Category: Ice Hockey

The Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Aleksei Medvedev to a three-year, entry-level contract. Vancouver selected the 17-year-old with the 47th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Medvedev was the fourth goaltender selected in this year's draft, and the highest goalie selected by the Canucks since Thatcher Demko in 2014. 

In a press release, GM Partik Allvin wrote, "Aleksei is an important addition to our organizational depth in goal and his signing is a great thing for our hockey club. He showed us a lot at development camp and has a bright future if he continues to build on his skill set and fundamentals. We look forward to monitoring his progress and helping him develop into a solid pro."

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Medvedev spent last season in the OHL with the London Knights. The Russian-born goaltender went 22-8-2, with a .912 save percentage. He also participated in the 2025 OHL Top Prospect Game and was part of London's Memorial Cup-winning team. 

Since Medvedev has now signed his ELC, he is unable to play in the NCAA. He is set to return to the Knights next season, where he will be the projected starter. Medvedev is now one of eight goaltenders who have been signed by Vancouver, joining Demko, Kevin Lankinen, Artūrs Šilovs, Nikita Tolopilo, Ty Young, Jiří Patera and Aku Koskenvuo. 

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Defenseman Nicolas Hauge, known for his size and physical play, aims to return to the more offensively minded side of the game he played in juniors. 

The Nashville Predators' newest addition, acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29 that sent defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons to Vegas, was introduced to local media at a press conference on Thursday. 

Hague signed a 4-year, $22 million contract, with an annual hit of $5.5 million. 

"I've always heard nothing but great things about here [Nashville]," Hague said. "Talking to the guys, too, it just seems like just a great place to live and a great place to play." 

In the press conference, Hague talked about how he came from an "active" defensive system in Vegas and how he'd like to be more offensively involved in Nashville. 

"I think there's more to give [in my game] offensively," Hague said. "In juniors, I was an offensive guy, and when I came into the NHL, there's a heavy focus on defending in this league. You're not going to make it anywhere if you do that." 

"Now, I want to round out my game a little bit more with those offensive instincts I had in juniors, but not lose that defensive part." 

During the 2017-18 season, Hague's final junior season with the Mississauga Steelheads, he scored 78 points, complemented by 105 penalty minutes. Since coming to the NHL, he has yet to surpass 17 points in a single season. 

Last year with the Golden Knights, Hague had 12 points in 68 games, but was part of an offensively active defensive corps. Vegas' defensemen had 173 points, led by Shea Theodore with 57 points. Nashville had 133 defensive points, led by Roman Josi with 38 points. 

"In Vegas, we talked about playing as five all over the ice," Hague said. "Our whole system is a unit. You're never man-on-man. If one guy got beat, you kind of had to beat us in layers...We always had a lot of success playing that way, and we always seemed to click." 

The defense was a significant focus for the Predators in the offseason, specifically addressing its issues, according to general manager Barry Trotz. Trotz said having a more offensively involved defense will help fix the gap at center.

Similar to what defensemen Nick Perbix said in his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Hague also believed last season was a "fluke" for the Predators.

"I think everybody had a lot higher expectations with the summer they had in free agency," Hague said. 

Hague did add that the attitude of having something to prove following a disappointing season has paid off for him in the past. The year before Vegas won the 2023 Stanley Cup, it had missed the playoffs by three points. 

It was the Predators that got the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. 

"We were very hungry and felt like we had something to prove that next year," Hague said. "That's a powerful feeling in the locker room if everybody can buy in. Having something to prove can take a team a long way." 

Not everyone is a stranger to Hague in Nashville. He is reunited with former Golden Knight Jonathan Marchessault. The pair played together for five seasons and have become close friends off the ice as well. 

"Marshy [Marchessault] is a really good friend. He always makes me laugh," Hague said. "I can't wait to reconnect with them [Marchessault's family]. We got pretty close in Vegas over the years, and lived down the street from them. It'll be good to see him, Alex and the kids." 

The 2024-25 NHL season was a true breakout campaign for Detroit Red Wings rookie Marco Kasper, who showed tremendous promise and all of the signs of being an effective impact player for years to come. 

Thanks to his impressive first foray into the NHL, he's being recognized by being named the 2024-25 Red Wings Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media (DSM).

Kasper the Friendly ROTY. 👻

More » https://t.co/nGdvj2ra8lpic.twitter.com/LUnlvylAKj

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 10, 2025

Kasper, whom the Red Wings drafted with the eighth overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, began the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins but was called up to the Red Wings in late October, and remained with the club for the remainder of the campaign.

Kasper ultimately played in 77 games, scoring 19 goals with 18 assists. His first NHL goal was scored on November 15 against the Anaheim Ducks and goaltender John Gibson, who is now his teammate in Detroit after being acquired in a recent trade. 

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But it was Kasper's second half of the season that was extremely encouraging. In the 42 games that he played spanning from January 10 through the end of the season in April, Kasper's 17 goals were first among all NHL rookies. His 29 even-strength points were tied for first among all rookies, and his 30 points were good for fifth overall.

“I mean, I’m always giving my best to get better, but I know it’s going to be hard next year,” Kasper said after the season ended. “You know, it’s, I mean, I personally feel like I had a pretty good year, but it’s going to be really hard to come back and do just like that and even improve what I want."

Tic-tac-GOAL!

Marco Kasper's 13th of the season. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/RdEpZw4sJa

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 16, 2025

Kasper, who also later played for Austria in the 2025 World Championship, also said that he's going to spend the summer focusing on improving himself physically. 

“Obviously, I always talk about I’m trying to get better every day. It’s really hard, but it’s something I’m going to focus on this summer," he said. "Just whenever I’m in the gym, when I’m just maybe watching some playoff games, that’s where we’re going to go and everybody’s going to have to improve for us to get there. And so it’s going to be an important summer.”

Under coach Todd McLellan, who took over the head coaching duties on December 26, Kasper would routinely center Detroit's second line flanked by Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, a line that will likely be intact heading into next season. 

At only 20 years old, the sky is the limit for Kasper moving forward. 

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Samuel Montembeault is heading into next season as the Montreal Canadiens' clear starting goalie. The 28-year-old is coming off a solid 2024-25 campaign, as he posted a 31-24-7 record, a .902 save percentage, a 2.82 goals-against average, and four shutouts in 62 games. With this, he was certainly a reason why the Canadiens made the playoffs for the first time since 2021. 

