It's late July, and The Wraparound is still breaking down NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.

Which NHL Players Have Lots To Prove This Season? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Which NHL team has the longest competitive window?

5:00: Should the Vegas Golden Knights be concerned about their goaltending?

8:15: Can the Chicago Blackhawks eventually win with Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom as their goaltenders?

11:02: Will any remaining UFA goaltenders be signed before training camp?

14:53: Do the Buffalo Sabres need significant changes to their defensive group?

17:55: Which players have the most to prove this season?

21:43: Did the Seattle Kraken get closer to playoff contention after their off-season moves?

24:18: Grading the Minnesota Wild’s off-season

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

Promo photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Niko Mikkola has played a crucial role in the Florida Panthers' recent success, putting the league on notice during the playoffs, yet his value to the organization can still be considered underrated. 

When the Panthers are at full health, Mikkola is the team's second-best left-handed defenseman after Gustav Forsling. He's also widely considered the third-best defenseman defensively and possibly the fourth or fifth-best defenseman offensively. It's because of this that Mikkola flies under the radar, but if given the opportunity or if it presented itself through injuries, Mikkola could very likely step into a larger role and thrive.

Prior to joining the Panthers, the 29-year-old was considered nothing more than a stay-at-home physical defenseman. With the St. Louis Blues and briefly with the New York Rangers, Mikkola thrived as a hard-hitting blue liner who blocked shots and killed penalties. While he continues to do so at a high level for the Panthers, he's shown that he can contribute in other ways.

In the playoffs, particularly, Mikkola demonstrated the offensive game that hasn't been tapped into at the NHL level. On multiple occasions, Mikkola fearlessly jumped into the playoff offensively, showcasing puck skills to make plays, a quick release to beat goaltenders and skating abilities to blend it all together. He finished the 2024-25 playoffs, averaging 20:13 of ice, scoring three goals and six points. 

NIKO MIKKOLA SNIPE SHOW 🎯

WHAT A RUN FOR THE D-MAN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/q9YM2sCgZ4

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 25, 2025

Although he demonstrated that he has more to offer, he still is best suited for the role he currently plays, as the team's No.4 defenseman, but the Panthers can feel at ease that if they do run into injury issues, the Kiiminki, FIN native can seamlessly step into a large role and do so comfortably. 

The Panthers have built their success on depth and complete buy-in from each and every player, and there are very few players on the Panthers roster who exemplify this better than the 6-foot-6 defender. 

Ekblad, Forsling or Petry? Who's Best Suited To Run The Panthers Second Power Play UnitAs the dog days of the offseason continue and the excitement for the 2025-26 season continues to build, attempting to predict who fits where and what role they serve is always a fun topic. Today, we look at who is best suited to quarterback the Florida Panthers' second power play unit.

With August just about here, we have seen the majority of this year's NHL unrestricted free agents (UFAs) get signed. As a result of this, things around the league have naturally slowed down, which is a common occurrence during this part of the summer.

While this is the case, former Chicago Blackhawks forward Craig Smith is among this year's UFAs who have still not been signed by a new team just yet.

This is certainly a different story than it was for Smith this past year, as he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blackhawks on the first day of free agency last off-season. However, it is taking the veteran winger a little more time to get his next deal this year.

While Smith remains unsigned at this juncture of the summer, the possibility of this changing is certainly there. The 35-year-old's solid two-way play and high amount of experience could make him a nice addition for a team looking to add to their forward depth. Thus, it would not be particularly surprising if he landed a one-year deal or professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL club before training camp if he wishes to continue his career.

In 40 games with the Blackhawks this past season, Smith recorded nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, and a minus-2 rating. His time with the Blackhawks ended at the 2025 trade deadline when he and goaltender Petr Mrazek were dealt to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Joe Veleno.

Blackhawks Forward Is Extension Candidate To WatchThe Chicago Blackhawks will have several players in the final year of their contracts during the 2025-26 season. Due to this, there is certainly a chance that we could see them sign some of their players to contract extensions, whether that is this off-season or during the 2025-26 campaign. 

Photo Credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers are at bat in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Rangers’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

Last season was a rollercoaster for the Rangers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a fun coaster like at the local fair; it was a Final Destination movie. 

Almost nothing went right as soon as the season began, and if we’re being honest, it started in the summer last year when they were trying to move key veterans who were ultimately moved out at a later time. 

The team is in a weird spot. The Rangers haven’t committed to rebuilding or retooling because they have some pricey veterans on the roster, but they have made some moves that suggest they want to at least get younger. 

Since opening night last season, they’ve traded out trusted veterans and lineup staples, such as former captain Jacob Trouba, Ranger great Chris Kreider and even a young defender with promise, K’Andre Miller. 

The Kreider and Miller deals brought the Rangers two very solid prospects to add to their system: Scott Morrow and Carey Terrance.

Morrow is one of the top prospects in the Rangers' system after being acquired this summer. The former Shattuck St. Mary’s defender is a cerebral player, using his incredible puckhandling and slick passing to move the puck all over the ice. Morrow has the brain to run a power play or generate offense at even strength. His skating is good, but he doesn’t have the explosiveness you’d like. He’s fairly fluid in his movement, but he isn’t a powerful skater. Morrow could jump into the lineup at some point this season.

Terrance is a hard-working energy center who loves to fire pucks on net. He might have a limited ceiling, but he is a smart player who will do what a coach asks of him. His defensive game is solid, mostly thanks to his work ethic, which could keep him at center at the pro level. He’ll have the chance to prove he can bring a bit more offense with some better players when he gets to the AHL this fall.

After a 22-game stint with the Rangers this past year, Brennan Othmann will look to compete for a spot in the lineup immediately this season. The 22-year-old has been a very good AHLer for a couple of seasons, but he hasn’t made an impact yet in the NHL. Othmann is a crafty goal-scorer who brings some edge to the game. He likes getting under the skin of opponents as well. If he can keep up with the speed of the NHL game, he could be a very solid middle-six forward for the Rangers as soon as this season. 

Undersized forward Brett Berard is a fun story. He played in 35 NHL games last year, and although he’s no longer a rookie, he hasn’t established himself in the NHL yet. Berard is a worker who gets to the middle and consistently tries to stay involved in the play. He’s a high-paced winger who loves to push the puck up ice and use his teammates well. He could be a very solid depth scorer at the NHL level.

Slovak forward Adam Sykora is a fun player to watch because he consistently pushes the pace of play and tries to create. Defensively, Sykora is always putting in 110 percent effort, throwing hits and looking to play through the attacker's hands to dislodge the puck. When he has the puck, he’s passing it off in transition and immediately looking to present an option for a return pass. He wants to drive the puck into the high-danger areas and create chances. He could be in line for a big bump in his AHL production this season. 

