Taking another journey through The Hockey News Archive, it was interesting to read about Senators star Tim Stutzle five years ago this summer, just days before his draft day.

It was a weird draft that year. The world was social distancing, and NHL draft prospects were no different, staying home instead of gathering en masse at a single arena.

In our 2020 NHL Draft Preview issue, Matt Larkin profiled Stutzle, the young German who had just proven, with his sublime skill and speed, that he was a boy who could already play with the men.

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May 11, 2020/vol.73, issue06

FIRST GERMANY, THEN THE WORLD

Not long ago, playing in the NHL would’ve been a pipe dream for Tim Stutzle. But after ruling the rink in his home country, he’s ready for the next challenge.

BY MATT LARKIN

Tim Stutzle can picture it.

He’s beating defenders with his blazing speed and pulling highlight-reel dekes in front of NHL crowds, just like his idol, Connor McDavid. Even a decade ago, the dream would’ve felt far-fetched for a German kid from Viersen, a town of 75,000, but so much has changed among his countrymen since then. In 2014, Leon Draisaitl went third overall in the draft, and he was arguably the best player in the world this season. In 2018, the Germans reached the gold-medal game at the Pyeongchang Olympics, a shocking accomplishment even in a tourney that didn’t feature NHL players. In 2019, defenseman Moritz Seider went sixth overall. He played for Adler Mannheim in the DEL, like Stutzle does now, and the two were teammates at the 2020 world juniors.

The NHL thus feels very realistic for Stutzle, a dynamic center who could go top three in a loaded 2020 draft class. That makes it all the more frustrating that he has to stay home, waiting out the global COVID-19 pandemic, unsure when the 2020 draft will happen. He passes the time for a few weeks playing inline hockey outside with his buddies. After the isolation rules tighten, he’s stuck at home, an only child with just his parents as company.

Just because his young career is frozen in time doesn’t mean it won’t bloom someday soon, however. Stutzle has the makings of a scintillating NHL scorer with "he-did-what?" moves that will make him popular in GIF format. “I would say my skating, playmaking and stickhandling are my best abilities,” Stutzle said. “But I can work on everything. I’m young.”

Not just young – consistently younger than everyone he plays with. Yet he still dominates. Rising up the German junior rankings, averaging better than a goal per game was his “normal.” He did it in his age-13 and age-14 seasons on an under-16 team, settled for “only” 18 goals in 25 games as a 15-year-old for Adler Mannheim’s under-19 squad and ripped off 23 in 21 games at 16 with the under-20s before making the pro club in the DEL at 17. Even though the German League sits (just) outside the top five pro circuits in the world, it’s one of the best, so it’s a testament to Stutzle’s talent that he rose so fast.

Oops: Sens Fan Accidentally Receives Unreleased Ottawa Senators Third JerseyAn Ottawa Senators fan got an unexpected gift on Saturday. He thought he was receiving a Senators jersey for his birthday, but the company sent the wrong one.

He joined a team full of ex-NHLers including Ben Smith, Andrew Desjardins, Borna Rendulic and Germany’s own Marcel Goc. It didn’t take long for Stutzle to turn heads with his wheels and raw star power. “His offensive hockey skills, his skating and ability to beat players 1-on-1 and create outnumbered situations, it’s a big asset,” said Adler Mannheim coach Pavel Gross. “Especially the quickness, how he can recognize the situation, how he is able to create new scoring chances for his teammates. That’s something, as a coach, you cannot teach.”

As a first-year pro, Stutzle posted a stat line characteristic of a playmaker: seven goals and 34 points in 41 games. But once he reaches his potential and gets used to playing against men, the goals should come. Forget the obvious and inaccurate comparison to Draisaitl, a hulking puck protector. Gross sees Stutzle, at a stringy 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, as more of an Elias Pettersson type.

The difference right now, Gross says, is Pettersson has one of the NHL’s deadliest releases, whereas Stutzle has to work on getting his shot off quicker. He has yet to consistently translate his speed into good outcomes. He also doesn’t always come out with the puck when he goes into the corner against a big, heavy defenseman.

“The thing I want to work on this summer is getting stronger on the ice to stay on my feet the whole time in battles,” Stutzle said. “That’s the thing I worked a lot on (this) season, playing against men.”

