Category: Ice Hockey

Swedish center Anton Frondell will sign an entry-level contract this upcoming week with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that took him third overall at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, according to Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström.

According to Nordström’s article, which was published in the Swedish website Expressen on Saturday, the 18-year-old Frondell will sign for three years at $975,000 US per year, which is the maximum allowed for an entry-level deal according to the CBA.

Nordström further states that, according to information provided to Expressen, Frondell intends to play for Djurgården this upcoming season and will not attend Chicago's training camp, which begins on Sept. 15. Rather, he will focus on preparing for Djurgården’s season and the team’s opener on Sept. 13 at home against Skellefteå AIK.

That statement is consistent with Frondell’s words when he signed a contract extension with Djurgården in March. 

“When I got the offer to stay, there was no doubt, no hesitation,” Frondell was quoted at the time of his signing. “Everyone who knows me knows that this is the club that I want to play for as long as possible. I have been a Djurgården fan since the day I was born and I have always looked up to those who have worn Djurgården jerseys. To play for Djurgården myself is the best thing I know, and with the support of the fans it only becomes even better each game.”

Djurgården Extends Top Draft Prospect Anton Frondell Swedish center Anton Frondell, who is ranked to be one of the top picks at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, has signed a contract that will see him remain with Djurgården – his Stockholm-based childhood club – at least one more season.

Last season, Frondell had 25 points in 29 games playing for Djurgården in Sweden’s second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan. He then had seven points in 19 post-season games as Djurgården earned a promotion to the top-tier SHL. That will make the upcoming season a step up in the level of hockey that Frondell will be playing.

In addition to Frondell, Djurgården’s lineup for the upcoming season will also probably include 18-year-old winger Victor Eklund, who was chosen 16th overall by the New York Islanders. It will also have veteran center Marcus Krüger, who was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Chicago, Finnish right winger Jesse Ylönen, Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, and Swedish goaltender Magnus Hellberg.

Photo © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Swedish D-Man Returns Home On Long-Term Contract Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, 26, has signed a five-year contract with Djurgården, the Stockholm-based SHL club announced on Thursday.

If Ivan Demidov gave a good show on Saturday night in Boisbriand, the Montreal Canadiens’ first pick at the last draft did the same thing earlier in the day. Second-round pick and 34th overall selection Alexander Zharovsky started his KHL year with a win at the league’s three-on-three tournament with his team, Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

It was the first time the KHL organized a tournament with that format on smaller ice and with some of its teams. In the semi-final, Ufa got the better of HC Traktor while AK Bars defeated Dinamo Minsk.

While three-on-three play typically leads to an avalanche of goals, both finalists were content to sit back and wait for a mistake from their opponent, which resulted in a goalless first frame. It took a penalty shot converted by Ildus Suleimanov to put Ufa in the lead, and this tiniest of leads stood until the end of the second period thanks to its effective defense.

The third and final period brought an equalizer for AK Bars, who scored through Vladislav Shlyakhtov to send the final to a shootout, and it was Ilya Krikunov who gave Ufa the title of the first edition of that tournament.

While Zharovsky had a quiet final, he showcased some nerves of steel in the group stage to score a shootout goal, which allowed Ufa to win the group stage with a 5-4 win over Ak Bars, who lost a 4-1 lead after Ildus Suleimanov scored a hat trick.

If Demidov showcased some excellent skills in Brossard, Habs fans shouldn’t sleep on Zharovsky, as he showed insane puck skills and hands when he buried the game-winning goal in the group stage.

Alexander Zharovsky's game-winning shootout goal brings the win to the Salavat Yulaev 3x3 in the Green Rivalry (game against Ak Bars)#GoHabsGo

📹: https://t.co/Q9brMWGdlgpic.twitter.com/dQ1R4s2NCr

— Adelina (@AdelCucumberg) July 11, 2025

The youngster is under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, meaning Montreal won’t get to welcome him for a couple of years, but that’s fine. The 6-foot-1 forward still needs to develop and put some muscle on his lanky frame, as he only weighs 163 pounds. To give you a comparison basis, Cole Caufield is listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds. Mind you, Lane Hutson is listed at 5-foot-9 and only 162 pounds, but his elusiveness allows him to avoid most hits, and not everyone has that skill.

The Hockey News will be keeping a close eye on Zharovsky as he progresses and tries to work his way to the NHL.

Alexander Zharovsky with his first trophy for Salavat Yulaev💚

/The Ufa team became the champion of the first KHL 3x3 Championship/#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/jV1i8IEJg6

— Adelina (@AdelCucumberg) July 12, 2025

Photo credit: MHL Website

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Seemingly regardless of whether he makes the NHL or not, top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is a massive underdog to win the 2026 Calder Trophy.

FanDuel Sportsbook currently has the 2025 No. 6 overall pick at a whopping +30000 to win the Calder this season, which has an implied probability of 0.33%. Not 33%, 0.33% - not even a single percent.

