After the Senators made the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, it wasn't long before they began a major rebuild that seemed to take forever. As everyone knows, they missed the playoffs for the next seven seasons.

But six years earlier, also under Eugene Melnyk, the club attempted a smaller rebuild.

The Sens were well clear of their 11-year streak of making the playoffs and were about to miss for the second time in three seasons. So, at the 2011 deadline, GM Bryan Murray dealt away Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, Jarkko Ruutu, and Alexei Kovalev for draft picks.

As we strolled through The Hockey News Archive this week, we found this season preview from our Yearbook issue 15 years ago as the Senators prepared for the 2011-12 season. 

As Bruce Garrioch checked in on the state of the Sens in that issue, it sure looked like the club was in for some dark days. A quick glance at the Senators' depth chart, combined with their attempts at reinforcements (in red), fully supported the notion that they'd begun a rebuild.

But shockingly, the team that everyone thought had begun a rebuild actually made the playoffs that season with just 92 points, and almost upset the New York Rangers in round one.

Oh, those pesky Sens.

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The Hockey News Yearbook 2011-12
August 2011

Sensing Danger: New Coach Needs to Focus on Baby Steps

By Bruce Garrioch

THE OTTAWA SENATORS started their rebuild in February with their season going nowhere and the team falling fast.

Acting on the advice of GM Bryan Murray and his staff, owner Eugene Melnyk made the choice to unload veteran players in the hopes of landing prospects who can build a bright future.

One-by-one, players – mostly with expiring contracts – were waltzed out of the dressing room. They were tough decisions, but the Senators hope it will pay dividends in the end. The road back to respectability is going to take patience and will include some long nights, but this is the route they’ve decided on and the fans have accepted it.

This season will be a huge challenge for new bench boss Paul MacLean and goalie Craig Anderson.

OFFENSE The Senators were the NHL’s second-lowest scoring team last season. Nobody is sure that’s going to change.

While Jason Spezza was one of the club’s most productive players at both ends of the ice, they’re going to need more out of him. He’s not alone.

Milan Michalek has to stay healthy to contribute and so does captain Daniel Alfredsson. Returning from off-season back surgery, Alfredsson, 38, is in the twilight of his career, but can still be the club’s best player. He is going to have to lead the charge with what is going to be a very young group.

Nikita Filatov, acquired from Columbus for a third round pick in the 2011 draft, is going to get a top-six shot. If he can do it, the club needs him to fill the net along with Bobby Butler.

DEFENSE This is an area of intrigue. Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the club’s No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, defenseman David Rundblad is expected to provide sizable offense from the back end, as fellow Swede Erik Karlsson already does. The Sens need more out of veteran Sergei Gonchar, who is back to fulfill the second year of his three-year, $16.5 million deal. His 2010-11 season was a disaster and ended when he sustained a concussion.

Ottawa also hopes to find a spot for highly regarded prospect Jared Cowen. He finished the year with the club’s American League affiliate in Binghamton and his 6-foot-5 frame would look good on the blueline, but he might get caught in the numbers game. Don’t be surprised if the Senators try to move Filip Kuba and Brian Lee at the end of camp.

GOALTENDING This is Anderson’s job. Signed to a four-year extension after being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Brian Elliott, Anderson is going to get a bulk of the playing time. The club signed Alex Auld to be a backup in every sense of the word.

Anderson was outstanding last year during his short stint with the Senators. He finished with an 11-5-1 record in 18 games with Ottawa playing mostly behind call-ups from Binghamton. But he is about to find out what pressure is really like playing in a Canadian market. The Senators aren’t expected to win, but the nation’s capital has been hard on goalies in the past.

If Anderson gets hurt, Robin Lehner will be called up from Binghamton to start. He won a Calder Cup as a 19-year-old last spring and the Senators plan to keep him in the minors to give him the chance to play.

All-time record: 638–620–188

SPECIAL TEAMS This is where Gonchar is going to have to make a difference. He was supposed to do that last year with Alex Kovalev, but it never happened and, as a result, Ottawa was one of the NHL’s worst teams. But their penalty killing has been surprisingly strong. Spezza has taken on more of a role in this area. Having a goalie who can stop the puck in Anderson will help, big time.

INTANGIBLES The decision to fire coach Cory Clouston was just part of the rebuilding program. His inability to communicate was considered a major issue and that’s why the change was made.

McLean has a good sense of humor and the players will like what he brings to the table. The big job is making sure they all buy into the program. He wants the team to have speed and toughness.

ROOKIES The Senators are going to be young. Butler, Colin Greening and Erik Condra got plenty of experience during the club’s late-season shift to youth and then they went down to the minors and won an AHL Calder Cup championship with Binghamton. Can they learn from that experience?

If Ottawa is going to have any rookie-of-the-year candidates it’s going to be either Rundblad or Cowen. Blueliner Patrick Wiercioch will also make a valiant push in camp for a permanent spot.

There is an opening on the second line and 2011 sixth-overall pick Mika Zibanejad from Sweden has a chance. If he impresses at camp, he will earn a spot on the roster.

CAP CRUNCH With so many kids, the Sens are a million miles from the cap. If they’re going to use some of that space, it would be best spent on scoring.

THE BRASS Melnyk hates to lose. He’d like this turnaround to come quickly. The Senators want to see where they stand after the next CBA negotiation. Murray is armed with a three-year contract and MacLean is on solid ground. All should make for an interesting year in Ottawa.

