Now that we are in the middle of July, things have slowed down significantly in the NHL. This happens every summer, as most of this year's free agents have been signed. While this is the case, trades can start to pick up as teams look to finalize their rosters at this point of the off-season. 

When observing potential teams who could make at least one more trade before the season starts, the Chicago Blackhawks certainly stand out. The Central Division club currently has over $22 million of cap space, so they are in a prime position to do some business.

When looking at the Blackhawks' roster, it is certainly fair to say that they could use another impactful forward. Bringing in a scoring winger to help Connor Bedard take that next step would be significant for the Original Six club. However, they could also consider simply improving their depth with some of the money they have available. 

With the Blackhawks still building their team up, they are also in a position where they could acquire a player with a bad contract if it means landing a good draft pick or prospect in return for doing so. The Pittsburgh Penguins recently did this when they acquired a 2028 second-round pick from the Dallas Stars for taking on Matt Dumba's $3.75 million cap hit. Perhaps the Blackhawks could be the next team to do something like this. 

Overall, with the Blackhawks having a lot of money available, they certainly should be watched this summer. It will be intriguing to see if they end up using their cap space to their advantage before the season begins from here. 

Blackhawks Trading Young Forward Would Come With Big RiskChicago Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel has been the subject of trade rumors this off-season. It is not necessarily surprising, as the young forward has had trouble finding his fit with the Original Six club thus far. 

Photo Credit: © Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres were excited when Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka was available with the ninth overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft last month, and after seeing the 18-year-old Czech blueliner up close at the club’s development camp earlier this month, GM Kevyn Adams made quick work at getting the big blueliner signed to a three-year entry-level contract on Tuesday.

Mrtka offers an intriguing physical package at 6’6”, 218 lb. with excellent skating ability. After getting limited playing time in various levels in Czechia last season and playing for his country in the Under-18s, the big right hander came to North America to play in the WHL and posted 35 points (3 goals, 32 assists) in 43 games with the Thunderbirds.  

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"Mrtka (offers a) very unique package to be able to move the way he does at 6'6", (is) almost more agile with the puck, if that's possible," Sabres Asst GM Jerry Forton said before the draft. "A smart player at both ends. I was over in Czechia early in the year when he wasn't getting a lot of playing time in the men's league over there to see what he was willing to do to move to North America. He comes from a background where he has very little in the way of resources for hockey or anything outside hockey. He uprooted, high character kid, a huge ceiling."

The Sabres will host the 2025 Prospects Challenge in September 11th to 15th and it is expected that Mrtka will be in attendance, but that will only serve as a preview of things to come, as the 18-year-old will likely return to Seattle for another WHL season to hone his skills, as well as being selected to play for Czechia in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships. 

 

It’s official! ⚔️

We have signed defenseman Radim Mrtka to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Details → https://t.co/Avzj3JhQTSpic.twitter.com/IDRSd8wVdP

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 15, 2025

"With these young players, they take time. You don't want to rush them," Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said after the first round. Philosophically, I always feel like they'll tell us when they're ready, and then you make room. If that means right away, it's great. If it means a year, two years, three years, you just don't know, but there's a, there's a good player there and we project him as a top four right-shot defenseman whenever that time comes, we'll see."

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

When Paul Maurice and Kris Knoblauch met in the Stanley Cup final for the second straight year, they did so at an incredibly volatile time for coaches in the NHL.

The pair probably had the safest jobs in the league – but only because neither one had missed a final during their current tenures. Pity Peter DeBoer then, as the Dallas Stars sent their former bench boss packing after he and his team fell in the conference final once again – oh, and after he’d buried his starting goaltender in the press right before he got the ax.

But it is wild how short the lifespan of an NHL coach has become.

Sure, you can be recycled to another franchise, but sticking in one place for more than a couple of years? That’s a rarity these days.

Consider this: the Panthers hired Maurice on June 22, 2022. The only peers who have been with their current NHL teams longer are Jon Cooper, Jared Bednar, Rod Brind’Amour, Martin St-Louis and Bruce Cassidy.

In fact, Cooper is the only coach in the NHL who’s been with his team for more than a decade, and given the success Tampa Bay has enjoyed recently, that’s understandable.

But what if, in an alternate dimension, the Lightning had fired Cooper after Tampa Bay was swept in the first round by Columbus back in 2019? Tampa had just won the Presidents’ Trophy, and the loss was one of the most shocking in NHL history. Even just six years later, it seems GMs have much itchier trigger fingers. Cooper, of course, retained his job and immediately helmed the Bolts to three straight Cup finals, winning two. So, ya know, patience is a virtue.

This was no ordinary Stanley Cup run, this was a Rat Race! 🐀

Introducing the brand new 2025 CHAMPIONS Issue @FlaPanthers

Now available at: https://t.co/smKk3NQdgQpic.twitter.com/xHu9pde38l

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 27, 2025

As I ponder the constantly spinning coaching carousel – there will be nine teams with new coaches to begin 2025-26 at this point – my thoughts drift closer to Jonathan Swift than Jonathan Toews.

Why would you want to be an NHL coach these days? Employment lifespan is right up there with Spinal Tap drummers and anyone in a red shirt on a Star Trek mission.

If and when you do get fired, it means moving to another city, buying or renting another place, perhaps selling your old place and uprooting your family. It’s the same thing NHL players go through when they’re traded or move via free agency, but it’s in a shorter time frame.

Want to have your mind blown? Former Oilers right winger Corey Perry has been famously nomadic in recent seasons, but only 12 NHL coaches have been in their current position before Perry signed in Edmonton on Jan. 22, 2024.

With that in mind, I think the hottest NHL coaching candidate out there has it right. That would be David Carle, who recently signed a contract extension with the University of Denver.

He has won two NCAA titles and two World Junior Championship gold medals (with Team USA) as a head coach, and with Carle only being 35, he still has decades to go in his career if he should so choose. Numerous NHL teams have kicked the tires on Carle, but he has been clear that because he has a young family in Denver and is already in a great spot with the NCAA’s Pioneers, the situation would have to be impossible to turn down. And I get it.

