in front of them. There may come a day when Knight can thrive between the pipes for Chicago, but that day isn’t likely going to come next season.

Chicago has about $22.3 million in salary cap space, and they used that room to acquire Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for an upgrade on offense. But it’s unlikely they can weaponize much more of their cap space at this point to get the type of players that will make them beat teams like the Panthers more often than not. 

The truth is the Hawks are a dog’s breakfast of assets at this stage, and many of their current players include veterans past their prime, like captain Nick Foligno, and second-tier NHLers, such as Tyler Bertuzzi, Teravainen and Burakovsky. 

It’s clearly easy to see why the Hawks will be a long shot to play meaningful hockey down the stretch in 2025-26. The Panthers are likely to make it clear in Game 1 next year how far the Blackhawks have to go next season. After another year or two, the Blackhawks will be much better built to take the next step.

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In late June, the NHL announced the beginning of the selection process for determining the two host cities of the next World Cup of Hockey, which is scheduled to take place in February 2028.

According to the press release, the eight-team tournament will be split into two groups of four, with one group playing at venue in North America and the other at an international venue – almost certainly in Europe. In all probability, each venue would host six group-stage games and two quarterfinals, with the North American venue also hosting the two semifinals and the final.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 18, 2025, for North American cities and Wednesday, July 30, 2025, for international cities. The final selection of host cities is expected to take place sometime in early 2026.

North American entries will surely be current NHL arenas. Which one will be selected is anyone’s guess, but there are far fewer venues in Europe that the NHL is likely to view as suitable. First of all, the timeline of the selection almost certainly rules out the possibility of any Russian city hosting. Even if Russia does play in the tournament, it’s far more likely to play in the North American group than in Europe, where their presence could be more controversial.

Here are seven venues in European countries that have a strong possibility to host, ranked from most likely to least likely to be chosen.

Hockey Slovakia President Miroslav Šatan Reveals Formats Being Considered For 2028 World Cup Of Hockey Ever since the NHL and NHLPA announced that the World Cup of Hockey would return in February 2028 with at least eight teams, there has been much speculation about where the games will take place and who will participate, including some wild suggestions.

1. O2 Arena, Prague
Opened: 2004
Capacity: 17,383

When the facility then called Sazka Arena opened in Prague in 2004, it was fully up to NHL standards of the day with a capacity of over 17,000, club seats, luxury boxes and everything else. That year, it was the main venue for the IIHF World Championship and also hosted a game in the World Cup of Hockey. More than 20 years later, it is still one of only two hockey venues within the European Union that could reasonably be considered up to current NHL standards in terms of capacity and amenities.

In addition, Czech fans always tend to come out to support their team in big numbers, and Prague is centrally located in Europe, easily accessible from all corners of the continent by air and rail. It’s a popular destination for travelling fans, which is shown every time it hosts a major hockey event, meaning that all games could be well-attended, not only the ones that the host team is playing in.

For all those reasons, O2 Arena in Prague is the most likely European host, but it’s not a slam dunk.

2. Avicii Arena, Stockholm
Opened: 2004 (Renovated: 2025)
Capacity: 13,850

Stockholm is every bit of a hockey city as Prague is, and the facility formerly known as The Globe has also hosted numerous high-profile hockey events over the years, including World Championships, World Cups and NHL regular-season games.

Avicii Arena, however, opened in 1989 and is significantly older than O2 Arena, and despite extensive renovations ahead of this year’s World Championship, it still seats less than 14,000 for hockey. Also, while Stockholm is almost as accessible as Prague for visitors from elsewhere in Europe, it’s a considerably more expensive city to visit.

Still, the NHL considers Stockholm and Sweden an important market, as shown by how frequently they place events there, so Avicii Arena is very much in play for the World Cup.

3. Helsinki Arena
Opened: 1997 (reopening in 2025)
Capacity: 13,349

Between its opening in 1997 and 2022, this arena was the premier hockey venue in Finland and one of the top ones in Europe, hosting four World Championships, two World Juniors, three games at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and seven NHL games. However, it’s been closed since early 2022 – you can read more about that here.

