Porter Martone's commitment to the NCAA's Michigan State means one less winger is battling for a roster spot with the Philadelphia Flyers this fall.

By extension, those players likely to make the NHL roster and those likely to be on the bubble have become increasingly clear.

Rookie forwards Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin are both expected to vie for a roster spot, and Bump has already drawn plaudits from Flyers AGM Brent Flahr, as is tradition, ahead of his first NHL training camp.

Grebenkin already garnered seven games of NHL experience playing for former Flyers head coach Craig Berube and the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, and impressed in his brief stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after arriving in March.

Flyers Prospects Among Favorites to Win NCAA TitleThe future of the Philadelphia Flyers is all about the player development of today, and many of their top prospects are set to be the chief competitors for this season's NCAA title.

From there, the Flyers' dire salary cap situation muddies things, but assuming new head coach Rick Tocchet isn't willing to make Nicolas Deslauriers an every-night player to start the season, and assuming Tyson Foerster isn't ready to play, there's one more opening at the forward position.

Deslauriers is a pure winger, so the Flyers may favor a player who can play center to round out the roster. Names like Karsen Dorwart and Rodrigo Abols come to mind, but with his size and experience, the latter is more likely to steal a roster spot.

Or, with the consideration of adding some speed to the bottom-six, it would be foolish to count out veteran sparkplug Anthony Richard.

I think 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko will have a real opportunity to compete and play in preseason games, but it was quite apparent in his NHL stint with the Flyers last season that this level of competition was too much for him at this point in his development.

The addition of Christian Dvorak in free agency effectively nuked Luchanko's chances of making the NHL roster outright, and the Trevor Zegras experiment at center, if it goes awry, won't have its plug pulled until later in the season.

Flyers Depth Chart 1.0: Early Prospects Outlook, Roster DepthThe Philadelphia Flyers didn't make too many additions to the roster this offseason, but they did enough to shake up the organizational depth chart for the time being.

Luchanko doesn't have that kind of time, and he didn't exactly set the OHL ablaze in his D+1 season last year. The 18-year-old center deserves to have a full training camp with the Guelph Storm and go from there.

Bump is as sure as sure can be at this stage, so long as he doesn't completely tank in training camp and the preseason.

Martone, who turns 19 in October, would have been Bump and Grebenkin's greatest threat to an NHL roster spot, but by going to Michigan State, the 2025 No. 6 pick won't even be competing for that privilege.

What happens this time next year, though, could be a different story.

Kick off a new week in the NHL off-season with a new episode of rapid-fire topics on The Wraparound.

What Will The Penguins Do With Rust And Rakell? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Adam Kierszenblat discussed in this episode:

0:00: Reflecting on the NHL career of Jaroslav Halak

5:30: Will Blake Wheeler go down as one of the best Winnipeg Jets ever?

9:20: Did the Jets get a good deal by extending Gabriel Vilardi?

13:30: What will the Pittsburgh Penguins end up doing with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell?

18:40: Could Nazem Kadri be traded by the Calgary Flames?

24:17: Will the Colorado Avalanche be able to keep Martin Necas?

30:40: Which players going through salary arbitration are due for the biggest raises?

34:30: What have been the best and worst contracts handed out this off-season?

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

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Promo photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames are next up in The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings.

As we count down the NHL teams based on who improved, stayed the same or got worse this off-season, we’re analyzing additions and departures, including any hirings and firings.

Catch up on the full rankings to date after seeing why the Flames are ranked 28th.

Additions

Ivan Prosvetov (G), Nick Cicek (D)

The Breakdown: The Flames finished tied with the St. Louis Blues for the final  Stanley Cup wild-card berth this past season, but the tiebreakers did not work in Calgary’s favor, so they missed out on the playoffs for the third straight season and the fourth time in the past five years.

Judging by the distinct lack of additions Calgary GM Craig Conroy made to this point, you’d have to believe this team is capable of doing more with less – or more with the same. And we don’t share that opinion. Most, if not all, of the Pacific Division teams made notable moves this summer, but Calgary can’t say the same thing.

When the Flames’ additions were Cicek, a depth defenseman who hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, and Prosvetov, a potential backup goalie who played in the KHL this past season and mainly in the AHL before that, there’s simply not enough there to say there’s an improvement.

Departures

Anthony Mantha (RW), Kevin Rooney (C), Dan Vladar (G), Tyson Barrie (D)

The Breakdown: Losing Mantha isn’t a big deal, as the veteran winger posted only four goals and seven points in 13 games before getting injured. Similarly, Rooney put up only five goals and 10 points in 70 games with the Flames, and Vladar had an .898 SP in 30 appearances. Barrie played 24 games between the Flames and AHL Wranglers combined.

Of the departures, Vladar’s may hurt the most, since he eased the workload for rookie Dustin Wolf and provided some veteran experience. Calgary now has Wolf as the sophomore No. 1 and either Devin Cooley or Prosvetov as his backup. 

Conroy will lean on Flames youngsters to improve rather than adding experienced hands to secure a playoff spot. Conroy didn’t lose much off the main roster, but the lack of meaningful additions stands out more than Calgary’s departures.

The Bottom Line

The lack of notable moves by Conroy tells us one of two things: either he expects his team to squeeze out a few more standings points and secure a wild-card berth, or he’s got big moves to make in terms of trading veterans – mostly likely defenseman Rasmus Andersson. 

Andersson enters the final year of his contract before he becomes a UFA next summer. He is a terrific bargain at just a $4.55-million cap hit, making him an easy fit into a true Cup contender’s salary structure. Center Nazem Kadri has also come up in trade speculation but not reports. He’s still got four years left on his contract, and the Flames have him as their No. 1 center.