Sure, the NHL is at the top of the pyramid, but coaches can build incredible legacies elsewhere. Red Berenson will always be a legend at the University of Michigan thanks to his 33 years with the Wolverines, while Jack Parker and Jerry York had their own iconic runs at Boston University and Boston College. In the OHL, you had Brian Kilrea in Ottawa and now Dale Hunter in London. I ran into Berenson at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal, and it’s still fun to talk Michigan hockey with him, even though he’s not behind the bench anymore.

Carle could be that legend in the making. He’s clearly a gifted coach, and given how consistently good Denver is, you can probably telegraph at least a couple more national titles for the Pios in the coming years. So, what would you rather do: work a fulfilling job in the same place for 20 years or take a riskier – albeit more glamorous – one that may only last two or three seasons?

Coaches are just like players; they’re competitive. So, it makes sense they want that NHL job. But perhaps Carle will prove there’s another career path that is just as rewarding – with a more loyal employer.

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This article, lightly edited for updates, appeared in our 2025 Champions Collector's Edition, where we commemorate the Florida Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cups. Also, we feature the champs from leagues across the hockey world, count down the season's top 10 moments and look at breakout players to watch for 2025-26.

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

Former New Jersey Devils first-round pick Ty Smith is reportedly heading to the KHL after four seasons in the NHL, although nothing is confirmed.

Smith was selected 17th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. After two seasons of development in the WHL, Smith made his NHL debut in the 2020–21 season.

In his rookie year, he recorded 23 points in 48 games and was named to the 2021 NHL All-Rookie Team.

The 25-year-old defenseman debuted on January 14, 2021, with the Devils and registered at least one point in each of his next five games. He totaled eight points in his first nine NHL appearances.

Smith finished seventh in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top rookie.

From there, however, his performance began to decline. He played 66 games with the Devils in the 2021–22 season, tallying 20 points, before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After just nine games with Pittsburgh, he was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of the 2024–25 season.

Smith played a total of 131 NHL games, recording 49 points over his career.

He recently completed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Hurricanes, though he appeared in just eight games.

Now an unrestricted free agent following the 2024–25 season, Smith is rumored to be signing with Dinamo Minsk, a KHL team based in Belarus.

Dinamo Minsk competes in the Tarasov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). While the team has never advanced past the first round of the playoffs, it has qualified for the postseason four times.

Although nothing is officially confirmed, the move would make sense given that Smith spent most of the past two seasons in the AHL, and the trajectory of his career has shifted, following his early success as a first-round pick with the Devils.

This remains an unconfirmed report. More updates will be shared as they become available. Be sure to follow The Hockey News New Jersey Devils page for the latest developments.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The San Jose Sharks are bringing former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton onto their staff full-time.

Sharks general manager Mike Grier announced a string of hockey operations changes on Tuesday, with Thornton's name at the forefront, being hired as a player development coach/hockey operations advisor. The 46-year-old, hired a day after his birthday, participated in Sharks' development camp in early July, taking to the ice as a coach.

Thornton will join former teammate Patrick Marleau in the role. Both players spent most of their careers as teammates in San Jose before exiting the organization later in their careers. Although they didn't cross paths in Toronto, both Marleau and Thornton once played for the Maple Leafs.

He was one of eight names selected to be part of the 2025 class of Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.

The London, Ontario-born forward signed a one-year, $700,000 contract before the NHL's bubble season in October 2021. Due to Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions at the time, he, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and former Maple Leafs Rasmus Sandin and Mac Hollowell quarantined together for two weeks before joining the team for training camp.

Why The Maple Leafs Placed Ty Voit On Waivers To Terminate His ContractThe Toronto Maple Leafs have placed prospect Ty Voit on unconditional waivers for contract termination.

Thornton began the season on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, though as the season went on, his ice time shrank. He scored five goals and 15 assists in 44 regular-season games in the NHL's Canadian division. He followed that up with one goal in seven games against the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

Beyond his time with the Maple Leafs, Thornton spent 15 of his 24 NHL seasons with the Sharks, where he scored 1,055 points (251 goals and 804 assists) in 1,104 games. Drafted first overall by the Boston Bruins in 1997, Thornton played 532 games with the club, scoring 454 points (169 goals and 285 assists) in 532 games before being traded to the Sharks in November 2025.

'I Just Thought This Wasn't A Good Fit': Ryan Reaves Reflects On Maple Leafs Tenure And Why He Wanted Out Of TorontoRyan Reaves appreciated that Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving found him a new home. The 38-year-old forward was traded by the Leafs to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun. During a Zoom call on Friday, Reaves told reporters he expressed a desire for a change of scenery during his year-end meeting with the club.

Thornton formally retired in late October 2023. His career finished with 430 goals and 1,109 assists in 1,714 games, split between the Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers. The Sharks retired Thornton’s jersey in November, commemorating the forward’s legacy in San Jose and beyond.

(Top photo of Thornton: Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)

Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ty Smith is set to go overseas after spending the 2024-25 season with the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Wolves. 

According to Belarushockey.com, Smith is close to a deal with the KHL's Dinamo-Minsk. He compiled one goal and two points in eight NHL games and five goals and 28 points in 36 AHL games this past season.

🦁 Ty Smith set to join «Dinamo» Minsk

Per insider Stepan Voronkov (https://t.co/ET4EoZehlL), canadian defenseman Ty Smith is close to signing with Dinamo-Minsk.

Last season: 28 (5+23) points in 36 AHL games with Chicago Wolves.#Caneshttps://t.co/DB0mx9pJghpic.twitter.com/YHfVOEfhdV

— Belarushockey.com (@Belarushockey) July 15, 2025

The Penguins originally acquired Smith in the John Marino trade that former Penguins general manager Ron Hextall made in July of 2022. Marino was traded to the Devils for Smith and a 2023 third-round pick. 

Smith played in only nine games for the Penguins during the 2022-23 season, scoring one goal and contributing four points. He spent the rest of the season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, finishing with seven goals and 24 points in 39 games. 

He was eventually part of the trade that sent Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2024 trade deadline. Smith had compiled nine goals and 43 points in the AHL before he was traded. 

