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By Jared Clinton

The Hockey News Prediction | 7TH In Pacific

Seeking progress after suffering a step back in 2023-24, Seattle pressed reset and started last season with a new coaching staff headed by Dan Bylsma. The expectation was the Stanley Cup-winning coach’s recent success with the Kraken’s AHL affiliate would translate to the big club’s playoff return. Instead, the fourth-year franchise stumbled its way to a five-point decline, the result of which was the fifth-worst record in the NHL.

As a result, Bylsma was handed his walking papers, while the front office underwent a shuffle: Ron Francis was promoted to president, while Jason Botterill went from second-in-command to sitting in the GM seat. Botterill began his tenure by installing longtime Barry Trotz disciple and former New York Islanders coach Lane Lambert behind the Kraken bench.

Offense

Seattle has plenty of depth but lacks elite talent. No disrespect to Jared McCann, Matty Beniers or late-career Jordan Eberle, but it could even be argued the Kraken don’t have a legitimate top-line scorer. That has forced Seattle to produce offense by committee, and the additions of Mason Marchment and Frederick Gaudreau won’t move the needle. However, Kaapo Kakko’s play upon arriving in a mid-season deal with the New York Rangers was inspiring, as was the late-season performance of Jani Nyman. And perhaps a full NHL season will help Shane Wright unlock the potential that once made him a perceived first-overall-pick-caliber talent. The Kraken registered 4.1 goals per 60 minutes when Wright was on ice last season. That was tops among lineup regulars.

Defense

After adding Ryan Lindgren in free agency, the Seattle blueline continues to be its greatest strength. Vince Dunn and Brandon Montour give the back end plenty of firepower and an impactful one-two punch of power-play quarterbacks. Meanwhile, Adam Larsson deserves recognition for his development into a rugged shutdown defender and shot-blocking juggernaut. The wild card is 23-year-old Ryker Evans. His contributions make it clear he has plenty of upside, but, as with any young rearguard, there are own-zone kinks that need ironing out. If he takes a step forward, the Kraken blueline – defensively but also offensively – stands to power Seattle’s push to return to the playoffs.

Goaltending

Considering the quality of shots he faced last season, Joey Daccord was excellent, following up a stellar 2023-24 with a similarly outstanding performance. But the reality is that even bang-average goaltending would be an improvement over Philipp Grubauer, who has struggled mightily in Seattle. The Kraken’s best chance of winning on a nightly basis is with Daccord in the blue paint, and that should see him start 60-plus games if Seattle has designs on competing for a wild-card spot.

Special Teams

The Kraken ranked 23nd on the power play and 21st on the penalty kill last season, and their underlying numbers don’t suggest either result was a case of poor puck luck. In fact, the opposite appears true, as Seattle had the third-lowest expected goals for rate on the power play and fourth-worst expected goals against rate on the penalty kill. Adding Lindgren will help on the kill, and Lambert will endeavor to give Seattle the structure necessary to improve when shorthanded.

Intangibles

Of the many things Lambert surely learned from Trotz, perhaps the most important is how to do more with less. That was the hallmark of Trotz’s Nashville outfits, and Lambert rode shotgun as Trotz helped turn the then-middling Islanders into back-to-back semifinalists. On paper, the Kraken lack top-end talent. But quality coaching – and playing to their strengths – can act as an equalizer.

Rookies

Nyman led Coachella Valley and finished second among AHL rookies last season with 28 goals. And that was despite his 12-game stint with the big club, during which he posted three goals and six points. He’s a pure shooter who could be a top power-play triggerman.

X-Factor

Beniers has proven himself as a quality two-way pivot. But can he find another offensive gear as he enters his fourth NHL campaign? He hasn’t yet matched his 24-goal, 57-point rookie-season output. Beniers seems to be still scratching the surface of his ability, and he can elevate the Kraken by becoming a driver at both ends of the ice.

The Brass

Botterill’s first foray as a big-league GM came in Buffalo, where he wasn’t afraid to wheel and deal. He executed headline moves involving Evander Kane, Jeff Skinner and Ryan O’Reilly. The latter swap brought Tage Thompson to the Sabres. Some fearlessness in the trade market could benefit Seattle.

2024-25 Numbers

Record: 35-41-6 (.463)

Overtime: 5-3

Shootout: 2-3

Overall: 27th

Offense: 2.99 GPG (16th)

Defense: 3.20 GAA (24th)

Power Play: 18.9% (23rd)

Penalty Kill: 77.2% (21st)

Expected GF/60: 2.28 (28th)

Expected GA/60: 2.66 (25th)

Ice Time Lead (F): C. Stephenson (19:31)

Ice Time Lead (D): B. Montour (22:59)

Fast Facts

Coach: Lane Lambert

GM: Jason Botterill

Captain: Jordan Eberle

Arena: Climate Pledge Arena

Capacity: 17,100

AHL Affiliate: Coachella Valley Firebirds

ECHL Affiliate: Kansas City Mavericks

Cup Odds: 70/1

Kraken Depth Chart:

Future WATCH

Top 10 Prospects

1. Berkly Catton

Pos C Age 19

2024-25 Spokane (WHL)

Breathtaking playmaking skills. The attack can flow through him. Nothing left to accomplish in WHL.

Expected NHL Arrival ’25-26

2. Jake O'Brien

Pos C Age 18

2024-25 Brantford (OHL)

Sneaky skill set sees him strip pucks and elude checks before slipping perfect pass. Smart player.