X-FACTOR It would take a Herculean effort from Anderson for this team to sniff a post-season berth. They aren’t going to fall short of any expectations because there aren’t any. Fans are being sold on a rebuilding process and it will be interesting to see if they buy tickets.

Where They’ll Finish

15th

The Senators have stars in Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, but beyond them is a team at the start of a slow, painful rebuild.

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This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest headlines below:

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Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site's 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today's player is Canucks defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev.

Kudryavtsev's 2025-26 Season

Kudryavtsev ran into some difficulties during the 2025-26 campaign. The 22-year-old suffered an injury which kept him out of the lineup for two months. Unfortunately, this also forced Kudryavtsev to miss the 2026 All-Star Classic, which he was scheduled to attend as the Abbotsford Canucks' representative. 

As for when he was in the lineup, Kudryavtsev played a significant role for Abbotsford. He recorded 20 points in 44 games and, at the end of the year, earned a call-up to the NHL. Kudryavtsev played three games for Vancouver, where he recorded his first two NHL assists. 

Kudryavtsev's 2026-27 Letter Grade

The Hockey News' Canucks site gave Kudryavtsev a B- grade for his 2025–26 season. He took a step in his development and proved that he can be leaned on at the AHL level. Kudryavtsev has become a fan favourite within the organization and has become a draft-day steal.

Kudryavtsev's 2026-27 Predictions

Kudryavtsev is going to be given every opportunity to make the NHL team this year. He has a strong relationship with Manny Malhotra, as the two have worked together in the AHL. Ultimately, Kudryavtsev could be one of the final cuts in the pre-season, as the organization clearly believes he is ready for a bigger role. 

As for the most likely option, Kudryavtsev will probably find himself back in Abbotsford this year. He will most likely be on the first pairing, which also comes with plenty of special teams work. If he does head to the AHL, Kudryavtsev will be a candidate to be called up if injuries occur. 

Bold Prediction: Kudryavtsev plays at least 15 games in the NHL this season. 

Canucks 2026–27 Player Previews: 

Arshdeep Bains

Ilya Safonov

Braeden Cootes

Linus Karlsson

Nikita Tolopilo

Victor Mancini

Kevin Lankinen

Filip Chytil

Thatcher Demko

Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Elias Pettersson (D)

Marco Rossi

Max Sasson

Jamie Oleksiak

Drew O'Connor

Luke Schenn

Paul Cotter

Brendan Gallagher

Liam Öhgren

Tom Willander

Jake DeBrusk

Zeev Buium

Brock Boeser

Filip Hronek

Elias Pettersson

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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You know hockey season is coming when the kids start going back to school, players start flocking in droves to the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, and the Montreal Canadiens post their annual update about the Bell Centre ice being painted.

Last season, the Habs made a major change to center ice, painting the logo on a solid red background. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and it received numerous criticisms, including the fact that it made it hard to spot the puck when it was going through this area. Clearly, the Canadiens took the criticism on board, and the solid red background is now a thing of the past.

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This year, the Habs have painted the logo so it looks like it’s really popping out of the ice with some relief. The bright red logo really comes out well on the white ice. The shading around the H makes it look like it’s popping out of the ice, and the font and blue contour on the letters give it a crisp look.

Unlike the last few seasons, in which a new Jumbotron was introduced (2024) and a new premium seating section (le parterre) was created, it looks like the center ice logo will be the main change at the Bell Centre this season, and no one will complain.

The first home game will take place on September 19, as the Canadiens will host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a split-squad game, meaning half the roster will play in Montreal while the other half will play in Toronto. Hopefully, local fans will see the top-of-the-lineup players skating on home ice rather than heading to Scotiabank Arena. The Habs will play another split-quad game in Montreal on September 26, this time against the Ottawa Senators. As for the September 21 preseason tilt against the Sens, it will take place in Trois-Rivières at the Colisée Vidéotron, the home of the team’s ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Lions, as part of the Kraft Hockeyville celebration.

Fans will have to wait until October 6 to see the first regular-season game on home ice, when the Habs will try to avenge their elimination at the hands of the Stanley Cup champions-to-be Carolina Hurricanes.

According to the plans the team released to members of the media earlier this week, rookie camp is scheduled to kick off on September 9, the annual golf tournament will take place on September 14, and main training camp should get underway on September 16. Those dates should be confirmed soon in official press releases, along with the list of players invited to rookie camp.

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PensBurgh’s 2026 edition of the Top 25 Under 25 countdown rolls on with a look at goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov.

Catch up on the previous entries for this year:

Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
#25: Chase Pietila, D
#24: Ryan Miller, F
#23: Finn Harding, D
#22: Peyton Kettles, D
#21: Zam Plante, F
#21 (bonus): Brady Peddle, D
#20: Melvin Fernstrom, F
#19: Tanner Howe, F
#18: Tomas Galvas, D
#17: Pierce Mbuyi, F
#16: Jake Livanavage, D
#15: Owen Pickering, D
#14: Tristan Broz, F
#13: Avery Hayes, F
#12: Ville Koivunen, F
#11: Hendrix Lapierre, F
#10: Markus Ruck, F
#9: Mikhail Ilyin, F
#8: Joel Blomqvist, G
#7: Liam Ruck, F
#6: Will Horcoff, F
#5: Bill Zonnon, F
#4: Rutger McGroarty, F

#3: Sergei Murashov

• 2025 Ranking:No. 10
• Age: 22 (April 1, 2004)
• Acquired Via: 2022 NHL draft; fourth round, 118th overall
• Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Elite Prospects resume:

Sergei Murashov’s 2025-26 season provided both him and Penguins fans an appetizer to what could be the main course in 2026-27.