In 131 NHL games, Smith has racked up nine goals and 49 points. 

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Featured Image Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images

The Stanley Cup is getting ready to hit the road for the summer.

Now that the Cup has been freshly engraved with the names of the 2024-25 Panthers, the historic trophy is starting its summer tour with the winning team.

It makes sense that the team’s Cup visits began in Quebec, as that’s where the special engraving process takes place.

After a fun day on Sunday, one that included a parade, in Joliette, the hometown of Panthers forward A.J. Greer, the Stanley Cup made the short trip south to the Montreal area.

That’s where it linked up with longtime Panthers goaltender and executive Roberto Luongo, in his hometown of Saint-Leonard.

Luongo posted a photo of himself with Cup, and there was something interesting, and perhaps equally cute, nestled inside of it.

Unlike last summer, when Luongo enjoyed some delicious pasta and gnocchi out of the Cup, this time he posted with four Labubu dolls.

For those unaware of what Labubu dolls are (like I was) they are popular collectable dolls that come in unmarked boxes, so you don’t know which doll you get until you open it.

You know, kind of like a pack of cards. 

They are cute and cuddly and growing in popularity, and in value. 

Luongo wasn’t the only celebrity to post some Labubu-related content this week.

Megan Thee Stallion went viral after posting a video of her opening a box of Labubu dolls while sitting on the lap of her new beau, Klay Thompson.

Thankfully, Luongo kept his Labubu social media moment a bit more family-friendly.

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Image caption: Photo posted by Roberto Luongo to his Instagram account @thestrombone1 during his time with the Stanley Cup. (Source: @thestrombone1 on Instagram)

The Detroit Red Wings are the latest focus in our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Red Wings’ 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 some exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

The Red Wings are stuck in the mushy middle. They’ve been good enough to be in the playoff race for a few years now. By the time the races near the end, they’ve fallen off. Even a couple of seasons back, when they missed the post-season in their final game, they had a chance to take a stranglehold on the final playoff spot but toiled away.

The constant middling results, as well as arguably the worst luck in NHL draft lottery history, landed the Wings with a prospect pool that’s full of good but not great players. 

These prospects will build out the middle six of their roster, but they don’t have many potential elite impact players right now. 

Carter Bear, their most recent first-round pick, might have the highest realistic upside of any forward in the system, and he seems destined to be a very capable second-line winger who can score, hit and do just about everything a coach wants from a player. 

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has the most realistic shot of challenging Bear for the highest upside in the group. He plays a similar brand of hockey with a sound two-way game, physical maturity, excellent board play and a great shot. 

Brandsegg-Nygard just does it all with a more refined package of tools. He doesn’t have as high a motor as Bear, but it’s still high-end, and he plays such a tactical brand of hockey. Brandsegg-Nygard might be the best hope to fill the Wings’ hole on the top line alongside Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin, but that’s a lot to ask of a player coming to North America for the first time this upcoming season.

Carter Mazur can play up and down the lineup. He likely fits better in the bottom six, but he could be a serviceable fill-in higher in the lineup. He had a rough season riddled with injuries, including an upper-body injury that ended his year just two shifts into his NHL debut. That said, Mazur has a sneaky possibility of playing in the NHL this year. He brings a high motor, a very good shot and some interesting hard skills.. 

Detroit would love it if Nate Danielson could take a step and arrive in the NHL. His first AHL season was solid with 39 points in 71 games, but he didn’t blow the doors off. Danielson isn’t the flashiest player, and he has more functional skill than elite creativity, but that’s how the Wings are building their roster. They want players who outwork and outskate their opponents, and Danielson could be a key part of that. Whether he makes the NHL roster out of camp or not, Danielson could be a quick call-up if performance or injuries become a concern. 

One of the most intriguing and high-upside prospects in the Wings’ system is Russian left winger Dmitri Buchelnikov. His skill and puckhandling can be dazzling at times. He has incredible vision and some of the slickest passing in the KHL. Buchelnikov skates like the wind and uses that to his advantage in the offensive zone to pull away and create space for himself. 

Buchelnikov is a boom-or-bust prospect who could be a major addition to the Wings' roster in a year or two. His 54 points in the KHL this past year were among the league’s top 20 scorers and second among U-22 players. His KHL deal expires after next season, so he could be making the trek over as soon as the end of this season. 

Some of Detroit’s best prospects who graduated in the NHL in recent years come from the back end, such as Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. 

The next potential high-impact blueliner is Axel Sandin-Pellikka. 

The shifty, skilled Swedish blueliner has been nothing but phenomenal, showcasing just how talented he is in the Swedish League. He won the Salming Trophy as defender of the year in 2023-24 and was the best defenseman at the 2025 world juniors. He was recognized as the best junior-aged Swedish player, and he’s won an SHL championship. He’ll be in the AHL this season, but don’t be surprised if he finds his way into NHL games as well. 

Shai Buium had a great AHL season as a rookie blueliner. He has a bit of an offensive lean to his game, which may be a bit redundant with some of the young talent the Wings have on the roster and in the pipeline. He’s also shown to be an adaptable player who can really help move the puck in transition. He may not get much power-play time in the NHL, but he can be a solid third-pairing puck-mover. 

William Wallinder is a sneaky potential call-up this season. After two seasons in the AHL with some steady improvement, the big, mobile defender could be in line for a chance in the NHL this year. He is a toolsy defender who likely won’t play much higher than a third-pair role, but he could be a very interesting addition. 

The Red Wings have prioritized filling their goalie pipeline, and as a result, they have a couple of top-tier goalie prospects: Sebastian Cossa (15th overall in 2021) and Trey Augustine (41st overall in 2023).

Cossa’s had an up-and-down development so far, but his size and athletic ability make him such an intriguing prospect. He carried the load in the AHL and looked quite good. It would be ideal for him to play one more year in the AHL and potentially dominate, with a cup of coffee or two in the NHL being a possibility.