Gross and Tobias Abstreiter, Germany’s world junior coach, list defensive play as the No. 1 skill Stutzle must refine. Not that either views it as a long-term problem.

“Whether it’s Kaapo Kakko or Jack Hughes, whoever signed with an NHL team and then played right away, they all have to improve their play without the puck,” Abstreiter said. “It’s a very important part that coaches want to see. They want to have a good gut feeling when they put these young players on the ice against other top lines. But this is normal. All those young players have to learn to improve their defensive game.”

The COVID-19 sports shutdown could benefit Stutzle’s chances of jumping straight to the NHL. He’s been committed to working out and building strength, and if the 2020-21 season doesn’t start until late fall or early winter, he could have 10 or 15 pounds of muscle packed on, making him stronger on the puck.

Alex Formenton's Lawyer: 'The Crown Attorney Knowingly Forged Ahead With A Hopeless Prosecution'Daniel Brown, the lawyer for former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton, made a statement to the media this week after his client was found not guilty of sexual assault charges. Formenton and four other members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Team were accused of sexual assault by a then 20-year-old woman in a London, Ontario hotel room.

If he jumps directly to the NHL, it might not be at his natural position. Stutzle was a center his whole life but played left wing this season and says he enjoyed it as much as he does center. Gross believes the wing maximizes Stutzle’s potential. As Gross explains it, Stutzle’s skills are more disruptive on the wing, since he can beat D-men to create chances inside for himself or outskate them to the outside along the boards and circle the net to set up teammates.

Playing the wing also means less defensive responsibility, which is good for a youngster. So if Stutzle fast-tracks to the NHL, the best-case scenario would be to do so as a winger – with high-end company on a scoring line. “If you put him on the fourth line, he’s gonna die there, know what I mean?” Gross said. “He was 17 years old, and we just said in our organization, ‘You know what? We’re going to bring him the right way with the good players, with two good players, players with a lot of experience.’”

Stutzle played with Smith and Finnish right winger Tommi Huhtala this season. Not only did Stutzle learn a lot about the nuances of the pro game from them, but he also absorbed a ton of English. That will help him ingratiate quicker when he comes to North America. He describes himself as shy, but that doesn’t mean he’s an introvert. Gross views him as someone who isn’t the loudest guy in the room but isn’t the quiet loner, either. “He’s a good team guy,” Abstreiter said. “He treats everybody the same. He doesn’t think he’s something special. He’s never too arrogant or puts his ego in front. He’s very focused for his age.”

Stutzle has a real shot to tie Draisaitl as the highest-drafted German of all-time at third overall. It would be an upset if Stutzle gets picked before man-child Quinton Byfield at No. 2, though. There’s a certain level of pressure that comes with being the No. 1 or 2 pick in a draft class, but it lessens once you reach No. 3 and down. Jonathan Drouin didn’t jump right to the NHL. Nor did Dylan Strome or Pierre-Luc Dubois. So it wouldn’t be a big surprise if Stutzle gets one more year of seasoning.

With his maturity, though, he’ll take his fate in stride. He’s quick on the ice but patient off it.

“The hype was a lot this season in Mannheim, and I just enjoyed it, but we need to settle down a little bit,” he said. “My goal is to play in the NHL a long time and win something. I haven’t reached anything yet. You have to stay on the ground and be humble and work hard.”

By Matt Larkin
The Hockey News Archive
Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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The Los Angeles Kings recently signed Alex Laferriere to a new, three-year deal, and while most fans are very pleased with the deal, it's always nice to see another pundit give the contract a positive grade.

In a recent article at Clutch Points, Laferriere's new deal was given an "A" from the Kings, and a "A-" for Laferriere.

In the article, writer Bryan Logan stated: "There is an aspect of the forward betting on himself with this deal, but considering his progressions already, it may have been a smart move. Overall, both sides got what they needed."

