Providence Bruins defenseman Daniil Misyul has signed a one-year deal in Russia with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, it was announced earlier this week. 

A 2019 third round pick of the New Jersey Devils, Misyul split time this season between the Bruins, Utica Comets and the Devils. Over a combined 58 AHL games, he scored one goal and added eight assists for nine points while going pointless in one NHL appearance. 

Since coming over to North America for the 2023-24 season, Misyul has only gotten in one NHL game but has accumulated 23 points over 102 career AHL regular season games. Prior to making the trek, Misyul spent parts of five seasons playing in the KHL with Lokomotiv. 

As Misyul heads back to Russia, the chances of him coming back stateside are likely pretty slim. He seems to have a good relationship with Lokomotiv, and the chance to continue playing in the organization he's spent a lot of time with in the past will likely keep him in Russia for the foreseeable future. 

The 2025 NHL Draft is officially over, with the Vancouver Canucks adding six new players into their organization’s portfolio. Their selection includes a surprising four centers, a goaltender, and a right-winger. Vancouver didn’t pick any defencemen this year, which isn’t surprising given the depth they have shown lately with both Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks. They had a pick in every round of the draft except for the fourth, which they traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Evander Kane earlier on in the week. Let’s take a look at the six players who are now members of the Canucks organization. 

Braeden Cootes 

Round 1, 15th OVR

Centre

Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL 

With their first selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, Vancouver selected centre Braeden Cootes of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Cootes, who captained the Thunderbirds alongside fellow Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio in 2024–25, is a two-way centre who is known for his leadership on and off the ice as well as his positive impact in the locker room. Offensively, Cootes hit another level this year, scoring 26 goals and 37 assists in 63 games. In terms of his potential, some have even likened Cootes to former Canucks captain Bo Horvat. 

Aleksei Medvedev

Round 2, 47th OVR

Goaltender

London Knights, OHL 

Vancouver’s second pick in this year’s draft was Aleksei Medvedev, a goaltender who played in his first season with the London Knights of the OHL this season. He started 34 of the Knights’ games this season, putting up a 2.79 GAA and a .912 SV%. The left-handed catcher registered a record of 22–8–2 as well as three shutouts. Medvedev is one of the youngest goalies in this year’s draft, as he is still 17 until September 10, but is still 6’3 and has room to grow within the next few years. 

Kieren Dervin 

Round 3, 65th OVR

Center

Kingston Frontenacs, OHL 

Selected in the third round at 65th overall, Kieren Dervin spent 10 games with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL in 2024–25. In his time with the Frontenacs during the regular season, he scored a goal and two assists. In the playoffs, he had a goal and two assists in 11 games. Prior to his time with Kingston, he spent two seasons with St. Andrew’s College, a Canadian hockey prep school located in Aurora, Ontario. With St. Andrew’s in 2024–25, Dervin posted 33 goals and 46 assists in 50 games played. He has already committed to Penn State University of the NCAA and is expected to join the team in 2026.

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Wilson Björck 

Round 5, 143rd OVR

Center

Djurgårdens IF, J20 Nationell 

Wilson Björck was the third center the Canucks selected in this year’s draft. Picked 143rd overall in the fifth round, Björck is one year older than the eligibility age and has a brother who will be eligible in the 2026 Entry Draft. Björck has played with Djurgårdens IF since 2022–23, splitting time with their J18 and J20 teams. In 2024–25, he scored 28 goals and 39 assists in 43 regular season games played with the J20 team. He averaged a point per game in the postseason with a goal and eight assists in nine games. Earlier this week, it was announced that Björck would be committing to Colorado College for the 2025–26 season. 

Gabriel Chiarot 

Round 6, 175th OVR

Right wing 

Brampton Steelheads, OHL 

Vancouver’s fifth selection of the 2025 Draft was Gabriel Chiarot, a cousin of current Detroit Red Wings defenceman Ben Chiarot. Picked 175th overall in the sixth round of the draft, the 18 year old Chiarot spent the past two seasons with the Brampton Steelheads (formerly Mississaugua prior to relocation). He had 21 goals and 14 assists in 66 regular season games in 2024–25, and added a goal in six of the team’s postseason games. 

Matthew Lansing

Round 7, 207th OVR

Center 

Fargo Force, USHL 

The Canucks’ final pick of the 2025 NHL Draft was Matthew Lansing, who was also the fourth centerman that the team selected this year. Lansing split time with the Fargo Force and the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL in the 2024–25 season, and also played 11 games with Waterloo the season prior. In 40 games with the Blackhawks this year, he scored eight goals and nine assists. With Fargo, he scored four goals and six assists in the regular season. He and Team USA won a Bronze Medal in the 2025 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship. In 2025–26, Lansing will be playing for Quinnipiac University of the NCAA. 

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

With the 2025 NHL Draft now in the books, the Cutter Gauthier trade is now complete with the Philadelphia Flyers replacing their former top forward prospect outright.

The Flyers traded Gauthier, 21, to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick back on Jan. 8, 2024. And that second-round pick yielded the Flyers a pretty good player.

With the 40th overall pick in the NHL Draft, the Flyers drafted USNTDP winger Jack Murtagh, effectively replacing the departed Gauthier with a player widely considered to be a first-round talent.