Augustine has begun to make a big impression. He’s been dominant for Michigan State, helping revitalize that program and show it’s a force in the NCAA. He’s been dominant for Team USA at the World Junior Championship and even played wonderfully a couple of seasons ago at the men’s worlds. Augustine doesn’t have the size Cossa has, but this athletic ability is unreal, and his puck-tracking is elite. Augustine is the more technically sound of the two netminders as well. The hope is they form a rock-solid tandem one day, with one of them establishing themselves as the bona fide No. 1.

Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season

Marco Kasper (C/W), Simon Edvinsson (D), Lucas Raymond (RW), Carter Mazur (LW), Nate Danielson (C)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 13th overall - Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)

Round 2, 44th overall - Eddie Genborg, RW, Linkoping (Swe.)

Round 3, 75th overall - Michal Pradel, G, Tri-City (USHL)

Round 4, 109th overall - Brent Solomon, RW, Champlin Park (Minn. H.S.)

Round 4, 119th overall - Michal Svrcek, LW, Brynas Jr. (Swe.)

Round 5, 140th overall - Nikita Tyurin, D, Spartak Moscow Jr. (Rus.)

Round 6, 172nd overall - Will Murphy, D, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

Round 7, 204th overall - Grayden Robertson-Palmer, C, Phillips-Andover (Mass. H.S.)

The Detroit Red Wings clearly have a type in the draft, which includes players with a high motor and physicality.

This year, they at least picked a high-upside version of that type in the first round with Bear. His stock took a hit when his season ended due to an Achilles' tear, but all signs pointed to a full recovery when he returned to the ice prior to the draft.

Bear is a high-octane forward who never stops moving his feet and looks to get involved at both ends of the ice. His work ethic was nearly unmatched in this draft class, using his endless motor to throw hits on the forecheck or drive the puck to the net front. He has an excellent shot and makes some really nice passes out of trouble when he goes into those battles down low and along the boards. Bear has the potential to be a top-six scoring winger with some really impressive two-way utility. 

In Round 2, the Red Wings took Swedish right winger Eddie Genborg. He’s a safe, steady prospect who brings a physical edge and a sound defensive game. He doesn’t present a ton of upside, but he does have a good shot and establishes position around the net quite well. His bottom-six utility will be an asset at the next level as the Wings look to fill their third and fourth lines with functional NHLers. 

Every year, the Wings bolster their pipeline in the crease. This year, Michal Pradel was their pick. The Slovak netminder was fantastic at the World Men’s Under-18s, leading the underdog squad to the bronze medal game against the Americans. Pradel helped push the game to overtime with some massive saves before falling in extra time. Pradel has great size, and he moves fluidly around his crease. He isn’t always the most technical goalie, but he makes the first save and gives his team a chance to clear and get out of trouble.

Brent Solomon was an interesting pick as a high schooler from Minnesota. His one standout trait is his shot, which is a weapon all over the ice. He must take a significant step in other areas to take advantage of that weapon. A year in the United States League and then a couple of college campaigns could do wonders for Soloman.

In what might be one of the steals of the draft, Detroit took Michal Svrcek at 119th overall. While a little undersized at 5-foot-11, Svrcek plays with the vigor and pace teams want from a productive middle-six scorer. His speed and playmaking put defenders on their heels. Svrcek sets the table for his linemates. He does so many of the little things to drive play up ice and put them in an excellent position. He was a bit snakebitten at the U-18 level for Slovakia, but he consistently generated good results.

Fifth-round pick Nikita Tyurin is an interesting prospect because he hasn’t figured out how to leverage his skating and passing from the back end to be a truly effective defender. He’s already a solid transitional player, but his play at both ends of the ice must become more consistent. He has the tools and play-reading ability, and he flashes those skills often, but he also has some misreads and underwhelming execution at times. 

In the sixth round, the Wings picked Will Murphy. The big, strong defender loves to get involved physically, and he can kill plays along the boards. His habits when defending the cycle are simple and effective, as he aims to stall all momentum. Murphy hasn’t had much success offensively, and he’s not much of a puck-mover. He generally opts to go D-to-D or find the easiest outlet. He’s not much of a fun pick, but he’s a defensively focused, physical player.  

Detroit’s final pick was a dart throw, selecting high school athlete Grayden Robertson-Palmer. He’s a downhill attacker who has a bit of an unrefined game, but he loves to amp up the pace, get defenders thinking and force them to move on the rush. He’s a very incomplete player, but with some patience and growth over the next few years, Robertson-Palmer could be a very interesting NCAA player and NHL prospect. 

Strengths

How can you not talk about the goalies here? 

With Cossa and Augustine both ranking among the best netminders outside of the NHL and the Wings' tendency to draft solid netminders in just about every draft, the Wings should have a goalie of the future. Whether it’s one of the big two, Pradel from the 2025 draft or Rudy Guimond or Landon Miller from recent drafts, the Wings have goalies for days in the system. 

Weaknesses

The Red Wings don’t have a true glaring weakness, but they could use a center or two because most of the pivots they’ve drafted project to be lower in the lineup. 

Even Kasper, who has shown some flashes of potential in the top six, would likely settle into a third-line center role long-term. 

That puts the Wings' true weakness on display. They have plenty of depth in their prospect pool, but they lack high-end, elite impact and skill. Sandin-Pellikka can provide some skill and offensive impact on the back end, and they have goalies galore, but the forward group is missing that stud who could help give Detroit a scary top six when added to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

Hidden Gem: Jesse Kiiskinen, RW

Since the Red Wings acquired Kiiskinen in exchange for Andrew Gibson in 2024, Detroit fans have been all over how impressive he has been. The 19-year-old was nearly a point-per-game player in the Liiga against men this past season, and he will jump to AHL Grand Rapids this upcoming year. Kiiskinen is shifty more than he’s fast, using his puckhandling and skill to evade pressure. His shot is pro-ready, so that should translate to North America with ease, and his passing his better than it’s given credit for. Kiiskinen has been one of the buzziest names of the development camp cycle for any team, so he’ll be a name to watch in the fall.

