NHL Draft week is upon us, and the Nashville Predators will be staying busy, owning nine picks in this year's draft.

Monday, the NHL announced where the Predators will be selecting. Their first pick, which was earned in the NHL Draft lottery in May, will be fifth overall. It's the highest the Predators have selected since 2013 when they picked defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall.

The eight other picks are as follows: 23rd (first round), 26th (first round), 35th (second round), 55th (second round), 67th (third round), 131st (fifth round), 163rd (sixth round) and 182nd (sixth round).  

This is the most the Predators have picked in a draft since the 2023 Draft, which they hosted, where they had 11 picks. The three picks in the first round are the most in franchise history. 

Last year, Nashville had eight picks in the draft and selected center Yegor Surin with the 22nd overall pick. Surin was promoted from Yaroslavl Lokomotiv's junior team to their KHL team and won the Gagarin Cup. 

Jones, who was the Predators' last top-five pick, won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers this season. He spent two and a half seasons with the Predators before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2015-16 season.

He'd spend six seasons in Columbus before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021. Jones was in Chicago for three and a half seasons before getting traded to the Panthers this year. 

Boston College center James Hagens is one of the popular names being thrown around as to who the Predators will select with their fifth overall pick.

Hagens had 37 points in 37 games with the Golden Eagles and won the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship with Team USA, scoring nine points in seven games. 

Predators general manager Barry Trotz is expected to address the media ahead of Friday's draft on Tuesday at 3 p.m. 

The NHL Draft will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. EST from Los Angeles. 

The Montreal Canadiens will be one of the most intriguing teams to follow this NHL off-season. 

The Canadiens may have overachieved in the minds of some this past season, but not in the minds of their management.

The Habs got into the playoffs last year by being a plucky, resilient group, but Canadiens brass won’t kid themselves when it comes to improving on that surprising playoff appearance. Being an Atlantic Division team means that it’s going to be extremely difficult for Montreal to keep up in terms of improving from year to year.

GM Kent Hughes will have to be aggressive on the trade front this summer to bring in the type of talent the Canadiens need not only to stay in the post-season picture but to vault even higher in the food chain.

That said, there are some hurdles for Montreal as it tries to solidify its position in the Atlantic. The Canadiens only have $6.1 million in salary cap space, and they have two notable UFAs in center Christian Dvorak and right winger Joel Armia, as well as RFA left winger Emil Heineman. Thus, Hughes must be creative in trades more than anything he can do in free agency.

Being a big-time player in trades makes a lot of sense for the Canadiens at this point in their competitive trajectory. Montreal has had to grit its teeth and be patient as the team underwent a basement-to-ceiling rebuild. They had three straight seasons where they finished dead last in the Atlantic and focused on drafting and developing their lineup. 

Now, Montreal needs to move forward with youngsters, including budding stars Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, as well as prospects Michael Hage, David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux, and firm up their core by acquiring a few veterans with a winning pedigree.

They can do that by trading some of the draft picks they’ve acquired, as in this summer’s draft, the Habs have two first-round picks, two second-rounders, three third-rounders and two fourth-rounders. Next summer, they have nine picks, including two second-rounders. Montreal doesn’t need to stockpile picks the way it’s done earlier in this rebuild. It’s time to pivot to being an organization focused on winning now. 

The Canadiens should look at the Colorado Avalanche to see how to pivot. From 2011 through 2017, the Avalanche failed to make the playoffs in six of seven years. The Avs had one playoff year as a blip on their radar, but for the most part, they weren’t talented enough to be a playoff contender, let alone a Stanley Cup contender.

However, from 2017 onward, Colorado slowly built itself into a playoff powerhouse, adding important players, including Nazem Kadri, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen to surround key components Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar. And voila – they won a Cup in 2022.

That’s a template the Canadiens must follow. They don’t have to acquire someone like Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby – although that would be something, wouldn’t it? – but Montreal does need to add at least a few experienced-but-effective hands to complement core players Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Jake Evans, Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle.

If Hughes can do that, the Habs will have enough talent to secure a wild-card spot next season, and perhaps, move even higher in the division. From there, it’s all about learning lessons from playoff series – like the lessons they hopefully learned in their first-round loss to the Washington Capitals this past season – and evolving into a bona fide Cup threat.

