Just under three months ago, the New Jersey Devils were down 3–1 to the Carolina Hurricanes when goaltender Jacob Markstrom, frustrated, appeared to take a swing with his stick at the player in front of his net. But he missed who he appeared to be going for, Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, and instead slashed his teammate, Cody Glass. To this day, Glass hasn’t let Markstrom forget it.

The date was April 20, 2025. Earlier in the game, veteran defenseman Brenden Dillon had exited after a collision with a Hurricanes player. Later, defenseman Luke Hughes ended up in the back of the net following another hit. He injured his shoulder but managed to play through it.

#NJDevils Jacob Markstrom gave a good wack to his own teammate Cody Glass, who goes down the tunnel, along with Luke Hughes who looked like he hurt his shoulder. Crazy sequence pic.twitter.com/F5ZB16ol38

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) April 20, 2025

Things were unraveling quickly for New Jersey. They were trailing on the scoreboard, already down one defenseman, had another who somehow ended up in the net, and it was only Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

As Svechnikov tried to make it 4–1, he fired a shot at Markstrom, who made the save and then attempted to retaliate by swinging his stick. Unbeknownst to him, Cody Glass was skating across the crease at that very moment. Markstrom, facing the other direction, didn’t see him.

Glass ended up taking the full brunt of the slash, which looked like it was intended for Svechnikov. He immediately dropped to the ice and left the game.

Now missing two defensemen, the Devils couldn’t mount a comeback. Svechnikov later got the goal he wanted, this time into an empty net with 2:30 remaining, sealing a 4–1 win for Carolina.

Speaking to NJD.TV the following Monday, Markstrom said, “Whatever everyone has been seeing, that is what happened. I mean, it is pretty clear-cut, and obviously, I feel really bad. It’s a situation that did not have to happen. It was a heat-of-the-moment play, unfortunately, and I felt bad for [Glass]. You don’t want to see or be the reason that anyone goes down.”

Fortunately for the Devils, Glass returned to play the remainder of the series, missing only the third period of Game 1. He suited up for all five games.

Unfortunately, the series ended just like Game 1 did: in a 4–1 win for the Hurricanes. The Devils managed to take only one game, Game 3, and were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Reflecting on the series, Glass said, “Obviously, I wish it could have gone a lot better. It’s something I think about all the time, but I think it’s also something that’s going to drive me this summer.”

Now, three months later, the Devils have signed Glass to a two-year, $5 million contract. Though there was uncertainty about whether the team would re-sign him, New Jersey ultimately decided to keep him around and signed him on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

“I wanted to stay [in New Jersey] the whole time,” Glass told reporters. “I’m glad it got done.”

The goaltender and the 26-year-old center will now share the ice again this season. And Cody Glass may never let Jacob Markstrom live down what happened in Game 1. The accidental slash to Glass’s midsection came up again in the wake of his signing.

“Marky is one of the greatest guys of all time,” Glass said with a smile, “besides the time when he slashed me, but that was kind of my fault.”

It was only Glass’s fourth playoff game ever, having played three postseason games previously with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Nashville Predators.

Now, the focus shifts forward. Both Glass and Markstrom will aim to help the Devils return to the playoffs, and this time, make a deeper run without any friendly fire.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

EDMONTON – Hockey is a simple game.

Despite the simplicity of the game, the Edmonton Oilers should be praised for their accomplishment of back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances.

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

Stan Bowman has done well this offseason. He had the directive to put together a faster and younger forward group. He also saw the goaltending position needing an adjustment.

Hockey is about scoring goals and stopping goals. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard do pretty well with the former but can only do so much with the latter. 

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That’s where the goalies come in.

The organization has experienced turnover at most of its levels this offseason. With all of the departures in mind, here is what the goalie depth chart looks like for the 2025-26 season at the ECHL, AHL, and NHL levels.

ECHL

Connor Ungar

Connor Ungar is heading into the second year of his two-year ELC contract that he signed with the Oilers last year. During the 2024-25 season, he spent the entire year playing for the Oilers’ ECHL affiliate, the Fort Wayne Komets. 

In 35 games, he had a record of 19-12-4, a 2.74 goals against average (GAA), a .903 save percentage (SV%), and three shutouts. Ungar should be a lock to play in the ECHL once again this year.

Nathaniel Day

Nathaniel Day got a cup of coffee in the ECHL last season. After finishing up his year with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL, he started in three regular season games for the Komets. Day was tremendous in that audition, boasting a 2-0-0 record, 0.43 GAA, a .981 SV%, and two shutouts.

The Komets made the playoffs, and Day continued to put up good numbers (2.17 GAA, .914 SV%). With Brett Brochu headed overseas, the Komets will likely run a Day and Ungar duo for their goaltenders this year.

AHL

Matt Tomkins

One of the July 1st signings this summer has been bringing in veteran Matt Tomkins. He signed a two-year deal with a $450,000 guaranteed salary in year two. That suggests the Oilers see him as exclusively an AHL goaltender for his contract.

For the 2024-25 season, Tomkins played 26 games for the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He boasted a 12-10-3 record, a 2.55 GAA, a .907 SV%, and three shutouts.

The Edmonton-born, Chicago Blackhawks-drafted goalie should bring stability in net to the organization’s AHL team, the Bakersfield Condors.