The Rangers drafted EJ Emery last year as a bet on a player who loves to be physical and play defensive hockey with an athletic package that should allow him to develop his puck skills. While he showed some of that physicality and defensive play at the University of North Dakota this past season, he struggled with the puck. His one assist in 31 games was underwhelming, to say the least. Emery is still a very raw player, so time will tell whether he can develop his game with the puck. 

In his second year with Boston College, Drew Fortescue took a step as a complete player, but that came with an acceptance that he can be a bit more reserved offensively. He has good tools and makes decent decisions, but Fortescue must figure out what he’ll be at the next level. As of right now, he’s a work in progress.

U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season

Gabe Perreault (RW/LW), Scott Morrow (D), Brennan Othmann (LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 43rd overall - Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)

Round 3, 70th overall - Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque (USHL)

Round 3, 89th overall - Artem Gonchar, D, Magnitogorsk Jr. (Rus.)

Round 4, 111th overall - Mikkel Eriksen, C, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)

Round 5, 139th overall - Zeb Lindgren, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 166th overall - Samuel Jung, RW, Karpat (Fin.)

Round 6, 171st overall - Evan Passmore, D, Barrie (OHL)

Round 7, 203rd overall - Felix Farhammar, D, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)

Although they didn’t pick in the first round, the Rangers still landed Malcolm Spence. 

Spence was thought to be a potential top-10 pick coming into the year. A bit of an underwhelming year and some questions about just how high his upside is caused him to fall out of the first round. 

Spence plays a very pro-style game. He can play a physical game, especially on the forecheck and backcheck. He commits to putting in an effort on the defensive side of the puck as well. Spence has shown some creativity and skill as a playmaker, and he has a very good shot, but he should use it more.

Sean Barnhill’s game isn’t complicated or flashy. He’s a big defender and a smooth skater who plays a smart defensive game, building on his mobility and finishing plays with his massive frame when needed. Barnhill has room to grow offensively because he shows off the tools he’s working with and the odd flash of skill. If he ever develops an offensive edge, he could be a massive steal. If not, he has the floor of a solid defender. 

The nephew of longtime NHLer Sergei Gonchar, Artem Gonchar, plays a solid two-way game with excellent puck-moving and evasive skating. That said, he is very thin at six-foot and 157 pounds, and he lacks a physical edge to his game. Gonchar must fill out his frame because he does have some puck skills, but he can’t take full advantage of his tools without getting a bit stronger.

Mikkel Eriksen’s birth date was just two days away from being a 2026 NHL draft prospect, so he has plenty of runway for development. His puck skill and fluidity stand out. He is constantly looking to alter defenders' paths or draw their attention one way before cutting back. Eriksen has to round things out in his game, but there is plenty to like about his potential. 

The rise of Zeb Lindgren from a relative unknown to a legitimate NHL draft prospect was fun to watch. Lindgren leaves fans and observers entertained, happy with his overall play and also feeling like there was more to give. Lindgren has some really solid passing ability, deceptively quick skating and problem-solving. There are times when things can get hectic in his game, but he has a nice package to bet on. 

Drafted as an overage player, Samuel Jung is a good shooter who doesn’t bring a ton else to his game. He’s a fine north-south attacker, but he doesn’t have the pull-away speed to really break things open. This is a bet on a player who improved his overall tools year-over-year, but it might not be enough.

The Rangers kept things simple by taking Evan Passmore, a big defender who can move fairly well and can close down space. He loves to pin attackers to the wall and take the puck off of them, but he won’t do anything too crazy with it once he gets it. As a good pokechecker with a long wingspan, Passmore could wind up being a very steady bottom-pair guy one day. 

With their final pick of the 2025 NHL draft, the Rangers snagged Felix Farhammar, a two-way defender who is a bit unrefined, but he has some nice elements at both ends of the ice. He can throw some hits and shadow defenders, or he can make a breakout pass and join the rush. Farhammar could wind up being good value if they let him take his time and develop, hopefully in more than a couple of Swedish League games this season. 

Strengths

The left wing is one of the stronger position groups for the Rangers as it features a couple of good prospects and some depth. 

The right side of the defense has some good players at the top end, but it lacks depth. The left side of the blueline has depth but lacks the high-end player. 

With Perreault likely starting on the left wing, he’s the head of the left wing in the prospect pipeline, but he’s far from alone. 

When Spence fell to them in the draft, the Rangers were ecstatic because they were getting a first-round talent in the second round. Othmann might play games this season, and there is a world in which he brings some of the same elements that Will Cuylle brought the last couple of years. Berard and Sykora are a bit undersized, but they bring a ton of talent and work their tails off as well. Even Kalle Vaisanen is an intriguing depth option at 22 years old. 

Weaknesses

Once Perreault jumps into the NHL, the right wing will be fairly vacant. 

Brisson was acquired at the trade deadline from Vegas. He was a former first-rounder, but he’s struggled to break into the NHL. He has some promise as a finisher, but at 23 years old, it’s time for him to prove himself. 

Beyond Brisson, the Rangers don’t have much in the way of upside picks. Jaroslav Chmelar is a fine prospect, as is Brody Lamb. Neither has the kind of path or upside to be an impact player at the pro level. There will be centers that end up on the wing, so maybe the weak point is a bit muted because of that. Unfortunately, the centers aren’t nearly a strong enough group as they could have easily secured the spot here as the weak point of the pipeline. As of now, the right side up front looks tough.

Hidden Gem: Carey Terrance, C

Terrance’s offensive skill isn’t upper-echelon, and he has had some ups and downs to finish his junior career, but he could fit right into the bottom six in the NHL. 

Terrance has some speed and physicality. He never stops moving his feet, and he might produce a bit more offense once he’s surrounded by players with more playmaking ability. Terrance is a very good finisher when playing with a true creator. He has some very good defensive qualities, quick reads and consistent pressuring of attackers on the backcheck and even in his own zone. He’s unlikely to become a star, but he could be a very solid piece of the puzzle for the Rangers in a year or two, as he is making the jump to the AHL this upcoming season.

Next Man Up: Gabe Perreault, RW/LW

It’s been a dominant run over the last few years for Perreault. 

He solidified himself as one of the most dominant offensive players in the history of the USA National Team Development Program, putting up a record 132 points in his U-18 year. That season was capped off with a gold medal at the World Men’s Under-18 Championship.. 

Perreault then put up more than 100 points in just two years at Boston College. He helped BC to a Hockey East championship, and he was a second-team All-American in each season. The past couple of winters, he stepped away from BC to join Team USA at the World Junior Championship, and he won back-to-back gold medals. 

