It's time to discuss more NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.

Should Kaprizov Test NHL Free Agency In 2026? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Kelsey Surmacz discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Breaking down the NHL's decision to return to the decentralized draft format

6:30: How will the NHL's upcoming changes to emergency backup goalies impact the game?

12:10: Could Arturs Silovs be the goaltender of the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

18:00: Will Jeff Skinner be able to have a resurgence with the San Jose Sharks?

23:00: Could Kirill Kaprizov test free agency next summer?

29:40: Which team needs Gavin McKenna the most at the 2026 NHL draft?See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Promo image credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Winning the first Bronze medal in Latvian hockey history. Taking a superpowered Edmonton Oilers team to seven games in the Division Finals. Backstopping his team to their first Calder Cup in franchise history. Making five shutouts in 24 playoff games, three of which came in series-clinchers. While Artūrs Šilovs’ journey with the Vancouver Canucks has seemingly ended as of his trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins, there is no shortage of the impact his clutchness has had on the Canucks organization. 

Let’s take it back to 2019, a season when Vancouver fans had both Jacob Markström and Thatcher Demko within their ranks, but saw a gem in the sixth round of the draft and decided to take him. Šilovs went 156th overall to Vancouver, entering the Canucks organization alongside fellow 2019 draftees such as Vasily Podkolzin and Nils Höglander. By this time, Šilovs had already proved himself as capable at an international level. Despite Latvia not making it far in the 2019 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship, Šilovs still held his own against stacked teams like Sweden and Canada. He faced 140 shots in four games, letting in 13 goals from this amount. 

After being drafted, Šilovs made his way to the OHL, where he spent a season with the Barrie Colts. In 36 games with Barrie, he registered a 16–13–4 record, a 3.87 GAA, and a SV% of .891. The season after, however, after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down virtually all sports leagues, Šilovs’ spot in team lineups got scattered. In 2020–21, he played one game with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, as well as two games with HS Riga and four games with HK Modo in Latvia. 

The 2021–22 season was more consistent for Šilovs, who joined the Canucks organization semi- full-time as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks. He played in 10 of Abbotsford’s games this season, saving 221 of 249 shots faced in this span of time and registering his first AHL shutout with 26 saves in his second match of the season. In this season, Šilovs also played for the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL, registering a .920 SV% and 2.37 GAA in 10 games. 

In international play, Šilovs shone. He played in four of Latvia’s games in the 2022 IIHF World Championship, serving as a backup to Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Even so, Šilovs managed to show his skills, making his first start of the tournament against Austria in a narrow 4–3 victory. He finished the tournament with 80 saves made on 84 shots against, putting up a 1.22 GAA and .952 SV%. 

The 2022–23 season was a big one for Šilovs, who increased his playing time in the AHL, played in his first NHL game, and made history for the country of Latvia. He played in 44 games for the AHL Canucks this season, posting a record of 26–12–5 and recording four shutouts. His first NHL start came in February of 2023, in a home game against the New York Rangers. Despite the loss, Šilovs faced 27 shots and stopped 22. He only got busier after that, as he faced 30 or more shots in three of his remaining four games with the Canucks in 2023. His first NHL win came in his second NHL game, as he made 35 stops on 37 shots to win Vancouver a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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After Vancouver’s season ended, Šilovs rejoined Abbotsford for a Calder Cup run, in which he played in two games. While Spencer Martin started the majority of the AHL Canucks’ games, Šilovs managed to split his own record with a win against the Bakersfield Condors and a loss against the Calgary Wranglers. 

Upon Abbotsford’s exit from the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, Šilovs joined Team Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship hosted by Finland and his home country. In a surprise run, in which Šilovs played in all 10 of his team’s games, Latvia secured their first Bronze medal in history with a shocking 4–3 overtime victory against Team USA in the Bronze-medal game. Šilovs was easily one of the best goaltenders of this tournament, as he faced 280 shots throughout and saved 258 of them. He finished with a record of 7–2 and had one shutout against Kazakhstan. 

This Bronze medal win only marked the beginning of Šilovs’ clutch moments for the Canucks. He once again shared games with Vancouver and Abbotsford in the 2023–24 season, playing in four for Vancouver and 34 for Abbotsford. Of course, many remember the 2023–24 season as the one in which Šilovs held the Canucks in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs after injuries to goaltenders Demko and Casey DeSmith. He kicked off his NHL postseason career with a 27-save win against the Nashville Predators, later making a 28-save shutout in Game 6 of Vancouver’s first-round series to help the team advance to the Division Finals. He came up with multiple clutch saves in the team’s seven-game series against the Oilers, including a 42-save win in Game 3, but ultimately, Edmonton got the best of them. 

Abbotsford Canucks Artūrs Šilovs Continues To Shine When The Games Matter MostOver the past three years, an interesting trend has emerged when it comes to Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Artūrs Šilovs. As soon as late April hits, the Latvia goalie kicks his game into high gear and helps guide his team on an exciting run. Whether it is at the NHL, AHL or International level, Šilovs is showing that he has a clutch gene once the post-season begins. 

Nearly a year after his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, Šilovs was once-again tasked with helping a Canucks team win in the postseason. This time, it was Abbotsford who required his help. The AHL Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup victory was a masterclass in showcasing Šilovs’ even tempo and ability to shine during high-pressure moments. The Latvian goaltender started all 24 of Abbotsford’s playoff games and finished the team’s run with a 2.01 GAA and .931 SV%. Šilovs looked calm and controlled in the net during all situations — something that burned brightly in his three series-clinching shutouts against the Tucson Roadrunners, Coachella Valley Firebirds, and Colorado Eagles. For his poise in net and unbelievable play during this run, Šilovs was named MVP of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. 