Next Man Up: Nate Danielson, C

This could easily be Mazur, but Danielson gets the nod here because he has the upside the Wings need. He can play just about anywhere in the top nine and possibly solidify the center position behind Larkin and Kasper. His arrival would also help push J.T. Compher and Andrew Copp to lesser roles, which they both need at this stage of their careers. Danielson may not be the true ‘Next Man Up,’ but the Red Wings and their fans are certainly hoping a solid camp and impressive pre-season can earn him a shot.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Carter Bear, Michal Svrcek, Carter Mazur, Max Plante, Emmitt Finnie, Dmitri Buchelnikov

C: Nate Danielson, Ondrej Becher, Noah Dower-Nilsson, Amadeus Lombardi

RW: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Eddie Genborg, Jesse Kiiskinen

LD: Shai Buium, John Whipple, William Wallinder, Brady Cleveland, Eemil Viro

RD: Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Anton Johansson 

G: Trey Augustine, Sebastian Cossa, Rudy Guimond, Landon Miller, Michal Pradel

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.

Are you wondering when the NJ Devils play this season? You don’t have to wait much longer. 

The NHL has announced that it will release the full 2025–26 season schedule tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.

This year’s schedule announcement is later than usual. Last season, the 2024–25 schedule dropped on July 2, just one day after free agency began.

Now, after one year and 14 days, we’re less than 24 hours away from seeing the full slate of games.

While the NHL has teased the opening night schedule, the Devils won’t be playing that night. Here’s what’s confirmed so far:

NHL 2025–26 Opening Night Tripleheader – Tuesday, Oct. 7

• 5:00 p.m. ET: #Blackhawks at #FlaPanthers
• 8:00 p.m. ET: #LetsGoPens at #NYR
• 10:30 p.m. ET: #GoAvsGo at #LAKings

Although the regular season schedule is still under wraps, the NHL has already released the Devils’ preseason schedule. The team will play seven games, three at the Prudential Center and four on the road.

Devils 2025 Preseason Schedule

• Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. NYR – Prudential Center – 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 23 vs. NYI – Prudential Center – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 26 @ NYI – UBS Arena – 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 28 (*Split Squad) @ OTT – Videotron Centre, Quebec City – 3:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 28 (*Split Squad) vs. WAS – Prudential Center – 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 2 @ NYR – Madison Square Garden – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 4 @ PHI – Wells Fargo Center – 3:00 p.m.

During preseason, the Devils will face the Rangers and Islanders twice each, along with matchups against the Senators, Capitals, and Flyers.

The game against Ottawa will be held at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, home of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. The arena seats 18,295 fans. That day, the Devils will split the squad, with one group facing the Senators in Quebec and the other hosting the Rangers at the Prudential Center.

Fans are eagerly awaiting tomorrow’s full schedule drop so they can start planning their NHL season.

Inquiries are now open for those interested in joining the team’s season ticket membership program, The Black and Red Membership.

While there are no international or outdoor games scheduled for the Devils this season, other teams will be playing in special events. The Rangers and Panthers will face off in the Winter Classic in Miami on January 2. The Bruins and Lightning will meet in a Stadium Series game in Tampa. Additionally, the Penguins and Predators will play a two-game series in Sweden.

So get ready, Devils fans, start planning those NJ Transit or PATH trips to the Prudential Center. The full schedule will be live in less than 24 hours.

Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images

EDMONTON – Scouting and development are vital.

Organizations like the Edmonton Oilers need to be leaders in the NHL in scouting and developing, particularly the latter more than the former. Without having the draft capital to bring in blue-chip prospects, it places a higher emphasis on developing the talent they currently have.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

Enter new goalie coach, Peter Aubry. 

He’s not the flashy hire that Sean Burke or Ian Clark would have been. However, just because a candidate doesn’t have extensive experience at the same level doesn’t mean they can’t be effective.

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After all, Kris Knoblauch’s closest sniff at an NHL head coach position was being an assistant NHL coach for the Philadelphia Flyers eight years ago.

While the jury is out regarding how Aubry could help the likes of Stuart Skinner, there is another goalie (or two) who could benefit from the Oilers' newest hire. 

European Goalies Have Adjusted Well Under Aubry

Aubry has a history of helping European goaltenders acclimate to the smaller North American ice surface. The European goalies he worked with during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks organization have seen an uptick in their performances and results.

Kevin Lankinen and Arvid Soderblom are the two goalies in question.

Lankinen is probably the biggest success story of the two at this point. The Finnish netminder is coming off a 49-game, 25-win regular season with the Vancouver Canucks. He was heavily leaned upon while Thatcher Demko recovered from several injuries.

Soderblom has seen a steady increase in workload year after year with the Blackhawks. In 2024-25, he started 33 games, posting a 10-18-7 record to go along with a 3.18 goals against average (GAA), and a .898 save percentage (SV%). It’s also important to keep in mind that the Blackhawks were not a good team, which skews these numbers negatively.

Aubry helped Lankinen in many ways. When he first adjusted to playing on the smaller North American rinks, he focused on the fundamentals, which remain the same regardless of the rink size.

The dimensions between the faceoff dots are the same. However, the distance between the faceoff dots and the boards is shorter. According to Aubry, this is where goalies need to be more prepared. NHL players tend to throw the pucks on net more from this position than in Europe.

Under Aubry’s tutelage, Soderblom recognized that he needed to focus on his explosiveness and flexibility to be a great goalie in the NHL. Soderblom also realized that these are traits shared by the best goalies in the NHL.

Aubry Could Be The Key For Oilers' Goalie Prospects

Because of his work with Lankinen and Soderblom, it’s easy to trace a connection to the several Oilers goalie prospects who could benefit from his coaching.

Samuel Jonsson, Eemil Vinni, and newly drafted Daniel Salonen are all European goalies in the Oilers system. Aubry could be the key to helping these youngsters fulfill their NHL potential.

Aubry’s ability to help Lankinen and Soderblom adjust to the North American rink size, as well as help them assess areas of growth, are the two biggest reasons why Jonsson, Vinni, and Salonen are the biggest winners of this coaching change.

The Oilers' goalie prospects just got significantly more interesting.

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Sam Dickinson is one of the most interesting prospects to follow this coming season for the San Jose Sharks. 

He’s outgrown the Ontario Hockey League, that much is very clear. However, unlike many in that situation, he’s unable to go the NCAA route since he’s already signed an entry-level contract with the Sharks. 

