Category: Ice Hockey

Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles this week, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.  

The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.  

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In the final projection before the Draft on Friday, we look at Braedan Cootes of the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. The 18-year-old center is teammates with Sabres goalie prospect Scott Ratzlaff and 2025 first round prospect Radim Mrtka, who Buffalo has been projected to select with their pick. Cootes is from the suburbs of Edmonton, and after a 35-point rookie WHL campaign where he went -22, the 18-year-old scored over a point-per-game and was +5. 

According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, Cootes ran roughshod over the competition at the Under-18 worlds with Team Canada (with 12 points in seven games) and has a chance to go pretty high, as there aren’t many flaws to his game. He is considered a high motor player, but his one drawback is that he is 5’11”, 183 lb. in a size-conscious draft, A right-handed center, he is strong in all aspects of the game, skating, playmaking, and hockey IQ.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The 2025 NHL entry draft is upon us.

This year, the league went with a decentralized draft, meaning the management from each NHL team is back at their respective facilities.

All the draft picks, however, will be at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California, where they’ll hear their name called and walk across the stage with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Your Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers are not expected to be one of the busier teams at the draft, at least in terms of selecting players.

As of Thursday night, Florida held only five selections at this year’s draft.

That number was a six on Thursday morning, but Florida flipped a fifth-round pick, 160th overall, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for goaltender Daniil Tarasov.

None of Florida’s picks are in the first three rounds, as the team has flipped many of its future assets to build the Stanley Cup Champions they’ve become over the past few seasons.

Here is where Florida will be picking on Saturday, barring any additional trades.

Round 4: 112th Overall

Round 4: 128th Overall

Round 5: 129th Overall

Round 6: 192nd Overall

Round 7: 224th Overall

For those wondering where the rest of Florida’s selections from this year’s draft have gone, here’s a quick refresher.

Round 1: 32nd Overall – to Calgary in the Matthew Tkachuk trade.

Round 2: 64th Overall – to Toronto, via Boston in trade that sent the Bruins’ 2024 second-round pick to Florida. The Panthers used the selection, No. 58 overall, on Linus Eriksson.

Round 3: 96th Overall – to Ottawa as part of the Vladimir Tarasenko trade.

Considering both players acquired in those trades went on to help Florida win Stanley Cups, it's probably safe to say they're considered as wins in Pantherland. 

Round 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft is set to begin Friday at 7 p.m. ET and air nationally on ESPN.

On Saturday, NHL Network will air Rounds 2-7, which begin at 12 p.m. ET.

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Over the current Chicago Blackhawks rebuild, they have drafted and developed a lot of great young defensemen. This is an important position to have depth, and Kyle Davidson has hammered that point home with his decision-making. 

Whether it’s Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Louis Crevier, or Wyatt Kaiser, amongst others, there are plenty of bright spots at this position within the organization. 

For this reason, the Blackhawks aren’t in a bad spot because the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery didn’t go their way. The number one pick is likely going to be Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman from the Erie Otters. 

Schaefer is an incredibly skilled player, but he only played in less than half of Erie’s season this past year due to injury. In 17 games, he had 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points. It’s great production, it’s just unfortunate that he wasn’t able to play for his entire draft year. The sample size isn't enough to consider him a flawless prospect. 

Will the New York Islanders look past that and still take him with the first overall pick? Likely. If they don’t, he surely won’t get past the San Jose Sharks, who need a high-end defensive prospect as bad as any team in the league. 

One of the young forwards available is much better suited for the Blackhawks, who are lacking organizational depth up front. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar could be stars, Oliver Moore is a great player, and more are coming. However, another star-level prospect like the first two forwards mentioned makes more sense for Chicago than another skilled defenseman. 

Even if one of Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, James Hagens, Porter Martone, or Caleb Desnoyers is selected by Chicago, but they aren't as impactful as Schaefer, it could still be a win for the Blackhawks, who desperately need more scoring in the long term. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

It appears that the NHL and NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) have managed to avoid a major labor dispute starting in the 2026-27 season. 

According to a report by Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) extension has been agreed upon in principle by both parties, although nothing official has been signed yet. And with that extension comes some big changes for the NHL.

