The Columbus Blue Jackets own the 14th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Let's take a look at the history of that draft position for the CBJ.
Some notable picks around the league at #14 are Charlie McAvoy, Brent Seabrook, Jake DeBrusk, and Devan Dubnyk.
Alexander Wennberg - 14th in the 2013 Draft - Wennberg was drafted in the 1st round of the 2013 NHL Draft as the 14th overall draft pick.
Wennberg came to North America and made his NHL Debut in 2014. After having three decent seasons, including a 59-point year in 2016-17, Wennberg was signed to a six-year deal on September 1st, 2017.
Tom Wilson would seemingly derail Wennberg's career in the 2018 playoffs when he laid a devastating check on him. The next two seasons, Wennberg would only total 47 points. In October of 2020, the CBJ would buy Wennberg out, making him a free agent.
In addition to playing with the Florida Panthers since leaving Columbus, He's played for the Seattle Kraken, New York Rangers, and San Jose Sharks. After the 59-point season he had in 2016-17, Wennberg failed to score more than 38 points in a single season. That streak was stopped last season, when he scored 18 goals and had 55 points for San Jose.
Jackson Smith - 14th in the 2025 NHL Draft - Smith was announced as the 14th pick by Johnny Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, at the 2025 NHL Draft and instantly became a fan favorite.
Jackson Smith is an elite freshman defenseman for the Penn State men’s ice hockey team. A native of Calgary, Alberta, he made program history as the first-ever first-round selection for the Nittany Lions, having been drafted 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The youngster paced all Big Ten blueliners in points and broke the Penn State program record for the most single-season goals by a defenseman. He totaled 54 points and had 43 assists.
The Blue Jackets seem to be open to trading the 14th pick this year, much like they were last year as well. But that's easier said than done in today's NHL.
Can Waddell get a deal done involving the 14th pick? We won't know for a few days, but if they don't, they're sure to get a pretty good draft pick as well.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Officially, Philadelphia Flyers hockey returns in less than three months with the team announcing its 2026 preseason schedule on Monday morning.
Now, the special new novelty with this year's preseason slate, for all NHL teams, is that it is two games shorter, with the NHL instead opting for two more regular season games.
The 2026-27 regular season will now be 84 games long.
As a result, the Flyers only play two teams in the preseason this year: the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins.
Here's the full schedule, as announced by the Flyers:
Monday, Sept. 21 at Washington Capitals at 7 p.m.
Note: This Sept. 21 game at Washington will be played at the GIANT Center in Hershey, PA.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Boston Bruins at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 24 vs. Boston Bruins at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Washington Capitals at 5 p.m.
The 2026 preseason will represent the first opportunity for Flyers fans to see new trade additions Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit in action for Philadelphia, as well as any other exciting players the team adds in free agency, the 2026 NHL Draft, or another trade.
Officially, the offseason will get underway on Friday, when the Flyers pick 21st overall in the draft.
On July 1, free agency opens, and then the Flyers are off to the races towards their preseason dates.
On June 22, 2021, Montreal Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield had the first of many milestone nights. In a third-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the winger became the first rookie since P.K. Subban in 2010 to score at least eight points with the Habs in a single playoff tournament.
The Canadiens would go on to eliminate the Golden Knights three days later, on St-Jean-Baptiste, to book their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Caufield would finish the tourney with 12 points in 20 games, a very successful first taste of playoff action, but like the rest of the Habs, he would then go four years before seeing any postseason action.
Still, it’s been all about progress for the sniper since then, and this last season, the NHL had to acknowledge just how important a role he is playing with the Habs as he gave Nathan MacKinnon a run for his money for the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s best goal scorer. The diminutive winger pocketed 51 lamplighters this year, and it feels like we’ve yet to see his ceiling.
While his size has so far prevented him from finding his way on Team USA, it’s hard to imagine that he will never get his opportunity, especially since he forced the other markets to take notice this season, as evidenced by his Lady Bing Trophy win.
Caufield is under contract with the Canadiens for the next five seasons, and if the Habs are to finally be successful in the quest for their 25th Stanley Cup, they will need him to be at the top of his game. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with next season after establishing career-best numbers in both goals and points and tying his career-best numbers in assists.
Real conversations are happening regarding defenseman Morgan Rielly and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After 13 seasons in Toronto, and the longest active tenured player for the team, it could be the end of the line for Rielly and the Maple Leafs this off-season.
However, a breakup between both parties isn't as simple as it may seem, and that's because of Rielly's contract. The 32-year-old is entering the fifth year of an eight-year contract and earns $7.5 million against the salary cap. In addition, he has a no-move clause in his deal, which allows the player to dictate where he goes next if he were to get traded.
With all that in mind, the complications of Rielly's situation and contract would factor into a potential trade and could hinder what the Maple Leafs receive, depending on the trade partner and what that other team may be interested in.