Yet, when it comes to the Canadiens' backup goalie position, that is where things get more interesting. With the team signing Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year, $1.15 million contract, there will now be a goalie battle to watch between him and Jakub Dobes at training camp for the backup spot. 

Kahkonen, 28, spent most of this season down in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 36 regular-season games split between the Colorado Eagles, Manitoba Moose, and Charlotte Checkers, he had a 14-20-1 record, a .894 save percentage, and a 2.91 goals-against average. He also played in 18 playoff games for the Checkers this spring, where he had a 12-6 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.18 goals-against average. 

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Although Kahkonen appeared in just one NHL game this past season, he has a good amount of experience as a backup at the NHL level. In 140 career games over six seasons split between the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche, he has posted a 49-68-15 record, a .898 save percentage, and a 3.34 goals-against average. Thus, if the Canadiens want more experience for the backup role and to let Dobes develop his game more in the AHL, they could start the year with Kahkonen. 

However, Dobes demonstrated plenty of promise during his first NHL action this season with the Canadiens. In 16 games with Montreal on the year, he posted a 7-4-3 record, a .909 save percentage, a 2.74 goals-against average, and one shutout.  He also performed well while in the AHL with the Laval Rocket this campaign, recording a 9-3-1 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.44 goals-against average in 14 games. 

It is fair to argue that Dobes has a good shot at winning the Canadiens' backup goalie spot. Yet, with the Canadiens bringing in an experienced goalie like Kahkonen, Dobes will need to earn the role with a strong training camp. 

Photo Credit: © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

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Isaac Howard bet on himself by forcing a trade to the Edmonton Oilers, but it comes with a catch.

The Tampa Bay Lightning first-rounder may have landed a dream job on Connor McDavid’s or Leon Draisaitl’s wing next season with the Oilers. But if Howard, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s college hockey player, didn’t already have a bullseye on his back, he certainly does now. 

Chances are, like Rutger McGroarty and Cutter Gauthier, he’s probably OK with that. 

When you’re a young, elite hockey player, the world can be your oyster. You have the power of top-level performance to build your brand. You have people who’ve scouted you from an early age, telling you how great you are. And more often than not, you wind up believing in the hype about yourself.

Now, some elite young players wind up doing what most young players do – they accept hockey’s draft system, go wherever they’re told to go and build a career from there. 

But over the years, there have been some top youngsters who defied the system and negotiated their way to a team and a town where they felt they were a better fit than the club that drafted them.

Of course, some famous examples in modern history are Eric Lindros, who refused to play in Quebec City, orchestrating a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers. More recently, star defenseman Adam Fox first told the Calgary Flames he wouldn’t sign with them after they drafted him. After the Flames dealt him to the Carolina Hurricanes, Fox didn’t sign there, either. Before his draft rights expired, the Hurricanes moved him to where he wanted to be, the New York Rangers, where he’s played ever since.

In the past couple of years, top forward prospects Gauthier and McGroarty leveraged their way out of Philadelphia and Winnipeg, respectively. Gauthier forced a trade to the Anaheim Ducks, while McGroarty got moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With all that in mind, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that another young up-and-comer has forced his way away from the team that drafted him. Howard didn’t come to terms with the Lightning, which selected him 31st overall pick in 2022. The Lightning traded him to the Oilers in exchange for OHL prospect Sam O’Reilly.

In his introductory press availability, Howard said the usual boilerplate things about being happy with his new team. But make no mistake – he will now face scrutiny as he tries to make the jump from the NCAA to the NHL without needing to play in the AHL. Like it or not, when you use the system to your advantage in a way most players do not, the spotlight on you will be prolonged and intense. 

So far in their careers, McGroarty and Gauthier haven’t exactly set the league on fire. McGroarty spent most of his first professional season in the AHL, posting 14 goals and 39 points in 60 games this past season. In a brief stint with the NHL’s Penguins, McGroarty generated only one goal and three points in eight games. His adaptation to hockey’s top league will still take some time, but he’s got a promising future.

Gauthier has been more successful thus far, playing a full 82 games with the Ducks in his initial NHL season and generating 20 goals and 44 points. Gauthier has had more opportunity than some of his peers, but he’s taken some of the heat off himself by being so productive as a rookie.

Now, the same spotlight will hang hard on Howard. 

The belief in Edmonton is that the 21-year-old is NHL-ready and will be in the lineup when the 2025-26 season begins. Playing alongside McDavid and Draisaitl will no doubt help Howard’s acclimation to the NHL, but playing on a team that wants a Stanley Cup championship means there’s little room for error.

It may not be fair in that regard, but by orchestrating a trade to a place he wants to play, Howard has opened himself up for criticism, not only from Lightning fans who may feel cheated but from hockey gatekeepers who always bristle when a young player dictates where they want to play.

If Howard can thrive as an Oiler, Edmonton management will be more than happy to make him a cornerstone part of the organization. While Howard will likely face a lifetime of jeering from Tampa fans – the same way McGroarty and Gauthier will always hear it from Jets and Flyers fans, respectively – this won’t be the last time we see a player break up the hockey food chain and make it clear they’re not going to be swayed when it comes to playing where they want to play.

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The Philadelphia Flyers didn't make too many additions to the roster this offseason, but they did enough to shake up the organizational depth chart for the time being.

And with that, the team's pace should change at least a little bit this season.

New head coach Rick Tocchet will get to iterate his own version of these Flyers, and the newcomers will breathe some life into a stagnant roster that saw very little turnover from 2023-24 to 2024-25.

The most notable offseason departures in 2024 were those of veterans Cam Atkinson and Marc Staal, as well as reserve goalie Felix Sandstrom

By adding Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak, the Flyers hope to address and smooth over the holes left by Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost, who went to the Calgary Flames in a January trade earlier this year.

Note that the following depth chart is not necessarily how I see or believe the lines will play out, but more where I think players fall in terms of ice time based on their roles, pecking order in the event of injury, etc.

Additionally, we will assume that Tyson Foerster, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Noah Juulsen are all healthy.

3 Flyers Prospects Named to World Junior Summer Showcase RostersWith only two rosters revealed so far, the Philadelphia Flyers are already set to be well represented at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase later this month.

Forwards

Tyson Foerster - Trevor Zegras - Matvei Michkov

Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny

Alex Bump - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink

Nikita Grebenkin - Christian Dvorak - Garnet Hathaway

Extras:

Nick Deslauriers - Rodrigo Abols - Porter Martone

Karsen Dorwart - Jett Luchanko - Anthony Richard

Denver Barkey - Jacob Gaucher - Lane Pederson

Massimo Rizzo - J.R. Avon - Devin Kaplan

Rationale

Tyson Foerster, when healthy, is going to play a ton of 5-on-5 minutes, and his role should expand on the penalty kill, too.

