The Pittsburgh Penguins have selected forward Kale Dach with the 201st overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.  

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Kale Dach! 🐧 pic.twitter.com/9FyX5JYJDX

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 28, 2025

Dach spent this season with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the BCHL and put together a strong season. In 54 games, the 5-foot-11 forward posted 22 goals, 65 assists, and 87 points. With numbers like these, there is no question that he has offensive skill.

 Dach is expected to play with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL next season and will then play for Penn State after that. Thus, the Penguins will be able to keep a close eye on him once he plays at the collegiate level. 

Overall, there is no harm in the Penguins taking a shot on Dach with their seventh-round pick. The young forward will certainly be a long-term project for the Penguins, but he has shown promise. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he makes for the Penguins later down the road from here.

Penguins Select Pair Of Forwards, Defenseman In Fifth RoundWith Day Two of the NHL Draft winding down, the Pittsburgh Penguins made three selections in the fifth round. 

Photo Credit: © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Flyers did well at the 2025 NHL Draft, but they were painfully close from going from good to great.

Flyers brass refused to give into their temptations, opting for star winger Porter Martone instead of a highly-coveted center prospect.

No big deal, said the Flyers, as they moved the 22nd and 31st picks to move up to 12th to draft Jack Nesbitt. They hope that, with the right improvements, the burly 6-foot-5 center can become a top-six center for the Flyers someday.

A hot start quickly faded on Day 2, as the Flyers' draft selections became redundant rather quickly.

Energetic wingers like Jack Murtagh and Shane Vansaghi will provide a much-needed physical boost along the flanks, and 6-foot-6 defenseman Carter Amico will ensure the Flyers never lack size, speed, and strength on the right side of their defense.

But, what about goalies? No left-shot defenders?

By the end of proceedings Saturday, the Flyers ended up with three centers, two right wings, two left wings, and two right-shot defenders.

This means that, in terms of prospects, the Flyers have only Emil Andrae, Adam Ginning (if you still consider him a prospect at age 25), Hunter McDonald, and Ty Murchison.

Plus, Egor Zamula, Andrae, Ginning, and McDonald are all out of contract at the end of the season. What's Plan B if none of these players pan out? The Flyers don't appear to be banking on that, but they should be at least considering it.

Why the Flyers Passed on James Hagens in the NHL DraftAfter drafting top winger Porter Martone over center James Hagens at the top of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers will have to wait a little longer to find the No. 1 center of their future.

As for goalies, no additions there mean that it's still down to Sam Ersson, Ivan Fedotov, Aleksei Kolosov, and Carson Bjarnason.

Egor Zavragin is under contract in Russia with SKA St. Petersburg for two more seasons, so the Flyers have no control over his development path until 2027 at the earliest.

Bjarnason will be playing pro hockey for the first time this season, while Ersson, Fedotov, and Kolosov have all flattered to deceive in their relatively short NHL tenures thus far.

Oh, and Ersson, Fedotov, and Kolosov are all on expiring contracts, too. So, not only do the Flyers not have an immediate solution in goal, but they have all their eggs in the basket of two guys for the future at this point in time.

The Flyers traded up for Nesbitt, optimistically a second-line center by their own admission, rather than taking a chance on Jackson Smith, a Penn State commit and a potential No. 1 defenseman who ultimately went 14th to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kashawn Aitcheson, who also fits the Flyers' identity, went 17th to the New York Islanders.

The Flyers added a solid winger prospect in Murtagh at the 40th slot, but the Carolina Hurricanes started the run on goalies one pick later with their selection of Semyon Frolov.

After the Vancouver Canucks took Aleksei Medvedev at Pick 47, the Flyers were left with Vansaghi as their best remaining option.

Fast-forward to the end of the round, and the Flyers added another high-floor, low-ceiling center in Matthew Gard, only for two-time U18 World Juniors champion goalie Jack Ivankovic to go to Nashville with the following pick.

A few picks later, at the top of the third round, left-shot defenders like Kurban Limatov and Mace'o Phillips came off the board, as did goalie Michal Pradel.

So, while the Flyers went above and beyond to fill some needs, they also completely neglected others in the process. And I would argue that those others were easier to fill given the assets at hand.

Now, with a key phase of the rebuild in the books, the Flyers must pivot towards the future with other potential solutions and ideas keenly in mind.