In any case, if Conroy stands pat with the roster he has in late July, the Flames don’t have the quality depth to hang with the powerhouses in the relatively weak Pacific. Gambling on his youngsters is certainly a tactic, but it’s not guaranteed to pay off with positive results. If it doesn’t, the Flames could once again be in the mushy middle of the league – not good enough to be a playoff team and not terrible enough to land a difference-making young player at the top of the next draft.

It’s easy to see, then, why Flames fans would be frustrated with Calgary’s current competitive philosophy. They nearly lucked into a playoff spot last season, but they likely would’ve been post-season roadkill even if they did beat out the Blues for the final wild-card berth. This year could go south for them if Wolf doesn’t stand on his head and steal games the way he did in 2024-25. 

From our perspective, the lack of moves Calgary made – a baffling choice, given they still have $15.4 million in cap space – means a step back could be coming for the franchise. The only positive route from that is taking an even bigger step back than expected and getting a high draft pick.

Summer Splash Rankings

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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The Los Angeles Kings are trying to make it back to the playoffs next season, and this time, make a deep run into the postseason as they push to try and make a deep playoff run. They made some additions this summer, but they were recently listed as a potential destination for superstar forward Jason Robertson.

The Kings were listed alongside the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Mammoth as the seven potential trade destinations. 

Robertson, who is 25 years old, is in the final season of his current contract that has a $7,750,000 cap hit. Last season, he scored 35 goals and added 45 assists for 80 points through 82 games, which comes out to a 0.98 points-per-game average. He's also from California, making this fit make sense.

The Kings have $6,768,33 in cap space right now, according to PuckPedia, and don't need to move much out in terms of money to bring him in. However, the asking price is likely quite high. They would have to be willing to part with at least one first-round pick and a prospect, and the Dallas Stars would likely want an NHL-ready player as well.

Time will tell if the Stars end up re-signing Robertson or if they decide to trade him, but if the Kings have a chance to land him and he's interested in extending long-term, they should be all over trying to acquire him.

Debunking Ridiculous Rumor Connecting Kings To Sidney CrosbyThe Los Angeles Kings were recently linked to Sidney Crosby, but it's time to shut any speculation down before it gets out of hand. Report: Kings' Kopitar Believed To Be Entering Final NHL SeasonThe Los Angeles Kings have made some changes to their roster this offseason, and one thing that fans have been waiting for is a potential extension for long-time forward Anze Kopitar. Report: Kings' Adrian Kempe Asking Price On Next Contract RevealedThe Los Angeles Kings will soon have to focus on trying to re-sign forward Adrian Kempe, and while there is no indication he has any interest in leaving the organization, his asking price was revealed in a recent report from The Fourth Period, and the two sides are expected to ramp up contract talks soon.

The Buffalo Sabres are under massive pressure to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years. To do so, they're going to have to make the most of their games with their Atlantic Division rivals. And in this continuing THN.com series, we're analyzing Buffalo's chances against each of their seven Atlantic rivals.

We kicked off the process with an analysis of the Boston Bruins, and on Sunday, we focused on the Detroit Red Wings. In today's file, we're putting the back-to-back Cup-champion Florida Panthers under the spotlight.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS

NEW PANTHERS PLAYERS: Jeff Petry, D; Daniil Tarasov, G

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-2-1, Panthers 3-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  October 18, at Buffalo; January 12 at Buffalo; February 2 at Florida; February 27 at Florida

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Panthers weren't the best regular-season team in the Atlantic last year -- that would be the Toronto Maple Leafs -- but Florida dominated the Sabres, winning by a combined seven-goal total in two of their three victories over Buffalo. And had the Sabres beaten the odds and qualified for the 2025 post-season, does anyone really believe Buffalo would've been anything other than roadkill against a Panthers team that ate up every opponent they faced? No, we didn't think so. 

That's why we believe the Sabres aren't going to have much hope against Florida this coming season. The Panthers managed to hold onto all three key UFA veterans they had to address this summer -- center Sam Bennett, winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad all re-signed at relative bargains, giving Florida's Atlantic rivals a sobering dose of reality as they all try to envision a year in which the Panthers aren't once again world-beaters.

Now, there are some different small elements that have changed for Florida. With the departure of veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt to Utah, Panthers GM Bill Zito went out and signed veteran Petry away from the Detroit Red Wings. The 37-year-old Petry may not have much left in the tank, but we have to defer to Zito's strengths as an asset-acquisition specialist and predict Petry will fit right in as a third-pair option who can chip in with a bit of offense.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Can Buffalo Beat The Playoff-Desperate Detroit Red Wings?The Buffalo Sabres have completed most of their off-season moves this summer. We've examined the most-likely trade partners for Buffalo, and in this file, we're continuing our new THN.com series "Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition". In this series, we're breaking down the Sabres' seven Atlantic Division rivals, focusing on what changes those seven teams have made, Buffalo's record against them last season, their games against each other this coming year, and our opinion of whether the team is one the Sabres should be beating next year.

Another difference for the Panthers is the addition of goalie Tarasov. The 26-year-old had poor numbers in Columbus last season (including an .881 save percentage and 3.54 goals-against average in 20 appearances), but something funny happens to goalies when they play behind Florida's relentless backcheck and their pressure in all zones -- those goalies almost always get better. And with star Sergei Bobrovsky entering the final year of his contract, we expect Bobrovsky is going to play the bulk of the games yet again.