Perreault’s winning ways aren’t just a circumstance of being in the right place at the right time. Perreault has often been one of the catalysts to that success. Now, he will jump into the Rangers’ lineup after a brief stint to end last season. 

The Rangers are hoping to have Perreault use his play-connecting ability to bring some depth scoring to the lineup and elevate some of the middle six players' offensive ceilings. He’s played on the left and right wings, so he should be capable of doing either. If he ends up playing higher in the lineup and the Rangers bounce back, he could be in the Calder Trophy conversation. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Malcolm Spence, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora, Brett Berard, Kalle Vaisanen, Ty Henricks

C: Carey Terrance, Raoul Boilard, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Mikkel Eriksen

RW: Gabe Perreault, Jaroslav Chmelar, Brendan Brisson, Brody Lamb

LD: Drew Fortescue, Zeb Lindgren, Artem Gonchar, Jackson Dorrington, Rasmus Larsson

RD: Scott Morrow, EJ Emery, Sean Barnhill

G: Hugo Ollas, Dylan Garand, Talyn Boyko

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings continue to unfold with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 21st spot.

This series analyzes each NHL team’s off-season, ranking the teams that improved, stayed the same or got worse. We’re focusing on every organization’s additions and departures through free agency and trades, as well as coach and management hirings and firings.

We’re in the group of teams that have more or less stayed the same this off-season. You’ll find the teams that finished below the Blue Jackets at the bottom of this column. But first, our attention is squarely on the Jackets.

Additions

Charlie Coyle (C), Miles Wood (LW), Brendan Gaunce (C), Dysin Mayo (D)

The Breakdown: The Blue Jackets had the same number of wins as the Montreal Canadiens, but the Habs lost two more games in overtime instead of regulation and clinched the second wild-card spot. 

But Jackets GM Don Waddell used a good deal of his salary cap space this summer on a pair of veteran forwards – former Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle and former New Jersey Devils and Avalanche winger Wood – to add depth and experience to his group.

An additional positive for Waddell is the re-signing of veteran defenseman Ivan Provorov to a seven-year contract extension worth $8.5 million per year. The 28-year-old Provorov could’ve received at least that much money from another team, so his decision to stay in Columbus was an endorsement of sorts for the Blue Jackets as an organization. He wasn’t an addition, but the Blue Jackets did a good job not to see Provorov become a departure.

Another de facto addition for the Jackets this coming year will be one full season of goaltender Jet Greaves. The 24-year-old looked terrific in 11 NHL appearances last season, posting a .938 save percentage and 1.91 goals-against average. He’s going to push starter Elvis Merzlikins for the No. 1 job in net for Columbus, and that can only be a good thing. 

Departures

James van Riemsdyk (LW), Justin Danforth (RW), Sean Kuraly (LW), Kevin Labanc (RW), Jack Johnson (D), Jordan Harris (D), Daniil Tarasov (G)

The Breakdown: Most, if not all, of the Blue Jackets’ departures were depth players. Van Riemsdyk had 36 points in 71 games this past season, while Danforth had 21. Kuraly and Labanc combined for 29 points.

Depth defensemen Johnson and Harris averaged fewer than 13 minutes of ice time. Goaltender Tarasov had a 3.54 GAA and .881 SP.

Columbus won’t miss the playoffs just because any of the seven departed players left a competitive crater that can’t be filled. Waddell must believe the team filled in any gaps through internal promotions, trades and free-agent signings.

The Bottom Line

While there was a considerable exodus out of Columbus this off-season, the Blue Jackets are likely to be on the rise because management believes in their core of youngsters. That belief may prove to be ill-founded, but there’s no guarantee of its success or failure either way. 

The Jackets are where they are in our NHL summer splash rankings because they didn’t get considerably better or worse. They’re about the same, so they’re in the middle pack.

That said, if the Blue Jackets’ defense can improve from conceding the eighth-most goals in the NHL this past year, we believe Columbus’ offense – fuelled by youngsters Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov and Norris Trophy front-runner Zach Werenski – should be enough to push this team into the post-season after a five-year playoff drought.

Also of note: Waddell still has about $16.3 million in salary cap space, leaving him primed to be a mover and shaker on the trade front during the season. With Columbus’ defense corps on the rise, the Jackets could look for help at forward or in net. But for the moment, at least, this Blue Jackets team has the promise of youth along with a bedrock of veterans to keep the team in the playoff hunt all season long. Waddell’s refusal to make a slew of additions is essentially a vote of confidence in his core talent.

Summer Splash Rankings

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

Cardinal Point Athlete Advisors recently released a lifestyle ranking of all NHL cities, and the New Jersey Devils came in near the bottom, ranked 29th out of 32 teams.

The rankings were based on seven equally weighted factors, where a score of “1” indicates the best relative ranking among NHL cities. The top-ranked city was home to the Montreal Canadiens, while the Devils landed closer to the bottom.

The only teams ranked below New Jersey were the Seattle Kraken (30th), the Washington Capitals (31st), and the New York Rangers (32nd).

The Devils currently play at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, a location that ranked as the fourth-worst NHL arena location in this report.

What Was the Ranking Based On?

The overall score was based on seven key factors:

• Safety
• Cost of Living
• Traffic
• Climate
• Rent
• Groceries
• Restaurant Prices

Each category was scored out of 32, with the Devils’ results as follows:

• Safety: 31st
• Cost of Living: 25th
• Traffic: 29th (out of 31, as one city did not have data)
• Climate: 14th (highest category ranking)
• Rent: 23rd
• Groceries: 26th
• Restaurant Prices: 23rd

When all scores were combined, the Devils ranked 29th out of 32 teams.

Where Did the Data Come From?

The rankings were created using two reports from Numbeo.com, a global cost of living and quality-of-life database:

Cost of Living Index by City 2025 Mid-Year

Quality of Life Index by City 2025 Mid-Year

According to the data, Newark scored particularly low on safety, with a Safety Index of 23.17, categorized as “low.” Only Detroit, home of the Red Wings, scored lower in that category (32nd), although Detroit still ranked 18th overall in the lifestyle rankings.

While Newark wasn't ranked the worst NHL city, the Devils still landed in the bottom tier—primarily due to concerns around safety, high grocery costs, and poor traffic conditions.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The New Jersey Devils signed forward Thomas Bordeleau to a one-year, two-way contract on July 24th, following a trade with the San Jose Sharks earlier this month.

