We finally got to see some scrimmages between the top Pittsburgh Penguins prospects during development camp on Sunday, and they didn’t disappoint. Several players, including one from yesterday’s session, had solid days and will look to make an even bigger impact during Monday’s tournament. 

Defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke has been the talk of the camp since it started on Thursday, and he continued to make an impact on Sunday. His skating was once again flawless, and he showcased his excellent reach when defending against scoring opportunities during 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 drills. He even scored a seeing-eye goal from the point at the end of Sunday’s session. 

Harrison Brunicke doing Harrison Brunicke things pic.twitter.com/HqMt4ZmvgM

— Hunter (@HunterHodies) July 6, 2025

After the session concluded, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald spoke glowingly about Brunicke, having had the opportunity to coach him for 10 games at the end of the 2024-25 season and two in the playoffs. 

“Huge. Honestly, it was. Credit to him, he figured it out quick,” MacDonald said. “Came in initially and in junior habits, where you can just skate by people and hold on to the puck for a long time; I thought he did a really good job. Last couple of regular season games and the playoff stint, he was moving pucks quick, jumping into the rush, the goal he scored in the playoffs was outstanding.” 

“I thought his ability to kill plays, again, the less he does in certain areas, the more he accomplishes. I mean that by just making a really good first pass and then activating and jumping in the rush. We want our D to be aggressive and try to create offense, but it doesn’t mean necessarily having to skate through everybody. I think once he kinda recognized that, he was a little more patient with his game. The offense came to him. He did a great job.”

If Brunicke keeps it up and has another great training camp and preseason, there’s a chance he will get the nine-game tryout to open the 2025-26 season. He was extremely close to earning the tryout last year before being sent back to the WHL.

Will Horcoff made his presence felt during Saturday’s practice, specifically thanks to his release, which he showcased during Sunday’s drills and scrimmages. His wrist shot was almost unstoppable every time he had the puck on his stick, and he was also excellent around the net-front areas. For someone who is 6’5”, he is a relatively nimble skater. He’s super happy with the way his development camp has gone so far. 

“It’s going great,” Horcoff said. “Today was the first game day, so that was fun. Good competitive atmosphere. Looking forward to the 4-on-4 tomorrow.”

He’s in a great spot at Michigan and could be primed for a breakout season in 2025-26 after compiling four goals and 10 points in 18 games for the program last year. 

Cruz Lucius took a step forward on Sunday after being a bit quieter to start development camp. He was all over the ice and brought a physical element to this game along the boards and up by the point. He got several quality scoring chances and scored a couple of really nice goals, including a one-timer by the goal line, during some drills.

Lucius is back to full health after a shoulder injury kept him out for a good chunk of the 2024-25 season. He scored his first goal with Arizona State back in February and finished the season with two goals and 10 points in 19 games. He’s feeling good going into Monday’s tournament. 

“Yeah, I feel really good,” Lucius said. “I think throughout the start coming back, I had some ups and downs, but I think the training I’ve been doing in the summer, whether it’s skates or working out, I’ve been feeling back to myself now.”

Other miscellaneous thoughts:

Defenseman Quinn Beauchesne was selected by the Penguins in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft and showcased his skating ability on Sunday. He moved well and created space each time he had the puck. Both are things to monitor going into Monday’s tournament. He spent the 2024-25 season with the OHL’s Guelph Storm and finished with six goals and 24 points in 49 games.

Forward Jordan Charron was another one of the Penguins’ fifth-round picks and had some impressive edgework during drills. He also had a nice snipe before the full scrimmage got underway. Charron was picked 154th overall and spent the 2024-25 season with the Soo Greyhounds, compiling 10 goals and 21 points in 48 games. 

Defenseman Charlie Trethewey was one of three players the Penguins selected in the third round of this year’s draft, bringing his strong release to Sunday’s drills and scrimmages. It’s also all over his 24-25 tape with the U.S. National U18 team. He will spend the 25-26 season at Boston University. 

Development camp from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex will conclude with a tournament on Monday at Noon ET. It will be free and open to the public. 

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

Feature image credit:  Hunter Hodies - The Hockey News 

The St. Louis Blues are staying busy.

According to PuckPedia, the Blues have re-signed goalie prospect Vadim Zherenko to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. 

The #STLBlues signed 24 y/o RFA G Vadim Zherenko to a 1 year two-way contract

NHL: $775K
Minors: $125K

Rep'd by Renat Mamashev https://t.co/8xg7XFJSeK

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 7, 2025

Zherenko, 24, was selected by the Blues with the 208th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. After developing his game overseas, Zherenko has spent each of the last three seasons with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Now, with this new one-year deal, he will continue to be a key part of the Thunderbirds' crease. 

Zherenko posted a 12-17-5 record, a .897 save percentage, and a 3.44 goals-against average in 32 games this past season with Springfield. This is after he had a .904 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average in 29 games with the Thunderbirds in 2023-24. 

Overall, with this move, Zherenko will continue to be a depth option in the Blues organization. It will be interesting to see if he can take a big step forward next season from here. 

Blues Made Great Move Signing Ex-Canucks ForwardThe St. Louis Blues have had a busy off-season. One of their most notable moves was signing forward Pius Suter to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.13 million.