12 years after the Vancouver Canucks drafted Bo Horvat, the organization selected two-way center Braeden Cootes 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old served as a captain for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL in 2024–25, with this being his third year spent with the club. 

“It’s been a dream come true,” Cootes told the media after being drafted on Friday. “I had a little bit of a feeling. I went for dinner with them and had some really good conversations, and had a feeling that they liked me, and as soon as they were announcing the pick I had a bit of a feeling. Obviously when I heard my name called, I was so excited.” 

Cootes’ character and skillset have been compared to the former Canucks captain, as his leadership is one of his many standout qualities. In his draft year, Horvat drew comparisons to players such as Ryan O’Reilly and even Patrice Bergeron. Now, with Cootes now a member of the Canucks organization, it appears that this legacy lives on. 

“That’s a big part of my game, as well as leadership and how I carry myself as a person,” he explained. “In Seattle it’s just kind of something that is me, but when I went to Seattle, we have such a good culture there, and just the things we do, or I think what made me an even better leader and person. Obviously my parents as well, how they raised me and just to be a good person, carrying myself the right way.” 

Seattle’s other captain in 2024–25 was none other than fellow Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio, who was traded in the WHL to the Calgary Hitmen earlier in the year, but was still a Thunderbird for four seasons — two of which he spent with Cootes. 

“He sent me a text congratulating me, and he’s pretty excited. It’s pretty cool having somebody that you know in an organization, and for sure makes it a little easier transition-wise, going to camp and all that, knowing somebody.” 

As well as helping lead the Thunderbirds, Cootes was Team Canada’s captain in the IIHF U18 World Junior Championship earlier in the year. At this tournament, he scored six goals and six assists in a seven-game Gold Medal effort. 

“I think he’s a leader by example, on and off the ice, and our staff was really impressed with him during the process of their due diligence, meeting him in Seattle and in Buffalo as well,” Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin said of what drew Vancouver to drafting Cootes. 

“I’m not the loudest guy in any room, that’s for sure,” the 15th overall selection added. “I for sure lead more by example and, like I said, carrying myself as a person, working hard, and making others around me better. Just being the person I am, not trying to be anybody I’m not.” 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Cootes is from Sherwood Park, Alberta, and confirmed that he grew up an Edmonton Oilers fan. However, he insists that now that he is part of the Canucks organization, that fanship has now ended. Being in such close proximity to Vancouver without being directly from BC means that Cootes has already been exposed to the Canucks in a couple of different ways. 

“I love watching Hughes play, J.T. Miller when he was there,” Cootes noted. “Me growing up in Edmonton, I know everything about a Canadian market and the expectations and all that. It’s no surprise to me, and I’m so excited to be a Vancouver Canuck.” 

When asked who he models his game after, Cootes named Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point. Point, who is from Calgary, has become one of the NHL’s premier centers and has scored more than 40 goals in one season every year since 2022–23. Cootes named Point’s “complete game and his work ethic” in terms of what he idolizes most. 

“He kind of does everything right. He’s a really smart player too, high hockey IQ. Kind of always in the right spot, and is a good skater as well. And he’s a winner. Two Stanley Cups. It’s a pretty good resume.” 

While he takes influence from Point’s playstyle, Cootes still sees elements of his own game that he wants to work on. Despite breaking out this season with 26 goals and 37 assists in 60 games, and tallying two goals and six assists in six playoff games, Cootes noted that he wants to bring another level of offence to his play. 

“Maybe a bit more dynamic offensively, a little bit. The way I play, though, it’s just a complete 200-foot, do whatever it takes to win kind of game with speed. So I’m not trying to change that at all. But I honestly just say my overall game, and to get better at everything to be the player that I want to be.” 

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.

The Vegas Golden Knights wrapped up their 2025 NHL Draft in Round 6 by selecting Alexander Weiermair and Gustav Sjoqvist. 

With the 186th pick, Alexander Weiermair was selected from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. 

The Golden Knights have selected Alexander Weiermair with the 186th overall pick! #VegasBornpic.twitter.com/Q7CJUNMQ8S

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 28, 2025

Weiermair, 20, is a right-shot center known for his success in transition. He provides smooth delivery through the neutral zone with crossovers, drives to the net, and an ability to cut back when good defenders close in, yet cuts inside on poorly gapped ones.