While Šilovs will now start a new journey with the Penguins, his time with the Canucks was certainly memorable. With Pittsburgh, he will now have the opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level — something that may not have happened as soon with Vancouver given how crowded the goaltending department currently is. Regardless of where Šilovs finds success, his feats are certainly worth a party. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Henry Thrun was immersed in the movie 'Top Gun' when his phone lit up with a call from San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier. The Toronto Maple Leafs had just acquired the defenseman for Ryan Reaves.

"It was definitely surprising, but as soon as he told me where I was traded, it was definitely a nice way to for that phone call to wrap up," Thrun said on Monday afternoon over Zoom.

"Knowing I was going to a city like Toronto and just knowing the history and the success that the team has had over the past couple years, with the end goal still in sight, and there's more to push for. But it definitely was pretty exciting to know where I was going to end up."

Thrun grew up in Southborough, Massachusetts, less than an hour outside of Boston. Knowing the history of the Boston Bruins and Maple Leafs, the 24-year-old's smile grew larger when he revealed he was a Bruins fan as a child.

"As much as I hate to say it, I was a Bruins fan growing up," Thrun grinned. "Having that market nearby and just being a big fan of the sport, it was hard not to cheer for them."

'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.

As a defenseman, his favorite player was Bruins legend Zdeno Chara.

"He's a guy that I've been fortunate enough to meet and actually skate with (during a summer skate several years ago)," the young defenseman said, "and just someone that's a first-class human, first-class player. He was a guy that I was always a fan of growing up."

Funny enough, Thrun's first NHL goal came against the Maple Leafs. It's comical to think that, as a Bruins fan growing up, he got the upper hand on Toronto as soon as he entered the league. And it's a goal that Thrun remembers quite well, of course.

It was on Jan. 9, 2024, that Toronto was leading 4-0 in the second period when Simon Benoit hooked Anthony Duclair. San Jose's power play coach told Thrun that he'd be going out for the man advantage. Mikael Granlund threw a pass in front, and the defenseman deflected it past Martin Jones to make it 4-1.

'The Honor Of A Lifetime': Matt Murray Reflects On Maple Leafs Tenure After Signing With Seattle KrakenMatt Murray will forever remember playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Although the Sharks ended up falling 7-1 that night in Toronto, it's a moment Thrun won't ever forget. "It's a pretty exciting moment scoring your first NHL goal, especially being in a city like Toronto," he said.

Thrun turned pro after three seasons at Harvard University, where the defenseman put up 84 points (17 goals and 67 assists) in 99 games. It was four years after he was drafted in the fourth round (101st overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in 2019.

Throughout parts of three seasons with the Sharks, Thrun scored 25 points (five goals and 20 assists), but never managed to break out offensively like he did throughout his junior and college years.

While the defenseman received lots of opportunities, averaging 18:44 of ice time throughout his short NHL career, having to be on the defending side for most of the time suppressed any opportunity to showcase what has made him a strong player in the past.

'Couldn't Ask For Anything Better': How Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Jake Muzzin Is Helping Develop The Next Crop Of Toronto DefendersAs Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford finishes a battle drill at the organization's development camp, he receives a stick-tap from Jake Muzzin.

Thrun's excited to work for that opportunity now with Toronto, a team that's been knocking at the door for some time.

"I think for me, an aspect of my game that hasn't really shined yet in terms of at the NHL level would be my ability to move the puck. That was sort of my calling card in junior and college," he said.

"I think playing in San Jose, I was very fortunate to get a chance to break in there and play a bunch of games, and play a lot of minutes. But, at times, I think it's a little challenging to be put in positions to move the puck and get involved, and obviously there's a lot of defending, which I was able to get some experience with that.

"But, for me, I'd say I'm excited to be a two-way defenseman. I think I'm reliable in most situations on the ice. I think that's one of my best assets is being versatile and being able to be used in special teams and up and down throughout a lineup, so for me, there's a lot that I want to still be able to show and prove."

'I Know I'm A Better Player Than I Was In Utah': Matias Maccelli Believes He's Ready For Top-Six Role With Maple LeafsMatias Maccelli was attempting to make a putt when his friend began yelling about a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Timothy Liljegren arrived in San Jose in early November after being acquired by the Sharks from Toronto on Halloween night. Thrun and Liljegren got to know each other quite a bit while with the Sharks, with Thrun adding that they "basically lived in the same building."

Liljegren shared a lot with Thrun about what it was like playing in Toronto, from the organization to the fans, and the entire city. Little did Thrun know that he'd be traded to the mecca of hockey several months later. Nevertheless, he's excited about the new opportunity at hand.

"I got to hear a little bit about Toronto, just how passionate the fans are and how first-class of an organization it is, so it's something that I've only heard good things, and I'm excited to see it all first-hand and experience it."

(Top photo of Thrun: Robert Edwards / Imagn Images)

We now have a date to circle on our calendars.

On Monday, the NHL announced its 2025-26 season Opening Night tripleheader.

Featured prominently at the top are your defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

Florida will raise their second Stanley Cup banner on Tuesday, October 7 when they host the

Chicago Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena.

The game is set for an early 5 p.m. puck drop.

Also on the Opening Night docket are the New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at 8 p.m. and the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m.

One thing that immediately raises an eyebrow is regarding the league decision to give its back-to-back champions, and their fans, a non-traditional, arguably inconvenient start time on Opening Night.