Photo Credit: © Jon Durr-Imagn Images  

The National Hockey League's free agent frenzy officially began on July 1, and Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman snagged a veteran forward with a nose for the net. 

James van Riemsdyk, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft (one spot behind his now-current teammate Patrick Kane) by the Philadelphia Flyers, joined the Red Wings with a one-year contract worth $1 million. 

He also has the chance to earn another $750,000 in performance bonuses. 

During his introductory video press conference, van Riemsdyk revealed that he had been close to signing with the Red Wings during one of his earlier excursions into unrestricted free agency. 

"Kind of funny, back a few years ago it seemed like it was a team that was interested in bringing me aboard," said van Riemsdyk. "Going through the free-agency process, when they started showing some interest, it seemed like a good fit. The trajectory of the team, they're trying to make a push and the playoffs next year, all the history of being an Original Six place. 

A veteran of 1,082 career NHL games, van Riemsdyk has made a living by being an effective net-front presence, a role that he's not only accustomed to but has grown into over the years. 

“I feel like the more I’ve done it, the more natural it seems to become," he said. "And like I mentioned before, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs, it seems like that’s where you need to go to have the success and score the goals. So I think that’s ultimately why it’s for me, just an attractive place to be on the ice."

Perhaps the most effective net-front presence in recent NHL history was former Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom, who made life a living nightmare for opposition goaltenders by routinely taking up residency at the edge of the crease. 

van Riemsdyk, who scored 16 goals as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, acknowledged that he used to pay close attention to how Holmstrom parked himself at the front of the net. 

"That was a guy over the years I watched and kind of how he went about his craft and pulled different things from him," van Riemsdyk said.

After starting his NHL career with the Flyers, van Riemsdyk was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012, with whom he would play the next six seasons before eventually returning to the Flyers in free agency in 2018; he also played a season with the Boston Bruins.

Having skated in 1,082 career NHL games, van Riemsdyk has scored 327 goals and 338 assists, while adding another 21 goals and 15 assists in 82 career playoff games. 

The Vegas Golden Knights have handed out contracts to restricted free agents Cole Schwindt, Raphael Lavoie and Jonas Rondbjerg.

The trio of forwards were all extended qualifying offers on Jun. 30 by the Golden Knights, and just a week later, they've agreed to one-year contracts. 

Schwindt completed his first season with the Golden Knights, playing 42 games before it was cut short due to an injury. The 24-year-old returned for one game before the conclusion of the season, but didn't play in any playoff games. In the regular season, Schwindt scored one goal and eight points. 

Although he had played just seven career NHL games before joining the Golden Knights, Schwindt quickly carved out a role on the fourth line and gained the trust of HC Bruce Cassidy. As it looks, Schwindt will likely serve as an extra forward to start the season, ready to step into the lineup if any Golden Knights forwards sustain injuries. 

Lavoie had an interesting pre-season, being placed and claimed off waivers by the Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers. When he finally settled in Vegas, Lavoie skated in nine NHL games, failing to record a point. With the Henderson Silver Knights, the 24-year-old scored 17 goals and 27 points in 42 games. 

Lavoie has a strong shot and a 6-foot-4 frame that allows him to once again move from the AHL to the NHL quite easily, utilizing his two-way contract. Lavoie will likely become a Group-6 UFA when the season ends. 

✍️ The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms with Cole Schwindt, Jonas Rondbjerg and Raphael Lavoie on one-year contracts! #VegasBornhttps://t.co/BLm5AhLYB5

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 6, 2025

Rondbjerg, too, signed a two-way contract with the Golden Knights and will continue to serve as one of the first call-ups from the Silver Knights when the team runs into injury issues. The 26-year-old played in 13 games this season, failing to record any points. In the AHL, Rondbjerg recorded 11 goals and 26 points in 53 games. 

With the three contracts being signed, the remaining RFAs the Golden Knights have to conduct business with are Alexander Holtz and Lukas Cormier.

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

Golden Knights Extend Qualifying Offers To Five PlayersThe Vegas Golden Knights have extended qualifying offers to five players, maintaining their restricted free-agent rights. The five players include Lukas Cormier, Alexander Holtz, Raphael Lavoie, Jonas Rondbjerg and Cole Schwindt. 

If you asked all 32 NHL general managers at the draft whether they prefer to select based on positional need or simply take the best player available, most would say, “If all things are equal, we'll select the best player.”

Steve Staios would probably tell you he tried to do that in his first two drafts as Ottawa Senators GM, but at the same time, he didn't exactly ignore his current wish list either.

In 2024, size mattered. The three defensemen the Sens selected averaged 6-foot-5, while the three forwards averaged 6-foot-3. This year, the key theme was more help for the blue line on the right side.

The Senators used the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to select University of Wisconsin defenseman Logan Hensler, marking the second consecutive year Staios has used his first-rounder on a right-shot defenseman, after selecting Carter Yakemchuk seventh overall in 2024.

Hensler will probably head back to school, and Yakemchuk will likely start in Belleville, but both are considered key pieces for the future.

And just in case going back-to-back with another high-end right-shot D prospect wasn't enough to confirm the theme, Ottawa doubled down and acquired 24-year-old Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings during the draft in exchange for third- and sixth-round picks.