I don't know where the caution came from with Trevor Zegras, but he is definitely an NHL center, and a talented one. The biggest question is going to be how far his defense can come, because the playmaking, scoring, and invariable power play boost will keep him on the ice regardless.

Flyers Development Camp 2025 Scrimmage Winners, Notes, and ObservationsIf the Philadelphia Flyers have one thing to look forward to in the coming months, it's the continued development of their standout prospects.

A small note on Owen Tippett: his speed and long reach would be dangerous assets to have on the penalty kill a la Travis Konecny. Can Tocchet and the Flyers make him into something more than a high-priced, volume-shooting power forward?

I don't believe Alex Bump, who's a favorite to make the roster out of camp, will play on a checking line with Noah Cates, but 14-15 minutes a night to start him off in the NHL would be ideal.

As for Nikita Grebenkin, if he makes the roster, I'd expect 12 or so minutes a night with potential for PP2 ice time.

Diving into the extras, where Jett Luchanko falls depends a lot on his training camp, but if the Flyers suffer a rash of injuries, I could see him being re-called from the OHL in the event of an emergency over a bit part AHL player.

Ditto for Denver Barkey and Devin Kaplan, who may not be the first line of defense but could still see NHL ice under certain circumstances.

At this point in the rebuild, I don't see how it would benefit the Flyers to play veterans and journeymen over some of the prospects who are now turning pro.

Defense

Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen

Where Did These Former Flyers End Up in NHL Free Agency?Between their additions and subtractions, the Philadelphia Flyers have been well-represented in NHL free agency this year.

Cam York - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen

Egor Zamula - Helge Grans

Emil Andrae - Oliver Bonk

Hunter McDonald - Ethan Samson

Dennis Gilbert - Adam Ginning

Ty Murchison

Rationale

Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Cam York are all going to play the bulk of the even strength and penalty kill minutes, and Nick Seeler and Noah Juulsen will each factor in on the man disadvantage, too.

The biggest question will be who plays the power play. 

Jamie Drysdale was the Flyers' No. 1 option by a comfortable margin on the power play last year and was on the ice for 15 goals for. Ristolainen, Sanheim, Emil Andrae, and Egor Zamula were on the ice for a combined 17 goals for, for reference.

Sanheim and Andrae, who each played 50 minutes on the man advantage, out-scored opponents by a combined 10-1, with the two leading all Flyers defensemen in goals for percentage on the power play, per Natural Stat Trick.

The issue is that Andrae might not make the roster, which opens the door for someone like York to take on more responsibility and actually showcase all his talents.

York ranked sixth amongst Flyers defensemen in power play ice time last season, playing just 9:36 in 66 games.

I expect Helge Grans to challenge for a roster spot for as long as Ristolainen is out after making his NHL debut last season. In the event of further injury, Andrae and prospect Oliver Bonk should top the list of re-call options.

Goalies

Dan Vladar

Sam Ersson

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.

Aleksei Kolosov

Ivan Fedotov

Carson Bjarnason

Rationale

No surprises here. Top free agency addition Dan Vladar will be tasked with keeping Sam Ersson fresh, which has proven challenging over the last two seasons.

There's no reason for Aleksei Kolosov to not return given the situation with Dinamo Minsk, and he has more long-term upside than Ivan Fedotov if he can show the Flyers some consistency at the AHL and/or NHL levels.

Carson Bjarnason, who is just now turning pro, is the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option. I think the Flyers would trade for a stopgap before throwing him to the wolves.

At the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick. The move was entirely understandable, as Jones wanted the opportunity to play for a contender, and the Blackhawks are still rebuilding. 

The Blackhawks landing Knight in this trade was certainly nice, as the 2019 first-round pick has the tools to emerge as an impactful starting goaltender at the NHL level. Now, with the 24-year-old entering his first full season as the Blackhawks' likely No. 1 goalie, the potential for him to hit a new level is undoubtedly there. 

Throughout his time with the Panthers, Knight demonstrated good promise as Florida's backup behind star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. In 80 games over four seasons with the Panthers, Knight had a 44-25-7 record, a 2.76 goals-against average, and a .906 save percentage. This included a 12-8-1 record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.40 goals-against average in 23 games with the Panthers this past season before being traded to Chicago. 

Knight had mixed results with the Blackhawks following the trade, as he posted a 5-8-2 record, a .893 save percentage, and a 3.18 goals-against average. However, now that he has settled in with the Blackhawks, it would not be all that surprising to see his numbers improve next season.

Overall, with the Blackhawks being a team on the rise, bringing in a promising young goalie like Knight is undoubtedly a good thing. If he taps more into his potential, he could very well be the Blackhawks' long-term answer between the pipes. It will be fascinating to see if he takes a big step forward in his development next season from here. 

NHL Trade Rumors: 3 Blackhawks Who Could Be MovedThe Chicago Blackhawks could be a team to watch when it comes to the trade market. With the club still building up their roster, it would be understandable if they moved out some pieces who they do not view as long-term parts of their roster. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Chicago Blackhawks' 2025 third overall pick, Anton Frondell, compares his game to Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

Currently, Barkov is the best two-way forward in the NHL and is trending to one of the best two-way forwards of all time. With three Selke Trophies under his name at just 29 years old, there is no reason why Barkov shouldn't hear his name said alongside Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Datsyuk, among others. 

Coupled with his outstanding defensive game is his astonishing offensive game. Throughout his 13-year career, Barkov has scored 286 goals and 782 points in 804 games, a 0.97 points per game rate. He's also set a career-high of 39 goals and 96 points.

While Frondell isn't saying he will become Barkov, comparing your play style to a future Hall of Fame center does put lofty expectations on yourself. 

“I compare myself to [Aleksander] Barkov in Florida,” Frondell said when asked about his game.

After Matthew Schaefer went first overall to the New York Islanders and Michael Misa went second overall to the San Jose Sharks, the Blackhawks likely cheered when selecting Frondell, both the best player available at third overall and a perfect stylistic fit. With Connor Bedard projected as the team's No.1 center, and Frank Nazar blossoming as an ultra-skilled forward, the Blackhawks need a bigger, two-way center who would complement Bedard and Nazar's game, which Frondell does to a tee. 