Image Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Do the Los Angeles Kings Make Sense as a Fit for Rickard Rakell?The Pittsburgh Penguins could be looking to move some of their players this offseason, specifically both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, and with a little money left over, do the Los Angeles Kings make sense as a potential fit for Rakell? 3 PTO Options for the LA Kings Going Into the 2025-26 SeasonWith the NHL offseason coming to a close, the Los Angeles Kings still have some cap room to play with before training camp.  LA Kings Hire Former Oilers Staff Member Who Previously Worked With Ken Holland Image Credit: © Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins could be looking to move some of their players this offseason, specifically both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, and with a little money left over, do the Los Angeles Kings make sense as a potential fit for Rakell?

The Kings would have to move money out, considering Rakell has a $5 million cap hit, and the Kings only have $2,668,833 in cap space, but Rakell’s ability to score and play solid hockey in the defensive zone makes him an enticing asset to try and move some money around for. 

Rakell, who is 32 years old, scored 35 goals and added 35 assists for 70 points through 81 games last season. His offensive importance can’t be denied, but that doesn’t mean he would be a good fit for the Kings.

Would Adding Him Make Sense?

In this situation, though, he could plug into the second line with ease. He could bolster the Kings’ top six and become one of their key scorers heading into the 2025-26 season. 

Realistically, adding him likely cancels out the questionable moves the Kings made this offseason and puts them into contention to make it out of the Western Conference, and gives them a real shot at making a push for a Stanley Cup. 

His ability to drive the play offensively while being able to complement any player he is a linemate with makes him someone the Kings should be all over.

Of course, one player doesn’t make a team, but he could be a perfect fit and the final piece to the puzzle that allows them to finally get over the hump.

Image Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

3 PTO Options for the LA Kings Going Into the 2025-26 SeasonWith the NHL offseason coming to a close, the Los Angeles Kings still have some cap room to play with before training camp.  LA Kings’ AHL Affiliate Announces Extension For Prospect Defender Parker BergeThe Los Angeles Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign, has announced an extension for prospect defender Parker Berge. Alex Laferriere New Contract A Steal For The LA KingsImage Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It is fair to say that the 2024-25 season was a tough year for Chicago Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel. The young winger did not have the breakout season he and the club had hoped for, as he recorded eight goals, 14 assists, 22 points, and a minus-16 rating in 70 games. This was after he had five goals and 16 points in 65 games with the Blackhawks in 2023-24.

Overall, with numbers like these, Reichel has yet to become the top-six forward that the Blackhawks expected him to be when they selected him with the 17th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. While this is the case, he should not be given up on yet. 

Sometimes it can take young players more time than expected to hit their full potential, and this very well could end up being the case for Reichel. At 23 years old, he is still plenty young enough to improve, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if he did in 2025-26 because of it. His skill and offensive upside are what led to him being a first-rounder, and it will be interesting to see if he can break out next season. 

Where New Blackhawks Should Fit In LineupIt is no secret that it has been a far quieter off-season this year for the Chicago Blackhawks compared to last year. While this is the case, the Blackhawks did make a few new additions, as they brought in Andre Burakovsky, Sam Lafferty, and Dominic Toninato.

Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

With the Pittsburgh Penguins being far from a playoff-caliber team right now, plenty of hockey fans have speculated about the Metropolitan Division club potentially trading captain Sidney Crosby to give him the chance to play for a contender again. 

However, in the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman completely shut down the ongoing Crosby trade rumors. 

"He's going to start the year with the Penguins," Friedman said while chuckling. "I don't think there's any doubt about that. We got the preliminary media list, and it says 'Sidney Crosby, Penguins.' So, that one was a sign to me that, if anybody doubted that, he's not getting traded this summer. He's definitely not getting traded this summer."

With Crosby entering the first season of the two-year, $17.4 million contract extension he signed with the Penguins before the 2024-25 campaign, this update from Friedman is not surprising in the slightest. 

Crosby is now entering his 21st season with the Penguins in 2025-26 and will continue to be the face of the franchise. In 80 games this past season with Pittsburgh, he recorded 33 goals, 58 assists, and 91 points. 

Penguins New Forward Should Be Great FitThe Pittsburgh Penguins have made plenty of new additions to their roster this off-season. Among their free-agent signings was forward Justin Brazeau, as the Penguins signed him to a two-year, $3 million contract on July 1.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has managed to re-stock prospect pool that had been nearly completely barren upon his arrival back to the franchise in April 2019. 