The deal is worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 in the AHL, with $125,000 guaranteed. Because it’s a two-way contract, Bordeleau may begin the season with the Utica Comets, giving the Devils added roster and salary cap flexibility.

However, cracking New Jersey’s deep prospect pool might be Bordeleau’s biggest challenge.

Now entering his fifth professional season, Bordeleau has spent most of his time in the AHL with the San Jose Barracudas. He’s appeared in 44 NHL games, tallying 18 points (six goals, 12 assists), but has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer.

At 5'10", Bordeleau is a quick, skilled center whose speed and versatility could make him a valuable asset in the Devils’ bottom six. Still, he hasn’t found much success at the NHL level, and even his AHL production has left room for improvement. He recorded just 38 points in 59 games last season with the Barracuda.

One thing working in his favor? Familiarity. Bordeleau played alongside Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Utica’s Ethan Edwards during the 2021–22 season at the University of Michigan. Reuniting with former teammates could provide the chemistry and confidence boost he needs.

That said, the path to the NHL is crowded. As Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News recently outlined, the Devils have one of the league’s most promising prospect pools:

Top Devils Prospects

LW: Lenni Hämeenaho, Cole Brown, Josh Filmon, Shane Lachance C: Conrad Fondrk, Gustav Hillstrom, Samu Salminen, Matyas Melovsky, Mason Moe

RW: Arseniy Gritsyuk, Ben Kevan, Cam Squires, David Rozsival

LD: Anton Silayev, Daniil Orlov, Topias Vilén, Daniil Karpovich

RD: Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey, Sigge Holmstrom, Charlie Leddy

G: Mikhail Yegorov, Trenten Bennett, Veeti Louhivaara, Tyler Brennan, Jakub Malek

Bordeleau will be competing with the likes of Conrad Fondrk and Lenni Hämeenaho, both of whom have already made strong impressions on the Devils’ staff.

If Bordeleau hopes to solidify an NHL future, he’ll need to outperform the competition and prove he belongs on a team with playoff aspirations.

There’s a real chance everything clicks for him this season. He’s got the pedigree, the speed, and the support system in place. But make no mistake: this might be his final shot to carve out a career in the pros.

For Thomas Bordeleau, the time to make a statement in New Jersey is now.

Photo Credit: © David Gonzales-Imagn Images

The Anaheim Ducks have missed the playoffs every year since 2017-18 and in doing so, have drafted in the top ten for seven consecutive seasons and procured one of the NHL’s deepest and most potent prospect pools.

Despite several young players having graduated and become full-time NHLers, such as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger, the Ducks still have an impressive pipeline of potential impact and depth prospects yet to make the jump.

Six Ducks Prospects Named to 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase Rosters

Can ‘Rangers West’ Help Get the Ducks Back Into the Playoffs?

For this exercise, only players who haven’t lost rookie status are eligible for a ranking, and to be clear, these are my (Patrick Present) subjective rankings.

Honorable Mentions: Yegor Sidorov, Herman Traff, Tarin Smith, Lasse Boelius, Calle Clang

Top Ten:

10. Nathan Gaucher, 21, C, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

9. Ian Moore, 23, RHD, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

8. Sasha Pastujov, 22, W, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

7. Tomas Suchanek, 22, G, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

6. Eric Nilson, 18, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

5. Lucas Pettersson, 19, C, Brynas IF (SHL)

4. Stian Solberg, 19, LHD, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

When making this list, there was a sizable gap between the four players at the top and the prospects ranked at five and beyond. While there will certainly be very good NHLers that I ranked between five and ten, and even some after ten, the Ducks’ top four prospects are expected to become impact players at the NHL level and even core pieces of the franchise when they hope to be perennial contenders.

Coming in at the four-spot is a player sure to become a fan favorite (if he isn’t already) with his consistent physical play and knack for scoring big goals from the blueline: Stian Solberg.

Solberg’s defining quality is how difficult he is to play against on a nightly basis. He punishes opponents when they look to get to the high-danger areas of the ice, and he finishes every hit after his check distributes the puck. Every inch of ice in the offensive zone comes at a cost when being defended by Solberg.

He’s a powerful skater with an advanced knowledge of angles, even after making the jump from European ice surfaces to North American ones in 2024-25. Everything he does on every shift is done at full effort, whether it’s netfront battles, puck retrievals that lead to crisp breakout passes, or everything in between.

He makes decisive, smart decisions with the puck and is quick to join a rush from the weak side when it’s available. His shot selection drives his offense at the blueline, as he consistently gets a heavy shot through traffic, and when a lane opens below the top of the circles, he leans on his stick and buries pucks more often than not.

At the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Ducks traded picks 31 and 58 to jump up to 23 and select Solberg, who was awarded the moniker “most violent player in the draft.”

He spent the majority of his 2024-25 season, his first outside of his native Norway, playing for Färjestad BK of the SHL, where he totaled 12 points (3-9=12) in 47 games before his role decreased as the playoffs approached. To ensure more ice time and get a head start on the transition to a smaller ice sheet, as well as a different style of game, the Ducks organization deemed it best he finish his season in San Diego with the Gulls of the AHL.

“I don't think they valued him enough in Färjestad to deserve to keep him around for longer, that’s just my personal take,” Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden said. “I think he proved in his short stint in San Diego, and right now at the World Championships, that he has a really valuable role already. He can have an impact when you trust him with ice time.”

He fit in seamlessly, as his signature style is as conducive as it gets to North American professional hockey. He tallied five points (2-3=5) in ten AHL games to end the season before heading to Europe to play in his second consecutive IIHF World Championship representing Norway, where he scored six points (4-2=6) in seven games, including a hat trick against the United States.

The only area of his game that will need polishing before he makes his NHL debut is rush defending. He does well to angle and seal on the wall, especially on the smaller ice surface, but when pucks move up ice, he could stand to close gaps sooner to not be so flatfooted against an opposing transition attack.

Solberg will projectably assume a sizable role with the Gulls in 2025-26, likely killing penalties and featuring on the power play. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that he plays NHL games at some point during the upcoming year as well. The organization has a lot of faith in him as a future impact contributor to their team.

Ducks Sign Drew Helleson to Two-Year Extension

Ducks Sign Lukas Dostal to Five-Year Extension

Ducks Sign Clang, Myšák to One-Year Deals

Photo Credit: INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN

Evgeny Kuznetsov’s longtime teammate recently discussed the possibility of the center returning to the NHL.

After posting 12 goals and 37 points in 39 games with St. Petersburg this past KHL season, Kuznetsov is reportedly looking to return to the NHL.

