The Ottawa Senators have released their 2025 preseason schedule, and as usual, there's a steady diet of games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. But this year, there’s a new wrinkle: the Sens will play a pair of games in Quebec City — first against the New Jersey Devils on September 28, and then against the Canadiens on September 30.

Those Quebec City games actually made waves when they were announced last season, and not in a good way. To drum up some buzz, the Senators tried a marketing stunt that didn’t quite land. They dressed Spartacat, their mascot, in a partial Quebec Nordiques jersey. Wearing the colours and logo of a former division rival didn’t go over particularly well, for reasons that probably should’ve been obvious.

The Sens will also make one American stop on October 2. That game will give Captain Brady Tkachuk a chance to enjoy some home cooking at his childhood home. He grew up in St. Louis, and the Blues will host Ottawa that night.

On September 21st at the CTC, the Sens will start their preseason the way they ended last season – with a game against the Maple Leafs. The two teams will square off again the very next night in Toronto.

Interestingly, there’s just one game at Canadian Tire Centre this preseason, although both Quebec City matchups are technically “home” games for the Sens.

2025-26 Ottawa Senators Preseason Schedule (All Times Eastern):

Sunday, Sept. 21: Toronto at Ottawa, 3 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 22: Ottawa at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 28: New Jersey at Ottawa (Videotron Centre, Quebec City), 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 30: Montreal at Ottawa (Videotron Centre, Quebec City), 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 2: Ottawa at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4: Ottawa at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Sens Headlines at The Hockey News:

Bonus Round: Claude Giroux’s Contract Talks In Ottawa Coming Down To The Wire
Would Kings Defenceman Jordan Spence Be A Fit With The Senators?
Should The Senators Have Surrendered This Year's First-Round Draft Pick Instead?
Senators Bring Back First-Rounder For Second Tour Of Duty
Rewriting The Draft: A Decade Of First-Round 'What-Ifs' for the Senators
Potential First-Round Draft Targets For The Ottawa Senators: Defenceman Blake Fiddler

Evander Kane will be suiting up for his fifth NHL franchise next season. The talented 33-year-old former Buffalo Sabres winger was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to his hometown Vancouver Canucks for a 2025 fourth round pick on Wednesday.  

Part of the motivation for the deal was cap-related, as the Oilers needed to clear his $5.125 million salary to accommodate the pay increase for forward Leon Draisaitl, the expected hefty salary of RFA defenseman Evan Bouchard, and to re-sign pending unrestricted free agents like Trent Frederic, Corey Perry, and Connor Brown, but Kane has likely worn out his welcome with the Oilers after causing some difficulty during the regular season. 

Kane was injured in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs and underwent hip and groin surgery last summer. The winger then had knee surgery in January, but close to the trade deadline made noises about wanting to play before the end of the regular season, that would have put a crimp in GM Stan Bowman’s plans of adding players with Kane’s salary on long-term injured reserve. 

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The winger replaced former Sabre Jeff Skinner in the Oilers lineup early in the first round series against Los Angeles and helped turn the series around with his rambunctious physical play, but Kane’s lack of self-control revealed itself in the Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, when he took six minor penalties and two misconducts in six games. 

After six seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets, the 2009 fourth overall pick was traded to the Sabres in February 2015 along with Zach Bogosian, for Tyler Myers, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux and a first-round pick. Kane played 196 games over three seasons with Buffalo before being traded at the 2018 trade deadline to San Jose.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed forward Reilly Smith to a one-year, $2-million contract extension containing a no-trade clause. 

The Golden Knights reacquired the 34-year-old ahead of the trade deadline this year, sending Brendan Brisson and a third-round pick to the New York Rangers. Smith had spent six years with the Golden Knights before he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the offseason following their Stanley Cup win.

In his return to Vegas, Smith recorded three goals and 11 points in 21 games, rekindling his chemistry on a shutdown line with William Karlsson. 

In the organization's exit interviews, Smith mentioned how much he adored the city and that he'd love to re-sign with the team. 

"If there's an opportunity to stay here, that would be great," said Smith. "I think the best hockey I've played in my career has been wearing this jersey."

Smith also mentioned how grateful he would be to reach the 1000-game plateau in a Golden Knights jersey. The Mimico, ON native, has played 919 games in his career, and if he dresses in 81 games this season, he'd reach the milestone. 

"I would like to play 1000 games in my career, and to do it in this jersey would mean a lot."

Golden Knights' Pending Free Agent Hoping To Stay In VegasReilly Smith is coming to the end of a three-year, $5M contract he signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, but maintains he wants to remain a Golden Knight. 

Smith is a valued player in both the locker room and on the ice. He was a leader before he left the organization and has returned to be a trusted voice. On the ice, he plays with urgency, and his experience in the NHL has transformed him into a strong defensive winger, both on the penalty kill and at 5-on-5.