The Panthers may be without star winger Matthew Tkachuk for a long stretch of the begininng of the regular-season, and the Sabres have one of their first games against Florida when they'll be without Tkachuk. So the Sabres need to make the most of that opportunity -- and brace themselves for the three games they've got against the Panthers from January through the rest of the regular season. By that point, Zito will probably have made his team even stronger, and that could be bad news for the Sabres down the stretch.

Unfortunately for Buffalo fans, not enough has improved on the Sabres end and nothing has declined on the Panthers end to give us an inkling that Buffalo is going to change the head-to-head battles we saw between the two teams this past season. The Panthers weren't the best regular-season team in the league last year, and we suppose that will give the Sabres some motivation to win early against them. But when both teams are at full strength, Buffalo pales in comparison to what Florida has to offer.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: How Will Buffalo Do Against The Boston Bruins?The Buffalo Sabres have made most, if. not all of their off-season moves. And before we get around to making our pre-season predictions as is custom at THN.com, we're going to take a different approach to our picks this time around. Instead of just giving you all the picks at once, we're going to break things down for the Sabres by looking into who their divisional opponents will be next season -- and why that contributes to them either making, or missing, the Stanley Cup playoffs.

We're not saying the Sabres have zero chance at winning a game or two against the Panthers. The NHL is an any-team-can-win-at-any-point type of league, but on paper, at least, Florida has too much talent and too much veteran knowhow for Buffalo to reliably beat. 

If the Sabres do make the playoffs, they'll have to beat lesser teams than the Panthers. Because the way Florida is contstructed, Buffalo simply doesn't compare to the Panthers.

Hockey Canada has announced its coaching and support staff for the 2026 Winter Olympics and there's some love for Ottawa in the mix.

The Senators will be represented by John Forget, their Head Equipment Manager, and Dom Nicoletta, their Head Athletic Therapist. They'll both join Team Canada in their pursuit of this country's first Olympic men's hockey gold in 11 years.

Forget and Nicoletta are no strangers to international competition. Forget will be on his seventh assignment with Team Canada, including five appearances at the IIHF Men's World Championship. He’s earned two gold medals and one silver during those tournaments.

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Nicoletta has donned the red leaf on four occasions, including three Worlds. He's the guy who's sometimes known to Sens fans as the bearer of bad news. When a Sens player goes down the tunnel with injury, the TV cameras frequently catch Nicoletta coming out from the room and whispering news about the player's status/diagnosis into the coach's ear.

He and Forget helped Canada claim gold in 2021 and secure a silver medal in 2019. Most recently, the pair were part of the off-ice crew that helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off this past February.

#Sens fans join us in congratulating Head Athletic Therapist Dom Nicoletta and Head Equipment Manager John Forget on winning the #4Nations trophy with @HockeyCanada last night 🙌#GoSensGo 🤝 #4Nationspic.twitter.com/8KBjdzrXJx

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 21, 2025

But this will be the first Olympic Games for both Forget and Nicoletta, giving them a shot at not only adding an Olympic medal, but also a chance to enjoy all the things that make the games special – the Olympic Village, the other sports, and of course, the opening and closing ceremonies.

They're not likely to be joined in Italy by any of the Sens' Canadian players, but they will be joined at the Games by Senators forwards Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle, who are set to represent the U.S. and Germany, respectively. All countries unveiled the first six players for their preliminary rosters last month, and both players made the top six. The other players will be named later this year.

Other Senators who might make their way to the Olympics include Jake Sanderson (USA), Nik Matinpalo and Leevi Merilainen (FIN), Linus Ullmark (SWE) and Lars Eller (DEN).

Basically, Hockey Canada declared on Monday they're sticking with what's working because not a lot has in recent years. They did win at the 4 Nations Face-off in February, so they're running it back with the same coaching and support staff this coming February.

From Hockey Canada:

Assistant coaches Bruce Cassidy (Ottawa, ON / Vegas, NHL), Peter DeBoer (Dunnville, ON) and Rick Tocchet (Scarborough, ON / Philadelphia, NHL), assistant coach and eye-in-the-sky Misha Donskov (London, ON), consultant David Alexander (Moncton, NB / St. Louis, NHL), director of performance analysis James Emery (Calgary, AB) and video coordinator Elliott Mondou (Grand-Mère, QC/St. Louis, NHL) have been named to the coaching staff alongside Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC / Tampa Bay, NHL), who was named head coach for the 2026 Olympics last June.

The coaching staff was selected by Cooper, general manager Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON / St. Louis, NHL), assistant general managers Julien BriseBois (Greenfield Park, QC / Tampa Bay, NHL), Jim Nill (Hanna, AB / Dallas, NHL) and Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB / Boston, NHL), and director of player personnel Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie, ON / Pittsburgh, NHL).

There are plenty of Ottawa 67's ties as well. Cassidy starred for the 67's back in the 80's. Donskov is a former 67's associate coach. And the club's current Head of Athlete Performance & Strength and Conditioning, Sean Young, was also named to Canada's staff.