The organization also re-signed 2019 first-rounder Lassi Thomson, who will return to North America after leading Malmö of the SHL in scoring last season. 

Even before all of that, the Senators still had the same three right-shot defensemen they went to war with in this spring's playoffs: Nick Jensen, Artem Zub, and Nik Matinpalo.

It's been well-chronicled that Jensen is a bit of a wild card for this fall. He’s recovering from reported hip surgery in May, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to start the season. He’ll also be 35 years old.

Zub is a similar player to Jensen, but he’s also missed significant time over the past three seasons, playing only 54 games last year. As for Matinpalo, he's still establishing himself as an NHLer, but showed some encouraging signs of growth last year and didn't look out of place in the playoffs.

It’s often said that you can never have too many good right-shot defensemen, but Ottawa must be getting close.

The organizational depth chart on the right side now includes Jensen, Zub, Spence, Matinpalo, Yakemchuk, Thomson, and Maxence Guenette. Unless Hensler plays out of his mind in pre-season, he'll be headed back to school.

That’s a substantial group, the deepest Ottawa has had in some time.

I’d still rank Jensen at the top, assuming he’s healthy and hasn't lost a step. That's an optimistic assumption, I realize. He and Zub are similar players in many ways – neither is flashy, neither is overly offensive-minded, but both take care of business while letting Jake Sanderson or Thomas Chabot drive the offense from the back end.

Because of his age and recent surgery, there are questions about whether Jensen can still be a top-four next season, and whether he even wants to stay in Ottawa beyond that. If both answers are no, that changes the game. But until then, I still rank him as Ottawa’s best right-shot defender right now. 

Some believe Jordan Spence might push for a top-four role. The Senators obviously like him, but the new Kings GM, Ken Holland, did not. The Kings didn't see him playing in their top six every night next season and gave him up for only a third and a sixth-round pick. Typically, with everyone in the league looking for top-four right-shot defenseman, you'd think the cost would have been much higher. And then the Kings effectively replaced Spence on the roster with Cody Ceci.

For those reasons, and barring injuries, I’m not ready to slot Spence into Ottawa’s top four just yet.

Matinpalo is my seven right now, but since he's bigger and more physical, which the Sens generally prefer, he could easily push for the same job he held for most of last season.

Then there’s Yakemchuk and Hensler. Yakemchuk nearly made the team last season, so he'll get some NHL looks if injuries strike. But Ottawa would be wise to keep him in Belleville for a few months to see how he fares against grown men for the first time. It’s clear that the Senators have big plans for him, but there’s no harm in a bit of patience. Hensler is all but certain to return to Wisconsin for another year of development.

I do wonder which of the two first-rounders will be the better long-term player. I haven’t seen enough games from either to say definitively, but it’s notable that last winter Hensler made Team USA’s World Junior squad at 18 and won a gold medal. Meanwhile, the older Yakemchuk, whose numbers tumbled last season, wasn’t invited to the pre-tournament evaluation camp for a Canadian team that failed to make the semifinals.

Lassi Thomson might have the most to lose in all of this. After a fine year in Sweden, he probably saw the current depth chart and the injury concerns and thought he had a chance to compete for an NHL job. But now he finds himself behind the newly-acquired Spence. That can’t be a great feeling, but maybe he'll surprise people at camp. If nothing else, Thomson will make Belleville's back end a lot stronger, heading into group 6 unrestricted free agency next summer.

All of this raises the question: Do the Senators now have the right mix on the right side to make a deep playoff run? That remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: They've upgraded, and they finally have some solid depth. And that matters, because hockey is still a violent game where every team needs a "next man up" mentality.

This season, Staios can think about the next man up and not lose sleep over it.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa
Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

More Sens Headlines

Motor City Madness: The Day Alfie Left The Ottawa Senators
Five Former Senator First-Rounders All Found New NHL Homes This Week
Senators Want To Host 2028 World Cup Of Hockey
Claude Giroux Reveals Why He Signed Back In Ottawa
Senators Bid Farewell To Six UFAs: Where Did They End Up?
Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete
Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season
Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles

Rickard Rakell is one of multiple Pittsburgh Penguins players who have been in the rumor mill this off-season. With the Penguins retooling their roster and Rakell coming off a career season, all eyes have been on the 32-year-old winger. 

However, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Rakell's preference is to stay put with the Penguins rather than being dealt. 

"I've heard Rakell would prefer to stay in Pittsburgh," Friedman said. "It's just that it's not his call. I've heard he is not averse to staying, but, ultimately, Dubas will make that decision."

With the success Rakell just had with the Penguins in 2024-25, it is understandable that he wants to stick around. In 81 games this past season with the Penguins, he set new career highs with 35 goals and 70 points. It was a big bounce-back year for the veteran, and he undoubtedly found his fit in the Penguins' top six. 

However, Rakell putting up a monster season also means that his trade value is higher now. With the Penguins retooling their group, it is fair to wonder if the Penguins could take advantage of this and move him this off-season.

Nevertheless, the Penguins have a big decision to make with Rakell. If the veteran forward has it his way, he will stay put in Pittsburgh. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Star Generating 'A Ton Of Interest'The Pittsburgh Penguins are certainly a team to keep an eye on this summer. It is no secret that they are open to making changes, and multiple players from their roster have been discussed as trade candidates. 