Murashov entered the 2025 preseason with an outside chance of making the NHL roster, going 2-0-1 in three preseason appearances with a 1.72 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.

His preseason performance surely reinforced the belief that he could eventually become Pittsburgh’s goaltender of the future. But that time had not yet arrived. Murashov was assigned to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Oct. 4.

In northeastern Pennsylvania, Murashov opened the AHL season by playing in seven games, earning a 5-2-0 record to go with a sparkling 1.73 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and one shutout.

HOLY SMOKES SERGEI MURASHOV!

Absolutely ridiculous save from Murashov to keep #WBSPens within two past the midway mark of the 2nd period.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/QVciVsy2eD

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) November 1, 2025

An injury to Tristan Jarry turned into an opportunity for Murashov. He was called up for five NHL games in early November after Jarry was placed on injured reserve.

He made his NHL debut on Nov. 9, saving 31 of 33 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

A week later, Murashov notched his first career NHL win and shutout in a 4-0 victory against the Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden, on Nov. 16.

Murashov was returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Nov. 26 after Jarry was cleared to return. The 22-year-old would remain in the AHL for the remainder of the season, save for one emergency recall on Dec. 13.

Over that brief November cameo, Murashov posted a 1-1-2 record, a 2.56 goals-against average, an .897 save percentage and one shutout.

His NHL sample wasn’t flawless, but these numbers aren’t enough to draw firm conclusions about his ability to translate his AHL success to the NHL.

The bulk of Murashov’s season was spent platooning with fellow goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist. The Yaroslavl native finished the regular season with a 24-9-4 AHL record, a 2.20 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, earning an AHL All-Star nod and being named to the AHL’s All-Rookie team.

SERGEI. MURASHOV.

You've got to be kidding me.

Calmly to the bench after a ridiculous glove save late in the 3rd period to keep game tied at 1-1.

Goal light came on. Goal horn sounded. Nope. @InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/Uxeizx37J2

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) February 28, 2026

Murashov’s rise also came at the expense of Blomqvist. Their proximity in the AHL made the comparison inevitable, and Murashov’s stronger regular-season numbers and NHL opportunity ultimately helped separate the two in 2025-26.

As the Baby Penguins saw continued success on the ice, Murashov served as the team’s top goaltender for the Calder Cup playoffs, helping the Penguins reach the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2014.

In 15 postseason games, he earned an 8-7 record, a 2.11 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and one shutout.

His .931 save percentage ranked as the fifth-best in the Calder Cup playoffs, providing another indication that his regular-season success was no fluke.

So, what comes next after all the accolades and seemingly reaching his ceiling in the American Hockey League?

Arturs Silovs re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year, $2.8 million contract through 2026-27, while Stuart Skinner, acquired in the Tristan Jarry trade, departed as a free agent this summer.

That leaves an opening for Murashov or Blomqvist to compete for the backup job behind Silovs.

“My full expectation is that the two of them, Sergei and Joel, will be competing for a roster spot here this year,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas recently told NHL.com. “I think they both have earned, over years now, the chance to compete for that.”

All that to say, the time appears to be right for Murashov to make a serious push for a permanent NHL spot, potentially splitting the workload with Silovs this season.

A year ago, Murashov was a promising fourth-round pick trying to establish himself in the AHL. Twelve months later, he enters the season as Pittsburgh’s top goaltending prospect and one of the organization’s most important young players.

If all goes well, he could become what the Penguins’ front office has long believed he could be: the organization’s long-term answer in net.

Tristan Jarry has been around long enough to know this doesn't look good.

He has been an NHL All-Star twice, has started more than 50 games a season, and has had a save percentage above .900 in seven NHL seasons. He has also lost the starting job in Pittsburgh, cleared waivers, and spent time in the American Hockey League. At 31, there isn't much point projecting what Jarry could eventually become. After all, the Edmonton Oilers acquired him based on what he is now.

Edmonton needs Jarry to provide competent NHL goaltending over a full season. Somewhere around 45 starts and a save percentage in the .905 to .910 range would give the Oilers what they need, particularly if those numbers come without the extended stretches of bad games that became a problem late in his Pittsburgh tenure.

Jarry gave Edmonton a decent sample after arriving last season. He had a .909 save percentage in 14 regular-season games and followed it with a .908 SV% over six playoff games. Had it not been such a small sample size, it would look quite promising.

League-wide goaltending numbers have also changed enough that a .910 save percentage carries more value than it did several years ago. The days when teams could reasonably expect an average starting goaltender to finish above that are gone. A goalie hanging around league average while starting in 45 to 50 games has value on a roster that's built to get most of its advantages elsewhere.

Jarry had his best season in 2021-22 with a .919 save percentage over 58 games. He followed it with a .909 save percentage in 2022-23 and .903 the following year. His 2024-25 was so bad that Pittsburgh placed him on waivers in January and sent him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Could the Oilers Make a Run at Cutter Gauthier?: They'd Better NotWhile a high-volume scorer fits Edmonton’s top six, hefty contract demands and a history of trade demands make this risky pursuit a potential locker room disaster.