Big news! Sean Young, our Head of Athlete Performance & Strength and Conditioning, has been named to the staff of the 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey Team! 🇨🇦

Congratulations, Younger - @TeamCanada is lucky to have you! 🏒

🔗 https://t.co/j2Cil0qp4Vpic.twitter.com/iMEckXrL2f

— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) July 21, 2025

Here's the full list of Canada's support staff from Hockey Canada:

• Sport physiotherapist Kent Kobelka (Revelstoke, BC/Calgary, NHL)
• Athletic therapist Domenic Nicoletta (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Ottawa, NHL)
• Massage therapists Marcin Goszczynski (Calgary, AB) and Andy Hüppi (Schmerikon, SUI)
• Team physician Dr. Ian Auld (Victoria, BC/Calgary, NHL)
• Equipment managers John Forget (Oshawa, ON/Ottawa, NHL) and Darren Granger (Brandon, MB/Los Angeles, NHL)
• Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, ON/Ottawa, OHL)
• Mental performance consultant Dr. Ryan Hamilton (Fredericton, NB/Tampa Bay, NHL)
• Hockey operations managers Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB) and Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, MB)
• Hockey operations coordinator Miah Armitage (Creston, BC)
• Media relations vice-president Sean Kelso (Vancouver, BC/Calgary, NHL)
• Media relations manager Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, ON)

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

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Jan 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Former Nashville Predators players defenseman Shea Weber, goalie Pekka Rivne (35) and General Manager David Poiledo a ceremonial puck drop with Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones (4) as part of the Gold Jacket presentation , at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Shea Weber spent 11 seasons with the Nashville Predators during his NHL career, and one would be hard-pressed to come up with enough adjectives to describe his accomplishments.

The accolades he has received recently certainly speak for themselves. After being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last November, the former Preds captain was inducted into the inaugural class of the Predators Golden Hall.

Over the weekend, Weber received his third entry into a Hall this past year after being officially inducted as a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in Nashville. He was one of 20 members inducted into this year’s class after an official announcement was made back in April.

Mike Maguire, a longtime friend of Weber was in attendance at the ceremony and accepted the honor on Weber’s behalf.

“Shea Weber exemplifies the grit, leadership, and dedication that define a true champion," Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, said in a statement. “From his years as the backbone of the Nashville Predators to his impact on the sport of hockey as a whole, Shea has left a lasting legacy in Tennessee. We are honored to welcome him to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.”

Weber joins former Predators teammates Pekka Rinne, Mike Fisher and David Legwand as TSHF members, along with former GM David Poile and team broadcaster Terry Crisp.

In 20 NHL seasons, Weber played in 1,038 regular-season games, totaling 589 points (224-365-589). In 97 playoff contests, he recorded 42 points (18-24-42).

Weber spent six of his 11 seasons with the Predators as their captain, and quickly established himself as an elite right-shot two-way defenseman. In 2016, he captured the Mark Messier Leadership Award and finished twice as the runner-up for the Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top blueliner.

Weber’s reputation as a hard shooter was well-earned. He took home NHL Hardest Shot Competition honors four times, including three consecutive years from 2015-17. One topped out at 108.5 miles an hour.

The seven-time NHL All-Star also won gold twice with Team Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.

Weber was taken as the 49th overall pick by the Predators in the 2003 NHL Draft. It was fitting that the draft was held in Nashville that year. After 11 seasons with the Predators, Weber was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in late June of 2016 for P.K. Subban.

Norwegian forward Mathias Emilio Pettersen, 25, has signed a two-year contract with Djurgården IF, the Stockholm-based SHL club announced on Monday.

“I’m super excited to play the next two years with Djurgården,” Pettersen is quoted in the club’s announcement. “I’m incredibly excited to play in front of a packed Hovet (the team’s home rink) and the best fans in all of hockey.”

For Pettersen, this marks a return to Europe after playing overseas since 2014.

“He has come a long way in North America with college hockey and a number of years in the AHL,” said Djurgården GM Niklas Wikegård. “Emilio is already very talented, but we believe we can make him even better.”

Pettersen was born in Manglerud, Norway but at the age of 14, went overseas to play youth hockey in Connecticut. He then spent two seasons in the USHL and was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round, 167th overall, in 2018. That was followed by two years at the University of Denver.

Report: Anton Frondell Will Sign With Blackhawks This Week; Won’t Attend Training Camp Swedish center Anton Frondell will sign an entry-level contract this upcoming week with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that took him third overall at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, according to Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström.

Between 2020 and 2025, the 5-foot-10, 178-pound Pettersen played 322 AHL regular-season and playoff games for the Stockton Heat, Calgary Wranglers and Texas Stars, recording 164 points and 144 penalty minutes. In 2024, he was traded by the Flames to the Dallas Stars for Riley Damiani, but the only NHL games he played for either organization were in the preseason.

Internationally, Pettersen has represented Norway at two IIHF U-18 World Championships and one World Junior Championship – all at the Division I Group A level – and at two senior-elite-level World Championships. 

Pettersen joins a Djurgården team that was just promoted to the SHL from the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan but is trying to build a competitive roster. The team will notably feature two 18-year-old forwards who were chosen in the first round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft – Victor Eklund and Anton Frondell.

In addition to Pettersen, Eklund and Frondell, Djurgården’s lineup for the upcoming season will also include veteran center Marcus Krüger, who was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Finnish right winger Jesse Ylönen, Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, and Swedish goaltender Magnus Hellberg.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images.

Islanders Sign Victor Eklund But He’s Probably Returning To Sweden Too Swedish winger Victor Eklund, 18, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him 16th overall at the recent NHL Entry Draft, the club announced on Monday.

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last week with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

Mason Marchment’s name was being floated out in trade rumor land before July 1, as the Dallas Stars were looking to move the big winger to clear cap space and re-sign Matt Duchene and Jamie Benn. The Stars found him a home, sending the veteran forward to the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 third round pick and a 2025 fourth rounder, but his stay in the Pacific Northwest may not be lengthy, since he is in the last year of a four-year contract. 

The 30-year-old was an undrafted free agent signing of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won a Calder Cup in 2018 in Toronto, but never got a chance to show his talents with the Leafs, as he was traded to Florida just before the league COVID shutdown in 2020. After an 18-goal season with the Panthers in 2022, Marchment signed with Dallas as an unrestricted free agent and has scored 56 goals over three seasons.      