Montreal Canadiens starlet Ivan Demidov is the heavy favorite at this point in the summer, leading the pack at +270. San Jose's No. 2 overall pick, Michael Misa, was listed at +1200 alongside newly minted Edmonton forward Ike Howard.

Unless this was simply a clerical error and a massive oversight, 2025 No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer was not listed in FanDuel's odds at all.

Playmkaing forwards Maxim Shabanov and James Hagens - both of whom very well could've ended up Flyers this summer - were listed at +2300 and +3000, respectively.

Flyers' Porter Martone Sets Sights on Early NHL DebutJust one day into on-ice activities at development camp, the hype around top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is already growing.

As for Martone, it seems like the oddsmakers are banking on him heading to the NCAA, possibly with Michigan State University alongside fellow Flyers prospect Shane Vansaghi.

Martone isn't alone at the bottom, though. Center Jett Luchanko, the Flyers' 2024 first-round pick, also made the cut at +30000.

Neither 18-year-old appears to have an abundantly clear path to an NHL roster spot, but injuries (Tyson Foerster) and uncertainty down the middle (Trevor Zegras) could make for opportunity in training camp.

And, for the Flyers as a team, they have the third-worst odds to win the Metropolitan Division this season, sitting at +2000. Only Columbus (+2200) and Pittsburgh (+8500) are worse, and the New York Islanders are also within range at +1700.

Flyers Reportedly Rejected Islanders Trade to Secure Porter MartoneThe Philadelphia Flyers were open to lots of things ahead of the NHL Draft, but, ultimately, a bold New York Islanders trade offer wasn't enough to pull them away from selecting Porter Martone with the sixth overall pick.

The four other teams in the division are comfortably ahead of the Flyers, with odds of +650 or better.

If you wanted to throw a few bucks on a Stanley Cup, you could do worse than +8000.

Honestly, if the Flyers did make it that far, Martone might have a little something to do with it. Just something to keep in mind!

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has left the door open for further additions to the team through trades, as just about every impactful free agent player has been re-signed by their respective clubs or otherwise traded/signed in the cases of Mitch Marner and K'Andre Miller.

Yzerman spoke about his desire to add a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman, especially the latter.

"The most important thing is to find players that fit," he said. "What we could use right now is a defenseman, a top four, and preferably a right shot. That would be our biggest potential need.”

The good news for Detroit is that there is a right-handed defenseman who is rumored to soon be on the move that fits the bill perfectly.

Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, a right-handed shot with the Calgary Flames, has been on the trade block for the last several weeks. He's also about to enter the final year of his current contract which carries a reasonable $4.55 million cap hit. 

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As it currently stands, the Red Wings have approximately $12 million in cap space to utilize toward future additions after acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks and signing a handful of new players through free agency. 

Andersson has averaged nearly 24 minutes of ice time patrolling the Calgary blue line in each of the last three seasons, and reached double-digits in goals in two of those three campaigns (11 goals in each in 2022-23 and 2024-25, while scoring nine in 2023-24.) 

The Red Wings only have two right-handed defensemen at the NHL level, Moritz Seider and Justin Holl, the latter of whom isn't going to be in Detroit's long-term outlook. 

More space would be opened up on Detroit's books when Holl's contract expires next offseason, while the salary cap is also expected to rise. 

At 28 years old, Andersson still has lots of hockey in him. Not only would he help to offset some of the defensive load that Seider carries, he also plays in all situations - even strength, power play, and penalty kill. 

While talking about his club in late June, Flames general manager Craig Conroy couldn't guarantee that Andersson would still be with Calgary when Training Camp rolls around in September. 

“You gotta look at it - Ras has got another year on his contract. I talked to Ras this morning and we’re all good," Conroy said. "If he’s a Calgary Flame in September, he’s a Calgary Flame." 

As they would for a potential acquisition of an impact forward, the Red Wings have the draft capital and a multitude of prospects to offer as trade bait, as well as the cap space to accommodate a player like Andersson to fill the need on their blue line. 

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With free agency beginning to die down, the hockey world was left anticipating what the Dallas Stars might do to address their cap situation, as they were more than $1.5 million over the cap limit going into Thursday.

That all changed on Thursday, as the Stars traded defenseman Matt Dumba - along with a 2028 second-round pick - to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok. Dumba, 30, had one year remaining on a contract that pays him $3.75 million annually, so sending him to Pittsburgh gave the Stars the cap relief they needed to be compliant.

As for Pittsburgh, the acquisition of Dumba brings about some questions that may need to be addressed before the 2025-26 season starts. Combining the Dumba trade with the deal that brought defenseman Connor Clifton to Pittsburgh - in conjunction with the signings of Parker Wotherspoon and Alexander Alexeyev as well as prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke knocking at the door - there has been a bit of a logjam created on the back end for the Penguins on both the left and the right sides.

And this is where things start to get interesting with Penguins’ top defenseman Erik Karlsson.