The Golden Knights now approach the draft and the beginning of free agency with just Tanner Pearson, Victor Olofsson, and Brandon Saad as their unrestricted free agents without a contract. 

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

The Trevor Zegras trade brought the 2019 NHL draft class back into the spotlight earlier this week.

After the Philadelphia Flyers acquired center Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, only three of the top 10 players from the 2019 NHL draft remain on the team that picked them.

Jack Hughes was selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils, while the Los Angeles Kings selected Alex Turcotte with the fifth pick. Following him was Detroit Red Wings selection Moritz Seider.

Aside from those three players, the next player in the draft who is still on their drafted team is left winger Matt Boldy, who was selected 12th by the Minnesota Wild.

From 2024 through 2017, the 2019 draft had the most players from the top 10 change teams, either from trades or offer sheets. Before the Zegras trade, center Dylan Cozens (Buffalo, seventh overall in 2019) was traded to the Ottawa Senators at the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

Right winger Kappo Kakko (NY Rangers, second overall in 2019) went to the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 18 in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, as well as third- and sixth-round picks in the upcoming 2025 draft.

A couple of other players were dealt during the off-season. Vasily Podkolzin was traded on Aug. 18, 2024, to the Edmonton Oilers from the Vancouver Canucks, which selected him 10th overall.

The Oilers also lost D-man Philip Broberg to an offer sheet from the St. Louis Blues. The Swedish blueliner was selected eighth overall. 

Kirby Dach, selected third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks, was part of a trade during the 2022 off-season. He was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens for the 13th overall pick, which became Frank Nazar. Chicago also received a 2022 third-rounder, which they used to select left winger Gavin Hayes.

Even the Colorado Avalanche traded Stanley Cup champion Bowen Byram (fourth overall in 2019). The Buffalo Sabres acquired him in exchange for center Casey Mittelstadt.

It doesn’t seem like Hughes or Seider will be moving from their respective teams anytime soon, as they are among the leaders in their draft class in games played and points.

Hughes leads the draft class with 351 points, 107 points more than runner-up Boldy. Despite being a defenseman, Seider is sixth in the class for points, just six shy of equalling Zegras’ total of 186.

Turcotte has spent most of his young career with the AHL’s Ontario Reign. However, he spent all of last season with the Kings for the first time, recording 25 points in 68 regular-season games and three playoff games.

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

LOS ANGELES -- The New York Islanders find themselves in a really lucky situation as we approach the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Unlike the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023 or the San Jose Sharks in 2024, Mathieu Darche's squad didn't have to be one of the worst teams in the NHL to come away with the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

In a challenging season, plagued by injuries and inconsistencies that hindered their progress, the Islanders finished nine points out of the second wild-card spot and 23rd out of 32 in the league standings.

Luck was on their side when they watched their 3.5% odds at the first overall pick turn into the winning lottery balls, and now Darche will be adding a tremendous talent to a team that already has a defined core. 

The question is, how does this first overall pick impact the Islanders' timeline?

The Islanders have forwards Mathew Barzal, 28, and Bo Horvat, 30, locked up for five more seasons, along with 29-year-old star goaltender Ilya Sorokin. 

Those five years should be the window to win, right?

But what about Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov, a pair of 25-year-old pending restricted free agents?

A pair of 30-year-old defensemen, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, have four and five years left on their deals, respectively. Scott Mayfield, 32, has five years left on his deal.

Does Darche have the pressure to win a Stanley Cup over the next five years?

What about 23-year-old forward and pending RFA Simon Holmstrom? How does he impact the timeline? 

There's other veteran players under contract like forwards Kyle Palmieri and Casey Cizikas, who have two years left on thier respective deals. Are they, at this point, pieces that will play a part in a Stanley Cup roster?

What about Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee, who each have one year left on their deals?

Of the handful of players just mentioned, how many of them are just holding spots until the club's prospects are ready? And is the prospects' collective timeline the real timeline Darche is focusing on when it comes to building his roster into a hopeful Stanley Cup contender?

It wouldn't be fair to use the term stop-gap, so we won't be doing that.

But it is impossible to look at the proveribal writing on the wall and not put a few things together. 

Ritchie is a prime candidate to take over Brock Nelson's role as the club's No. 2 center at some point, but it's more likely that he takes Pageau's role first, possibly as soon as this year. 

Pageau is someone who may be on the move at the draft, but could also be a strong asset for the Islanders to hold onto and move at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. 

Danny Nelson, who projects to be a really strong, defensively-minded bottom-six center, could be primed to take Cizikas' spot as the club's fourth-line center iceman. 

Scoring winger Cole Eiserman should be able to slide into Palmieri's spot. 

If it's 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer who is donning the Blue & Orange on Friday night, is he ready to step into an NHL role immediately?

Is he going to go back to juniors for a year or go play collegiately? 