Listed at just under 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, the 18-year-old will take on the tough defensive matchups at even strength, allowing Bedard or Nazar to focus on producing offensively, similarly to what Barkov does for Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. Frondell can most certainly hold his own offensively, possessing one of, if not the best, shots in the 2025 draft class, combined with strong skating mechanics and silky hands. 

The Trångsund, SWE native played a crucial role in helping Djurgårdens IF achieve promotion back into the SHL, Sweden's top professional league, scoring 11 goals and 25 points in a 29-game injury-riddled season. The initial inclination was that Frondell would head back to Sweden for the upcoming season, but after a strong development camp and a proclamation of striving to make the team out of training camp, Frondell will be provided the opportunity to do so, and the current makeup of the Blackhawks roster could allow him to do so. 

If Frondell does work hard to emulate what makes Barkov so great, his offensive creativity, defensive fortitude, understanding of how to use his body, his high hockey IQ and overall tremendous leadership and selflessness, Frondell could go on to have a stellar NHL career. But saying so is a lot easier than doing it.

Anton Frondell Would Fit In On 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks With the 3rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Swedish forward Anton Frondell. This came after the New York Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer and the San Jose Sharks took Michael Misa.

The video of ex-NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky getting into a fight at a golf course in Alberta has taken over the hockey community by storm.

Former NHL player Drew Shore, alongside Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos, discussed the viral clip in the July 9 episode of The Big Show.

“I don’t think (Tarnasky) is the guy you want to get drunk and start lipping off to on the golf course,” Shore said.

Video footage captured Tarnasky, 40, and an unidentified golfer at the Alberta Springs Golf Resort near Red Deer, Alta., having an argument that escalated into a physical altercation. There was reportedly some frustration coming from Tarnasky’s group with how long the group in front of him was taking to tee their shot.

A golfer from the other group eventually confronted the former enforcer. Tarnasky threw him into the pond and punched him five times, yelling “bang” with every punch.

“Imagine that guy walking into the clubhouse at the end of his round,” Shore said. “You’re just playing golf, people are coming in, and the guy comes in, clothes are soaking wet, black eye, bruised cheek. That’s a very tough one to explain to someone.”

Tarnasky played 245 NHL games and accumulated 297 penalty minutes in his career. He played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers between 2005 and 2010. He played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 pre-season and New York Rangers in the 2014 pre-season.

In addition, he recorded over 800 more penalty minutes across nine seasons in the AHL and one in the KHL.

"If anyone has an old Nick Tarnasky jersey lying around, this would be a great week to dust it off and wear it again," EA Sports NHL 25 play-by-play voice James Cybulski posted on X.

Painter Travis Chapman painted the altercation and shared it to social media on Wednesday, getting nearly 1-million views and and 12,000 likes on X.

Added former NHL defenseman Marc Methot: "People don’t realize how dangerous some of these guys are. They can throw, but more importantly, they can eat punches when they have to. Tarnasky wasn’t even trying."

Before the video went viral on social media, another former NHL D-man, Mike Commodore, mentioned Tarnasky on X.

"Alberta Springs, I heard you guys have the greatest Member/Marshall In Western Canada…Nick Tarnasky…runs a tight ship. Very hands on," he wrote.

The Red Deer Minor Hockey Association said it’s conducting an internal investigation, despite the RCMP having concluded its investigation into the altercation. 

Tarnasky is a coach for the Red Deer Minor Hockey U-17 AAA team. On May 7, the organization announced he’d be returning behind the bench for the 2025-26 season. 

"We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey," RDMHA said in a statement.

"At this time, given that we understand the matter is being reviewed by local policing authorities and we are conducting our own internal investigation into the alleged incident, we will have no further comments."

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Sharks trade defenseman Henry Thrun to Maple Leafs for forward Ryan Reaves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With a slew of NHL-caliber defensemen on the Sharks’ roster, Henry Thrun was the odd man out on Thursday.

San Jose traded Thrun to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves, the team announced, acquiring a postseason-experienced player who is very familiar with the Sharks.

“We’re excited to welcome Ryan to the organization,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “He will bring energy, personality, physical play and toughness to our group. He has been a part of many winning teams, and I witnessed firsthand the positive impact he can bring to a group when I was with the Rangers.”

🔁 The #SJSharks have acquired Ryan Reaves from the Maple Leafs.

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 11, 2025

Reaves was involved in one of the most personal feuds in NHL history with former Sharks wing Evander Kane during the former’s time with the Vegas Golden Knights — a rivalry that reached a boiling point with an epic on-ice fight during the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.

😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/8sTDdo9KU1

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 15, 2019

But those days are in the past as Reaves joins San Jose in Thursday’s trade. Reaves, 38, has appeared in 912 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Toronto. Reaves has posted 137 points (63 goals, 74 assists) and 1100 penalty minutes across that span, and also has made the playoffs in 14 of his last 15 seasons.

Last season with Toronto, Reaves appeared in 35 games, recording two assists and 28 penalty minutes. He also played in three AHL games with the Toronto Marlies and scored one goal.

Last week, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported, citing sources, that it was expected at least one Sharks defenseman would be traded after San Jose signed Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg in NHL free agency and claimed Nick Leddy off waivers. Pagnotta reported both Thrun and Timothy Liljegren would be available.

The Sharks acquired Thrun in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 28, 2023, and he appeared in 119 games with San Jose over three seasons (2023-2025), posting 25 points (five goals, 20 assists). He also appeared in 18 career games with the San Jose Barracuda, totaling six points (one goal, five assists).

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Saku Koivu was never one to relish the spotlight; he wasn’t as a player, and even less now as the father of a hockey player. He came back to Montreal for the first time since 2019 thanks to his son Aatos’ presence at the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp, but he didn’t want to steal his thunder, so he didn’t even speak to the media.

Now that he’s back home in Turku, Finland, he gave an interview to the Journal de Montreal, and here’s what he had to say in a nutshell. He was discreet in Montreal, giving autographs and posing for selfies to those who asked as he walked by the Centre Bell, and it was emotional for the former Hab.

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His stay in Montreal the first time around, first as a player and then as a captain, saw him go through a lot, the early years of his career, his battle with cancer, and the birth of his kids, who were only four and three years old when he left for Anaheim. A victim of Bob Gainey’s cleanse in the run-up to the centennial, the longest-tenured Canadiens captain (tied with Jean Beliveau) was allowed to walk as a free agent in the Summer before the 2009-10 season.