He takes initiative to start give-and-gos and is not afraid to make contact with his opponents, enabling him to consistently find space across the ice.

With the 187th pick, Gustav Sjoqvist was selected from the AIK from the HockeyAllsvenskan League.

Vegas selects Gustav Sjoqvist with the 187th pick! #VegasBornpic.twitter.com/5darCVd4gi

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 28, 2025

Sjoqvist, 19, brings his strong defensive skills to the table. His 6-foot-3 frame and weight of over 200 pounds give him a distinct advantage, making him an aggressive and calculated heavy hitter.

Known to be a heavy shooter, Sjoqvist scored 11 goals in 31 games in his final AIK Jr. season. In his time with AIK he gained experience at the professional level in Sweden's second-tier league and contributed modestly while maintaining a positive plus/minus. 

✂️ Gustav Sjoqvist Tingsryd vs. AIK 2/215 seconds · Clipped by Malia Poblete · Original video "Tingsryd vs. AIK | Highlights 2/2" by HockeyAllsvenskan

With these two selections, the Golden Knights have officially concluded their 2025 NHL Draft class. 

We are excited to welcome our four newest prospects to the organization! #VegasBornhttps://t.co/Kwry8uw5XN

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 28, 2025

ST. LOUIS -- It was a very limited draft weekend for the St. Louis Blues, the fewest selections they've had in a draft since 1968 when they had two.

The Blues were without their second- and third-round picks this season following the compensation to the Edmonton Oilers for offer sheet signings of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway last year, a trade of their fourth-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Alexandre Texier and trade with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023 for the acquisition of Jakub Vrana.

The Blues concluded the 2025 NHL Draft with just three selections, finishing off the day on Saturday with picks in the fifth and sixth rounds in the draft in Los Angeles, selecting Russian right wing Mikhail Fyodorov with the 19th pick (147th overall) in the fifth round, and selecting a goalie for the first time since 2019, grabbing Love Harenstam with the 19th pick (179th overall) in the sixth round.

The Blues selected right win Justin Carbonneau with the 19th overall pick on Friday night.

"Very excited, players that we've done the due diligence on them, had them placed on our list in an area that we were excited about," said Blues director of amateur scouting Tony Feltrin. "Obviously Justin Carbonneau at the position that we got him at 19. Very pleased with that selection, along with our fifth- and sixth-round selections, players that we coveted.

"[Carbonneau] was a player in the grouping that the excitement level was still going to be there if that transpired. The goal-scoring ability, the passion that he plays with, the will to score, he'll run over the top of players to take it to the net. He can score from distance with a tremendous shot, good hands, strong compete, lots of things to like."

Fyodorov, 18, is small in stature at 5-foot-11, 152 pounds but had 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 46 games last season for Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy of the Russian MHL League last season who will attend development camp starting Monday.

"Skilled player, very good edges, nifty, quick puck skills," Feltrin said. "There's some offensive ability there. He can really snap a puck. Not the biggest body. The physical maturity will come. We did lots of video on him. We have a Russian-based scout that saw him a number of times. We just saw him at a recent agency camp in Florida. Skilled player."

Harenstam, 18, is 6-2, 196 and toiled in the J20 Nationell for Skelleftea AIK J20s last season, along with Lulea J20 and was 10-9-0 with a 3.31 goals-against average and .895 save percentage for Skelleftea AIK J20s; he will not be here for the development camp.

He is the first goalie drafted since the Blues took Will Cranley in the sixth round in 2020. 

With the help of former Blues goalie Brian Elliott, who's in the organization as the goaltending scout and development coach, this was a player the Blues felt was worth the selection.

"A player that warrants the selection where he was," Feltrin said of Harenstam. "Love was the No. 1 goaltender of the Swedish U18 team. He's got a bright future, he's got athleticism and has produced.

"That's a trait of the ultimate compete. Nobody's every going to score on the attitude for sure.

"Brian's in a league with (Blues goalie coach) David Alexander and the staff that have the greater knowledge on the goaltender front. We consider ourselves somewhat layman in our goaltender evaluations, especially when he hear the terminology that they utilize where we'll see. Love stops the puck and we recognize that."

Development camp begins Monday and runs through Thursday from noon-1:15 p.m. at Centene Community Ice Center and is free and open to the public.