To anticipate what Toronto should expect in return if they dealt Rielly this summer, let's go through some previous examples of notable defensemen on unpopular contracts that were traded, or players who had trade protection and got moved anyway in recent memory.
It doesn't take a deep search to find a recent example of when a player with a no-move clause was traded. In fact, it happened before last year's Olympic break when the New York Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings.
Because Panarin had a say in where he wanted to end up, the Rangers were practically forced into a deal in which they probably could've garnered more assets elsewhere if Panarin had no trade protection.
In the end, New York received a solid prospect in Liam Greentree, as well as a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 fourth-round pick.
It's worth noting that Panarin's situation is very different, considering he was on an expiring deal and is a top-five scorer in the NHL over the course of the past decade. Nonetheless, that's how a no-move clause can affect the return in a trade.
There are multiple other ways to go about trading a player with a no-move clause or with an unpopular contract. Salary retention can certainly help with that.
However, the Panthers found a way to get Jones with the Blackhawks retaining $2.5 million of his contract. In the process, Florida sent goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick. That's quite the return for Jones, who was coming off some of the worst campaigns of his NHL career in Chicago.
And though many teams would be hesitant to retain any salary on a long-term contract like Jones' (expires after 2029-30), it doesn't mean something can't be worked out. Like Jones, Rielly's contract also expires through the 2029-30 season with a no-movement clause attached.
Another defenseman who was once in a similar situation to Rielly is Jacob Trouba of the Anaheim Ducks. Although this deal comes without salary retention.
Ahead of the 2019-20 season, Trouba inked a seven-year contract with the Rangers at $8 million per season. Not long after, it would be seen that Trouba did not play up to his dollar value, and when a highly-paid player can't perform to expectations, questions come to the surface.
Eventually, Trouba was traded to the Ducks through his 15-team no-trade list at the time, and New York didn't receive much in return. The Rangers received defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft.
There is a wide range of what can go down when a player needs a change of scenery. Sometimes, both parties in a trade walk away happy, or the team parting with the big-name player is handicapped by a bad contract or a trade-protection clause.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
One of the best players in Boston Bruins history is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Former Bruins center and captain Patrice Bergeron, who played 19 years for the franchise from 2003-04 through 2022-23, has been elected to the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.
The Hall of Fame announced Monday its new class that includes Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Carey Price and Keith Tkachuk. The induction ceremony is in November.
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026
Longtime Bruins captain and star defenseman Zdeno Chara was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.
Bergeron is arguably the best two-way forward in NHL history. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy — given annually to the league’s top defensive forward — a record six times. He also scored 20-plus goals 14 times and finished with 1,040 points (427 goals, 613 assists) in 1,294 career games.
Bergeron helped the Bruins make the playoffs 15 times in his 19 seasons, including three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and the team’s only championship (2011) since 1972. He scored two goals in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks. The B’s won 4-0 on the road to secure their sixth title.
In addition to his accolades with the Bruins, Bergeron also enjoyed a lot of success for Team Canada in international competition.
He won two Olympic gold medals (2010 and 2014) and a World Championship (2004). He is one of 30 players in the Triple Gold Club — at least one Stanley Cup title, Olympic gold medal and World Championship gold medal.
The St. Louis Blues’ involvement in trade rumors continues to grow, with the most recent link connecting them to Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson.
According to CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal, he’s hearing that the Blues are “sniffing around” in trade discussions involving Pettersson.
“Somebody told me this morning that St. Louis is sniffing around Pettersson,” said Dhaliwal. “I’m looking into it to see if it’s true. The way it’s been told to me is if the Canucks think they have a deal for Pettersson that makes sense for them, I am sure they will then take that deal to Pettersson’s agents, J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson, to see if Pettersson will waive.”
The reports are interesting to say the least. While trading for Pettersson would have its benefits, as it truly gives the Blues a strong one-two punch down the middle of the ice, Pettersson is now 27 years old and carries a contract worth $11.6 million for six more seasons.
The Blues would need to drastically alter their lineup to become contenders, and unless they do so, trading for Pettersson would only upgrade their roster marginally, and not enough to compete with the best teams in the Central Division, like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and even the Utah Mammoth.
27 is not old in the slightest, but by the time the Blues are ready to compete again, Pettersson could be trending towards the downswing of his career, which brings plenty of risk.
Add to the fact that the two worst seasons of his NHL career have come in his last two campaigns, and it brings another element of uncertainty and risk.
The Canucks are open to retaining some of Pettersson’s salary, which does soften the blow of making such a monumental move.
In addition to the Blues, the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings are reportedly interested in Pettersson, while other teams around the NHL could explore trade options once a price tag becomes clearer.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source.Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Boston Bruins have to make a decision on Pavel Zacha at some point over the next year.
The veteran forward has one more season left on his contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent in July of 2027.