Not only has Yzerman been known for his savvy drafting, but also willingness to take flyers on players who went un-drafted. 

One such player is goaltender Michal Postava, who was recently inked to a two-year, entry-level contract by the Red Wings and now represents the latest intriguing figure in Detroit's goalie prospect pool which already includes Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine. 

UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed goaltender Michal Postava to a two-year, entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/G8DFWZ0Z8t

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 11, 2025

Postava, who originally hails from Valasske Mezirici, Czechia, understandably has an affinity for Czech-born goaltenders. 

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

“I’m a big fan of all the Czech goalies who played in the NHL,” Postava said as originally reported by Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now. “(Dominik) Hasek was among the first ones I watched. Petr Mrazek is one of them, as well as a lot of other guys.”

Hasek spent three separate stints during his Hall of Fame NHL career with the Red Wings, the first and third of which resulted in him lifting the Stanley Cup and shortly announcing his retirement from the NHL afterward. 

Mrazek has now played two stints with Detroit, the second of which lasted only a few months after being re-acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in March. In late June, the Red Wings traded him to the Anaheim Ducks as part of the deal to acquire John Gibson. 

Before Mrazek's trade to the Ducks, he briefly spent some time with Postava at the Red Wings' annual Development Camp at Little Caesars Arena. 

"Yeah, we were talking maybe three days before he got traded,” Postava said. “So he was welcoming me and telling me to be proud and try hard every day.”

Not only is it a prideful thing to be signed by an NHL club, but Postava would love to be Detroit's next great Czech goaltender. 

"I’m enjoying every moment, and I’m proud to be a part of this organization," he said.

“There have always been a lot of Czechs here, and they are still active in the organization," he continued. "Plus, it’s a big club from the Original Six. It’s a huge opportunity for me." 

Speaking of Czechs who are still in the organization, former Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer, who had his career come to a frightening end in November 2005 with a near-fatal cardiac event at Joe Louis Arena, currently serves as Detroit's Director of Player Evaluation and gave Postava the inside scoop. 

“I talked to Jiri Fisher, and he was telling me like, everywhere what happens and everything that was done here,” Postava said. “He helped me a lot to get here.”

Postava played in 42 games last season for HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga, and amassed a record of 23-18-0 with an impressive .921 save percentage and three shutouts. 

He'll be a participant in Training Camp for the Red Wings next month, and could see playing time in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

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One of the strongest parts of the Montreal Canadiens' roster is their blueline. It is no secret that they have a ton of depth on their blueline, and they only improved it this off-season by bringing in Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. 

However, with the Canadiens having so many NHL defensemen and promising prospect blueliners in their system, they are starting to create some chatter in the rumor mill. 

In a recent episode of The Sick Podcast, Sportsnet's Eric Engels argued that "there's a good chance" that one of Mike Matheson, Arber Xhekaj, or Jayden Struble may no longer be with the Canadiens by next off-season to make room for prospect defensemen like David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom.

"Between those three guys, right, you have Matheson, Struble, Xhekaj," Engels said. "There's a good chance that between now and this time next year, one of those guys is not here... We know David Reinbacher is a big part of the future for the Canadiens... It's pretty vital to their plans to become a perennial contender that he starts to get some NHL games under his belt."

When looking at this list of players, Matheson stands out as the most notable. The 31-year-old has been a major part of the Canadiens' blueline since his arrival, but is also a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). Meanwhile, there would also be some risk in moving on from Xhekaj or Struble, as they are young defensemen with good upside. 

Nevertheless, it will be very interesting to see if the Canadiens end up moving on from a defenseman between now and next off-season. 

Canadiens' Blueline Ranked Among NHL's BestIt is no secret that the Montreal Canadiens have a strong defensive group. They only improved upon this off-season, too, as they acquired star blueliner Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders last month.

Photo Credit: © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres' schedule has been out for some time now, and it's always fun to examine the Sabres' opponents by breaking down their showdowns against each of the NHL's 31 other teams.