Something to consider: in Gauthier's draft year EliteProspects profile, he was graded a 5/9 skater, a 6.5/9 shooter, a 5.5/9 passer, a 5.5/9 stickhandler, a 6/9 in hockey IQ, and a 6/9 in physicality.

This year, Murtagh was considered a 6/9 skater, a 6.5/9 shooter, a 5.5/9 passer, a 5/9 stickhandler, a 5.5/9 in hockey IQ, and a 6/9 in physicality.

Pretty similar players, no?

Flyers Prospect Pool Gets a Big Boost at the NHL Draft, LiterallyAfter managing to make four selections in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers are making their prospect pool a whole lot bigger and better.

Murtagh is two inches shorter than the 6-foot-3 Gauthier, but he's an aggressive ankle-biter whose shot is his biggest weapon. Neither guy is the type to skill through and around people, and they each have developing playmaking elements to their games.

Now, Gauthier went in the top-5 for a reason - mostly size and perceived positional flexibility - but Murtagh has the potential to be just as good in the right situation.

The new Flyers prospect could find a home in the top-six one day as a support winger and catch-and-shoot option for playmakers like Trevor Zegras and Jett Luchanko.

Oh, and I hear Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone are pretty good passers of the puck, too.

Even though Drysdale was, understandably, the focus of the Gauthier trade, the Flyers have made sure they've found their physical volume shooter with that throw-in draft pick.

What the Flyers turn Drysdale and Murtagh into is ultimately up to them, but they can thank Gauthier for this opportunity.

William Belle and a few of his new University of Notre Dame teammates were assembling a couch when his phone began to erupt with messages.

Because of the stress that came along with the NHL Draft, the 18-year-old wanted to stay away from the noise and didn't have the TV turned on. When his phone began to buzz, it was only right that he checked what was happening.

His dream was quickly becoming a reality: the towering 6-foot-4 forward was being drafted into the NHL — by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round. "When I heard it was the Maple Leafs, I was pumped," Belle said on a Zoom call on Saturday afternoon.

"You know, it's a great organization, and I can't wait to get started. And I just thanked them for this opportunity."

You could instantly feel the confidence and boldness from the Belle when he flicked on his camera and began speaking during his Zoom media availability. He described himself as a north-south, physical, 200-foot player who's not afraid to get in his opponent's face.

"A player right now that I play a lot like would be Miles Wood, but somebody I think I could turn into," he said, "would be a Tom Wilson type of player."

2025 NHL Draft: Maple Leafs Select Frontenacs Forward Tyler Hopkins With 86th Pick In NHL DraftThe Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Kingston Frontenacs Tyler Hopkins with the 86th pick in the NHL draft.

If you're a Maple Leafs fan, you'll enjoy hearing that from a prospect's mouth. Anyone would perk up if a prospect reveals that they model their game around one of the league's most merciless players.

But why him specifically?

"Just the power forward hockey that he plays, the simplicity of it and just the physicality and that edge he has to him, the meanness," Belle said. "I feel like I can bring that."

Belle had quite a unique upbringing: his father, Travis, was from the "backcountry of Virginia," where he played college football, while his mother, Maggie, was born in China. Belle's birthplace is Dongguan, China, but in 2015, when he was seven,  his family moved to Boston, Massachusetts.

With the United States' U-18 National Team, Belle scored four goals and 12 assists in 53 games last season.

2025 NHL Draft: Maple Leafs Use 64th Pick to Select Norwegian Tinus Luc KoblarAfter a bit of a wait, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Norwegian forward Tinus Luc Koblar with the 64th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3 center currently plays for Leksands in the Swedish under-20 league.

"I started skating in figure skates in a public shopping mall, and somehow graduated into hockey skates that were off-brand Bauer. My skate size was my shoe size, and then we eventually figured that out," he smiled.

"And then it turned into taking trains to Hong Kong and flying to Beijing to play hockey. Eventually, we moved to the U. S. and it just kind of kept taking off from there."

To get to where he is now, it's a unique path. "Yeah, this is a curveball story," Belle grinned.

But by Toronto's standards, this is one of the ideal picks. Big, physical, mean; it's everything the Maple Leafs wanted. And when the prospect enters a Zoom call and states he wants to model his game around a player like Wilson, that's an added bonus.

Report: Maple Leafs And Golden Knights Discussing Mitch Marner Sign And Trade, Could Include Nic RoyThe Mitch Marner sweepstakes could end before free agency begins.

"He's got a passion for the game," Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach said of Belle. "He knows what he is, and I think he's willing to do what it takes, and he just wants to get at it."

"Yeah, he's an interesting guy to talk to," added Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Leach. "He's got lots of energy, and we like the time we spent with him for sure."

It's going to take time for any prospect to develop, let alone a fifth-round pick. It could take several years. But the fact that Belle understands the type of player he is — and what he believes he can be in the future — isn't just a positive, but also a thing that teams seek in a prospect.

John Tavares Explains Why He 'Left Money' On The Table To Remain With Maple LeafsJohn Tavares took less money to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Combine that with the player's will to win, and you might have found a diamond in the rough.

"I'm here to win and I'm here to help my team. And I don't care who you are," Belle said. "I'm going to be in your face. That's just how I'm wired. That's just how I play."