His career .907 save percentage over his time in Pittsburgh is respectable, and there were times when he played well above that level. But Pittsburgh could not count on him long-term.

Asking for Jarry to match his .919 SV% in 2021-22 would be unreasonable and set the standard unnecessarily high. A season around .908 with a steady workload would leave the Oilers with goaltending that's good enough for the roster in front of him.

But it all depends on what Mike Babcock wants. Draisaitl acknowledged this summer that Edmonton never really developed any consistency over the course of last season, saying better teams establish a pattern over 82 games and understand what it is that they do right and wrong. He didn't think the Oilers ever reached that point.

Which Player Has The Shortest Leash Under Mike BabcockThere are going to be <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> players who like playing for Mike Babcock more than others. That's going to happen when you hire a coach who has never been shy about correcting players or dishing out responsibility

Now, that wasn't limited to goaltending. Edmonton had nights when its defence was bad, when they took bad penalties, or sometimes just couldn't score enough goals. Babcock has been brought in with an emphasis on structure and accountability, and an improved defensive game should make Jarry's job easier.

A .908 save percentage doesn't mean much if it includes several stretches where he can't get through a game without allowing a poor goal. Forty-five dependable starts would be more useful than alternating between excellent and poor for six months.

Jarry has started in 50 games only twice in his NHL career and has started in fewer games since 2023-24. Edmonton has little reason to push him further than that with the other goaltenders that they have.

Draisaitl And What The Leadership Group Expects From BabcockLeon Draisaitl seems pretty comfortable with what Mike Babcock is going to bring to the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a>, and the stability he'll provide behind the bench.

Jarry's playoff history in Pittsburgh includes some difficult moments, and Edmonton is at the stage where every player on the roster is eventually judged on what happens in April and May. So while a solid regular season matters, he still has to be reliable when things get turned up a notch.

For now, the standard is simply consistency. Stay around league average or a little better for multiple games in a row. Take the starts and do something with them. Avoid the prolonged slumps that eventually cost him the net in Pittsburgh.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The Colorado Avalanche lost six games in the shootout last season and another five in overtime.

On the surface, those losses may not seem particularly significant. But over the course of an 82-game season, that's 11 games Colorado failed to finish — and 22 potential points that ultimately slipped away.

It also raises an interesting question heading into the new season: Does Colorado already have another potential weapon in the organization for those high-pressure moments?

One player who has quietly stood out during the Avalanche's recent optional skates is T.J. Hughes.

Colorado signed Hughes as an undrafted free agent following a standout career at the University of Michigan, where he developed into one of the most productive players in college hockey.

During his final season with the Wolverines, Hughes recorded 57 points in 40 games, finishing second nationally in scoring while earning Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American honors. Over four seasons at Michigan, he accumulated 179 points in 156 games.

Hughes still has plenty to prove before anyone can reasonably pencil him into Colorado's NHL lineup. But his skill and creativity have already been difficult to miss during the Avalanche's informal skates.

A few things have stood out.

For one, Hughes has been on the ice for nearly every optional skate. That may not guarantee him anything, but it says something about how seriously he's approaching this opportunity. The kid wants it.

Of course, simply showing up isn't going to earn him an NHL roster spot.

Fortunately for Hughes, he's brought more than just a strong work ethic to the ice.

He's shown some impressive puck skills and creativity, particularly in one-on-one situations. And yes, that's a much cooler way of saying he's looked pretty damn good in the shootout.

That was fully on display early Tuesday when Hughes took part in shootout drills alongside the likes of Brock Nelson and Logan O'Connor. Hughes was one of the more impressive players in the group, showing off quick hands and a few tricks that suggest he could become a legitimate weapon in those situations.

It's unfortunate that this is even a conversation we have to have.

The shootout has become increasingly unpopular, with plenty of fans calling for longer overtime, a return to ties, or some other format that puts more of an emphasis on actual hockey.

But unless the NHL decides to change the rules, the shootout isn't going anywhere.

And if it's going to remain part of the game, the Avalanche may have themselves a potential shootout connoisseur in Hughes.

He still has work to do. A strong showing during a few optional skates doesn't mean he's ready for the NHL, and nothing is guaranteed once training camp begins. But for a player with his pedigree, the tools are there.

He's a good skater with quick hands, solid vision and passing ability, and perhaps most importantly, a work ethic that has already become noticeable around the team.

At this point, it would be difficult to call him anything less than a dark horse candidate to push for an Opening Night roster spot.

The real test, of course, will come at training camp and during the preseason.

Gavin Brindley forced his way onto the Avalanche roster last year. Cal Ritchie did the same the year before, before eventually being traded to the New York Islanders.

Could T.J. Hughes be next?

It's far too early to know.

But if his early work around the Avalanche is any indication, he's going to make Colorado's decision interesting.

It's officially another season, another prospects ranking for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

In years past, this has been a bit easier of an exercise, as there used to be a more clear-cut line between prospects with NHL upside and longshots. However, because of the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in during the last several years, the line is blurring a whole lot more - and there is a substantially higher volume of talent in the system. 