It is well-known at this point that Karlsson, 35, is on the trade market for the Penguins. Acquired in a blockbuster deal during the summer of 2023 from the San Jose Sharks, the three-time Norris Trophy winner has failed to help Pittsburgh get back to the playoffs in consecutive seasons, rendering the initial reasoning for the trade a moot point as the team mires itself in a rebuild.

It hasn’t been all bad for Karlsson in Pittsburgh, as he still registered 11 goals and 53 points this season for the Penguins and has been the primary driver of offense - and, really, nearly the only driver of offense - from the blue line. He has put up 22 goals and 109 points in two seasons for the Penguins, and this was after his third Norris campaign, when he had a whopping 25 goals and 101 points with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23. 

Why the Matt Dumba Trade Is About More Than Just The PlayerPittsburgh Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was busy on the trade market again on Thursday, sending defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Dallas Stars in exchange for fellow defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick. 

Anyone who expected that much from Karlsson in Pittsburgh was probably expecting too much. However, his level of production, oftentimes, hasn’t outweighed his mistakes, especially on a team like the Penguins that lacks defensive structure as it is. At the end of the day, Pittsburgh is not a particularly good hockey team right now, and a high-ceiling, low-floor player like Karlsson is probably not what they need right now for the stage they’re in. 

So, when the Penguins traded for Dumba, they created an even bigger logjam on the right side than they had previously. The right side of their blue line - including Karlsson - now occupies $23.18 million of combined cap space, and it features four players who have pretty much played full-time NHL minutes for the past several seasons. 

With eight defensemen already rostered - not including Pickering, Brunicke, and roster hopeful Jack St. Ivany - there are too many defensemen for too little spots. If the Penguins truly want to put an emphasis on development - and, even, on the hope that they can flip Dumba and/or Clifton at the deadline for picks - keeping four full-time NHL defensemen on the right side doesn’t make much sense. 

Given all of the above factors, it stands to reason that the Dumba move was, perhaps, a precursor to the eventual departure of Karlsson.

Of course, a lot has to happen in order for Karlsson to actually leave Pittsburgh. He has a full no-movement clause, meaning he has full control over if and where he goes. Also, the Penguins owe him $10 million of his $11.5 million AAV for two more years, which - even with the cap rising - is a hefty contract for a contending team, likely against the cap, to take on. 

In other words, there would have to be retention on any deal, and there has to be a will and a want from the player to vacate Pittsburgh in favor of another city. It has been rumored that Karlsson is willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to a contender, but part of the problem is that most contenders literally can’t afford him - even with retention. 

4 Potential Destinations For Penguins' Defenseman Erik KarlssonWith most of the big-name free agents off the board, the Pittsburgh Penguins are generating quite the buzz on the trade market.

Perhaps the Carolina Hurricanes are interested in replacing Brent Burns. Maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs are willing to send a contract to the Penguins in return so they can bolster their right side. Maybe the Ottawa Senators are interested in a reunion and will perform some gymnastics to make it happen.

And, if you’re the Penguins, this is probably the hope. But they also aren’t just going to give Karlsson away for nothing. They know the value he brings to their blue line in terms of offense and how he is capable of driving play almost entirely on his own. They’ll want fair value in return, and retention will only up the price.

If the Penguins have it their way, Karlsson will, likely, be in a different uniform to begin the 2025-26 season, and they’ve made moves - like the Dumba trade - that indicate that it’s their intended direction.

But, at the end of the day, it all comes down to what Karlsson wants. Now the Penguins - and the hockey world -  await what’s next.

Penguins Trade for Stars Defenseman Matt DumbaThe Pittsburgh Penguins added another defenseman to their roster on Thursday when they traded for Matt Dumba of the Dallas Stars. They also got a 2028 second-round pick for taking Dumba, while sending fellow defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Stars. 

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Feature image credit: Talia Sprague - Imagn Images  

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in multiple new players so far this off-season. This includes forward Anthony Mantha, as the Penguins signed the veteran winger to a one-year contract that carries a $2.5 million cap hit. It also comes with an extra $2 million of potential performance bonuses.

While this was not necessarily one of the biggest moves made this NHL off-season, it has the potential to be a solid, low-risk one for the Penguins. Mantha has shown during his career that he can be an impactful offensive contributor, and he should get the chance to play in Pittsburgh's top six when looking at their roster. Thus, he will be in a position to succeed with the Penguins. 

The main reason why the Penguins were able to get Mantha at such a reasonable cap hit is that he missed most of this past season due to ACL surgery. In 13 games with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, he posted four goals, seven points, 16 hits, and a plus-6 rating. Overall, he was well on his way to having a good campaign before it came to an abrupt end. 

When looking at Mantha's past offensive success, there is reason to believe that he could be a strong addition to the Penguins' roster. The 6-foot-5 forward has recorded at least 20 goals and 40 points three times in his career, so he is capable of making an impact. This includes during the 2023-24 season, as he had 23 goals and 44 points in 74 games split between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights.

If Mantha can stay healthy and produce solid offense for the Penguins, he will be a nice pickup for the Metropolitan Division club. It will be fascinating to see what kind of campaign he has from here. 