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Marchment a has 10-team modified no-trade list in the final year of his deal, something that is always a big hurdle for the Sabres, but he is from Uxbridge, ON (NE of Toronto), which could make him more willing to accept a trade to the Sabres. 

What Would It Cost?

The Kraken are in a transitional phase from a team that added veterans in expansion and signed free agents for a playoff pursuit to a group centered around younger core players like Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers, and center Shane Wright. Former Sabres GM Jason Botterill has four veterans (Marchment, Jordan Eberle, Jaden Schwartz, and Jamie Oleksiak) on expiring contracts, which makes the Kraken a potential big player early in the season or before the trade deadline in the seller’s market if they start slow. 

The Kraken are flush with draft capital and are likely to be looking for young NHL-ready players if they choose to move a forward like Marchment early next season. As it gets closer to the deadline, Botterill may be willing to deal the big winger to at least recoup the draft picks he gave up in June. The Sabres already gave up their 2026 second round pick in the Josh Norris deal, so they would have to be willing to give up picks in 2027 or 2028 if they want to add some offensive punch to their forward group. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Minnesota Wild are the latest focus of our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Wild’s 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

The Minnesota braintrust has had plenty of success at the draft.

Judd Brackett, the director of amateur scouting for the Minnesota Wild, has an impressive track record of finding top talent, dating back to his days in Vancouver. Along with the rest of the scouting staff in Minnesota, he’s built the Wild’s pipeline with high-end talent and solid positional depth.

Some Wild youngsters could play bigger roles in the NHL this upcoming season, including Liam Ohgren. While he is no longer Calder-eligible because he just surpassed the 25-game limit, this might be the 21-year-old’s quasi-rookie season, where he enters the Minnesota lineup full-time. The Swedish left winger is physical with a high motor and excellent finishing ability. On the forecheck, Ohgren disrupts defenders and forces them into making poor decisions. Ohgren could step into a middle-six role and make an immediate impact as a depth scorer and a hard-to-play-against depth piece.

Speaking of middle-six forwards, Danila Yurov finished his KHL obligations and signed his entry-level contract at the end of this past season, which gives the 2022 first-round pick the chance to come to North America and put his game on display. He will likely step into the NHL lineup right away. He’s a center at heart with the intelligence and two-way acumen to jump into a pivot position as well. Yurov, 21, doesn’t drive play, but he does all the little things that allow his linemates to shine. He’s a bit of an unsung hero in that sense.

Charlie Stramel has had a somewhat rocky ride since being drafted. His freshman season at the University of Wisconsin was his draft year, and he scored at a decent clip for one of the youngest players in college hockey. His physical tools, flashes of skill and nifty passing attracted teams, but his total package was a bit raw, and his skating was a concern. After a sizeable step back as a sophomore, Stramel transferred to Michigan State University, where he improved significantly this past season. He is still a project and will likely need some AHL time after college, but the size, physicality and playmaking are all interesting bets. 

Hunter Haight had a very solid rookie season in the AHL, putting up 20 goals and 34 points over 67 games. He finished second in goal-scoring on the team and fifth in points. Haight is a very skilled and tactical player who hasn’t ever been an elite scorer, but he’s always found a way to make himself a more than capable depth scorer. The biggest question is whether he can find a way to mesh his tools and see the same kind of success at the pro level on a consistent basis. 

Ryder Ritchie must also find a way to blend all of his skills and tools together. The former Medicine Hat Tiger is headed to Boston University, which is an excellent place for the crafty puckhandler and dual-threat scorer to hone his craft. Ritchie flashes high-end potential in the offensive zone and in transition. Hopefully for him, college will help him turn those flashes into consistency. 

While the forward corps is loaded, the same can be said about the defense. 

Zeev Buium is one of the most exciting young defenders in hockey. Over two seasons at the University of Denver, he helped lead the team to one national championship and another final appearance, earning first-team all-American honors both years. He led the nation in scoring by a defenseman both years as well. 

Buium is a true difference-maker who can control the game at both ends of the ice. He calms play defensively and drives chances offensively. Buium isn’t quite as dynamic as Lane Hutson, but he is more well-rounded and could impact the Wild lineup in a similar fashion to Hutson’s impact on the Montreal Canadiens this past season. 

David Jiricek isn’t a rookie anymore because of the NHL games he’s played between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Wild. That said, Jiricek has yet to establish himself as an NHLer, but the potential that remains in his game is incredible. Jiricek enjoys the physical side of the game and also has some intriguing offensive skills. If Jiricek can be a bit more fluid on his feet, he could become an effective top-four defender. 

Carson Lambos is also set to challenge for a roster spot in training camp. The 22-year-old is a very capable two-way blueliner who has grown so much defensively that it may be his strength. Lambos is fluid on his feet and strong in the tough areas. He has some impressive passing and a big shot. He can do a bit of everything, and if he can continue that trend at the NHL level, he could very well be a key piece. 

Aron Kiviharju’s stock fell dramatically after coming into his draft year as one of the top defenseman in the class. Injuries, inconsistencies and lack of physical development were among the reasons. Kiviharju is still one of the most impressive passers among defenders in the draft over the last few years. His feet don’t always keep up, and that’s affected his ability to excel at both ends of the ice. Kiviharju’s upside remains intriguing, but he may ultimately prove to be a very good European pro player. 

David Spacek took a big step in the AHL. He’s become a fixture on the Czech men’s team over the past couple of years as well. Spacek is a solid rush defender who keeps good gaps and understands how to read incoming attackers. He isn’t a flashy player, but he knows how to maneuver the puck around the ice. Spacek could be a solid depth defender. 

