On Thursday, Zach Bolduc was taking part in a celebrity golf tournament in Levis, and he had some time to speak to the media. Unsurprisingly, the youngster has been very busy since being traded to the Montreal Canadiens.

He explained that the day following the trade, he went to the CN Sports Complex in Brossard and met with Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, and Martin St-Louis. While they didn’t have any in-depth conversations, the Habs’ brass did ask him to work on his faceoff skills since they might need him to take some draws.

Canadiens Now Have Goalie Battle To Watch
Canadiens Have Three Of The Top 10 Point Scorers Of The 2019 Draft
Canadiens: Jeff Gorton Believes There’s Enough In The Pool To Swing Another Trade

The last time he played at center, he was 16 or 17 years old, and he was playing in the QMJHL with the Rimouski Oceanic. he didn’t do it in the later stage of his junior career with the Quebec Remparts. Still, he is receptive to the idea and reached out to Marc Bureau to work on his faceoff skills; he didn’t wait for the Canadiens to organize that for him. He intends to practice a few more times with Bureau until the end of the Summer. It's important to add that Bolduc he's ready to play wherever he's asked to play, on any line at any position, he just wants to help the Tricolore win. 

This is an interesting development. It’s a well-known fact that the Candiens would like to bolster their center line, but both the trade and the free agent market were relatively thin in that respect, and they’ve been unable to address that need so far. Of course, Kirby Dach is still pencilled in as the second-line pivot, but given past results, having a contingency plan would make sense.

Alex Newhook had also played center in the past, and it wasn’t a success either. Last season, he spent the last quarter of the season skating down the middle, and in 21 games, he could only muster five points; that’s hardly the kind of output you want to see from a top-six pivot. With 26 points on the season, there’s room for improvement, and asking Newhook to carry the extra responsibilities centers have isn’t a good idea.

As for why he chose to keep number 76, he explained that there are already 22-23 active players who have numbers, on top of the retired numbers, so it was just the easiest way to go, even though he knows people will talk about P.K. Subban. As for why he originally got the number in St.Louis, it was just the one that was given to him in camp, and he just got used to it and kept it.

Thank you, St. Louis 💙
To the Blues organization, my teammates, coaches, and the fans - thanks for everything. You believed in me and gave me the chance to grow, on and off the ice. I’ll always be grateful for my time in STL and for the friends and memories I made along the way. pic.twitter.com/Tdja9mixXo

— Zachary Bolduc (@zack_bolduc) July 6, 2025

While he dreamt of playing for the Canadiens when he was young, he enjoyed his time in St. Louis, but going to Brossard to meet with the Habs’ brass made him realize that it was happening. He adds that even though the Blues drafted him, he still kept on following the Habs from afar, and he’s excited to join such a young and talented team.

Bolduc wasn’t the only hockey player attending the tournament; Philadelphia Flyers alumnus and former Quebec Remparts assistant coach Simon Gagne was asked about his former player.

Gagne appears to be a big Bolduc fan, saying that he believes the youngster could score 30 goals per season for the Habs. However, he adds that he would have to be deployed appropriately to reach that goal, with top-six minutes and power play time, even perhaps first power play minutes. Given the fact that the first man-advantage unit is already somewhat crowded in Montreal, it would be surprising to see Bolduc get a spot on it, but never say never.

Gagne was also asked if he would have been happy to be traded to Montreal when he was 22, and he didn’t rush to say he would have been. Instead, he said that he wondered if Bolduc was when he heard about the trade because he was in a perfect place in St. Louis with top-six minutes and power-play time. He then added that he had at least been traded to a team that was in a bright spot, coming off a rebuild with a talented young roster. He finally added that at 22, he had a lot of experience, and he might have been able to handle a trade to Montreal, but he was happy that he got to stay in Philadelphia, and things went so well that there was no point in changing things.

He also added that Bolduc had the right personality to be able to cope with Montreal, that he was the kind of guy who is accessible to the public and will never turn down an autograph or event request. Furthermore, if he doesn’t score during a few games, Bolduc has more to his game than just goals, and the fact that he brings physicality will mean he’ll get less criticism if he goes through a dry spell.