We get it, the Penguins and Rangers are going to draw bigger audiences, but that’s going to happen regardless. It’s also a game that features two non-playoff teams from a season ago.

Speaking of teams that didn’t make the playoffs, Chicago actually finished one spot above worst in the NHL last season.

Again, we get it. It’s another big market, Original Six team, but putting them up against the defending Stanley Cup champions on opening night?

Where are the Lightning? Toronto? The Bruins? 

It was Boston who Florida opened last season against, and who Florida has faced twice in the past three postseasons. 

Maybe the league just thinks very highly of Seth Jones and Spencer Knight facing their former teams for the first time.

One thing that will be interesting to see play out on Opening Night will be how the Panthers fans react to Knight’s return to South Florida.

Long after the Trade Deadline deal that swapped Knight and Jones, Panthers fans continued to shout “Knight!” during the National Anthem.

To be fair, as games went deeper into the playoffs, there were a growing number of groaning, booing fans who didn’t seem to agree with the continuation of the “Knight!” chants.

But with Spencer returning for the first time, perhaps we’ll get one final, extremely loud “Knight!” to honor the young goaltender, who will likely be starting in net for the Blackhawks.

The rest of the 2025-26 NHL schedule is expected to come out on Wednesday afternoon.

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Photo caption: Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers players watch from the ice as the team lifts the championship banner before the game against the Boston Bruins at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Swedish winger Victor Eklund, 18, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him 16th overall at the recent NHL Entry Draft, the club announced on Monday.

In all likelihood, however, Eklund will be returning to Djurgården, the Stockholm-based club where he has played since his childhood, like his longtime teammate Anton Frondell.

Last season, Eklund had 31 points in 42 games in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second tier of professional hockey. He then had seven points in 16 playoff games, helping Djurgården gain a promotion to the top-tier SHL.

“I don’t know,” Eklund said back in October when asked where he himself playing next season. “I haven’t talked to anyone. I’m in Djurgården now and (I hope) we’re going to the SHL. I hope there won’t be any weirdness there.”

Report: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training Camp Swedish center Anton Frondell will sign an entry-level contract this upcoming week with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that took him third overall at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, according to Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström.

It was recently reported in Swedish media that Frondell, who was chosen third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the same draft, will sign with Chicago this week but will not attend the team's training camp this September, instead choosing to prepare for and start the season with Djurgården without interruption. If that’s the case, it would seem likely that Eklund will do the same.

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

Photo © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Victor Eklund: “It’s Gone Quite Well So I’ll Just Continue With It”Victor Eklund is off to a flying start in his draft year. The 18-year-old left winger has seven goals and four assists in 13 games for Djurgården in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league. Last Friday, he netted a hat trick in a 7-6 shootout loss to Björklöven.

The National Hockey League released its list of the most recent 50-goal scorers by franchise.

Highlighting each franchise's most recent 50-goal scorer! 🤩

Who stands out the most? pic.twitter.com/FxFwIuNz54

— NHL (@NHL) July 12, 2025

Active players like the Bruins’ David Pastrňák (2022–23), the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (2023–24), and the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (2021–22) made the list. Some franchises, however, featured much older names, such as the Kings’ Luc Robitaille (1992–93), the Canadiens’ Stéphane Richer (1989–90), and the Flyers’ John LeClair (1997–98).

Seven teams were listed as “N/A,” having never had a 50-goal scorer in franchise history.

Which teams didn’t make the list?

The Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Utah Mammoth (no surprise there), Vegas Golden Knights, and, last but not least, the New Jersey Devils.

Out of all the teams that didn’t have a 50-goal scorer, the Vegas Golden Knights are the only other team with a Stanley Cup win besides the Devils. 

That’s right: the New Jersey Devils have won three Stanley Cups, and never had a 50-goal scorer in franchise history.

They’ve had players come close, but none have hit the milestone.

John MacLean had three 40-goal seasons and leads the franchise in most such seasons by a single player. He scored 42 goals in 1988–89, 41 goals in 1989–90, and posted a career-high 45 goals in 1990–91.

Eight other players have recorded one 40-goal season each for the Devils: Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta, Jack Hughes, Claude Lemieux, Alexander Mogilny, Wilf Paiement, Zach Parise, and Pat Verbeek.

Brian Gionta holds the franchise record for most goals in a single season with 48 in 2005–06. He finished that year with 89 points, just two goals shy of the elusive 50-goal mark.

Wilf Paiement scored 41 goals in 1976–77 while playing for the Colorado Rockies, a predecessor to the Devils. Paiement was drafted second overall in 1974 by the Kansas City Scouts, who later became the Rockies, and eventually, the New Jersey Devils.

Paiement played two seasons in Kansas City before the team relocated to Colorado.

It’s worth noting that Alexander Mogilny hit the 50-goal mark before joining New Jersey. In 1995–96, he scored 55 goals and 107 points for the Vancouver Canucks. But his most impressive season came in 1992–93, when he scored an astounding 76 goals and finished with 127 points.

There is hope for a future 50-goal scorer in New Jersey.

Jack Hughes tallied 43 goals in 78 games during the 2022–23 season. However, over the past two years, Hughes has been limited to 62 games due to two shoulder injuries. He underwent surgeries on April 9, 2024, and March 3, 2025.

Could Hughes become the first 50-goal scorer in Devils history? If he stays healthy, it’s possible. And if not him, perhaps someone else will finally remove that “N/A” from New Jersey’s entry on the NHL’s 50-goal list.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks added to the NHL’s goalie moves this off-season.