The good news is, the arena will apparently return to operation this September. There are, however, recent reports from Finland that the building’s new operator is balking at reactivating the ice plant. If it’s fully hockey functional – and it’s given the green light before the NHL makes its decision – Helsinki has a chance.

Closed For 3 Years, Helsinki’s Largest Arena To Reopen With New Name From its opening in 1997 until March 2022, the building then known as Hartwall Arena hosted four IIHF World Championships, two World Junior Championships, three games in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and seven NHL regular-season games. It was the home rink to Jokerit, which played in the KHL. It was Finland’s premier hockey venue.

4. Lanxess Arena, Cologne
Opened: 1996
Capacity: 18,500

The largest full-time hockey venue within the European Union is in Cologne, Germany. Since its opening in 1996, Lanxess Arena has hosted three World Championships and drawn very strong attendance. The NHL also put one game here in the 2004 World Cup.

Cologne is also the hometown of Leon Draisaitl, which would make this arena a great place to showcase probably the greatest German hockey player ever and, possibly, the greatest German hockey team ever, in a best-on-best tournament.

If there’s a drawback, it’s that the NHL still hasn’t announced the format, and it’s not known yet whether Germany will be part of an eight-team tournament or have to qualify ahead of time. In the latter case, it’s highly unlikely that Germany would get to host the European group.

5. Uber Arena, Berlin
Opened: 2008
Capacity: 14,200

Or if the NHL wanted to go to Germany, would they pick Berlin instead? It’s definitely a larger and more accessible city. The NHL also put a preseason game there in 2019 when the Chicago Blackhawks visited Eisbären Berlin.

However, the same question marks surrounding Cologne apply to Berlin as well – it’ll only happen if Germany qualifies directly as one of the eight initial teams.

2026 Olympics will see best German team everThe Germans have had some very good results internationally in recent years, including a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and another silver at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. They’ve had some very good young talent to work with but they haven’t had a chance to put all of their best players together on one team since the 2010 Winter Olympics. They’ve improved a lot since then. In fact, it’s no stretch to say the 2026 Winter Olympics will feature the greatest German ice hockey team ever assembled.

6. Nokia Arena, Tampere
Opened: 2021
Capacity: 13,455

Tampere’s Nokia Arena has become Finland’s premier hockey venue in the last few years. Like Helsinki and Stockholm, the smaller capacity is a bit of a drawback, and it’s a much less accessible city than those other two – Tampere has only a minor airport, with Helsinki’s international airport a two-hour drive away.

Nokia Arena would be further up the list if Helsinki weren’t back in play. Even without Helsinki, though, this one feels like a long shot with some of the other choices available.

7. Swiss Life Arena, Zurich
Opened: 2022
Capacity: 11,157

The NHL and the IIHF recently came to an agreement to send NHL players to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and possibly 2030 in France. As good as relations seem to be right now, the IIHF has been vocal about its opposition to a major international non-Olympic hockey tournament in Europe in February. Putting the European group in the city where the IIHF’s head offices are located feels like something unlikely to happen.

NHL Players Can Officially Play In 2026 Olympics. What About 2030?The IIHF, NHL and NHLPA all signed an agreement to officially allow NHL players to participate in the 2026 Olympics – and potentially the 2030 edition.

The Montreal Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket, have added to their defensive depth.

Laval has announced that they have signed defenseman Charles Martin to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. 

Le Rocket s’entend sur les modalités d’un contrat d’une saison à deux volets avec le défenseur Charles Martin
Détails au https://t.co/Xo5HCaOsxZ

Rocket agree to terms on a one-year, two-way AHL contract with defenseman Charles Martin
Details at https://t.co/Xo5HCaOsxZpic.twitter.com/rndHTVnnLU

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) July 14, 2025

Martin spent this past season split between the ECHL and AHL. In 40 ECHL games with the Rapid City Rush, the 6-foot defenseman recorded three goals, 18 assists, 21 points, and 40 penalty minutes. He also played in four AHL contests with the Calgary Wranglers in 2024-25, posting zero points and a minus-1 rating. 