Is he the player the Islanders build their franchise around, taking the pressure away from "having to win" over the next five seasons?

"If I were Mathieu Darche, I would look at moving [Casey Cizikas] right away, because of the value of this type of player in the marketplace right now," Jeff Marek, the host of 'The Sheet' said in a conversation for The Elmonters.  "We talked about timelines, and whose timeline are you doing it on? I don't think anyone watching or listening to this for any amount of time will say that Casey Cizikas is going to be part of that timeline. What is everybody looking for out there? Centers."

Had the privilege of chatting with @JeffMarek last night about #Isles ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Key takeaways from the chat @TheElmontershttps://t.co/vQi2cWkeLB

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 25, 2025

Marek mentioned Mayfield as well, as someone who the Islanders should have a real conversation with about opportunity, as he's a player that would need to waive his full no-trade clause to go anywhere. 

Now, trading all these veteran players to make room for the young players makes sense on paper, but money is a thing. Being competitive is a thing. 

There's a reason why former general manager Lou Lamoriello didn't sell off more than Nelson at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.

With no prospects ready to take the veterans' places in the lineup, the roster they would have fielded for the final month and a half of the season wouldn't have generated ticket sales, that's for sure. 

Darche made it clear at his introductory press conference that he thinks his roster is good enough to compete. While that may be true — the roster is good enough to compete for a playoff spot — the gut feeling is that he will evaluate his roster and figure out exactly what he's working with and where the incoming players fit. 

By the end of the 2025-26 seaosn, Darche has to be honest with himself on the realistic timeline for the Islanders to win a Stanley Cup. 

If he truly thinks that he can win one of the next five years with Barzal, Horvat, and Sorokin being the three cogs, he will need to be proactive on the trade market and clear the necessary cap space to add in free agency. 

Prospects are called prospects for a reason, and while the outlook on the team's prospect pool has never been brighter, relying on each one to live up to their potential isn't a realistic approach to building a winning operation. 

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

PHOTO:  Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

With the 2025 NHL Draft coming on Friday, the Blue Jackets have announced the 2025 Development Camp schedule. It will again be held at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. 

Per a Blue Jackets press release:

2025 CBJ Development Camp On-Ice Schedule (Times subject to change)

Wednesday, July 2         

11:10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Group 1 On-Ice… 12:50-1:40 p.m. – Group 2 On-Ice

Media Availability: 12 p.m.

Thursday, July 3              

9:40-10:30 a.m. – Group 2 On-Ice… 11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. – Group 1 On-Ice

Media Availability: 11:30 a.m.

Friday, July 4     

9:40-10:30 a.m. – Group 1 On-Ice… 11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. – Group 2 On-Ice

Media Availability: 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, July 5

9 a.m. – Team Warmups… 9:30 a.m. – Prospects Game

Media Availability: 11 a.m.

Per the Blue Jackets Press Release

The players participating in this year’s camp will feature team prospects and players selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, which will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 27-28, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. Leading the group of prospects in camp are all six of the club’s selections from the 2024 NHL Draft, including first-round pick, fourth overall, forward Cayden Lindstrom. A complete development camp roster will be available prior to the start of camp.  

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On-Ice sessions will be conducted by Development Coaches Tommy Cross and Brad Thiessen, Goaltending Coach Niklas Backstrom, and Cleveland Monsters Strength and Conditioning Coach Ben Eaves. Anthony and Matt Donskov from Donskov Hockey Development, based in New Albany, Ohio, will serve as guest coaches for a second consecutive development camp. In addition, University of Delaware Assistant Coach Melissa Samoskevich, who won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championships and played professional hockey with Brynas IF (2019-20) and the Connecticut Whale (2021-23), will serve as a guest coach.

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All on-ice practice sessions are free and open to the public.

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Blue Jackets Rumors: K'Andre Miller To Columbus?With the NHL Draft just a few days away and the start of free agency a week away, the NHL's silly season is in full swing, and the Blue Jackets look to be involved at some point.  Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Lynden LakovicAs we inch closer to the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday, we continue to look at potential draft day targets for the Columbus Blue Jackets. As I mentioned in a previous article, with the Blue Jackets owning two draft picks within the same 10 picks with number 14 and 20, they will be looking at the same tier of players. Former Columbus Blue Jackets Forward Manny Malhotra Wins Calder CupFormer Columbus Blue Jackets forward Manny Malhotra, head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL, won the Calder Cup last night by defeating the Charlotte Checkers in six games.

On 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.

The decision officially completed the last leg of the trade that brought J.T. Miller to the Big Apple back in January, as that conditional first-rounder was sent to the Vancouver Canucks for Miller, and the Canucks sent it to the Penguins in a trade for defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O'Connor.

There was no telling what the Rangers were going to decide to do with the pick. Because the team is likely trying to win next season - the decision to hire former Penguins' bench boss Mike Sullivan amplifies that - many thought that New York would keep the first-rounder for this season and defer the Penguins' pick to 2026.