Samuel Jonsson

Many Oilers fans are watching Samuel Jonsson with a keen eye. He had a tremendous season for Bofors IK of the Hockey Allsvenskan in Sweden. He was named goalie of the year after putting together a 17-6 record, 1.88 GAA, a .922 SV%, and six shutouts in 24 games. 

Jonsson signed his ELC with the Oilers this past April. That gives the Oilers the ability to have the 6-foot-5 netminder play with the Condors this season. However, they do have the ability to send him back to Sweden, should something be agreed upon between the organization and the player’s representation.

Fans of the Oilers might not discover where Jonsson will play this year until September or October. His deployment may rely on whether the Oilers acquire another goalie or not. If they trade out one of their goalies for another goalie, or run the same tandem they did last season, then it’s likely Jonsson plays in the AHL.

However, if the Oilers trade for a goalie without sending a goalie back, or if they sign another available free agent, then it’s likely that Jonsson plays in Sweden for the 2025-26 season. 

One way or another, the Oilers will run a new tandem with the Condors as Colin Delia, Olivier Rodrigue, and Brochu have all moved on from the organization.

NHL

Calvin Pickard

Calvin Pickard had a solid season with the Oilers. There were a few stretches where he had to fill in for an injured Stuart Skinner. The veteran backup performed admirably in those situations. 

Pickard is entering the last year of his contract with the Oilers. He played the second-most games of his career this past season (36) while achieving a career-high in wins (22). He’s found a role and a place within the organization where he can add value.

The goaltending situation is up in the air right now. Pickard could either spend 2025-26 in the AHL, in another NHL organization, or with the Oilers again. Time will truly tell.

Stuart Skinner

Skinner has been the Oilers' starting goaltender for the last two seasons. However, his best season since turning pro came when he began the year as Jack Campbell’s backup.

Skinner’s future with the team may appear uncertain. The two options the Oilers have for their 26-year-old netminder are to trade him or keep him.

Organizations don’t trade away a 26-year-old goalie who has made it to the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons. Especially one with Skinner’s cap hit ($2.6 million). 

The Oilers’ goalie depth chart appears set for the upcoming season. Barring another free agent signing or trade that shakes up the NHL & AHL ranks, this is what the Oilers are working with in 2025-26.

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There are quite a few former members of the San Jose Sharks still waiting to find their new home as unrestricted free agents. Many were with the team as recently as last season, while others departed the Bay Area a few years ago. Let’s take a look at those still awaiting their next contract.

First, there are five former Sharks forwards still on the market. Klim Kostin and Noah Gregor weren’t tendered a qualifying offer by general manager Mike Grier and were forced to test their luck on the open market.

Nikolai Kovalenko was also in that predicament, but ultimately ended up signing with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. It wouldn’t surprise me if the same ends up happening for Kostin, who was never able to live up to his potential as a former first-round draft selection of the St. Louis Blues.

Gregor, on the other hand, will likely end up with either a two-way contract or an American Hockey League deal to start the season; however, it would be surprising if he’s not back in the NHL as a fourth-liner in the near future.

Luke Kunin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the trade deadline this past March, but after 12 games without a point, their general manager, Don Waddell, opted to let him hit free agency. While it’s not surprising that he wasn’t the first target on many teams’ radar, it would be surprising not to see Kunin on an NHL roster this October, despite his bad stretch in Columbus.

Kevin Labanc was also in Columbus, signing there following a strong preseason performance with the New Jersey Devils; however, he suffered the same fate. He didn’t see much action under their head coach, Dean Evason, recording 12 points in 34 games.

The final former Sharks forward sitting in free agency is Matt Nieto, who finished the 2024-25 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins but spent quite a bit of time with their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, over the course of the season. At this stage, it seems most likely that he signs a professional try-out closer to pre-season; however, it’s possible a team offers him a deal between now and then as well.

Defensively, there are two former members of the Sharks still available. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who was bought out after 19 seasons and 1323 games in teal, is hitting the open market. He struggled in his last few seasons with the Sharks; however, he is still a serviceable player in limited minutes.

Ultimately, the size of his contract and Grier’s plans for the offseason made him expendable a season before his contract expires. He’s no longer an elite shutdown defenseman like he was in his prime, but there should be a team that opts to take a flyer on him at some point this summer at a low cost to see if he’ll perform better in a different system.

Jan Rutta also finds himself still on the open market. As a right-handed, defensive-minded defenseman, there will certainly be a market for him as a bottom-pairing or depth option as teams begin to circle back after missing out on their top targets.

Lastly, there are a few goaltenders who spent time between the pipes in San Jose, still looking for a new home. Alexandar Georgiev struggled mightily during his time in teal. Grier acquired him as part of the return for MacKenzie Blackwood, hoping he’d find his form and play like he did years ago with the New York Rangers.

Ultimately, that didn’t happen, and the 2024-25 season ended up being the worst of his NHL career. In 31 games with the Sharks, he had a .875 save percentage and a goals against average of 3.88. It will be interesting to see if another team takes a chance on him, but at this stage, it seems his path forward likely includes a stint in the American Hockey League if he wants to return to the NHL.

Georgi Romanov surprisingly didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Sharks this summer. Although he wasn’t phenomenal at the NHL level, he seemed serviceable for the San Jose Barracuda. Especially with Yaroslav Askarov graduating from the AHL, it’ll be interesting to see what comes next for Romanov and whether or not management made the right call going with Jakub Skarek instead.