And these changes could also affect the Pittsburgh Penguins - as well as many other teams - in a pretty significant way. 

Here are some of the changes and how each could be consequential for Pittsburgh looking ahead.

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Longer season, shorter pre-season

With this change, the NHL regular season will expand to 84 games, and the pre-season will  be reduced to four games.

Because of these changes, the regular season will begin at the end of September, teams will play all divisional opponents four times and all other conference opponents three times (with the home-and-away split with the opposing conference still intact), and players will play in less meaningless "warmup" hockey. 

How does this affect the Penguins? For one, NHL veterans with 100-plus games will not be able to play in more than two pre-season games, meaning guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin won't be seen much prior to the start of the regular season.

Also, the Penguins haven't fared all that well against the Metropolitan Division in recent years, posting a pedestrian 32-31-15 record against divisional opponents over the last three non-playoff seasons. That figure only looks to be worse next season, as Pittsburgh isn't exactly a buyer right now.

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Maximum contracts capped even more

Back in 2013, the maximum term for NHL contracts was reduced to eight years. Now, it has been reduced even further. Contract extensions for players with their current teams will be capped at seven years, while free agent contracts will max out at six.

While this is clearly a move - as a whole - designed to prevent NHL GMs from going nuts with dollars and term, it will also help prevent buyouts and give star players more opportunities on the open market to cash in.

This could be a good thing for a team like Pittsburgh since they are in the midst of a rebuild. If they were to make a splash in free agency in 2026 - as many think is the plan - it would help them in the sense that if they committed long-term to a bigger name, it wouldn't hurt them as much in the long run if things don't go as planned.

Free agency should be more exciting, which should bode well for a team like the Penguins, who will not be obligated to long-term extensions for anyone on their current roster for the next several seasons and will have plenty of free cap to spend starting in 2026.

84-Game NHL Season? No Dress Code? Reacting To Five Intriguing Elements Of Reported CBA TalksThe NHL and Players’ Association seem to be figuring out a new collective bargaining agreement long before a lockout is even in question. 

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No more playoff LTIR loophole 

This is, potentially, a big deal for a team like Pittsburgh, who is in sell mode.

As it is now, teams with a bigger contract on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) prior to the trade deadline can load up on talent - so long as the player on LTIR doesn't play for the remainder of the regular season - to use in a non-capped playoff run. 

Well, that's, reportedly, no longer the case. With the new CBA, a team's lineup must be cap-compliant for every game during the playoffs. This means that even if teams stockpile talent before the trade deadline and their roster isn't cap-compliant heading into the playoffs, the lineup they put on the ice has to be. 

As a result, there may be more teams looking to dump salary by deadline day - which is a good thing for the Penguins. Pittsburgh will be able to take on some of those salary dumps for more picks and assets, which is only a good thing for a team trying to rebuild its prospect pool.

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Rotating EBUGS a thing of the past

A fun NHL tradition appears to be coming to an end. 

Teams will no longer be able to have a random emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) for any given game. Now, they will have to house a full-time EBUG, officially ending the tradition of seeing whether not Arnold Slick from Turtle "Crick" would get to go from beer league on Friday night to an NHL rink on Saturday. 

The reason this could affect the Penguins? Well, they are likely to keep Mike Chiasson around to fill that role, as he has for Penguins' home games for years. However, it also opens the door for a team to, essentially, carry a thir goaltender - and the Penguins have a lot of goaltending in their system.

It's unclear at this point whether or not different people can rotate in and out of the EBUG slot and if there are limits in relation to the NHL roster. Nonethless, it should make goaltending battles more interesting going forward.

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For a more comprehensive breakdown of the reported new CBA, click here.

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Penguins Getting Rangers' Pick Is Win-Win For Both SidesOn Tuesday, the New York Rangers announced that they would give the Pittsburgh Penguins their 12th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft instead of sending them their 2026 pick.

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Feature image credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The 2025 NHL Draft is set for Friday night in Los Angeles, where they're experimenting with some new ideas this year. The biggest one is that all NHL team executives and scouts will stay back in their home cities, calling in their selections to the Peacock Theatre, where the draft is being hosted.