(Top photo: NHL Network / YouTube)

How Bruins' approach to 2025 NHL Draft could pay huge dividends originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have not been afraid to take risks during Don Sweeney’s 10-year career as general manager.

Sweeney has shown little hesitation to make big deals at the trade deadline, often shipping out first- and second-round draft picks for short-term veteran help. He also hasn’t been afraid to spend lots of money in free agency. He dished out large contracts to players such as David Backes, Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov, among others.

When the Bruins got to the 2025 trade deadline with no hopes of extending their playoff appearance streak, Sweeney made the difficult but wise decision to move several longtime Bruins veterans — including captain Brad Marchand — for future assets like draft picks and prospects.

And yet, Sweeney’s willingness to be bold in free agency and the trade market hasn’t always translated into the NHL Draft for much of his time in Boston. The Bruins too often have looked for the safe pick, such as two-way players with a high hockey IQ. Prospects with a high floor but not the type of ceiling often associated with elite players.

Bruins fans witnessed a change in their team’s approach to the draft over the last two days in Los Angeles. The Bruins entered the 2025 NHL Draft with four picks in the top 70, including the No. 7 overall selection — their highest since 2011.

And instead of going the safe route, the Bruins swung for the fences on players with the potential to be top-tier players.

It’ll take a few years to determine whether the strategy worked, but given the current state of the organization and its severe lack of elite talent, it was a welcome (and needed) shift.

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“I think having more picks, and having some higher picks, allowed us to probably look at some players with a bit more offensive ability and upside that sometimes in the areas where we tended to be picking we didn’t have some of those players available,” Bruins director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau told reporters Saturday.

“Or the players that were — there’s a lot of risk associated sometimes with that player. Whether they’re undersized, or whether they’re physically underdeveloped or whether there’s just a real major lack of detail in their game, where there’s other players sitting there at the same spot where you really appreciate their attention to detail, their heaviness, their hardness.

“We didn’t shy away from some of that, I just think we ended up in a spot this year where we could really take some swings at some sort of higher upside offensive players that maybe in the past we haven’t had as many swings on that style of player.”

If you look at the scouting reports of the seven players the Bruins drafted this weekend, the words “physical,” “defensive-minded,” and “grit” won’t be front and center. That doesn’t mean these players can’t defend or don’t have two-way skill sets. But the reason why these players were coveted was their offensive ability.

Look at Boston’s first-round pick: Boston College center James Hagens. He is an elite playmaker and skater who has the ability to step up in clutch moments. He was a point-per-game player as an 18-year-old first-line center on a national title contender. Hagens has the potential to be a No. 1 center someday. The last Bruins center to tally 100-plus points in a season was Joe Thornton 22 years ago. Hagens could end that drought.

James Hagens 🚨 #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/SCoApPMjcc

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 6, 2025

Several of the best centers in the 2025 class were available to the B’s at No. 7. They could have drafted Jake O’Brien. He’s better defensively than Hagens. Roger McQueen was available, too. He’s 6-foot-6 and plays a power forward-type of game. Instead, the Bruins chose the offensive upside of Hagens.

Second-round pick William Moore possesses a lot of offensive skill, too, and he’s versatile enough to play center or wing. Many experts had him rated as a top-35 player in the draft, and the B’s were able to get him at No. 51 overall. Boston’s other second-round pick — Swedish defenseman Liam Pettersson — is a very good puck-mover, his playmaking ability creates scoring chances for teammates, and he’s capable of effortlessly skating his way out of trouble. His defensive game needs a lot of work. But like many of Boston’s picks this weekend, he has high upside offensively.

Third-round pick Cooper Simpson scored 49 goals in 31 games last season — the most of any Minnesota high school player. He was able to carry that success into the USHL against better competition. Simpson turned 18 this past February, so he’s definitely a raw talent, but his ability to score goals is quite impressive. He’ll play at the University of North Dakota this fall.

Even in the later rounds, the Bruins kept drafting players with high ceilings.

The Bruins struggled to score last season. They ranked 21st in goals scored, 29th in power-play percentage, 31st in high-danger chances and 29th in shots on net at even strength. Only two players — David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie — scored more than 17 goals.

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And without any elite forward prospects in the pipeline prior to this weekend, the Bruins had to switch up their draft philosophy.

“We were looking for the highest levels of skill that we could find and the (highest) compete level we could find,” Sweeney told reporters Saturday at a press conference.

The Bruins still have plenty of weaknesses to address over the next week with free agency set to begin Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET. They desperately need depth on the right side of the blue line. Another top-six forward is required. They only have five forwards under contract right now. A trade or two might be needed to bolster depth at key positions.

“We’ve explored trading in and around the draft and bringing players in,” Sweeney told reporters Saturday. “We had a couple of those things we looked at. Maybe they come to bear over the next day or so as well. And we’ll foray into free agency if we haven’t filled those holes via trade.”

Sweeney did well at the trade deadline. He took smart, calculated risks in the draft. But the job isn’t finished. He still has more hurdles to overcome to get the Bruins back in the mix for the Stanley Cup.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou has been the subject of trade rumors this off-season. The 27-year-old's full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, so there have been plenty of questions about whether or not the Blues will move him before it starts. 