One of the best goalie prospects in the world, Jesper Wallstedt, will finally get his shot in the NHL now that Marc-Andre Fleury has retired and opened a full-time spot. Wallstedt is one of the most technically sound netminders we’ve seen come through the draft in years. He understands how to track the puck in open ice and identifies where he needs to be to cut down the angle. Filip Gustavsson is the starter in Minnesota coming into the season, but it wouldn’t be a complete shock to see Wallstedt earn his way into split starts by season’s end. 

U-23 Players Likely to Play NHL Games This Season

Zeev Buium (D), Danila Yurov (C/W), Carson Lambos (D), David Jiricek (D), Liam Ohgren (LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 52nd overall - Theodor Hallquisth, D, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)

Round 4, 102nd overall - Adam Benak, C, Youngstown (USHL)

Round 4, 121st overall - Lirim Amidovski, RW, North Bay (OHL)

Round 4, 123rd overall - Carter Klippenstein, C, Brandon (WHL)

Round 5, 141st overall - Justin Kipkie, D, Victoria (WHL)

It was a bit surprising when the Wild took Theodor Hallquisth in the second round, but the bet on the tools finding a way to work makes some sense. Hallquisth’s mobility has always been an issue to a degree, especially in his own zone. If he can improve his skating, his strengths will only be enhanced. 

Hallquisth has some very nice passing in transition and starts the breakout as well as anyone outside of the top group of defenders. He appears to understand how to evade pressure at a lower speed and with limited agility. If he can improve those areas, he could be a very valuable player as a transitional defender. 

With their first of three picks in the fourth round, the Wild took undersized center Adam Benak. Coming into the year, there were comparisons to Cole Caufield or Logan Stankoven due to their size, but Benak is different from both of those players. He’s more of a playmaker with some of the most dynamic passing and puckhandling of anyone in the draft class. His shot is certainly a weapon, but he isn’t a pure goal-scorer the way Caufield is, and he doesn’t quite have the relentless motor of Stankoven. 

Benak brings other special aspects to the game, and he could be one of the best picks of the draft thanks to his cerebral offensive drive. He attacks the middle of the ice as a passer, looking to get the goalie moving laterally. Benak is a big swing, but he might be the best swing any team could have made outside of the top 100. 

Lirim Amidovski played for a North Bay squad that barely made the playoffs and finished well below .500, so some felt like there may be more offensive ability there than meets the eye. He has the raw physical tools you want to see from a player with his profile. He skates well, throws his weight around and even has a good shot. His issue is that he’s not much of a puck carrier, and he doesn’t always show the skill to evade pressure with the puck. As an off-puck threat, Amidovski could develop into something interesting. 

Physical 6-foot-3 center Carter Klippenstein works his tail off, attacks defenders head-on when forechecking and consistently looks to wreak havoc. His on-puck tools and skating must improve, but he has the base of a sturdy bottom-six forward at the next level. There’s just a lot to work on to get there. 

Capping off their draft in the fifth round, the Wild took overage defender Justin Kipkie, who left the WHL to head to Arizona State in the NCAA. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, but they opted not to sign him, likely because he isn’t a very mobile defender. That said, he can fire passes around the ice and use his size from time to time. Kipkie put up 52 and 62 points over the past two seasons, and developing in college should do wonders for him. 

Strengths

The Wild have a deep prospect pool with talent at just about every position. The depth and variety are the strengths.

They have forwards with skill, and they have forwards with size. If you want a larger, physical player, you can turn to Stramel. If you want skill and speed, Benak is your guy.

They have shifty puck-movers on the back end and defensively stout defenseman.

Buium is a stud on the blueline, but after him, Lambos, Jiricek and Kiviharju all bring various tools and skills that could make them effective players.

The Wild also have an elite goalie in the system with Wallstedt, and they have other young netminders with some promise.

Since the Wild have a bit of everything, they have plenty of time to develop and allow players to find their niche at the pro level.

Weaknesses

The Wild have are weak down the middle. They have a few players who are listed as centers and wingers, but the reality is that one of their most promising true center prospects is the 5-foot-7 Benak. He may ultimately get pushed to the wing simply because of his height.

Hidden Gem: Riley Heidt, LW/C

Heidt is a feisty and fearless forward who brings as much skill and offensive playmaking ability as he does relentless effort. Heidt jumps to pro hockey after eclipsing 200 points over the last two years in the WHL. Heidt isn’t the largest, but he seems to understand he will have success when he establishes the inside position and even invites contact at times. Heidt possesses some of the elements that make Haight and Ritchie successful, with a higher level of skill and a more intense style of play overall. His first AHL season will be fun to watch. 

Next Men Up: Jesper Wallstedt, G, And Zeev Buium, D

The Wild could have an influx of young talent joining the roster this upcoming season, but Wallstedt and Buium are virtual locks.

Wallstedt will start as a backup goalie who could get a larger share of the games by the end of the season. His upside is tremendous. 

Buium is the most impressive rookie the Wild may have this season. His two-way impact and ability to create scoring chances from the back end are spectacular. Buium can be a difference-maker in Game 1. 

Ohgren and Yurov could fill two spots on the third line, bringing a youthful energy and impressive work ethic at both ends of the ice. Lambos and Jiricek will likely also play games in the NHL this season, bringing some physicality and puck movement to the defense group.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Liam Ohgren, Riley Heidt, Rasmus Kumpulainen, Rieger Lorenz, Michael Milne

C: Adam Benak, Caedan Bankier, Carter Klippenstein

RW: Danila Yurov, Ryder Ritchie, Charlie Stramel, Hunter Haight

LD: Zeev Buium, Aron Kiviharju, Carson Lambos, Jack Peart, Aaron Pionk, Stevie Leskovar

RD: David Jiricek, David Spacek, Theodor Hallquisth, Sebastian Soini, Kyle Masters 

G: Jesper Wallstedt, Riley Mercer, Chase Wutzke, Samuel Hlavaj

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 Golden Knights have one more name in the books heading to the Milano Cortino 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy has been named one of four assistant coaches for Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team, marking his first Olympic appearance in his coaching career. 