Photo Credit:  © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New insider reports indicate Carolina's Jack Roslovic wanting to join former teammate Auston Matthews in Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some major moves this offseason and according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the team isn't done yet. 

On Sunday's episode of his podcast "32 Thoughts" Friedman explained that the Buds are looking to potentially clear out more of their bottom six forwards like Pontus Holmberg, who left to join the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Friedman believes this is because the Maple Leafs are targeting unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic from the Carolina Hurricanes. The connection makes sense as Roslovic played with Leafs captain Auston Matthews extensively during their time together at the U.S. National Development Program. 

Toronto will be looking to replace the production lost by star winger Mitch Marner heading to the Vegas Golden Knights and have made headway with some of their adds already. From Utah, the Maple Leafs picked up a solid 40-point player with Matias Maccelli, who could grow into a 50-60 point player when playing in Toronto's top six and is only 24 years old. 

Early projections of Toronto's lineup next season had Maccelli on the top line alongside Matthew Knies and centred by Auston Matthews but he could be moved down to play with John Tavares and William Nylander while Roslovic slides into the top right wing spot. This has been indicated as a possibility to Friedman in the case of free agent Andrew Mangiapane. 

The Bolton, Ontario native was reportedly interested in returning to his hometown team but Friedman had heard that the Maple Leafs told him that they are looking to move out forwards like David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok and restricted free agent Nick Robertson. Mangiapane ultimately decided not to wait on the Maple Leafs roster decisions and instead signed with the Edmonton Oilers. 

Roslovic is a notable player that teams are interested in yet he has not signed with any team yet and it could be that he is waiting to play with Matthews according to Friedman. The 28-year-old has found his way into being a regular 40-point player and has be unable to truly tap into his elite upside that many projected when he went 25th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft to the Winnipeg Jets. 

This would be a massive boost for the Maple Leafs next season as their top six would be more balanced and could contributed the same level of offence as last season and could make them a steal at +2500 to win the Stanley Cup next season.

Odds to certainly look at for the Maple Leafs would be to make the playoffs at -300 and to win the Atlantic division for the second straight season at +390 behind the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

  More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

Not all that long ago, the Detroit Red Wings were the gold standard of NHL teams. For an incredible 25 years, the Red Wings were in the Stanley Cup playoffs – and on four occasions from 1997-2008, the Wings won the Cup. In the modern era, you couldn’t ask for more from a franchise.

And all that success makes it especially painful for Red Wings fans to struggle through what they’re currently struggling through – a whopping nine straight years without a post-season appearance. 

In those nine years, the Wings have finished in seventh or eighth place in their division five times. And this past year, they finished sixth in the Atlantic Division. For the most part, the Red Wings’ efforts have been nowhere close to good enough, and the increasing degree of fan frustration has never been more evident than it is right now. 

Of course, things would be different if Detroit GM Steve Yzerman came away from the NHL’s recent ffree-agent frenzy with at least a couple of veteran talents to carry them across the finish line and make the playoffs next year. 

Instead, Yzerman added a goalie in former Anaheim Ducks starter John Gibson – admittedly, an upgrade on what the Wings had in goal – and after that…well, he traded non-factor winger Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild, and signed third-line winger Mason Appleton, journeyman winger James van Riemsdyk, and third-pair defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. 

Are you impressed by those changes? If you are, you’re in the minority. And if you’re a Wings fan, you can’t help but be pessimistic about this Detroit team’s chances of getting back into the post-season next year. 

There are definitely some NHL GMs out there who are feeling the pressure to have their team produce positive results in 2025-26, but Yzerman is probably right at the top of the list of the GMs facing the most pressure. He’s been on the job running things in the Motor City since April of 2019, and he has nothing tangible to show for it. 

Yzerman’s incredible playing career has given him a long runway to try and stick the landing as Wings GM, but even hockey icons only get so much time to turn things around before they are added to the list of people who couldn’t get the job done as managers. And that’s where Yzerman is now in Detroit.

Yzerman can point to youngsters in the organization who he believes will step up and help the Red Wings make it to the playoffs next year, but here’s a better metric of sorts – which Detroit youngster is truly a generational talent? Defenseman Moritz Seider qualifies in the minds of some observers, so let’s be generous and say Seider makes the cut. After that, what current Wings talent is top-10 in the league in any regard? Detroit doesn’t have those truly elite, high-end players. And when you miss the playoffs for that many years, you should’ve been able to draft and develop a couple of top talents.

That may be Yzerman’s biggest sin as Wings GM – not tanking for top players, which is the most proven way to land the foundational talent needed to compete for Cups over the long haul. Yzerman might’ve drafted Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard if he’d done that. He may have wound up with San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini if he’d done that. He might’ve landed New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer if he’d done that. Instead, it’s been nothing but mediocrity for the Red Wings, 

From this writer’s perspective, if you’re not good enough to be a playoff team, you should be doing everything in your power to land a top draft spot. And it has never felt like Yzerman and Co. have been willing to do that. There have been excuses left and right, and as things have unfolded not in Detroit’s favor, Yzerman has grown testy with the media and unable to lay out a specific plan Wings fans can look to for comfort. And he also can’t point to season-after-season improvement in the win column.