While there certainly is a chance that the Blues will keep Kyrou in St. Louis, he is generating interest. That includes from an Original Six club. 

During a recent episode of TSN Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun reported that the Montreal Canadiens are interested in acquiring Kyrou from the Blues. 

"Montreal hopes not to be done," LeBrun said. "They'd like to add to their top six up front. It's been hard to find a No. 2 center, but they're opening that to perhaps a winger. Jordan Kyrou is a player that Montreal is among several teams that have shown interest in him."

 

Insider Trading: Signings, trades and more as free agency approaches - Video - TSNAs trades and signings continue to flow in ahead of Free Agent Frenzy on July 1st, TSN Hockey Insiders Chris Johnston, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger have the latest on Toronto RFA Matthew Knies, UFA Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett re-upping in Florida, teams checking in on Jordan Kyrou and more.

Hearing that the Canadiens are interested in Kyrou is understandable. After getting back into the playoffs this spring, they are looking to get better and have proven that by acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. Adding a star like Kyrou to their top six would only make them better. 

The Blues would need a significant return for them to truly consider moving Kyrou, whether it is to the Canadiens or another club. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Blues Interested In Sabres StarAfter taking a nice step forward this season, the St. Louis Blues should be active this off-season. One area on their roster that could use a boost is their defensive group, and they have been connected to New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson because of it.

Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

After coming away with Roger McQueen on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Ducks made nine selections on Day 2, adding 10 players in total to their pipeline.

Anaheim used their bevy of picks—which included two in the second, fourth and fifth rounds—to select players that they were “passionate” about, as Ducks assistant general manager and Director of Amateur Scouting Martin Madden noted in his post-draft media availability.

“You can't be too sticky on shooting side or position,” Madden said. “Yes, we try to balance things out and not make it so one-sided. But, at the end of the day, the odds are already so much against most of these kids. It’s tough to make it to the NHL and you need somebody pushing hard for you, supporting you all throughout the process—the next four or five years. 
And that comes down to the development staff, but it also comes down to the local scout, so that's how it happened.”

Here’s a brief look at each prospect that the Ducks selected on Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft:

Eric Nilson - Djurgårdens IF, Forward (selected 45th overall)

Nilson was “their guy,” according to Madden. Attempts to move up from 45th overall were made, with concern that Nilson might not be available when the Ducks were on the clock for their first pick of Day 2. Luck was on their side as Nilson was still available when pick no. 45 came around.

After playing for Djurgårdens’ J20 team this past season, Nilson will be heading stateside to play hockey at Michigan State.

“It’s kind of different, how we play in Sweden from playing (in the U.S.),” Nilsson said. “(Playing at Michigan State will) change that and (help me) come into the American style of play.”

Lasse Boelius - Ässät, Defenseman (selected 60th overall)

Boelius is a puck-moving defenseman from Finland who Madden likened to the profile that they’ve drafted on numerous occasions throughout the past decade. 

He had a strong performance for Finland at the U18 World Juniors and even played several games for Ässät’s first team this past season.

Noah Read - London Knights, Forward (selected 72nd overall)

Read had quite the rookie season in the OHL, playing the role of jack of all trades on a stacked Knights squad. He found himself on nearly every line at least once throughout the season while moonlighting as both a center and a wing. To top it all off, he ended the season as both an OHL champion and a Memorial Cup champion.

He could have the opportunity to seize a bigger role next season with London graduating several of their top forwards.

Drew Schock - U.S. NTDP, Defenseman (selected 101st overall)

A Michigan University commit, Schock continues the archetype of puck-moving defensemen that the Ducks have sought in the draft. He spent the last two seasons with the NTDP and was an alternate captain for Team USA’s U18 World Juniors squad, where he averaged a point per game.

Elijah Neuenschwander - HC Fribourg-Gottéron, Goaltender (selected 104th overall)

Hailing from Biel-Bienne, the city where former Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller concluded his professional career, Neuenschwander is a big kid at 6-foot-4.

Like Damian Clara two years ago, albeit in the second round, the Ducks went slightly off the board to select a mammoth goaltender. But, Neuenschwander has performed well at the domestic level and held his own internationally.

Alexis Mathieu - Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Defenseman (selected 136th overall)

Like Neuenschwander, Mathieu also towers over many of his peers at 6-foot-4. He is an aggressive defender who uses his physicality to erase opposing players with ferocity.

Mathieu was also the only Ducks draft pick besides Nilson who attended the draft. Congratulations from his family and friends was coupled with cheers and applause from what remained of the Peacock Theater crowd.

Émile Guité - Chicoutimi Saguenéens, Forward (selected 159th overall)

A teammate of 2024 Ducks draft pick Maxim Massé, Guité was projected to be a top-64 pick in this year’s draft prior to the 2024-25 season. However, inconsistent performances dropped his stock tremendously, causing him to fall to the fifth round.

There is belief though in the Ducks’ organization that Guité can put the pieces together and show why he was once projected to be a high-round draft pick.

Anthony Allain-Samaké - Sioux City Musketeers, Defenseman (selected 168th overall)

One of the youngest players in his draft class, Allain-Samaké will play alongside 2024 Ducks draft pick Alexandre Blais at the University of Connecticut next season.