As for Bolduc himself, he’s not worried about the pressure of the Montreal market, calling it a privilege. There’s pressure because the fans care so much about the game and their team that it’s a privilege to play in that kind of environment.

Photo credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Not every trade, signing, hiring or firing an NHL team makes will be a no-brainer in the public’s eyes.

Just about every NHL team has made at least a couple of moves – free-agent signings, trades, staff changes or all of the above during the off-season. Some of those moves have us scratching our heads – and then trying to envision how they will ultimately look like great decisions. 

Here are three confusing off-season decisions and why they can turn out well. (For transparency, we had the Toronto Maple Leafs keeping Ryan Reaves on the list before they traded him to the San Jose Sharks Thursday night.)

Seattle Kraken Firing Dan Bylsma

Why It’s Confusing: You give Bylsma one year – one year, for a Stanley Cup-winning coach – before cashing in his chips on him? 

Granted, he didn’t steer the Kraken into a playoff position.  Seattle finished seventh in the relatively weak Pacific Division. That said, we don’t know of a coach who could’ve succeeded with the Kraken’s subpar lineup. Bylsma’s resume should’ve given him at least another year on the job, but that didn’t happen.

Why It Can Turn Out Well: Maybe dismissing Bylsma was the right move, especially considering Jason Botterill has moved in as Seattle’s GM. Every GM usually sticks with his coach, so Botterill choosing Lane Lambert over Bylsma could spark the Kraken. They need to be better defensively, which was Lambert’s specialty as associate coach of the Maple Leafs. In other words, he could be exactly the coach Seattle needs right now.

The Minnesota Wild’s Contractual Saga With Rossi

Why It’s Confusing:The Wild’s buyout costs for former stars Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are a combined $1,666,666 now instead of nearly $15 million. You’d think Minnesota GM Bill Guerin would happily throw money at center Marco Rossi, who scored 24 goals and 60 points in his second full NHL season. 

The Wild have nearly $10.2 million in cap space to play with, so it should be easy for Guerin to re-sign Rossi, even if he isn’t completely enthralled with his game. Judging by Rossi’s usage in the playoffs – averaging 11:08 of ice time – Wild coach John Hynes isn’t crazy about Rossi’s game, either. He still got three points in six post-season games, though.

Why It Can Turn Out Well: By waiting this long into the off-season, Guerin is essentially telling Rossi and his representative, “Find me a team that will pay you big money, and I’ll think about matching the deal.” The truth is, if Rossi can’t find greener pastures, he’ll have to eventually accept what the Wild are offering him. At that point, Minnesota’s payroll flexibility situation will be better for it. So daring Rossi to sign an offer sheet is the savvy move by Guerin.

Christian Dvorak’s New Contract With Flyers

Why It’s Confusing: Seemingly out of nowhere, the Flyers swooped in and signed Dvorak to a one-year, $5.4 million contract. We understand that the market for centers is thin, but what teams out there were offering the 29-year-old Dvorak – who hasn’t scored more than 12 goals and 33 points in a season since 2019-20 – a big-bucks, short-term deal? 

And why was that team the Flyers? The newly acquired Trevor Zegras can play center, and they also have Sean Couturier and Noah Cates as options down the middle.

Why It Can Turn Out Well: Dvorak has had trouble staying healthy in his nine-year NHL career, but when healthy, he’s able to be a contributor on an up-and-coming team like Philadelphia. 

At his healthiest, he’s a 15-goal, 35-point player, and it could be that the Flyers need some veteran know-how to push them into a fight for a wild-card playoff berth, or at the very least, make life easier for their younger players.

Dvorak also doesn’t have any no-trade or no-move protection, so if he does play well and Philly is out of the playoff picture, they can deal Dvorak on retained salary for younger players or draft picks.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

This year marked the first of the NHL’s new ‘decentralized draft’ format. While draftees were gathered in Los Angeles, NHL teams remained in their home cities and joined remotely. 

Fans immediately called for the draft to be centralized in 2026. The lack of personal interaction and technical issues were the main reasons cited for why fans wished to return to the traditional in-person format. 

However, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on X today that the decentralized draft may be here to stay.

He said, “Apparently, there are reports about the future of the NHL draft. There is a vote right now, not yet completed. But from what I'm canvassing - unless there is a wild swing in the few remaining to be submitted - the vote will be to stay with the decentralized format.” 