But, taking a deeper dive into this, it's a decision that actually makes sense for both sides.

Penguins Receive Rangers' 2025 First-Round PickThe Pittsburgh Penguins will now officially have two first-round picks for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

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Why it makes sense for the Rangers

It's no secret that team morale is questionable in New York, as a tumultuous, disappointing season full of ups, downs, controversy, and coaching/managerial blunders buried the team.

To many, the decision to keep the 2026 pick as opposed to the 2025 pick may appear to be a sign that the team does not have much confidence it can compete in 2025-26. After all, the 2026 draft - by all accounts - is deeper than the 2025 draft, and if the Rangers fall into lottery range next season, they should be able to draft a game-changer.

But that's likely not the thought process behind this move.

The biggest reason keeping the 2026 pick makes sense for the Rangers is because it gives them flexibility. That pick would be a very valuable piece at the 2026 trade deadline as much as it would be a valuable draft slot. 

The Rangers' Thought Process Behind Keeping Their 2026 First-Round PickThere’s one major reason the New York Rangers decided to send their 2025 12th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins and keep their 2026 first-round pick. 

Depending on how the season goes and where the Rangers find themselves in the standings pre-deadline, having next year's pick provides options. If they are contending, they can package the 2026 first-rounder for immediate help in a good player. And - if they are biting the dust - they could have a lottery pick. 

Sure, there's a decent chance - if they hit the right buttons this summer - that the Rangers' pick next season will not be as high as 12, which risks diminishing the value of the pick rankings-wise. However, it's a risk worth taking, especially since the talent in the 16-20 range of the 2026 draft will likely compare to the 10-14 range in this season's.

All in all, this was probably the right decision for the Rangers to make.

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Why it makes sense for the Penguins

Would it have been nice for the Penguins to, potentially, have an extra lottery ticket in the 2026 Gavin McKenna draft? Absolutely.

But, realistically, that was unlikely to happen, anyway. The Rangers will, more than likely, be trying to make the playoffs next season - perhaps even more so than other teams sitting in the mid-range of the East - and the pick probably would not have been top-five.

And having the chance to draft twice in the top-12 this year is no small thing for the Penguins.

It has been widely discussed how the Penguins are one of the few - and, possibly, the only - team in full-out selling mode right now. There is a pretty good possiblity that the team will be close to McKenna range next season, anyway, even without the Rangers' pick.

Report: Penguins Only 'True Sellers' On NHL MarketWith the NHL Draft and free agency approaching fast, the NHL trade market is beginning to come into focus. 

But, despite all of the narratives around the Penguins being sellers, that doesn't mean they intend on being sellers for the foreseeable future. Much of the discourse in Pittsburgh is about the team being in the lottery discussion for the next several years.

In reality, that won't necessarily be the case. Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas - as well as new head coach Dan Muse - have reiterated that the goal is to get Pittsburgh back to contention as urgently as possible. The pattern they've been following for the past year-plus is to acquire near-NHL ready prospect talent like Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen - and they are now interested in acquiring young NHL talent - and those moves are not indicative of an organization that doesn't plan to be competitive for at least another five years.

'I Couldn't Be More Excited To Get Started Here': 3 Takeaways From Dan Muse's Introductory Press Conference As Penguins' Head CoachOn Wednesday, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas formally introduced Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Pittsburgh should be able to draft two high-end talents this year, which means that they'll be getting their hands on talent that will be able to help them sooner timeline-wise. Having the extra pick also gives them the flexibility and option to move up in the draft order if they want to, which would give them a chance to select a player who could see NHL ice more immediately.

There is talent in the top-15 of this draft, and the Penguins will select two of them, whether that's at 11th and 12th overall or somewhere else, should something change on draft day. They'll take that and run with it, as Dubas's hockey operations department has done a fine job drafting up to this point. 

Either outcome would have been a winning scenario for the Penguins, but it's obviously welcome sooner rather than later.

Can The Penguins Trade Up For Blackhawks' Third Overall Pick?It has been rumored that the Pittsburgh Penguins would like to trade up in the 2025 NHL Draft.

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

Feature image credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

One day after the Detroit Red Wings shared their pre-season schedule that revealed a pair of games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the latter revealed their full schedule on Wednesday.

The Maple Leafs will play a total of six pre-season games, which is the minimum required by the NHL under the CBA. Their schedule is identical to last year, consisting of the same three opponents, the Red Wings, in addition to the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

The NHL is currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and there has been increased chatter about the possibility of the pre-season being shortened in exchange for two more regular-season games and an 84-game schedule.