The early transition to collegiate hockey offers a huge opportunity for Allain-Samaké, with his late birthdate also giving him a long runway for his development.

Brady Turko - Brandon Wheat Kings, Forward (selected 200th overall)

McQueen’s juniors teammate, Turko is younger than Allain-Samaké. While undersized, he has displayed good offensive instincts and could benefit from having a bigger role with Brandon next season.

Featured image caption: Jun 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Eric Nilson fields questions after being selected as the 45th overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Derek Lee-The Hockey News

At the start of the 2024-25 season, the Nashville Predators didn't think they'd be in a position to have nine draft picks, one of them being in the top five. 

They were fresh off their fourth playoff appearance in five years and had just signed two of the top free agents in the market: Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos. 

However, a 30-44-8 record in the 2024-25 season suddenly put Nashville in a position to look toward the future, specifically needing more depth down the middle. 

At the 2025 NHL Draft, the Predators drafted six players: four defenseman, a winger, a goalie and a center. They also traded away five picks, two of which were for future considerations. 

With all that has conspired over the last two days, here are three takeaways from the Predators' transactions in Los Angeles. 

Nashville Predators 2025 NHL Draft transactions 

Round 1, Pick 5 - Brady Martin, Center, Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 

*Traded 23rd and 67th picks to Ottawa Senators for 21st pick

Round 1, Pick 21 - Cameron Reid, Defense, Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 

Round 1, Pick 26 - Ryker Lee, Forward, Madison Capitols (USHL) 

Round 2, Pick 35 - Jacob Rombach, Defense, Lincoln Stars (USHL) 

*Traded 55th pick to Vegas Golden Knights for 58th and 122nd picks 

Round 2, Pick 58 - Jack Ivankovic, Goalie, Brampton Steelheads (OHL) 

Round 4, Pick 122 - Alex Huang, Defense, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 

*Traded 131st pick to Edmonton Oilers for 2026 fifth round pick 

Round 6, Pick 163 - Daniel Nieminen, Defense, Pelicans (SM-liiga, Finland) 

*Traded 182nd pick to Utah Mammoth for 2026 sixth round pick 

Trotz believed Martin had an 'it' factor, drafting him over Hagens, Martone 

Fans were left a bit confused when the Predators selected 6-foot, 178-pound center Brady Martin. Nashville needed a center, but more so on the scoring end of things than anything else. 

While Martin had 72 points in 57 games with the Soo Greyhounds, he also had 68 penalty minutes, showing a more physical side to his game than an offensive one.

The Predators picked him over Boston College center James Hagens, who had 37 points in 37 games, and Porter Martone, who is a winger but had a whopping 98 points in 57 games. 

However, general manager Barry Trotz explained that Martin had an "it" factor that you don't see in many players. 

"A guy shows up and has all those intangibles, the work ethic, all those things," Trotz said. "There are not a lot of things that are going to get in this guy's way. We had some tough decisions, but there was total passion on this pick...He's got that whatever it is." 

Trotz added that Martin will set a tone of competing for a roster spot when training camp arrives. 

"I definitely want to try and crack that roster if I can," Martin said. "If I don't, it's meant to be. I'll go back to the Greyhounds, work hard and try to crack the [Predators] roster as soon as I can." 

Predators had trade for top 12 pick that 'fell through'

There was so much chatter ahead of the chat about the number of trades there'd be in the top 15. There was only one, with the Flyers trading up to get the Rangers' pick at 12th overall. 

However, that doesn't mean teams didn't try to make that happen. Trotz told the NHL Network that he was on the phone for picks 7-18, trying to orchestrate a trade for a top-12 pick.

Nashville didn't end up getting a second top 15 pick of the night, but was able to trade up to 21st overall and land defenseman Cameron Reid.

"I actually had a deal and our player fell through," Trotz told NHL Network. "We were trying to get another player in the top 12, 13 picks. We had the deal in place, and one team grabbed the player, and we had to move on." 

It's speculated that this player may have been Brandon Wheat Kings center Roger McQueen, who was one of the prospects forecasted to be taken at 5th overall. He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks 10th overall. 

He's a tall center who is coming back from injury and showed a lot of promise in the few games he played. 

Predators drafted 4 defensemen despite need for scoring

The Predators scored the fewest goals in the league last season, with 130, which is 10 fewer than the second-worst scoring team in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators. 

Nashville had a ton of success scoring on the power play, ranking seventh in the league, but as a cohesive unit, it struggled to find the back of the net. With there being a need to score, the Predators selected only two forwards in the draft, both in the first round.

It's possible that the Predators believe their offense just needs to find its rhythm or will make some signings by July 1, but the Predators remain committed to the idea that they are a team composed of big and physical players.

"It is called Smashville, correct?" Trotz said when asked about the Predators being known as a team that is big and physical.

Nashville didn't shy away from drafting "big" players. Defenseman Jacob Rombach is 6 feet 6 inches, and five of the other draft picks are at least 6 feet tall. Goalie Jack Ivankovic is the exception, at 5-foot-11-inches.

When it comes to the physical factor, the draft picks averaged 30 penalty minutes, with Martin leading the way with 68 minutes. Even Ivankovic got into a goalie fight this season in the OHL. 