The Canadiens should no longer be satisfied taking a back seat to most teams. Certainly, they’re not in a position to battle for first place in the Atlantic just yet, but finishing in the basement of the division is now completely unacceptable. Montreal has to set the bar higher, and if Hughes can go out and acquire some veterans to raise expectations next season, there’s a good chance the Habs will assert themselves as a team to reckon with.

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It’s been a fun week celebrating the Florida Panthers and their second straight Stanley Cup championship.

There has been plenty of attention, and rightly so, cast upon what a tight and cohesive unit the team has grown into.

One big example of that came in the moments immediately after Florida won the Stanley Cup last week.

When Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov was handed the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Barkov did something that isn’t the norm.

Usually, the captain takes the cup for a spin around the ice before, one by one, his teammates do the same.

This time, Barkov carried the Cup to where all his fellow Panthers were standing, and the raised it only after he was surrounded by all of them.

It was an incredibly cool moment to see play out in real time.

Afterwards, when Barkov began the Cup raising process by handing the historic trophy off to the next player, he started by giving Lord Stanley not to the highest goal scorer or star goaltender, but to the players on the team who were first time champions.

First was defenseman Nate Schmidt, followed by Seth Jones, Tomas Nosek, Vitek Vanecek, A.J. Greer, Jesper Boqvist, Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Jaycob Megna and Evan Cormier.

It was something that Barkov and several of the team’s leaders came up with as a way to honor those players for the sacrifices they made toward an unknown.

"It wasn't just me, we — Chucky, Reinho, Ekky, all these guys — were talking about it,” Barkov explained. “I think it was a great point that the guys who haven't won yet, they get to get it first. I think it was great and it tells a lot about our team, like what Paul (Maurice) did to Nosek's line at the end (of Game 6). When they came in down two to nothing (in the series) to Toronto, they really changed the way we played. The identity that they brought, and the way we started being physical again and playing the right way, they really changed that. They really deserve it, and it tells a lot about people like Paul and everyone in this team and organization with how we treat each other."

Barkov is referring to a video that has since gone viral showing Maurice on the Panthers bench during the final minutes of Game 6.

As Florida was about to win their second straight Stanley Cup, Maurice told his fourth line players that he wanted them to be on the ice when the final buzzer sounds. He wanted them to be the first to throw their gloves and helmets in the air.

It’s those moments that will last a lifetime to the players involved.

That’s why Barkov and Florida’s leadership did what they did, and it’s why the Panthers are who they are.

"It's an unreal feeling to lift that Cup,” Barkov said. “You know how much work you put in. There's 31 other teams in the league that are trying to do the same thing, and only one team wins it every year.”

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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks are still very much a rebuilding team. They are farther along than some other rebuilding squads, but there is still so much work to be done. The 2025 NHL Draft is an event that can help them take another step in their quest to become a winner again. 

The draft is seven rounds long. Over those seven rounds, the Blackhawks are scheduled to make 10 selections. Two of them will come in the first round, two will come in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh. 

All of those picks are lottery tickets that could blossom into impactful NHL players. They could also be used as currency to get other assets from teams across the league. 

It would be surprising if GM Kyle Davidson used all 10. He has been known to shuffle them around in the past, which is a good indicator of his potential plans. 

Chicago’s two first-round selections (if they keep both) will come on Friday night. The first one is 3rd overall, and the second is 25th. High-end prospects will be taken in those spots. 

NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) on XThe @NHL announced the current order of selection for the 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Round 1 takes place Friday (7 p.m. ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet, @TVASports). Details: https://t.co/TLJ5fnEO7m

It isn’t likely for later round picks to become stars, but it does happen from time to time. Adding more talent to the prospect farm system is never a bad thing. 

Davidson has a good track record when it comes to the entry draft. That trend needs to continue with these selections, whether he uses them or not. 

Having this many picks gives the organization some wiggle room, as all 32 teams come together to make themselves better. 

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

The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly being aggressive in their pursuit of trades with the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday and the start of free agency in just over a week. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has been talking to several teams in regards to restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram and winger JJ Peterka, but are also actively shopping defenseman Mattias Samuelsson.  

The 25-year-old blueliner is in the third year of a seven-year, $30 million contract, and has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Samuelsson had a career-high 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) in 62 games last season, but was healthy scratched by head coach Lindy Ruff at times and played with multiple defensive partners throughout the year.. Because of his age, the former second round pick could be a buyout option, since he would cost only one-third of the remaining value of the deal (a cap penalty of $714,286), but it would be on the Sabres books over the next 10 years.  