In Vancouver, the duo of star Thatcher Demko and understudy Kevin Lankinen meant the Canucks felt comfortable trading Arturs Silovs to the Penguins. At the beginning of the month, Pittsburgh’s rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, added Dan Vladar to help address the team having the worst save percentage in the NHL this past season.

With that said, there are other goalie tandems that have significant questions about them. Here are three teams’ netminding pictures and what’s so intriguing about them.

1. Will Newcomer Silovs Thrive In Pittsburgh – And Take Pressure Off Jarry And Blomquist?

On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired youngster Arturs Silovs from the Canucks in exchange for AHL winger Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in 2027. 

The move comes at a time when the Penguins’ goaltending has been anything but dependable. The 24-year-old Silovs came off a career season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, where he powered the team to the Calder Cup championship as playoff MVP.

Unfortunately for Silovs, he’ll play behind a Pens squad whose defense has been porous, and it could get worse if Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas trades away star Erik Karlsson. But if Silovs can come in and provide some above-average netminding, he’ll take the heat off veteran Tristan Jarry, whose past season was so rough at times that he cleared waivers and played 12 games in the AHL. Jarry’s contract has three years left at a $5.375-million cap hit per season, so unless he rebounds, he may become one of the NHL’s most highly paid backups if things work out well with Silovs. 

There will also be competition from 23-year-old goalie Joel Blomqvist, who played 15 NHL games and put up an. 885 save percentage and 3.81 goals-against average this past season. But as it stands, Silovs will have every opportunity to win the starter’s job and secure a major pay raise when he becomes an RFA next summer. 

Time will tell if he’s the long-term solution in net for the Pens, but Silovs’ acquisition should inspire some confidence that things will get better between the pipes in Pittsburgh.

2. Who Will Get More Playing Time In Toronto – Stolarz Or Woll?

The Maple Leafs had a terrific duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll this past season. Stolarz posted a .926 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in 34 games, and Woll put up a .909 SP and 2.73 GAA in 42 appearances.

Leafs coach Craig Berube will likely lean on Woll and Stolarz equally in 2025-26. The only reason Stolarz didn’t play more often last season was due to injury. So long as he and Woll stay healthy, there’s no reason to expect either one will get significantly more playing time than the other. Being a 1A-1B tandem this past season worked.

If there is any added motivation, it’ll be for Stolarz, who is coming into a contract season. Toronto GM Brad Treliving has more than enough cap space in the years ahead to re-sign Stolarz, but at a time when the goalie market isn’t deep at all, it may make more sense for Stolarz to be patient and go to market next summer. Regardless, there may be no more equally balanced tandem in the league than the one in Leafs Land. Toronto’s players can be confident with either goalie in net.

3. Will The Oilers Really Run It Back With Skinner And Pickard?

The Edmonton Oilers made it to two Stanley Cup finals with the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. That’s the positive view, at least.

The pessimistic view is that they’ve lost two Cup finals with Skinner and Pickard, who each had a sub-.900 save percentage in the playoffs. In the regular season, Skinner had a .896 SP and 2.81 GAA, while Pickard had a .900 SP and 2.71 GAA. 

If any team had the impetus to change up their netminding situation, it’s Edmonton. 

However, instead of trading for a veteran, such as former Anaheim Ducks veteran and new Detroit Red Wings starter John Gibson, the Oilers stood pat with Skinner and Pickard so far. That may drive Edmonton fans to ruin if the Oilers stick with the same duo for a third straight season and once again are not able to get to the promised land.

The Oilers are basically capped out at the moment, and that may be what’s behind their decision not to make a change in goal. But we’ve got a hunch Edmonton GM Stan Bowman will let patience be a virtue and revisit the issue during the regular season. At that point, injuries and other trades may free up valuable cap space, and some teams may be more willing to make a trade for a goalie by then. But there are no other viable goaltending options on the free-agent front, and unless Bowman has some sort of trick up his sleeve, the Oilers will start the year with the same duo in net.

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It’s been a little over two weeks now since Ken Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens stole the show at the NHL draft when they traded picks 16th and 17th overall, plus Emil Heineman, for top-pairing defenseman Noah Dobson.

Even better, it was a sign-and-trade deal, meaning the Canadiens now have eight years of Dobson at $9.5 M AAV, an amount which is inferior to what the player was reported to be asking from the New York Islanders.

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In a recent interview with RG.org, Isles’ number one netminder, Ilya Sorokin, mentioned that he was surprised Dobson was traded, but added that the salary cap does force teams to make tough decisions.

For the netminder, it was clear that with their cap situation, the Long Island outfit had to make a choice; they couldn’t keep Dobson and former Canadiens’ defenseman Alexander Romanov, who’s a good friend of his.

He mentioned to RG.org that Romanov has grown and matured a lot, and that his hard work earned him his new eight-year, $6.25 M AAV contract. Considering Romanov was already a hard worker when he played in Montreal a few years ago, that’s not hard to imagine at all. The Russian blueliner was always the first player on the ice in Brossard and trained with a smile every day, a contagious attitude that makes for a good leader.

Back to Dobson, Sorokin adds that the PEI native got a good deal with the Canadiens and that he wishes him nothing but the best. The goalkeeper also mentioned former Habs netminder and now Isles’ coach Patrick Roy in the interview, explaining that the goaltending legend doesn’t usurp the role of his goaltending coach. Roy only gave goaltending advice a couple of times throughout the year.