Denver, Colo. - While they might not have had as many draft picks as the Pittsburgh Penguins (13!), the Colorado Avalanche still made the most of their three picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Francesco Dell'Elce, Linus Funck, and Nolan Roed all had their life-changing dreams come true on Saturday as they were drafted in the 3rd, 4th, and 7th rounds, respectively. But... How did the Avalanche only have three picks?

Fun fact: They only had two - up until Friday afternoon.

Their 3rd round pick (77th overall) came by way of the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade that saw the departure of Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood. With zero salary retained on both of those players, the Avalanche received forward prospect Gavin Brindley, a conditional 2nd-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and the 3rd-round pick that turned into Francesco Dell'Elce on Saturday.

Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood Traded to Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche Get Picks and Prospect Gavin Brindley in ReturnDenver, Colo. - With just $1.2 million in cap space, the Colorado Avalanche were slated to head into this year's free agency period with a bit of a handicap.

Francesco Dell'Elce

• Drafted: 2025, 3rd round, 77th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
• Age: 20 (June 23, 2005)
• Birthplace: King City, Ontario, Canada
• Position: Defense
• Shoots: Left
• Height: 6'1" / 185 cm
• Weight: 185 lbs / 84 kg

Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Dell'Elce was ranked ~96th among draft-eligible prospects.

With their 3rd round, 77th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche have selected Francesco Dell'Elce, a 20-year-old defenseman from Ontario.

In his freshman year at UMass last year, he tallied 24 points (7g/17a) in 40 GP.

Via Elite Prospects: "Dell’Elce’s an…

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025

Linus Funck

• Drafted: 2025, 4th Round, 118th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
• Age: 18 (May 10, 2007)
• Birthplace: Luleå, Sweden
• Position: Defense
• Shoots: Right
• Height: 6'3" / 190 cm
• Weight: 183 lbs / 83 kg

Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Funck was ranked 109th among draft-eligible prospects.

With their 4th round, 118th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Avalanche select Linus Funck, an 18-year-old defenseman from Luleå, Sweden.

With Luleå HF J20 last season, he collected 28 points (5g/23a) in 48 GP.

From Elite Prospects: "Funck uses his reach to kill rushes…

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025

Nolan Roed

• Drafted: 2025, 7th Round, 214th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
• Age: 19 (October 25, 2005)
• Birthplace: White Bear Lake, Minnesota, USA
• Position: Center
• Shoots: Left
• Height: 5'11" / 180 cm
• Weight: 185 lbs / 84 kg

Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Roed was ranked 164th among draft-eligible prospects.

With their 7th round, 214th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, their final pick in this draft, the Colorado Avalanche have selected Nolan Roed, a 19-year-old center from White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Last season with the USHL's Tri-City Storm, he collected 60 points (27g/33a) in…

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025

More Information From Draft Day

Per Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Nick Pryor following the draft, Funck and Roed are still question marks regarding their attendance at Prospect Development Camp starting on Tuesday, July 1st, but Dell'Elce is expected to be there.

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The New York Rangers may have not had a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but the team was able to get first-round talent with the 43rd overall pick. 

Many NHL analysts predicted Malcolm Spence would be selected in the first round, but he slid all the way to the 43rd pick where the New York Rangers sat and they did not hesitate to draft him. 

“Malcolm is an excellent winger, power play, PK (penalty kill), plays the game the right way,” Rangers director of player personnel John Lilley said. “He doesn't cheat the game. We’ve valued him for a few years now… I think he was projected to go quite a bit higher, so when the opportunity presented itself, we were thrilled to get him in that spot, and we think he's got a lot of potential and a high character player.”

The 18-year-old has made a name for himself playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League over the past two seasons. 

This past season, Spence served as the team’s assistant captain and had an impressive statistical season, recording 32 goals, 41 assists, and 73 points in 65 games. 

Despite the high speculation that Spence would be drafted in the first round, teams passed up on him for whatever reason. 

However, his fall out of the draft’s opening round did not discourage him and he’s excited to prove the Rangers right instead of proving other teams wrong. 

“I think kind of when you have expectations for yourself, and obviously there's expectations from the media and whatnot of where I was going to get picked, but for me, obviously I believe in myself, and just really I didn't get picked yesterday, I kind of changed my mindset right after and said, ‘well, tomorrow's a new day, and you're in a situation that not a lot of people are in.’ So for me, it was New York's first pick, and I have some family out there, and it worked out really well,” said Spence.

“I'm really excited that they took a chance on me and believed in me when a lot of the other people didn't. So I'm really excited to get to New York City and get to work.”

The next stop for Spence will be at the University of Michigan where he’ll play at one of the best collegiate hockey programs in the country. 

Rangers Select Forward Malcolm Spence In Second Round With 43rd Pick The New York Rangers have selected left winger Malcolm Spence with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

While Spence has a lot of natural skill sets, he knows that there’s still a long way to go before he gets to an NHL level both in terms of his body development and transformation as a player. 

He strongly believes he’ll be able to accomplish all of his development goals at Michigan in order to be properly prepared for the NHL and the challenges that come with being a professional hockey player.

“I know to play in the NHL, you have to be physically ready,” Spence said. “Maybe there are parts of my game skill-wise that may be ready, but physically I’m not. I know going to Michigan is going to give me more runway time. For me to jump in as an impact player, that’s what I want to do.”