New Penguins Defenseman Is Sneaky Good AdditionThe Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in several new players this off-season. One of them is Connor Clifton, as the Penguins acquired him and the 39th pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau.

Photo Credit: © Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Ottawa Senators' goaltending situation seems like it's in a good place these days.

Linus Ullmark and Leevi Meriläinen are expected to hold down the fort at the NHL level in 2025-26, while down in Belleville, three netminders will likely duke it out for the top two AHL spots.

They've got Mads Sogaard, who will be making NHL money this season, no matter where he plays. So he's probably got dibs on the number one role. Veteran goalie Hunter Shepard just came over from the Washington Capitals organization and won back-to-back AHL titles in 2023 and 2024. So he may have the edge on the much younger Jackson Parsons for the B-Sens' number two role.

All that normalcy, a little depth and stability, are a nice change of pace because not that long ago, stability was the last word anyone would’ve used to describe goaltending in the Senators organization.

Let’s rewind to the crazy, unforgettable 2022–23 NHL campaign – the year the so-called Goalie Graveyard moniker was never more applicable.

It was the Season of 13 Goalies.

It started with optimism. The Sens had just acquired veteran Cam Talbot from Minnesota in a swap for Filip Gustavsson. Talbot was supposed to be the reliable veteran presence. Instead, he took a puck to the ribs in training camp, missed the first month, and never quite got on track. He still ended up leading the team in games played (36), but the numbers weren't great, and the Senators let him walk in free agency that summer.

Talbot ended up being another name in a series of goalies who couldn't stabilize the goaltending like Sens fans had hoped. Looking in your direction, Matt Murray and Joonas Korpisalo. No, Linus. You stay out of this. Go wait in the car, please.

Next up after Talbot was Anton Forsberg. In a game against the Edmonton Oilers in February of that season, Travis Hamonic accidentally shoved Oilers forward Zach Hyman onto Forsberg’s right leg. The result? Torn MCLs in both knees, which ended his season. Yes — both knees.

Goaltending gods, what did Ottawa do to offend you?

That left young Mads Søgaard to carry the torch for a while. He got into 19 NHL games that year, while also playing 22 down in Belleville. In true Sens fashion that season, he, too, missed time with injuries.

And the goalie carousel in Ottawa just kept spinning.

• Kevin Mandolese: 3 games
• Dylan Ferguson: 2 games
• Leevi Meriläinen: 2 games
• Magnus Hellberg: 1 game, because why not?

That’s seven different goalies in one NHL season.

Meanwhile, in Belleville? Even more chaos. The B-Sens iced ten different goaltenders that season. Count ’em:

1. Antoine Bibeau – 23 games
2. Søgaard – 22 games
3. Mandolese – 17 games
4. Ferguson – 8 games
5. Logan Flodell – 5 games
6. Meriläinen – 4 games
7. Luke Richardson – 3 games (no, not that Luke Richardson)
8. Mark Sinclair – 1 game
9. Ryan Bednard – 1 game
10. Lucas Peressini – 1 game

That’s a total of 13 different goaltenders used across the NHL and AHL rosters in a single season — a number that still feels absurd no matter how many times you say it.

Thankfully, we've hit better days. But Sens fans won’t soon forget that year – the legendary, chaotic, unlucky Season of 13 Goalies.

By Steve Warne
Sens Nation Hockey
Image credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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Insider reports indicate the Avalanche feeling forward Martin Necas may not re-sign and could look to deal him.

The 2026 NHL Free Agent class has the potential to be the biggest in league history with some of the biggest names up for grabs. Barring a similar event to this year where all the top players re-sign, we could see a major shake up within the league.

Most hockey fans look to biggest names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin among others on the block and salivate at the idea of their team nabbing one of the league's best. 

Chris Johnston: Martin Necas is probably the most important decision [for the Avalanche]; figuring out if you can sign him and if not how do you deal with that? Do you walk him to free agency...? - Chris Johnston Show

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 10, 2025

For Detroit fans, there's a name to look out for in the bunch that could be a potential option for the Red Wings in Colorado's Martin Necas. The 26-year-old winger has grown into a solid 70-80 point producer with upside to grow even further. His large frame at 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds have led some, like Spittin' Chiclets Ryan Whitney, to describe his play as a 'horse on skates' as he is extremely hard to move.

As the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the pressure has been on Necas to perform and he has in some of the biggest moments. With 13 points through 18 playoff games in 2019 or five points through Colorado's seven-game series with the Dallas Stars this past postseason, Necas has shown he can make an impact when the team needs him and could help elevate a cup contender or on a rising team like the Red Wings.

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He is currently entering the final year of his two-year bridge deal with a very friendly $6.5 million cap hit. Detroit could easily move prospects and picks to an Avalanche team that has relatively sold off the boat in terms of assets to keep them competitive. This became evident when Colorado recently traded off depth forwards in Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a prospect and two draft picks. 

Selling off a player on an expiring deal like Necas, who could help Colorado massively improve their draft capital and prospect pool in a trade makes a lot of sense. The Red Wings would be able to compensate better than most and as they have plenty of high-end prospects that they would be able to give up for a young impact player like Necas.