At this point in his professional career, Martin has spent most of his time at the ECHL level. In 101 career ECHL games, he has recorded seven goals, 48 assists, and 54 points. Overall, the Quebec native has shown that he can produce solid offense from the point and be solid defensively at the ECHL level.

With this signing, the Rocket will now have another defenseman to consider using in their lineup. However, at a minimum, he should be a solid addition to the Canadiens' ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivieres Lions. 

Ex-Canadiens Goalie Signed NHL's Most Unique Off-Season DealHeading into July 1, former Montreal Canadien Jake Allen was the clear top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) goalie who could hit the market. Due to this, there was expected to be a ton of interest in the 34-year-old, and he was in a position to land a high average annual value (AAV) had he tested the market.

Photo Credit:  © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Most of the Toronto Maple Leafs' summer additions officially have numbers with their new club.

Henry Thrun was the first newly acquired player to confirm what number he'd be wearing with the Maple Leafs. The 24-year-old revealed on Monday afternoon during a Zoom media availability that he'd be donning the number three.

The defenseman wore the number with the San Jose Sharks before being traded to Toronto in exchange for Ryan Reaves. Thrun also had the number while captain at Harvard University. He was a big Zdeno Chara (who wore 33) fan growing up, which could be the reason behind the number.

Matias Maccelli, whom the Maple Leafs acquired from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional 2027 third-round pick, will wear 63, the same number he wore with Utah. The playmaking forward scored 18 points (eight goals and 10 assists) in 55 games last season, one year after tallying 57 points in 82 games.

Streaming Maple Leafs Games Just Got More Expensive: Breaking Down The Sportsnet+ Price Hike And Why Fans Are Upset About ItSubscribers of Sportsnet+ received an email last week that appears to have been unwelcome to users of the platform. Depending on your subscribed package, you saw a price increase that varied based on whether you subscribed to the base, premium, or annual version of either product. Looking at it from the perspective of fans who want to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, the increase was pretty substantial.

Nicolas Roy will wear 55 with the Maple Leafs. He wore number 10 with the Vegas Golden Knights, however, the number is retired in Toronto courtesy of Maple Leafs legends Syl Apps and George Armstrong.

Toronto acquired the 28-year-old in a sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner in late June. Roy had 15 goals and 16 assists in 71 games last season with the Golden Knights.

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.

Michael Pazzetta will wear number 61 with his hometown team, a number previously worn by Jacob Quillan. The 27-year-old forward signed a two-year, $1.63 million contract on July 1. He didn't register a point in 25 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season.

Travis Boyd, who signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Toronto on July 1, will wear the number 72 with the Maple Leafs. Boyd also wore 72 during his last stint with the Maple Leafs in 2021. The 31-year-old played most of last season with the AHL's Iowa Wild, scoring 53 points in 63 games.

According to The Hockey News' Karine Hains, the Maple Leafs will begin their season on October 8 inside Scotiabank Arena against the Montreal Canadiens. The full NHL schedule will be revealed on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET.

'It's Definitely A Topic To Talk About': Flames Star Nazem Kadri Responds To Maple Leafs RumorsThere is no doubt that many Toronto Maple Leafs fans miss having a forward like Nazem Kadri around. The Calgary Flames center has been at the center of rampant speculation as Toronto looks to add another top-six forward, and while a reunion might be a perfect fit, there doesn’t appear to be anything on the front burner in terms of an actual deal.

(Top photo of Boyd: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been busy in this off-season's trade market. 

Last month, they sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights for Nicolas Roy and acquired left winger Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth. 

Last week, they shipped left winger Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks for depth defenseman Henry Thrun.

Meanwhile, speculation persists that Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving could have a bigger move in store to offset some of the offense lost with Marner's departure. 