We here at THN.com's Sabres site have been analyzing Buffalo's opponents in the Eastern Conference, but today, we're shifting our focus to the first (alphabetical) team in the highly-competitive Central Division -- the Chicago Blackhawks. who have struggled in the post-Jonathan Toews/Patrick Kane Era. Will this season be any different for Chicago? And does that mean the Blackhawks will beat the Sabres in their games this year? Read on to find out.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

NEW BLACKHAWKS PLAYERS: Andre Burakovsky, LW; Sam Lafferty, C; Dominic Toninato, C 

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 2-0-0, Blackhawks 0-2-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  November 21 at Buffalo; April 13 at Chicago 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  To be blunt -- the Sabres throttled the Blackhawks in their two games this past year, and there's no good reason Buffalo can't beat Chicago in their two games this coming season.

Chicago made some peripheral moves at forward this summer, landing Burakovsky from Seattle, acquiring Lafferty in a trade with the Sabres, and signing depth center Toninato away from the Winnipeg Jets. That's all they did, and given how terrible Chicago looked last year, Hawks management should've done much more than that to be a letigimate Stanley Cup playoff contender.

The Blackhawks also hired a new coach in former Detroit Red Wings bench boss Jeff Blashill, but even the greatest coach of all-time would have trouble turning this Hawks team into a world-beater. The Hawks almost certainly are going to miss the playoffs once again this season, and the Sabres would have to count losses to Chicago as huge disappointments.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: How Will Buffalo Fare Against High-Octane Washington Capitals?The Buffalo Sabres want nothing more than to qualify for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs. Ending Buffalo's 14-year drought without any playoff games is a gigantic stain on the organization, but there's no assurace the Sabres will be able to vault over many solid teams and grab a playoff berth.

The two games between Buffalo and the Blackhawks come at opposite ends of the year -- the first game coming six weeks into the season, and the final game coming as the Sabres' second-last game of the year. By that point, the Hawks should be well out of the playoff race -- and at that point, the Sabres could be in a massive battle for a playoff spot that could be decided by one or two standings points.

If Buffalo does lose out on a playoff berth by a couple of points or less, and they failed to take advantage of their games against the Blackhawks, Sabres fans could point to their lack of success against Chicago as a turning point in their season.

That said, it's not like the Hawks are totally bereft of talent. They've got budding star center Connor Bedard as their crown jewel, and their young talents on defense could take major competitive steps forward. If they can at least improve their goaltending, they might have enough talent to surprise some people.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Should Buffalo Dominate Showdowns Against Lowly Penguins Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres know their schedule for the 2025-26 campaign, and if Buffalo hopes to end their Stanley Cup playoff drought after 14 years, they're going to need to make the most of every rivalry they have in the league. And that includes the Pittsburgh Penguins -- the team that is the latest Metropolitan Division rival for the Sabres in THN.com's Sabres site rankings of all Buffalo's Eastern Conference's rivals.

Still, all things considered, there's no legitimate excuse for the Sabres to lose when they play the Blackhawks. Buffalo has more depth, in all areas, than Chicago has.

The NHL always has games where lesser teams beat better teams, so the Sabres have to be careful. But they've got two games against the Blackhawks to make count against their bottom line, and if they blow those games, their destiny may be out of their hands.

New Pre-Season cards are available in NHL 25 HUT. 

14 new base Pre-Season cards were added on Aug. 5 led by four 98 overall cards, Miro Heiskanen, Kyle Connor, Kevin Pasche, and Linus Hulstrom.

97 overall Adam Fantilli and Matty Beniers and 96 overall Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Yaroslav Askarov were also added. Askarov is a good card for those looking for a right-handed catching goalie.

Related objective and HUT moments were also added, week two of the event will go live on Aug. 8 at 5pm EST. 

Matthew Tkachuk was named the NHL 26 cover athlete, the NHL 26 reveal trailer goes live at 12 EST Aug. 6.

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

We’re well into The Hockey News’ summer splash series – our exclusive rankings of the off-seasons of each NHL team. We’ve been moving in reverse from the 32nd-place Buffalo Sabres to the No. 1 spot. And our latest team is No. 13 in the series – the St. Louis Blues.

For the entirety of this series, we’re examining each team’s lineup additions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable. After careful consideration, we’ve reached a consensus regarding where teams are ranked in terms of the moves they’ve made this summer. Some teams have improved, and some teams have made a slight improvement or regression in one way or another. And finally, some teams have obviously regressed. 