In the first round, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will make the first overall selection on behalf of the New York Islanders to lead off the draft. But after that, almost every NHL team—if not all—has come up with a special guest to make their first-round selection. It might be a current player, a member of the team’s alumni, or a celebrity who has some kind of tie to the team.

So the question becomes: who will the Ottawa Senators choose to announce their 21st overall selection? With virtually no research as to where in the world these people will be this weekend, let's handicap the field.

Because let's face it, you haven't had enough mock drafts this month.

5. Alanis Morrissette 10/1

The Ottawa native sang the Canadian anthem before the Ottawa Senators’ first-ever home game back in 1992, so her heritage with the team goes back a long way. She also sang the anthem before Game 4 of Ottawa's only Stanley Cup Final appearance back in 2007. And she still doesn’t mind jumping into the hockey fray—singing the anthem before Game 7 of the Cup Final between Florida and Edmonton last year.

She lives in the Bay Area, so it’s only about an hour-long flight to L.A. Choosing her wouldn’t be ironic—like most of the things she sings about in her song of the same name—but it would be kind of cool.

4. Annie Murphy 8/1

Murphy played Alexis Rose in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek, one of the most popular Canadian TV shows of all time. She's now on the new season of Nine Perfect Strangers with Nicole Kidman. Murphy grew up in Ottawa and has been to several Senators games, even jumping on for an interview with TSN’s Claire Hanna during an intermission this past season. Can’t go wrong if your special guest is A Little Bit Alexis. Boop.

3. Brady Tkachuk or Daniel Alfredsson 8/1

We're jamming them into the same frame because it's pretty much the same idea: the Senators’ leader of today or the one from the past. It would be a good debate to see which of them is more popular in Ottawa, and both would be appreciated by the fan base if they came out to welcome the newest Ottawa Senator.

2. Brooke Henderson 5/1

In 2022, the Smiths Falls native proudly wore a Senators jersey at The Rink hole at the Canadian Open when it was played in Ottawa. She also committed last year to a multi-year partnership with the Senators and has frequently been a guest of the team, dropping the puck at games. The LPGA’s Dow Championship is on right now in Midland, Michigan, and Brooke is unlikely to fly across the country in the middle of a tournament. After a glance at the round one leaderboard, it doesn't look like she’s playing this week.

1. Claude Giroux 5/1

I feel like it's 50/50 that Giroux agrees to an extension, but if he does sign, what a fine way to announce it. Maybe something like:

“Good evening. I’m excited to be back with the Ottawa Senators next season, and with the 21st selection, the Senators select (insert name here).”

We could even bring it full circle to Giroux’s draft day and have the in-house announcer go all Bobby Clarke on him and forget Giroux's name.

There it is. We've drafted the drafters. Who do you like? The Sens' Gladiator? Paul McClone? DJ Prosper? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently retooling their roster. While there certainly is a chance that they could end up trading away some of their key players before the off-season is done, they also should not be afraid to acquire players who could help them in the long term.

When observing trade candidates around the NHL, one player who the Penguins should seriously consider targeting this off-season is Utah Mammoth forward Matias Maccelli. 

Maccelli, 24, is currently a popular name in the rumor mill. It is fair to say that the 2019 fourth-round pick could use a change of scenery, as he was the subject of multiple healthy scratches this season with Utah. In addition, he struggled in 2024-25, posting eight goals, 18 points, and a minus-13 rating in 55 contests.

While Maccelli's offensive numbers this season were certainly low, he undoubtedly has the potential to bounce-back in the right situation. Just back during the 2023-24 campaign with the Arizona Coyotes, he set career highs with 17 goals, 40 assists, and 57 points in 82 games. This was after he had 11 goals and 49 points in 64 games with the Coyotes during his 2022-23 breakout campaign. 

When looking at Maccelli's past success, he is the kind of young forward that the Penguins should consider taking a shot on him. Given how this past season went for Maccelli, his trade value is lower, so the Penguins likely would not need to give up too much to get him.

If Maccelli bounced back in Pittsburgh, he would have the potential to become a key part of their top six and power play. Yet, at a minimum, he could give their third line a boost, which is one of Pittsburgh's need.

Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see if the Penguins end up pursuing Maccelli this off-season. When noting that he is a young, skilled forward who has had past success, he could be worth taking a gamble on.

Penguins Open To Making Significant TradeThe Pittsburgh Penguins currently hold the 11th and 12th overall picks of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. With this, they have the chance to land two very good prospects. That is, of course, if they elect to hold onto both of their picks. However, based on a recent report, this is not a guarantee.

Photo Credit: © Rob Gray-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks acquired former Vancouver Giants winger Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers. Kane, who will turn 34 years old before the start of the season, was acquired using the fourth-round pick Vancouver received in the Vasily Podkolzin trade last year. Ultimately, the Canucks are hoping that Kane can not only bring some goal-scoring to the roster, but make Vancouver a more difficult team to play against. 

A day after being acquired, Kane spoke to the media for the first time since joining the Canucks. He fielded questions on many topics, including how excited he was to be returning home. Kane also made sure to thank the Oilers, who ensured he had an opportunity to return to Vancouver next season. 

"Yeah, really exciting, said Kane. "First, I'd like to thank Mr. Aquilini, Jim, Patrick and Footer for bringing me in. I think it's a good opportunity for me to play at home in front of my family. Having the Oilers kind of work with me, to go to a place that I wanted to be, and I think that would fit well for my family was nice of them, and just really excited to be a Canuck."

2024-25 was a complicated year one for Kane. He missed the entire regular-season with an injury, and only returned once the playoffs had started. While he has had injury issues in the past, Kane believes he is healthy and is ready to have a big year in 2025-26. 

"Obviously, the following year, I was dealing with a lot of different stuff that was difficult, and being able to get my body right, have the surgeries I had, and get back to 100% was a nice kind of reset for me. Obviously, missing the whole year and having to jump into the playoffs is never easy, but, you know, I kind of drew on my experience from the year before playing hurt, thinking about, well, if I feel a lot better on the ice, even though I'm having played, I think I can contribute in a positive way. And, you know, I was happy I was able to do that. And I think, for me, the time off and getting healthy has kind of allowed me to roll the clock back a little bit, in my opinion. And I think hopefully that can translate onto the ice."

Vancouver Canucks Trade For Edmonton Oilers Forward Evander KaneAfter how the 2024-25 regular season went for the Vancouver Canucks, the organization knew they needed to address their offensive woes whether through free agency or trade. Today, they did just that, sending a 2025 fourth-round selection to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Evander Kane. The Oilers will not be retaining any of Kane's $5.125M AAV in salary. 

Kane was also asked about the off-ice issues that have emerged throughout his career. Before the question was complete, Kane said, "It's well documented in a way where, there's not all the information, there's some inaccuracies." He was then asked about his growth over the last few years and whether or not he feels like a changed person. 

"No, I'm the same guy. I think, you know, if you're not improving in all aspects of your life, you're probably not where you want to be. And I don't think there's anybody in this room that isn't better off, or learned from their mistakes or learned from positive experiences to make them better moving forward. So, for me, I think Edmonton was great. Edmonton brought me into their organization, and like I said earlier, embraced me, and the city fell in love with me, and I kind of fell in love with the city, and we had a lot of success as well. So it was a great experience, and I'm hoping that can continue here in Vancouver, coming back home."

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The topic of leadership also came up as Kane has spent the last 15 seasons in the NHL. He has played in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, and could join the 1,000 games club this season. Overall, Kane feels his experience can be of value for younger, as he has been through just about everything during his NHL career. 

"Going into year 17, obviously have a ton of experience. And I think my experiences can add a lot of value, because they're not all pretty. And I think when you go through different things, on and off the ice, you can lend those lessons to some of the younger guys and some other guys that are maybe struggling with things. And I think just being mentally tough, especially in a Canadian market, can be important, and it can be difficult when you're not used to it. So I think leadership is something that I've always tried to do and lead by example, especially on the ice, and I think that's going to be important moving forward as well."

Ultimately, there is some risk associated with this trade for the Canucks. Kane carries an AAV of over $5 million next season, and as mentioned, didn't play a single regular-season game in 2024-25 after suffering multiple injuries. In the end, he will be a focal point this year as he returns to Vancouver for the first time since 2009, when he was playing in the WHL. 