Last week, Sportsnet's Luke Fox noted the Leafs have the cap space to add another top-six winger but lack tradeable assets, such as first-round picks and desirable prospects. He claimed there has been some talk of Treliving peddling a defenseman, such as Brandon Carlo or Morgan Rielly, provided the latter agrees to waive his no-movement clause.

Rielly might have more value in the trade market, but it's unlikely he'll agree to be moved. Carlo's eight-team no-trade list makes him easier to shop, but he might not fetch a top-six forward. 

Meanwhile, wishful thinking persists among some Leafs fans over a possible reunion with Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri. The Hockey News’ David Alter doesn't completely rule it out but doubts the Flames will give up their first-line center. 

A more realistic option could be found via free agency. Alter recently noted the availability of versatile forward Jack Roslovic, who tallied 22 goals and 39 points last season with the Carolina Hurricanes. Fox indicated that the 28-year-old UFA has been linked to the Leafs.

Turning to Minnesota, the contract impasse between the Wild and Marco Rossi shows no sign of ending. The 23-year-old center completed his entry-level contract and lacked arbitration rights. 

Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribuneindicates Wild GM Bill Guerin holds the leverage in this standoff. She also reported that the two sides have exchanged contract offers, with the Wild making short- and long-term proposals. 

Rossi is eligible to sign an offer sheet with a rival team, but Guerin has indicated his club will match any offer. 

The Wild have just over $10 million in cap room for this season. Rossi is a promising center, but it's doubtful a rival club will attempt to sign him to anything exceeding $10 million. 

A trade is possible, and Rossi has been a frequent fixture in the rumor mill since last summer. However, Guerin maintains his preference is to sign the youngster to a new contract.

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You can cross another name off the list of potential restricted free agent (RFA) targets by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Monday, the Buffalo Sabres and RFA defenseman Bowen Byram avoided arbitration and agreed to a two-year extension worth $6.25 million annually. The contract runs through the end of the 2026-27 season.

Byram, 24, had been receiving a lot of attention on the trade market, and was one of the most viable options available on the back end. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound left defenseman registered seven goals and 38 points to go along with a plus-11 last season for the Sabres, and he has 33 goals and 110 points in 246 regular season games between the Sabres and the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him fourth overall in 2019.

The Penguins have a glaring need on the left side of their blue line, so it might have made sense for Pittsburgh to pursue Byram in the RFA market. Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas made it known in his end-of-season press conference that he wasn't very interested in offer sheeting, and with Byram going to arbitration to cut that route off, any move for him would have involved a trade-then-sign.

As of now, Pittsburgh has Ryan Graves, Parker Wotherspoon, Ryan Shea, Alexander Alexeyev, and prospect Owen Pickering lined up on the depth chart for the left side. With RFA and UFA options dwindling, they will likely look to the cast they've already assembled for improvement.

Does Dabbling In RFA Market Make Sense For Penguins This Offseason?There were several interesting tidbits from Pittsburgh Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's 2024-25 end-of-season press conference, which signaled the direction that the team might take over the summer and into the 2025-26 season and beyond.

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Feature image credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images 

Being the first overall pick of the NHL draft comes with lofty expectations, and that’s normal; it comes with the territory, but not all first overall picks will be generational talents and point-producing machines. The Montreal Canadiens had the first-overall pick in 2022 when the draft was held on their turf at the Bell Centre, and that brings yet another dose of attention to a player.

The lucky recipient of those expectations and heightened scrutiny was 18-year-old Slovakian left winger Juraj Slafkovsky. Since then, the media and fans alike have been keeping a close eye on his development.

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The Habs wasted no time throwing the youngster in the deep end as he was made to start in the NHL right away, but his rookie season was cut short by a shoulder injury, and he only played 39 games that year, picking up an underwhelming 10 points.

In 2023-24, he had an excellent second half of the season, becoming a mainstay on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. He gathered 50 points in 82 games, an output that most were satisfied with for his sophomore season.

That marked increase in production meant that expectations were raised once again before the 2024-25 campaign and before the puck dropped on the season, Slafkovsky admitted he had set objectives for himself in his third season, but refused to reveal them. In the end, in 79 games, he put up 51 points, and it wasn’t the kind of progress most had in mind, including the 6-foot-3 and 225-pound winger. At the end of the year, when he was asked if he had reached the expectations he had set for himself, he replied: What do you think?