Struck by a thunderous cancer in the prime of his career, Koivu won his battle against it in brilliant fashion, and his return to play was the occasion for the most heartfelt ovation given to an active player in modern times. Today, as he approaches 51 years old, his health is good, and cancer is a distant memory.

During his visit to Montreal for the development camp, he was allowed to go and see the family’s former house, and it’s easy to guess that nostalgia hit hard when he tells the interviewer that time goes by so fast.

His life is quite different nowadays; he sits on the Turku hockey team’s board, but that's not a full-time commitment. Instead, he has been involved in construction for the past 10 years, and he says he has learned a great deal in that field since then.

With Koivu’s son’s performance during the development camp, it is likely that the former Canadiens’ captain won’t wait another six years before visiting again. Aatos’ contract with TPS Turku will come to an end this upcoming season, and he will also be getting his diploma. There’s no set course of action beyond that, though. He could sign another contract with Turku or pursue a career in the AHL or American college system; time will tell. For now, he doesn’t have a contract with the Canadiens, but it will be interesting to see what the Canadiens decide to do as the end of his contract nears.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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All things considered, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a pretty deep prospect pool on the blue line. 

And one defensive prospect - to many, relatively unknown - wants to continue building on the breakout season he had in 2024-25.

Defenseman Finn Harding climbed up Pittsburgh's prospect rankings in 2024-25 with an impressive campaign. Known for his shutdown ability at the time when he was selected in the seventh round (223rd overall) by the Penguins in 2024, Harding burst onto the map offensively in his third season with the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL, putting up seven goals and 57 points in 67 games and finishing eighth in OHL scoring among defensemen.

In addition, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound blueliner broke the Steelheads' single-season assists record for a defenseman with 50, and he finished seventh in the OHL among all skaters at a plus-46 - which was also the fourth-highest mark among defensemen. He was awarded for his stellar play with a three-year entry-level contract in March.

Harding knows he was branded as a defensive defenseman at the time of his draft selection, but he put a lot of work into his all-around game last summer, which clearly paid off.

"Definitely, my game is more defensive and transitional, and I like to be hard to play against," Harding said. "But, last summer, I really tried to work on my craft and add some tools to the box and tried to expand my game and become more two-way, and I was able to produce more and earn some good opportunities, which helped.

"I had great teammates as well to play with, which made it a little bit easier. But, I worked on that last summer, and I'm happy to see some results."

Penguins Sign Defensive Prospect To Entry-Level ContractIt appears the Pittsburgh Penguins are rewarding one of their blossoming defensive prospects. 

Of course, Harding had some exceptional teammates to share the ice with - most notably, sixth overall pick Porter Martone, who registered 37 goals and 98 points in 57 games. But a lot of the credit for his uptick in production and the betterment of his two-way game goes to Harding himself, as he played in pretty much every situation for Brampton last season and logged heavy minutes.

And those things certainly didn't go unnoticed by the Penguins as an organization.

"He's an exceptional kid. Absorbs everything we've thrown at him," Penguins' director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. "I think, throughout his season in Brampton, he was thrown into every different role. He was killing penalties, he was on the power play... there were times througout the Christmas stretch where - while the guys were at World Juniors - he was playing 30 minutes a night and just eating it up. So, a lot of growth in his gamH

He added: "He's a willing learner. He's learning how to defend really hard consistently, move pucks, some offensive side to him this year in Brampton. So, exciting times for him."

Kostopoulos mentioned that an area of growth for Harding - as is the case with many young, developing players - is his footspeed and skating as a whole. Harding self-diagnosed that as well, acknowledging that being more mobile is something he's actively working on. 

"The game is so fast now, and everyone can skate," Harding said. "The best defensemen in the league are the ones who can skate the best and be able to keep up with these forwards, stop them in their tracks, and then turn it the other way."

With Breadth Of Positional Depth In The System, Penguins' Defensive Prospects Eager To Take Next StepsWhen Pittsburgh Penguins’ Prospect Development Camp began on Thursday, 48 players took the to the ice - some for the first time in black and gold, others returned to a familiar place.

Harding - who is eligible for the AHL this season at age 20 - gives a lot of credence to the Penguins' developmental staff, as well as the organization as a whole, in terms of the environment and its ability to get the most out of players. It is a transitional time for the Penguins as an organization, as they are actively shifting to the next generation of youth while still trying to maintain the winning culture that they've become so renowned for.

For Harding, he knows that he and everyone else - despite being in competition with one another, especially on the blue line, for precious few organizational roster spots - can learn a lot from those in the organization as well as each other as they navigate the process of development. 

At the end of the day, they all have the same end goal of helping the NHL club win hockey games. 

“It’s a great group here, and great staff, and they help us each and every day to be better and help develop as fast as we can,” Harding said. “But, obviously, it’s up to us to push the pace and come into the rink with a purpose and a plan every day and grow together, grow as fast as we can, and help this team out.”

Dubas May Have Sought Quantity In This Year's Draft. But That Doesn't Mean He Missed On Quality.In the aftermath of every NHL Draft, the analysis always comes due.

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With the 2025 Free Agency period now open, let’s take a look back at the Vancouver Canucks’ past five free agent classes. 

2020

The 2020 free agency period was one of massive shifts for the Canucks. Vancouver’s locker room lost key players in Jacob Markström, Chris Tanev, Troy Stecher, and trade deadline acquisition Tyler Toffoli. 

To fill the gap in goal, Vancouver signed former Washington Capital Braden Holtby to a two-year, $8.6M contract, though they bought the goaltender out less than a season after. In 21 games played with Vancouver, he posted a record of 7–11–3 and a .889 SV%. 

As well as signing Holtby, the Canucks also inked forward Jayce Hawryluk to a one-year, $800K contract. A former second-round pick by the Florida Panthers in the 2014 NHL Draft, Hawryluk played 30 games with Vancouver and scored two goals and three assists. 

Later on, in the 2021 pre-season, Vancouver signed defenceman Travis Hamonic to a one-year, $1.25M contract. Hamonic was the only player of these free-agent signings to remain with the Canucks past one season, staying with them until being dealt to the Ottawa Senators in 2022. Hamonic had six goals and 11 assists in all 62 games played with the Canucks. 

2021

Rather than splurge on a top-end forward or goaltender, the Canucks chose to increase their organizational depth in 2021. With Alex Edler heading off to the Los Angeles Kings, and Nate Schmidt dealt to the Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver needed to add some stronger pieces on defence to make up for the losses. 