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

3. Jani Nyman

Pos RW Age 21

2024-25 Coachella Valley (AHL)

A half-wall threat on the power play. He’s a pure shooter and scorer who can rip the puck.

Expected NHL Arrival ’25-26

4. Blake Fiddler

Pos D Age 18

2024-25 Edmonton (WHL)

Profiles as a shutdown defender but has new-school tools like a quality first pass and sneaky shot.

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

5. Oscar Fisker Molgaard

Pos C Age 20

2024-25 HV71 (Swe.)

Middling output, but his two-way play is his calling card. Responsible beyond his years.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

6. Nikke Kokko

Pos G Age 21

2024-25 Coachella Valley (AHL)

All-rookie performance in AHL. One thing to be big, another to use size well. He manages both.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

7. Eduard Sale

Pos LW Age 20

2024-25 Coachella Valley (AHL)

Inconsistent through rookie AHL year. Deft puck and passing skills set stage for playmaking future.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

8. Ryan Winterton

Pos C Age 22

2024-25 Coachella Valley (AHL)

Coaches trust him no matter the score or situation. Reliability is important attribute. He has it.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

9. Carson Rehkopf

Pos LW Age 20

2024-25 Brampton (OHL)

Nose for the net and pure goal-scoring ability. Ceiling is high, but AHL seasoning is required.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

10. Jagger Firkus

Pos RW Age 21

2024-25 Coachella Valley (AHL)

Brilliant junior scorer and pure shooter added checking element to carve out minutes in AHL.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

EA SPORTS has announced the top 10 overall players in NHL 26. 

Connor McDavid sits a top the list at 97 overall followed by Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, and Nikita Kucherov at 96 overall. 

Two defensemen and one goaltender crack the top 10. 

The 10 highest rated players in NHL 26 are:

1. Connor McDavid - 97 overall
2. Nathan MacKinnon - 96 overall
3. Leon Draisaitl - 96 overall
4. Nikita Kucherov - 96 overall
5. Quinn Hughes - 95 overall
6. Cale Makar - 95 overall
7. Aleksander Barkov - 95 overall
8. Sidney Crosby - 94 overall
9. David Pastrnak - 94 overall
10. Connor Hellebuyck - 94 overall

Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and Kirill Kaprizov are all also 94 overall. 

The full list of the players and their attributes can be seen here.   

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.    

NHL Insider weighs in on debate between better goalie prospect in Detroit's Sebastian Cossa or Trey Augustine. 

With the NHL off-season nearing its end, attention is beginning to shift toward the future of several franchises. In a recent episode of the Athletic Hockey Show, veteran writers Max Bultman and Corey Pronman took a deep dive into each team's prospect pipeline, offering rankings and in-depth analysis of how the league’s up-and-coming talent stacks up. 

One of the most intriguing points of conversation was the debate between two of the Red Wings top prospects in goaltenders Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine. Since being drafted in 15th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa has been routinely mentioned as one of the franchise's top prospects. However, this has changed as of late with a growing number of experts believing that Augustine is the netminder to look out for. 

This became clear when in The Hockey News' recent Yearbook issue, writer Bob Duff ranked Augustine as Detroit's fourth-best prospect while having Cossa down at the six spot in the order.

More Red Wings:Danielson “More Toolsy” Than Marco Kasper Says NHL Insider

Pronman added to this debate with his recent ranking of the Red Wings prospect pipeline and put Cossa back ahead of Augustine. He explained his decision by questioning the size of the 6-foot-1 Augustine, saying few goalie prospects have succeeded at his size. Cossa stands at a towering 6-foot-6 and Pronman believes has shown more bright spots in his pro development. 

"Cossa, I know he's been up and down as a pro, but he's a huge goalie who moves pretty well and has at least shown he can translate up a level a little bit at times," Pronman said "With Augustine, he's been a tremendous Junior goalie, a tremendous college goalie, but he's not a premier quick Twitch type, which at that size is a little concerning."

Pronman would go on to make comparisons to goaltenders like Boston's Jeremy Swayman, explaining that there are success stories at Augustine's size but views his player profile so far as having "some risk variables where I'd be hesitant to elevate him to that next level." 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

This is an unpopular opinion as Augustine is coming off another dominant season with Michigan State, finishing with a 19-7-4 record along with a 2.08 goals against average and a .924 save percentage through 30 starts.

The 20-year-old Michigan native has regularly been viewed as the nation's best junior goaltender with six different appearances on the international stage. Playing for Team USA, Augustine posted phenomenal numbers, going 9-1-0 with a 2.09 goals-against average at the U-18 level, and following it up with a 12-2-0 record and a 2.42 GAA at the U-20 level. 

More Red Wings:Red Wings Player Ratings Revealed in NHL 26: Larkin, Raymond Lead the Pack

Augustine may be an elite goaltender some day but he still is far behind Cossa in terms of development as he's two years younger and will likely return to NCAA hockey for one or two more seasons followed by his first pro season with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. This was the path of Cossa as he's already played in 84 games with the Griffins and has produced numbers like a 44-25-15 record with a 2.52 GAA and a .909 save percentage.

His recent play has inserted himself into the conversation for the Red Wings backup goalie job behind John Gibson with Griffins head coach Dan Watson telling The Hockey News that he believes Cossa will be firmly in the conversation for the role this upcoming season. 