Apparently there are reports about the future of the NHL draft

There is a vote right now, not yet completed.

But from what I'm canvassing -- unless there is a wild swing in the few remaining to be submitted -- the vote will be to stay with the de-centralized format.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 10, 2025

Fans quickly responded with outrage, claiming the league doesn’t listen to the fanbase. 

As talk of the draft circulates, fans and teams continue to debate whether it should remain decentralized going forward.

Reflecting specifically on the Devils organization, many special moments and players have emerged from the centralized draft. Here is a list of some of the best NJ Devils draft moments that arguably would not have happened or would not have been the same if the drafts had always been in the decentralized format. 

Best NJ Devils Draft Moments 

1. NY Rangers fans cheer as Jack Hughes is selected first in the 2019 Draft. 

The New York Rangers fans erupted in celebration when the NJ Devils selected Jack Hughes. The fans believed at the time that Kaapo Kakko was the better choice and were relieved he hadn’t been selected first, giving the Rangers the opportunity to draft him. 

The Rangers did end up drafting him, only for him to be traded in 2024 to Seattle. The NJ Devils didn’t let the Rangers forget about that moment when they cheered on Hughes. They played it back on the Jumbotron when the Rangers played at the Prudential Center. 

2. David Poile’s final trade

In 2023, the NJ Devils traded their 7th-round pick to the Nashville Predators. While this was less of a strategic move, it was for sure a sentimental one. The Nashville General Manager, David Poile, announced following the 2023 NHL Draft that he would be retiring. 

Devils’ General Manager Tom Fitzgerald was Poile’s teammate and first NHL Captain while the two played with the Predators from 1998-2002. 

In a final sendoff, Fitzgerald wanted to be a part of the last trade of Poile’s career. Poile had a record-breaking career, being the GM in NHL history with the most wins and the third most wins in single-team history. 

The move was full of class, as Fitzgerald and Poile were joined by Barry Trotz, their former coach, to finalize the last trade of Poile’s career. They then gathered together for a photo following the trade on the draft floor, a memory that was only possible with all three of them in the building. 

3. Bobby Carpenter gets drafted right out of high school

Though not drafted by the Devils, Bobby Carpenter’s full-circle journey is one of the many stories that feel more real when shared live at a centralized draft.

In 1981, with the 3rd overall pick in the draft, the Washington Capitals selected Bobby Carpenter. The 18-year-old was fresh out of high school, making history as the first high school player to jump directly to the NHL in his draft year. Just one year after graduating from St. John’s Prep High School in Massachusetts, Carpenter made his way to the NHL. In his first season, he scored 32 goals and 67 points as an 18-year-old.

Many years later, Carpenter would join the NJ Devils for the final years of his career. He helped the Devils win their first Stanley Cup in 1995. He played six years with the Devils before retiring. 

Best NJ Devils Draft Picks Of All Time

Not only were there sentimental moments over the years at the centralized draft, but there were also franchise-altering selections. Here is a list of a few draft picks that changed the New Jersey Devils organization. 

• John MacLean - 6th Overall 1983
• Kirk Muller - 2nd Overall 1984
• Brendan Shanahan – 2nd Overall 1987
• Scott Niedermayer – 3rd Overall 1991

• Martin Brodeur – 20th Overall 1990
• Patrik Elias - 51st Overall 1994
• Scott Gomez - 27th Overall 1998

• Jesper Bratt - 162nd Overall 2016
• Nico Hischier - 1st Overall 2017
• Jack Hughes - 1st Overall 2019

Photo Credit: © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The Ryan Reaves-era of the Toronto Maple Leafs has come to an end.

The Maple Leafs announced on Thursday evening that they've traded the veteran forward to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun. The 24-year-old defenseman played 60 games for the Sharks last season, averaging 17:31 of ice time and scoring two goals and 10 assists.

The trade frees the Maple Leafs of Reaves' $1.35 million salary while adding Thrun, who's in the final year of his contract, which has a $1 million annual average value. Toronto is saving $350,000 by acquiring Thrun for Reaves, and avoiding having to bury $200,000 in the minors had Reaves started the season in the AHL.