And now, the Red Wings are entering a season in which no one will be projecting them to make the playoffs. The defending Cup champion Florida Panthers will be a playoff team next year. The regular-season Atlantic champion Toronto Maple Leafs will also be a playoff team, as will the Tampa Bay Lightning. And after that, the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins will be in a ferocious battle for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. You can lump the Wings into that latter group, but the reality remains – making the playoffs will be an extremely tall order for Detroit.

And if things pan out the way we think they’ll pan out and the Red Wings fail to make the playoffs once again, Yzerman will almost assuredly be out of a job, and the process of rebuilding will start over in earnest. That’s why this coming season already looks and feels like a wasted year. Detroit ownership has entrusted Yzerman with another season to try and accomplish something positive, but unless he pulls off a minor miracle, Yzerman is going to come away with his hands stuck out and nothing in them.

Maybe Yzerman will prove the doubters wrong, and the Wings will sneak into a playoff spot. Even then, does anyone feel like Detroit will be anything other than first-round roadkill? This Red Wings team simply doesn’t have the horses to run with the legitimate Cup frontrunners, and just getting into the playoffs can’t be the sole goal for Wings management. 

All in all, it feels like it’s going to be another long season for the Red Wings, and another year of excuses and frustration is in store for Detroit. And this could be Yzerman’s final kick at the can.

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.

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced a few free agent signings. They signed goaltender Cal Petersen along with forward Tyler Pitlick. They have also signed forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel. 

The contract for Aube-Kubel is a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL and $500,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL). 

Aube-Kubel, 29, recorded one goal, one assist, 40 hits and 19 penalty minutes in 22 games with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers last season. He has 32 goals, 48 assists, 80 points, 672 hits and 202 penalty minutes in 304 career NHL games across seven seasons. 

He won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. The 6-foot forward recorded 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points, 123 hits and 41 penalty minutes in 67 games that year for the Avs. 

This provides the Wild with some AHL depth and someone who can play NHL games if needed. He has 56 goals, 61 assists and 117 points in 255 career AHL games as well. 

Other Wild News

Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Nico Sturm To A Two-Year DealST. PAUL, Minn - As previously written, Nico Sturm would be a perfect fit for the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have now announced they have signed the free agent to a two-year contract at $2 million AAV. Minnesota Wild Sign Goaltender Cal Petersen To A One-Year, One-Way ContractST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced the signing of goaltender Cal Petersen to a one-year, one-way contract worth $775,000.  Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Tyler Pitlick To A Two-Year, Two-Way ContractST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild will announce some American Hockey League (AHL) depth signings pretty soon. They started things off with the signing of forward Tyler Pitlick. 

As the hype from the NHL’s free-agent frenzy dies down, it’s as good a time as any to take stock of the league’s seven Canadian teams. 

We’re going to break down the teams alphabetically, so let’s get to it:

1. Calgary Flames

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Pretender

Why? The Flames narrowly missed out on a playoff berth this past season, but that was when basically everything went right for them. The injury bug avoided them, they picked up long-term pieces in a trade with Philadelphia, and this summer, Flames GM Craig Conroy held onto his salary cap flexibility, as Calgary now has $15.4 million in cap space. He might have spent more of it to acquire some veteran help, but the fact that he didn’t speaks volumes about where they are in their competitive trajectory.

The big picture for the Flames shows a team that is still in transition into being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Calgary doesn’t have the generational talent to go head-to-head with archrivals like the Edmonton Oilers or Vancouver Canucks. And many hockey observers expect Conroy to trade top-pair defenseman Rasmus Andersson, and perhaps, veteran center Nazem Kadri. For those reasons, we see the Flames still in the early stages of a rebuild, and that means they’re currently a pretender. 

2. Edmonton Oilers

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? Don’t get it twisted – we believe the Oilers took a step backward thus far this summer, losing key veterans, including wingers Corey Perry and Connor Brown in free agency. But that doesn’t mean Edmonton is now a pretender, or worse. They still employ two of the top-five players on the planet in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and they just re-signed star defenseman Evan Bouchard to a long-term contract extension. There’s a lot to like here.

By the time the next regular season has concluded, we expect the Oilers to be up there with the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings as one of the top teams in the Pacific Division. But Edmonton GM Stan Bowman needs to make good use of the trade market to keep up with the Joneses. 

The Oilers have next to nothing in cap space, so Bowman will have to be creative to improve his roster. Because at a time when every team in the Western Conference will be targeting Edmonton as a true test of their playoff readiness, the Oilers have to keep getting better. And thus far, they haven’t been able to do that.

3. Montreal Canadiens

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Somewhere In The Middle

Why? We’re not here to tell you the Canadiens are pretenders. They’ve made genuinely legitimate strides as a team, and Montreal GM Kent Hughes made one of the biggest splashes of the off-season by acquiring star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. But while we definitely see the Canadiens battling for a playoff spot all season long, the truth is improvement isn’t always linear, and in a highly competitive Atlantic Division, the Habs aren’t a lock to make the playoffs next year.

As Montreal’s young core continues to develop, the Canadiens are likely to be a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. But there’s also a possibility they take a lateral step or a slight step backward in 2025-26. The Habs are essentially capped out, so Hughes will have to be crafty in attempting to improve his team. 