More Red Wings: Sandin-Pellikka Can’t Contain Excitement For Red Wings Training Camp

As the Red Wings continue to build toward a competitive future, the battle between Cossa and Augustine remains one of the most fascinating storylines in their prospect pipeline. While the debate between these two promising netminders will likely persist for years, one thing is clear: Red Wings fans won’t have to wait long before NHL numbers start rolling in for at least one of them.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites. 

The NHL’s Central Division is super competitive. We’re predicting how it will end up by April.

Not only will you find this writer’s rankings of the divisions, but you’ll also see where each team was placed in The Hockey News’ Yearbook & Fantasy Guide 2025 and their odds of being Central Division winners, according to BetMGM.

We predicted four teams from the Pacific Division would make the playoffs, which means we predict four will make it from the Central.

1. Colorado Avalanche 

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 2nd

BetMGM Central Division Winner Odds: 3.10 (+210)  

Why I've Ranked Them First: The changes the Avalanche made last year and this summer put them at a slightly higher level than the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars, which were picked in the Yearbook to win this year’s Central title. 

Whether it’s Colorado getting a full year from captain Gabriel Landeskog, second-line center Brock Nelson, newcomers Brent Burns and Victor Olofsson or starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, the Avs are stronger all around.

Colorado’s defense corps might be the strongest in the league. Their forward group is also stellar. And they’ve got a very capable goaltending tandem. No team is perfect, but the Avalanche has so few holes – and they still have $1.3 million in salary cap space, which could increase to $6 million by the trade deadline. They have to be considered a Stanley Cup front-runner, let alone the favorite to be the Central’s top regular-season squad.

Why I Could Be Wrong: We’re still not sure how durable Landeskog will be this season, so his impact could be muted by any challenges he faces. 

Burns, meanwhile, is the oldest active player in the NHL at 40 years old, and he can no longer be seen as a high-impact, top-four blueliner. Colorado also parted with veterans Jonathan Drouin, Charlie Coyle and Ryan Lindgren. So if the Avalanche’s additions don’t meet expectations, they may not leapfrog the Jets and Stars.

With The Avalanche Adding Olofsson, The Rich Get RicherThe Colorado Avalanche made another solid addition to their lineup this week with the free-agent signing of veteran left winger Victor Olofsson.

2. Winnipeg Jets

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 3rd

BetMGM Central Division Winner Odds: 6.50 (+550) 

Why I've Ranked Them Second: Full disclosure – in last season’s Central predictions, we had the Jets finishing fourth in the division. That was a mistake, as Winnipeg rode an MVP-caliber season from goalie Connor Hellebuyck and terrific depth on all fronts to the Presidents’ Trophy. 

The post-season proved to be another story, as the Jets fell to Dallas in Round 2. But as far as regular-season prowess goes, Winnipeg had the horses to assert itself as a top squad.

We’re not making that same mistake this time, even if we do see the Jets falling one spot in the Central standings. 

With stars such as left winger Kyle Connor, defenseman Josh Morrissey, center Mark Scheifele and newcomer center Jonathan Toews, Winnipeg’s depth will once again be a strength. The Jets still have something to prove in the playoffs, but in the 82 games leading up to the post-season, they have few peers.

Why I Could Be Wrong: What happens if Toews’ much-ballyhooed comeback doesn’t pan out? We’re not predicting that will happen, but you have to allow for the possibility. 

And what happens if the Jets can’t keep up with the Avalanche and Stars and fall to third place in the Central? That would mean Winnipeg loses home-ice advantage in the 2026 playoffs, and given that the Jets were worse on the road than at home, that could be a problem.

It would be a massive shock if the Jets fail to make the playoffs, but that’s a far-fetched possibility. Instead, we see Winnipeg setting the standard for other Central franchises. 

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has doubled down on his core, and this may be the year Winnipeg’s players reward him for his faith in them. So first place in the Central certainly is possible for the Jets – and so is the type of breakthrough playoff performance Jets fans have forever been aching for.

3. Dallas Stars

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 1st

BetMGM Central Division Winner Odds: 3.20 (+220) 

Why I've Ranked Them Third: Few pundits have been as high on the Stars as we have in recent years. Dallas GM Jim Nill has won the GM of the year award for good reason – he’s assembled a terrifically balanced, experienced roster that made a phenomenal mid-season addition with the trade acquisition of former Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes right winger Mikko Rantanen. 

A full season from Rantanen will certainly help the Stars’ cause, but Dallas does have an obvious weakness – their depth at right defense. Miro Heiskanen is terrific for the first pairing, but Ilya Lyubushkin and Nils Lundkvist in the bottom four is concerning.

Even with new coach Glen Gulutzan in tow, the Stars’ questionable depth on ‘D’ may be all that separates them from finishing ahead of the Avalanche and Jets. 

Don’t get it twisted – this Dallas team could finally break through in next year’s Western Conference final and get to the Cup final for the first time since 2019-20. However, we see them as having a tougher challenge to outlast Winnipeg and Colorado in the regular season.

Why I Could Be Wrong: There’s absolutely a world in which the Stars dominate to the point the Jets and Avs are playing catch-up with them all season long. They have elite players at every position. So yes, the Stars deserve to be in the conversation as Central winners.

The way Dallas’ season ended last year – with now-former coach Peter DeBoer throwing No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger under the bus and leading to DeBoer’s firing – doesn’t sit well with some of us. But the Stars are going to judge their season by the way they play in the playoffs, and there’s every possibility they can shake off the doubters and emerge as one of the favorites to win the division and the Cup.