James Reimer, who spent two seasons in the net for the Sharks, is also still available. After finishing the 2024-25 season with the Buffalo Sabres, the 37-year-old appears to be interested in continuing his career for at least one more season, but it’s not guaranteed as according to the Olean Times Herald’s Buffalo Hockey Beat, he’s contemplating retirement and has been taking his career one year at a time.

While it seems clear some of the names listed are likely to end up in the NHL again next season, some of the aforementioned former Sharks may head overseas, or some may decide retirement is their best option at this stage of their career. Although July 1 is past, there are still quite a few Sharks storylines to follow with the current free agency pool.

Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Sharks' Ryan Reaves Excited For New Opportunity In San Jose The San Jose Sharks acquired Ryan Reaves from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Henry Thrun. While the move was a bit perplexing to both fan bases at first, especially for Sharks fans, it helped clear an obvious logjam and added some needed toughness to the forward group. BREAKING: Sharks Sign Veteran Forward Jeff SkinnerThe San Jose Sharks have signed veteran forward Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3 million contract. Sharks General Manager Grier Discusses New Acquisitions, Sets Expectations For Next SeasonMike Grier spoke with the media after the San Jose Sharks acquired Ryan Reaves and Jeff Skinner earlier this week. The Sharks’ general manager has high expectations for both of the acquisitions, but also for the team as a whole this coming season.

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.

According to Nordström’s article, which was published in the Swedish website Expressen on Saturday, the 18-year-old Frondell will sign for three years at $975,000 US per year, which is the maximum allowed for an entry-level deal according to the CBA.

Nordström further states that, according to information provided to Expressen, Frondell intends to play for Djurgården this upcoming season and will not attend Chicago's training camp, which begins on Sept. 15. Rather, he will focus on preparing for Djurgården’s season and the team’s opener on Sept. 13 at home against Skellefteå AIK.

That statement is consistent with Frondell’s words when he signed a contract extension with Djurgården in March. 

“When I got the offer to stay, there was no doubt, no hesitation,” Frondell was quoted at the time of his signing. “Everyone who knows me knows that this is the club that I want to play for as long as possible. I have been a Djurgården fan since the day I was born and I have always looked up to those who have worn Djurgården jerseys. To play for Djurgården myself is the best thing I know, and with the support of the fans it only becomes even better each game.”

Djurgården Extends Top Draft Prospect Anton Frondell Swedish center Anton Frondell, who is ranked to be one of the top picks at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, has signed a contract that will see him remain with Djurgården – his Stockholm-based childhood club – at least one more season.

Last season, Frondell had 25 points in 29 games playing for Djurgården in Sweden’s second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan. He then had seven points in 19 post-season games as Djurgården earned a promotion to the top-tier SHL. That will make the upcoming season a step up in the level of hockey that Frondell will be playing.

In addition to Frondell, Djurgården’s lineup for the upcoming season will also probably include 18-year-old winger Victor Eklund, who was chosen 16th overall by the New York Islanders. It will also have 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.

Swedish D-Man Returns Home On Long-Term Contract Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, 26, has signed a five-year contract with Djurgården, the Stockholm-based SHL club announced on Thursday.

If Ivan Demidov gave a good show on Saturday night in Boisbriand, the Montreal Canadiens’ first pick at the last draft did the same thing earlier in the day. Second-round pick and 34th overall selection Alexander Zharovsky started his KHL year with a win at the league’s three-on-three tournament with his team, Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

It was the first time the KHL organized a tournament with that format on smaller ice and with some of its teams. In the semi-final, Ufa got the better of HC Traktor while AK Bars defeated Dinamo Minsk.

While three-on-three play typically leads to an avalanche of goals, both finalists were content to sit back and wait for a mistake from their opponent, which resulted in a goalless first frame. It took a penalty shot converted by Ildus Suleimanov to put Ufa in the lead, and this tiniest of leads stood until the end of the second period thanks to its effective defense.

The third and final period brought an equalizer for AK Bars, who scored through Vladislav Shlyakhtov to send the final to a shootout, and it was Ilya Krikunov who gave Ufa the title of the first edition of that tournament.

While Zharovsky had a quiet final, he showcased some nerves of steel in the group stage to score a shootout goal, which allowed Ufa to win the group stage with a 5-4 win over Ak Bars, who lost a 4-1 lead after Ildus Suleimanov scored a hat trick.

If Demidov showcased some excellent skills in Brossard, Habs fans shouldn’t sleep on Zharovsky, as he showed insane puck skills and hands when he buried the game-winning goal in the group stage.

Alexander Zharovsky's game-winning shootout goal brings the win to the Salavat Yulaev 3x3 in the Green Rivalry (game against Ak Bars)#GoHabsGo

📹: https://t.co/Q9brMWGdlgpic.twitter.com/dQ1R4s2NCr

— Adelina (@AdelCucumberg) July 11, 2025

The youngster is under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, meaning Montreal won’t get to welcome him for a couple of years, but that’s fine. The 6-foot-1 forward still needs to develop and put some muscle on his lanky frame, as he only weighs 163 pounds. To give you a comparison basis, Cole Caufield is listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds. Mind you, Lane Hutson is listed at 5-foot-9 and only 162 pounds, but his elusiveness allows him to avoid most hits, and not everyone has that skill.