Dickinson is also still ineligible for the American Hockey League since he’s just 19 years old. As a result,  the only options he has are to make the NHL roster, or spend another season dominating the OHL which does little for his development. It is important to note first note though, there is an example the Sharks can look at to help influence their decision.

The Chicago Blackhawks went through a similar situation with former seventh-overall pick Kevin Korchinski a few seasons ago. He stayed in the NHL for the entirety of the 2023-24 season, but never truly found his footing. While he played some games in the NHL this past season, he ended up spending the most of his time with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL where he seemed much more comfortable.

Even though Dickinson is performing at a higher level than Korchinski was at this point in his development, it’s a comparable that shouldn’t be ignored.

Neither option is perfect for Dickinson, but let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each possibility.

With the London Knights of the OHL last year, Dickinson had what can only be described as a dominant season. In the regular season he lit the lamp 29 times, and totaled 91 points in just 55 games. He went to another level in the playoffs as well, with 31 points in just 17 games. He was a key contributor in the Knights’ eventual Memorial Cup victory and earned some other hardware along the way. 

Dickinson was named both the OHL and Canadian Hockey League Defenseman of the Year, and was named to the CHL First All-Star team as well. Ultimately, he’s accomplished everything there is to do in Junior hockey. 

The main advantage to the London Knights is Dickinson can certainly learn a lot from head coach Dale Hunter, but compared to what he’d learn playing at a higher level, it’s minimal at best. He would also be guaranteed an abundance of playing time in the OHL, which may not be the case if he were to make it to the NHL.

Looking at the Sharks roster, even after trading away Henry Thrun, there’s an abundance of left-handed defensemen competing for very few spots. Mario Ferraro, Dmitry Orlov, and Nick Leddy seem almost guaranteed to be on the opening night roster. Only one of them, Leddy, has proven that he can comfortably play on his off-side which does open up one spot that Dickinson can compete for.

There’s an abundance of competition beyond Orlov and Ferraro though, as Shakir Mukhamadullin will be looking to finally prove he can stick in the NHL, as will Luca Cagnoni and Jack Thompson, who is a right-handed defenseman.

If Dickinson does make the roster, he’d likely be put on the Sharks’ top-pairing almost immediately, which is a mighty task for a 19-year-old defenseman. There’s also the concern of who the Sharks would be able to pair him with. Considering Dickinson likes to jump into the play, having him alongside John Klingberg for example could be dangerous, as it would likely lead to quite a few offensive rushes for the opposition. Nick Leddy at this stage of his career likely shouldn’t be getting top-four minutes, at least to start the season and as a result that would take him out of the running.

Timothy Liljegren on the other hand, could be a decent option for the time being. Although, like Klingberg, Liljegren is an offensive minded defenseman, he’s more reliable defensively which should allow Dickinson to play his game with as minimal risk as possible defensively. 

In a perfect world, the best move for Dickinson at this stage of his career would be either a season in the NCAA or starting out in the American Hockey League to adapt to the professional game before getting called up mid season. Unfortunately for Grier, neither of those options are on the table.

I think it’s safe to say, Dickinson will start the season in the NHL.  However, after the ninth game of the season will be when Grier is forced to decide whether to keep the defenseman in San Jose and burn the first year of his entry-level contract, or send him back to the London Knights.

It’s a tough task to ask a 19-year-old to jump into the NHL under any circumstances, but it’s something that’s even more difficult for a defenseman. 

The Sharks’ general manager had nothing but praise for Dickinson following this season’s development camp and clearly believes in the defenseman's ability.  ”I think he's a little bit more mature, and he's carrying himself with just a little bit more confidence,” Grier said. “I thought he dominated most of the time, so it was a good first step for him and we feel like he's on the right track here.”

Overall, it’s not going to be as easy of a decision as it looks like on paper for how to approach Dickinson’s development. As the Sharks saw with Will Smith last season, sometimes a young player’s confidence can be damaged by playing in the NHL before they’re fully ready. Smith was able to eventually turn things around, and finished with a respectable rookie season, however with how how many goals the Sharks have given up over the past few seasons, that could be much harder for a defenseman like Dickinson to overcome.

Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Sharks Announce Changes To Hockey Operations StaffThe San Jose Sharks have made some changes to their hockey operations department. Former Sharks Tough Guy Signs With The LightningFormer San Jose Sharks enforcer Scott Sabourin has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a one-year, two-way deal. Former San Jose Sharks Forward Signs With San Diego GullsFormer San Jose Sharks forward Justin Bailey has signed an American Hockey League contract with the San Diego Gulls for the 2025-26 season.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ rebuilding squad will get quite the test on the opening night of the NHL regular season.

To kick off the tripleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Blackhawks are in Sunrise to take on the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Chicago, meanwhile, finished second-last this past season.

One game won’t tell the whole story, but it will set a first impression of how close these rebuilding Blackhawks are to competing against teams of the Panthers’ caliber with the pieces each squad has. Suffice it to say, Chicago has a ways to go to end the rebuild as it develops its young talent.

The Panthers’ top two defense pairings can compete with that of any team, especially after they acquired Seth Jones from the Blackhawks around the 2025 trade deadline. It’s another story for the Blackhawks.

When their highest-scoring blueliner this past season is youngster Alex Vlasic, whose 30 points were a career high, they can’t expect any sufficient offensive production from the back end. As for Connor Murphy, whose 117 hits and 160 blocked shots led Hawks blueliners, he’s entering the final year of his contract and could be trade bait. Only the Anaheim Ducks allowed more high-danger chances against than Chicago this past season, according to naturalstattrick.com.

That’s not to say there isn’t some talent in the pipeline, as Chicago has youngsters including Kevin Korchinski, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel who can grow into important NHL roles.

NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Chicago Blackhawks Brought In A Stellar Draft HaulThe Chicago Blackhawks are next up in Tony Ferrari's NHL prospect pool overview series.

Similarly, comparing the Hawks’ forwards with the Panthers’ forwards tells you how long their road to respectability truly is. 