The Blues had a solid regular season last year before blowing a late lead against the Winnipeg Jets and being eliminated in the first round. But St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong has never been shy when it comes to making big moves, and once again this summer, he’s made a few changes. 

That said, the Blues are closer to the middle of the field in these rankings because they’re not considerably better or worse than they were at the end of last season. And they’re still going to have a tough go of it making the Stanley Cup playoffs in the seriously competitive Central Division. 

Additions

Pius Suter (C), Nick Bjugstad (C), Logan Mailloux (D)

The Breakdown: The Blues came on strong late last season, after nearly digging a hole they couldn’t climb out of. Armstrong did his best to beef up his defense corps with the in-season acquisition of veteran Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks. And that was enough to push St. Louis into a playoff berth. But this summer, they made a savvy signing at center with former Vancouver Canuck Suter, then signing journeyman Bjugstad and trading for former Montreal Canadiens blueliner Mailloux.

Those are all relative fringe players. The core of the Blues is still veteran center Robert Thomas, star winger Jordan Kyrou, and captain Brayden Schenn, and unless they come through with dependably solid seasons, the likes of Suter, Bjugstad and Mailloux aren’t going to put the team on their back.

Individually, Suter is a decent-enough center, Bjugstad is a fourth-liner, and Mailloux has the potential to grow into a top-four D-man. But right now, Armstrong is showing his core he believes in them. And that means making only peripheral changes.

Departures

Zach Bolduc (RW), Torey Krug (D), Radek Faksa (C), Ryan Suter (D)

The Breakdown: We’re including Krug in this list of departures because he’s essentially been diagnosed with a career-ending injury. This is why there’s room for Mailloux – the Blues will put Krug on Long-Term-Injured-Reserve, and be able to spend a good deal of cap space to improve during the season.

Losing Bolduc hurts the most, as he scored 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games last season. But you have to give something to get something, and that Mailloux deal cost St. Louis a promising young player.

Faksa was a consistent defensive presence up front, but he’s more or less replaced by Bjugstad. And Suter is likely retiring after a stellar NHL career. But as a group of four departees, they’re all minor bumps in the road for a Blues team that expects to be a playoff team once again this coming year.

The Bottom Line

The Blues’ collapse against Winnipeg was stunning, and it would’ve been easy for Armstrong to tear it all down and start anew with a different core of players. Instead, he’s doubled down by only adding a few talents that aren’t elite – at least, not yet.

For the purposes of our summer splash rankings, we put St. Louis near the middle of the pack because, while they’re not demonstrably worse, they’re also not significantly better than they were last year. That may change if Armstrong uses his cap space to add talent. But as it stands, the Blues haven’t changed all that much.

And in the Central Division, not improving all that much could lead to a division-rival team like the Utah Mammoth vaulting past the Blues and keeping them out of the playoff picture. The pressure on St. Louis is considerable, and the way they begin the year could lead to major moves from a GM who wants his team to be Cup contenders in the long term.

Summer Splash Rankings

13. St. Louis Blues

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Colorado Avalanche

16. Ottawa Senators

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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With August here, we have seen most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) get signed. Although this is the case, there are still some veteran UFAs who rmeain unsigned, and one of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Brock McGinn.

McGinn was limited to only 26 games this past season with the Anaheim Ducks, where he recorded four goals, four assists, eight points, 61 hits, and a plus-1 rating. His season came to an end in late December after he suffered a torn ACL, which required surgery to repair. This was after McGinn only played in 24 games for the Ducks during the 2023-24 season due to injury trouble as well.

While McGinn has gone through some injury trouble in recent years, it is fair to wonder if he could land a professional tryout (PTO) with a team, assuming he is healthy enough for training camp. The 31-year-old has put together a nice career as a bottom-six forward and penalty killer, so he could be a decent option for a team needing more depth to take a shot on.

McGinn spent two seasons with the Penguins, where he recorded 22 goals, 16 assists, 38 points, 169 hits, and an even plus/minus rating in 124 games. His time with the Penguins came to an end when he was traded to the Ducks at the 2024 NHL trade deadline.