The current CBA expires at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Maple Leafs full pre-season schedule:

Sunday, September 21 – 3:00 pm ET at Ottawa Canadian Tire Centre (Ottawa, ON)

Tuesday, September 23 – 7:00 pm ET vs. Ottawa Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON)

Thursday, September 25 – 7:00 pm ET at Montréal Bell Centre (Montréal, QC)

Saturday, September 27 – 7:00 pm ET vs. Montréal Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON)

Thursday, October 2 – 7:00 pm ET vs. Detroit Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON)

Saturday, October 4 – 7:00 pm ET at Detroit Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, MI)

When will the Leafs’ full schedule be revealed?

Although there is no official date as to when the Leafs will unveil their full 2025-26 NHL schedule, NHL insider John Shannon reports that the schedule will be revealed on July 16. It’s nearly three weeks later than the league has historically revealed its schedule. Perhaps the NHL will look to what other leave have done and make their franchises have more of a fun coordinated schedule reveal that could take social media by storm.

Stay tuned...

Hockey Legend Joe Thornton Becomes First-Ballot Hall Of Famer After 24 NHL Seasons, Including Maple Leafs StintFormer Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Former Maple Leafs Forward Matt Martin Announces Retirement, Joins Islanders' Front OfficeFormer Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin is calling it a career. Mikael Granlund: A Viable Replacement If The Maple Leafs Don't Re-Sign John Tavares?John Tavares has made it clear he wants to remain a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the club and the player are reportedly struggling to find a middle ground on a fair contract. At market value, it’s been speculated that Tavares could fetch a 3-year, $7.5 million contract extension, much like his former New York Islanders teammate Brock Nelson just inked with the Colorado Avalanche. Alternatively, Matt Duchene's recent contract extension in Dallas, where the forward signed for just $4.5 million per season, offers a different perspective.

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss the biggest topics heading into the NHL draft and free agency.

NHL Draft And Free Agency Preview by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:

01:06: Mitch Marner – what are we hearing? Where is he going?

02:13: In the rumor mill, are the Vegas Golden Knights looking to move Tomas Hertl? If so, where could he land? Could they be making room for Marner?

05:43: Aside from Connor McDavid, which other NHL player eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1 will be worth following this summer?

08:15: Rasmus Anderson and the Calgary Flames have no extension in place after next season, so if the team looks to trade the 28-year-old, who should be target him?

11:28: Could the Edmonton Oilers target either John Gibson or Thatcher Demko to address their goaltending?

15:30:  Top RFAs: among the players most likely to be qualified, who's the most likely to switch teams this summer, whether by a trade or offer sheet?

18:46: Which team do we expect to make the biggest splash in free agency this year?

21:45: Why is Matthew Schaefer the top draft prospect?

25:05: What does Michael Misa bring to the table?

27:11: Could Porter Martone be the next great power forward?

29:58: Who benefited the most from the Florida Panthers winning the Cup the way they did? 

33:08: Give us your first-round sleeper in the draft.

35:48: Draft comparables: who's the best comparable for James Hagens? 

39:18: Reacting to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

42:25: How would you describe the quality of this draft?

43:22: How many players from this draft will actually play in the NHL next season? 

44:08: Of the top 10 players in the 2019 draft, only three are still with the team that selected them (J. Hughes, Seider, Turcotte). Is this a good or bad thing?

45:53: Name one player you think will stay where he is and one who will go.

47:09: The St. Louis Blues announced their new jerseys. Yay or nay? 

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

After 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. 

"It's an honour to become part of an organization and team I grew up watching as a kid. Vancouver is a city that lives and breathes hockey, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of my hometown as I did many years ago as a Vancouver Giant," Kane said of the trade in an X post. 

"Evander is a physical power forward who will add some much-needed size and toughness to our group," Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin said of the acquisition. "We like the way he wins puck battles along the boards and handles himself in the dirty areas in front of the net. Evander moves well around the ice and has proven to be a productive goal scorer in the National Hockey League. We are excited to bring him back home to Vancouver and our staff looks forward to working with him this coming season."

Kane, who is originally from Vancouver, comes to the Canucks after stints with the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, and the Oilers. He was picked fourth overall in the 2009 NHL Draft and has made himself a 15-season NHL career. A seasoned veteran, some of Kane's best play came as a member of the Oilers during their Stanley Cup Playoff run in 2021-22, in which he scored 13 goals and four assists in 15 postseason games. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:  

How The 2024-25 Calder Cup-Winning Abbotsford Canucks Were Assembled 

Former Canuck Alexander Mogilny Officially Named To Hockey Hall Of Fame

“I’m Just So Happy Right Now”: The Abbotsford Canucks React To Their 2025 Calder Cup Win

Kane will be entering the final year of his current contract once the 2025-26 season begins, meaning he is slated to be part of a Canucks UFA class that includes Conor Garland, Teddy Blueger, Kiefer Sherwood, Derek Forbort, and Thatcher Demko. 

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.

Sweeney details what he's looking for with No. 7 pick in 2025 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins desperately need a franchise center, and with the No. 7 pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, they have a tremendous opportunity to add a player of that caliber to their organization.