He hadn’t, but the start of his career is by no means a disaster. In his three campaigns, he has suited up for 200 games and picked up 111 points. That’s a 0.56 point-per-game average for a player who wasn’t necessarily picked to fill the net.

Fifty-one years before they picked Slafkovsky with the first-overall pick, the Canadiens had drafted local favourite Guy Lafleur. The legend in the making had been a driving force in the LHJMQ, scoring 379 points in just 118 games, a 3.2 points-per-game average. Many saw Lafleur as a generational talent, the man who would lead the Canadiens to the promised land time and time again.

His first three seasons weren’t all that impressive, however, since he picked up 175 points in 215 games. A 0.81 point-per-game average, much less than what he had been producing at the junior level, and Lafleur was a player who had been picked to fill the net, unlike Slafkovsky. Still, the Canadiens didn’t start trying to trade him out of Montreal; they knew what they had on their hands and that he just needed time to reach his full potential. In his fourth year with the Habs, Lafleur exploded with the first of six consecutive seasons of 119 points or more, and he never looked back.

No, I’m not saying Slafkovsky will turn into Lafleur overnight, or ever, but what I'm saying is that some players need a little time to reach their potential when they make the jump to the NHL. It’s normal; this is a league featuring the world's best players, all of whom are physically mature adults and tough to play against.

Still not over this.

Wins a battle. Crossovers off the wall. He’s in the slot, with his captain and leading scorer screaming “Hey! Hey!” to his left. And he trusts himself to shoot instead.

Juraj Slafkovský has grown so much. #GoHabsGo

pic.twitter.com/CXrQzSwLl5

— Hadi Kalakeche (@HadiK_Scouting) March 23, 2025

Before joining the Canadiens, when he played in the junior ranks in Slovakia, he was likely always the most significant body on the ice. Still, when he turned pro with TPS Turku in Finland, he became a different player. In the NHL, he wasn’t anymore. That’s not easy to adapt to, and in his rookie season, Slafkovsky looked easy to push off the puck; he wasn’t used to being pushed like that. he was used to being the wall players crashed into, and that was no longer the case.

Playing a physical game in the NHL is hard, it’s demanding, and it’s tiring, but Martin St. Louis is slowly but surely making Slafkovsky realize that his success will come from using that big frame of his consistently. The 21-year-old has heard the coach, he knows it, he even said so himself coming back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, declaring he would like to play more like Brady Tkachuk.

Slafkovsky knows what he needs to do, he knows the way he needs to play and he’s also aware that he needs to do it right away when the season starts, when he manages to put everything he knows into practice all at the same time, he’s going to be quite a player and one that will be a massive asset to the Canadiens, give him the time to get there.

Photo credit:  Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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The NHL is overflowing these days with young talent that’s not just promising for the future, but already helping to reshape their franchises in real time. At 23, Tim Stützle is already the Ottawa Senators' most skilled player (spoiler: he has been for a long time), and on Monday was named by NHL.com as one of the league's 10 best forwards under 25 entering this season.

Stützle is the first name listed in a top 10 that includes the likes of Jack Hughes, Cole Caufield, and Connor Bedard. Stützle led Ottawa with 79 points (24 goals, 55 assists) and helped the club return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

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Stützle has registered at least 70 points in three consecutive seasons, but his two-way game has improved along the way, and while it may seem like the smallest of intangibles, his body language has been much better as well. Stützle looks more in charge of his emotions, like a man with a job to do, unfazed by the nonsense. That's all part of the maturation process, never getting too high or too low.

Stützle has remained both durable and productive, and as he continues to work out the balance between offence and defence, he'd like to return to the 39-goal, 90-point levels he achieved three years ago. He'll have plenty of time to grow with the club, under contract with the Senators for six more years.