With Romanov, Heineman, and Jonathan Drouin now playing for New York, Roy coaching the team, and Mathieu Darche being hired as the GM, the Islanders have got themselves quite a former Canadiens contingent. Will the Islanders become the Quebecers’ second team like in the good old Mike Bossy days? It remains to be seen.

Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

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After not being re-signed by the New Jersey Devils this summer, Daniel Sprong remains an unrestricted free agent (UFA). This comes after the 28-year-old winger posted two goals, seven points, and a minus-1 rating in 30 NHL games split between the Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Kraken, and Devils this past season. He also had 11 goals and 25 points in 19 AHL games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2024-25. 

Now, after a tough 2024-25 season, Sprong is reportedly on the radar of two KHL clubs. According to Sport-Express’ Mikhail Zislis, CSKA Moscow and Avangard Omsk are both interested in Sprong. 

It is not hard to understand why these two KHL clubs reportedly have Sprong on their radar. While he had a down year in 2024-25, Sprong has had offensive success at the NHL level in a bottom-six role in the past.

Just back in 2023-24 with the Detroit Red Wings, Sprong recorded 18 goals and 43 points in 76 games. This was after he set career highs with 21 goals and 46 points in 66 contests with the Kraken in 2022-23. Thus, he certainly could have success in the KHL if he decides to sign overseas. 

While Sprong is generating interest from overseas, the possibility of him staying in North America still should not be ruled out. The 28-year-old winger could be a decent pickup for an NHL team looking for depth offensive production if he bounces back. Thus, this could be enough for an NHL club to take a chance on him with a one-year, prove-it deal, but time will tell what happens on that front. 

In 11 regular-season games with the Devils after being acquired from Seattle at this past deadline, Sprong recorded two assists. He zero points and a minus-1 rating in one post-season game for the Devils this year. 

Ex-Devils First-Round Pick Traded To CanucksFormer New Jersey Devils first-round pick Chase Stillman is on the move again. 

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres announced that they will host the 2025 Prospects Challenge at the LECOM Harborcenter from September 11th to 15th. The tournament will feature youngsters from the Sabres, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, and Pittsburgh Penguins, with only the Ottawa Senators not returning to the lineup from last season. 

The roster for the tournament will not be released until September, but it will likely include most of the 2025 draft class, including first round selection Radim Mrtka, who is slated to play for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds next season, as well as 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius.

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First-rounders Ryan Johnson (2019), Isak Rosen (2021), and Noah Ostlund could participate, since they did not see significant playing time in the NHL last season, but a number of the club’s prospects (Adam Kleber, Brodie Ziemer, Luke Osburn, Jake Richard) who took part in the club’s development camp earlier this month, will not be available due to them being collegiate prospects.   

Schedule

Thursday, September 11

New Jersey vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

Friday, September 12

Pittsburgh vs. Boston, 3:30 p.m.

New Jersey vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 13

Columbus vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Sunday, September 14

Boston vs. New Jersey, 12 p.m.

Columbus vs. Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, September 15

Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo, 12 p.m.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Canadian forward Andy Andreoff, 34, has signed a two year contract with the ZSC Lions, the Zurich-based National League team announced on Monday.

“With Andy Andreoff, we're gaining a physically strong forward who knows where the net is,” said Lions’ sports director Sven Leuenberger. “Just as important for me is that Andy can be used to kill penalties and is strong on faceoffs, because that’s where we needed more after the departures of Juho Lammikko and Vinzenz Rohrer.”

Leuenberger continued, “Andy can also play on the power play and operate as both a center and a wing. Our quota of six import players is now complete.”

Born in Pickering, Ont., Andreoff played junior hockey for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals and was chosen by the Los Angeles Kings in the third round, 80th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2014 and 2023, Andreoff played 188 NHL regular-season games for the Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders, recording 27 points and a whopping 225 penalty minutes. He also played one playoff game with Los Angeles in 2016.

Rohrer & Lammikko Leave Zurich For NHLA pair of forwards who have been members of the Zurich Lions back-to-back championships in Switzerland and the team’s Champions Hockey League title this past season have signed contracts with NHL clubs this weekend.

Andreoff spent the past two seasons in the KHL playing for Sibir Novosibirsk, where he talllied 81 points and 89 penalty minutes in 137 regular-season and playoff games.

Zurich has been Switzerland’s most successful team in recent years, winning back-to-back National League titles and also winning the Champions Hockey League final on home ice last season. Andreoff joins a roster that includes ex-NHLers Yannick Weber, Derek Grant, Denis Malgin, Sven Andrighetto, Rudolfs Balcers, Dean Kukan and Mikko Lehtonen.

Photo © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.

Zurich Lions Win Champions Hockey League Final – Back-To-Back Titles For SwitzerlandFor the second year in a row, a Swiss team has defeated a Swedish team in the Champions Hockey League final. On their home ice, the ZSC Lions defeated visiting Färjestad 2-1 before a sell-out crowd of 12,000 at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.

Bruins announce new jersey numbers for recent free agent signings originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins were one of the busiest NHL teams on Day 1 of free agency.

The team’s moves mostly consisted of signing bottom-six forwards. They also acquired veteran left wing Viktor Arvidsson in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers.

A new group of players means a new set of jersey numbers, and the Bruins announced new digits for seven players on Monday.

• Matej Blumel: 13
• Alex Steeves: 21
• Victor Soderstrom: 29
• Jordan Harris: 43
• Viktor Arvidsson: 71
• Mikey Eyssimont: 81
• Tanner Jeannot: 84

Jeannot will be just the second player in the 100-year history of the franchise to wear No. 84, joining Jarred Tinordi (2021).