The B’s need to determine whether it makes sense to give Zacha an extension or consider trading him.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported last Friday that the Bruins are “listening” to teams that call about Zacha.
“There’s a big difference between listening and wanting to move him, though,” LeBrun wrote.
“My understanding is that the Bruins’ top priority this summer is to extend Zacha if possible. That can happen as of July 1. He’s got one year left on his deal at a $4.75 million AAV and obviously will be looking for a raise after posting career bests with 30 goals and 65 points this past season. But how those talks go will be balanced with whether teams step up in a real way in trade talks.
“This is an intriguing situation to monitor, to say the least. So many teams are looking to upgrade at center, and some of them have called over the past week or so. Zacha has a no-trade list that allows him to say no to eight teams, and I’m told he submitted that list to Boston on April 1.”
Does it make more sense for the Bruins to trade Zacha or extend him? Let’s break down the pros and cons.
The case for trading Zacha
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Pavel Zacha can become a UFA in 2027.
The list of unrestricted free agent centers who could be available July 1 is pretty weak. In fact, if Zacha was a free agent this summer, he’d easily be the best center on the market. Boone Jenner is probably the best center who can be a UFA in July, and Zacha is absolutely better than him.
Centers are highly coveted. It’s a very important position. And with not many good ones seemingly available, it might make sense for the Bruins to capitalize on Zacha’s value because it might never be higher, especially when you consider he’s coming off a fantastic season in which he tallied career highs of 30 goals and 65 points.
The Florida Panthers traded forward Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken last week in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) and a conditional second-round pick. Samoskevich had a career-high 32 points last season — less than half of Zacha’s output. He’s also six years younger than Zacha, but the B’s forward is easily a better player right now.
That kind of package would be too low of value for Zacha. There’s zero point in trading him for future assets (like a late first-round pick) unless a team like the Winnipeg Jets, who need a second-line center, was willing to give up the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft. The No. 8 pick could allow the B’s to draft a potential franchise defenseman.
If trading Zacha could fetch a veteran right-shot defenseman with offensive skill, that would be worth considering as well. The Bruins desperately need another legit top-four defenseman on the right side of the blue line. If the B’s could trade Zacha as part of a package for a better center, that would be worth exploring, too. Red Wings captain and No. 1 center Dylan Larkin reportedly has requested a trade.
One argument for trading Zacha is if you don’t think it makes sense to give him a long-term extension with a potential salary cap hit in the range of $7-8.5 million. Charlie Coyle just signed for six years at $6 million per season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It wouldn’t make sense for Zacha to take a penny less than that. Zacha is five years younger and more productive offensively than the 34-year-old Coyle.
Zacha has been a reliable 20-plus goal scorer for Boston, but he’s only hit the 30-goal mark once and he has scored only two goals in 31 career playoff games between the Bruins and Devils. He has consistently underwhelmed in the postseason.
Another reason to trade Zacha would be looking at the landscape in the Eastern Conference and determining the Bruins are unlikely to contend with teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. But after making the playoffs this past season, it doesn’t seem that the B’s want to take a step back, even if that would make the most sense long term.
If the Bruins could upgrade at center in a Zacha trade, or acquire a lottery pick that would get them a top prospect, it should be considered.
The case for keeping and extending Zacha
The Bruins are already thin at center. Taking Zacha off the roster makes one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses even worse.
If Elias Lindholm was producing at a real top-six center level, then it would make more sense to cash in on Zacha’s value after his great season. But Lindholm, who signed a seven-year, $54.25 million deal just two years ago, has been a major disappointment.
Zacha is the Bruins’ best center. He centered a line with Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson — a trio which, according to MoneyPuck, ranked fifth in goals scored per 60 minutes (4.21) among all lines that played 350-plus minutes last season.
So if the B’s traded him without finding a comparable player or an upgrade at the position, it would make the offense worse next season.
Young forwards James Hagens and Fraser Minten have a ton of potential and could be top-six centers in the near future. But they aren’t performing to that level right now, and there’s no guarantee they will ever reach that level. If Hagens and/or Minten do reach their potential, the B’s could always slide Zacha into a third-line role.
Zacha has averaged 21 goals and 57 points in his first four seasons with the Bruins. He’s a reliable player. He’s not elite, but his floor is higher than most forwards on the roster. A healthy Zacha can be penciled in for 20-30 goals and around 60 points. That’s valuable for a team like the B’s that lacks a ton of offensive firepower.
Any extension for Zacha that carries a cap hit between $7-8 million wouldn’t be an albatross given how much the salary cap is supposed to rise over the next few years. He shows no signs of slowing down. He’s also very durable and hasn’t missed more than four games during any of his four seasons in Boston.