This time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. So, a few criteria were put into place: To make our list, prospects must be under the age of 26 and have played less than 50 NHL games. This excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.

At long last, we have finally reached the top of this year's list. It was a very difficult choice between the crown and the runner up this time around, and - as stated before - it could have gone either way. 

But the reason we swayed toward this defenseman's second consecutive year atop this list? Well, it was the growth he showed throughout a very challenging 2025-26 season - and the Calder Cup Playoff run at the end of it sealed the deal. 

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No. 1: D Harrison Brunicke

GRAB THAT PUCK 🗣️

Harrison Brunicke has his first NHL goal! #NHLFaceOffpic.twitter.com/7WA4Nt57Ic

— NHL (@NHL) October 10, 2025

It bears repeating that many folks who cover Penguins' prospects either have Brunicke, goaltender Sergei Murashov, or forward Rutger McGroarty sitting atop organizational prospects lists, with Murashov getting a lot of love this year (outside of one infamous ranking that has had folks talking). And no answer is wrong.

Brunicke, drafted 44th overall in 2024, made the NHL squad out of training camp last season as a teenager, along with Ben Kindel. While his first few games went well - and he scored his first NHL goal in his second game against the New York Islanders - the latter part of his nine-game trial was riddled with mistakes and inconsistency, leading to an AHL conditioning stint in November followed by World Juniors and a re-assignment to the WHL for the second half.

The fine print, so to speak, regarding the 20-year-old Brunicke is that he's still pretty raw. Dubas has spoken on several occasions about development not being linear for everyone, particularly not defensemen, and Brunicke is no exception. Even if he does crack the NHL roster out of camp this season or if he does see NHL minutes at some point, there are going to be learning moments and growing pains.

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But even with those inevitable moments, he tends to find a way to impact a game in ways few others in the organization can. 

The trademark of Brunicke's toolset is his skating, which looks effortless, smooth, and purposeful. He can not only skate circles around the offensive zone and generate chances using that momentum, his feet also help get him out of trouble sometimes. Perhaps Brunicke runs into a bit more trouble than some of his peers because he's able to do things others can't, but the difference is that he can - more often than not - weasle his way out of it. 

His 6-foot-3, 201-pound frame - which he's certainly added to since measurements at the beginning of last season - does him a lot of favors in those situations, too, as he's big enough to impose his physicality on opponents. And he's doing that with a lot more effectiveness than he was before, especially around the net front.

Brunicke is a solid one-on-one defender, he's good with his stick, he blocks a fair amount of shots, he can chase and track down opponents with his speed, and he's even developed a bit of a mean streak. He still needs to work on his defensive zone reads and make better decisions as far as when to activate and when to distribute rather than simply carry the puck in transition, and he's come a long way since the beginning of the 2025-26 season. The Penguins asked him to work on that stuff, and he went to work and improved.

But, once he's in transition, that's when the magic happens.

He is a force in the offensive zone, dictating play along the blue line and making quick in-zone reads. His passing stands out, his vision is high-level, and he doesn't shy away from pinching down the right side and getting pucks to the net himself.

Nice move at the offensive blue line by Harrison Brunicke, and he takes it to the net before hitting the short side post in the final minute of the 2nd period.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/hdzej7CZBj

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 6, 2026

Between the skating, the vision, the distribution skills, and the near-certainty of a puck hitting the back of the net on a shooting opportunity off the rush, it's possible that Brunicke has not yet even hit his offensive ceiling. And that offensive potential, as well as results, were on display late in the 2025-26 season.

Vinni Lettieri tried for an open-ice hit on Harrison Brunicke, but the #WBSPens defender bounced off the hit & nearly set up the opening goal of the game.

Brunicke so good at activating & joining the rush. Most times, he is the rush haha. @InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/kcvl9Bse3v

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 27, 2026

After scoring at a point-per-game pace for the Kamloops Blazers during the rest of the WHL season, he registered a goal and eight points in 11 regular season games and two goals and seven points in 15 playoff games to go along with a combined plus-12 in those games. The defensive miscues were still there are times, and there were still times when he tried to do too much.

But those times were fewer, and there were also flashes of three-zones dominance. Not only did he skate circles around his opponents with relative frequency, he was also the most noticeable player on either side of the ice most nights.

Harrison Brunicke putting on a CLINIC in the offensive zone, my goodness.#WBSPens all over Springfield late in the 1st period. @InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/GtpSMm41nQ

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 14, 2026

At 20 years old with limited AHL experience, he was thrust into a top-pairing, No. 1 defensive role on one of the best teams in the AHL. He was given heavy minutes, first-unit duties on both sides of the special teams, and an opportunity to be "the guy" on the blue line.

Well, he largely succeeded. It's not easy for an inexperienced pro to walk onto one of the AHL's top teams and, essentially, take over the blue line, but he did. And Brunicke's ability to learn, apply, and adapt so quickly to whatever the coaching and development staff throws his way is something that can't really be taught.

Given the fact that the Penguins have Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and Kaedan Korczak - in addition to veteran Trevor van Riemsdyk, who plays both sides - lined up on the right, it's going to take a third consecutive standout training camp for Brunicke to make the roster. Even if he doesn't, some legitimate AHL runway for him isn't the worst thing, and it's almost a given that he'll be up at some point next season.