The 33-year-old played 11 NHL seasons for the Washington Capitals, putting up 32 points in 24 playoff games when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018. In 2023-24, the Capitals traded Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes for a third-round pick at the NHL trade deadline, and he recorded seven points in 20 games and six points in 10 playoff games after the move.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin told Russian-language publication Gazeta.ru that Kuznetsov is sensible and can make the right choice to prove himself in the NHL again or in the KHL. But Ovechkin said he’s not Washington’s GM, and whether Kuznetsov can return to the Capitals is not the question for him to answer.

With August almost here, Kuznetsov remains a UFA, but this could change before NHL training camps begin in mid-September. His past success could ultimately lead to an NHL club giving him another opportunity, especially when considering he is one of the top UFAs left based on his potential. While he only had 24 points in 63 games in 2023-24, he had 55 points in 2022-23 and 78 points in 2021-22.

Here are three teams that could make sense as potential landing spots for Kuznetsov if he doesn't return to Washington. 

Vancouver Canucks 

After trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers during the 2024-25 season and losing Pius Suter in free agency to the St. Louis Blues this summer, the Vancouver Canucks could use another center. They’ve gone from having Miller and Elias Pettersson as a one-two punch down the middle to Pettersson and Filip Chytil, who came to the Canucks in the Miller trade and had 26 points in 56 games this past season while dealing with injury issues.

If the Canucks signed Kuznetsov, he would create some competition for the Canucks’ second-line center spot with Chytil. Even if he slotted in as Vancouver’s third-line center, he would still improve their depth down the middle. The third line of Dakota Joshua, Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland that thrived at times in 2023-24 was separated for most of this past season, and Joshua is now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so adding Kuznetsov shouldn’t disrupt the bottom six’s chemistry, either. Blueger can stay in an effective depth role, while Vancouver can ease 22-year-old Aatu Raty into a full-time NHL role.

The Canucks have $3.27 million in salary cap space, but Kuznetsov’s agent said he’s not an $8-million player anymore and could be a steal for cap-strapped teams. If signed to a cheap, one-year deal, Kuznetsov could be a solid low-risk, high-reward addition for the Canucks.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche could be an interesting landing spot for Kuznetsov. After trading Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets this off-season, it would not be particularly surprising if they were open to adding another option to consider for their third-line center spot.

With Brock Nelson as the second-line center, Jack Drury is third in the depth chart, and he had nine points in 33 games with the Avalanche after they acquired him from the Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade. Drury is better at taking faceoffs than Kuznetsov, but the latter can provide more secondary scoring for the Avalanche, which lost Jonathan Drouin in free agency after he averaged 0.76 points per game in two seasons in Colorado.

The Avalanche are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, and Kuznetsov’s past playoff success should appeal to them. They have about $3.35 million in cap space, so the center would have to take a prove-it, bargain deal to play for them, but it could be worth it for the team and player.

Five Potential Destinations For Max Pacioretty in 2025-26With the bulk of the sought-after unrestricted free agents signed in the first three weeks of July, teams appear to be accelerating the invitation of players on professional tryouts, as the New York Rangers did with two-time Stanley Cup winner Conor Sheary earlier this week. One of the more successful camp invites last September was veteran forward Max Pacioretty. 

Boston Bruins 

The retooling Boston Bruins brought in wingers Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, Mikey Eyssimont and center Sean Kuraly as part of their off-season moves. That said, they could use help at the center position.

Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, Casey Mittelstadt and Morgan Geekie are options at center in the top two lines. Zacha played most of the season as the center for Geekie and David Pastrnak, but he and Lindholm each recorded 47 points this past season, while Mittelstadt had only six points in 18 games after being acquired at the trade deadline.

Kuznetsov should entice the Bruins, especially since there are not many other notable free agents left who can play center.

While Kuznetsov would not be a true answer for the Bruins’ first-line center problem, he would offer them another intriguing playmaker to work with in their middle six and on their power play. If he bounces back from his last NHL season, Kuznetsov may even get opportunities to set up Pastrnak for goals on the first line. 

The Bruins have about $2.08 million in cap space, so Kuznetsov would have to take less money, even if he could play a larger role there. If he wants to just take this next season to prove himself back in the NHL, he’d be a solid addition to a Bruins club that could use more skill and offense.

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

Steven Lorentz is having a summer to remember.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward has been busy ever since the season ended at the hands of the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs. Lorentz was a pending unrestricted free agent, with extension talks nearly going down to the wire before free agency opened on July 1.

He and the Maple Leafs agreed on a three-year, $4.05 million extension on June 30, one day before he was set to hit the open market. Similar to his term, Lorentz’s $1.35 million annual average value is the largest of his NHL career.

Saturday, though, likely topped any day of his life as he and his wife, Erin, got married.

The two tied the knot on Saturday afternoon, surrounded by family and friends. Two other Maple Leafs, Bobby McMann and Anthony Stolarz, along with their partners, took a selfie together and also got a photo with the groom.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Cameos In Daughter’s TikTok While Juggling Offseason DutiesToronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is in peak-summer form.

Lorentz and his wife got engaged last summer, after he and the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup. Following an exciting offseason, the forward attended Maple Leafs training camp on a professional tryout before signing a one-year, $775,000 contract right before the regular season began.

Along with getting married and signing a huge extension, Lorentz also participated in the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy festivities earlier in July. He was spotted speaking with a few IndyCar drivers and even did a lap of the track in one of the cars.

Maple Leafs Prospect Ben Danford Earns Invite To Hockey Canada's World Juniors Summer ShowcaseThe Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive prospect, Ben Danford, is among the 44 promising players invited to Hockey Canada’s World Juniors Summer Showcase. Hockey Canada unveiled the 44 prospects who will head to Minnesota for the showcase, which begins Sunday and runs through August 2 in Minneapolis.

Lorentz is coming off a career season with the Maple Leafs, where he scored eight goals and 11 assists (a career-high) for 19 points in 80 games. He also tallied two assists, both coming against his former club in the second round of the playoffs.

The Carolina Hurricanes drafted the Kitchener, Ontario-born product in the seventh round (186th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. Lorentz has scored 62 points (29 goals and 33 assists) in 310 games, split with Toronto, Florida, Carolina, and the San Jose Sharks, since entering the NHL in 2021.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Maple Leafs Forward Steven Lorentz’s Thrilling Summer Continues With Marriage To Wife, Erin

(Top photo of Lorentz and wife, Erin: @slorentz16 / Instagram)

By Jared Clinton, features writer

Playing an eternal second fiddle in the franchise record books is a fate suffered by most players who suit up for the Edmonton Oilers. Such is life when skating in the seismic shadow of Wayne Gretzky.