But it doesn’t sound like the Bruins are locking themselves into just one position, assuming they keep the pick.

“We’re taking the best player (available),” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters at his pre-draft press conference Wednesday afternoon.

The 2025 draft class is quite strong at center. It’s possible that six or seven centers could go in the top 10 picks. Several of those top center prospects who could still be on the board when the Bruins pick at No. 7, including James Hagens, Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin and Roger McQueen, have top-six potential.

But if a top wing prospect like Porter Martone or Victor Eklund are available at No. 7, they would be worth consideration as well. Martone, in particular, could be a good fit with the Bruins given his goal-scoring ability and power forward play style.

Porter Martone boasts all of the intangibles to be an impact player at the next level, turning heads in his #NHLDraft year with a 37-goal, 98-point season as captain of the @OHLSteelheads 🎥 pic.twitter.com/HdFgk4TRya

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) June 23, 2025

What attributes is Sweeney looking for when determining which players to take throughout the draft?

“We’re looking for the most impactful players,” Sweeney said. “Impact can come (in the form of) competitiveness, it can come in hockey sense, it can come in skill, it can come in scoring. When you combine them all, you get the perfect storm.

“It’s not a positional decision for us. Do we have areas that we would like to fortify if we have an opportunity to, depending on where the draft is deepest and you can choose between players who might be similarly positioned. But ultimately, we have to find the most competitive and skilled players that we possibly can.”

The Bruins just need more high-end talent. They have one of the worst prospect pools in the league. A center would be ideal at No. 7, but hitting a home run with the pick — regardless of that player’s position — is what’s most important.

While the Nashville Predators aren't the oldest franchise in the NHL, they have a lot of history of picking in the first round of the NHL Draft.

In its 27-year history, the Predators have selected 25 times in the first round. Amongst those first-round selections, some have had massive success in Nashville, others have found it elsewhere, and a few have been busts.

With the Predators picking fifth, 23rd and 26th overall in this year's draft, we take a look back at every first-round pick by Nashville. 

MORE: Analyzing every Nashville Predators first round NHL Draft pick: 1998-2002

MORE: Analyzing every Nashville Predators first round NHL Draft Pick: 2003-2008 

2009: Ryan Ellis (defenseman, 11th overall) 

A Predators defensive staple, Ryan Ellis was selected by the Predators 11th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft. 

In his draft year with the Windsor Spitfires, Ellis recorded an impressive 89 points in 57 games and won the 2009 Memorial Cup. He'd stay with the Spitfires for two more seasons following the draft, winning the Memorial Cup again in 2010 and finishing with 61 points in 48 games.

In his final junior season, Ellis had a whopping 101 points in 58 games. 

In his first two NHL seasons, Ellis flipped between Nashville and Milwaukee, but found a permanent spot on the Predators roster during the 2013-14 season, recording 27 points in 80 games. 

Ellis was able to translate his junior success to the professional stage, averaging 33 points a season from 2013 to 2020 and a plus/minus of 15. He had a career-high 41 points in 82 games during the 2018-19 season. 

Ellis was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021 for Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick. He played four games with the Flyers, but suffered a "complex" pelvic injury that has left him sidelined since then. 

2010: Auston Watson (forward, 18th overall) 

While Austin Watson has played over 500 NHL games, he struggled to find his way with the Predators.

He was drafted 18th overall by the Predators in 2010. In his draft year, he was traded from the Windsor Spitfires to the Peterborough Petes, combining for 54 points in 52 games between the two teams.

Watson was brought up to Milwaukee for five games but was sent back down to the OHL and played three more seasons in juniors, winning the OHL Championship in 2012 with the London Knights. 

In his professional stint, Watson logged strong numbers with the Admirals, scoring 128 points in 227 games. He made his debut with the Predators during the 2012-13 season, scoring one point in six games.

He found a regular spot in the Predators' roster from 2016 to 2020 and took a role as a bottom-six player. Watson's best season in Nashville was 2017-18, during which he recorded 19 points in 76 games and 123 penalty minutes. 

He was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2021 for a fourth-round draft pick. He has since played with the Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings. This past season, he played 13 games with the Detroit Red Wings and 60 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

2013: Seth Jones (defenseman, 4th overall) 

After not selecting in the first round for four years, the Predators had their highest pick since 1998 at the 2013 NHL Draft, selecting defenseman Seth Jones with the fourth overall pick. 

Jones dominated in his first, and only, junior season with the Portland Winterhawks. He scored 56 points in 61 games, with a plus/minus of 46. In the playoffs, he scored 15 points in 21 games, contributing to the Winterhawks' WHL Championship victory. 

Jones won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the top rookie in the WHL, and won the gold medal with the United States at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was a highly decorated prospect with immense potential.