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Byram is looking for a significant pay increase and a larger role where he can play top-pairing minutes, while Peterka is reportedly looking for a change of scenery after the expiration o his entry-level deal and finishing second on the Sabres with 68 points, but the difficulty is that Adams is looking to make hockey deals for other NHL talent, while many interested clubs are looking to acquire players for draft picks and prospects. 

Buffalo continues to have difficulty navigating the waters of players with no-movement, no-trade, or limited no-trade clauses, as many players have the Sabres on their list of destinations they prefer not to go to. Pagnotta also indicates that Buffalo has been linked to Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, but the restricted free agent is reportedly looking for a long-term deal in excess of the seven-year, $49 million contract that teammate Matt Boldy signed two years ago.  

 

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Barring any changes, the St. Louis Blues will be selecting 19th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Blues will certainly be hoping to hit with this pick, especially when noting that they won't select again after it until the fifth round.

With this draft being a bit of a wild card, it will be fascinating to see who the Blues end up selecting. They have multiple areas that they should be looking to improve, and there are going to be some intriguing names for them to consider once they are on the clock because of it. 

The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently released a 2025 NHL mock draft where he made predictions for every single pick. When it came to the 19th overall pick, Pronman sees the Blues selecting defenseman Cameron Reid. 

Reid, 18, is viewed as one of the top defensemen in this year's draft class, so he would certainly be a good player for the Blues to select if they have the chance to. The 6-foot blueliner has the tools to blossom into a top-four NHL defenseman, so he could be a good fit on a Blues club that could use another exciting defensive prospect. 

Reid spent the 2024-25 season with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. He took a nice step forward this season, as he set new OHL career highs with 14 goals, 40 assists, 54 points, and a plus-39 rating in 67 games. This was after he had two goals and 23 points in 49 games with Kitchener last season.

Overall, Reid has been an impactful two-way defenseman at the junior level, so he could be a nice pickup for the Blues. It will be intriguing to see if he ends up being who the Blues select with their first-round pick from here. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Blues Have Great Target In Kraken ForwardThe St. Louis Blues should be looking to upgrade their roster this off-season after their solid 2024-25 season. One specific area that could use a boost in their lineup is their forward group.

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Anaheim Ducks put an end to the Trevor Zegras Saga Monday afternoon, dealing the young forward to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in this year's NHL entry draft, and the Flyers' fourth-round pick in 2026. The trade was hugely underwhelming from Anaheim's perspective, as Poehling is nothing more than a fourth-line player, and the draft picks aren't in the area where the players drafted could be difference-makers anytime soon.

But from the Buffalo Sabres' perspective, this has to be seen as a lost opportunity. Was the trade something Sabres GM Kevyn Adams couldn't have outbid the Flyers for? The Sabres have more than enough salary cap space to accommodate Zegras' $5.75 million salary, and Zegras is signed for only the 2025-26 season -- making the coming year a "show me" situation for Zegras.

Indeed, if Zegras doesn't live up to expectations next season, the Flyers can now walk away. And if Zegras does live up to expectations, he's still only going to be an RFA next summer, so he's under team control in a way that has to be appealing to teams.

So, tell us again why Adams couldn't have improved on Philadelphia's trade package to the Ducks. Was there not a fourth-liner Buffalo could've offered? Maybe a third-liner, instead? And certainly, the Sabres could've offered improvements on a second-round draft pick and a fourth-rounder. Buffalo has had enough draft picks in recent years, and they need more players who have Zegras' profile -- proven 20-goal scorers who are intent on having a bounce-back season. Philly bought low on Zegras, and that's a very good look for Flyers GM Daniel Briere.

But not getting in on a Zegras trade is a major letdown for Buffalo. The Sabres could've added a player who could once again be a 60-point player or better, as Zegras was in two consecutive seasons from 2021-23. Instead, a rival for one of the wild card positions in the Eastern Conference wound up with the player, and Buffalo wound up holding out its hands with nothing to show for it.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Pittsburgh PenguinsThe NHL's 2025 off-season is here, and teams are going to be jockeying for trades and free agents in the coming days and weeks. And in this ongoing THN.com Buffalo Sabres site series, we've been examining potential trade partners for the Sabres.