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 Florida Panthers have announced that they have traded forward Justin Sourdif to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. 

We've acquired the Washington Capitals second-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft and their sixth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft in exchange for forward Justin Sourdif.

📝 » https://t.co/OX3JX90G3Npic.twitter.com/eFCpcV8uGk

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 26, 2025

Sourdif, 23, appeared in one game this season with the Panthers, where he scored his first career NHL goal. He also posted 16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points, and 58 penalty minutes in 43 regular-season games with the Charlotte Checkers.

Sourdif suited up in 18 playoff games for the Checkers this year as well, where he recorded four goals, 10 points, and 32 penalty minutes.

Sourdif was selected by the Panthers with the 87th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In four games with the Panthers over two seasons, he posted one goal, five hits, and a plus-1 rating. 

Overall, this is a good move for the Panthers. They have gotten themselves a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick for a prospect who has had trouble finding a fit on their NHL roster because of how deep their group is.

Panthers Acquire Interesting Goalie From Blue Jackets According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Florida Panthers have acquired goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a fifth-round pick. 

Photo Credit: © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

After 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.

However, based on a new report, Dobson is not the only notable defenseman who is rumored to be on the Blues' radar. 

During the latest episode of TSN Insider Trading, NHL insider Darren Dreger reported that the Blues are one of the teams interested in Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. 

"I'm looking at LA, Vegas, St. Louis, Vancouver, Colorado, maybe longshot, the Toronto Maple Leafs as teams with interest in Bo Byram," Dreger said.

INSIDER TRADING…

- Isles listening on Dobson
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WATCH: https://t.co/2SsBM6zxY3pic.twitter.com/cOdvYFEzgq

— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) June 26, 2025

Hearing that the Blues are among the teams are interested in Byram is not particularly surprising. The 24-year-old would be a significant addition to the Blues' roster, as he is a proven top-four defenseman who is solid defensively and chips in offensively. In addition, he can play the right side as a left-shot defenseman, which adds to his appeal. 

When looking at the Blues' current roster, Byram could be a strong fit on their top pairing with Colton Parayko if acquired. However, he also could be an option for their second pairing on the right side, with Philip Broberg as his defensive partner. He is also capable of being used on the power play and penalty kill because of his two-way play, so he could help the Blues' in these areas, too. 

In 82 games this season with the Sabres, Byram recorded seven goals and set new career highs with 31 assists, 38 points, and a plus-11 rating. With numbers like these, Byram would be a very good pickup for a Blues club looking to get closer to being true contenders, especially when noting that he still may not have hit his ceiling yet. Let's see if their interest leads to them landing him from here.

NHL Trade Rumors: Jordan Kyrou Linked To 4 TeamsSt. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou finds himself right back in the rumor mill now that the off-season is here. This comes after the 27-year-old forward was discussed as a trade candidate leading up to this season's deadline. 

Photo Credit:  © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Every NHL draft, there are pivot points that affect what happens next. 

What one team does with its pick, whether it drafts a certain player over another or it trades the pick, alters the way other squads approach the rest of the draft. 

This year, there are a handful of key points in the first round that could change the way things go directly after them. They could start a run or cause a player to fall. It could be that when a player falls, teams look to trade up. 

Let’s look at a few key points that we can identify heading into the first round on Friday night. 

Islanders’ Big Decision

The New York Islanders will choose between the potential elite-level prospect in Matthew Schaefer or Michael Misa or the hometown kid in James Hagens. The word around the campfire is they will go with Schaefer, but Hagens grew up an Isles fan, going to games on a regular basis. Maybe they'll be extra aggressive and get Schaefer and Hagens.

It’s a tough decision for a team that has had some issues in the past with high-end players leaving but the reality is that they should go with Schaefer, build out their defense group and look to make the best long-term decision. 

2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And MoreThe 2025 NHL draft kicks off Friday evening, so it’s time to get in the spirit by conducting the final mock draft of the season. 

Top Three Seem Set – Where Do The Mammoth Go?