After a victorious first round at the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders had six picks on Day 2.

It started off with a bang -- figuratively and literally -- with the Islanders selecting punishing forward Daniil Prokhorov with the 42nd overall pick. 

Islanders Select Hard-Hitting Forward Daniil Prokhorov With Their Second-Round SelectionAfter a successful first day at the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders used the 42nd overall pick to select forward Daniil Prokhorov of the MHL.

Here are the rest of the picks:

Luca Romano, C

With the 74th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Islanders selected center Luca Romano out of the OHL.

With the Kitchener Rangers, Romano tallied 25 goals with 26 assists for 51 points in 67 games.

Romano excels in transition and creates pace for his line. The center is on the smaller end at 5’11” and 176 pounds, but he makes up for his stature with a high compete level and strong skating.

As the engine of Kitchener’s offense, Romano is a workhorse who eats minutes and produces at a decent clip. The Toronto native still needs to develop his faceoff ability to stick as a center in the NHL, but his game is relatively well-rounded.

Tomas Poletin, LW

The Islanders followed their Romano pick by selecting Czech winger Tomas Poletin 106th overall out of the Finnish Liiga.

Poletin scored a combined 13 goals with 10 assists for 23 points in 26 games with the Pelicans U18 and U20 teams. The left winger also appeared in 15 games with the Pelicans’ Liiga team, but he received limited ice time and didn’t appear on the scoresheet.

Poletin is a rugged power forward who puts in “extreme effort” for every shift, according to EliteProspects. Making his living off puck battles and the forecheck, Poletin utilizes his heavy 6’1” and 205-pound frame to dominate defenders. 

Poletin was also Czechia’s captain at the U18 World Championships, chipping in 15 goals in 29 games across two tournaments. 

Sam Laurilia, LHD

With their 5th round pick at 138th overall, the Islanders then selected defenseman Sam Laurila out of the USHL.

Laurila tallied 8 goals with 33 assists for 41 points in 57 games with the Fargo Force. The Minnesota native’s point total was tied for 4th in the USHL among defensemen.

Laurila is an opportunistic two-way player whose offense took a big step once leaving the U.S. NTDP. The left-shot defenseman shines in transition, creates dangerous give-and-gos, and doesn’t shy away from contact.

As a slight overager, Laurila was passed on at last year’s draft.

Burke Hood, G

At 170th overall, the Islanders added goaltender Burke Hood of the WHL.

Hood posted a 3.13 GAA and a .910 SV% in 42 games with the Vancouver Giants. In his first WHL season, the goalie earned a respectable 19-13-6 record.

Standing at 6’3” and 192 pounds, Hood controls the crease with his size and athleticism. Hood tracks the puck well through traffic and isn’t afraid of contact with opposing forwards.

Hood also has above-average lateral agility, positioning, and composure—his game contains few holes.

Jacob Kvasnicka, RW

To finalize their 2025 NHL Draft, New York selected winger Jacob Kvasnicka from the U.S. NTDP with the 202nd overall pick.

Kvasnicka scored 18 goals with 21 assists for 39 points in 66 games with the NTDP, as well as 5 goals with 9 assists for 14 points in 27 games within the USHL.

Kvasnicka’s greatest strength is arguably his speed, which he utilizes to make zone entries and provide offense. The right-shot forward isn’t an elite creator, but he also kills penalties and forechecks well.

Kai Russell wrote this story. 

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The Vancouver Canucks have selected right winger Gabriel Chiarot with the 175th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Vancouver has already selected center Braeden Cootes of the Seattle Thunderbirds, goaltender Alexei Medvedev of the London Knights, center Kieren Dervin of the Kingston Frontenacs and center Wilson Björck of Djurgårdens IF J20, making the Canadian winger their fifth selection of the draft. Chiarot has spent his entire career in the OHL, playing last season with the Brampton Steelheads. 

Chiarot had a productive season in 2024-25. He scored 21 goals while adding 35 points in 66 games. Chiarot also has experience playing with another Canucks prospect as he was teammates with Vilmer Alriksson this season. 

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Listed at 5'11", 191 lbs, Chiarot is a scrappy player who loves to throw hits. He thrives in front of the net and is not afraid to battle defenders who are bigger than him. Chiarot is projected to return to the OHL next season. 