The Hockey News will be keeping a close eye on Zharovsky as he progresses and tries to work his way to the NHL.

Alexander Zharovsky with his first trophy for Salavat Yulaev💚

/The Ufa team became the champion of the first KHL 3x3 Championship/#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/jV1i8IEJg6

— Adelina (@AdelCucumberg) July 12, 2025

Photo credit: MHL Website

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Seemingly regardless of whether he makes the NHL or not, top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is a massive underdog to win the 2026 Calder Trophy.

FanDuel Sportsbook currently has the 2025 No. 6 overall pick at a whopping +30000 to win the Calder this season, which has an implied probability of 0.33%. Not 33%, 0.33% - not even a single percent.

Montreal Canadiens starlet Ivan Demidov is the heavy favorite at this point in the summer, leading the pack at +270. San Jose's No. 2 overall pick, Michael Misa, was listed at +1200 alongside newly minted Edmonton forward Ike Howard.

Unless this was simply a clerical error and a massive oversight, 2025 No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer was not listed in FanDuel's odds at all.

Playmkaing forwards Maxim Shabanov and James Hagens - both of whom very well could've ended up Flyers this summer - were listed at +2300 and +3000, respectively.

Flyers' Porter Martone Sets Sights on Early NHL DebutJust one day into on-ice activities at development camp, the hype around top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is already growing.

As for Martone, it seems like the oddsmakers are banking on him heading to the NCAA, possibly with Michigan State University alongside fellow Flyers prospect Shane Vansaghi.

Martone isn't alone at the bottom, though. Center Jett Luchanko, the Flyers' 2024 first-round pick, also made the cut at +30000.

Neither 18-year-old appears to have an abundantly clear path to an NHL roster spot, but injuries (Tyson Foerster) and uncertainty down the middle (Trevor Zegras) could make for opportunity in training camp.

And, for the Flyers as a team, they have the third-worst odds to win the Metropolitan Division this season, sitting at +2000. Only Columbus (+2200) and Pittsburgh (+8500) are worse, and the New York Islanders are also within range at +1700.

Flyers Reportedly Rejected Islanders Trade to Secure Porter MartoneThe Philadelphia Flyers were open to lots of things ahead of the NHL Draft, but, ultimately, a bold New York Islanders trade offer wasn't enough to pull them away from selecting Porter Martone with the sixth overall pick.

The four other teams in the division are comfortably ahead of the Flyers, with odds of +650 or better.

If you wanted to throw a few bucks on a Stanley Cup, you could do worse than +8000.

Honestly, if the Flyers did make it that far, Martone might have a little something to do with it. Just something to keep in mind!

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has left the door open for further additions to the team through trades, as just about every impactful free agent player has been re-signed by their respective clubs or otherwise traded/signed in the cases of Mitch Marner and K'Andre Miller.

Yzerman spoke about his desire to add a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman, especially the latter.

"The most important thing is to find players that fit," he said. "What we could use right now is a defenseman, a top four, and preferably a right shot. That would be our biggest potential need.”

The good news for Detroit is that there is a right-handed defenseman who is rumored to soon be on the move that fits the bill perfectly.

Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, a right-handed shot with the Calgary Flames, has been on the trade block for the last several weeks. He's also about to enter the final year of his current contract which carries a reasonable $4.55 million cap hit. 

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As it currently stands, the Red Wings have approximately $12 million in cap space to utilize toward future additions after acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks and signing a handful of new players through free agency. 

Andersson has averaged nearly 24 minutes of ice time patrolling the Calgary blue line in each of the last three seasons, and reached double-digits in goals in two of those three campaigns (11 goals in each in 2022-23 and 2024-25, while scoring nine in 2023-24.) 

The Red Wings only have two right-handed defensemen at the NHL level, Moritz Seider and Justin Holl, the latter of whom isn't going to be in Detroit's long-term outlook. 

More space would be opened up on Detroit's books when Holl's contract expires next offseason, while the salary cap is also expected to rise. 

At 28 years old, Andersson still has lots of hockey in him. Not only would he help to offset some of the defensive load that Seider carries, he also plays in all situations - even strength, power play, and penalty kill. 

While talking about his club in late June, Flames general manager Craig Conroy couldn't guarantee that Andersson would still be with Calgary when Training Camp rolls around in September. 

“You gotta look at it - Ras has got another year on his contract. I talked to Ras this morning and we’re all good," Conroy said. "If he’s a Calgary Flame in September, he’s a Calgary Flame." 

As they would for a potential acquisition of an impact forward, the Red Wings have the draft capital and a multitude of prospects to offer as trade bait, as well as the cap space to accommodate a player like Andersson to fill the need on their blue line. 

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With free agency beginning to die down, the hockey world was left anticipating what the Dallas Stars might do to address their cap situation, as they were more than $1.5 million over the cap limit going into Thursday.

That all changed on Thursday, as the Stars traded defenseman Matt Dumba - along with a 2028 second-round pick - to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok. Dumba, 30, had one year remaining on a contract that pays him $3.75 million annually, so sending him to Pittsburgh gave the Stars the cap relief they needed to be compliant.

As for Pittsburgh, the acquisition of Dumba brings about some questions that may need to be addressed before the 2025-26 season starts. Combining the Dumba trade with the deal that brought defenseman Connor Clifton to Pittsburgh - in conjunction with the signings of Parker Wotherspoon and Alexander Alexeyev as well as prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke knocking at the door - there has been a bit of a logjam created on the back end for the Penguins on both the left and the right sides.