According to PuckPedia, the Maple Leafs now has $5.33 million in cap space available.

Questions rose about Reaves' future with Toronto after the forward joined the Cam & Strick Podcast with Andy Strickland and Cam Janssen and said he had wanted to hit the 1,000 game mark before he retires. The 38-year-old—only playing in 35 games with the Maple Leafs last season—is 88 games from the milestone.

'No Firm Offer' From Maple Leafs to Andrew Mangiapane Despite InterestAndrew Mangiapane, a player of interest for the Toronto Maple Leafs during their search for another forward, ultimately signed with the Edmonton Oilers when free agency opened earlier this month, rather than his hometown team. Instead, Mangiapane signed a two-year, $7.2 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

With the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup aspirations and Reaves' enforcer play style, it just didn't appear there was a fit anymore. Reaves' tenure with Toronto comes to an end after playing 84 games with the club and scoring four goals and four assists in that span.

Toronto, in return, gets a younger defender who is still trying to find his way at the NHL level.

Thrun, a fourth-round (101 overall) pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2019 NHL Draft, has appeared in 119 NHL games, all with the Sharks. In his final two seasons at Harvard University, Thrun scored at nearly a point-per-game pace (63 points in 68 games), but hasn't found that level in pro yet.

'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.

He's registered five goals and 20 assists while averaging 18:44 of ice time over three seasons with the Sharks.

Believe it or not, the defenseman's first NHL goal came against the Maple Leafs on Jan. 9, 2024. It was San Jose's only goal in a 7-1 loss to Toronto. Given he's still young, Toronto could look to have him work with the organization's development staff, which could help his game progress at the pro level.

Thrun will be a restricted free agent after this season.

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

We’re wrapping up our Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp coverage with a spotlight on two standout 21-year-olds, Matyas Sapovaliv and Abram Wiebe.

Both Sapovaliv and Wiebe were drafted by the Knights back in 2022. Sapovaliv in the second round (48th overall) and Wiebe in the seventh round (209th overall).

Sapovaliv is a Czech center known for his poise and precision in the offensive zone. A natural facilitator, he thrives by slowing the game to his tempo, using his vision and puck control to let plays develop before threading pinpoint passes through tight lanes.

His technical playmaking ability has been on full display throughout his development, from his standout seasons with the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL. He posted 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) in just 54 games in the 2023–24 season. Following that came his transition into the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights. He played 71 games in the 2024–25 season, posting 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists). Sapovaliv’s knack for navigating traffic and delivering the puck under sticks and through bodies makes him a constant threat and a valuable asset in any offensive scheme.

“It’s pro hockey. It's been hard, especially the start,” Sapovaliv said in regard to his first pro season. “I had good teammates and good coaching staff. I got better through the season and finished hard.”

Started at the NHL Draft, now we’re here ➡️ Matyas Sapovaliv was drafted by the @GoldenKnights in the 2nd round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and played his first pro season with the Silver Knights during 2024-25 pic.twitter.com/GjdJF9BJX3

— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) June 25, 2025

Now for Wiebe—he’s been on a slightly different, yet still impressive path, playing at the D1 collegiate level for the University of North Dakota.

In his 2023–24 freshman season, the defenseman appeared in all 40 games, putting up 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) and finishing second on the team with a +14 rating. At the end of that season, he was named to the NCHC All-Academic Team and also earned NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors. Going into his 2024–25 season, he improved his numbers, putting up 24 points (4 goals, 20 assists) in 38 games.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to play at North Dakota,” Wiebe said. “It’s such an amazing university, amazing hockey team with great coaches, so I’m so thankful that I got the opportunity to play there. I thought last year, going from my freshman to sophomore year, I just gained a lot of confidence heading into my sophomore year, which gave me the opportunity to join the rush and be more involved on the offensive side of the game this year. So, I’m kind of just using that this summer to get bigger, stronger, and faster.” 

Make it a 🎩 trick of winners this week, as Abram Wiebe repeats as NCHC Defenseman of the Week!

RELEASE: https://t.co/3WPWi80ixR#UNDproud | #LGHpic.twitter.com/tdelwFqE77

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) December 16, 2024

Both of these young men have exciting seasons ahead, and their performances over the past few days at development camp gave fans a clear glimpse of the potential they bring to the future of this organization. 