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.

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild could be without its top defenseman for the start of the 2025-26 season. 

Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced on Saturday that defenseman Jonas Brodin received surgery on an upper-body injury a few weeks ago. 

Brodin, 31, finished the season healthy and competed in the IIHF Men's World Championships with Team Sweden. After that, along with some offseason training, Brodin had to get a surgery done on his upper-body. 

Guerin said he thinks that Brodin could miss some time to start the season. Whether that be training camp or games will be unseen. 

The Wild traded defenseman Declan Chisholm on Saturday to the Washington Capitals to move up in the Draft. This, along with Brodin's injury, now opens a spot for Carson Lambos to make a push for the team. 

Lambos, 22, was the Wild's 26th overall pick from the 2021 NHL Draft. He has spent the last two years in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild. 

In 68 games during the 2024-25 season, Lambos recorded five goals and 19 points. He took on a huge role for Iowa and received a lot of ice time. He even earned an NHL call-up but did not play. 

Other Wild News

Minnesota Wild Trade Defenseman Declan Chisholm To Washington The Minnesota Wild announced on Saturday a trade with the Washington Capitals. The Wild have traded defenseman Declan Chisholm to the Capitals along with the 180th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for defenseman Chase Priskie and the 123rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.  Minnesota Wild Select Defenseman Theodor Hallquisth At Pick No. 52 In 2025 NHL DraftAfter a quiet first day for the Minnesota Wild with no picks in the first round, the Wild have made their first pick from the 2025 NHL Draft. With pick No. 52, the Wild selected defenseman Theodor Hallquisth from Orebro of the Swedish Junior League.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have selected defenseman Brady Peddle with the 91st overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Brady Peddle! 🐧 pic.twitter.com/z9U90Kd21h

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 28, 2025

Peddle, 18, just completed his first season in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Waterloo Black Hawks. In 62 regular-season games with the USHL club, he posted three goals, seven assists, 10 points, and a plus-12 rating.

However, what's very encouraging about Peddle is that his play improved big time during the playoffs with Waterloo. In 15 playoff games this year with the USHL squad, he posted one goal, nine assists, and 10 points.

With the Penguins needing help on the left side of their defense, it is understandable that they are taking a chance on Peddle. The 6-foot-3 blueliner is not afraid of the physical side of the game and is also smart with the puck. Thus, this has the potential to be a solid pick for the Penguins. 

Family Reunion In Order As Penguins Select Brother Of Forward ProspectThere appears to be a family reunion on the horizon for a pair of Pittsburgh Penguins prospects.

Photo Credit: © Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators wrapped up the 2025 NHL Draft with the 163rd pick in the sixth round, selecting Finnish defenseman Daniel Nieminen. 

Nieminen scored 11 points with the Pelicans in his first season in the Finnish Elite League. He also played in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring two points in seven games. 

The 6-foot, 187-pound defenseman, with a left shot, is expected to play with the Pelicans next season and will stay there for a few years before coming to North America. 

The next season in the Finnish Elite League will be crucial for the Predators to gauge how good Nieminen can be. 

The Predators had the 182nd overall pick as their final pick of the draft, but traded it to the Utah Mammoth for a 2026 sixth-round pick. 

🚨 Daniel Nieminen sivaltaa @lahdenpelicans:in tasoihin! 💥

Mikä ilta meillä onkaan – jatkoeriin mennään. 😮‍💨

📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga#PelicansFi@Mestispic.twitter.com/W5JZeVDz6x

— Liiga (@smliiga) April 10, 2025

Nashville also received the Edmonton Oilers' 2026 fifth-round pick when it traded the 131st overall pick. 

Nashville had three first round picks on Friday. 

The selected Soo Greyhounds center Brady Martin with the fifth overall pick, Kitchener Rangers defenseman Cameron Reid with the 21st overall pick and Madison Capitols forward Ryker Lee with the 26th overall pick. 

On Saturday, Lincoln Stars defenseman Jacob Rombach was selected with the 35th pick, and Brampton Steelheads goalie Jack Ivankovic was picked with the 58th overall pick. 

A trade with the Vegas Golden Knights has given the Nashville Predators an extra pick in the NHL Draft, coming in the fourth round at 122nd overall. 