4. Utah Mammoth

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 4th

BetMGM Central Division Winner Odds: 11.00 (+1,000) 

Why I've Ranked Them Fourth: Utah’s first season was a letdown, finishing sixth in the Central. However, the Mammoth had one of the NHL’s better off-seasons, adding up-and-coming sniper JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres, hard-nosed bottom-six winger Brandon Tanev, and former Florida Panthers blueliner Nate Schmidt. Those are all high-quality moves that will give the Mammoth more firepower and grit.

They still have $6.6 million in cap space. By the trade deadline, they can spend a lot to help them secure the first playoff berth for this core since the Arizona Coyotes squeaked into the playoffs in 2019-20. 

In sum, the Mammoth have the depth of high-end talent and an ownership group determined to make a splash as soon as possible, and we see Utah breaking through and giving Mammoth fans their first taste of playoff hockey.

Why I Could Be Wrong: For quite some time now, the Mammoth/Coyotes have specialized in underperforming. Since that 2019-20 playoff appearance, the Coyotes finished no higher than fifth before the hockey operations left for Utah. 

Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong has been painstakingly putting together this roster, but if Utah can’t handle the pressure and misses the playoffs again, Mammoth management will have major questions about the future of this core.

Another factor for Utah is the quality of competition in the Central. Two of the teams we’re ranking below the Mammoth – the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild – were playoff teams last season, and they could be playoff teams yet again in 2024-25. Unless Utah shows they can be a consistent threat to win night in and night out, they’re going to be passed in the Central rankings.

5. St. Louis Blues

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 6th

BetMGM Central Division Winner Odds: 13.00 (+1,200) 

Why I've Ranked Them Fifth: After nearly burying themselves early in the 2024-25 season with subpar play, the Blues became one of the league’s hottest teams in the second half, finishing fifth in the Central and securing a wild-card berth. 

Although St. Louis fell apart in the first round against Winnipeg, they’ve made some tweaks to their roster, picking up former Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter, veteran center Nick Bjugstad and young defenseman Logan Mailloux.

However, we’ve got a nagging suspicion the Blues will fall out of the playoff picture this coming year. The competition is one reason why, but their defense corps also has three members who are 32 or older and moving away from their primes. 

Other parts of the Blues’ roster have young players who’ll be fixtures for many years to come, but the stresses on their veterans could prove to be too much to handle.

Why I Could Be Wrong: Before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Blues had a 25-26-6 record. From that point onward, St. Louis went 19-4-3. If that’s the Blues team that kicks off the 2025-26 campaign, St. Louis will be one of the biggest threats in the Central.

The Blues will likely go as far as their starting goalie, Jordan Binnington, carries them, but as we saw at the 4 Nations, he can come through with high-impact performances. St. Louis will need more of those outings if they’re going to excel in the regular season.

6. Minnesota Wild

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 5th

BetMGM Central Division Winner Odds: 9.00 (+800) 

Why I've Ranked Them Sixth: We make no bones about it – we haven’t been high on Wild GM Bill Guerin’s blueprint for success for some time now. 

In the last two seasons, Minnesota has finished no higher than fourth in the Central. This off-season, their only somewhat significant addition is veteran left winger Vladimir Tarasenko, acquired in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings.

Consequently, Minnesota is a serious candidate for a step backward this season. The Wild have impressive talents – led by superstar left winger Kirill Kaprizov and defenseman Brock Faber – but when you compare their depth at just about every position, they could have trouble keeping pace with the rest of the division.

Why I Could Be Wrong: The Wild have been embarking on a youth movement in recent years, and with youngsters Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium and David Jiricek, they’ve got the makings of a team that will be fierce. They may need a couple of years before they take on the form that can make them needle-movers at the NHL level.

So while we don’t see Minnesota as a playoff team this coming season, the fact is we felt the same way about them last year, and they proved us wrong. The same thing could happen for the Wild this year.

Could Kaprizov Win The Hart, Rocket Richard And Stanley Cup With The Wild One Day?If Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov wasn't already a much-watch star, he will be this season.

7. Nashville Predators

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 7th

BetMGM Central Division Winner Odds: 34.00 (+3,300) 

Why I've Ranked Them Seventh: Arguably, our biggest misstep in last year’s Central predictions was putting the Predators in second place. 

Now, we weren’t the only ones who pegged Nashville as a playoff team last season and were severely let down, but we’re now putting them in “show, don’t tell” mode. Until they prove people differently, we expect them to be near the bottom of the Central.

The Preds have proud veterans who want to atone for last season’s letdown, but at best, Nashville looks and feels like a “mushy middle” team. The Predators could soon face a tough decision on how to move forward with their roster, but it will come as no surprise if they fail to contend for a playoff spot for the third time in four seasons.

Why I Could Be Wrong: Many Preds veterans were left with a bad taste in their mouths at the end of last season – most notably, left winger Steven Stamkos, defenseman Roman Josi and goaltender Juuse Saros. Could those experienced hands combine with some of Nashville’s younger players to put a scare into the Central teams we’ve listed ahead of them? Sure.

We suppose it’s plausible for them to finish sixth or fifth in the division. A lot would have to line up perfectly for that possibility, though, including the collapse of teams like the Blues and Wild, to give the Preds enough room to stick the landing. So we’re going to err on the side of caution when it comes to expectations for this Predators team.