And this is where things start to get interesting with Penguins’ top defenseman Erik Karlsson.

It is well-known at this point that Karlsson, 35, is on the trade market for the Penguins. Acquired in a blockbuster deal during the summer of 2023 from the San Jose Sharks, the three-time Norris Trophy winner has failed to help Pittsburgh get back to the playoffs in consecutive seasons, rendering the initial reasoning for the trade a moot point as the team mires itself in a rebuild.

It hasn’t been all bad for Karlsson in Pittsburgh, as he still registered 11 goals and 53 points this season for the Penguins and has been the primary driver of offense - and, really, nearly the only driver of offense - from the blue line. He has put up 22 goals and 109 points in two seasons for the Penguins, and this was after his third Norris campaign, when he had a whopping 25 goals and 101 points with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23. 

Why the Matt Dumba Trade Is About More Than Just The PlayerPittsburgh Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was busy on the trade market again on Thursday, sending defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Dallas Stars in exchange for fellow defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick. 

Anyone who expected that much from Karlsson in Pittsburgh was probably expecting too much. However, his level of production, oftentimes, hasn’t outweighed his mistakes, especially on a team like the Penguins that lacks defensive structure as it is. At the end of the day, Pittsburgh is not a particularly good hockey team right now, and a high-ceiling, low-floor player like Karlsson is probably not what they need right now for the stage they’re in. 

So, when the Penguins traded for Dumba, they created an even bigger logjam on the right side than they had previously. The right side of their blue line - including Karlsson - now occupies $23.18 million of combined cap space, and it features four players who have pretty much played full-time NHL minutes for the past several seasons. 

With eight defensemen already rostered - not including Pickering, Brunicke, and roster hopeful Jack St. Ivany - there are too many defensemen for too little spots. If the Penguins truly want to put an emphasis on development - and, even, on the hope that they can flip Dumba and/or Clifton at the deadline for picks - keeping four full-time NHL defensemen on the right side doesn’t make much sense. 

Given all of the above factors, it stands to reason that the Dumba move was, perhaps, a precursor to the eventual departure of Karlsson.

Of course, a lot has to happen in order for Karlsson to actually leave Pittsburgh. He has a full no-movement clause, meaning he has full control over if and where he goes. Also, the Penguins owe him $10 million of his $11.5 million AAV for two more years, which - even with the cap rising - is a hefty contract for a contending team, likely against the cap, to take on. 

In other words, there would have to be retention on any deal, and there has to be a will and a want from the player to vacate Pittsburgh in favor of another city. It has been rumored that Karlsson is willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to a contender, but part of the problem is that most contenders literally can’t afford him - even with retention. 

4 Potential Destinations For Penguins' Defenseman Erik KarlssonWith most of the big-name free agents off the board, the Pittsburgh Penguins are generating quite the buzz on the trade market.

Perhaps the Carolina Hurricanes are interested in replacing Brent Burns. Maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs are willing to send a contract to the Penguins in return so they can bolster their right side. Maybe the Ottawa Senators are interested in a reunion and will perform some gymnastics to make it happen.

And, if you’re the Penguins, this is probably the hope. But they also aren’t just going to give Karlsson away for nothing. They know the value he brings to their blue line in terms of offense and how he is capable of driving play almost entirely on his own. They’ll want fair value in return, and retention will only up the price.

If the Penguins have it their way, Karlsson will, likely, be in a different uniform to begin the 2025-26 season, and they’ve made moves - like the Dumba trade - that indicate that it’s their intended direction.

But, at the end of the day, it all comes down to what Karlsson wants. Now the Penguins - and the hockey world -  await what’s next.

Penguins Trade for Stars Defenseman Matt DumbaThe Pittsburgh Penguins added another defenseman to their roster on Thursday when they traded for Matt Dumba of the Dallas Stars. They also got a 2028 second-round pick for taking Dumba, while sending fellow defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Stars. 

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Feature image credit: Talia Sprague - Imagn Images  

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in multiple new players so far this off-season. This includes forward Anthony Mantha, as the Penguins signed the veteran winger to a one-year contract that carries a $2.5 million cap hit. It also comes with an extra $2 million of potential performance bonuses.

While this was not necessarily one of the biggest moves made this NHL off-season, it has the potential to be a solid, low-risk one for the Penguins. Mantha has shown during his career that he can be an impactful offensive contributor, and he should get the chance to play in Pittsburgh's top six when looking at their roster. Thus, he will be in a position to succeed with the Penguins. 

The main reason why the Penguins were able to get Mantha at such a reasonable cap hit is that he missed most of this past season due to ACL surgery. In 13 games with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, he posted four goals, seven points, 16 hits, and a plus-6 rating. Overall, he was well on his way to having a good campaign before it came to an abrupt end. 

When looking at Mantha's past offensive success, there is reason to believe that he could be a strong addition to the Penguins' roster. The 6-foot-5 forward has recorded at least 20 goals and 40 points three times in his career, so he is capable of making an impact. This includes during the 2023-24 season, as he had 23 goals and 44 points in 74 games split between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights.