The biggest reason to keep Zacha is to contend with the core of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. Many of Boston’s best players are in the win-now stage of their careers:
Morgan Geekie, LW, 27 years old
Jeremy Swayman, G, 27
Charlie McAvoy, D, 28
Pavel Zacha, C/W, 29
David Pastrnak, RW, 29
Elias Lindholm, C, 31
Nikita Zadorov, D, 31
Hampus Lindholm, D, 32
Viktor Arvidsson, LW, 33 (UFA this summer)
Trading Zacha for draft picks and/or prospects — assets that won’t make the 2026-27 roster better — does not give Pastrnak/McAvoy/Swayman the best chance to win in the short term.
Verdict
Keeping and extending Zacha makes the most sense for the Bruins unless they can trade him in a package for a better center or acquire a top 10 pick. He’s a good two-way player with enough versatility to be productive at center or on the wing.
The Ottawa Senators shook the NHL to its core on Father's Day, trading away their captain, Brady Tkachuk, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for the 9th overall pick, the 25th overall pick, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.
The move ranks among the most seismic trades in recent memory. Tkachuk had two years left on his contract and was slated to hit free agency in 2028.
There had always been noise about Tkachuk maybe not wanting to commit to Ottawa, or wanting to leave via free agency in 2028.
Publicly, Tkachuk always said the right things, declaring loyalty to Ottawa as its captain.
Still, behind closed doors, Tkachuk reportedly remained uncertain. According to Elliotte Friedman, when Senators General Manager Steve Staios met with Tkachuk and his camp following the end of this season to gauge interest in extending, there wasn't certainty.
The uncertainty was something Ottawa could not live with, and they quietly began exploring the market for him.
Tkachuk holds a full no-move clause, so he handpicked the usual suspects-Florida, Vegas, Minnesota, and Carolina-with almost everyone involved knowing he wanted to unite with his brother Matthew in Florida.
Staios received a massive haul for Tkachuk, setting Ottawa up to immediately acquire a game-changer to keep their opening window of contention going.
It's something out of an alternate universe for the New York Islanders.
Back in 2016, the Islanders had just won their first playoff series in over 20 years. The vibes were great, and the team felt like they were on an upswing.
That summer, talk quietly began in Canadian markets, specifically Toronto and Montreal, about John Tavares becoming a massive free-agent target in two years' time.
At the time, the New York Islanders dismissed it and kept trying to build upon the success of the 2015-16 season.
Tavares had a no-move clause, which was modified to a no-trade clause that kicked in on July 1, 2016.
Then, in 2016-17, the team missed the playoffs. The Islanders had one year until Tavares hit free agency. When then-general manager Garth Snow presented options, Tavares refused to commit to the Islanders.
Publicly, Tavares said everything right. Behind closed doors, uncertainty grew. Tavares had a list of teams he would accept a trade to; there's no question.
Unlike Ottawa, the Islanders took their chances, hoping a strong 2017-18 season would convince Tavares to stay.
Instead, the team regressed even further. They held two first-round picks for the 2018 draft entering the season, thanks to the Travis Hamonic trade with the Calgary Flames at the 2017 Draft.
So, with renewed optimism and assets to dangle, the Islanders hoped 2017-18 would go well.
It did not. The Islanders were not in contention for the playoffs most of the season, but hung around just enough to leave a little doubt.
At the 2018 trade deadline, Tomas Tatar went for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks. Evander Kane went for a 1st and a 4th. Ryan Hartman went for a 1st, 4th, and a prospect.
Paul Stasney, the top center dealt on deadline day, went for a 1st, 4th, and a prospect.
Seven first-round picks changed hands at the 2018 deadline, with teams eager to wheel and deal.
The Islanders stood pat, and just months later, John Tavares walked away for nothing.
It was a total catastrophe for the Islanders, one that could've set the Islanders back for a very long time.
If not for a pair of Hall of Famers arriving that same summer in Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz, the Islanders could've seen their young core featuring the emerging Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, and more all go to waste.
While it all ended up working out ok for the Islanders, it's still worth thinking about what could have been had the Islanders stockpiled assets for Tavares, a player who would've fetched the Islanders two first-round picks and more just at the 2018 deadline, let alone a year or two in advance of free agency.
Ottawa, with their trade of Brady Tkachuk yesterday, claimed complete control of the situation this entire summer.
No leaks, no hints this was coming.
Just a quiet, efficient business that ends with three first-round picks to go out and get a different playmaker, one who wants to make it work in Ottawa.
OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 25: Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators takes a break during a stoppage in play against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 25, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Florida Panthers are a much scarier team than they were a week ago. The NHL was stunned on Sunday by the news that the Ottawa Senators were trading Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers in exchange for three first-round picks (two in 2026 and one in 2027), as well as a second-round pick in the upcoming draft. It’s a mammoth deal that unites the Tkachuk brothers on one team, gives Florida the scariest three-line offensive depth chart in the NHL, and seemingly puts them on a collision course with another Stanley Cup run. The near-universal reaction to the trade was some variation of “they’re going to be unbeatable for years.