8. Chicago Blackhawks

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 8th

BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 301.00 (+30,000) 

Why I've Ranked Them Eighth: The Blackhawks were the second-worst team in the NHL last season, with only 25 wins and 61 points. They have foundational components, including Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov.

Still, when your biggest off-season acquisition was left winger Andre Burakovsky – who put up just 10 goals last season for the Seattle Kraken – it’s a telling situation that doesn’t generate reasonable optimism that this season will be much different for Chicago.

Once their youngsters mature into reliable performers at the NHL level, the Hawks will be able to begin climbing up the Central standings and be a year-in, year-out playoff team. Unfortunately for Chicago fans, the Blackhawks, as currently constituted, are many years away from reaching that point in their competitive trajectory.

Why I Could Be Wrong: Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson changed coaches yet again, and former Detroit bench boss Jeff Blashill is now in charge of squeezing more juice out of Chicago’s roster than his predecessors were able to. It would be a minor miracle for the Hawks to even get to fifth or sixth spot in the Central, so while anything can happen in professional sports, the chances of the Blackhawks being anything other than cannon fodder are extremely low.

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New York Islanders prospect Daniil Prokhorov has signed a two-year, two-way deal with the KHL's Dynamo Moscow. 

Appears that Dynamo Moscow has signed #Isles prospect Daniil Prokhorov to a two-year, two-way deal.

His PTO expired today.

First on this: @HockeyNewsHubpic.twitter.com/19d3UJBrPi

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) August 29, 2025

The 18-year-old second-round pick (No. 45) by the Islanders in June was with Dynamo on a Professional Tryout, which expired on Friday. 

So, what does this new deal mean for Prokhorov?

The Russian forward, who had played the last two seasons in the MHL, a junior league in Russia, had several options for where to play during the 2025-26 season. 

He could have played in the MHL again. He could have signed with a KHL team or, after being selected by the OHL's Sarnia Sting in the second round of the 2025 CHL import Draft, he could have come over to North America.

There was a strong belief that Prokhorov would be coming to Sarnia, but it was also a bit of a shock to see him, at such a young age, with no VHL experience (KHL's AHL), get the PTO opportunity.

Here's what Dynamo's head coach Alexey Kudashov had to say about Prokhorov (translated):

"Everything is going fine. Some of them played matches in the youth team, and some are playing for Dynamo Saint Petersburg. Everyone is in the squad, everyone is preparing, and everyone is in good shape. The question is whether someone will need a little more time, like, for example, Prokhorov. He is a very young guy and is only taking his first steps in adult hockey. It so happened that he practically did not play in the VHL. Everything is new for him now. All the players are ready; the only question is when the dream will start to be realized." (H/t Dynamo Website)

Due to his role on the PTO as a fourth liner and 13th forward, it is likely that Prokhorov plays a majority of this season, at least, in the VHL. Perhaps next year, he can secure a spot on a KHL team. 

Once his contract comes to an end -- that would be following the 2026-27 season -- Prokhorov will have a choice to come over and join the Islanders organization or stay in Russia. 

If Prokhorov does choose to come over, he'll be 20 and eligible to play in the AHL. 

There are ways for players to get out of contracts. Still, the expectation is that he'll be in Russia for the next two seasons and hopefully, if his development goes well, prove to be a valuable prospect and potentially one of the steals of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

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.

The Chicago Blackhawks have a ton of great young players in the organization. Some of them have reached the NHL, some are hoping to do that in 2025-26, and some are going to get that opportunity in the years to come. 

Where does Chicago's pipeline rank amongst the rest of the NHL? Well, Corey Pronman of The Athletic ranked every one in the league from 1-32. His criteria for players to be eligible are that they are 22 years old or younger as of September 15th, 2025. This basically includes every player selected from the 2021 to 2025 NHL Drafts. 

Pronman ranked the Chicago Blackhawks' pipeline second in the league. They only trail the San Jose Sharks. With Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Kevin Korchinski eligible for this list despite their runs in the NHL, it is fitting that the Blackhawks have a high ranking. 

His ranking, even though it includes the top guys who aren't necessarily considered true prospects anymore, has guys like Nick Lardis and Ethan del Mastro as honorable mentions, rather than making the top 15. Anything can happen, but the Blackhawks appear to be higher on those guys than Pronman is in his rankings. 

Players like Macklin Celebrini, Sam Dickinson, and Michael Misa have San Jose in the same conversation as Chicago, one spot ahead of them. That feeds into the idea that these two teams could be powerhouse Western Conference rivals in the 2030s. 

When you think about what the Blackhawks roster is going to look like in 2026-27, a lot of the players on this list are projected to be on it. They currently have veterans on the team, but how many of them are included in the long-term plans? Very few. 

Chicago's future success mostly comes down to the play of Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov as the core. How other players like Sacha Boisvert, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, and other depth players fit in around them could push them back into playoff contention. 

When you are really high on a list like this, it probably means that there haven't been many wins in recent years, but it could mean that the ship is going to turn around soon. Most evaluators, Pronman included, believe that the Chicago Blackhawks have a bright future. 

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

Josh Gorges had to take the path less travelled to get to the NHL. He went undrafted and worked tirelessly to get an opportunity as a free agent signing, which he obtained with the San Jose Sharks organization. During the 2004-05 lockout, he played with their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Barons, and made his NHL debut in 2005-06, skating in 49 games with the big club. The following year, after playing 47 games with the Sharks, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, along with a first-round pick in the 2007 draft (which would become Max Pacioretty), for Craig Rivet and a 2008 fifth-round pick.