There seems to be some level of consensus that Schaefer, Misa, and Swedish forward Anton Frondell are going to be the first three names off the board, although the order is a bit up in the air. 

That means the direction the Utah Mammoth take at fourth overall will set the course for the next six picks of the draft. 

There are plenty of options for the directions they could go. They could go with a big, hulking player as they’ve done in recent years by drafting someone like Radim Mrtka or Roger McQueen. They could go with a high-skill player like Hagens. They could continue the trend of taking forwards, or they could grab their pick of the defensive class.

Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? With the 2025 NHL draft quickly approaching, teams around the league are finalizing their draft boards in hopes of landing the best young talent from around the hockey world.

Where Does The No. 2 Defenseman Go?

Speaking of the defenders in the class, when is the run on defenders going to start? 

Aside from Schaefer, the top of the draft is very forward-heavy. There could reasonably be eight forwards that go in the top 10. 

What usually happens, though, is that once the league feels the quality blueliners dwindle, teams clamor to grab their defender so that they don’t miss out. With a group of five or six defenders that seem solidified as first-rounders, once one goes, teams could start a run.

Penguins Hold Picks 11 And 12, Canadiens Hold Picks 16 And 17

There are quite a few teams with multiple first-round picks this year. The San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators have multiple picks spread out over the first round, with the Preds possessing three. 

With that said, the most interesting teams with multiple picks are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens. The Penguins have been rumored to be looking to move up in the draft, and now that they have the 11th and 12th picks, they have the ammo to do it.

A few picks later, Montreal holds the 16th and 17th selections. They are among the big group of franchises looking to move picks for NHL talent. 

While they may not be able to make that move, the two picks could be used to move up and grab a top-end talent, or they could just make the picks with the players that fall to them and build their already impressive pipeline.

Who Is The Wild Card? 

Every single year, there is a wild card. Some team takes a player no one expects. 

Whether it’s Yegor Chinakhov, who was drafted 21st overall despite being a relative unknown, or Beckett Senecke going much higher than anyone expected, someone will cause a ruckus at the draft. It’s one of the most exciting parts of the event every year. 

The question is who will make the surprise selection. I have a funny feeling it will be Boston, which hasn’t drafted high in quite some time.

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The hockey world is waiting to find out where Brad Marchand decides to lace up his skates next season and beyond.

As it stands, the 37-year-old unrestricted free agent could very well end up re-signing with the Florida Panthers.

Florida acquired Marchand at last season’s Trade Deadline in exchange for what ended up being a first round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

It’s a price that the Panthers are surely pleased to have paid, as Marchand played an instrumental role in Florida’s winning their second straight Stanley Cup.

Marchand was a close second to teammate Sam Bennett in the race for the Conn Smythe Trophy. He racked up 10 goals and 20 points in 23 postseason games, including six goals during the Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton.

Two of those six goals against the Oilers were game-winners.

So yeah, Marchand was electric for the Panthers, and what appeared to be a match made in heaven could potentially go on for the next several seasons depending on how things shake out in free agency.

While we still have a few days to wait for those decisions to start coming in, there was another interesting stat from Marchand’s playoff run that felt important to highlight.

As a team, the Panthers proved to be incredibly strong when it came to bouncing back after a loss.

During Florida’s 23-game playoff run, they only lost back-to-back outings one time: Games 1 and 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Panthers held a 6-1 record after a defeat, outscoring teams 33-20 during those seven outings.

It’s what Marchand did during those seven games that really jumps off the page.

First off, Marchand had at least a point in every one of Florida’s games after a loss.

In fact, he racked up seven goals and 11 points on 22 shots in those seven post-defeat outings, skating to a plus-14 on-ice rating.

Considering Florida’s ability to bounce back and not have to endure any extended periods of losing was a key element to their Stanley Cup victory, it’s clear Marchand played a monumental role in making sure that remained a strength that the team possessed throughout their march to the Cup.

It’s just something else to keep in mind as we inch close to July 1.

Of course, Marchand and the Panthers could always agree to an extension before that.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles this week, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.  

The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.  