We like Hughes’ work a lot, but making notable improvements isn’t always a cakewalk, and that’s why we see the Habs having the potential to struggle a bit more this year than they did last year.

4. Ottawa Senators

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? The Sens made major strides last season, getting into the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Once they got to the post-season, though, they were quickly disposed of by the Maple Leafs. Still, just getting into the playoffs was a terrific accomplishment, and a harbinger of better days ahead.

In free agency and trades this summer, the Sens have been relatively quiet, re-signing veteran center Claude Giroux and adding experienced pivot Lars Eller to help fill out the bottom-six group of forwards. But the fact is that Senators GM Steve Staios doesn’t need to do much at the moment, as he has $4.29 million in cap space to use to improve during the season. Ultimately, we like what we see in the Sens as a whole, and we expect their internal improvement will push them even further this coming season.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? The Maple Leafs won the Atlantic last season, and although their offense will take a sizeable hit with the departure of Mitch Marner, what remains in Toronto is still very much a playoff team. 

Adding grinders like former Golden Knight Nicolas Roy and former Canadien Michael Pezzetta will make the Leafs harder to play against, and the continuing development of youngster Matthew Knies and the trade addition of former Utah Mammoth winger Matias Maccelli will help replace some of the offense Marner took with him. And the Leafs still have $4.98 million in cap space to spend on a top-six forward.

What’s also true of this Leafs team is that their defense is the envy of most NHL organizations. Even if veteran Morgan Rielly is traded, Toronto has a top-six set of blueliners who can get the job done and make life easier on goalies Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll.

 It would take some catastrophic injuries and spectacular underachievement for the Buds to miss the playoffs, and we don’t see either of those two things happening. The post-Marner Era may not have as many highlight-reel plays, but Leafs GM Brad Treliving has crafted a lineup that will fight for home-ice advantage in the 2026 playoffs.

6. Vancouver Canucks

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? Virtually everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Vancouver last season, including in-house drama between star forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, as well as injuries to star goalie Thatcher Demko and superstar blueliner Quinn Hughes. However, everything has cleared up in Vancouver’s favor, including the re-signing of star winger Brock Boeser and the addition of rugged winger Evander Kane.

With everyone healthy and ready to go, there’s no reason why Vancouver can’t quickly put last year behind them and once again be a top team in the Pacific. They’ll need Pettersson to be significantly better, and they’ll need their goaltending tandem of Demko and Kevin Lankinen to hold up their end of the bargain, but there’s too much talent in B.C. for the Canucks to falter for the second-straight season. 

7. Winnipeg Jets

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? The Jets lost star winger Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency, but Winnipeg has the best goalie in the league – at least, in the regular season – in Connor Hellebuyck, a deep collection of fast and skilled forwards, and a defense corps that may be underrated. 

The Jets were the NHL’s top regular-season team last season, and the additions of star center Jonathan Toews and veteran winger Tanner Pearson make an already-dangerous squad all the more imposing.

The Jets play in the toughest division in the league in the Central, but with Hellebuyck, center Mark Scheifele and winger Kyle Connor leading the way, Winnipeg once again will be right up there as one of the NHL’s top teams, and a genuine threat to go deep in the post-season. And with a good deal of cap space still available, the Jets have the potential to be even better next year.

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Matthew Hutchison was one of many WHLers who attended an NHL Development Camp this year. The Moose Jaw Warriors goaltender was an invitee with the Vancouver Canucks, where he had the opportunity to work with the organization he grew up cheering for. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience for Hutchison, who plans to apply what he learned next season in the WHL. 

As mentioned, Hutchison grew up as a Canucks fan. The Nanaimo-born goaltender had spent his entire career playing in BC before being traded to the Moose Jaw Warriors this past season. According to Hutchison, being invited to Vancouver's Development Camp was a special moment and one he does not take for granted. 

"It means the world to me, said Hutchison. "Growing up, they're my team. It's essentially my hometown team. We've talked about them all my life, me and all my buddies. So, getting the call to be able to come to training camp and be a part of the team for a period of time is huge. It's a great staff here, great players and just all around, great experience to learn and grow my game."

Hutchison was one of 16 undrafted players who attended Canucks Development Camp. Organizations often invite undrafted or unsigned prospects to their camp in order to get a better idea of players they may sign in the future. As Hutchison explained, even though he isn't a drafted prospect, Vancouver's staff spent time working with him and gave him every opportunity to stand out during the week-long development camp. 

Meet The Vancouver Canucks 2025 Development Camp InviteesThe Vancouver Canucks open their 2025 Development Camp on June 30, with 33 players in attendance. On top of Vancouver's drafted prospects, the Canucks have invited 16 additional players to join the week-long camp. Here is a look at which players Vancouver invited this year. 

"I think the biggest thing I've noticed is just how much it feels like every coach wants to help every player here, no matter if they're drafted, signed, invited to the camp, whatnot. Yeah, just the energy and positivity here is unbelievable."

Lastly, Hutchison was asked about some of the lesson's he learned while at camp. Not only did the 18-year-old get to work with NHL coaches, but players he could be facing off against in the future. According to Hutchison, his goal was to be a sponge and absorb as much knowledge as he could throughout the camp. 