BRUCE CASSIDY IS GOING TO THE OLYMPICS!!! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/AbB1kwj66S

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 21, 2025

Cassidy will be working alongside Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and joins Knights star forward Jack Eichel, who was one of the first six players named to Team USA’s preliminary roster back in February. 

Cassidy was among the winning coaching staff for Team Canada during the Four Nations Face-Off, where Canada defeated the United States in the championship game with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory. 

CONNOR MCDAVID WINS THE 4 NATIONS FOR CANADA IN OVERTIME 😱🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/7XIdlj4c75

— ESPN (@espn) February 21, 2025

In June 2022, Cassidy was named the third head coach in Golden Knights history. Before taking the reins in Vegas, he led the Boston Bruins for six seasons and previously coached the Washington Capitals for two. His standout coaching earned him the Jack Adams Award following the 2019-20 season in Boston. 

THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS ARE YOUR 2022-23 #STANLEYCUP CHAMPIONS!!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MR2sAf3KLb

— NHL (@NHL) June 14, 2023

Since joining the Knights, Cassidy has made a significant impact. Under his leadership these past three seasons, Vegas has reached the postseason and claimed the Pacific Division title twice (2022-23, 2024-25). He guided the team to its two best regular-season performances in franchise history, earning 111 points in his debut season and 110 points the following year. Cassidy’s efforts were rewarded on June 13, 2023, when he earned his first Stanley Cup championship. 

Cassidy holds an impressive NHL head coaching record of 438-228-80, along with 62 playoff victories.

PHOTO COURTESY: Golden Knights

The Calgary Flames may have found a future cornerstone on the blue line—and his name is Zayne Parekh.

Any time a young defenceman gets mentioned in the same breath as Bobby Orr, the hockey world takes notice. For Parekh, it’s not just talk—it’s backed by record-breaking numbers, dazzling offensive instincts, and a resume that has already turned heads at the NHL level.

The Flames selected Parekh ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, and wasted little time locking him up with an entry-level contract on July 5, 2024. Now, at just 19 years old, the Nobleton, Ontario, native is poised to make his mark in Calgary—and across the league.

Parekh was electric during his time with the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League, rewriting the franchise record books with a 33-goal, 96-point campaign over 66 regular-season games in 2023-24.

He followed that up with a jaw-dropping 33 goals and 74 assists for 107 points, with a plus-42 ranking in 61 games last season. In doing so, Parekh joined the legendary Bobby Orr as the only defencemen in OHL/OHA history to post multiple 30-goal seasons. 

His dominance earned him the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenceman in 2024 and received 2024 CHL Defenceman of the Year honours, solidifying his reputation as one of the most gifted offensive blueliners in recent memory.

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XThe regular NHL season schedule is out, with Marner set to return to Toronto on January 23, 2026. THN Hosts @Michael_Traikos, @katie_gaus , and @THNRyanKennedy debate Toronto's reception of Marner after being traded to Vegas, the latest NHL news, and more on the newest episode

The real question now: How will it translate to the NHL?

If his brief debut last season is any indication, Flames fans have plenty to be excited about. Parekh suited up for Calgary in a late-season matchup against the Los Angeles Kings and didn’t disappoint—scoring his first NHL goal and finishing with a plus-3 rating.

Heading into the 2025–26 campaign, NHL.com has Parekh slotted at No. 7 in its Top 10 Rookie Rankings.

With elite vision, an innate sense for offence, and a poise well beyond his years, Parekh is set to become a key part of Calgary’s rebuild—and quite possibly its future star on the blueline.

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens have brought in multiple new players this off-season. While this is the case, they also lost a handful of players from last season's roster. 

One of the Canadiens' most notable off-season departures was Joel Armia. After not re-signing with the Canadiens by July 1, Armia became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings. With this, he is now expected to boost the bottom half of the Kings' forward group. 

With the Canadiens having a plethora of promising young forwards in their system, it was not necessarily surprising to see them move on from Armia. However, while this is the case, they will miss what the veteran forward provided for them.

Although Armia was not a star during his seven-year stint with the Canadiens, he worked well in their bottom six and was a very important part of their penalty kill because of his strong two-way play. As a result of this, the Canadiens will now need to adjust without him in their lineup.

Armia also had another solid season with the Canadiens in 2024-25. In 81 games this past season, he recorded 11 goals, 29 points, and 87 hits. This was after he scored a career-high 17 goals and recorded 25 points in 66 games with the Canadiens in 2023-24. Thus, he gave the Canadiens' bottom six decent secondary production to go along in addition to his strong defensive play.

This is exactly why Armia was able to land the nice contract he did with the Kings, and it will be intriguing to see how the Canadiens replace him in their bottom six from here. 

Canadiens Made Great Move With Important ForwardMontreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans had a strong year in 2024-25. In 82 games with the Original Six club, he scored 13 goals and set new career highs with 23 assists, 36 points, and 124 hits. With numbers like these, he provided the Canadiens with solid depth offensive production to go along with a nice amount of grit. 