They traded the 55th overall pick to the Golden Knights for the 58th and 122nd overall picks. 

They selected Chicoutimi Saguenéens defenseman Alex Huang with the pick. 

With the 111th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers selected forward Mikkel Eriksen.

Eriksen grew up in Norway and played the majority of his youth hockey years there. 

The 17-year-old center spent most of last season playing in Sweden for Färjestad BK J20 where he recorded 22 goals, 21 assists, and 43 points. 

“Mikkel Eriksen is a highly productive two-way forward who plays a heavy, detailed game and projects as a bottom-six NHL player with middle-six upside,” via Neutral Zone. “He is a reliable, versatile center with translatable habits, including a strong motor, high-end puck anticipation, above-average passing touch, and a shoot-first mentality…

“While Eriksen is not overly dynamic or explosive, he is well-rounded and competes in all three zones, making him a safe bet to earn trust at higher levels.”

Rangers Select Two Defensemen In Third Round of 2025 NHL DraftThe New York Rangers had two picks in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft, selecting defensemen Sean Barnhill and Artyom Gonchar.

Eriksen stands at 5-foot-11, 187 pounds. He is expected to play for Färjestad BK J20 in Sweden again this upcoming season.

The NHL and the NHLPA held a press conference on Friday afternoon, highlighting the key points of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has been agreed in principle. Amongst the numerous modifications, one stuck with me: the new 84-game calendar.

With 82 games per season, for some, the season is already long enough, but this change will have two consequences: a shorter preseason and the possibility for each team to play four games per season against each team in its division.

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Preseason games are a necessary evil, not so much for the regulars to get back into the swing of things, as it once was. Nowadays, the players show up to camp already in shape; they don’t need two weeks to work out and eliminate the weight of the Summer’s excesses. If you’re not ready for the start of camp, you get left behind. The Montreal Canadiens had two perfect examples in Kirby Dach last season; he played catch-up all year before finally being injured, and in Joshua Roy, who couldn’t make the team and was sent down to Laval.

Rookies and fringe players do need those games to show what they can do and sway the brass’ collective mind in their favour, and the bottom line is, they need some NHL caliber competition in those games so that it’s possible to see how they will cope with opponents of that caliber. However, there’s no need to have as many games as have taken place, especially since players risk injuries when they play in these meaningless games that have no impact on the standings. Need I remind you of Patrik Laine and David Reinbacher’s knee injuries last season?

As for the possibility of playing four games per season against each divisional rival, it just makes sense, and it’s fairer that way. The team that didn’t get to play the top team in its division as many times as the others had an unfair advantage; this will level the playing field.

The new calendar will also allow each team to play three games against each of the other teams in their division and two games against each team in the opposing conference, resulting in one home game and one away game. The time when fans would go without having a visit from some of the top players in a season is over. The Bell Center fans will get to see the likes of the Colorado Avalanche' Nathan MacKinnon, and the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl every year, and I don’t think anyone will be complaining. Canadiens fans like to see their team win, but they know their hockey and enjoy seeing the best of the best.

Also, the extra two games when the 84-game season kicks in for the 2026-2027 campaign would allow Brendan Gallagher to play exactly 1,000 games as a Montreal Canadiens in his current contract, providing he plays all the game of course. After Andrei Markov was robbed of the achievement, it would be great to see the alternate captain make it. 

Photo credit: Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

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June 28, 2025 - With the 134th overall pick in round 5 of the 2025 NHL Draft the Seattle Kraken have selected Maxim Agafonov, an 18-year-old defenseman from Moscow, Russia. He captained the U16 team in 2022–23, moved up to U17 and U18 squads, and posted a +13 in the U18 finals. At 6'2", 195 pounds, he played for Krasnaya Armiya in 2023–24 (1G, 7A in 36 games) and for Tolpar Ufa in 2024–25 (6G, 8A in 35 games), where he’s expected to return next season.

Agafonov is ranked in the top 80 by several outlets:

• #33 – NHL Central Scouting (EU)
• #38 – Recruit Scouting
• #43 – Inside The Rink
• #78 – TSN/Craig Button
• #79 – TSN/Bob McKenzie
• #99 – Elite Prospects

A strong, shutdown defenseman, Agafonov excels in positioning, puck retrieval, and disrupting plays. His offensive game is raw, but his size and hockey sense make him a potential sleeper pick.