Yes, the Blackhawks have cornerstone center Connor Bedard as their most important player and prospects Anton Frondell, Sacha Boisvert and Nick Lardis in the system. Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Donato had 58 and 62 points this past season, while Frank Nazar, 21, established his spot in the NHL full-time.

They’ll need Bedard to continue to grow as a difference-maker with help from his supporting cast, but they’re still over a season away from the wave of prospects taking this team to the next level. Right now, they don’t have enough true needle-movers to be in the same breath as a legitimate Cup contender like the Panthers, which are very deep at every position.

In net, the Hawks have a young goalie in Spencer Knight, who came over from Florida in the Jones trade, as well as veteran Laurent Brossoit. No goalie will be able to bail out the defensively lacking Blackhawks players in front of them. There may come a day when Knight can thrive between the pipes for Chicago, but that day isn’t likely going to come next season.

Chicago has about $22.3 million in salary cap space, and they used that room to acquire Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for an upgrade on offense. But it’s unlikely they can weaponize much more of their cap space at this point to get the type of players that will make them beat teams like the Panthers more often than not. 

The truth is the Hawks are a dog’s breakfast of assets at this stage, and many of their current players include veterans past their prime, like captain Nick Foligno, and second-tier NHLers, such as Tyler Bertuzzi, Teravainen and Burakovsky. 

It’s clearly easy to see why the Hawks will be a long shot to play meaningful hockey down the stretch in 2025-26. The Panthers are likely to make it clear in Game 1 next year how far the Blackhawks have to go next season. After another year or two, the Blackhawks will be much better built to take the next step.

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In late June, the NHL announced the beginning of the selection process for determining the two host cities of the next World Cup of Hockey, which is scheduled to take place in February 2028.

According to the press release, the eight-team tournament will be split into two groups of four, with one group playing at venue in North America and the other at an international venue – almost certainly in Europe. In all probability, each venue would host six group-stage games and two quarterfinals, with the North American venue also hosting the two semifinals and the final.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 18, 2025, for North American cities and Wednesday, July 30, 2025, for international cities. The final selection of host cities is expected to take place sometime in early 2026.

North American entries will surely be current NHL arenas. Which one will be selected is anyone’s guess, but there are far fewer venues in Europe that the NHL is likely to view as suitable. First of all, the timeline of the selection almost certainly rules out the possibility of any Russian city hosting. Even if Russia does play in the tournament, it’s far more likely to play in the North American group than in Europe, where their presence could be more controversial.

Here are seven venues in European countries that have a strong possibility to host, ranked from most likely to least likely to be chosen.

Hockey Slovakia President Miroslav Šatan Reveals Formats Being Considered For 2028 World Cup Of Hockey Ever since the NHL and NHLPA announced that the World Cup of Hockey would return in February 2028 with at least eight teams, there has been much speculation about where the games will take place and who will participate, including some wild suggestions.

1. O2 Arena, Prague
Opened: 2004
Capacity: 17,383

When the facility then called Sazka Arena opened in Prague in 2004, it was fully up to NHL standards of the day with a capacity of over 17,000, club seats, luxury boxes and everything else. That year, it was the main venue for the IIHF World Championship and also hosted a game in the World Cup of Hockey. More than 20 years later, it is still one of only two hockey venues within the European Union that could reasonably be considered up to current NHL standards in terms of capacity and amenities.

In addition, Czech fans always tend to come out to support their team in big numbers, and Prague is centrally located in Europe, easily accessible from all corners of the continent by air and rail. It’s a popular destination for travelling fans, which is shown every time it hosts a major hockey event, meaning that all games could be well-attended, not only the ones that the host team is playing in.

For all those reasons, O2 Arena in Prague is the most likely European host, but it’s not a slam dunk.

2. Avicii Arena, Stockholm
Opened: 2004 (Renovated: 2025)
Capacity: 13,850

Stockholm is every bit of a hockey city as Prague is, and the facility formerly known as The Globe has also hosted numerous high-profile hockey events over the years, including World Championships, World Cups and NHL regular-season games.

Avicii Arena, however, opened in 1989 and is significantly older than O2 Arena, and despite extensive renovations ahead of this year’s World Championship, it still seats less than 14,000 for hockey. Also, while Stockholm is almost as accessible as Prague for visitors from elsewhere in Europe, it’s a considerably more expensive city to visit.

Still, the NHL considers Stockholm and Sweden an important market, as shown by how frequently they place events there, so Avicii Arena is very much in play for the World Cup.

3. Helsinki Arena
Opened: 1997 (reopening in 2025)
Capacity: 13,349

Between its opening in 1997 and 2022, this arena was the premier hockey venue in Finland and one of the top ones in Europe, hosting four World Championships, two World Juniors, three games at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and seven NHL games. However, it’s been closed since early 2022 – you can read more about that here.

The good news is, the arena will apparently return to operation this September. There are, however, recent reports from Finland that the building’s new operator is balking at reactivating the ice plant. If it’s fully hockey functional – and it’s given the green light before the NHL makes its decision – Helsinki has a chance.

Closed For 3 Years, Helsinki’s Largest Arena To Reopen With New Name From its opening in 1997 until March 2022, the building then known as Hartwall Arena hosted four IIHF World Championships, two World Junior Championships, three games in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and seven NHL regular-season games. It was the home rink to Jokerit, which played in the KHL. It was Finland’s premier hockey venue.

4. Lanxess Arena, Cologne
Opened: 1996
Capacity: 18,500

The largest full-time hockey venue within the European Union is in Cologne, Germany. Since its opening in 1996, Lanxess Arena has hosted three World Championships and drawn very strong attendance. The NHL also put one game here in the 2004 World Cup.

Cologne is also the hometown of Leon Draisaitl, which would make this arena a great place to showcase probably the greatest German hockey player ever and, possibly, the greatest German hockey team ever, in a best-on-best tournament.

If there’s a drawback, it’s that the NHL still hasn’t announced the format, and it’s not known yet whether Germany will be part of an eight-team tournament or have to qualify ahead of time. In the latter case, it’s highly unlikely that Germany would get to host the European group.