Elliotte Friedman: Re Martin Necas: Is he going to commit to the Avalanche? And if the answer is no, what is Colorado going to do about that? That's going to be one of the interesting questions throughout the year - 32 Thoughts Podcast

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 8, 2025

There's been some insider reports indicating the Avalanche being worried about the chance of Necas not wanting to re-sign and test the market. Detroit would be able to get a top-six winger that would require some moving around as they already have Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat on the right wing. However, he would be an instant boost on offence and they could keep around for several years as he's so young. 

Necas's next contract with the growing cap could be in the neighborhood of anywhere between $8-9 million per season which would fit into Detroit's budget. Necas could prove to be very happy where he is with some of the best players in the world in Colorado or he could have a chance to play a big role with a team that should be contending in the coming years like Detroit. 

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Mar 28, 2006; Glendale, AZ, USA; Nashville Predators goalie (29) Tomas Vokoun against the Phoenix Coyotes at Glendale Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Copyright Rick Scuteri

Tomas Vokoun won over 300 games as a goaltender in 15 NHL seasons, one of only 40 to achieve that mark in league history.

The Czech Republic native played for the Predators from 1998-2007, when he was traded to the Florida Panthers. Before Juuse Saros and Pekka Rinne, Vokoun established himself as the Preds’ franchise's go-to goaltender after the club selected him in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft.

Nothing in life comes easy, and that was certainly the case for Vokoun. The Montreal Canadiens chose him in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1994 NHL Draft.

After coming to North America at age 19, Vokoun spoke no English. Far from home, he struggled to adjust to a new culture while getting accustomed to the North American style of hockey.

Vokoun played his first professional season with the Wheeling Thunderbirds of the ECHL in the 1995-96 season. Despite the obstacles, he went 20-10-2 during the regular season, leading the Thunderbirds to an opening-round sweep over Columbus in the playoffs.

Thanks to the support of his teammates and coaches during his lone season in Wheeling, Vokoun’s English-speaking skills improved, and he began thriving off the ice as well.

“It wasn’t easy leaving my home as such a young age,” Vokoun told The Hockey News in December 2024 following his induction into the Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame. “Everything was new for me, and the first few months were hard, but my teammates were very supportive.”

Vokoun’s NHL debut with the Canadiens was rockey, to say the least. He made a relief appearance against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 6, 1997, giving up four goals on 14 shots in one period.

Montreal exposed Vokoun in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 37 games during the Preds’ inaugural season and split time between them and the Milwaukee Admirals until 2000. He eventually established himself with the Predators after they traded Mike Dunham to the New York Rangers in 2002.

Vokoun notched 161 victories with the Predators, then a franchise record. He recorded the first post-season shutout in team history in Game 4 of Nashville’s first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings in 2004.

Even though Detroit prevailed in the series, Vokoun made 41 saves in that game. He earned his first of two trips to the NHL All-Star Game that season and notched 34 wins to guide Nashville to its first playoff berth.

During the lockout of 2004-05, Vokoun played 19 games in Finland. In 2005-06, he had an NHL career-high 36 wins before his season was cut short after being diagnosed with a blood-clotting issue in his pelvis that sidelined him during the post-season.

After being cleared following the season, a broken thumb limited Vokoun to 44 games in 2006-07. The Predators traded him to the Florida Panthers in June.

Vokoun spent four seasons with the Panthers before finishing his NHL career with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. His career spanned over 700 games with five different teams.

Currently, the 49-year-old Vokoun resides near Boca Raton, Fla. While he’s no longer active in professional hockey, he still spends time mentoring young goaltenders.

Long after his playing career ended, Vokoun can still look back with fond remembrance and feel blessed to have played at the sport’s highest level.

“I lived my dream, I played hockey for a living,” he said. “Anytime you can take something you picked when you were five years old and get paid for it… If you play hockey and your goal is not to play in the NHL, then there’s really no reason to play. It was a privilege, and I’m grateful.”

Welcome to this edition of The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks Mailbag. In this series, we answer your questions about what is going on with the Canucks. In this article, we take a look at prospects, Elias Pettersson & more. 

Where Does Räty Fit Into Next Year's Lineup?

Aatu Räty's position in the lineup depends on whether Vancouver upgrades their second-line center position. While Räty could fill the third-line center role, I believe the best place for him next season is on the fourth line. Ultimately, playing him on the fourth line for a season would let him adjust to the NHL, as he has only played a total of 48 career games over the past three seasons.

Based on Räty's ability to win faceoffs, I also believe he could help on the penalty kill. When the Canucks start a penalty kill, he could be sent out to win the faceoff, and then skate off once the puck is cleared. Even if he loses the draw, Räty's defending is good enough that he could stay on the ice while shorthanded and not be a detriment to his team. 

Will Elias Pettersson Hit 100 Points Next Season?