If Mantha can stay healthy and produce solid offense for the Penguins, he will be a nice pickup for the Metropolitan Division club. It will be fascinating to see what kind of campaign he has from here. 

New Penguins Defenseman Is Sneaky Good AdditionThe Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in several new players this off-season. One of them is Connor Clifton, as the Penguins acquired him and the 39th pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau.

Photo Credit: © Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Ottawa Senators' goaltending situation seems like it's in a good place these days.

Linus Ullmark and Leevi Meriläinen are expected to hold down the fort at the NHL level in 2025-26, while down in Belleville, three netminders will likely duke it out for the top two AHL spots.

They've got Mads Sogaard, who will be making NHL money this season, no matter where he plays. So he's probably got dibs on the number one role. Veteran goalie Hunter Shepard just came over from the Washington Capitals organization and won back-to-back AHL titles in 2023 and 2024. So he may have the edge on the much younger Jackson Parsons for the B-Sens' number two role.

All that normalcy, a little depth and stability, are a nice change of pace because not that long ago, stability was the last word anyone would’ve used to describe goaltending in the Senators organization.

Let’s rewind to the crazy, unforgettable 2022–23 NHL campaign – the year the so-called Goalie Graveyard moniker was never more applicable.

It was the Season of 13 Goalies.

It started with optimism. The Sens had just acquired veteran Cam Talbot from Minnesota in a swap for Filip Gustavsson. Talbot was supposed to be the reliable veteran presence. Instead, he took a puck to the ribs in training camp, missed the first month, and never quite got on track. He still ended up leading the team in games played (36), but the numbers weren't great, and the Senators let him walk in free agency that summer.

Talbot ended up being another name in a series of goalies who couldn't stabilize the goaltending like Sens fans had hoped. Looking in your direction, Matt Murray and Joonas Korpisalo. No, Linus. You stay out of this. Go wait in the car, please.

Next up after Talbot was Anton Forsberg. In a game against the Edmonton Oilers in February of that season, Travis Hamonic accidentally shoved Oilers forward Zach Hyman onto Forsberg’s right leg. The result? Torn MCLs in both knees, which ended his season. Yes — both knees.

Goaltending gods, what did Ottawa do to offend you?

That left young Mads Søgaard to carry the torch for a while. He got into 19 NHL games that year, while also playing 22 down in Belleville. In true Sens fashion that season, he, too, missed time with injuries.

And the goalie carousel in Ottawa just kept spinning.

• Kevin Mandolese: 3 games
• Dylan Ferguson: 2 games
• Leevi Meriläinen: 2 games
• Magnus Hellberg: 1 game, because why not?

That’s seven different goalies in one NHL season.

Meanwhile, in Belleville? Even more chaos. The B-Sens iced ten different goaltenders that season. Count ’em:

1. Antoine Bibeau – 23 games
2. Søgaard – 22 games
3. Mandolese – 17 games
4. Ferguson – 8 games
5. Logan Flodell – 5 games
6. Meriläinen – 4 games
7. Luke Richardson – 3 games (no, not that Luke Richardson)
8. Mark Sinclair – 1 game
9. Ryan Bednard – 1 game
10. Lucas Peressini – 1 game

That’s a total of 13 different goaltenders used across the NHL and AHL rosters in a single season — a number that still feels absurd no matter how many times you say it.

Thankfully, we've hit better days. But Sens fans won’t soon forget that year – the legendary, chaotic, unlucky Season of 13 Goalies.

By Steve Warne
Sens Nation Hockey
Image credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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Insider reports indicate the Avalanche feeling forward Martin Necas may not re-sign and could look to deal him.

The 2026 NHL Free Agent class has the potential to be the biggest in league history with some of the biggest names up for grabs. Barring a similar event to this year where all the top players re-sign, we could see a major shake up within the league.

Most hockey fans look to biggest names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin among others on the block and salivate at the idea of their team nabbing one of the league's best. 

Chris Johnston: Martin Necas is probably the most important decision [for the Avalanche]; figuring out if you can sign him and if not how do you deal with that? Do you walk him to free agency...? - Chris Johnston Show

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 10, 2025

For Detroit fans, there's a name to look out for in the bunch that could be a potential option for the Red Wings in Colorado's Martin Necas. The 26-year-old winger has grown into a solid 70-80 point producer with upside to grow even further. His large frame at 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds have led some, like Spittin' Chiclets Ryan Whitney, to describe his play as a 'horse on skates' as he is extremely hard to move.

As the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the pressure has been on Necas to perform and he has in some of the biggest moments. With 13 points through 18 playoff games in 2019 or five points through Colorado's seven-game series with the Dallas Stars this past postseason, Necas has shown he can make an impact when the team needs him and could help elevate a cup contender or on a rising team like the Red Wings.

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He is currently entering the final year of his two-year bridge deal with a very friendly $6.5 million cap hit. Detroit could easily move prospects and picks to an Avalanche team that has relatively sold off the boat in terms of assets to keep them competitive. This became evident when Colorado recently traded off depth forwards in Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a prospect and two draft picks. 

Selling off a player on an expiring deal like Necas, who could help Colorado massively improve their draft capital and prospect pool in a trade makes a lot of sense. The Red Wings would be able to compensate better than most and as they have plenty of high-end prospects that they would be able to give up for a young impact player like Necas.