Take Connor McDavid’s Conn Smythe-winning 42-point performance in the 2024 post-season, for instance. For this generation, it stands as the most remarkable feat of post-season output. But, statistically, it doesn’t match The Great One and his NHL record 47-point post-season in 1985.

But McDavid isn’t the only player whose modern spring heroics are eclipsed by a superstar from bygone days. Evgeni Malkin, too, understands the futility of chasing his particular franchise’s lore.

‘Geno’ has seen his highest highs fall short of those authored by Mario Lemieux. To wit, Malkin’s 36-point playoff in 2009 was then the seventh-best all-time and made him the first player in the post-lockout era to break 35 points in one post-season. Yet, like McDavid, you won’t find Malkin on our Countdown of best offensive playoff performances by franchise, as it fell well short of Lemieux’s mondo 44-point effort in 1991.

Somewhat surprisingly, though, our Countdown isn’t dominated by stars from yesteryear. Nearly half of NHL outfits have seen franchise-best playoff marks set in the past 20 years.

1. Edmonton Oilers

Wayne Gretzky (47 PTS, 1984-85)

In the most dominant playoff ever, Gretzky had more four-plus-point games (six) than games with one point or fewer.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

Mario Lemieux (44 PTS, 1990-91)

He missed Game 3 of the final, but Lemieux had goals in his last 10 appearances, guiding Pens to their first Cup.

3. Los Angeles Kings

Wayne Gretzky (40 PTS, 1992-93)

No. 99 dashed the Cup hopes of three Canadian clubs before Montreal exacted revenge for its compatriots in the final.

4. New York Islanders

Mike Bossy (35 PTS, 1980-81)

Bryan Trottier had three consecutive 29-point playoffs. But Bossy’s 17-goal, 35-point output hasn’t been matched.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Doug Gilmour (35 PTS, 1992-93)

Despite falling short of the final, Gilmour had a playoff-best 25 assists and finished 15 points clear of any teammate.

6. Colorado Avalanche

Joe Sakic (34 PTS, 1995-96)

His 18-goal, 34-point marks in 1996 are bests, but Sakic also led 2001 Cup-winning Avs in goals and points.

7. New York Rangers

Brian Leetch (34 PTS, 1993-94)

At the time, Leetch’s 11 goals made him only second ‘D’ with single-playoff double-digit tally total in NHL history.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning

Nikita Kucherov (34 PTS, 2019-20)

Does a healthy Brayden Point usurp Kucherov? Point finished one point back in two fewer games during ’20 Cup run.

9. Boston Bruins

Rick Middleton (33 PTS, 1982-83)

Middleton posted 100 career playoff points. His 1983 performance accounts for nearly one-third of that production.

10. Washington Capitals

Evgeny Kuznetsov (32 PTS, 2017-18)

Kuznetsov led all Caps scorers by five points and had playoff-topping output, but he lost Smythe to Alex Ovechkin.

11. Calgary Flames

Al Macinnis (31 PTS, 1988-89)

Four of MacInnis’ seven goals were winners for champion Flames, including deciders in Games 4 and 5 of final.

12. Vancouver Canucks

Pavel Bure (31 PTS, 1993-94)

Bure didn’t get a chance at an encore, really. He played only 15 playoff games across his final nine NHL seasons.

13. Philadelphia Flyers

Daniel Briere (30 PTS, 2009-10)

Briere leads a class of bridesmaids, as Philly’s top four single-playoff offensive performers each lost in the Cup final.

14. San Jose Sharks

Logan Couture (30 PTS, 2015-16)

Couture deserves credit for his post-season production. He led the 2016, 2018 and 2019 Sharks outfits in scoring.

15. Chicago Blackhawks

Denis Savard (29 PTS, 1984-85)

He was stopped by the Gretzky-led Oilers, but Savard was exceptional in 1985, scoring nearly two points per game.

16. Dallas Stars

Steve Payne (29 PTS, 1980-81)

Only three players in NHL history have more goals in one playoff than Payne, who stunned with 17 tallies in 1981.

17. Carolina Hurricanes

Eric Staal (28 PTS, 2005-06)

Staal’s sophomore season was his best. He paced Canes to Cup, led playoff scoring and finished fourth in Hart race.

18. Detroit Red Wings

Henrik Zetterberg (27 PTS, 2007-08)

Zetterberg put a point on his Conn Smythe-winning total with the game-winner that handed Wings the ’08 Cup.

19. Montreal Canadiens

Frank Mahovlich (27 PTS, 1970-71)

Forget passing ‘The Big M.’ No Canadien in past three decades cracks the top 15 on Habs’ single-year scoring list.

20. Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel (26 PTS, 2022-23)

Small sample, but Eichel has plenty of competition. Five Knights have scored 20-plus points in one playoff campaign.

21. Florida Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk (24 PTS, 2022-23)

In 2023, Tkachuk tied then-record for OT goals in one playoff (three), including winner that saved Cats in Round 1.

22. New Jersey Devils

Patrik Elias (23 PTS, 2000-01)

Only fitting that Devils’ all-time leading scorer, Elias, has the franchise’s best single-season post-season output.

23. St. Louis Blues

Ryan O’Reilly (23 PTS, 2018-19)

Jordan Binnington’s emergence grabbed headlines, but Blues don’t win 2019 Cup without 200-foot dynamo O’Reilly.

24. Ottawa Senators

Daniel Alfredsson (22 PTS, 2006-07)

Alfredsson’s 14 goals during 2007 playoffs are most by any player 34 or older in one post-season in league history.

25. Buffalo Sabres

Gilbert Perreault (21 PTS, 1979-80)

The first truly great Sabre, Perreault pairs a franchise-leading point total with unmatched single-playoff heroics.

26. Winnipeg Jets

Blake Wheeler (21 PTS, 2017-18)

Wheeler is one of seven forwards in NHL history to notch 20-plus points in one playoff with three or fewer goals.

27. Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Getzlaf (20 PTS, 2014-15)

Getzlaf held or tied for scoring lead in nine of 11 post-seasons with Ducks, including 17 points in 2007 Cup run.

28. Minnesota Wild

Marian Gaborik (17 PTS, 2002-03)

In his – and Minnesota’s – first post-season, Gaborik powered the Cinderella Wild to the Western Conference final.

29. Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg (16 PTS, 2017-18)

Forsberg hit 16 points in consecutive playoffs. In 2017, he did so in 22 games. In 2018, he reached the total in 13 games.

30. Seattle Kraken

Yanni Gourde (13 PTS, 2022-23)

Of Gourde’s 13 points, none was bigger than the OT-winner that gave Seattle a Game 1 victory in the second round.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets

Artemi Panarin (11 PTS, 2018-19)

Panarin helped power the biggest playoff upset ever, as the Jackets swept the Lightning in the opening round.