Unlike a lot of the Predators' draft picks, Jones made the jump to the NHL as soon as he was drafted. He played  77 games and scored 25 points. However, he'd only spend three seasons in Nashville. 

In the final year of his entry-level contract, and scoring just 11 points in 40 games, Jones was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen. 

With the Blue Jackets, Jones experienced newfound success, with his best season coming during the 2017-18 season, when he recorded 57 points in 78 games and earned one of three NHL All-Star bids. Towards the end of his tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he struggled with injuries and was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Jones spent three and a half seasons with the Blackhawks, earning another All-Star bid in 2023 before requesting a trade in 2025. He was traded to the Florida Panthers and won the Stanley Cup that season. 

The Predators may have walked away from Jones a little too early, as he has proven to be one of the top defensive talents in the league. It just took a second for him to find his stride. 

2014: Kevin Fiala (forward, 11th overall) 

Kevin Fiala is another player who developed with the Predators but didn't find success until he left Nashville. 

Selected by the Predators 11th overall in the 2014 draft, Fiala split time between the Swedish junior league and the Swedish Hockey League in his draft year. He had 25 points in 27 games with HV71's junior team and 11 points in 17 games with the top club. 

He also had five points in five games with Switzerland at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

He spent one more year in Sweden after being drafted before splitting time between Milwaukee and Nashville. During the 2015-16 season, he played 66 games with the Admirals, scoring 50 points, but scored just one point in five games with the Predators. 

Fiala didn't break out until the 2017-18 season, when he had 48 points in 80 games. Through 64 games during the 2018-19 season, Fiala had 32 points, but was traded to the Minnesota Wild for Mikael Granlund. He'd add seven points in 19 games with the Wild that season.

Fiala's production only continued to increase following the trade. He had a career-high 85 points in 82 games during the 2021-22 season and has scored at least 60 points since 2021. 

In his latest season with the Los Angeles Kings, Fiala had 60 points in 81 games. He also earned IIHF World Championship MVP honors at the 2024 tournament and has won back-to-back silver medals. 

This is another player the Predators may have traded too soon. Toward the end of his time in Nashville, Fiala showed that he was ready to break out, but the Predators leaned toward a more veteran player in Granlund. 

2016: Dante Fabbro (defenseman, 17th overall) 

Dante Fabbro didn't grow into a franchise player, but was still a productive piece on the blue line for the Predators. 

Selected 17th overall out of the British Columbia Hockey League, Fabbro was selected for his offensive approach to the game, scoring 67 points in 45 games with the Penticton Vees. 

It would take three years before Fabbro made his debut with the Predators, spending three seasons with Boston University. In his final college season, 2018-19, he had 33 points in 38 games. 

In his first full season during the 2019-20 campaign, Fabbro scored 11 points in 64 games. His career slowly rose, with his peak coming during the 2021-22 season, when he scored 24 points in 66 games and had a plus/minus of 13. 

He signed a contract extension in 2024, but his numbers continued to decline, and he was placed on waivers after scoring no points in six games. He was claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets and has had a resurgence with a new team.

In 62 games with the Blue Jackets, Fabbro scored 26 points in 62 games, the highest point total of his career so far. 

While Fabbro was slow to develop, it seems more like he wasn't a good fit for Nashville's defensive system. 

Roger McQueen is probably the biggest wild card in the 2025 NHL Draft. After starting off as a top 5 prospect in early rankings, the 6'5" center saw his draft stock fall a bit due to a significant lack of playing time and development this past season after facing a spinal injury. This has led to concerns from teams on if McQueen would be the best use for a high first round pick with experts predicting he could be picked from as high as 5th to as low as 20th. Whoever takes McQueen will hope that he can stay healthy and continue to develop towards being NHL ready.

ROGER McQUEEN SCOUTING REPORT | 2025 NHL DraftRoger McQueen Scouting Report with game highlights and statistical breakdown of his season with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL. He may be one of the big ...

Before his shortened season in 2024-25 where he put up only 20 points in 17 games, he was #3 in scoring on the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings in 2023-24 tallying 51 points in 53 games with 21 goals and 30 assists. He also represented Canada in the  2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup notching 5 goals and 3 assists in 7 games helping them capture the gold in the tournament.

At 6'5 and 192 lbs, McQueen is on the larger side compared to other top prospect forwards, which could be enticing to NHL clubs who are looking for a player to slot into their lineups sooner than later without much wait for a player to grow and bulk up.

McQueen will have something to prove to whichever team drafts him on Friday after spending most of this past season injured and off the ice. Initially, the injury was rumored to be a slipped disc, but it was later clarified as a Pars fracture of the spine, a type of stress fracture, which is leading some teams to have concerns about his resilience. This could allow him to fall to #8 where the Kraken would have the chance to take a gamble on him if they felt he was the best choice for the team.