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Justin Carbonneau is a player who is ranked just outside of the top 10 on many mock drafts, but has the combination of physicality and skill that might intrigue the Sabres at #9. The 18-year-old debuted in the QMJHL at 16 and in his second season with Blainville-Boisbriand scored 31 goals. Last season, the 6’1”, 192 lb. winger led the Armada in goals (46), assists (43) and points (89).

According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, Carbonneau is a power forward who put up impressive offensive numbers but has issues with consistency. If he can get a handle on that, he’ll have a solid future in the NHL. Some scouts struggle to see a clear identity, but Carbonneau is a good skater, can hit, win puck battles and go to the net, which NHL clubs are looking for, especially in a copycat league where the Florida Panthers have won a pair of Stanley Cups. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Wraparound is here with a look at the NHL’s Pacific Division and more news as the draft and free agency approach.

Can The Oilers Avoid Drama With Evan Bouchard Negotiations? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here’s what Emma Lingan, Adam Kierszenblat and Wyatt Thomas discussed in this episode:

1:15: Initial thoughts on the Buffalo Sabres trading JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth? 

4:35: The Vancouver Canucks have just over $7 million in cap space after trading for Evander Kane, and they may need to replace Brock Boeser. Will they re-sign Pius Suter to fill that role, or will they trade off assets to give them more flexibility?

9:20: Will Evan Bouchard get a deal done with the Oilers to avoid any drama, and will this help Edmonton avoid a cap crunch while they look to re-sign Connor McDavid?

14:30: Where could the Calgary Flames trade defensemen Rasmus Andersson if a deal gets done?

19:00: How will the Los Angeles Kings replace Tanner Jeannot's physicality while also adding someone who can provide more in the offensive zone?

23:35: Will adding Mason Marchment help the Seattle Kraken become more competitive next season? What else do they need to add?

27:55: Reilly Smith signed an extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. Do we think it was the right move?

Watch the full Episode here 

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Promo image credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks have options with the third overall pick. The consensus top two picks are defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters and Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit. The New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks have the first and second picks, respectively. 

With those two seemingly off the board, at least we thought, that leaves a group of good but raw, talented forwards to consider. James Hagens, Porter Martone, Caleb Desnoyer, and Anton Frondell are the players in question. Chicago wants Misa, but trading up in this draft doesn’t seem possible. 

However, there are new conflicting reports that the San Jose Sharks are incredibly interested in Frondell as the second overall pick. If the Islanders don’t shock the world and avoid taking Schaefer, and the Sharks go with Frondell, that would leave Misa for the Hawks to select third. 

If that were to be the case, Chicago would be getting their guy. Misa is a high-end offensive talent who has the ceiling of an NHL star. 

During the 2024-25 season, Misa had a huge year for the Spirit, who play in the OHL. In 65 games played, he scored 62 goals and had 72 assists for 134 points. Even in the OHL, that's a lot of goals and points. 

Misa is 6'1"/183 lbs and is a center who may end up being a winger in the NHL. Regardless of what position he sticks with, Misa will be an offensive force. Whether it's at even strength or on the power play, he can expect time with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar once he reaches the NHL. 

Will Misa become the game-breaker in the NHL that he was in the OHL? Only time will tell, but he will certainly get the chance wherever he goes. If he has a strong training camp/preseason, he could be the first from his class to debut in the NHL. 

Misa already plays with a chip on his shoulder. He wasn't even invited to try and be on Canada's World Junior team last season. They failed to meet expectations in the tournament without him there, too, which makes it that much more disappointing for him. 

TSN (@TSN_Sports) on X2025 NHL Draft Prospect Michael Misa opens up on not being invited to Canada’s World Junior camp: (via: @JClipperton_CP)

Is it realistic to expect the San Jose Sharks to pass on Misa? It didn't feel that way a few weeks ago, but now it feels like a real possibility. With Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith already there, they probably would rather have Schaefer over everybody, but the Islanders will likely select him. Maybe the feel that Frondell gives them more of what they need down the middle. 

Chicago doesn't care if it gets stronger at center or on the wing. They need scoring forwards in the pipeline, as their defense is already deep in the organization. Once they start adding more snipers to the lineup, they will increase their chances of finishing off the rebuild. It will likely take some luck to get Misa, but he would be a great fit. 

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