Penguins New Forward Should Be Great FitThe Pittsburgh Penguins have made plenty of new additions to their roster this off-season. Among their free-agent signings was forward Justin Brazeau, as the Penguins signed him to a two-year, $3 million contract on July 1.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Winnipeg Jets Updated Top 10 Prospects - Feb. 24 2025 - Vol. 78, Issue 08 - Jared Clinton

ROADBLOCKS AREN’T JUST A fixture during Winnipeg summers, they also exist during the Jets’ season. Given the team’s title aspirations and veteran-laden lineup, serious obstacles stand in the way of youth seeking to break through. But Jets director of player development Jimmy Roy sees it as a positive if Winnipeg’s top prospects hunger to take minutes off of established big-league talent. “Any young player, you want to be in the NHL right now, and if you don’t compare yourself to those players that are there, then you’re far off,” Roy said. “That’s what you need to do with your mindset.”

1 BRAYDEN YAGER

C, 20, 6-0, 170

Lethbridge (WHL)

Trade (Pit), Aug. 22, 2024

OVERALL 23

Wearing the ‘C’ at the WJC was a signifier of Yager’s experience but also came with expectations: he was to be relied upon for offense. Despite logging the second-most ice time among Canadian forwards, though, he had just three points in five WJC games. But the Jets believe it’s only a blip for Yager, who was acquired from Pittsburgh in a swap for Rutger McGroarty. Yager’s gifts have long been apparent, and Winnipeg is high on his ability to find open ice and create space.

2 BRAD LAMBERT

C, 21, 6-2, 180

Manitoba (AHL)

2022 draft, 30th overall

OVERALL 78

After Lambert had 55 points in the AHL last season, his decline in production will worry some, but not the Jets’ brass. He had a one-game taste of the NHL last season and earned another four-game call-up this year. He is working to improve the finer details of his game. Given his one-time standing as a projected top-five pick, there was never doubt about his offense. The elements he’s working on – like competing for pucks and using his strength – put him on a path to regular NHL duty.

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3 NIKITA CHIBRIKOV

RW, 22, 5-11, 193

Manitoba (AHL)

2021 draft, 50th overall

OVERALL 80

Chibrikov wowed in Manitoba last year with an unexpected 47-point output as an AHL rookie. That helped him make his NHL debut last season, where he scored his first big-league goal. Chibrikov again turned heads with two goals during a four-game stint with the Jets in December. Roy expects the energetic and enthusiastic Chibrikov to force himself into the Jets’ lineup. “He plays hard,” Roy said. “Has a good shot. He’s got good vision, skill. He’s going to be an NHL player one day.”

4 COLBY BARLOW

LW, 20, 6-1, 190

Oshawa (OHL)

2023 draft, 18th overall

OVERALL 81

Barlow’s pure goal-scoring ability, which starts with a heavy and accurate shot, leaps off the page. He’s backed it up with consecutive 40-goal seasons in the OHL, too, and the transferability of his offensive instincts was evident in his three-point cameo with the AHL’s Moose last season. The Jets like Barlow’s competitiveness and leadership qualities, which “pulls players into the fight,” said Roy. And the Jets were also encouraged by his work to improve his skating and conditioning.

5 ELIAS SALOMONSSON

D, 20, 6-2, 189

Manitoba (AHL)

2022 draft, 55th overall

Injuries have hindered Salomonsson’s first AHL campaign, but there have been glimpses of the tremendous upside he possesses. His shot, both in power and precision, is a useful tool, but his best asset remains his skating. He moves about the ice with such ease and gracefulness that, given room, he can act as a one-man defensive-zone escape artist. What will get him to the next level? “Doing things at a little higher pace,” Roy said. “He’s growing and understanding the physicality and strength needed to play in the (NHL).”

6 ALFONS FREIJ

D, 19, 6-1, 187

Bjorkloven (Swe.2)

2024 draft, 37th overall

Puck-moving blueliner with good shot needs to get stronger on his skates.

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7 CHAZ LUCIUS (*Now Retired*)

C, 21, 6-2, 185

Manitoba (AHL)

2021 draft, 18th overall

Talent is evident, but he needs game time. Injuries have cost him dearly.

8 KEVIN HE

LW, 18, 6-0, 180

Niagara (OHL)

2024 draft, 109th overall

Great combination of skill and work ethic. Named Niagara captain this season.