"I think, honestly, just looking around, seeing as much as I can. Whether that's looking at other goalies, like Younger (Ty Young) or Aku (Koskenvuo), and seeing what I can learn from them, or whether it's Marco Ian, just anything I can take in. I'm trying to soak in every little model I have here and use everything I see, and I'm involved with to better myself and grow my game."

The 2025-26 season is a big opportunity for Hutchison. He is the Warriors projected starter, and will be one of the top WHL goaltenders available for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. If Hutchison can have a strong campaign, he could be headed to a Development Camp next year, but this time as a drafted prospect. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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There were a lot of new faces at the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp last week, starting with the prospect drafted at the end of June, but there was also one Russian prospect who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 draft: Bogdan Konyushkov.

The 22-year-old right-shot defenseman is not overly large, standing at six feet and weighing 171 pounds, but he has already played three full seasons in the KHL and has plenty of experience under his belt.

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In the season following his selection by the Canadiens, he was named captain of Torpedo Nizhny by former NHL player and coach Igor Larionov and put up 28 points in 65 games. That offensive production diminished in the most recent season to 17 points in 67 games. Asked how come at camp, Konyushkov replied through prospect Arseni Radkov, who acted as his interpreter, that when his team doesn’t play as well and scores less, players produce less as well.

He showed a lot of poise and leadership throughout the development camp, which prompted Rob Ramage to say:

He speaks a little bit of English, so it was impressive when he was speaking to the other Russians on the ice and he was helping to explain what the drills were. […] So he’s a very mature young man. He was a captain two years ago, the youngest captain in the KHL, so he carries himself like a pro. I believe he’s going back this year, and we’ll see what happens next year. It would be nice to get him over.

- Rob Ramage on Bogdan Konyushkov

The youngster has one year left on his contract with Torpedo and will be playing under a new coach, Alexei Isakov, since Larionov was dismissed after his team’s first-round exit. Konyushkov doesn’t know what the future holds after that; he wants to focus on the next season, and after that, he will figure it out. The organization would like to see him come over.

He didn’t stand out to me during development camp, but that’s not a bad thing; he’s not a flashy defenseman, and he plays an efficient game that doesn’t necessarily catch the eye. Still, in the scrimmage, he joined the rush whenever possible, and he showed he was a mobile defenseman.

I don’t see him becoming a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL, but the Canadiens could use a real right-shot defenseman on their bottom pairing, which would finally give them balanced pairings. For now, Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier are the two right-shot pairings, and eventually, David Reinbacher will be joining them, leaving Carrier with a lesser role. At 28 years old, he has two years left on his three-year contract with a $3.75 million cap hit before becoming a UFA. While the salary cap is increasing, Kent Hughes might eventually want to spend less on his bottom pairing. If Carrier’s salary demands are too high, it would be ideal to be able to slot Konyushkov in. By then, he would have four years of KHL experience and, providing he signs with the Canadiens after that, one year of pro North American hockey under his belt. If he’s ready, he will be a much cheaper option for the Habs.

It will be worth keeping an eye on him during the upcoming season, if only to see if the Canadiens do offer him a contract. Currently, the Habs' depth chart on the right includes the above-mentioned Dobson, Carrier, and Reinbacher, in addition to the two recent AHL signings, Nate Clurman and Wyatte Wylie. When it comes to unsigned prospects, I believe Konyushkov comes first, in front of Bryce Pickford, Carlos Handel, Dimitri Kostenko, Daniil Sobolev, and Andrew MacNiel.

Photo credit: Ariane Bergeron/Club de Hockey Canadiens Inc. 

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Jake Allen wanted to remain a New Jersey Devil. 

Entering NHL Free Agency, the 34-year-old was a pending unrestricted free agent who was considered the best available goaltender. As it turned out, he wasn't available as the Devils re-signed him ahead of the official start of free agency. 

"It is exciting to have Jake back and his family back in New Jersey, where they wanted to be and where we wanted them," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. "I give Jake and Shannon a lot of credit for helping us through this process, cap-wise. It just shows you that we are building something here where people want to stay. It says a lot about Jake and his family, and we are just so excited to bring him back."

With Jacob Markstrom under contract for one more year, New Jersey will run it back with its veteran tandem, which was one of the best in the league in the 2024-25 season. 
Of course, after signing Allen to a five-year, $9 million contract with an average annual value of $1.8 million, one question remains: What is the long-term plan for  Nico Daws? 

On Wednesday, The Hockey News posed that exact question to Fitzgerald. 
"You see how often goalies are going down," he explained. "Having depth in the net is crucial. Nico is a guy, he played what, five, six games last year? Definitely played too early in his career, but out of necessity. We really like Nico, but we feel like having this depth makes us a better team." 

Daws is in his final year of a two-year contract he signed in July 2024. For the 2025-26 season, he is on a one-way deal at $850,000 at the NHL level. This past season, the 24-year-old started four games, earning a 3-1-0 record with a .939 save percentage and a 1.60 goals-against average. 
There is one important caveat associated with Daws this upcoming season. He will require waivers to be assigned to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL). If the Devils need Daws' services at any point during the 2025-26 season, there is a risk that another NHL team could claim him and take on his contract. 
With so many teams interested in adding a goaltender this summer, it is not hard to imagine Daws getting claimed by another franchise with that reasonable one-year price tag. If it comes to that, could the Devils make a trade this summer to ensure they get a return for their goaltender? 