The conversation surrounding center Elias Pettersson has dominated on social media this off-season. While some may have lost faith in the former Calder Trophy winner, it appears that Pettersson is fully healthy and ready to prove the doubters wrong in 2025-26. In short, he is Vancouver's most important forward and needs to have a strong year if the Canucks have eyes on a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

While we know that Pettersson can reach the 100-point mark in a season, I don't think he will hit it this coming season. What I do think happens is that he records between 90 and 95 points while being a contender for the Selke Trophy. Pettersson will also be named to Team Sweden for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he will have a better performance than he did at last year's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Could Kirby Dach Be A 2C Fit For The Canucks?

Kirby Dach is an interesting player. Drafted third overall in 2019, the Montréal Canadiens center is still looking for his breakout season. Dach has also dealt with injuries throughout his entire NHL career, which has limited him to just 59 games over the past two seasons. 

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Former Vancouver Canucks Movements In 2025 Free Agency Period

Vancouver Canucks 2024-25 Report Card: Brock Boeser

While their play styles are different, Dach and Filip Chytil are in a similar situation. Both are seen more as third-line centers who can possibly make the jump to the second line if needed. Based on his career so far, I don't believe Dach would be a fix for the second-line center problem.  

Thoughts On Wilson Björck?

Wilson Björck is an intriguing prospect. He lit up the J20 this past season with 67 points in 43 games and is on Team Sweden's radar for the 2026 World Juniors. Björck is also a very versatile forward as he can play both on the wing and down the middle. 

During Development Camp, Björck was one of the players who stood out. The 19-year-old is very calm when the puck is on his stick, which allows him to deliver accurate passes to teammates in scoring positions. Set to join Colorado College next season, spending some time at the NCAA level should help him adjust to the North American ice surface before he makes the jump to the pro level. 

Which Prospects From The 2025 NHL Draft Are You Most Excited About?

The Canucks added six interesting prospects in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. While the organization got good value on their later-round picks, the most exciting prospects are their first two selections, Braeden Cootes and Alexei Medvedev. Both have already signed their entry-level contracts and are headed back to the CHL next season. 

Cootes projects as a middle center at the NHL level, while Medvedev has the potential to be Vancouver's starter one day. Both have high compete levels and were standouts at this year's Development Camp. Both will also be players to watch this September, both at the prospect games against the Seattle Kraken and during Training Camp. 

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Kent Hughes has been very active this season so far. he pulled off the most significant trade when he managed to pry defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, surprised everyone when he acquired Zach Bolduc, and made some depth signings. However, he still didn’t manage to address another area of need for the Montreal Canadiens, the elusive second-line center.

The free agency market was thin, but when Jonathan Toews signed with the Winnipeg Jets, Matt Duchene re-signed with the Dallas Stars, and Mikael Granlund joined the Anaheim Ducks, it got even thinner. As Jeff Gorton said in his media availability before the draft, when something’s going on in the league and someone becomes available, the Canadiens know about it and assess the suitability of the player for their team, and that’s probably exactly what they did with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

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On Friday, his agent, Shumi Babaev, revealed that he had spoken with the Canadiens since the pivot would have liked to play in Montreal with former teammate Ivan Demidov in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg. Even though he would have wanted to join the Habs, Babaev was told there just wasn’t room for him with the Tricolore.

While the Russian pivot is said to be highly motivated for his NHL comeback, he hasn’t played in the best league in the world since the 2023-24 season, when he put up 24 points in 63 games split between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes. The player was plagued by personal issues and spent some time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program.

He then signed a new contract with the Canes, but ultimately, the agreement was terminated, and he signed a four-year deal with SKA in the KHL, but both parties agreed to terminate the contract at the end of the first season. There were no details released as to the reason for the termination, but it's likely the Canadiens conducted due diligence by leveraging Nick Bobrov’s contacts in Russia. The Habs had a good channel of communication with SKA, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they reached out to get some inside information.

While Kuznetsov could have been a good fit with Demidov, there is no doubt a reason why the Canadiens decided to tell his agent that there just wasn’t room for him, even though the Tricolore is lacking depth at center right now.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Kirby Dach will get yet another kick at the second line can. The Canadiens are probably hoping that youngsters Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen will come to camp all guns blazing and light a fire under the 24-year-old who will be playing the last year of his contract.

Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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American-born Russian winger Nikolai Kovalenko, 25, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on social media on Saturday.

The move comes nine days after CSKA acquired Kovalenko’s KHL rights from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in exchange for recently-signed ex-NHLer Egor Sokolov.

Kovalenko was born in Raleigh, N.C. while his father, Andrei Kovalenko, played for the Carolina Hurricanes. He grew up in Moscow and Yaroslavl, and played in 304 KHL regular-season and playoff games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Ak Bars Kazan and Torpedo between 2017 and 2024, recording 157 points.

At the end of the 2023-24 KHL season, Kovalenko, who had already signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, was assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. He made his NHL debut in that year's playoffs when he was called up to play in two games for the Avalanche.