Time and again, the Sabres are on the outside looking in when it comes to acquiring players who could help them get into the playoffs for the first time in a decade-and-a-half. And when you see the low price teams have paid to acquire assets like Zegras -- distressed assets though they may be -- you have to wonder if Buffalo's front office has some degree of acquisition paralysis.

Indeed, changing the mix of this Sabres lineup shoud be as urgent as it gets, but nothing is happening on the trade front. And there can be no excuses for Adams that he yet again was on the sidelines while his GM colleagues were getting deals done. Sooner or later, there has to be a line in the sand, and that line in the sand is all about what Sabres fans are willing to take when it comes to seeing their team stagnate.

Zegras would've been a solid acquisition for the Sabres. And if the trade didn't work out, Buffalo could've walked away from him next summer. Instead, the Flyers got better at a bargain cost, and the Sabres are still the same group that disappointed so many for so long.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Los Angeles KingsTHN's Sabres site is continuing a new series in which we examine potential trade partners for Buffalo. We've kicked off the series by looking at teams including the the Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers.and New Jersey Devils.

You couldn't blame Sabres fans for throwing up their hands in dismay and asking, "When does the pain end?".  Every trade of consequence that Buffalo doesn't participate in is another indictment of Adams and Sabres ownership. This Buffalo team can't look internally for improvement for yet another year. The time has come to empty the cupboards for draft picks and prospects in exchange for players with proven NHL experience.

There are talented players out there who can help the Sabres, but Buffalo management has to be savvy enough to acquire them. And right now, it sure appears that Sabres brass can't find the right mix of assets to improve the organization. It's a serious shame, and one that will continue as long as the Sabres are stuck watching other teams get better while they do nothing.

When Michael Hage was drafted 21st overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2024 draft, he was listed as a 6-foot-1 and 188-pound center. A year later, after playing a year in the NCAA at the University of Michigan, he has put on a couple of pounds, and according to The Gazette’s Stu Cowan, the prospect will be hitting the gym hard this Summer under the supervision of the Michigan strength coach.

The Canadiens realized in the playoffs that they needed more size up front, and they have big hopes for the 19-year-old, and if he pans out, he would slot in behind Nick Suzuki in the Habs’ center depth chart.

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Hage’s first season with the Wolverines was a successful one; he posted 34 points in 33 games and was named the rookie of the year in the Big 10. Cohan spoke to Rob Rassey, Michigan’s associate coach, who told him he believes Hage will be a different player come next season, given all the work he’s been putting in the gym.

Rassey also believes Hage has top-six potential in the NHL, although he warns it won’t happen overnight, meaning the Canadiens will need to be patient. This is why it could make sense for the Habs to explore signing a veteran second-line center on the free agent market.

If the Canadiens are in a hurry, however, Hage could be an attractive piece to add to a trade for a second-line center, Mason McTavish, anyone? Although the fact that the Anaheim Ducks just traded Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers may make them less likely to move another pivot, since that’s what they were using Zegras as.

With the draft fast approaching, though, don’t expect the trade rumours to die down around the Canadiens. Kent Hughes was active in his first three drafts, and there’s no reason to believe this one will be any different.

Photo credit:  Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

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Note: answers provided from this interview were originally given in Swedish and translated via Google. 

The 2025–26 season will be a big one for Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson. After a lacklustre 2024–25 season in which he scored 15 goals and 30 assists in 64 games, all eyes are on him for a big rebound. Drafted fifth overall by Vancouver in the 2017 NHL Draft, Pettersson’s pick surprised many who believed the team would take players such as Cody Glass or Gabriel Vilardi. As one of six current Canucks who have spent at least five seasons with the organization, Pettersson is only third to Thatcher Demko and Brock Boeser in terms of tenure. At the start of his career, fans heralded him as a hero. After only a single season, it’s looking more and more like they’re beginning to turn on him. Even with the negativity swirling within the fanbase, Pettersson insists that it’s about the highs, not the lows.  

“I only see it as positive,” he told Uffe Bodin in an interview originally done in Swedish for HockeySverige. “It’s a city that’s passionate about hockey. It’s hockey in Canada and it doesn’t get any better.”

Negativity can come with Canadian NHL markets, as many have seen the intense fandom of Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers fans during their respective playoff runs. It’s something that can occasionally deter some players or prevent them from re-signing with a team. 