Again, patience will be the key with Brunicke. He's going to go through some peaks and valleys as a young player, but his ceiling as a top-pairing NHL defender will be well worth the patience should he hit his potential. He's on an island as far as Penguins' defensive prospects, as no one else really comes close to his level of potential right now. If he can translate his offensive impacts to the NHL, keep adding size, and keep polishing his all-around game, he will be a very good player for the long-term future of the Penguins at a much-needed position.

Brunicke is, perhaps, the most intriguing and potentially impactful prospect in the Penguins' system, so that is why he comes in at No. 1 on our Top-20 Prospects list this year.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 3: Multidimensional Forward Making Rapid Progress In DevelopmentNext up on our 2026 THN Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list at No. 3 is a versatile, hard-checking, and talented two-way forward with perhaps the highest floor of any prospect in the organization.

The full list:

- Honorable mentions

- No. 20: D Chase Pietila

- No. 19: C Kale Dach

- No. 18: LW/C Ryan Miller

- No. 17: C Zam Plante

- No. 16: G Joel Blomqvist

- No. 15: C Markus Ruck

- No. 14: LW Tanner Howe

- No. 13: D Finn Harding

- No. 12: RW Avery Hayes

- No. 11: D Tomas Galvas

- No. 10: C Tristan Broz

- No. 9: RW Liam Ruck

- No. 8: D Owen Pickering

- No. 7: RW Ville Koivunen

- No. 6: LW/C Will Horcoff

- No. 5: RW Mikhail Ilyin

- No. 4: RW Rutger McGroarty

- No. 3: C/RW Bill Zonnon

- No. 2: G Sergei Murashov

- No. 1: D Harrison Brunicke 

Rookie Or Replacement: How Should The Penguins Address The Right Side Next Season?The Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a bit of a tough situation heading into the 2026-27 season with regards to promising defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke, who may need a period of adjustment to the NHL on a team trying to take a step toward contention.

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It's hard to believe that we've already gotten 20 seasons of Kris Letang in a Pittsburgh Penguins uniform.

He made his NHL debut in the 2006-07 season and became a full-time member in the 2007-08 season. You could see the talent on display pretty quickly, and it didn't take long for him to become their franchise defenseman. 

Letang has won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins (2009, 2016, and 2017) and played the best hockey of his life during the Penguins' run to the 2016 Stanley Cup. He finished the regular season with 16 goals and 67 points in 71 games before compiling three goals and 15 points in 23 playoff games. 

He averaged 28:52 of ice time in the playoffs and did a remarkable job against each opposing team's best players. He also had some magical moments, including the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks. 

Letang went all the way around the world in the offensive zone before Crosby set him up for the game-winner. Crosby won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP, but I still maintain that it should've gone to Letang. He was that dominant throughout the playoffs. 

Letang holds several franchise records for a defenseman, including most games played (1,235), goals (178), assists (628), and points (806). There's no doubt that he's going to have his No. 58 retired by the Penguins once he retires. He's also highly likely to head to the Hockey Hall of Fame at some point. 

However, his game has gone downhill over these last couple of seasons. He doesn't skate like he used to, and his decision-making has been straight-up baffling at times. He's even seen his minutes cut during that time, and there's a chance it happens again this season. 

Letang had several different defensive partners last season, one of whom was Sam Girard. Head coach Dan Muse put the two together after Girard was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche, and it didn't work at all. The pairing was too chaotic, and the two players didn't read one another well. 

2026-27 Pittsburgh Penguins Player Projections: Erik KarlssonErik Karlsson was fantastic during the 2025-26 season. What does he have in store for the 2026-27 season?

It also doesn't help that they are two players who want to do the same things when they're on the ice. Now, Muse could go back to the pair when the 2026-27 season opens up to see if a fresh start helps, but I'd be more inclined to see Letang with someone like Declan Carlile, whom the Penguins signed when free agency opened in July. 

Carlile got a bigger role with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, appearing in 42 games, and was really solid. When he was on the ice at 5v5, the Lightning had a +4 goal differential and controlled 52.2% of the scoring chances and 50.5% of the high-danger chances. He was barely below water in expected goal share and shot attempt share. 

He's more of a defense-first player, which should pair well with Letang since the latter still loves to get involved offensively. 

Letang has racked up 30 and 34 points over the last two seasons, and that's the range I expect him to be in this year. He'll score a few goals and generate some assists, whether it's at 5v5 or on the second power-play unit. 

He'll also get plenty of minutes on the penalty kill since he's been a mainstay on that unit throughout his entire career. 

If Letang can find a little bit of the fountain of youth this season, it could go a long way towards the Penguins having another year similar to last season.

(Data via Natural Stat Trick).

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On Tuesday, the KHL announced that long-time NHLer and former St. Louis Blues forward Kevin Hayes has signed with Ak Bars Kazan in Russia. 

Hayes played just one season with the Blues, acquired in a trade for a sixth-round pick, scoring 13 goals and 29 points in 79 games during the 2023-24 season. Following his lone season with the Blues, he played two years with the Pittsburgh Penguins before moving to the KHL.

In total, Hayes played 805 games in the NHL, scoring 185 goals and 446 points. Throughout his career, Hayes spent five seasons with the New York Rangers, half a season with the Winnipeg Jets, four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, one season with the Blues, and two seasons with the Penguins. 