The first defender that Vancouver signed was Tucker Poolman, who only ended up playing 43 games with the Canucks throughout two seasons. He signed a four-year, $2.5M AAV contract with the team, but never ended up playing in a full season with Vancouver due to injuries. 

Next on the list of defenceman signings was Brady Keeper, who signed a two-year deal worth $762K per year. He was joined by fellow defender Devante Stephens, who inked a one-year contract at $750K AAV. Both of these two depth defenders only ended up playing with the Abbotsford Canucks during their time with the organization. 

Fans were excited to see the return of a former fan favourite this off-season, as the Canucks signed Luke Schenn to a two-year deal at a team-friendly $850K per year. Schenn, who had previously spent 18 games with the Canucks in 2019, won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning before rejoining Vancouver. He scored eight goals and 30 assists in 121 games before Vancouver dealt him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023. 

Vancouver also improved their depth on defence by signing Brad Hunt (one-year, $800K) and Kyle Burroughs (two-years, $750K) to short-term deals. Both defenders played in at least 40 of Vancouver’s games during the 2021–22 season. Hunt scored three goals and 14 assists in 50 games, while Burroughs potted a goal and four assists in 42 games. 

As well as adding depth to their D-core, Vancouver signed a few forwards to short-term contracts. Nic Petan, Sheldon Dries, Sheldon Rempal, Phil Di Giuseppe, and Justin Dowling all received deals with an average annual value of $750K. Before the start of the season, Vancouver also signed Alex Chiasson to a one-year deal. 

Banking on Thatcher Demko as their starting goaltender, the Canucks signed Jaroslav Halák to a one-year, $1.5M deal to serve as Demko’s backup. He registered a record of 4–7–2 throughout the season as well as a 2.94 GAA and .903 SV%. 

2022

Whereas the 2021 free agency period was filled with adding defensive depth, 2022 was for adding to the team’s forward group. After reports that Vancouver was chasing after highly sought-out Russian free agent Andrei Kuzmenko, the team signed him to a one-year, $950K deal on the opening day of free agency. In his first season with the Canucks, he scored 39 goals and 35 assists in 81 games. 

Another addition to the team’s forward core was Curtis Lazar, who signed a three-year deal valued at $1M per year. He scored three goals and two assists in 45 games with the Canucks before being traded in the same season to the New Jersey Devils. 

To add some speed to their lineup, Vancouver signed Ilya Mikheyev to a four-year, $4.75M AAV deal. He spent two seasons with the team before being dealt in the 2024 off-season. In this time, he scored 24 goals and 35 assists in 124 games played. 

Dakota Joshua was the next forward that the Canucks signed, and the only one who still remains with the team of everyone on this list so far. He signed a two-year deal worth $825K per year and later extended his contract with the team in 2024. In his first season with the team, he scored 11 goals and 12 assists in 79 games. 

In terms of depth, Vancouver made two signings that added to their defence. Wyatt Kalynuk and Christian Wolanin each signed a one-year, $750K deal. Wolanin later returned to the team and won the Calder Cup with Abbotsford in 2025. To replace a departing Halák, the Canucks brought in goaltender Collin Delia on a one-year, $750K deal. 

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2023

Vancouver continued their pursuit of a reconstructed D-core by adding two key defencemen after buying out Oliver Ekman-Larsson. As well, they added two centres following the Bo Horvat trade. By the start of the 2023–24 season, the Canucks looked like a completely different team compared to a few seasons ago. 

The Canucks brought in three defencemen in 2023, though none of them are still with the team. Carson Soucy signed a three-year deal worth $3.25M per year, spending 99 games with Vancouver and scoring five goals and 11 assists before being traded to the New York Rangers near the 2025 Trade Deadline. 

Vancouver also signed defenceman Ian Cole to a one-year contract that paid him $3M. A hard-nosed defenceman who excelled defensively for the Canucks, Cole moved on from Vancouver the next season, signing a new deal with the Utah Mammoth. 

The final defenceman the Canucks signed was Matt Irwin, who was brought in as a depth add and played one season with Abbotsford. His one-year, $775K contract ended in 2024, after he’d scored five goals and 11 assists for the AHL Canucks. 

Also added to the team’s roster was Teddy Blueger. The forward signed a one-year contract with Vancouver worth $1.9M and excelled as a third-line center, which ultimately led to him committing to the Canucks for another two years. He has put up 14 goals and 40 assists in his 150 games with Vancouver. 

Pius Suter was the Canucks’ second center signing in 2023, inking a two-year, $1.6M AAV contract. While he played well in his first season, he broke out offensively in his second year with Vancouver, scoring 25 goals and 21 assists in 81 games. He also proved that he can center a middle-six line when needed, as well as play on both special teams. Recently, Suter signed a two-year, $4.125M AAV deal with the St. Louis Blues in free agency. 

Finally, the Canucks brought in Zach Sawchenko on a one-year, $775K deal, during which he played in six games and posted a 2.12 GAA for Abbotsford. He played in six of Abbotsford’s playoff games and put up a .898 SV%. Currently, he plays for the Cleveland Monsters, which is the Columbus Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate. 

Five Years of Free Agent Frenzy: Recapping All The Moves The Canucks Have Made On Day 1 Of Free AgencyHow the first day of free agency has impacted the Vancouver Canucks from 2019 to 2024.

2024

After a second round Game 7 playoff exit, the Canucks said goodbye to soome fan favourites and hello to some new ones. They brought in five new forwards, two new defencemen, and two new goaltenders. 

Vancouver’s big free agency splash in the 2024 signing period was Jake DeBrusk, who they locked up to a seven-year, $5.5M AAV contract. He led the team in goals scored with 28 — a career-high for him — and finished fourth on the team in points with 48 in 82 games. 

Kiefer Sherwood quickly became a fan-favourite in Vancouver after displaying his physical presence. After signing a two-year, $1.5M per-year deal with the Canucks, he proceeded to shatter multiple hit records throughout his first season and set career-highs in goals (19), assists (21), and points (40). 

Vancouver brought in Danton Heinen to provide a consistent penalty-killing presence, though the forward was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in February as part of a deal to acquire Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. In part of the first year of his two-year, $2.25M AAV contract, he scored six goals and 12 assists in 51 games with the Canucks. 

In 2024, the Canucks also brought in forwards Daniel Sprong and Nate Smith. Sprong, who signed a one-year contract valued at $975K, only played nine games with Vancouver before being traded to the Seattle Kraken. Smith, who was on a one-year, $775K deal in 2024–25, added nine goals and 17 assists to Abbotsford’s center depth.  