It was in Montreal that he became a regular NHL player and a significant cog in the team’s defense. He was never a big points producer, but he was an effective defensive blueliner, an expert shot-blocker, and the kind of player who doesn’t think twice about sacrificing his body for the team.

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In the eight seasons he played with the Habs, he developed into quite a leader, so much so that when a young Brendan Gallagher joined the team, the veteran agreed to have the rookie move in with his family, a time the Canadiens alternate captain remembers fondly.

Gorges, who went back home to British Columbia after playing four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, had been coaching his sons in minor hockey and served as an assistant coach with the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL for five years. He was recently appointed as an assistant coach with his hometown Kelowna Rockets in the WHL, and gave The Gazette’s Stu Cowan a phone interview following his nomination.

Cowan reports that Gorges has no regrets about blocking his trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs back in the 2014 offseason. After eight years of bleeding red, white, and blue, he didn’t see himself crossing over to the Canadiens' rivals and was ultimately traded to the Buffalo Sabres instead. He does admit that spending four years losing was not the way he would have liked to end his career, but knowing what he does now, he still wouldn’t have agreed to the trade to Toronto.

Unsurprisingly, he still considers the Canadiens as his team, he wants to be remembered as a Montreal Canadiens player, and they remain the team he roots for. Gorges also added that he’s earned nothing but good things about coach Martin St-Louis from the likes of Shea Weber, Carey Price, and Brendan Gallagher, but he’s clearly not envious of the Habs’ bench boss since he doesn’t aspire to be an NHL coach, at least not for now.

The former blueliner was able to win a Memorial Cup with the Rockets in 2002-03, and now that the team is hosting this year’s tournament, he’s hoping to win another one behind the bench. In Kelowna, he’ll also get to coach Canadiens’ prospect Hayden Paupanekis, a third-round pick at the latest draft.

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The New York Rangers have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Vladislav Gavrikov was their most significant signing of the summer, but he is not the only new defenseman who Rangers fans should be excited about.

Back in July, the Rangers traded defenseman K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes in a major swap. One of the main pieces the Rangers got back from the Hurricanes in the trade was prospect defenseman Scott Morrow. He is undoubtedly a Rangers player to watch closely in 2025-26. 

By bringing in Morrow, the Rangers have added a right-shot defenseman with plenty of upside. The potential for him to blossom into a top-four defenseman in the future is there, and he has already shown promise at the NHL level early on in his career. In 14 regular-season games this past season with the Hurricanes, he recorded one goal and six points.

Morrow spent the majority of this past season at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Chicago Wolves, however. He did well with the AHL squad, posting 13 goals, 26 assists, and 39 points in 52 games. With numbers like these, it is clear that the 2021 second-round pick has the potential to produce offense from the point, and the Rangers will be hoping that he can translate it over to the NHL level. 

It is going to be very fascinating to see how much of an impact Morrow can make with the Rangers in 2025-26. The possibility of him breaking out and becoming a nice part of their blueline next season is undoubtedly there. 

The St. Louis Blues are an intriguing team on the rise. A major reason behind it is that they have multiple promising young players with good upside. As a result, it is fair to say that the Blues are heading in the right direction. 

When looking at the Blues' roster heading into the 2025-26 campaign, it is clear that they have a few young players who have the potential to hit new levels. In a recent article for NHL.com, Pete Jensen named defenseman Philip Broberg as the club's top fantasy hockey breakout candidate for the 2025-26 season. 

When looking at how well Broberg performed for the Blues this past season, it is entirely understandable that Jensen views him as a prime breakout candidate. The 2019 eighth-overall pick cemented himself as a full-time NHL defenseman for St. Louis in 2024-25, as he recorded new career highs with eight goals, 21 assists, 29 points, and a plus-21 rating in 68 games.

Yet, as an impactful Broberg was in 2024-25, it is fair to wonder if he can hit a new level this upcoming season. The left-shot defenseman is still just 24 years old and only has 149 games into his NHL career, so he certainly has the potential to continue to improve. It will be interesting to see if he can take that next step and emerge as a star for the Blues next season from here. 

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New York Islanders prospect Daniil Prokhorov's PTO with the KHL's Dynamo Moscow has expired.

He didn't record a point in any of the games he played in, while serving as a fourth-line, 13th forward throughout training camp and preseason. 

The 18-year-old, drafted in the second round (No. 45) of the 2025 NHL Draft, was invited to their training camp after two seasons playing in the VHL, their junior league. 

Winning a job in the KHL was going to be a tough task for Prokhorov, but receiving an invitation was surely a positive sign in terms of how his potential is viewed. 

Dynamo Moscow's head coach, Alexey Kudashov, was asked about what he saw from the youngsters, and that's when he made a comment on Prokhorov (translated):

"Everything is going fine. Some of them played matches in the youth team, and some are playing for Dynamo Saint Petersburg. Everyone is in the squad, everyone is preparing, and everyone is in good shape. The question is whether someone will need a little more time, like, for example, Prokhorov. He is a very young guy and is only taking his first steps in adult hockey. It so happened that he practically did not play in the VHL. Everything is new for him now. All the players are ready; the only question is when the dream will start to be realized." (H/t Dynamo Website)

*The VHL is the KHL's equivalent to the AHL. 

For Prokhorov, playing in the KHL at 18 would have been one thing. However, going back to juniors in Russia likely doesn't make sense for his development, especially when he has the chance to come to North America. 