9 KIERON WALTON

LW, 18, 6-6, 216

Sudbury (OHL)

2024 draft, 187th overall

Has the frame of a throwback power forward and skill set of a deft playmaker.

10 JACOB JULIEN

C, 20, 6-4, 190

London (OHL)

2023 draft, 146th overall

Builds from own zone outward, even if that means sacrificing offense.

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We are in the midst of the dog days of summer as NHL players, agents, and front office executives enjoy their time away before the 2025-26 season gets started next month with the opening of training camp. 
It is the perfect time to do another New Jersey Devils mailbag here at The Hockey News. Let's jump in. 

Q: Do you feel like a Luke Hughes deal is reached by training camp? 

- dcthesportsman 

Naturally, many of you have asked about Luke Hughes. I have been checking in with Hughes' agent since January. At this time, there is nothing to report.  

 Players have acknowledged this has been a bit of an odd market for free agents, and the NHL in general has been quiet since that initial rush on July 1. If you listened to 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman provided some insight, saying, "With the cap going up, the market is getting reset. I don't see problems getting guys signed, but I do see the sweet spot for both team and player being a challenge."   

One thing I wonder about a deal being finalized ahead of training camp is that Hughes has the same agent as Dawson Mercer. As we know, Mercer's negotiations were still ongoing at the start of training camp.

The negotiations between Hughes' camp and the Devils have been quiet, and I don't expect that to change. 

Q: Is there any indication as to where Cam Squires fits on the organizational depth chart? 

- @faseeshuss

In my opinion, it is a little too early to tell. Cam Squires transitioned to professional hockey late last season and appeared in only three games for the Utica Comets (American Hockey League). 

It was a great sample as he earned at least a point in every appearance, finishing with four points (one goal, three assists), being utilized as a top-line right winger.  

He is a player whom I am excited to watch, as the Comets struggled offensively last season. I think the answer to your question will become clearer as the season carries on and we learn what type of player Squires is at the professional level. 

Q: What will be Simon Nemec's role this year? Seems like there is a logjam once Johnathan Kovacevic is cleared to play. 

- @lose4hughes
With Johnathan Kovacevic sidelined, Simon Nemec will have the opportunity to prove he can continue to play at the level we saw in the playoffs. Honestly, for him, it will always come down to consistency. 

On April 26, I spoke with Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe about Nemec and will share what he had to say about the young defenseman:

Keefe on Nemec's effort:

"I would say he has taken steps in that area, but that has been part of the development process for him. (Just) to embrace the work that needs to be done. It is a hard league, and not everything works on the timeline that is in your mind. The league humbles you. You have the decision to either recognize this and get to work, or it is going to be a lot harder on you than you want it to be. That is what we are going through with (Nemec), and I have seen positive steps in this area." 

Keefe on Nemec's urgency:

"It has improved. There is a way to go, but to me, it has improved, which is why you trust him in these games. You put him in (the lineup) in part out of necessity with the injuries, but the other part is that he has taken strides towards being a good player. Yesterday's positive result with the (double overtime game-winning) goal is going to help him take a big step in his confidence, but it is not going to change the work that needs to be done." 

Regarding Kovacevic, I reached out for an update on his status and how he is doing, but did not receive a response at the time of publication. 

Q: What is the plan with Lenni Hameenaho?

- @nickauriemma12

He is a player the organization is excited to see and will have an opportunity to impress the coaching staff during training camp. I am expecting him to spend the majority of the 2025-26 season in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets.

Q: What is our favorite road arena in the NHL?

- stevenl49

I have always been transparent about the fact that I don't travel at this point in my career. I have been to Madison Square Garden and Wells Fargo Center, and I absolutely love MSG.  

This season, I am eyeing a trip to Nashville in March. We will see if any other opportunities present themselves.

Q: Who is your personal favorite player of all time? 

- rhockeyc

This is probably a terrible answer, but I don't really have one. Years ago, a very kind Devils fan gifted me a New Jersey Devils Jack O'Callahan jersey, and it is the best jersey I own, so I'll say O'Callahan for the purpose of this question. 

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Photo Credit: © John Jones-Imagn Images