Arvidsson has worn No. 33 since 2017 while playing for the Nashville Predators, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers during that time. But since that number belonged to Bruins legend Zdeno Chara, Arvidsson has picked a new one to begin his Boston career.

“I don’t think I’m gonna touch that number in Boston,” a smiling Arvidsson told reporters during a video conference call on July 1. “We’ll see where I end up. I’m gonna ask my daughters for advice, too.”

The Bruins also announced Monday that defenseman Andrew Peeke had traded his No. 52 to newly signed forward Sean Kuraly. Peeke will wear No. 26 going forward.

Kuraly wore No. 52 during his first stint with the Bruins from 2016-17 through 2020-21.

Looking back at John Gibson's best moments as an NHLer for his 32nd birthday. 

The Red Wings celebrate the birthday of Detroit's newest goaltender in former all-star John Gibson, who turns 32 on Monday. 

HBD, Gibby! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/H5WzazK63r

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 14, 2025

The Pittsburgh native has spent 13 seasons and over 506 appearances with the Anaheim Ducks and during that span has produced some unbelievable moments. We look back at some of his best career highlights so Red Wings fans can get excited about their new starting goaltender.  

Shutouts In NHL and Playoff Debut

Gibson entered the league during the 2013-14 season and made an immidiate impact with an 18-save shutout over the Vancouver Canucks en route to a 3-0 win. He became the youngest goalie to do so since 1985 and would go on to finish the season with a 3-0-0 record, a 1.33 goals against average and a .954 save percentage through three appearances. 

Anahiem would continue on into the playoffs, Gibson again produced another shocking moment when he shutout the LA Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Gibson's 28 saves made him just the second NHL goalie ever to post shutouts in both their regular season and playoff debuts since Bruins goaltender Tiny Thompson from the 1930s. Following the win, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said Gibson was "the best goalie I’ve ever seen."

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500th NHL Game With Anahiem 

Gibson became the first ever Ducks goaltender to reach 500 games, cementing himself as an all-time great in the franchise's history. He backed up the milestone with a massive 26-save performance in a 2‑1 win over the Dallas Stars. Gibson would finish with 506 appearances with the Ducks, managing a 204-217-63 record with a 2.89 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. 

Conference Finals Appearances

Gibson has seen his share of playoff success as he was on a pair of Anahiem teams that made it to the Conference Finals but fell short both times. Back in 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks were a dynasty and Gibson had to do his best to slow down a moving train. The Hawks would go on to win the Stanley Cup but Gibson gave them his best as he started Game 4, where he earned a 5-4 overtime win and followed it up with another overtime win for Game 5 to tighten up the series. 

The Ducks would eventually lose in seven games with Gibson splitting time with Fredreick Andersen with the wins proving Gibson is legit. Fastforward to 2017, the Ducks are back in the picture but now against the Nashville Predators. Gibson would start five of the six games and would be pulled in Game 5 after struggling early on. He would total 13 goals against on 117 shots in a 4-2 series loss. 

His overall playoff numbers currently sit at 11-13 with a 2.80 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. Gibson mentioned in his opening press conference with Detroit that playoffs are his only goal and when getting there, hopefully he can produce the same kind of numbers and help be a difference maker in the Red Wings success.

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The Dallas Stars kick off a new week of our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Stars’ 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 Stars put on a masterclass of how to usher in a new era while their older core ages. They’ve drafted and developed high-end talent, such as Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, Jake Oettinger and Roope Hintz, and they’ve bolstered that group by bringing in Mikko Rantanen. 

Wyatt Johnston highlights the Stars' young core. He’s a high-level center who has scored over 30 goals in each of the past two seasons. Heading into his age-22 season, Johnston is poised to eclipse the point-per-game mark. 

Thomas Harley is an emerging defender who played well in the spotlight when he joined Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. His mobility and length defensively, along with his puckhandling and passing offensively and in transition, allow him to impact the game at every level. He and Johnston are the centerpieces of the next generation, but they aren’t prospects anymore, so let's dive into the pipeline that will help bolster the Stars' winning ways. 

The back end has solid players on their way through the system.

Lian Bichsel technically isn’t a rookie anymore, having played 38 NHL games this past season, but he still feels like one. The heavy-hitting blueliner has developed into a solid defensive player who uses his skating and size to impede offense for the opposing team. His puckhandling and passing are simple but steady, never looking to play above his head.

Aram Minnetian is one of the most promising players on their way through the system. He’s been a solid part of the Boston College blueline, using his skating and intelligent, timely play to ensure he puts his team in excellent positions. With a bigger role next season, he should be a key piece to a very good BC squad.

Tristan Bertucci jumps to the AHL after a solid OHL career. Despite not winning the league title, Bertucci finished his OHL career with 18 points in 16 playoff games, which was an offensive level he’s never reached before. While that isn’t expected at the next level, he’s known for his defensive game and physicality. He moves well, and that’s allowed him to showcase some transition ability as well. Bertucci is the kind of defender who flies under the radar at the next level, but they can be undoubtedly valuable.

On offense, Emil Hemming is one of the more promising forwards in the Stars’ system. Although he didn’t have the best season in the OHL, he has a great shot and plays the game with urgency. He gets involved in the forecheck and engages physically when needed. He isn’t the most refined attacker, but he exhibits some solid habits that could translate to the second or third line. 

Ayrton Martino broke out in the NCAA as a senior, jumping from 27 points to 51. His speed makes him such an attractive prospect. He was finally able to show off his shooting talent at the college level. Martino has some rounding out to do, which will be addressed at the AHL level.