On defence, the Canucks also added Derek Forbort and Vincent Desharnais. Forbort signed a one-year deal worth $1.5M per year in 2024, and extended his contract by another year and $500K to his time in Vancouver in 2025. A prolific penalty killer and shot blocker, Forbort has played a big role with the Canucks and will continue to do so next season. 

Desharnais, who signed a two-year deal valued at $2M per year, spent 34 games with Vancouver before being traded to the Penguins alongside Heinen. In his time with the Canucks, he had three assists. 

The two goaltenders that the Canucks signed in 2024 were Jiří Patera and Kevin Lankinen. Patera inked a two-year, $775K deal and played in seven games for Abbotsford. Lankinen, on the other hand, signed a one-year contract worth $875K. After a string of excellent play that resulted in him claiming the role as starting goaltender, he signed a five-year, $4.5M AAV extension. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks are next up in Tony Ferrari's NHL prospect pool overview series.

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

Initial Thoughts

The Blackhawks had a season from hell.

They were expected to take a step forward, but they failed. Not only that, but the fun of the game that was promised when they drafted Connor Bedard was largely gone in the first half of the season. Management did a poor job of bringing in talent to support their young players, but once they committed to having their youngest players on the roster, they were much more exciting.

Although Bedard is entering his third NHL season, he only turns 20 this off-season, and his shot is as good as it gets. The Hawks’ franchise centerpiece has had some ups and downs in his first couple of NHL seasons, but the potential is limitless. He remains one of the best young players in hockey, and he should finally have enough around him to take that step we’ve all been waiting for. 

Frank Nazar and Kevin Korchinski don’t fit the criteria here for this series, either, but they are both 21 heading into the year. Nazar is a lightning-quick forward who gives opponents fits with his speed, skill and creativity. The flashes he showed this past year were incredibly impressive, and he should be a breakout candidate this upcoming season. 

Korchinski played in the NHL a couple of years ago because Chicago felt like he was too good for the WHL, but that meant there were a ton of ups and downs. He looks great at times, using his skating and puck-moving ability to impact the game, but he wasn’t quite ready, so he spent this past year in the AHL for the most part. That said, his limited NHL action did look better. Nazar and Korchinski will be key players for the Hawks moving forward. 

Now, we get to the players who actually qualify as prospects. 

Oliver Moore got into nine games at the end of this past season after his college season ended, and he looked quite well. His speed and puckhandling allowed him to excel in transition. Moore is a legitimate center who should find his way to playing down the middle at some point this year. He plays a responsible two-way game, always looking to drive play up the ice. Moore could be a sneaky Calder candidate if he gets top six minutes. 

Speaking of speed, John Mustard had a decent freshman season at Providence College, but he ran into the same problems he’s always had. He plays a mile a minute, always looking to generate offense by forcing his way to the net. The issue is that he often doesn’t have a plan B. When his north-south speed game doesn’t work, he doesn’t adjust. While he can carve out an NHL career with his raw tools, he could be so much more if he learns to regulate his speed and space a bit more.

Chicago had another freshman in college, Sacha Boisvert. His 32 points in 37 games were impressive, and he adapted to college hockey as a power forward who gets involved around the boards. Boisvert’s best weapon offensively is a strong wrister that he gets off in motion effortlessly. A big sophomore season could lead to him signing an entry-level contract and playing a few pro games at the end of the year. 

Nick Lardis was an absolute problem for opposing OHL teams this past season. His 71 goals were tied for the tenth most in OHL history and it was just the second time the 70-goal plateau had been hit since 1986. Lardis gets his shot off from all over the ice and understands how to get to the scoring areas. He buzzes down the wing and picks corners on the rush on one shift and then cleans up a rebound on another. He needs to work on his play in the tougher areas but the scoring prowess is incredible. He will jump into the AHL this upcoming season so it will be interesting to see what he looks like against pros. 

A couple of near-point-per-game OHLers – Martin Misiak and Marek Vanacker – are depth prospects. 

Misiak is a bottom-six forward who forechecks hard and creates havoc with his motor. His passing is solid, and he has a good shot, but his hockey sense fails him at times. When he keeps things simple, he achieves a great deal of success. 

Vanacker plays more of a tactical game with well-timed passing and excellent habits on the forecheck. Misiak and Vanacher could be nice bottom six options.

Artyom Levshunov, the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, played primarily in the AHL in his first professional season. He did get into 18 NHL games, mostly toward the end of the season. 

Levshunov is a big defender who loves to jump into the play and get involved offensively. His defensive game is a work in progress as he works on getting a bit quicker in pivots and small-area movement. Chicago seemed enthused by his progression this past year, which has him slotted into a top-four role heading into training camp. Levshunov is the pillar the Blackhawks look to build around on the back end. 

After two years in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota, Sam Rinzel turned pro at the end of this past season, with some encouraging play. He has all the physical traits you want from a defender. He’s fluid on his feet, physical along the boards and a more-than-capable puckhandler. He gets involved offensively as a shooter and playmaker, skating along the blueline to open up lanes. Rinzel will enter training camp with a job on the NHL roster, in all likelihood, but where he will play in the lineup remains to be determined. 

Ethan Del Mastro just barely held onto his rookie eligibility, and Nolan Allan played a bit too much this past year to qualify. Still, both are 22-year-old, defensive-minded, physical defenders who should factor into the lineup this year. Neither of them will be large offensive contributors, but they have the length and size to be excellent complements to their offensive blueliners coming up through the system.

The Blackhawks also have an impressive goalie pipeline. They acquired 24-year-old Spencer Knight this past season, which gives them a solid NHL netminder. He’s likely the starter of the future, but they also have Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan on their way. 

Commesso has steadily improved in the AHL over the last two seasons. Gajan had a decent freshman season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Both have potential as NHL netminders, but they’ll have a hard time unseating Knight as the starter.

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

Anton Frondell (C/W), Artyom Levshunov (D), Connor Bedard (C), Oliver Moore (C/W), Sam Rinzel (D), Kevin Korchinski (D), Frank Nazar (RW/C), Nolan Allan (D), Colton Dach (C/W), Ethan Del Mastro (D)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 3rd overall - Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.2)

Round 1, 25th overall - Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, Muskegon (USHL)

Round 1, 29th overall - Mason West, C/W, Edina (Minn. H.S.)