Related

2025 NHL Draft - Kraken Select Will Reynolds As The 68th Overall Pick In The Third RoundJune 28, 2025 - With the 68th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Seattle Kraken have selected defenseman Will Reynolds from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Photo Credit: HC Salavat Yulaev

After 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.

Though Flyers GM Danny Briere insisted Friday that he and his team were not setting out to add size, they did just that to kick off Round 2.

With the 38th overall pick, having traded down with the Seattle Kraken, the Flyers landed right-shot defenseman Carter Amico, who stands at a casual and certainly unimposing 6-foot-6, 240 pounds.

Amico was felled by a major knee injury this season, limiting him to just three assists in 13 games. But at his best? The 18-year-old is a one-on-one monster whose impressive skating ability, especially for his size, allows him to destroy plays before they happen.

Adding Amico to a pool of right-shot defenders that already includes Oliver Bonk and Spencer Gill means the Flyers are not banking on Jamie Drysdale becoming the force he has the talent to be at the NHL level.

Bonk, Gill, and Amico are all 6-foot-2 or taller, so size shouldn't be an issue for the Flyers going forward on that side of the ice.

Why the Flyers Passed on James Hagens in the NHL DraftAfter drafting top winger Porter Martone over center James Hagens at the top of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers will have to wait a little longer to find the No. 1 center of their future.

The Flyers followed up the selection of Amico with the NHL Draft's two most tenacious, annoying ankle-biters in wingers Jack Murtagh and Shane Vansaghi.

But, Jon, how many wingers can the Flyers really have? That's not something I have the ability to answer, but Murtagh and Vansaghi both could've very easily been first-round talents. The Flyers landed both in Round 2.

Murtagh, at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, was one of my best players available heading into Saturday's proceedings.

A versatile winger, Murtagh is unrelenting in his pursuit of the puck, skates like the wind, and already has an above-average shot, even for NHL standards. I think he has a future as a top-nine left wing with 30-goal potential depending on his role and linemates.

As for Vansaghi, his skating needs a lot of work, even by his own admission, but he hits opponents like it's personal.

The Michigan State flanker has some real skill, but his role at the NHL level will primarily be to serve as an effective power forward. Vansaghi will be a fun addition to a Flyers winger group that is on the smaller side, especially on the right with Bobby Brink, Matvei Michkov, and Travis Konecny all shorter than 6-foot.

NHL Draft 2025: Can (or should) the Flyers draft Porter Martone?With a guaranteed top six pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers have an array of potentially franchise-altering options at their disposal. But is Porter Martone, a winger in the purest sense, one of them?

To wrap up Round 2, the Flyers added another massive player in the form of Matthew Gard, a 6-foot-5, defense-first center who can move around surprisingly well for his size.

The big concern here is that the Flyers have drafted a big, tall center with a capped NHL ceiling three times in two years, following Jack Berglund last year and Jack Nesbitt on Friday night.

Gard is a much better skater than Nesbitt and Berglund are, but his offensive skills are more on the average side.

The Flyers still have smaller, more talented centers in Trevor Zegras and Jett Luchanko, but you have to wonder how they plan on getting that guy who screams future No. 1 NHL center.

Right now, they don't have one, and if the team improves on their 29th-place finish next season, the task becomes that much harder, especially with James Hagens off to Boston.

Gard is talented and boosts the center prospect pool regardless, but the Flyers can only conceivably have one or two of these players in their lineup at center as Stanley Cup contenders in the future. Stocking up on them probably isn't the best of ideas, but we'll have to wait and see.

Notably, by drafting Gard, the Flyers missed out on top goalie prospect Jack Ivankovic, the fourth-highest rated goalie on my Flyers big board, and a big left-shot defenseman they really need in their cupboard in Kurban Limatov.

I ranked Limatov ahead of Haoxi Wang, who went to San Jose 33rd overall at the top of Round 2.

So, ultimately, the Flyers have a plan: get bigger and stronger. They added some of the skill in Nesbitt, Murtagh, and Porter Martone, and pure size and traits in Vansaghi and Gard.

The Flyers will still need to add more of that skill in future trades and drafts, but the NHL Draft has been an important exercise in building team identity to this point. That identity is now readily apparent.