Spence is likely a couple of years away before he could possibly crack the Rangers’ roster, but the potential is certainly there and he has a chance to make a major impact in the future.

The Buffalo Sabres made a trade Saturday, but it wasn't the trade many were expecting, as star defenseman Bowen Byram remained a Sabre, at least, for the time being. However, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reshaped his defense corps by sending rugged blueliner Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall pick in this year's draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for D-man Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Isaac Beliveau. 

At first glance -- and at second, third and fourth glance, for that matter -- the trade was a salary dump, as Clifton had one year left on his contract at $3.33 million, while Timmins is an RFA who won't earn much more than the  $1.1 million he made this past season.  But if people are expecting Timmins to be an impact player of any kind, they probably haven't been paying attention to him as he developed into a journeyman defenseman.

The 26-year-old Timmins has played for four teams -- the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins -- in his five NHL seasons. Timmins averaged a career-best 18:43 of ice time in 17 games with Pittsburgh last season, but prior to that, he played about 16 minutes per game, almost exclusively on his team's third 'D' pairing. And now that he's a Sabre, you can expect Timmins to once again be a third-pair blueliner.

Indeed, after Buffalo's trade earlier this week that sent star winger J.J. Peterka to Utah for young winger Josh Doan and D-man Michael Kesselring, the Sabres' top-two defense pairings appear to be set. Star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson are set to be the top pair, while Owen Power and Kesselring are set to be the second pair. That leaves the third pair to Timmins and...well, we're not quite certain of the other D-man.

That said, Sabres fans need to temper their expectations of their newest defenseman. Timmins had a career-high of two goals and 14 points in 25 games with the Maple Leafs in 2022-23, and he's not likely to pile up points and take up room on the scoresheet anytime soon. If he's playing big minutes for your team, it's likely more to do with injuries to the defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart than it is about him having any merit to be promoted above the third pair.

Sabres Blockbuster Trade With Utah Sends Disgruntled Winger To Mammoth For Defensive Depth, Son Of NHL IconAfter watching teams around them make major moves already in the NHL's 2025 off-season, the Buffalo Sabres made a blockbuster deal of their own late Wednesday night, sending disgruntled winger J.J. Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for young winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesserling. And immediately after Peterka was acquired by Utah, he signed a five-year contract extensipn with an average annual payday of $7.7 million. That's something Peterka wouldn't do with the Sabres, and that's an unfortunate comment on where Buffalo is at as an organization right now.

Most NHL observers are expecting Buffalo to trade Byram sometime soon. But if and when that happens, it's not going to open up additional oppportunities for Timmins. He's a Sabre because his salary cap hit fits in with Adams' expectations for the blueline, and many people are expecting Adams to eventually use the cap space he's accumulated in the Peterka trade and the Timmins trade on a veteran of consequence.

Because if Adams doesn't do that, and this Clifton/Timmins trade is just a deal to save money and keep Buffalo's financial bottom line as cheap as it can be, Sabres fans are not going to react well. As we've argued repeatedly, Buffalo is a team that should be spending every penny they have available under the cap ceiling. The time to cut costs was long ago, and now, it's the time to utilize the cap space they've accumulated.

As Division Rivals Make Big Moves, Sabres Are Still Making Minor MovesThe Buffalo Sabres made a notable trade this week with the trading of winger J.J. Peterka. But the return on the deal for Peterka -- defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan -- isn't exactly earth-shattering. The Sabres also made news Friday afternoon with the re-signing of center Jack Quinn to a two-year, $6.75-million contract extension; but Quinn isn't yet a top-six forward at this stage in his NHL career, so news of his contract extension didn't garner a lot of headlines.

So whatever you do, don't place any bets on Timmins being an impact player. If he lasts the whole season in Buffalo, some will be surprised, as he's worn out his welcome on every team he's played for. 

If you see Timmins eating up minor minutes with the Sabres and being limited in the chances that he gets, that's the proper way to see him. And if you're expecting Adams to trade Byram for some veteran help up front, that's the proper expectation to have for Buffalo management at this point in the off-season.

The Sabres have been taking small swings at the plate on the trade front, and it's well beyond time for them to swing for the fences. And acquiring Timmins is almost the dictionary definition of a small swing.

At every NHL draft, countless talented hockey players go undrafted.

Oftentimes, teams have their list of players, and they didn’t get to a player further down the list. Other times, a player may be undersized, and it’s a long shot that they reach the NHL. Sometimes, it’s simply that teams overlooked them during the draft year. 

Regardless of the reason, some of these players will bounce back and put themselves in the conversation the way Charlie Cerrato or Ludvig Johnson did this year. As we take a look at some of the top names to go unselected, remember that we may see them get their name called at the 2026 NHL draft. 

Topias Hynninen, C, Jukurit (Finland)

One of the top overage names in this year’s NHL draft, Hynninen produced at an impressive level in the Liiga this year as he became one of his team’s most important players. He was consistently involved in driving their offensive game. He may be undersized at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but he’s a highly intelligent player who’s proven he can play at the men’s level as a teenager. Now that he’s been passed over twice, maybe he signs as a 24-year-old to join an NHL club. 