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ryan Reaves is on the move.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have traded Reaves to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun.

TRADE: We’ve acquired defenceman Henry Thrun from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves pic.twitter.com/dZKTlDwXGP

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 11, 2025

Seeing Reaves get traded is not necessarily surprising, as he fell down the Maple Leafs' depth chart this season and even spent time in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. Now, with this trade to the Sharks, he should provide more toughness in San Jose's bottom six as they continue their rebuild.

Reaves appeared in 35 games last season with the Maple Leafs, posting two assists, 28 penalty minutes, 103 hits, and a minus-2 rating. He also scored a goal in three games with the Marlies. 

Reaves spent the first part of the 2017-18 season with the Penguins before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the deadline. In 58 games as a Penguin, he recorded four goals, eight points, 84 penalty minutes, and 161 hits. 

In 912 career NHL games split between the St. Louis Blues, Penguins, Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and Maple Leafs, Reaves has recorded 63 goals, 137 points, 1,100 penalty minutes, and 3,065 hits. 

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. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded veteran Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun on Thursday night.

Reaves, 38, has one season remaining on a three-year contract worth $1.35 million annually. He recorded two assists, 28 penalty minutes and 103 hits in 35 games for the Maple Leafs this past season.

He's one of the NHL's heavyweight fighters, taking 93 major penalties in his career and logging a total of 1,100 penalty minutes, the sixth-most by an active player. This past year, he fought once in the regular season against the Columbus Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier and once in the pre-season against the Ottawa Senators' Donovan Sebrango.

Reaves cleared waivers in March and played three games for the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

On the Cam & Strick Podcastthis week, Reaves discussed his time after being assigned to the AHL and more. He said he was skating with a skills coach for a couple of weeks instead of practising with the Marlies before he called to join the team and play some home games.

Reaves also defended Mitch Marner for not re-signing in Toronto and joining the Vegas Golden Knights.

" 'Mitchy' earned the right to go wherever he wants, and he's dedicated his whole career to Toronto, a hometown guy, and he's poured everything he had into it, and sometimes it's just time to move on," Reaves said, adding that Leafs fans can be a little ruthless to Marner.

As for Reaves' time with the Leafs, he said he likes Toronto but didn't go downtown often, except for games. But he praised Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and William Nylander.

Although Reaves' contract expires after next season, he said he'd like to hang on for another two years in the NHL so that he can reach 1,000 games and go for the Stanley Cup. He's currently 88 games away from 1,000.

Thrun, 24, enters the second campaign of a two-year contract with a $1-million cap hit. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound blueliner played 60 games for the Sharks this past season, putting up two goals and 10 assists for 12 points. He averaged 17:31 in ice time and blocked 66 shots.

In 119 career NHL games, Thrun has five goals and 20 assists for 25 points with a minus-48 rating. Before his pro career began, he played at Harvard, captaining the squad in 2022-23. He had 31 points in 33 games that year and was named to the NCAA's first all-American team in the East, the first all-star team in the ECAC, the NCAA's all-Ivy league first team and more.

This past January, Thrun said he felt stronger on pucks and better defensively, and he had a good relationship with coach Ryan Warsofsky as he tried to improve.

Toronto gains $350,000 in cap space, now having about $5.33 million overall, according to PuckPedia. The Sharks have about $23.5 million in cap space, about $1.3 million over the cap floor.  

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Buffalo Sabres are still the center of attiention in many markets due to the potential work future of RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. And there are many potential trade partner fits for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams. We've decided to cover many of them, including the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings. and St. Louis Blues. 

And in this file in the series, we're examining another potential trade fit partner for the Sabres -- in this case, the San Jose Sharks. Let's get to the important details.

TEAM: San Jose Sharks

CAP SPACE: $23.8 million

FREE AGENTS: None

NEEDS: More experience on 'D and at forward; more high-end talent throughout the roster.

SABRES FIT? The Sharks have been a reclamation project for many years now. But under the watchful eye of San Jose GM Mike Grier, the Sharks have been quietly building a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. And there could be a fit between Grier's Sharks and the Sabres.