Kovalenko split the 2024-25 season with Colorado and the San Jose Sharks, recording 20 points and 16 penalty minutes in 57 games. Midway through the season, he was involved in a trade that saw goaltenders Alexandar Georgiev and Mackenzie Blackwood head in opposite directions.

Two Days After Signing In KHL, Sokolov Traded For NHL Free Agent Two days after signing with CSKA Moscow, Russian winger Egor Sokolov has been traded to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, the CSKA club announced on Thursday.

CSKA, colloquially known in North America as the Red Army team, is a perennial powerhouse in Russia, but after back-to-back Gagarin Cup titles in 2022 and 2023, has been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two years.

The team has made numerous moves in recent weeks, including signing Sokolov and then trading him for Kovalenko’s rights two days later. The team has also signed goaltender Spencer Martin and acquired Denis Zernov from Metallurg Magnitogorsk in exchange for New York Islanders prospect Ruslan Iskhakov. CSKA also has under contract for 2025-26 ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk and Vladislav Kamenev.

Photo © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images.

Goalie Spencer Martin Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

The San Jose Sharks acquired Ryan Reaves from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Henry Thrun. While the move was a bit perplexing to both fan bases at first, especially for Sharks fans, it helped clear an obvious logjam and added some needed toughness to the forward group.

There isn’t much upside offensively for Reaves, as he’s posted a total of 137 points over the course of 16 seasons, but both the organization and the player know what he brings to the table.

The 38-year-old winger has one more year on his current contract, which has a cap hit of $1.35 million. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2023-24 season, and things certainly didn’t go as either he or the team had hoped.

According to Reaves, he never gelled with the coaching staff, and constantly moving in and out of the lineup on a consistent basis never allowed him to get momentum going for his game. Despite the issues, Reaves still referred to the Maple Leafs as “a first-class organization.”

Reaves, who found out about the move “two minutes before a signing,” said that he asked Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving for a change of scenery. “The way things ended in Toronto, it wasn’t exactly how I wanted,” Reaves said. “It was time to move on. I’m happy that Treliving out in Toronto found a spot for me, and I couldn’t be more happy in San Jose.”

Fans in San Jose don’t have the fondest memories of Reaves, who spent a few years with the Vegas Golden Knights half of a decade ago, which led to some intense and memorable playoff moments.

When asked about his history with his new organization, Reaves joked: “What history?” He then continued, adding, “I think it’s definitely good that there was a little buffer in between to let that cool off a little. There [have been] a few teams over the years that I would’ve said I never would’ve gone to just because of the rivalries that were going on, Chicago when I played in St. Louis. Then, probably San Jose from our days in Vegas.”

Coming into a young team looking to move out of a rebuild, Reaves knows exactly why general manager Mike Grier brought him into the fold. “They definitely didn’t sign me for my goal scoring.” Instead, Reaves will be tasked with the responsibility of protecting the Sharks’ young stars, specifically Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and possibly Michael Misa if he makes it to the NHL this season. ”I know my role, and I know what I need to bring to this team.”

Reaves’ game focuses squarely on physicality, and even if he’s not an everyday player, he can also add some veteran leadership. With the departure of Marc-Edouard Vlasic this summer, Reaves has instantly become the oldest player in the Sharks organization. Over the years, he’s played with some of the top players in the NHL, including Sidney Crosby, Artemi Panarin, and, of course, Toronto’s former “core four”. As a result, even as a fourth-line enforcer, Reaves will bring a wealth of knowledge he can share with the Sharks’ young stars.

Entering this season, Reaves has played a total of 912 career NHL games. With 88 games remaining until he hits the milestone of 1000 games played, he won’t hit that benchmark this season with the Sharks. Regardless, he’s confident he can play all 82 games this season if he’s asked to do so, but Father Time is slowly catching up with him. “I don’t know if any 38-year-old hockey player is 100% but it’s good enough to get on the ice, get up and down, and play the way I need to, play physical and fight when I need to.”

At this stage of his career, the main thing Reaves wants is to be wanted. “I go where anybody wants me and anybody who wants me,” he said. “I’m excited to do whatever I can for that team and organization.”

Reaves doesn’t bring much offensive or even defensive value to the Sharks. He has one job with the San Jose Sharks, and that’s to protect his younger teammates through his physical play. He’s not the type of player who will be in the lineup on a nightly basis, more than likely, but if he’s going to win over the fans in the Bay Area, he’ll need to make an impact whenever he’s given an opportunity to do so.

If Reaves wants to hit the 1000-game mark, he needs to have an impressive run with the Sharks and show teams around the league that he still has what it takes to make an impact. As a result, he’ll be an interesting player to keep an eye on when the season gets underway this fall.

Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Sharks Sign Former Islanders Goalie To One-Year ContractThe San Jose Sharks have announced they’ve signed former New York Islanders goalie Jakub Skarek to a one-year deal worth $775,000. From The Archive: NHL Franchise Legends - Evgeni Nabokov The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. From The Archive: Aging Like Fine WineThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Earlier this week, projected 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna committed to Penn State University. He is undoubtedly a massive pickup for the school, as he dominated the Western Hockey League (WHL) over the last few seasons. This past campaign with the Medicine Hat Tigers was his best, though, as he had 41 goals and 129 points in 56 regular-season games and 38 points in 16 playoff games. 