Just one problem: the Stanley Cup isn’t won on paper. In making the deal, we have a Panthers team that is accentuating its strengths, but also opening up its weaknesses even further. They are now a team that is wholly reliant on a handful of superstars to get the job done, killing what little depth they had in the process. As easy as it is to opine that Florida is now “unbeatable,” they have some significant issues holding them back.
No. 1: What is this team doing in goal?
There is a mammoth question mark in net for Florida as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. Veteran legend Sergei Bobrovsky is coming off a down season, but still remains the best clutch playoff goaltender in the NHL by a significant margin.
The goaltending problem is compounded by the fact that backup Daniil Tarasov is also an unrestricted free agent. If the Panthers try to re-sign him it would be with the understanding that he would become the starter, which means he’s going to want starter money — and that’s an iffy prospect because Tarasov hasn’t neccesarily shown the ability to be “the guy” in net.
That brings us back to Bobrovsky, and any hopes that Florida would get him to take a hometown discount are out the window. Bob is reportedly looking for a multi-year, $42M deal at age 37, wanting something in the $6-7M AAV range is simply impossible for the Panthers, as is any dream of making another trade to somehow land Connor Hellebuyck from the Jets. That’s because …
No. 2: The Panthers have put themselves in a dangerous cap position
Florida was in good shape prior to the Brady Tkachuk trade to be able to make some smart deals and bolster their roster at several positions. Instead, this deal essentially made the Panthers stronger at their best position, without allocating resources to their other needs.
As it stands, the Panthers have $7.5M in open cap space and significant holes they need to patch. The goaltending is a mammoth problem, but so is their back-line depth. This Brady Tkachuk deal could have priced them out of both making a deal for Hellebuyck, as well as reliably retaining A.J. Greer — who will have suitors in the open market. This is compounded by the fact that they have now opened up multiple high-value prospects to being poached through RFA, with teams knowing the Panthers are in a vulnerable cap spot.
Ben Steeves showed enormous AHL promise this season while playing for the Charlotte Checkers. Steeves made his first All-Star Game and registered 45 points in 72 games. The 24-year-old forward figured to be part of the Panthers’ long-term plans, but now he could easily be signed for a mid-level contract that would put him out of range that Florida could match, but not give them great compensation either. The same could happen with Mikulus Hovorka.
If the Panthers want to actually solve their net problem by trading for Hellebuyck, it will require clearing salary. Reports are that the team nixed any discussion of Anton Lundell to the Senators in the Tkachuk deal, which could mean they intend to hold him for a separate trade — but that doesn’t sound great either from a roster perspective. Let’s assume they find a way to get Hellebuyck for Lundell (and something). They will have essentially traded one of the best young forechecking centers in the NHL for Brady Tkachuk, changing their forward dynamic — while getting only slightly better in goal. That seems like a really iffy tactic.
No. 3: … if they’re healthy
The huge caveat to the Panthers’ chances is “if they’re healthy.” It’s a refrain you tend to hear a lot when it comes to the Florida Panthers. They would have won this year “if they were healthy,” they will win for the next four years — “if they can stay healthy.”
Florida can’t stay healthy. This isn’t a genie that can be stuffed back in the lamp. Numerous skaters at numerous positions have established injury concerns, and the physical way the Panthers play isn’t going to make that easier.
Sam Bennett hasn’t played a full regular season in a decade. Matthew Tkachuk is still coming back from surgery. Brad Marchand was hurt in 2025-26, and he’s also 37-years-old. None of these are really issues in isolation, but there are going to be injuries when you go so profoundly all-in on stars while requiring them to play physical, Florida Panthers hockey.
Imagining a world where the Panthers are always healthy just isn’t a reality at this point. Will their injuries be as bad as last season? Probably not, but something will pop up and the depth has never been more thin than it is right now.
The Brady Tkachuk trade is a make-or-break for next season
Florida pushed all its chips to the middle, and they’re going for it. On paper, the roster looks absolutely terrifying, with the Panthers leveraging their winning pedigree and their state’s tax-free status to assemble a unit that nobody else could. The issue is that they have left themselves open on various fronts to see it all go up in smoke.
Brady Tkachuk is a good player, but he’s not his brother. The Panthers made a superstar-level trade for a player who isn’t a superstar. The hope is that Brady will have a Mitch Marner-esque breakout now that he has fresh scenery, but that is wishful thinking. The likelihood is that he will be a very good player for Florida and add to the team’s overall ethos — but it’s difficult to fall head-over-heels in love with the trade, considering what they have lost and will lose because of getting Brady Tkachuk.
Like any all-in deal: If they win the cup next year it’s worth it, anything less will have made this trade a failure.
United States' Brady Tkachuk (7) and Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrate after the United States' win over Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026.