There's no question the Sharks are angling to get into the playoffs next year. But Greir is a realist, and he understands it's going to take another couple years before San Jose makes it into the post-season. So patience is going to be a virtue for the Sharks. 

That said, there have been rumors connecting San Jose to Byram, as they've almost completely made over their defense, adding veteran Blues defenseman Nick Leddy via waivers, and signing former Hurricanes blueliner Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberk to amp up the veteran knowhow.

Sabres Could Be Facing Ticking Clock With ByramThe Buffalo Sabres situation elected to go to salary arbitration with restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram last week, eliminating the possibility of another NHL club going the offer sheet route, but the yet to be scheduled hearing could be a deadline of sorts for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to get the best return possible for the Stanley Cup winner.  

We're not prepared to say the Sharks are a playoff team just yet, but San Jose almost certainly isn't going to be as easy a pushover as they were this past season. Bringing in so many veterans to firm up their back end is a clear strategy to improve his group, while also potentially trading away some of these veteran D-men by the trade deadline if they can bring invother high-quality young players in return.

Who would the Sabres want from San Jose in exchange for Byram? Well, there's the rub -- and the reason a deal probably won't happen between Buffalo and the Sharks: the Sabres don't really need the players the Sharks will want to make available in a Byram trade, and the players the Sabres do want, the Sharks probably want to keep.

Is There Anything Left For Sabres To Pick Up In Free Agency?The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?

To wit -- Sharks center William Eklund would clearly intrigue Adams, but Grier isn't going to move a 41-assist, 58-point season while making only $863,333 next season. So it's very difficult to envision the right set of circumstances that will lead to a Buffalo/San Jose trade happening in the foreseeable future .

Ultimately, both teams want to be buyers, and each team only has a couple legitimate trade chips, so don't imagine you'll be seing a Sabres/Sharks trade anytime soon.

 

He already has local ties to the Mitten State, and he's returned - this time, as a seasoned NHL veteran

The Detroit Red Wings signed former Michigan State Spartans forward Mason Appleton, who had previously played for the Winnipeg Jets and the Seattle Kraken, to a two-year, $2.9 million contract on the opening day of free agency. 

“Detroit is a team that had a lot of success for a really long time,” Appleton said via the Red Wings official website. “I think that getting this team back in the playoffs would just be huge, and the sky is the limit from there. You just have to get your foot in the door and then anything can happen. It’s a team and city that I believe in, and I’m super excited to get things rocking there.”

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

Originally hailing from Green Bay, Wisconsin, which is a little over two hours away from Detroit by flight, the decision was an easy one for Appleton and his family.

"I thought Detroit was a great fit for me on the ice. And then off the ice, it made a lot of sense too with my wife and I being from Wisconsin, it’s a lot closer than some other teams," he said. "It just seemed like the right fit. Free Agency kicks off, it’s a stressful time, and things happen that you wouldn’t expect but at the end of the day we were very happy to end up in Detroit." 

#NHLJets are 8-0-0 this season when Mason Appleton
scores pic.twitter.com/ZRhpuJRmkZ

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 26, 2025

Appleton, who was selected with the 168th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Jets, played 72 games for the Spartans between 2015 and 2017, scoring a total of 17 goals with 36 assists. His 22 points in his first season in East Lansing led all rookies, and he was recognized with the Most Outstanding Rookie Award. 

Appleton was even named team captain of the Spartans for the 2017-18 season, but he would depart the University to begin his professional career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Jets. 

He would split his first two seasons in Winnipeg between the Jets and the Manitoba Moose, their American Hockey League affiliate. Appleton then played in a career-high 56 games in 2020-21, scoring 12 goals with 13 assists. 

But he would be selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, and played in 49 games with the new club before ultimately being traded back to the Jets at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. 

He's played exactly 400 games in the NHL, scoring 57 goals with 81 assists. He also has a goal with 11 assists in 32 postseason games, including seven assists in the 2025 playoffs as the Jets advanced to the Western Conference Semi Final. 

Now, Appleton is turning his focus on playing a role in bringing playoff hockey back to Detroit. 

“Detroit is a team that had a lot of success for a really long time,” Appleton said. “I think that getting this team back in the playoffs would just be huge, and the sky is the limit from there." 

 Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

The Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Aleksei Medvedev to a three-year, entry-level contract. Vancouver selected the 17-year-old with the 47th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Medvedev was the fourth goaltender selected in this year's draft, and the highest goalie selected by the Canucks since Thatcher Demko in 2014. 

In a press release, GM Partik Allvin wrote, "Aleksei is an important addition to our organizational depth in goal and his signing is a great thing for our hockey club. He showed us a lot at development camp and has a bright future if he continues to build on his skill set and fundamentals. We look forward to monitoring his progress and helping him develop into a solid pro."

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Five Years Of Vancouver Canucks Free Agency Moves

Vancouver Canucks 2024–25 Report Card: Tyler Myers

Vancouver Canucks Sign Braeden Cootes To A Three-Year, Entry Level Contract

Medvedev spent last season in the OHL with the London Knights. The Russian-born goaltender went 22-8-2, with a .912 save percentage. He also participated in the 2025 OHL Top Prospect Game and was part of London's Memorial Cup-winning team. 

Since Medvedev has now signed his ELC, he is unable to play in the NCAA. He is set to return to the Knights next season, where he will be the projected starter. Medvedev is now one of eight goaltenders who have been signed by Vancouver, joining Demko, Kevin Lankinen, Artūrs Šilovs, Nikita Tolopilo, Ty Young, Jiří Patera and Aku Koskenvuo. 

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.

Defenseman Nicolas Hauge, known for his size and physical play, aims to return to the more offensively minded side of the game he played in juniors. 

The Nashville Predators' newest addition, acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29 that sent defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons to Vegas, was introduced to local media at a press conference on Thursday. 

Hague signed a 4-year, $22 million contract, with an annual hit of $5.5 million. 

"I've always heard nothing but great things about here [Nashville]," Hague said. "Talking to the guys, too, it just seems like just a great place to live and a great place to play." 

In the press conference, Hague talked about how he came from an "active" defensive system in Vegas and how he'd like to be more offensively involved in Nashville. 

"I think there's more to give [in my game] offensively," Hague said. "In juniors, I was an offensive guy, and when I came into the NHL, there's a heavy focus on defending in this league. You're not going to make it anywhere if you do that." 

"Now, I want to round out my game a little bit more with those offensive instincts I had in juniors, but not lose that defensive part." 

During the 2017-18 season, Hague's final junior season with the Mississauga Steelheads, he scored 78 points, complemented by 105 penalty minutes. Since coming to the NHL, he has yet to surpass 17 points in a single season. 

Last year with the Golden Knights, Hague had 12 points in 68 games, but was part of an offensively active defensive corps. Vegas' defensemen had 173 points, led by Shea Theodore with 57 points. Nashville had 133 defensive points, led by Roman Josi with 38 points. 

"In Vegas, we talked about playing as five all over the ice," Hague said. "Our whole system is a unit. You're never man-on-man. If one guy got beat, you kind of had to beat us in layers...We always had a lot of success playing that way, and we always seemed to click." 

The defense was a significant focus for the Predators in the offseason, specifically addressing its issues, according to general manager Barry Trotz. Trotz said having a more offensively involved defense will help fix the gap at center.

Similar to what defensemen Nick Perbix said in his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Hague also believed last season was a "fluke" for the Predators.

"I think everybody had a lot higher expectations with the summer they had in free agency," Hague said. 

Hague did add that the attitude of having something to prove following a disappointing season has paid off for him in the past. The year before Vegas won the 2023 Stanley Cup, it had missed the playoffs by three points. 

It was the Predators that got the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. 

"We were very hungry and felt like we had something to prove that next year," Hague said. "That's a powerful feeling in the locker room if everybody can buy in. Having something to prove can take a team a long way." 

Not everyone is a stranger to Hague in Nashville. He is reunited with former Golden Knight Jonathan Marchessault. The pair played together for five seasons and have become close friends off the ice as well. 

"Marshy [Marchessault] is a really good friend. He always makes me laugh," Hague said. "I can't wait to reconnect with them [Marchessault's family]. We got pretty close in Vegas over the years, and lived down the street from them. It'll be good to see him, Alex and the kids." 