“It depends on how you look at it, of course,” Pettersson said. “Sure, you get recognized, but you get recognized because you play ice hockey and you live your childhood dream. I take it with a kick in the heels. I had idols when I grew up so I just try to be as good and happy as I can. It’s not always me every day, but you get recognized because you play hockey so it’s a good problem.”

With the scrutiny that can come from all sorts of off-ice places, guidance from veterans can be essential. Pettersson reflected on the impact of the Swedish veterans in the locker room when he first joined the Canucks. During this interview, Pettersson went out of his way to make sure that former starting goaltender Jacob Markström was mentioned. 

“Very important. Partly because they set the standard for me but also because I moved to the other side of the world. It was of course a very big step, but I felt at home thanks to the Swedes on the team.”

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Pettersson and the Canucks haven’t seen Vancouver’s fanbase at its peak quite yet, though they came close after falling one win short of the 2024 Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals. During Pettersson’s only other playoff run, fans were unable to attend games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite not quite hitting the level of the 2011 Stanley Cup run’s crowds, Pettersson was quick to compliment the fans’ postseason energy.  

“When we played in the playoffs last year, it was the absolute coolest thing I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “Between games you saw cars driving around with Canucks flags. It’s hard to explain, but it’s incredibly cool.”

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.

Jesse Puljujärvi is currently playing in the AHL’s Calder Cup finals. On Sunday, he scored an overtime goal in Game 5 keep his Charlotte Checkers alive against the Abbotsford Canucks.

There are still one or two AHL games to go. After that, according to Swiss media outlet Blick, his next stop will be Switzerland. The Blickarticle is behind a paywall, but Finnish newspaper Helsing Sanomathas reported some of its contents, and states that that Puljujärvi has already signed a contract with a Swiss club for next season.

While his exact destination is less clear, the article states that it’s rumored to be HC Lugano. Lugano, which has already signed Connor Carrick and Rasmus Kupari this off-season, is rebuilding its roster after a disappointing season.

When Puljujärvi was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins in February to terminate his contract “by mutual agreement” ahead of the international transfer deadline, it was widely expected that he’d end up in Europe. Switzerland was one of his rumored destinations at that time, as was Kärpät Oulu, his hometown club in Finland. However, he surprisingly signed with the Florida Panthers instead.

Jesse Puljujarvi Waived By Penguins – Headed Back To Finland? The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi on unconditional waivers on Saturday for the purposes of terminating his contract, according to multiple sources.

Puljujärvi only played 31 NHL games this season – 26 with Pittsburgh and five with Florida, scoring four goals and adding six assists. He had 26 points in 26 AHL regular-season games split between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Charlotte, and has 11 points in 17 playoff games through Sunday.

Puljujärvi was chosen fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has 128 points in 387 career NHL regular-season games, and six points in 27 playoff games.

In June 2023, he underwent double hip surgery and missed half of the following season.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Jesse Puljujärvi: “It’s been a long process, I’m really happy to be here”The last couple of seasons have been an ordeal for Jesse Puljujärvi. He split a rather unproductive 2022-23 campaign between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes, during which he played in constant pain. Then in June 2023, he underwent double hip surgery. He didn’t return to the ice until January and, after a half-season split between the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the NHL, he’s now playing in his second IIHF World Championship for Finland, and first since 2017.

On Monday, the Anaheim Ducks traded Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Pohling, a 2025 second-round pick (45th overall), and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Zegras’ time in Anaheim was electric from the first time he stepped onto the ice wearing a Ducks sweater. Still, a strenuous contract negotiation and two injury-riddled seasons later, Zegras is a member of the Flyers.

Ducks Trade Trevor Zegras to the Flyers

Here’s a timeline of Zegras’ tenure as a member of the  Anaheim Ducks:

2019 Draft

The Ducks select Trevor Zegras with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

2019-20 Season

Zegras plays his freshman season at Boston University, scoring 36 points (11-25=36) in 33 games.

He represents the United States at the 2020 World Junior Championship, scoring nine points (all assists) in five games.

Zegras signs his ELC on March 27, 2020

2020-21 Season

Zegras again represents the United States at the 2021 World Junior Championship, winning a gold medal and tournament MVP honors with a whopping 18 points (7-11=18) in seven games.

He joins the San Diego Gulls following World Juniors and scores nine points (4-5=9) in eight games.