For now, for one of the best young players in the game, it's about summer training and a little golf. Earlier this month, Stützle and Red Wing defenseman Mo Seider teed it up in the BMW International Open Pro-Am event in Munich. They played in a foursome with Welsh soccer legend Gareth Bale and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. 

Another of Stützle's many virtues as a player is his happy demeanour and popularity as a teammate. And friendly chirps always come with that territory. Under Stützle's Instagram post, where Stützle says his group won the Pro-Am, teammates chimed in hard.

Stützle: A great day on the course!⛳️  Thank you for a fun day @bmw_golfsport @dpworldtour. W🤘🏽

Thomas Chabot: "Nothing like shooting a 98 on the @dpworldtour."

Stutzle: "Nothing like winning."

That's a motto that's music to the ears of Sens fans. After finally making the playoffs this year and getting a taste of some team success, the sky's the limit for one of the game's brightest young stars. 

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New York Islanders development camp was a great success, like Borat would say.

The young players from this past draft class and the few previous ones were all able to be together since the camp happened right after the draft, as opposed to a week before the start of training camp.

All the prospects got a taste of what being part of the Islanders organization is all about and a sneak peek at what it takes to be an NHL player. 

However, their development is just starting and picking the right offseason routine and offseason workout partners could be the difference in a good summer and a great one. 

This summer, No. 17 overall pick Kashawn Aitcheson has been skating with Islanders forward Bo Horvat, along with Ottawa Senators forward Dylan Cozens, free agent forward Nate Bastian, and others with Muskokah Hockey:

Bo Horvat and Kashawn Aitcheson training together this offseason 👀

📸: muskokahockey/IG pic.twitter.com/TnNI44jpMe

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) July 14, 2025

Islanders captain Anders Lee skated with Horvat last summer and it did a world of good for him.

No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer told us he's skating this summer with Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech with Mark Giordano as his coach.

Defenseman Isaiah George, who got a cup of coffee in the NHL last season, is also training with them.

Having prospects train with NHLers, especially those in the same organization, is massive in acclimating these young players to the team, as well as in building relationships, chemistry, and providing firsthand insight into what it takes and what is expected of someone who dons the blue and orange. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

PHOTO:  Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Another Ducks prospect will be making the transition from playing in Europe to playing in North America this upcoming season, but it won't be for college hockey just yet.

Latvian defenseman Darels Uļjanskis has decided to play for the Flint Firebirds in the OHL for the 2025-26 season. Previously, Uļjanskis was drafted by the Sioux City Musketeers in the eighth round of the USHL Draft in May and was expected to play in the USHL this season. He was then drafted fifth overall by the Firebirds in the CHL Import Draft two weeks ago.

"I was drafted in May to the USHL and Sioux City Musketeers, but I felt more for the CHL in Canada," Uļjanskis said in an interview with hockeysverige (translated from Swedish). "So I waited for it. Now in July, the Flint Firebirds (OHL) chose me, so that's where I'm going."

Committed to the University of Connecticut for the 2026-27 season, Uļjanskis will play one season in the OHL before transitioning to collegiate hockey.

Uļjanskis spent the last two seasons primarily playing in Sweden for AIK's J20 team. He was second among defensemen in scoring this past season. This came after the Ducks drafted him in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

With two development camps now under his belt, Uļjanskis is currently in Florida, where he is competing in the SoFlo hockey summer league. He will continue training in Florida until the beginning of August, when he will report to Flint for training camp. 

"I feel much better without the puck and more confident in the defensive game," Uļjanskis said. "I play much tougher and more aggressive than last year, I think.

"(The Ducks) want to see a two-way defenseman who can be trusted in all zones, and be aggressive and able to handle all parts of that game, but also create offensively. I have the summer to get bigger and stronger, so that will also help me for the season. Then I just want to get used to North American hockey."

Making it to the NHL as a seventh-round pick is an uphill battle, but not impossible. With more developmental paths opening up for prospects, like being able to play in both the CHL and NCAA now, finding the right development techniques and systems has become more accessible for young players.

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Photo credit: Derek Lee-The Hockey News