Luka Radivojevic, D, Muskegon (USHL)

The shifty, skilled and highly mobile defender went undrafted because he’s small. At just 5-foot-10 on the blueline and a defensive game that was questionable at best, it’s not entirely shocking, but I thought some team would draft him late as a project. His puck-moving and offensive instincts were on display at the World Men’s Under-18s. Radivojevic might end up being a name we hear from again next year. 

Lev Katzin, C/W, Guelph (OHL)

He’s small, but he’s incredibly feisty, and his playmaking was impressive in the OHL. Katzin started the year in the United States League but jumped to the OHL as the eligibility rules changed regarding the NCAA. His production at the OHL level was impressive with 48 points in 44 games. He’s active at both ends of the ice, never stops moving his feet and seems to understand he has to outwork his physical limitations. He’ll head to Penn State in the fall and could be a coveted NCAA free agent in a few years.

Matej Pekar, C/LW, Seattle (WHL)

A personal favorite of mine, Pekar was a bet on skill and intellect. He played with impeccable timing, consistently popping into zones right as the puck arrived or swooping in to scoop up a loose puck. Pekar played with a swiftness that saw him excel as an off-puck play connector. He wasn’t ever the best on the ice, but he helped make his linemates' lives easier in a very understated way in the WHL.

Bruno Osmanis, RW, Bjorkloven (Swe.2)

A late-2006 born forward, Osmanis has stood out for Latvia in international events over the past couple of years. That usually bodes well for players from smaller nations, but unfortunately for Osmanis, he didn’t have his name called this weekend. He’s an intelligent playmaker who reads and reacts quite well. He’s always been able to elevate his game against better competition at events like the world juniors or U-18s. 

Nicolas Sykora, LW, Sioux City (USHL)

After a solid Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Sykora had a slow start with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers and eventually found his footing in Sioux City. He is a crafty puckhandler with a very good shot. He’s not big or bruising, but he can throw his weight around at times. When he’s on his game, he is intense and driven to get pucks on net. Consistency was his big issue.

NHL Draft: Boston Bruins Steal James Hagens In 'A Dream Come True'LOS ANGELES – The Boston Bruins pulled off a great feat at the 2025 NHL draft: they got a super-talented player lower than expected, while adding another chapter to the rivalry between Boston sports fans and New York sports fans by snapping up center James Hagens.

Carson Cameron, D, Peterborough (OHL)

A defense-first blueliner, Cameron doesn’t blow the doors off with the puck. He cuts play down, seals off the opposing player along the wall and battles through opposing puck carriers. His play isn’t flashy, but it’s effective. He played for one of the OHL’s bottom-dwellers, but he always found ways to show something positive.  

Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, D, Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)

Another defensive defenseman, Rheaume-Mullen was an NCAA freshman this season. He played a sound defensive game with solid gap control and incredible mobility. There’s a good base of physical tools to work with, and he should have been drafted, but people will keep an eye on the defender going into next season. An expanded role on a very good NCAA team will be something to watch.

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The Washington Capitals announced they have traded defenseman Chase Priskie and the 123rd pick in the NHL draft to the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Declan Chisholm and the 180th pick in the draft. 

Priskie recorded 35 points in 61 game with the Hershey Bears in the regular season before adding five points in eight games in the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

The 29-year-old notched 14 points in 20 games while helping the Bears win back-to-back Calder Cups last season, he played big minutes and powerplay time during the run. 

A native of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Priskie has no points in four career NHL games with the Florida Panthers and 164 points in 314 career AHL games. He also has 20 points in 35 career AHL playoff games. 

It will be interesting to see if Priskie sees any time with Minnesota or if he will anchor the Iowa Wild blueline. 

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired defenseman Declan Chisholm and the 180th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Chase Priskie and their 123rd overall selection.#CapsDraft | @Shift4pic.twitter.com/tW7utPaZYn

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 28, 2025

Chisholm put up 12 points in 66 games with Minnesota this season, he had five points in six AHL games with the Manitoba Moose last season. 

The 25-year-old has 21 points in 99 career NHL games and 91 points in 146 career AHL games. He has 11 points in 10 career AHL playoff games. 

He represented the Central Division at the AHL All-Star Game while a member of the Moose in 2023. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.    

Photo Credit: © Travis Boyd/Special to the Daily News / USA TODAY NETWORK

After a 2025 NHL Draft in which they picked four centers, the Vancouver Canucks have acquired yet another. They traded for the rights to Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Safonov, with future considerations going the other way. Safonov was picked in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft and had not been signed by the Blackhawks. 

Safonov, a 6'4 left-shot center, has played with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL since the 2019-20 season. In total, he has played in 263 games for the team, scoring 49 goals and 46 assists in this span of time. This includes a 19-goal, 18-assist season back in 2022-23. In 2024-25, Safonov scored seven goals and 15 assists in 51 games. He is expected to return to the KHL for the 2025-26 season, meaning he may not suit up for the Canucks in the next year or so. 

Aside from his time with Ak Bars, Safonov has also represented Russia at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championships. He skated in seven games with his country's team back in the 2020-21 season, scoring two goals in the team's fourth-place effort. 

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Safonov joins a group of centers that suddenly ballooned within the span of two days. 2025 NHL Draft selections Braeden Cootes, Kieren Dervin, Wilson Björck, and Matthew Lansing are all centers as well. 

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