He’s called up to the Ducks for his NHL debut and scores seven points (1-6=7) in 17 games before rejoining the Gulls in a reported transaction to move him back to his natural center position.

He scores 12 points (6-6=12) in his next nine AHL games and is recalled to the NHL.

He finishes the regular season with six points (2-4=6) in his next seven NHL games and is returned to the AHL for their playoffs, where he scores three points (1-2=3) in three games.

2021-22 Season

Zegras electrifies in his first full NHL season, his rookie campaign, becoming a human highlight reel, earning an invite to the NHL All-Star Game as a guest in the shootout competition and a spot as a co-cover athlete on EA Sports’ “NHL 23” video game.

He was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy, totalling 61 points (23-38=61) in 75 games.

2022-23 Season

Zegras leads the Ducks in scoring in his sophomore season, the Ducks' worst season in franchise history, with 65 points (23-42=65) in 81 games.

2023 Offseason

Zegras is an RFA, as his ELC expires. A publicly difficult negotiation plays out well into the Ducks’ notably intense 2023 training camp, Greg Cronin’s first as head coach after his hiring in June.

He signs a three-year bridge deal that carries an AAV of $5.75 million on Oct 2, 2023, and sustains a groin injury attempting to catch up to speed halfway through camp.

2023-24 Season

Zegras attempts to play through injury early in the season while rounding out his two-way game, but is forced out of the lineup to recover after only producing three points (1-2=3) in 12 games.

He returns to the lineup in late December and tallies five points (3-2=5) in eight games before sustaining a broken ankle.

During his absence, the Ducks trade Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Cutter Gauthier. Zegras’ name pops up on trade boards due to speculation, citing the aforementioned contract negotiation and a potential stylistic mismatch between him and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek.

He returns in late March and finishes the season with a total of 15 points (6-9=15) in 31 games, including eight points (2-6=8) in his final eight games.

After the season, he represents the United States at the World Championships, disappointingly scoring three points (1-2=3) in eight games.

2024-25 Season

Zegras and the Ducks get off to a slow start to the season, but his play is praised by Cronin and Verbeek for his commitment to both sides of the puck and in all three zones.

He tears his meniscus in early December and ultimately misses 25 games due to injury in 2024-25. He finishes the year with a total of 32 points (12-20=32) in 57 games.

2025 Offseason

Zegras is traded to Philadelphia.

Conclusion

The decline in Zegras’ production and value can be traced back to his contract negotiations in the summer of 2023. A coach was hired who demanded a different level of commitment to defense than Zegras had been accustomed to and capable of. Despite his best efforts, he was never able to deliver what was asked, and in trying to accomplish it, his offensive game and his body took significant hits.

Zegras will look to recover his production displayed early in his career, as he’s still one of the most deceptive, creative, and offensively gifted players in the NHL.

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Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Canadian forward Nic Petan, 30, has signed a two-year contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta, the National League club announced on Monday.

Petan spent last season in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan, where he recorded 50 points and 30 penalty minutes in 60 regular-season and playoff games. Prior to that, he had spent his entire career in North America.

“I chose Ambrì for the next chapter of my career because not only have I heard great things about the city, the fans, the staff and also the players, but I think it’s gonna be a great fit for me and the style of play that I bring,” Petan said in a social media video. “Coming from an Italian background, the culture and all that comes with it, I think it’s going to be a great fit.”

Born in Delta, BC, Petan played minor hockey for the North Shore Winter Club in North Vancouver and junior hockey for the Portland Winterhawks. In 2012-13, Petan led the WHL in assists, won the CHL top scorer award, helping Portland to a league title and a berth in the Memorial Cup.

In 2013, Petan was chosen in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL Entry Draft. Between 2015 and 2024, he played 170 NHL games for the Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild, recording 35 points and 46 penalty minutes. He was also briefly in the New York Rangers system.

Another Finnish D-Man Leaves Toronto For Europe Finnish defenseman Topi Niemelä, 23, has signed a one-year contract with the Malmö Redhawks, the SHL club announced on Monday.

At 5’9” and 174 lbs, Petan was undersized by NHL standards and spent most of his time in the AHL.

“I’m a smaller, skilled, competitve forward,” said Petan. “I’m a playmaker but I also love scoring goals. I bring speed, quickness, and a playmaking ability to the game. I do respect the defensive side of the game, so as I’ve gotten older, I like to bring an offensive side but also a defensive side to my game.”