Photo Credit: © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

When Mitch Marner made his first public comments as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, he mentioned speaking with former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Ryan Reaves and Max Pacioretty about their experiences with living arrangements in the city during the final weeks of June. This revelation upset some Maple Leafs fans, who felt Marner had been disengaged for weeks. While perhaps not as infuriated as they were upon discovering Marner spoke to current Vegas Golden Knights players in February while competing for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, fans were still displeased.

Reaves, a guest on the Leafs Morning Take podcast with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill, addressed the criticism he was receiving. He explained his perspective on the situation:

“Besides the fact that I already knew I was getting shipped off, let's leave that aside. Mitchy was hitting free agency, right? And I think that was pretty public knowledge. I'm very close with Mitchy I became very close with him over the years, the last few years. And he asked me my opinion about Vegas. I played here for four years. I lived here all summer because I love the city. What do you want me to do? You want me to lie to him because I'm still technically signed with Toronto? That's my boy. I'm not going to steer him wrong.”

Just one day before his trade to the San Jose Sharks earlier this month, Reaves also commented on the Toronto market on the Cam & Strick podcast with Cam Janssen and Andy Strickland, expressing surprise at how quickly fans turned on the team during challenging moments in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Reaves further elaborated on his reasons for living in Vegas and the distinctions between that market and Toronto's.

Reaves elaborated on the differences between the markets while further emphasizing he was just helping a friend on Monday.

“I loved my time here (in Vegas). I enjoyed every second of it. I think it's a great place to live. You have the weather, you have the city. It's a little more toned down than Toronto in relation to the fans and how much pressure there is there. I'm not going to lie to him about that. And I wasn't trying to draw him away from Toronto. I was just being honest to one of my boys. I don't really care what the people say about that. I wasn't doing anything shady or trying to hurt the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was just being a friend to Mitchy.”

Reaves was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun, one day after his appearance on the Cam & Strick podcast.

Drafted fourth overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL Draft, Marner departed the club after nine seasons with his hometown team in a sign-and-trade deal with the Vegas Golden Knights that brought Nicolas Roy in return. Marner signed an eight-year, $96 million contract and departed Toronto as the franchise's fifth all-time leading point-getter with 741 points (221 goals and 520 assists).

(Top image credit Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Ryan Reaves Thanks Maple Leafs In Social Media Post After Being Traded To SharksRyan Reaves is grateful for his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mitch Marner's Return To Toronto And Other Key Dates As Maple Leafs Unveil Full 2025-26 NHL Regular Season ScheduleThe Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled their 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday. Mitch Marner's Return To Toronto And Other Key Dates As Maple Leafs Unveil Full 2025-26 NHL Regular Season ScheduleThe Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled their 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday.

Red Wings prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine both could challenge for Detroit's backup job in the 2026-27 season.

The Detroit Red Wings made a massive move this offseason when adding former all-star goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. The move instantly give the Red Wings their best goalie in over a decade and will certainly provide a boost to them this upcoming season. 

Detroit fans weren't expecting a franchise goalie so soon as they had two potential options for the role, developing in the minors. The Red Wings' third goalie next season appears to be high-end prospect Sebastian Cossa as the former first round pick has been the goalie fans have been waiting for. The 22-year-old Hamilton native has played one NHL game so far and resulted in a 6-5 win with 12 saves. 

Cossa has dominated the AHL level with a 21-15-6 record plus a 2.45 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. He is on the verge of making the jump and when 38-year-old Cam Talbot sees his contract expire at the end of this season, he'll likely be replaced by Cossa. That was seemingly the plan until another goalie prospect has come along and forced the issue. 

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

The 20-year-old goaltender out of Michigan State University, Trey Augustine has become one of the hottest prospects in the sport. NHL.com recently posted to instagram on the top ten forwards, defenceman and goaltenders under 25 years old with Augustine ranking in the top six. Cossa was not listed despite being 22 and will make for a thrilling battle to claim the backup job for the 2026-27 season. 

One thing to keep in mind is that Gibson is signed on for two more seasons and if the two young goaltenders push their way to the front, he may be out of a job once again like he was in Anaheim with Lukas Dostal. There could also be a scenerio where Gibson is still playing at a high level and will be in a position to keep his role. 

We could see a similar situation to what happened with the Nashville Predators and Yaroslav Askarov. The two sides were close until it was time for Askarov to make the jump to the NHL level and there wasn't any room for him as Juuse Saros was still at the top of his game and they still had a reliable backup in Justus Annunen. 

The Best and Worst Moves Made By Detroit GM Steve YzermanExamining the best and worst moves made by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman during his tenure with the team. 

San Jose would go on to trade and acquired Askarov from Nashville in exchange for a replacement goaltender in Magnus Chrona as well as a forward prospect David Edstrom and a 2025 conditional first-round pick belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights. The deal was a big one as the Sharks got their goalie of the future and this could be something that the Red Wings look to do in the near future. 

The hope is in a couple years the Red Wings could be contending a if John Gibson is still effective in his late 30s like some goalies are, Talbot for example, Detroit could use one of the goaltenders as a valuable asset. They will need to make these decisions soon as Cossa is set to be a restricted free agent and Augustine is still unsigned with his rights not expiring with the team until he decides to leave the NCAA which could be two more seasons at most. 

Augustine has a lot of hype right now and could force the Red Wings to potentially move off Cossa if Augustine is determined to take over Talbot's backup role. Time will tell how the story will turn out but the battle between two elite goaltenders will be something to watch next offseason.

Lucas Raymond Quickly Closing In On Making Red Wings History It goes without saying that Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond's exclusion from NHL.com's recent list of the best 10 players aged 25 or younger was at best a bizarre oversight, and at worst, a blatant snub. 

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