Why Bruins shouldn't trade No. 7 pick in 2025 NHL Draft for veteran help originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s very hard to win in the NHL, and especially deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, without a legit No. 1 center or at the very least two top-six caliber centers.

We just watched a Stanley Cup Final where the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers put on a scoring clinic — 45 combined goals through six games — with elite centers such as Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading that effort.

The Winnipeg Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy with Mark Scheifele as their top center. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division with Auston Matthews. The Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup title with Jack Eichel as their No. 1 center. The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Nathan MacKinnon, who might be the second-best player in the world. The Carolina Hurricanes have reached the Eastern Conference final two of the last three seasons with Sebastian Aho playing as a No. 1 center.

It’s not a coincidence that pretty much every contending team has an elite player at this position. And it’s not a surprise that the Bruins struggled throughout the 2024-25 season without one.

Sure, the Bruins were able to get by in 2023-24 after the retirements of longtime center duo Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. But those absences finally caught up to the Bruins this past season, and it’s time for the franchise to find its next great center.

Luckily for the Bruins, they have the No. 7 overall pick — their highest first-round selection since 2011 — in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night. The 2025 class is very deep at center, and it’s possible that six or seven centers could be taken in the first 10 picks.

It’s a great opportunity for the Bruins to select a player who can be a top-six center and consistently drive offense for a decade or more. This is why trading the No. 7 pick for a veteran player who can help the Bruins win next season would be a foolish move.

The best way to find No. 1 centers is through the draft. These kinds of players are super expensive to acquire on the trade market and free agency. For example, four of the five-highest salary cap hits last season belonged to centers. Very few No. 1 centers even reach free agency anymore. Teams just don’t let that happen.

The Bruins also don’t have a center prospect who is capable of filling a top-six role anytime soon. Boston’s prospect pool is consistently rated among the worst in the league. For example, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler rated the Bruins No. 30 out of 32 teams in his latest prospect pool rankings back in January.

Matt Poitras and Georgii Merkulov could become NHL regulars, but they are not going to be franchise centers. Veteran Elias Lindholm is being paid like a top-six center, but he did not perform at that level in his debut season with the Bruins.

Several players who could be available at No. 7 in this year’s draft — such as James Hagens, Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin and Roger McQueen — do have the potential to be top-six centers someday.

One argument for trading the No. 7 pick is that the Bruins have a core of players in their primes and the team needs to capitalize on that window. But the Bruins’ franchise pillars — David Pastrnak (29), Charlie McAvoy (27), Jeremy Swayman (26) and Hampus Lindholm (31) — are not old. Only Lindholm is above the age of 30. If the Bruins draft a good center and develop him for a year or two, that player should be ready to make a genuine impact at the NHL level while those aforementioned veterans still have several good years remaining.

Look at the Washington Capitals. They drafted Boston College forward Ryan Leonard with the No. 8 pick in 2023, and less than two years later he was playing for them in the playoffs.

If the Bruins really want to add a veteran forward who can help the team win next season, they should try to use some of their future draft picks in a potential trade. Boston has two first-round picks in 2026 and also could have two in 2027. They also have four second-round picks over the next three drafts, including two this year. They might not need to trade the No. 7 pick to get immediate help.

The Bruins desperately need a franchise center. The best way to get one is a top-10 draft pick. In a stroke of good luck, the Bruins have one of those picks in a year where lots of center prospects are worthy of a high first-round selection.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the Bruins to add an elite talent at a premium position. Wasting it could be a catastrophic mistake.

We are less than a week away from the start of NHL Free Agency.

When July 1st arrives, we’ll find out where many of the league’s top unrestricted free agents will sign their next contracts.

That group of UFAs include a trio of Florida Panthers, each who have played key roles in the team’s recent Stanley Cup success.

They are forwards Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Bennett is fresh off his amazing run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping Florida win the historic trophy while earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

During Florida’s first days after winning the Cup, Bennett made a few public statements indicting his intention to stay with the Panthers, and it sounds like both sides are making progress toward making that happen.