5. Uber Arena, Berlin
Opened: 2008
Capacity: 14,200

Or if the NHL wanted to go to Germany, would they pick Berlin instead? It’s definitely a larger and more accessible city. The NHL also put a preseason game there in 2019 when the Chicago Blackhawks visited Eisbären Berlin.

However, the same question marks surrounding Cologne apply to Berlin as well – it’ll only happen if Germany qualifies directly as one of the eight initial teams.

2026 Olympics will see best German team everThe Germans have had some very good results internationally in recent years, including a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and another silver at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. They’ve had some very good young talent to work with but they haven’t had a chance to put all of their best players together on one team since the 2010 Winter Olympics. They’ve improved a lot since then. In fact, it’s no stretch to say the 2026 Winter Olympics will feature the greatest German ice hockey team ever assembled.

6. Nokia Arena, Tampere
Opened: 2021
Capacity: 13,455

Tampere’s Nokia Arena has become Finland’s premier hockey venue in the last few years. Like Helsinki and Stockholm, the smaller capacity is a bit of a drawback, and it’s a much less accessible city than those other two – Tampere has only a minor airport, with Helsinki’s international airport a two-hour drive away.

Nokia Arena would be further up the list if Helsinki weren’t back in play. Even without Helsinki, though, this one feels like a long shot with some of the other choices available.

7. Swiss Life Arena, Zurich
Opened: 2022
Capacity: 11,157

The NHL and the IIHF recently came to an agreement to send NHL players to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and possibly 2030 in France. As good as relations seem to be right now, the IIHF has been vocal about its opposition to a major international non-Olympic hockey tournament in Europe in February. Putting the European group in the city where the IIHF’s head offices are located feels like something unlikely to happen.

NHL Players Can Officially Play In 2026 Olympics. What About 2030?The IIHF, NHL and NHLPA all signed an agreement to officially allow NHL players to participate in the 2026 Olympics – and potentially the 2030 edition.

The Montreal Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket, have added to their defensive depth.

Laval has announced that they have signed defenseman Charles Martin to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. 

Le Rocket s’entend sur les modalités d’un contrat d’une saison à deux volets avec le défenseur Charles Martin
Détails au https://t.co/Xo5HCaOsxZ

Rocket agree to terms on a one-year, two-way AHL contract with defenseman Charles Martin
Details at https://t.co/Xo5HCaOsxZpic.twitter.com/rndHTVnnLU

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) July 14, 2025

Martin spent this past season split between the ECHL and AHL. In 40 ECHL games with the Rapid City Rush, the 6-foot defenseman recorded three goals, 18 assists, 21 points, and 40 penalty minutes. He also played in four AHL contests with the Calgary Wranglers in 2024-25, posting zero points and a minus-1 rating. 

At this point in his professional career, Martin has spent most of his time at the ECHL level. In 101 career ECHL games, he has recorded seven goals, 48 assists, and 54 points. Overall, the Quebec native has shown that he can produce solid offense from the point and be solid defensively at the ECHL level.

With this signing, the Rocket will now have another defenseman to consider using in their lineup. However, at a minimum, he should be a solid addition to the Canadiens' ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivieres Lions. 

Ex-Canadiens Goalie Signed NHL's Most Unique Off-Season DealHeading into July 1, former Montreal Canadien Jake Allen was the clear top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) goalie who could hit the market. Due to this, there was expected to be a ton of interest in the 34-year-old, and he was in a position to land a high average annual value (AAV) had he tested the market.

Photo Credit:  © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Most of the Toronto Maple Leafs' summer additions officially have numbers with their new club.

Henry Thrun was the first newly acquired player to confirm what number he'd be wearing with the Maple Leafs. The 24-year-old revealed on Monday afternoon during a Zoom media availability that he'd be donning the number three.

The defenseman wore the number with the San Jose Sharks before being traded to Toronto in exchange for Ryan Reaves. Thrun also had the number while captain at Harvard University. He was a big Zdeno Chara (who wore 33) fan growing up, which could be the reason behind the number.

Matias Maccelli, whom the Maple Leafs acquired from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional 2027 third-round pick, will wear 63, the same number he wore with Utah. The playmaking forward scored 18 points (eight goals and 10 assists) in 55 games last season, one year after tallying 57 points in 82 games.

Streaming Maple Leafs Games Just Got More Expensive: Breaking Down The Sportsnet+ Price Hike And Why Fans Are Upset About ItSubscribers of Sportsnet+ received an email last week that appears to have been unwelcome to users of the platform. Depending on your subscribed package, you saw a price increase that varied based on whether you subscribed to the base, premium, or annual version of either product. Looking at it from the perspective of fans who want to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, the increase was pretty substantial.

Nicolas Roy will wear 55 with the Maple Leafs. He wore number 10 with the Vegas Golden Knights, however, the number is retired in Toronto courtesy of Maple Leafs legends Syl Apps and George Armstrong.

Toronto acquired the 28-year-old in a sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner in late June. Roy had 15 goals and 16 assists in 71 games last season with the Golden Knights.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

Michael Pazzetta will wear number 61 with his hometown team, a number previously worn by Jacob Quillan. The 27-year-old forward signed a two-year, $1.63 million contract on July 1. He didn't register a point in 25 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season.

Travis Boyd, who signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Toronto on July 1, will wear the number 72 with the Maple Leafs. Boyd also wore 72 during his last stint with the Maple Leafs in 2021. The 31-year-old played most of last season with the AHL's Iowa Wild, scoring 53 points in 63 games.

According to The Hockey News' Karine Hains, the Maple Leafs will begin their season on October 8 inside Scotiabank Arena against the Montreal Canadiens. The full NHL schedule will be revealed on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET.

'It's Definitely A Topic To Talk About': Flames Star Nazem Kadri Responds To Maple Leafs RumorsThere is no doubt that many Toronto Maple Leafs fans miss having a forward like Nazem Kadri around. The Calgary Flames center has been at the center of rampant speculation as Toronto looks to add another top-six forward, and while a reunion might be a perfect fit, there doesn’t appear to be anything on the front burner in terms of an actual deal.

(Top photo of Boyd: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)