Days ago, New Jersey parted ways with Daws' friend and Comets goaltending partner Isaac Poulter. The organization did not extend a qualifying offer to the 23-year-old, and as an unrestricted free agent, he signed a contract with the Winnipeg Jets. 
Daws' new partner is expected to be Jakub Malek, who will be transitioning his game to North America this fall. Fitzgerald confirmed that Malek would begin this chapter of his career in Utica and said he could even compete for the starting position, which most would expect to be held by Daws. 
"I am very excited, because it will be something new for me," Malek told The Hockey News earlier this week. "It will be something that I have been waiting for for three years. I can't wait to play here."

Daws has been around long enough to see plenty of goaltenders arrive and depart from Newark, including Vitek Vanecek, Akira Schmid, and Kaapo Kahkonen. His philosophy has always been to keep his head down and keep working until he is told otherwise, and it appears that will continue when training camp opens in mid-September. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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There are several new faces that have joined the Detroit Red Wings for the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season, both via free agency and trade. 

While the additions have provided Detroit with solid depth, they aren't considered to be major difference makers in the vein of a Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers, both of whom the Red Wings were reportedly interested in.

If the Red Wings are to make a major splash this offseason, it will likely come through a trade. 

As far as Detroit not landing a major name in free agency, the chances of Ehlers choosing the Red Wings were slim, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

"As Yzerman said, I don't think Ehlers was a realistic option, I don't think that was ever going to happen," Friedman explained during Sunday's edition of '32 Thoughts: The Podcast'. 

Marner is now with the Vegas Golden Knights after a sign-and-trade deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Ehlers signed a six-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. 

HERE WE GO 🤩

Nikolaj Ehlers has signed with the @Canes for six years! 🌀 #NHLFreeAgencypic.twitter.com/wEWbkOapPm

— NHL (@NHL) July 3, 2025

Friedman then went on to explain that the Red Wings allegedly had interest in Viktor Arvidsson, who had previously played for coach Todd McLellan with the Los Angeles Kings, along with Mason Marchment; both players ultimately landed elsewhere. 

"I think he had some interest in (Viktor) Arvidsson, because Arvidsson had some success with Todd Todd McLellan in LA, but he ended up in Boston," Friedman said. "I heard that the Red Wings like Mason Marchment, but he ended up in Seattle. There were some things he wanted to do that he wasn't able to do."

Arvidsson was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Boston Bruins, while Marchment was traded by the Dallas Stars to the Seattle Kraken. 

Yzerman has given term to unrestricted free agents in recent years, signing both Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher to five-year contracts in the 2022 and 2023 offseasons, respectively. He also signed defenseman Ben Chiarot to a four-year contract in 2022. 

Friedman concluded by saying he doesn't see Yzerman offering long-term contracts to outside free agents unless it would be a "big home run".

"Unless he can hit a big home run, and this year it would have been a guy like Ehlers, he's going going to do that anymore with four or five-year terms," Friedman said. 

So far, Detroit's signings in free agency have all been short term commitments. James van Riemsdyk was signed to a one-year, $1 million deal, while Mason Appleton signed a two-year, $5.8 million deal.

Additionally, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Ian Mitchell, and John Leonard were signed to one-year contracts, all with a cap hit of less than $1 million. 

LAS VEGAS -- While "Marner Magic" is headed to the ice in Vegas, his song selection on karaoke nights could come into question during those team bonding trips to Montana.

When Vegas entered the conversation as a destination for the next phase of Mitch Marner's career, the 28-year-old began vetting the organization.

Who better to ask than former Golden Knights he was now playing with in Toronto?

"From talking to (Max) Pacioretty and Reavo (Ryan Reaves just over the last couple of weeks, it seemed like everything was a pretty good fit for my wife, our new son, and me," Marner said during his introductory press conference.

Pacioretty, who arrived in Toronto last season, was also in Vegas for four seasons, arriving in the team's second year before being traded to Carolina after the 2021-22 season.

Reaves, who has been with the Maple Leafs the past two seasons, spent four years (2017-21) of his 15-year career in Vegas, including the second half of the franchise's inaugural campaign when the team went to the Stanley Cup Final.

"Mitchy is someone who cares lot about winning," Reaves told The Hockey News. "He’s very passionate. One of the most skilled players out there."

Which is why the Knights ponied up an eight-year $96 million contract.

Marner, who will return to uniform No. 93, leaves the Maple Leafs as their fifth-highest scorer in franchise history, with 741 regular-season points on 221 goals (14th) and 520 assists (fourth).

Marner's 521 assists since his rookie season (2016-17) ranks fifth in the NHL, while he ranks eighth with 741 points.

Vegas now has arguably two of the top 10 forwards in the NHL, with Marner joining Jack Eichel, both with similar styles in puck handling, vision on the ice and an overall offensive prowess.

"He has the ability to hold on to pucks and draw two or three defenders to him, and then has the vision to find the open guy," Reaves added.

Never short of jokes and one-liners, Reaves also discussed his former younger teammate off the ice.

"He’s one of the guys always leading the charge, life of the party," Reaves said. "Not bad at karaoke, although the song choices are suspect."