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

Lian Bichsel (D), Wyatt Johnston (C)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 3, 94th overall - Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver (WHL)

Round 4, 126th overall - Brandon Gorzynski, C/LW, Calgary (WHL)

Round 5, 146th overall - Atte Joki, C, Lukko Jr. (Fin.)

Round 5, 158th overall - Mans Goos, G, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 190th overall - Dawson Sharkey, RW, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

Round 7, 222nd overall - Charlie Paquette, RW, Guelph (OHL)

The Stars are known for taking swings at the draft, and they did exactly that with Cameron Schmidt. He was widely ranked as a first-round pick, but his size and lack of defensive commitment were major issues because he could get pushed around a bit, and he wasn’t always committed to playing in his own zone. With that said, his shot was as good as anyone in the draft, and he was a flash of lightning on the ice, flying around and bursting up ice with speed. He also has a bit of a nasty side, getting into it after the whistle and showing he has the fight in him that smaller players need. He must incorporate that into his game between the whistles a bit more.

To mitigate some of the risk from Schmidt, they went the safe route and drafted Gorzynski. He plays like your prototypical third-liner. Gorzynski looks to pressure opposing players with speed and effort, closing down the space they have to make plays and force mistakes. He doesn’t have the high-level skill to dictate play, but he has enough to advance play to teammates with the puck and find pockets to finish when given the chance. 

In the fifth round, the Stars had two picks. The first of which was Atte Joki, a Finnish center who has displayed some really solid two-way ability and a crafty scoring touch at times. He’s likely destined for bottom-six duties at the pro level, but there is a level of intrigue that comes from his intelligent off-puck offensive play. Joki will need some time to develop, but the Stars have a knack for drafting solid Finns.

Mans Goos is a Swedish netminder with some hype back home. He’s got great size, and he cuts down the angle really well, taking away any light behind him in 1-on-1 situations. Goos must improve his lateral quickness, but he is a solid bet as a netminder with some solid pedigree.

When the Stars picked Dawson Sharkey, it felt like a swing on an energetic forward who plays with some physical intensity. He showed a decent touch around the net, finishing pucks in tight and even showing off a decent shot off the rush. Sharkey has a few tools but isn’t always able to put them together. Grabbing a player like this late is a bet on tools, which is better than drafting strictly for size, as some teams do.

With their final pick, the Stars drafted Charlie Paquette, who scored 70 points in 68 games as a 19-year-old OHLer and an overage draft eligible. He throws some hits, gets shots off from good spots and tries to get involved all over the offensive zone. He’s a good net-front presence as well. He strikes me as someone who will be a very good junior player and even a solid AHLer, but he has too much to put together, including passing and defensive play, to really challenge for an NHL job. 

Strengths

The Stars’ pipeline has some promising defensemen. Bichsel is ready to roll in the NHL now, but with Minnetian and Bertucci on the way and some other nice swings in the pipeline, the Stars found ways to add a plethora of defensemen to the system.

Christian Kyrou is an offensive defenseman with a couple of years of experience in the AHL, having shown flashes of the skill and passing that made him a lethal OHL defender. Niilopekka Muhonen has an interesting blend of mobility and physicality. He had a solid season in which he helped the Medicine Hat Tigers capture a WHL title. The Stars have nice bets throughout their blueline. 

Weaknesses

The Stars are weak down the middle in the prospect pipeline. Drafting Joki helps, but there aren’t any solid centers who could be much more than a fourth-line pivot. With that said, the Stars have Johnston and Bourque, who can play center at the NHL level. Dallas must replenish and continue to bring in centers to ensure long-term success.

Hidden Gem: Antonio Stranges, LW

Antonio Stranges is one of the most curious cases in hockey. His pure skill and creativity are incredible. Stranges has often been called a pre-game or practice all-star. Stranges has some of the most unorthodox but entertaining skating of any prospect in the last half-decade. His ability to deke, dangle or pull off tricks outside of the game was incredibly fun for people to watch. Last season, Stranges began to put the skill and mobility together at the AHL level. Whether he can continue to grow and eventually prove his skill at the NHL level will be the biggest question.

Next Man Up: Lian Bichsel, D

The Stars have missed the presence of Chris Tanev since he left in free agency. Tanev was a stout defensive force who helped keep the blueline steady in his limited days with the Stars. They are hoping that Bichsel can help fill that void after a season in which the Stars tried to patch the hole with unreliable veterans. Bichsel can lay the boom, and he can skate to shadow opposing players. Bichsel is young, but he might be the missing piece on the blueline. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Ayrton Martino, Antonio Stranges, Brandon Gorzynski, Justin Ertel

C: Angus MacDonell, Atte Joki, Francesco Arcuri

RW: Emil Hemming, Cameron Schmidt, Charlie Paquette, Matthew Seminoff

LD: Lian Bichsel, Tristan Bertucci, Niilopekka Muhonen

RD: Aram Minnetian, Gavin White, Christian Kyrou, Connor Punnett

G: Maxim Mayorov, Mans Goos, Arno Tiefensee, Remi Poirier, Ben Kraws

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

The NHL’s offseason is now fully upon us, the draft is in the books, most significant trades have already occurred, and free agency has mostly shaken out. The NHL landscape for the 2025-26 season has become clearer.

Only a handful of NHL players remain on the unrestricted free agency market, and the focus has shifted to restricted free agency. Eleven players filed for salary arbitration last week, with meetings scheduled to be held between July 20 and Aug 4.