Round 3, 66th overall - Nathan Behm, RW, Kamloops (WHL)

Round 4, 98th overall - Julius Sumpf, C, Moncton (QMJHL)

Round 4, 107th overall - Parker Holmes, LW, Brantford (OHL)

Round 6, 162nd overall - Ashton Cumby, D, Seattle (WHL)

Round 7, 194th overall - Ilya Kanarsky, G, AKM Tula Jr. (Rus.)

The Blackhawks had one of the most impressive draft hauls of the year. They nabbed their guy in Anton Frondell at third overall and then drafted two big, raw, high-upside forwards at the tail end of the first round before adding some impressive swings on Day 2. 

Frondell’s draft stock went up and down throughout the year, but he hung around the top five for most of it. His power game, details along the boards and impressive shooting talent are all traits NHL teams love. Having a legitimate chance to play center only helped his stock. 

Frondell has dealt with some injuries over the last couple of years, but he’s always come back stronger and faster. With Bedard likely being the first-line center of the future, Frondell’s versatility could make him Bedard’s linemate or the second-line center, which would be a one-two punch other teams envy. Whatever their eventual fits together are, Frondell becomes a building block for the Hawks.

The 6-foot-6 Czech forward, Vaclav Nestrasil, had one of the most intriguing packages of raw tools in the draft. He loves to engage physically, looking for big hits along the boards and down low. With the puck, Nestrasil can use his full wingspan to deke and dangle. He’s an excellent passer in motion with some excellent vision. Nestrasil is a bit clumsy, and he must get more co-ordinated as a skater. If he can do that, Chicago may have one of the best value picks of the first round.

Chicago traded back near the end of the first round to select Mason West, a dual-threat athlete who chose to play hockey despite being a fairly well-recruited high-school quarterback in Minnesota. He will play hockey in high school next season, so that he can finish his high school football career and try to win a state title. He’s committed to playing hockey at Michigan State the following year. His development will take a bit longer as a result, but the upside is incredibly high. 

West has plenty of raw physical tools. Like Nestrasil, he stands 6-foot-6 and imposes his will physically on opposing players along the boards and in battles. He is an excellent shooter who can use his size to fire bombs on net. While West is a bit less refined as a puckhandler than Nestrasil, he is a much more fluid skater, and he generates speed at a high level. West has the agility and edge work of a much smaller player, so if he can continue to refine the small details in his game, West could be a big, fast, productive top-six forward at the NHL level in time. 

After trading their second-round picks to get West, the Hawks' next pick came in the third round when they got Nathan Behm. He’s a good shooter who excels when playing confident hockey, attacking defenders head-on with skill. He always seemed to create something, whether he was making a crisp pass after getting hit by a defender, forechecking hard or cycling the puck up the wall before heading to the net. Behm must get more fluid on his feet if he wants to play in the NHL, but there’s a solid base to work on. 

In the fourth round, Chicago took a swing at one of the most productive players on the QMJHL-champion Moncton Wildcats, Julius Sumpf. Often playing on the top line, Sumpf set the table for Caleb Desnoyers, the fourth overall pick who went to the Utah Mammoth. 

Sumpf consistently scans the ice and reads defenders to ensure he can make the best pass when he gets the puck. He puts his linemates in excellent positions to create offense. He was one of the better overage players in the draft.

While Chicago had a solid draft overall, Parker Holmes was an odd pick. He is a physical player who can throw down in a fight. There isn’t much offensive upside, and his tools don’t translate particularly well to the NHL. This was among the more perplexing picks of the draft, particularly at 107th overall.

Ashton Cumby is a big defender, but he wasn’t much of an impact player. He has some nice defensive moments, thanks to his reach and physical play, but he’s far too inconsistent. Chicago must hope he can develop into a solid defensive stopper. 

Their final pick of the draft was a swing on a 20-year-old Russian netminder who had stellar numbers. He hasn’t really been hyped up much, but swinging on a goalie, particularly a Russian goaltender, this late in the draft is a worthwhile investment. 

Strengths

The Blackhawks’ prospect pipeline is absolutely loaded. They already have high-end youngsters at the NHL level, with more on the way at every position. They have at least B-plus prospects at every position. 

Between the trio of powerful forwards they drafted this year in the first round and Moore, they have plenty of help coming up front. Korchinski has played quite a bit at the NHL level, including a full rookie season two years ago, but he’s far from the only defender on the way. Even in goal, the Hawks have two solid young netminders, along with Knight. It’s a good time to be a Chicago fan as they usher in the next wave. 

Weaknesses

While they could use a game-breaker or a true superstar in the prospect pipeline, Bedard is already on the NHL roster. 

The Hawks' biggest weakness may be that they lack right-shot defenders once Levshunov and Rinzel graduate to the NHL full-time, likely this year. That’s incredibly unfair and frankly a bit harsh, though. They have no real weakness.

Hidden Gem: AJ Spellacy, RW

Before taking West in 2025, the Blackhawks took another high-level football player in the 2024 NHL draft with AJ Spellacy. The highly athletic winger didn’t have the offensive impact he was expected to achieve this past year, but he was asked to do a lot in OHL Windsor. His speed and physicality were notable throughout the year. 

Spellacy’s offensive game has another level to it as well. He’s always been a raw prospect, and he might take a year or two in the AHL when his OHL career is done, but he could be well worth the wait.

Next Man Up: Anton Frondell, C

Word out of Chicago seems to be that Frondell will get every opportunity to play for the NHL club this fall. The buzz in Sweden is he is looking to make the move to North America as soon as possible. 

That would be a match made in heaven as the Hawks need some size and offensive punch. Frondell should bring both of those things. 

Playing alongside Bedard would make a ton of sense for Frondell as an 18-year-old, allowing both to share the responsibilities at center if needed. 

The third overall pick will struggle at times because the NHL is the top league in the world. The Allsvenskan is a very good league, and Frondell was good there, but it’s a big step up to the Swedish League and an even bigger one to the NHL. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Vaclav Nestrasil, John Mustard, Marek Vanacker, Gavin Hayes, Joel Svensson

C: Anton Frondell, Oliver Moore, Sacha Boisvert, Ryan Greene, Paul Ludwinski

RW: Mason West, Nick Lardis, AJ Spellacy, Nathan Behm, Martin Misiak, Jack Pridham

LD: Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Dmitri Kuzmin, Ty Henry

RD: Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Ryan Mast 

G: Drew Commesso, Adam Gajan, Ilya Kanarsky

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.

Promo image credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images