A blockbuster trade hit the NHL world on Father’s Day with the Ottawa Senators sending Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for a bundle of draft picks, including both of Florida’s first-round picks in this week’s draft. The former Ottawa captain joins his brother Matthew in Florida.
While the trade itself isn’t all that surprising, the timing of the move was never quite clear. Tkachuk has two years remaining on his seven-year, $57.5 million contract, so it wasn’t inevitable that Tkachuk would be moved this summer. But at some point, Ottawa got the message from Tkachuk and his agent.
In recent weeks, Tkachuk’s agent, Craig Oster of Newport Sports, had conversations with Senators general manager Steven Staios about the captain’s future. At some point, it was conveyed that Tkachuk wouldn’t look to re-sign with the team when his contract expires in 2028, and that the Senators should get ahead on trading their captain, according to The Athletic.
Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk on the ice during the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, Monday, March 23, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
It’s a similar sentiment to the one conveyed to the Vancouver Canucks when they traded captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in December. Had the Sens waited too long, they might’ve put themselves in a situation similar to the one the Rangers faced with Artemi Panarin, who began the 2025-26 season on the final year of his contract. The Rangers sent Panarin, who had a no-move clause, to the Los Angeles Kings in February for a lackluster return of prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-rounder.
Oster presented four teams where Tkachuk would consider accepting a trade: the Panthers, the Wild, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights, per The Athletic. Florida has one thing that the other three teams, while all very attractive destinations, cannot replicate, and that’s the presence of Matthew Tkachuk.
United States’ Brady Tkachuk (7) and Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrate after the United States’ win over Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
By making a move early, the Senators eliminate the possibility of locker-room distraction and potential turmoil surrounding their captain, and they develop for the future or have assets to play with in the trade market with multiple picks.
Tkachuk gets to play with his brother on a team that will surely be back in contention and leaves Canada, where he was booed in Edmonton and Calgary every time he touched the puck after returning from the Milan Olympics.
Tkachuk’s move is just the start of what is sure to be a busy summer around the NHL.
One of the Chicago Blackhawks' top needs this off-season should be to add another left-shot defenseman to their roster. It is clear that the left side of their blueline could use a boost as they look to take a step forward in 2026-27.
When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea stands out as an interesting potential option for the Blackhawks to consider.
Shea just had a big breakout year for the Penguins in 2025-26, posting new career highs with six goals, 25 assists, 35 points, and a plus-30 rating in 80 games. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a nice pickup for a Blackhawks club that needs help on its blueline.
Besides seeing a surge with his offense this season, Shea's steady defensive play also led to him receiving time on the Penguins' penalty kill. He could hold a similar role with the Blackhawks if signed as well.
Overall, with the Blackhawks needing some help on their blueline, it could make sense for them bring in Shea. He would give them an upgrade on their bottom pairing at a minimum, but he also could move up to to their top four if needed.
Joe Sakic didn’t say much at the end of Colorado’s season—and in hindsight, that silence might have said plenty.
You can certainly credit Sakic for the way he handled the Avalanche’s end-of-season media availability earlier this month, especially in light of recent developments across the Stanley Cup Final picture.
Typically, at the end of a season—particularly for teams that fall short in the playoffs—you get the full medical rundown: the bumps, bruises, injuries that shaped the outcome but only come to light afterward. Sakic didn’t go there. No list. No explanations. No built-in caveats.
In hindsight, it was a deliberate and effective choice to keep the discussion of injuries as minimal as possible. No excuses. The message was straightforward: everyone is expected to be healthy heading into training camp, and that was the extent of it. Whether a team chooses to disclose injuries publicly is ultimately its prerogative. In Colorado’s case, the organization opted for discretion, even if it meant fewer storylines for the media and more room for speculation.
That context becomes more interesting given what the Vegas Golden Knights have since revealed about their own playoff health situation. By all accounts, they were dealing with significant injuries of their own.
Captain Mark Stone played through a torn adductor. William Karlsson underwent surgery for a broken wrist that ultimately sidelined him for the final game of the Stanley Cup Final, a 3-0 loss that clinched the championship for the Carolina Hurricanes. Defenseman Noah Hanifin was managing an upper-body injury that, under normal regular-season circumstances, likely would have kept him out for roughly two months. Brayden McNabb, according to both teammates and management, battled through multiple injuries during the playoff run, including the facial injury he sustained in Game 2 of the Final that quickly made the rounds on social media.
Yet much of the conversation following Vegas’ sweep of Colorado in the Western Conference Final centered on the Avalanche’s injuries. And to be clear, they were real and they mattered. Several key players were clearly playing through issues, including Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, Brent Burns, Sam Malinski, and Nathan MacKinnon, who took a puck to the knee in Game 3 and was noticeably limited afterward. However, he was held scoreless in the series, marking the first time in his playoff career that had happened in a postseason matchup.