Although he never played with the Chicago Blackhawks, he was originally drafted by them in 2010. Hayes elected to play four years in the NCAA with Boston College before signing with the Rangers as a free agent. 

Hayes was traded four times in his NHL career and earned just under $70 million through contracts during his NHL career. 

Hayes' contract with Ak Bars is reportedly a one-year deal. 

Ak Bars' roster features several former NHLers and several NHL-drafted prospects. The team finished second in its division and third in its conference last year, losing in the KHL finals to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. 

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Following a period of uncertainty, the Detroit Red Wings appear to have begun the interview process as they search for Steve Yzerman's successor as general manager.

Yzerman vacated his role in mid-July, sending shockwaves throughout the Red Wings fan base and the NHL due to the unusual timing. The 2026 NHL Draft had already concluded, while free agency was already two weeks underway.

Now, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, who was the first to report captain Dylan Larkin's explosive trade request in early June, has revealed several names the Red Wings are reportedly interviewing.

On his latest "32 Thoughts" podcast, the well-connected analyst began by explaining that he believes the Red Wings started by interviewing internal candidates, including assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff and fellow assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper.

However, the first external candidate Friedman suggested is on Detroit's list is Andrew Thomas, who currently serves as an assistant general manager with the Detroit Tigers under GM Jeff Greenberg, another candidate reportedly being considered.

"So, they've started to interview candidates—I think they've interviewed internal candidates first," he said. "I think they interviewed Andrew Thomas. Andrew Thomas - who used to work for the Minnesota Wild - he works for the Tigers now, too."

"And, when this opened up, I don't know that Andrew Thomas is going to be ready for this now, but I've heard that they think very highly of him. And so, that's a name to remember, although I'm not convinced the opportunity is going to be his now."

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Friedman then continued by suggesting Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson, along with San Jose Sharks assistant GM Jeff Kealty as potential candidates. 

"There have been some reports: Brett Peterson, Jeff Kealty," he said. "Like, I heard Jeff Kealty really interviewed well in Nashville; he's in San Jose now."

Dylan Larkin Included In NHL's Ranking Of Top 20 Centers Current Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin was included in the NHL's recent ranking of the top 20 players at his position.

However, the most intriguing name in Friedman's mind continues to be Greenberg, who has largely spent his executive career in Major League Baseball with multiple clubs, as well as a stop with the Chicago Blackhawks for a single season. 

"You know, I said this on NHL Network before I went on vacation at the beginning of August: Jeff Greenberg is the name that interests me," Friedman said. "He works for the Tigers, he worked for a year for the Blackhawks. Before that, he worked for the Cubs. But he's not in charge (of the Tigers), but he is the GM."

The Red Wings are set to open Training Camp on Sept. 17, less than a month from now. 

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Montreal Canadiens prospect Adam Engstrom took a nice step in the right direction with his development last season. In 45 AHL games with the Laval Rocket, he posted 10 goals, 34 points, and a plus-14 rating. This was after he posted five goals and 27 points in 66 games during his first season with Laval in 2024-25. 

Engstrom's strong play in the AHL also helped him get into his first NHL action with the Canadiens last season. In 15 games with the Habs last season, he posted one assist and a plus-2 rating.

Now, Engstrom is entering this season with the hope of improving further. However, he has also found himself in the rumor mill.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Arpon Basu reported that the Canadiens are open to having trade discussions about Engstrom, but also view him as very valuable. 

"It is no secret Engstrom’s name is floating around out there. Teams have asked about him in trade discussions, and the Canadiens are open to those discussions. Engstrom has yet to be traded, largely because the Canadiens see him as having considerable value," Basu wrote. 

While the Canadiens have multiple roster needs that they could look to address, including Engstrom in any trade package would come with some real risk for the Habs. The 22-year-old defenseman has the potential to become a very good defenseman later down the road. Due to this, he is a defenseman who the Canadiens could end up regretting moving if they traded him. 

At just 22 years old, Engstrom still has plenty of time to improve his game further. With that, the Canadiens would probably we wise to wait and see what the 2022 third-round pick does this season before potentially moving him. 

It will be interesting to see what the Canadiens end up doing with Engstrom from here. 

Former members of the Vancouver Canucks will take the spotlight in this off-season article series. From those skating with new NHL teams heading into the 2026–27 season to those who are now playing for international clubs, these featured players have skated in at least one game at the NHL level as a member of the Canucks. 

Today’s segment will take a look at the former Canucks that are expected to play in the SHL and Liiga in Sweden and Finland respectively during the 2026–27 season. 

SHL 

Mark Friedman, Rögle BK: Traded to Vancouver from the Pittsburgh Penguins in October of 2023. Played in 28 games for Vancouver through 2023–24 and 2024–25. Traded to the Nashville Predators in 2025 and signed with Rögle BK the following year. 

*Collin Delia, Brynäs IF: Signed with Vancouver in free-agency in 2022 and played in one season for the Canucks, posting a record of 10–6–2. Played for the Manitoba Moose and Bakersfield Condors in the AHL before heading to Sweden in 2025–26. Spent the year with Brynäs IF and Kalmar HC of HockeyAllsvenskan. Has yet to sign a contract for the 2026–27 season.

Brogan Rafferty, Växjö Lakers HC: Played in three games with the Canucks after three seasons with Quinnipiac University in the NCAA. Skated with the San Diego Gulls, Coachella Valley Firebirds, and Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL before heading to Sweden in 2025–26. 