Internationally, Petan played for Canada at the 2014 and 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning a gold in the latter.

Petan’s signing comes days after Ambrì-Piotta signed Chris Tierney, who also played last season in the KHL. In addition to Petan and Tierney, Ambrì-Piotta has under contract for next season former NHLers Tim Heed, Chris DiDomenico and goaltender Gilles Senn.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images: Nic Petan playing for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022-23 season. 

Chris Tierney Moves From KHL To SwitzerlandCanadian center Chris Tierney, who turns 31 on July 1, has signed a one-year contract with Ambrì-Piotta, the National League club announced via social media on Friday. The contract is reportedly for one year plus an option.

The first big deal of the 2025 NHL offseason saw the Philadelphia Flyers trade center Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Trevor Zegras.

The Flyers are buying low on a supremely talented player in Zegras, a former No. 11 pick, who has scored just 18 goals and 47 points in only 88 games across the last two seasons.

Zegras, 24, has been hampered by a variety of injuries in recent seasons, including a broken left ankle suffered last January. At his best, though, the 6-foot forward is a versatile, skillful agitator who scored north of 60 points in each of his first two full seasons in the NHL.

The Flyers, desperate for centers and talented left-shot wingers, will be happy to take the risk on Zegras, who was being sold extremely low by the Ducks.

In his NHL career, Zegras has played left wing, center, and right wing, though the context of this Flyers trade suggests he'll be playing center.

It can be safely presumed that Zegras is now the primary running mate for star sophomore Matvei Michkov, giving the Flyers at least three forward duos they can rely on: Zegras and Michkov, Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny, and Tyson Foerster and Noah Cates.

The flexibility Zegras brings with his positional versatility is key, as it allows the Flyers to choose whoever they want with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft without thinking too much about long-term ramifications.

Flyers Scouting Top Russian Prospects Ahead of NHL DraftWith the 2025 NHL Draft now less than a week away, the Philadelphia Flyers are continuing their due diligence down at the Gold Star Hockey Development Camp in Florida, which runs until June 26.

Playmaking centers like James Hagens and Jake O'Brien work equally as well as a cerebral sniper like Porter Martone; Zegras is now the chess piece the Flyers can move around freely.

Grade: A

This trade was a slam dunk for Danny Briere's first transaction of the offseason. The Flyers badly needed some fresh faces and, more than anything else, a higher floor and a higher ceiling offensively.

It would be dishonest to say that Ryan Poehling isn't a loss for the Flyers, too. Indeed, Poehling is on the last year of his contract and effectively a fourth-line center, but he is capable of playing up and down the lineup in a pinch, skates like the wind, works hard, and kills penalties.

Centers like Poehling are valuable in the NHL, but the Ducks got one from the Flyers at a cost that many wouldn't agree with.

Reiterating the assumption that Zegras plays center for the Flyers, Philadelphia's immediate center depth will consist of Zegras, Couturier, and Cates with someone like Jett Luchanko, Karsen Dorwart, Rodrigo Abols, or perhaps a free agent signing slotting in behind them.

It should be noted that Zegras, like Poehling, is in the last year of his contract, but will instead be an RFA at the end of the season. The former top Ducks draft pick carries a salary of $5.75 million, which is no issue given the Flyers have $15 million in cap space still remaining.

To earn any kind of substantial raise, Zegras will assuredly have to return to his 60-point form, if not better.

Looking ahead to the 2025 draft later this week, the Flyers still have six picks in the first two rounds, including all three of their first-round picks.

This is key, as acquiring that high-upside talent in Zegras leaves the Flyers with their best trade assets still in hand. Or, they could simply use those picks on prospects. The choice is theirs.

In the second round, the Flyers still own the 36th, 40th, and 48th picks.

With previous rumors surrounding defensemen like Nicolas Hague and Alexander Romanov, as well as the persisting talk around prized KHL free agent Maxim Shabanov, look for the Flyers to remain busy and active over the next several days.

The Trevor Zegras era in Anaheim has come to a close. On Monday, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Ryan Poehling, the 45th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

“While this was a difficult trade to make, we have and will continue to look at retooling our roster over the next couple of months,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a team statement. This transaction is part of that process. We wish Trevor the best of luck with the Flyers.” Verbeek also thanked Zegras for his contributions and efforts over the last six seasons.