But that’s the point.
Vegas was dealing with injuries, too—those are simply the ones they chose to acknowledge publicly. And even then, the focus remained on core pieces, not the full scope of what depth players may have been battling through behind the scenes.
Injuries, however, weren’t the reason Colorado lost control of the series.
The Avalanche surrendered leads in two of the four games, including a 3-0 advantage in Game 3 that ultimately swung the series. At that level, against a team as structured as Vegas, those moments matter more than any post-series injury ledger.
As Jared Bednar noted several times throughout the postseason, that’s exactly what makes the Stanley Cup so unforgiving. It’s not just talent. It’s not just cap construction. It’s not even just surviving four rounds. Everything has to align at the right time.
“It’s partly why I think it is the hardest trophy to win just because of the grind of it all,” Bednar said. “Not only do you have to be good; you have to be healthy, you have to be lucky, you have to be tough, playing through injuries.
“You have to be mentally tough, too, because it is a grind every day; every game is a Game 7. Every game feels like it is Game 7 because you need to win it.”
That reality makes Colorado’s playoff exit even harder to reconcile when set against what was, by almost every measure, the strongest regular season in franchise history.
The 2025-26 Avalanche finished with a franchise-record 121 points, surpassing the mark set by the 2000-01 Stanley Cup-winning team. They also captured the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season club and were dominant at both ends of the ice from start to finish.
Colorado led the league with 298 goals scored while allowing a league-low 197 goals against. Their plus-101 goal differential paced the NHL, and they finished first in both goals per game and goals against per game. On paper and over 82 games, no team was more complete.
That’s what makes the ending so difficult to process.
The Avalanche didn’t lose because they lacked talent. They didn’t lose because they weren’t an elite team. They lost a series where execution, structure, and in-game details ultimately decided outcomes—and Vegas, when it mattered most, was simply sharper in those moments.
In a playoff environment where margins are razor-thin, that’s often all the difference there is.
And if you're the Vegas Golden Knights, it came down to something much simpler: cleaner execution, tighter structure, and the ability to consistently take away the Avalanche’s biggest strengths when it mattered most.
But as the saying goes, there’s always next season.
When Mark Giordano’s 18-year playing career began to transition into its next phase, the veteran defenseman wasn’t entirely sure what the future held beyond his days on the ice.
Although he hasn’t suited up for an NHL game since the 2023-24 campaign, the long-time blue-liner never formally announced his retirement from professional hockey. But after going unsigned through the 2024-25 season, the 42-year-old local product began to realistically map out his next steps in the game.
That’s when Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving—who shares a long history with Giordano dating back to their days with the Calgary Flames—reached out with an opportunity to join the organization's player development pipeline with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
“They called me a coaching advisor to start,” Giordano said.
What initially looked like a part-time player development role, however, expanded at a rapid pace.
Climbing the Coaching Ladder
Giordano immediately went to work mentoring the Marlies' young defensive corps—a natural fit for a man who won the Norris Trophy in 2019 and logged over 1,100 NHL games on the blue line. But a mid-season coaching shakeup within the organization accelerated his timeline.
When the Maple Leafs parted ways with NHL assistant coach Marc Savard and promoted Marlies assistant Steve Sullivan to the big club, a vacant spot opened up on John Gruden’s bench in the American Hockey League. Giordano seamlessly slid into the role on a full-time basis.
“I worked with the D a lot at the start of the year, I worked with the forwards and the power play at the end of the year. So I gained a lot of experience,” Giordano told The Hockey News amid the on-ice celebrations following the Marlies’ 2026 Calder Cup championship victory. “I think it was good for me to actually see it from a different point of view. I've always been on the D side my whole career. And I had a lot of fun. These guys were a cool group to be around and a really close group. I know everyone says that, but we really came together.”
Winning the Ultimate Prize
Giordano’s resume as a player is incredibly decorated. In addition to his top-defenseman honors, he captured a Spengler Cup and earned a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Championship. Yet, outside of those short tournament formats, a major professional championship ring had always eluded the veteran during his lengthy NHL career.
That missing piece of the puzzle is exactly what made watching Giordano hoist the Calder Cup so unique.
“I definitely have the coaching bug,” Giordano admitted. “I've played a lot of different roles, and I think that's where I can help these guys. I've played in the American League. I've been a healthy scratch. I've been a six-seven defenseman. I think my biggest asset to them is I've been in all those shoes.”
What’s Next?
As the Marlies prepare to celebrate their AHL title with fans at Real Sports on Monday, questions will naturally shift to what the future holds for Toronto's coaching staff.
With a Calder Cup now on his resume, a head coach like John Gruden will undoubtedly be in high demand for NHL bench vacancies down the road. But Giordano has quickly proven that he is far more than just a sounding board; he is a versatile mentor capable of contributing to all facets of the game.