32. Utah Mammoth

N/A

Utah left Jets/Coyotes history behind in the move. Apologies to Dale Hawerchuk and his 13-point 1987 playoff.

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

Over the weekend, the Chicago Blackhawks extended Arvid Soderblom. He avoided arbitration by signing a two-year deal with a cap hit of $2.7 million. This is a deal that Soderblom earned through his play in the 2024-25 season. 

There were times that he was a backup, there was a time where he was getting the net with the frequency of a starter, and he split time for a stretch.

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on X🔔 Saturday morning Sodie signing! 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/6FGg7SFL5y

His first half of the season was better than his second, but he still finished with a 3.18 goals against average and .898 save percentage. 

Those numbers still need work, but they are respectable based on the context of the team that’s been in front of him. Soderblom’s improvement has been steady. 

Despite his successes in 2024-25, plus his new contract extension, Soderblom will have to earn his spot on the team again. Injuries played a role in his making it last year, and he succeeded. Now, it’s time to do it again. 

Spencer Knight is surely going to be the starter in 2025-26. Chicago landed him as their big return in the Seth Jones trade with the Florida Panthers. If he’s the goalie that everybody thinks he can be based on his talent and pedigree, he’ll be a long-term mainstay. 

The role of backup goalie to Spencer Knight remains the question. Soderblom has the inside track based on 2024-25, but Drew Commesso’s name is in the mix now. 

Commesso has some pedigree as well, being a former second-round pick (46th overall). Last season with the Rockford IceHogs was sensational. Commesso had a 2.54 goals against and a .911 save percentage over 39 games. 

The second half of the AHL season saw Commesso get hot. Rockford won their first-round series over the Chicago Wolves in the process, but lost a tough five-game series to the Milwaukee Admirals in five. 

In the middle of the season, Commesso did make his NHL debut, but the Blackhawks didn’t need him for more than a couple of games. Now, he could make it a competition with Soderblom for the role of the backup. Both goalies will come to camp looking to make the team. 

This is Soderblom’s role to lose, but everything must be earned at this point. The team is still rebuilding, but the number of available jobs is dwindling. 

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

You don’t undergo a rebuild without being all in on youth, and this upcoming season, the Montreal Canadiens will be the youngest team in the league, according to eliteprospects.com, with an average age of 25.35 years, just ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Buffalo Sabres, who both average 25.73 years.

The Canadiens aren’t the least experienced team; however, they have 6,625 games of experience, while the Sabres have 6,040, and the Blackhawks complete the top three with 6,945 games on the counter.

Canadiens: Dobson Settling Into His New Life
Canadiens: Plenty Of Habs Prospects At The Summer Showcase
Canadiens: Laine Can Be A Difference Maker

Despite their youth, the Canadiens are expected to take another step forward this season, to continue their organic growth, as Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes would put it. We’ve seen the Habs increasingly focusing on results last season, shifting their emphasis away from development.

It’s a tricky balance to find because, while their young core is gaining more and more experience and starting to crave results, younger or new players are being added, and they will need time to either develop or become familiar with the Canadiens’ system.

While the Canadiens lost three veterans this off-season with David Savard retiring and both Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia leaving as free agents, it won’t result in the line-up being flooded by rookies. Hughes ensured it wouldn’t be the case when he acquired Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc.

The blueliner is still only 25 years old, but he already has a wealth of experience with 388 games on the counter. As for Bolduc, he played his rookie season last year and will be expected to take a step up this season. At 22 years old, he’s already just short of 100 games of experience with 97.

Their addition will leave two lineup spots available for rookies, unless Samuel Blais beats the odds and manages to crack the roster. The 29-year-old spent the entirety of the last season in the AHL and is generally pencilled in as the 13th forward, taking over for Michael Pezzetta, who signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1st.

One of the rookie spots will undoubtedly be filled by Ivan Demidov. Although he’s only 19 years old with only two regular-season games of experience, he played professionally in the KHL last season. It’s not like he was just drafted, and he’s the kind of player who is made to play under Martin St-Louis. The bench boss does ask his players to make a lot of reads on the ice rather than sticking to a particular system at all times, and Demidov’s high hockey IQ and vision mean he should be able to thrive in that environment and hit the ground running, so to speak.

As for the second rookie spot, chances are it will be filled by Oliver Kapanen, who is still considered a rookie in NHL terms, having only played 18 games in the big league so far (once you hit 25, you’re no longer a rookie at the beginning of the next season). Still, he also gained further professional experience in Sweden last season, playing 36 games with Timra IK in the top Swedish league. Under coach Olli Jokinen, the youngster saw plenty of ice time and was utilized in all facets of the game, playing on the man advantage and the penalty kill.

Last season, when he showed up for rookie camp, he looked head and shoulders above everyone else, but the fact that he had already taken part in Timra’s training camp and preseason games had given him a head start. Once the main camp started, and he had to face NHLers, it got harder for him. He still made the team out of camp but was loaned to Timra in early November. He returned for the last six games of the season and was also dressed for three playoff games, scoring only one point in those nine games.

There are a couple of other candidates for the second rookie role, however. The names of Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj come to mind. Both are 21, but Beck has the inside lane experience-wise, having played 12 NHL games last season, but he was limited to a single assist. Furthermore, he’s also a center and can give a hand at the faceoff dot if needed, something the younger Xhekaj cannot do.

Xhekaj has the edge when it comes to physicality; however, he still has a scoring touch, as evidenced by his 24 goals in 69 games with the Laval Rocket last season. Considering how the Canadiens were man-handled by the Washington Capitals in the playoffs last year, they certainly could use his grit, but chances are, he’s not quite ready for the NHL yet.

The Canadiens may be the youngest team in the NHL, but they are still ahead in the rebuild compared to other teams undergoing the same process…

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

The NHL trade rumors may have slowed down for now in this part of the offseason, but the Philadelphia Flyers are still linked to a number of top available talents.

This offseason has mostly been a slow burn for the Flyers, as they traded for Trevor Zegras, signed goalie Dan Vladar and center Christian Dvorak, and extended Cam York within one week of either side of the start of free agency.

But, if GM Danny Briere and the Flyers ever want to pick things back up before the start of the season, it's not like they'll be short on options.

The Fourth Period, led by NHL insider David Pagnotta, recently released its updated summer trade watch list, and the Flyers are, apparently, still in the mix for a handful of young stars, including a pair of centers.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, who has been connected to the Flyers at many points over the last few seasons, ranked No. 1 on TFP's list, with the Flyers among the 10 linked teams.