Among those 11 players were a pair of Anaheim Ducks: goaltender Lukas Dostal and defenseman Drew Helleson. The hope with any arbitration case in the NHL is to negotiate and agree upon a deal before having to enter the boardroom. Historically, when each side makes their arguments in those rooms, damaging effects on the relationship between the player and the team can ripple moving forward. Arbitration dates are best utilized when treated like deadlines to get a contract signed.

The only other RFA on the Ducks roster is center Mason McTavish, with Sam Colangelo, Judd Caulfield, Jan Mysak, Tim Washe, and Calle Clang also in the organization and needing new contracts.

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AFP Analytics has been fairly accurate when projecting both the length of contracts and the percentage of the cap for an individual deal. Analyzing their projections can be an interesting exercise when attempting to determine what these key pieces to the Ducks’ roster will ultimately sign for.

Lukas Dostal

AFP Analytics Projection: (Long Term) 4 Years, $5.2 million AAV

Dostal was the steadiest and most reliable player in the Ducks organization in 2024-25. The tandem between him and since-traded John Gibson made up potentially the best goaltending tandem in the NHL and were the largest contributors to the team’s 21-point increase in the standings last season.

Despite playing the most hockey in his career in the 12 months between the end of the 2023-24 season and the end of the 2024-25 season, he’s remained healthy, poised, and impactful between the pipes for Anaheim.

Dostal got off to a tremendous start with Gibson out for the first three weeks of the 2024-25 season, who was recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Dostal’s numbers wavered as the season drew longer, but arguments could be made that uncertainty around Gibson’s nagging injury issues last season threw Dostal out of rhythm.

He finished the season with 49 starts and appeared in 54 games. He posted a .903 SV%, stopped 10.28 goals above expected, and tallied his first career shutout.

The goaltending outlook will be significantly clearer for Anaheim heading into next season, with Dostal earning his way to the status of “obvious number one.” His signature knowledge of angles, ability to track pucks around screens, occasionally casual yet remarkable athleticism, and improving game-management skills can be trusted to give the Ducks a chance to win any game they step on the ice for.

Author’s Projection: 5 Years, $5.8 million AAV

Drew Helleson

AFP Analytics Projection: 1 Year, $874,125

Jackson LaCombe’s breakout was the pleasant surprise of the 2024-25 season for the Ducks blueline. A close second, however, was Drew Helleson’s steadying impact on the right side.

After a brief three-game cameo with the Ducks to end the 2022-23 season, spending the entirety of the 2023-24 season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, and playing the first 12 games of his 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, Helleson was recalled to the NHL halfway through November and never looked back.

In his rookie 2024-25 season, he played 56 games, averaged 16:21 TOI, scored 13 points (4-9=13), and averaged over a minute of ice time on the penalty kill.

Helleson doesn’t dazzle with any one skill, but is as reliable as they come for a 24-year-old defenseman. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame to establish body position in front of the net or when retrieving pucks, outlets are crisp and decisive, and he does well to funnel pucks to the net around screens and succeeds at finding teammates' sticks for deflections.

Defensively, after some mistakes. needed adjustments were made to the speed and skill of the NHL game vs the AHL game, but he displayed quality fundamentals from the start, including gap control, angling, and sealing at the defensive blueline.

Filing for arbitration was an interesting tactic from Helleson’s camp, but he may be searching for more security or salary heading into his sophomore NHL season. He can make a strong case should a hearing take place, so it would be surprising to see him signed for as little as the AFP projection.

Author’s Projection: 2 years, $1.4 million AAV

Mason McTavish

AFP Analytics Projection: (Long Term) 6 Years, $6.77 million AAV/(Short Term) 3 Years, $3.98 million AAV

McTavish is the only remaining first-round pick on the Ducks roster from Bob Murray’s era as general manager. Pat Verbeek has let Jacob Larsson, Sam Steel, Max Jones, and Isac Lundestrom walk to unrestricted free agency without qualifying offers, and he traded both Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers.

McTavish has always been the player in that group who seems to most epitomize what Verbeek values in his players, and Verbeek has stated he’s a big piece of the organization’s future.

McTavish’s per-game production has increased in each of his first three NHL seasons from .54 in his rookie season to .66 in 2023-24 to .68 in 2024-25, where he totaled 52 points (22-30=52) in 76 games. His 22 goals led the Ducks last season, and his 52 points placed him second on the team behind only Troy Terry (55 points).

He’d grown his 200-foot game considerably from year two to year three in the NHL, and his brand of high-motor, small-area battling has become increasingly more impactful. He’s at his best when inviting pressure and distributing to the open ice created by the attention he draws from defenders.

Coming off his ELC, he’s in a similar situation to Drysdale and Zegras two summers ago. Based on how those negotiations went, where disputes with both players lasted into training camp and may have led to subsequent injuries, agreeing to terms sooner rather than later would likely be preferred by both parties.

However, in these situations, Verbeek has tended to use every ounce of leverage he can in an attempt to get the player down to a desirable number. Based on comparable contracts given to players like Quinton Byfield last summer and William Eklund this summer, compounded with Verbeek’s penchant for bridge deals for young players, it would be surprising to see McTavish sign a contract over four years in length.

It would also be surprising to see his number come in at AFP’s projection on a short-term deal. Sending Zegras to Philadelphia highlighted the Ducks' commitment to McTavish as their second-line center behind Leo Carlsson, and in doing so, Verbeek surrendered some leverage.

Author’s Projection: 3 Years, $5.83 million AAV

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Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images