It should shock anyone to see Giordano flourish in his role behind the bench. There's a reason he was named the first captain in Seattle Kraken franchise history when he was claimed in the expansion draft.
At 42, Giordano is still incredibly young in coaching terms, and his passion for the whistle is undeniable. While jumping straight into an NHL head coaching gig might be a stretch at this stage of his second career, it shouldn't surprise anyone if he lands an NHL assistant coaching job sooner rather than later.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet once preached about protecting the guts of the ice. He wasn't wrong — but eventually, you need players who can attack through the guts of the ice, too.
That's why the debate between Caleb Malhotra and Ivar Stenberg has become so fascinating.
The Canucks need more than another center to fix this. They need players who can drive play through the middle of the ice for the next decade.
That doesn't mean they should pick one this draft.
Six months ago, this wasn't even a debate. If the Canucks landed the third-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Stenberg always felt like the obvious choice.
Today, Malhotra's rise has made that decision far less straightforward.
But at the end of the day, the best player available is still the right choice.
In this case, that's Stenberg.
The Case for Caleb Malhotra
When people talk about Malhotra, the first thing they mention is that he's the best center in this draft. You could even argue he and Viggo Björck have the best chance to become long-term first- and second-line centers from this class.
Honestly, if the Canucks somehow managed to get both, that would be the dream scenario.
But that's a story for another day.
The reality is Vancouver still needs help down the middle. Elias Pettersson has looked closer to a 50-point center than the 90-point version from three years ago, Marco Rossi still needs to prove he can be a permanent 2C on a contender, Filip Chytil is coming off another significant injury, and Aatu Räty and Braeden Cootes are still developing.
That's exactly why the argument for Malhotra is so compelling.
Watching Malhotra, it's easy to see a player who impacts every area of the game. His hands are elite. His reaction time is outstanding. He has high-end vision, a legitimate NHL shot, and competes every single shift.
Malhotra separates himself away from the puck. He's relentless on the forecheck, strong on the backcheck, wins battles, and impacts the game without needing possession.
That's why the Dylan Larkin comparison makes sense — not because he skates like Larkin, but because of the role: a trusted, all-situations center who drives play through all three zones.
Even if Malhotra never reaches that level, his floor still looks outstanding. At worst, you're getting a high-end 2C. At best, a legitimate No. 1 center.
The Canucks would still be getting an outstanding player if they called his name.
Why Stenberg Still Gets the Edge
Here's where the argument shifts.
If Stenberg is still available when Vancouver picks third, that's the pick.
This isn't about drafting the best center — it's about drafting the best player available.
And that's still Stenberg.
Watching the Swedish winger, it's easy to find yourself rewinding the tape. Not because of what he did with the puck, but because of what he saw before everyone else did.
That's what stands out the most. Stenberg doesn't force offence; he creates it.
He arrives early, protects pucks, wins them back, extends possessions and always seems to stay one step ahead. Those are NHL habits, and they're why his game should translate.
There's real substance underneath the skill.
Many scouts believe Stenberg has the second-highest offensive ceiling in this draft behind Gavin McKenna.
That's what makes him so intriguing. You don't often find players who combine elite offensive upside with pro habits away from the puck. He's just as comfortable creating off the rush as he is extending possessions below the goal line.
That's the type of player every team spends years trying to find.
When drafting third overall, that's exactly the type of upside worth betting on.
Malhotra projects as the player every coach wants.
Stenberg projects as the player every opposing coach has to game plan for.
That's the swing worth taking.
Jan 5, 2026; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; Sweden forward Ivar Stenberg (15) scores an empty-net goal against Czechia during the third period in the final of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship ice hockey tournament at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
One Final Wrinkle
One final wrinkle came when the San Jose Sharks, who currently hold the second-overall pick, acquired Michael Kesselring.
Kesselring doesn't eliminate Chase Reid going second-overall, but it does give the Sharks another NHL-calibre defenceman. If Kesselring stabilizes part of San Jose's blue line, the Sharks may be more willing to pivot away from a defenceman like Reid and target a dynamic forward instead. That decision could completely reshape Vancouver's draft board at No. 3.
If that happens, Stenberg's chances of reaching Vancouver probably become much slimmer.
Still, the chances of Stenberg falling to Vancouver are a whole lot better than McKenna falling to No. 3.
The Final Pick
The Canucks need a center.
They just shouldn't draft one if they believe the best player on the board is still Stenberg.
If Stenberg is the better player, then the answer is simple; take the best player, and figure out the next center later.
This team isn't one player away from contending in the first place. There will be other opportunities to address the middle of the ice through future drafts, trades, or player development. That's a much easier problem to solve than finding another game-breaking talent.
If Stenberg becomes the player many believe he can be, nobody in Vancouver will care that he wasn't a center.
They'll just be glad the Canucks drafted the best player available.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