With how wonderfully McKenna has played at the junior level, many believe he will be a superstar at the NHL level. Because of this, next year’s draft lottery should have just as much hype as it did during Connor Bedard’s draft year in 2023. 

Because of this, let’s look at five teams who could have a real shot of winning next year’s draft lottery and selecting McKenna. 

Pittsburgh Penguins 

Could the Pittsburgh Penguins get their next face of the franchise in McKenna next year? It certainly should not be ruled out. They finished last season with a 34-36-12 record and did not address their major roster needs this off-season.

The Penguins are rebuilding and currently sport one of the weakest rosters in the NHL. Players like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson are also among the league’s top trade candidates, so there is a possibility that the Penguins could get worse before the season is here. 

The Penguins also desperately need a young star talent like McKenna, especially with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the later stages of their careers. It will be interesting to see if they end up being the lucky club that lands him. 

San Jose Sharks 

The San Jose Sharks finished at the very bottom of the NHL standings for the second year in a row this past campaign. Thus, they stand out as a potential landing spot for McKenna. 

The Sharks made some nice moves this off-season, bringing in Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Alex Nedeljkovic, Adam Gaudette and Philipp Kurashev. With this and the club having several young players on the rise, it would not be particularly surprising if the Sharks are a bit more competitive next season. However, they likely still have more work to do before they significantly climb up the NHL standings. 

If the Sharks won the draft lottery and picked McKenna, he would only make their excellent prospect pool even better. A trio of McKenna, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith would be incredible for a Sharks team on the rise to build around. 

Chicago Blackhawks

After bringing in several new players in free agency last year, the Chicago Blackhawks elected not to be big spenders this time around. The Blackhawks will instead be looking for their talented young players to take big steps forward in 2025-26.

While it is completely understandable that the Blackhawks have had a quiet off-season, it also seems likely that they will once again be in the bottom portion of the NHL standings in 2025-26. With this, they certainly stand out as a potential landing spot for McKenna at next year’s draft. 

McKenna landing in Chicago would also make for a fun story, as he is a cousin-by-marriage to Bedard. However, more importantly, McKenna would give Bedard another elite talent to work with as the Blackhawks look to take that next step. 

Philadelphia Flyers 

The Philadelphia Flyers have made some interesting additions this off-season, as they have brought in Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar. While they have added to their group, they still have work to do before they compete for a playoff spot and could be a lottery team next year.

While they signed a solid backup in Vladar, goaltending is still the biggest question mark on the Flyers’ roster right now. They do not have a proven starting goaltender, and this could make them near the bottom of the NHL standings again next season. 

There is no question that adding McKenna would be significant for the Flyers, as he would provide them with another top youngster to build their core around. Could you imagine the Flyers having McKenna and Matvei Michkov on their roster? That duo would make some real magic together.

Seattle Kraken 

The Seattle Kraken brought in some new players this summer, including Mason Marchment, Ryan Lindgren and Frederick Gaudreau. While adding to their depth was certainly important for the Kraken, it is hard to predict that these moves will be enough for the Kraken to move up in the standings next season. 

When looking at the Kraken’s roster, it is clear that they still do not have a game-changing forward that all playoff teams need. However, winning next year’s draft lottery and picking McKenna would help change things on that front. There might not be a team out there that needs a player like McKenna more than Seattle right now. 

Honorable Mentions

Two other teams who could have a real shot at getting McKenna are the Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators. Both of these teams performed below expectations last season and are wild cards heading into 2025-26. 

The possibility of a bounce-back season for the Bruins is there, especially if Jeremy Swayman regains his elite form, and top defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm stay healthy. However, after trading away several former core players at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, there are certainly questions surrounding the Original Six club. 

As for the Predators, they will need players like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos to heat back up offensively if they hope to improve next season. They will also need Juuse Saros to regain his elite form, as the Predators are not an easy team to beat when the star goalie is on his A-game. Yet, if things go south for Nashville again, they could be the team that gets McKenna.

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Former Bakersfield Condors goaltender Collin Delia has signed a one-year deal in Sweden with Brynas IF, it was announced Friday. 

A product of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Delia spent the entire 2024-25 season with the Condors, putting up a record of 12-11-5 along with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Across a total of 181 career AHL regular season appearances, Delia has gone 88-72-25 while posting a 2.95 GAA and a .901 SP.

Having turned pro in 2017, Delia has also appeared in a decent amount of NHL games, getting into a combined 52 with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks. In that time, he posted a stat line of 19-18-7, a GAA of 3.51 and a .897 SP. 

With Delia heading over to the SHL, this will be his first time playing professionally overseas. Having not appeared in an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, Delia is likely hoping to prove himself once again. If he has a strong season with Brynas, Delia could attract interest from NHL teams looking to bolster their goaltending depth.