The 2024-25 NHL season was a true breakout campaign for Detroit Red Wings rookie Marco Kasper, who showed tremendous promise and all of the signs of being an effective impact player for years to come. 

Thanks to his impressive first foray into the NHL, he's being recognized by being named the 2024-25 Red Wings Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media (DSM).

Kasper the Friendly ROTY. 👻

More » https://t.co/nGdvj2ra8lpic.twitter.com/LUnlvylAKj

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 10, 2025

Kasper, whom the Red Wings drafted with the eighth overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, began the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins but was called up to the Red Wings in late October, and remained with the club for the remainder of the campaign.

Kasper ultimately played in 77 games, scoring 19 goals with 18 assists. His first NHL goal was scored on November 15 against the Anaheim Ducks and goaltender John Gibson, who is now his teammate in Detroit after being acquired in a recent trade. 

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

But it was Kasper's second half of the season that was extremely encouraging. In the 42 games that he played spanning from January 10 through the end of the season in April, Kasper's 17 goals were first among all NHL rookies. His 29 even-strength points were tied for first among all rookies, and his 30 points were good for fifth overall.

“I mean, I’m always giving my best to get better, but I know it’s going to be hard next year,” Kasper said after the season ended. “You know, it’s, I mean, I personally feel like I had a pretty good year, but it’s going to be really hard to come back and do just like that and even improve what I want."

Tic-tac-GOAL!

Marco Kasper's 13th of the season. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/RdEpZw4sJa

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 16, 2025

Kasper, who also later played for Austria in the 2025 World Championship, also said that he's going to spend the summer focusing on improving himself physically. 

“Obviously, I always talk about I’m trying to get better every day. It’s really hard, but it’s something I’m going to focus on this summer," he said. "Just whenever I’m in the gym, when I’m just maybe watching some playoff games, that’s where we’re going to go and everybody’s going to have to improve for us to get there. And so it’s going to be an important summer.”

Under coach Todd McLellan, who took over the head coaching duties on December 26, Kasper would routinely center Detroit's second line flanked by Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, a line that will likely be intact heading into next season. 

At only 20 years old, the sky is the limit for Kasper moving forward. 

 Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Samuel Montembeault is heading into next season as the Montreal Canadiens' clear starting goalie. The 28-year-old is coming off a solid 2024-25 campaign, as he posted a 31-24-7 record, a .902 save percentage, a 2.82 goals-against average, and four shutouts in 62 games. With this, he was certainly a reason why the Canadiens made the playoffs for the first time since 2021. 

Yet, when it comes to the Canadiens' backup goalie position, that is where things get more interesting. With the team signing Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year, $1.15 million contract, there will now be a goalie battle to watch between him and Jakub Dobes at training camp for the backup spot. 

Kahkonen, 28, spent most of this season down in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 36 regular-season games split between the Colorado Eagles, Manitoba Moose, and Charlotte Checkers, he had a 14-20-1 record, a .894 save percentage, and a 2.91 goals-against average. He also played in 18 playoff games for the Checkers this spring, where he had a 12-6 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.18 goals-against average. 

Canadiens' AHL Affiliate Signs New Goalie

Canadiens: Geoff Gorton Believes There’s Enough In The Pool To Swing Another Trade

Canadiens Have Three Of The Top 10 Point Scorers Of The 2019 Draft

Although Kahkonen appeared in just one NHL game this past season, he has a good amount of experience as a backup at the NHL level. In 140 career games over six seasons split between the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche, he has posted a 49-68-15 record, a .898 save percentage, and a 3.34 goals-against average. Thus, if the Canadiens want more experience for the backup role and to let Dobes develop his game more in the AHL, they could start the year with Kahkonen. 

However, Dobes demonstrated plenty of promise during his first NHL action this season with the Canadiens. In 16 games with Montreal on the year, he posted a 7-4-3 record, a .909 save percentage, a 2.74 goals-against average, and one shutout.  He also performed well while in the AHL with the Laval Rocket this campaign, recording a 9-3-1 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.44 goals-against average in 14 games. 

It is fair to argue that Dobes has a good shot at winning the Canadiens' backup goalie spot. Yet, with the Canadiens bringing in an experienced goalie like Kahkonen, Dobes will need to earn the role with a strong training camp. 

Photo Credit: © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.    

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.