Elliotte Friedman: Re Martin Necas: Is he going to commit to the Avalanche? And if the answer is no, what is Colorado going to do about that? That's going to be one of the interesting questions throughout the year - 32 Thoughts Podcast

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 8, 2025

There's been some insider reports indicating the Avalanche being worried about the chance of Necas not wanting to re-sign and test the market. Detroit would be able to get a top-six winger that would require some moving around as they already have Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat on the right wing. However, he would be an instant boost on offence and they could keep around for several years as he's so young. 

Necas's next contract with the growing cap could be in the neighborhood of anywhere between $8-9 million per season which would fit into Detroit's budget. Necas could prove to be very happy where he is with some of the best players in the world in Colorado or he could have a chance to play a big role with a team that should be contending in the coming years like Detroit. 

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Mar 28, 2006; Glendale, AZ, USA; Nashville Predators goalie (29) Tomas Vokoun against the Phoenix Coyotes at Glendale Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Copyright Rick Scuteri

Tomas Vokoun won over 300 games as a goaltender in 15 NHL seasons, one of only 40 to achieve that mark in league history.

The Czech Republic native played for the Predators from 1998-2007, when he was traded to the Florida Panthers. Before Juuse Saros and Pekka Rinne, Vokoun established himself as the Preds’ franchise's go-to goaltender after the club selected him in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft.

Nothing in life comes easy, and that was certainly the case for Vokoun. The Montreal Canadiens chose him in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1994 NHL Draft.

After coming to North America at age 19, Vokoun spoke no English. Far from home, he struggled to adjust to a new culture while getting accustomed to the North American style of hockey.

Vokoun played his first professional season with the Wheeling Thunderbirds of the ECHL in the 1995-96 season. Despite the obstacles, he went 20-10-2 during the regular season, leading the Thunderbirds to an opening-round sweep over Columbus in the playoffs.

Thanks to the support of his teammates and coaches during his lone season in Wheeling, Vokoun’s English-speaking skills improved, and he began thriving off the ice as well.

“It wasn’t easy leaving my home as such a young age,” Vokoun told The Hockey News in December 2024 following his induction into the Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame. “Everything was new for me, and the first few months were hard, but my teammates were very supportive.”

Vokoun’s NHL debut with the Canadiens was rockey, to say the least. He made a relief appearance against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 6, 1997, giving up four goals on 14 shots in one period.

Montreal exposed Vokoun in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 37 games during the Preds’ inaugural season and split time between them and the Milwaukee Admirals until 2000. He eventually established himself with the Predators after they traded Mike Dunham to the New York Rangers in 2002.

Vokoun notched 161 victories with the Predators, then a franchise record. He recorded the first post-season shutout in team history in Game 4 of Nashville’s first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings in 2004.

Even though Detroit prevailed in the series, Vokoun made 41 saves in that game. He earned his first of two trips to the NHL All-Star Game that season and notched 34 wins to guide Nashville to its first playoff berth.

During the lockout of 2004-05, Vokoun played 19 games in Finland. In 2005-06, he had an NHL career-high 36 wins before his season was cut short after being diagnosed with a blood-clotting issue in his pelvis that sidelined him during the post-season.

After being cleared following the season, a broken thumb limited Vokoun to 44 games in 2006-07. The Predators traded him to the Florida Panthers in June.

Vokoun spent four seasons with the Panthers before finishing his NHL career with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. His career spanned over 700 games with five different teams.

Currently, the 49-year-old Vokoun resides near Boca Raton, Fla. While he’s no longer active in professional hockey, he still spends time mentoring young goaltenders.

Long after his playing career ended, Vokoun can still look back with fond remembrance and feel blessed to have played at the sport’s highest level.

“I lived my dream, I played hockey for a living,” he said. “Anytime you can take something you picked when you were five years old and get paid for it… If you play hockey and your goal is not to play in the NHL, then there’s really no reason to play. It was a privilege, and I’m grateful.”

Welcome to this edition of The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks Mailbag. In this series, we answer your questions about what is going on with the Canucks. In this article, we take a look at prospects, Elias Pettersson & more. 

Where Does Räty Fit Into Next Year's Lineup?

Aatu Räty's position in the lineup depends on whether Vancouver upgrades their second-line center position. While Räty could fill the third-line center role, I believe the best place for him next season is on the fourth line. Ultimately, playing him on the fourth line for a season would let him adjust to the NHL, as he has only played a total of 48 career games over the past three seasons.

Based on Räty's ability to win faceoffs, I also believe he could help on the penalty kill. When the Canucks start a penalty kill, he could be sent out to win the faceoff, and then skate off once the puck is cleared. Even if he loses the draw, Räty's defending is good enough that he could stay on the ice while shorthanded and not be a detriment to his team. 

Will Elias Pettersson Hit 100 Points Next Season?

The conversation surrounding center Elias Pettersson has dominated on social media this off-season. While some may have lost faith in the former Calder Trophy winner, it appears that Pettersson is fully healthy and ready to prove the doubters wrong in 2025-26. In short, he is Vancouver's most important forward and needs to have a strong year if the Canucks have eyes on a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

While we know that Pettersson can reach the 100-point mark in a season, I don't think he will hit it this coming season. What I do think happens is that he records between 90 and 95 points while being a contender for the Selke Trophy. Pettersson will also be named to Team Sweden for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he will have a better performance than he did at last year's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Could Kirby Dach Be A 2C Fit For The Canucks?