Yes, he'd be playing juniors over here, but playing for the OHL's Sarnia Sting -- they drafted him in the second round of the CHL Import Draft -- and getting acclimated to the North American game likely makes the most sense. 

Dynamo holds Prokhorov's rights, and they certainly could sign him to play in the VHL. 

We await to find out Prokhorov's plan. Don't be shocked if he signs his entry-level deal really soon.

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For a lot of hockey players, retiring and stepping away from the game is hard. You can see it right now with former Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard who’s already saying he would like to remain with the team in some capacity. Earlier this week, we heard that former top line center Tomas Plekanec will get his first experience behind the scenes at HC Kladno.

In an interview with TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau, Plekanec explained that he is now the Sports Director of the Kladno Knights, a Czech team with which he played for parts of three seasons after retiring from the NHL. If the team sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s the Czech club, which is owned by Jaromir Jagr, who is still playing for it, even at 53 years old.

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Speaking about his role, Plekanec explained that the on-ice decisions belong to the coach, but everything else hockey-related falls to him, meaning that he’s the equivalent of a GM in the NHL. When asked if he would like to have a management role with the Canadiens one day, he smiled and said, “Never say never, right? I’ll think about it when it comes.”

The 42-year-old was a third-round pick and 71st selection overall at the 2001 NHL draft and played 15 seasons in the NHL, all with the Canadiens aside from a 17-game stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs to whom he was traded when he was a pending UFA for Kirby Reichel, Rinat Valiev, and a second-round pick at the 2018 draft. The pick turned into Jacob Olofsson, the 56th selection, the Swedish player is now 25 and he has never played in North America.

The trade was still a big win for the Canadiens since Valiev was then used in a package to acquire defenseman Brett Kulak from the Calgary Flames. The blueliner played parts of four seasons with the Canadiens before being traded to his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers, for William Lagesson, a conditional 2022 second-round pick, and a 2024 seventh-round pick. The latter became left-shot defenseman Rasmus Bergqvist, while the former became reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.

Once his contract expired, Plekanec signed another contract with the Canadiens and played three more games in the 2018-19 season, recaching the 1,000-game mark. The veteran was then approached by the organization about a potential trade, but as he always wanted to retire as a member of the Sainte-Flanelle, he agreed to have his contract terminated by the organization.

In the end, he played 1,001 games in the NHL, including 984 as a Hab. He gathered 608 points (233 goals and 375 assists), skating in a top offensive role with the Canadiens. The center’s best season came in 2009-10 when he put up 70 points and added 11 points in 19 games as the Canadiens rode Jaroslav Halak’s hot streak to the Conference Finals.

Throughout his career, he was recognized as a very defensively responsible pivot, regularly getting votes for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward. He was a mainstay on the Canadiens’ penalty kill and was also strong in the faceoff department.

Unfortunately for Plekanec, the 15 years he spent with the team weren’t the Canadiens’ best, and he spent most of his career in the wrong chair. Had he played on other teams, he wouldn’t have been a top-line center, but since the Canadiens focused on defense for most of his career, he ended up with a significant offensive role and stepped up to the challenge.  

Once he called time on his NHL career, Plekanec went back home to Czechia and finished his season with the Brno Kometa, where he played another season before joining fellow countryman Jarg with Kladno. In 66 games with the Kometa, he put up 40 points and added another 106 points in 117 games with Kladno before hanging up his skates for good during the 2023-24 season.

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The Detroit Red Wings are hoping for big things out of Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, whom they selected in the opening round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

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Having already racked up numerous accolades while representing Sweden in internationanl play, he's now gotten his first taste of North American professional hockey as a member of the Grand Rapids Griffins, and will likely begin the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season with the club barring an incredible showing in Red Wings Training Camp and exhibition play. 

What are the chances that he earns a roster spot with the Red Wings for the start of the new season? 

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Welcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. This edition will cover winger Vitali Kravtsov, who returns to Vancouver after two seasons in the KHL. 

Kravtsov's 2024-25 Season

Kravtsov had a productive 2024-25 season in the KHL. He recorded 58 points in 66 games and finished second in scoring on Traktor Chelyabinsk. As for the playoff, Kravtsov recorded seven points in 19 games while Traktor Chelyabinsk fell in the final to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. 

During the 2025 off-season, Kravtsov returned to the Canucks, signing a one-year, two-way contract with Vancouver. The 25-year-old was a restricted free agent, with his rights being held by Vancouver. Kravtsov's contract carries an AAV of $775,000 in the NHL, while his AHL salary is $450,000. 

Kravtsov's 2025-26 Predictions 

Where Kravtsov plays will be a significant talking point throughout training camp and the pre-season. He does need waivers to play in the AHL and may not even make it to Abbotsford, as he could be claimed if sent down. Kravtsov is also unproven at the NHL level, having produced only 12 points in 64 games during his career so far.

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Based on the Canucks current roster, the most likely spot for Kravtsov would be on the fourth line. That being said, there will be plenty of competition for final roster spots, meaning the Russian winger will have to separate himself from the rest of the forwards. If Kravtsov can provide some offence and show that his defensive game has improved since leaving the NHL, this signing by Vancouver will look like a smart move by the end of the season. 

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Bold Prediction: Kravtsov plays at least 50 games in the NHL this year.

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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, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Mitch Marner is weeks away from playing for a different team for the first time in his career. The Vegas Golden Knights forward is in Calgary for Hockey Canada’s orientation camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics to be held in Italy in February.