Flyers Trade Target Re-Signs with SabresLong-standing Philadelphia Flyers trade target Bowen Byram isn't leaving the Buffalo Sabres just yet.

Another player whose trade hype has died out in Philadelphia is Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, whose reported lofty contract demands have left him unsigned nearly a month after the start of free agency.

The 23-year-old may or may not stay in Minnesota, but it's clear the contract situation is slowing things down on the trade market, too.

Dropping 10 spots from Rossi's No. 4 ranking to No. 14, we stumble across Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, a 22-year-old RFA.

McTavish, like Rossi, is in need of a new contract, and his size and experience would make him a surefire top-six center on a team like the Flyers.

I have my own reservations about the former No. 3 overall pick's playstyle and ceiling, but it's undeniable he would upgrade the Flyers' center depth for many years.

Philadelphia Flyers Should Avoid This Potential Ducks Trade TargetThe Philadelphia Flyers are still well positioned to execute a blockbuster trade for a top center this summer, but one popular potential trade target on the Anaheim Ducks isn't worth all the hype.

The Flyers, Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Calgary Flames are among the teams connected to McTavish, according to TFP.

As far as reported links go, that's the end of the list, but there are a few more names worth considering from Philadelphia's perspective.

Players like Pavel Zacha and Yegor Chinakhov aren't too old yet and could benefit from a change of scenery, especially on a Flyers team looking to improve and begin its ascent.

The big thing for the Flyers, as with every player on this list, is how they're going to come up with the cap space.

With Ryan Ellis and Ivan Fedotov still included on the active roster, the Flyers have just $370k in cap space.

But that's what trades are for, right?

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been the subject of a plethora of trade speculation this summer, as big-name veterans like Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust have been in the rumor mill for quite some time.

While those players are - rightfully - commanding a lot of the attention on the market, there may be a few smaller moves in store for the Penguins, too.

As it stands, Pittsburgh currently has 13 forwards on its active roster, and that doesn't include any up-and-comers like Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, or SHL Forward of the Year Filip Hallander. The reality is that, in order for those guys to crack the roster, the Penguins are likely going to have to free up some roster space prior to puck drop against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7. 

While it's very possible that either Rust or Rakell will be on the move, there may be some other forwards to keep an eye on as well.

---

Noel Acciari

To be clear, the Penguins like Noel Acciari and what he brings to the table. He may have negative value offensively, but he does a lot of the "thankless jobs," as former head coach Mike Sullivan would often say: He blocks a lot of shots (finished third in the NHL among forwards with 100), hits a lot of guys (led the Penguins in hits with 180), and plays a lot of the tough minutes on the penalty kill and in defensive zone starts.

Honestly, Acciari, 33, would be a pretty good get for a contending team in need of not only a depth forward, but a player who is capable of manning some of those tough minutes on the fourth line. He wouldn’t even necessarily need to be an everyday player in the lineup, although he does have value, contrary to what some Penguins’ fans might think.

Can The Penguins Still Rebuild With One Of Rakell Or Rust Around?It seems like Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are the subject of Pittsburgh hockey news just about every other day at this point.

He’s only on the books for one more season at $2 million, which isn’t much, especially when considering the rising cap and the fact that a lot of fourth-liners will be making that kind of money. Also, Acciari would be an easy piece to throw in the mix as part of a bigger trade involving guys like Rust, Rakell, or Karlsson, depending on the destination and the cap situation.

Moving Acciari shouldn’t be otherworldly difficult. The Penguins wouldn’t get a lot in return, but it does help free up a roster spot for one of their younger players, which is more important right now.

---

Kevin Hayes

Kevin Hayes may still be owed $3.57 million next season by the Penguins in the final season if his contract - the Philadelphia Flyers originally retained half of Hayes’ full $7.14 million salary in a trade with the St. Louis Blues during the summer of 2023 - which is a bit hefty of a cap hit for a 33-year-old who is on the downswing of his career.

But, it’s not like Hayes’s numbers were poor last season. Despite being a healthy scratch for a chunk of the year mid-season, he ended up registering 13 goals and 23 points in 64 games. While it’s a far cry from the peak of his career with the Rangers and the Flyers, his game is still serviceable in a bottom-six role.

Even though his footspeed isn’t blazing by any means, Hayes thinks the game on a high level, and his playmaking smarts were on display at different times throughout 2024-25. He’s also a valuable presence in the locker room, and he would be a solid veteran mentor on an up-and-coming team. 

Penguins Have Intriguing Target To Consider From BlackhawksThe Pittsburgh Penguins are currently in the middle of retooling their roster. Due to this, a number of their veteran players have been discussed in the rumor mill this off-season, including Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson. 

Still, it would probably take an asset moving out with Hayes in order for him to land elsewhere next season, unless - as suggested with Acciari - he is part of a larger move (which is less likely because of his salary). Or, the Penguins could retain some salary to send Hayes elsewhere, which shouldn’t really hurt them for only this season. 

All in all, moving out Hayes shouldn’t be all that difficult, and the Penguins should do it for the same reasons they would do it for Acciari - to give their young players a more legitimate shot at regular NHL ice.

---

Danton Heinen

Heinen, 30, was with the Penguins from 2021-23 and was dealt back to Pittsburgh as part of the Marcus Pettersson trade to the Vancouver Canucks last season. In his second stint, he put up just three goals and 11 points in 28 games with Pittsburgh and nine goals and 29 points total on the season. 

In keeping true to the pattern of this exercise, it’s not that Heinen is useless in the Penguins’ lineup. The fact of the matter is that his presence could potentially block a younger player from seeing the lineup on a regular basis. He is also a forward who would be easy to put on the waiver wire following training camp, but if any kind of return is out there for him, it may be worth exploring a trade now to get even minimal value.

Heinen still has some lineup versatility, and he put up 17 goals and 36 points with the Boston Bruins just two seasons ago. He may be maddeningly inconsistent and disappear for large stretches, but he may be a worthwhile gamble as a depth piece for a team trying to throw darts at the board and hoping something lands.

Should Two Top Forward Prospects Make Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Even if the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t making a huge push to be Stanley Cup contenders in 2025-26, they have had a relatively active summer up to this point. 

His $2.25 million salary for one year isn’t huge by any means, but it’s just big enough that it could present some issues for teams close to the cap. The Penguins likely wouldn’t want to waste a retention slot on Heinen given the fact that guys like Karlsson, Tristan Jarry, and Hayes might be on the block at some point throughout the season as well. 

This is one of those, “If it’s there, why not?” scenarios. Again, the value is in freeing up a roster spot, not necessarily in the return.

---

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

Feature Image Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images