On the surface, this trade comes at a strange time. Zegras’ trade value had plummeted after two difficult seasons under Greg Cronin, not to mention long-term injuries curtailing both of those seasons. The offensive production wasn’t consistent, but there were signs that he was capable of getting back to the 60-plus point campaigns he’d had as a rookie and sophomore in the NHL.

With one year remaining on the three-year contract he’d signed after a contract dispute in 2023, Zegras was likely on the outside looking in when it came to receiving an extension beyond his current deal. He had been shifted to the wing after coming into the league as a natural center and his limited deployment on the power play suggested that he did not figure into Anaheim’s long-term plans.

“When the players are in those circumstances, we all take everything year-by-year,” Verbeek said when asked in April about Zegras and pending UFA Jacob Trouba fitting into the organization long-term. “I’m certainly going to be watching to see how each of them perform and take in the whole course of the season to decide where we go. They’re obviously quality hockey players. We’ve got a lot of quality hockey players in our system, so there’s going to be a lot of things that are going happen and we’ll have to be able to figure that out and assess that at the appropriate time.”

Joel Quenneville’s hiring as head coach this past May suggested that Zegras may get an opportunity to play in the NHL under a head coach who knows how to utilize him properly. Comparisons to how Patrick Kane, a player who Zegras looks up to, was deployed in Chicago came to mind.

Chris Kreider, one of Zegras’ good friends, was also acquired by the Ducks via trade earlier in June, further suggesting that a better environment was being put in place for the former ninth overall pick.

Instead, that will come in Philadelphia with the Flyers under new head coach Rick Tocchet. Zegras reunites with good friend and former roommate, Jamie Drysdale, who was traded to the Flyers in Jan. 2024 for Cutter Gauthier and a second-round pick.

Poehling has one year remaining on the contract he signed with the Flyers in Jan. 2024, which carries a $1.9 million cap hit. A collegiate star at St. Cloud State, Poehling was drafted 25th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Montréal Canadiens but has found it difficult to lock down an everyday role in the NHL.

He seemed to have found a home in Philadelphia after a short stop in Pittsburgh following his departure from the Canadiens, setting career-highs in points in both of his seasons in the City of Brotherly Love.

In Anaheim, Poehling will likely fill a bottom-6 role, as he’s done over the past few seasons for the Penguins and Flyers. He can play both center and wing and has some edge to his game. He could also see time on the penalty kill, he had three shorthanded goals in 2023-24.

Swapping Zegras for Poehling-plus gives the Ducks some wiggle room financially—not that they need it very much right now. But with the ability to sign players like Leo Carlsson, Jackson LaCombe and Cutter Gauthier to contract extensions on Jul. 1 and Mason McTavish and Lukáš Dostál needing new deals this offseason, something was always going to have to give. 

For the Flyers, it gives them a chance to see what Zegras can do—likely at center—before it comes time to extend him. A fan favorite in Anaheim, Zegras’ eventual return to Honda Center will be highly anticipated.

Featured image caption: Apr 7, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

On Monday morning, the Rockford IceHogs announced that their captain, Brett Seney, would return on a two-year AHL deal. He signed this contract ahead of becoming an unrestricted free agent. 

This differs slightly from Seney’s last contract, which was a two-way deal. The Blackhawks are likely not going to need Seney in their lineup anymore, but he is a great mentor for the young players who will play with Rockford in the coming years. 

Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) on XCAP IS BACK ‼️ We’ve signed forward Brett Seney to a two-year AHL contract. See you back home, Senes 🫡 📰: https://t.co/2haLKapqrp

Seney has already done a great job with some of the young guys who he has been around over the last handful of seasons. Rockford, as a whole, has been strong at developing players before they reach the NHL. They are a great foundational base for Blackhawks prospects to begin their pro career if needed. Seney is a big part of that. 

Although Chicago’s NHL roster is going to be very young in 2025-26, mostly filled with guys who spent time with Rockford, there will still be plenty of raw players looking to grow down in the AHL. 

With a new coaching staff, both in the NHL and AHL, coming into this year, a captain like Seney will be important for guys to have around. 

In terms of hockey, Seney will help Rockford win games, too. In 2024-25, he had 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points in 58 games played. The younger guys will be relied on for more offense, but the depth and leadership he provides will continue to be incredibly helpful. 

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