Kirby Dach is an interesting player. Drafted third overall in 2019, the Montréal Canadiens center is still looking for his breakout season. Dach has also dealt with injuries throughout his entire NHL career, which has limited him to just 59 games over the past two seasons. 

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While their play styles are different, Dach and Filip Chytil are in a similar situation. Both are seen more as third-line centers who can possibly make the jump to the second line if needed. Based on his career so far, I don't believe Dach would be a fix for the second-line center problem.  

Thoughts On Wilson Björck?

Wilson Björck is an intriguing prospect. He lit up the J20 this past season with 67 points in 43 games and is on Team Sweden's radar for the 2026 World Juniors. Björck is also a very versatile forward as he can play both on the wing and down the middle. 

During Development Camp, Björck was one of the players who stood out. The 19-year-old is very calm when the puck is on his stick, which allows him to deliver accurate passes to teammates in scoring positions. Set to join Colorado College next season, spending some time at the NCAA level should help him adjust to the North American ice surface before he makes the jump to the pro level. 

Which Prospects From The 2025 NHL Draft Are You Most Excited About?

The Canucks added six interesting prospects in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. While the organization got good value on their later-round picks, the most exciting prospects are their first two selections, Braeden Cootes and Alexei Medvedev. Both have already signed their entry-level contracts and are headed back to the CHL next season. 

Cootes projects as a middle center at the NHL level, while Medvedev has the potential to be Vancouver's starter one day. Both have high compete levels and were standouts at this year's Development Camp. Both will also be players to watch this September, both at the prospect games against the Seattle Kraken and during Training Camp. 

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 from The Hockey News. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Kent Hughes has been very active this season so far. he pulled off the most significant trade when he managed to pry defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, surprised everyone when he acquired Zach Bolduc, and made some depth signings. However, he still didn’t manage to address another area of need for the Montreal Canadiens, the elusive second-line center.

The free agency market was thin, but when Jonathan Toews signed with the Winnipeg Jets, Matt Duchene re-signed with the Dallas Stars, and Mikael Granlund joined the Anaheim Ducks, it got even thinner. As Jeff Gorton said in his media availability before the draft, when something’s going on in the league and someone becomes available, the Canadiens know about it and assess the suitability of the player for their team, and that’s probably exactly what they did with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

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On Friday, his agent, Shumi Babaev, revealed that he had spoken with the Canadiens since the pivot would have liked to play in Montreal with former teammate Ivan Demidov in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg. Even though he would have wanted to join the Habs, Babaev was told there just wasn’t room for him with the Tricolore.

While the Russian pivot is said to be highly motivated for his NHL comeback, he hasn’t played in the best league in the world since the 2023-24 season, when he put up 24 points in 63 games split between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes. The player was plagued by personal issues and spent some time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program.

He then signed a new contract with the Canes, but ultimately, the agreement was terminated, and he signed a four-year deal with SKA in the KHL, but both parties agreed to terminate the contract at the end of the first season. There were no details released as to the reason for the termination, but it's likely the Canadiens conducted due diligence by leveraging Nick Bobrov’s contacts in Russia. The Habs had a good channel of communication with SKA, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they reached out to get some inside information.

While Kuznetsov could have been a good fit with Demidov, there is no doubt a reason why the Canadiens decided to tell his agent that there just wasn’t room for him, even though the Tricolore is lacking depth at center right now.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Kirby Dach will get yet another kick at the second line can. The Canadiens are probably hoping that youngsters Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen will come to camp all guns blazing and light a fire under the 24-year-old who will be playing the last year of his contract.

Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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American-born Russian winger Nikolai Kovalenko, 25, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on social media on Saturday.

The move comes nine days after CSKA acquired Kovalenko’s KHL rights from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in exchange for recently-signed ex-NHLer Egor Sokolov.

Kovalenko was born in Raleigh, N.C. while his father, Andrei Kovalenko, played for the Carolina Hurricanes. He grew up in Moscow and Yaroslavl, and played in 304 KHL regular-season and playoff games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Ak Bars Kazan and Torpedo between 2017 and 2024, recording 157 points.

At the end of the 2023-24 KHL season, Kovalenko, who had already signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, was assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. He made his NHL debut in that year's playoffs when he was called up to play in two games for the Avalanche.

Kovalenko split the 2024-25 season with Colorado and the San Jose Sharks, recording 20 points and 16 penalty minutes in 57 games. Midway through the season, he was involved in a trade that saw goaltenders Alexandar Georgiev and Mackenzie Blackwood head in opposite directions.

Two Days After Signing In KHL, Sokolov Traded For NHL Free Agent Two days after signing with CSKA Moscow, Russian winger Egor Sokolov has been traded to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, the CSKA club announced on Thursday.

CSKA, colloquially known in North America as the Red Army team, is a perennial powerhouse in Russia, but after back-to-back Gagarin Cup titles in 2022 and 2023, has been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two years.

The team has made numerous moves in recent weeks, including signing Sokolov and then trading him for Kovalenko’s rights two days later. The team has also signed goaltender Spencer Martin and acquired Denis Zernov from Metallurg Magnitogorsk in exchange for New York Islanders prospect Ruslan Iskhakov. CSKA also has under contract for 2025-26 ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk and Vladislav Kamenev.

Photo © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images.

Goalie Spencer Martin Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.