Oscar Fantenberg, Linköping HC: Joined Vancouver for the 2019–20 season via free-agency, skating in 36 games and scoring a goal and five assists. Followed his Canucks stint up with two seasons in the KHL before joining Linköping HC in 2022–23. 

Philip Holm, Djurgårdens IF: Played in one game for the Canucks during the 2017–18 season after spending most of his career in Sweden. Traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in February of 2018 but did not play a game for them. Played in the KHL, AHL, and NL before returning to the SHL in 2022–23. Joined Djurgårdens IF in 2025–26 after a season in the NL. 

Nils Åman, Djurgårdens IF: Signed in free-agency in 2022 and made his NHL debut for Vancouver on October 12, 2022. Played in a total of 132 games for Vancouver, including 68 in 2022–23, before parting ways with the team in 2026 and signing with Djurgårdens IF. 

Liiga

Olli Juolevi, Jokerit: Selected fifth-overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by Vancouver but never ended up panning out. Made his NHL debut on August 7 during the 2020 Bubble Playoffs. Skated in 23 games for Vancouver in 2020–21 before being dealt to the Florida Panthers for Juho Lammikko and Noah Juulsen. Returned to Finland in 2023–24. 

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Former Minnesota Wild goaltender Cal Petersen has found his next opportunity.

Petersen has agreed to a professional tryout (PTO) with the Washington Capitals, giving the veteran netminder an opportunity to compete for a contract during training camp.

The 31-year-old spent the 2025-26 season in the Wild organization after signing a one-year, $775,000 contract with Minnesota in July 2025. Petersen became an unrestricted free agent following the season.

Although Petersen did not appear in an NHL game for Minnesota, he spent time on the Wild's roster and was recalled from Iowa multiple times throughout the season, including late in the year.

Most of his season was spent with the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League.

Petersen appeared in 33 games for Iowa, recording a 2.73 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage. It was his seventh season seeing action in the AHL, where he has appeared in 248 career games.

His departure became increasingly likely after Minnesota reshaped its goaltending situation this offseason.

The Wild are expected to move forward with Jesper Wallstedt in a larger role while Calvin Pickard was added to the organization, leaving no room for Petersen to return.

Now, Petersen will attempt to earn another opportunity with Washington through training camp.

Originally selected by the Buffalo Sabres with the 129th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Draft, Petersen has appeared in 106 career NHL games. He owns a career 2.96 goals-against average and .903 save percentage at the NHL level.

Petersen's best NHL season came with the Los Angeles Kings in 2020-21, when he appeared in 35 games and posted a .911 save percentage.

His career has taken him through the Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Wild organizations, while also representing the United States internationally.

A PTO does not guarantee Petersen a contract with Washington, but it gives the veteran another chance to prove he can provide organizational goaltending depth.

For the Wild, it officially marks the next chapter for a goaltender who spent last season providing insurance behind Minnesota's NHL tandem.

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The selection that became the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft switched hands a couple of times. First, the New Jersey Devils traded it in a blockbuster deal with the Atlanta Thrashers that included Ilya Kovalchuk. Next, it went from Atlanta to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal that included Dustin Byfuglien. 

The Blackhawks used that pick to select forward Kevin Hayes. Hayes then went to Boston College, where he was a star player for four years. The problem for Chicago was that they never got him signed before he completed his senior year, and he left as a free agent once his college career was done. In 2014, he signed with the New York Rangers. 

From there, he had a solid NHL career as a middle-six forward. After parts of five years with the Rangers, he spent time with the Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and Pittsburgh Penguins. 

On Tuesday, the news dropped that Hayes was going to sign with AK Bars Kazan in the KHL. There, he will continue his hockey career. It is unclear whether he will return to the NHL at any point, but this is usually the route guys take at the end of their careers so they can make some more money playing for another year or two. 

If it is the end for Hayes in the NHL, he will look back at the way he played and the numbers he put up fondly. Would he have ended with a Stanley Cup or two if he had stayed in Chicago? 

By the time Hayes made his NHL debut in 2014, the Blackhawks still had one more ahead of them. He also would likely have helped extend their dominance, as he would have fit in nicely in their forward lineup for many years after. 

It is natural for both sides to think about what may have been, but the truth is that he had a good career that will now take a different turn via the KHL. 

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The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games. 

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15. Ryan Johnson - D (Rochester - AHL, Buffalo - NHL)

Johnson was a late first round pick for the Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver, and played four years at the University of Minnesota before signing an entry-level deal in 2023. He split time between the AHL Amerks and Buffalo as a rookie, playing 41 games in 2023-24, but has only seen spot duty the last two seasons. 

Last year, he scored a career-high 19 points (5 goals, 14 assists) in 56 games with Rochester, but in spite of injuries to both Conor Timmins and Michael Keseelring, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff opted to call up and use Zach Metsa throughout the season. 

The 25-year-old is an excellent skater, but is of average size (6’1”, 194 lb), is not overly physical, and has never been a big offensive producer. Following his two-year ELC, Johnson signed a three-year contract extension in July 2025. The first year was a two-way deal since he was waiver exempt, but this and next season, he will have to clear waivers to go down to the AHL. 

This increases the possibility of him being dealt before the start of next season or being lost on waivers if he does not make the 23-man roster.  

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