In the recent NHL combine, when questioned about his injury, McQueen was quoted saying, "One to 10, I'm at a 10, pain-free now, and there's no symptoms for the last while. So, it's been awesome, and I probably haven't felt better in the last three years."

If McQueen can stay healthy and continue to develop this next season with the Wheat Kings, the NHL team that selects him should be very happy and we could see McQueen in an NHL sweater sooner than later.

Related

NHL Draft - What Could the Future Hold for the Kraken's 8th Overall Pick? - Community PostWith the 2025 NHL Draft only a week away, the Seattle Kraken currently hold the 8th overall pick. Let's take a look at how the past ten players who were picked 8th overall are doing.

McQueen featured photo by - Rob Wilton via chl.ca

McQueen hero photo by - Jonathan Kozub via predlines.com

The Toronto Maple Leafs will play their final two preseason games against the Detroit Red Wings.

Detroit revealed its entire preseason schedule on Tuesday. The schedule features two games against each of the Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Toronto's two games against the Red Wings will be on Oct. 2 in Toronto and Oct. 4 in Detroit.

The 2025-26 NHL season officially starts on Oct. 7, but it's unknown when the Maple Leafs' regular season will begin. Toronto played six preseason games last fall — two each against the Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens — before their regular season started on Oct. 9 in Montreal.

Toronto announced its preseason schedule on Wednesday afternoon, with six games on the docket. The full schedule is below.

Maple Leafs To Play Minimum 6 Pre-Season Games In 2025 As Schedule Is RevealedOne day after the Detroit Red Wings shared their pre-season schedule that revealed a pair of games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the latter revealed their full schedule on Wednesday.

Before Maple Leafs training camp opening last fall, 26 of Toronto's top prospects played two games in Montreal at the Bell Centre in the 2024 Prospects Showdown. Toronto and Montreal's prospects went head-to-head on back-to-back days, but the Maple Leafs' young guns got the better of the Canadiens.

Toronto is preparing for the NHL Draft with six picks (64, 86, 137, 153, and 185). Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and director of amateur scouting Mark Leach will speak to the media on Thursday, one day before the draft officially gets underway.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Alexander Mogilny Finally Inducted Into Hockey Hall Of Fame After Years Of SnubsFinally, after nearly two decades away from the game, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexander Mogilny will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In last year's draft, Toronto picked eight times. They selected Ben Danford with the 31st pick, Victor Johansson at 120, Miroslav Holinka at 151, Alexander Plesovskikh at 152, Timofei Obvintsev at 157, Matt Lahey at 200, Sam McCue at 216, and Nathan Mayes at 225.

Unless the Maple Leafs attempt to move into the first round on Friday, all of their picks will come on Saturday in rounds two to seven.

Report: Clubs View Vegas Golden Knights As 'Team To Beat' In Mitch Marner Sweepstakes As Maple Leafs Free Agent Hits MarketWith the NHL Draft and free agency fast approaching, the league is buzzing with activity, and no name is generating more speculation than Mitch Marner. While teams prepare for the draft, there is widespread debate about where the top free agent will end up.

(Top photo: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

The  Vegas Golden Knights may not be slated to make a selection on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but on Day 2, they'll be one of the busiest teams, making six selections. 

The Golden Knights' first-round pick this season belongs to the Nashville Predators after they used the pick to acquire Tomas Hertl at the 2023-24 trade deadline, and the San Jose Sharks then used it to acquire Yaroslav Askarov. The Predators will make the 26th overall selection with the pick.

The Golden Knights will enter the draft in the second round, making the 58th overall selection. The Golden Knights haven't made a selection in the second round since 2022 when they took center Matyas Sapovaliv. The Golden Knights' first selection in this year's draft is the pick that the Tampa Bay Lightning took Nikita Kucherov in 2011. 

The Golden Knights are back in the draft in the third round, using the Washington Capitals' pick, which was moved in the Logan Thompson trade. The Golden Knights have a strong history of making strong selections in the third round, highlighted by Pavel Dorofeyev, Jonas Rondbjerg, Lukas Cormier and Mathieu Cataford, adding a bit of intrigue to the 91st pick. 

The middle rounds will see the Golden Knights make their final four selections. In the fourth round, the Golden Knights will make the 122nd pick, in the fifth round the 154th, and their final two picks will occur in the sixth round, making the 186th and the 187th overall selections. 

Second Round: 58th Overall

Third Round: 91st Overall

Fourth Round: 122nd Overall

Fifth Round: 154th Overall

Sixth Round: 186th Overall and 187th Overall

Once the draft begins, trades will occur. In the first round, a couple of teams might trade up or back, but on Day 2, when rounds 2-7 commence, trades will begin to occur at a rapid rate. The Golden Knights' draft order isn't set in stone, as they could trade back and acquire more picks or trade up, which would require them to trade multiple picks. 

The first round of the draft is set for Friday, Jun. 28, in Los Angeles, and rounds 2-7 will commence on Saturday. 

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