During that time, he spoke with TSN’s Mark Masters, his first time speaking to Toronto-based media since he departed the Maple Leafs, his hometown team of nine NHL seasons. In the interview, Marner revealed that the toughest part of leaving was saying goodbye to his teammates, particularly Auston Matthews. The two played their first NHL game together on Oct. 12, 2016, a night when Matthews scored four goals. Marner had tried to arrange a time to talk before Matthews departed for Arizona for the summer, but it didn’t work out.

Marner also revealed that he left Toronto because it was “time for a new chapter” and later went into detail about some of the fan harassment and safety concerns he dealt with over the last couple of years, particularly in the aftermath of Toronto’s 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of their second-round 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs series.

“We play Game 7 as we do in a non-enjoyable way of all time probably,” Marner recounted. “You know you get home, you're pretty disappointed, you're pretty devastated at that. The thought also that it was my last Maple Leaf game at home. And then I get a phone call probably about five or so minutes after from… I think it was my wife's father called me and goes, ‘I just want to let you know we've got people sending us screenshots of a guy posting your address online saying that if people want to come pay us a visit and say their goodbyes—in a quotation way—here’s the address.’ It was a little tough.”

Marner said he and his family had dealt with similar issues for the last two years.

“The market's very passionate. They love the team,” he said. “I know it. I was born and raised there. I've been a part of the Leafs Nation for a long time. But when your family's safety comes into question, especially having a new son, I don't think it's acceptable having full-time security pretty much at your house for two weeks after the playoffs just to make sure no one's coming to the house. And for safety, trying to walk your dog and your child. So it was a little unfortunate, but yeah, we all deal with this stuff.”

While Marner received some hate, there are also many fans of the skilled winger who led the Maple Leafs in points last season. He noted that while he knew he was getting some love from fans, the hate seemed louder.

“The problem is that the love comments don't come out as much as the hatred ones,” Marner said. “And that's just the way life goes, and that's the way social media has turned into in a way.”

He concluded by expressing gratitude for his time in Toronto. “I'm forever grateful to be a Maple Leaf and wear that crest on my… my chest for nine years. I mean, I tried to give everything I had for those nine years.”

The Maple Leafs completed a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Marner’s rights to the Western Conference club. Marner then signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights.

Marner will return to Toronto to play against the Maple Leafs on Jan. 23, the second night of back-to-back games, which he said he doesn’t like. “I would’ve liked to be one day in Toronto,” he added.

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Lane Hutson lives and breathes hockey; that much has been established in his rookie season, and it’s therefore not surprising to see him partner up with the company Hush. to put up a fundraiser in Brossard in the dog days of summer.

On a Thursday at 5:30 PM in Brossard, shortly after the kids returned to school, the event still managed to sell out the Montreal Canadiens' CN Sports Complex, and as a result, they were able to make a $25,000 donation to the Manoir Ronald McDonald Foundation.

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Before hitting the ice with Patrice Brisebois and Paul Byron for the Battle of Generations event, Hutson was made available to the media for 20 minutes. While we had hoped to obtain his comments on the topic of the summer in Montreal (related to his contract), any questions on the subject were shut down by the organizers. When asked why he would like to stay in Montreal, though, he did say that he loves hockey and feels the fans love it just as much as he does.

The sophomore blueliner credits his dad as a role model growing up, which influenced his desire to get involved in community events. Regarding the new arrival, Noah Dobson, he said he skated with him earlier this week and that he looks good, with a great shot. He added that he’ll be an exciting addition to the team. As for being surprised, he said he wasn’t, as there have been numerous changes around the league.

Asked if he was disappointed not to have been invited to the Team USA orientation camp ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics, he explained:

Yes, I mean, there are some great players with USA Hockey and some great NHL players, so I wish them the best. For me, I’ve got a season to get ready for. […] I’d love to play, and it’s a long season, so you never know what could happen. If the opportunity presents itself, it’s certainly something I’d like to do.

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As for Ivan Demidov, he praises his intelligence on the ice and the things he’s able to do. Asked if he would pair him with Patrik Laine if he were coach Martin St-Louis, he laughed and said they seem to have developed a bit of chemistry over the course of a couple of days, so that it could be a possibility; you never know. He added that either way, they will do great. Asked if he could see himself playing with Dobson, he replied that the Canadiens have a lot of great defensemen and plenty of options.

The youngster didn’t take much of a break from the ice this summer, spending most of it on the ice, coaching at his dad’s hockey school. He’s clearly as motivated as ever and hopes to get another taste of playoff hockey at the end of the year. Don’t expect his mum to spend as much time in town this year; all of his brothers are now out of the ice, and she’ll have plenty of visiting to do.

Hutson, Brisebois, and Byron were put through their paces on an obstacle course that was much easier for the current NHLers than for the retired players, unsurprisingly. Then, there was an accuracy shooting event, and a passing event; the youngster also dominated both, while Brisebois looked better in an in-close shooting challenge against the goalies. One of whom was Arseni Radkov, the Canadiens’ third-round pick at the last draft. In the end, it mattered very little who did the best since the point of the evening was to raise funds for the Manoir Ronald McDonald. Tickets were available via a presale at $15 each. The general admission was $30, or four tickets could be purchased for $60. Additionally, a limited number of VIP packages were available for $180.

Hutson is put through his paces on the obstacle course, giving the fans a good show but is stopped by Aseni Radkov #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/4Z8HKCw6rX

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) August 28, 2025

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