Look for Bennett to take a deal in the range of $8 million per season, give or take, over an eight-year deal.

Marchand is also reportedly looking for some term on his next deal.

He was very happy in South Florida after being traded to the Panthers at the Trade Deadline and proved to be one of their best contributors during the playoffs.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Marchand may be working to obtain a multi-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) in the range of $5-$6 million.

What does that mean for Ekblad?

Well, Florida only has $19 million in cap space for next season.

If both Bennett and Marchand take the lower end of those figures, it would still leave less money for Ekblad than what he was paid on his last contract.

Would the 29-year-old former first overall selection be willing to take a pay cut on what could be the last big deal of his career?

In addition to the three aforementioned players, Florida has several others who played key roles in their Stanley Cup win who are also set to be UFAs next week.

They are Nate Schmidt, Tomas Nosek, Nico Sturm and Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Mackie Samoskevich will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Point being, the Panthers have more than a few holes to fill ahead of next season and they need to have enough money to do so.

One final thing to keep in mind is that Florida doesn’t have to be under the cap until Opening Night.

We’ll see how things play out over the coming days.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Jun 4, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

2025 Rookie Tournament

Colorado Avalanche PR announced on Monday afternoon that the organization will be hosting the 2025 Rookie Showcase. This is a showcase that cycles around the league, giving the prospects in participating organizations a chance to shine.

Denver, CO 📍

The schedule is set! pic.twitter.com/qfY1ltNFU5

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 23, 2025

The dates and times are as follows:

• Friday, 9/12 @ 6:00 p.m. MT: Colorado Avalanche vs. Utah Mammoth
• Saturday, 9/13 @ 3:00 p.m. MT: Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights
• Sunday, 9/14 @ 1:00 p.m. MT: Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights

All games will take place at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

2025 Prospect Development Camp

On Tuesday, Avalanche PR also announced the official dates and times for this year's prospect development camp. As previously reported, the Family Sports Center schedule had significant time blocked off on their schedule for the week of July 1st.

Avalanche Training Facility Schedule Alludes to Upcoming Prospect Development Camp DatesWhile official dates for the 2025 Colorado Avalanche Prospect Development Camp have yet to be announced, a quick glance at the

Official dates and times are as follows:

• Tuesday, July 1st, 8:10 - 11:45 a.m. MT
• Wednesday, July 2nd, 8:10 - 11:45 a.m. MT
• Thursday, July 3rd, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT

All on-ice sessions will be held at Family Sports Center, the Avalanche's official practice facility, and will be open and free for the public to spectate.

Locker room media availability will follow every on-ice session.

Rosters and on-ice groups will be announced at a later date.

Free Agency

Speaking of July 1st, Free Agency is set to begin that same day at 10:00 a.m. MT/12:00 p.m. ET. The Avalanche have a 4th round pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft, as well as $1.2 Million left in cap space. 

Jonathan Drouin (F), Jimmy Vesey (F), Joel Kiviranta (F), Erik Johnson (D), Ryan Lindgren (D), and Tucker Poolman (D) are listed as UFAs heading into this free agency period. Sam Malinski (D) is the only listed RFA from last year's roster.

A Closer Look at Sam Malinski's Role in the Avalanche’s Offseason DecisionsWith 16 days remaining until the 2025 Free Agency period begins, the Colorado Avalanche have to make some big decisions when it comes to how they want to free up cap space to re-sign their pending unrestricted free agents and their one restricted free agent.

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There is a lot on the table for the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer, as it's widely been reported that they're going to be the only "true sellers" on the market.

And, according to a new report, there is an update on one of their stars on the trade block.

Per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson - who is actively being shopped by the Penguins - is willing to waive his full no-movement clause to be dealt to a contender. The Penguins are also, apparently, willing to retain some of the $10 million salary they owe him. 

Karlsson, 34, was dealt to Pittsburgh in a massive three-team blockbuster during the summer of 2023. Expectations were high for the three-time Norris Trophy-winning blueliner, who - in addition to coming off of an historic 28-goal, 101-point campaign with the San Jose Sharks - had the pressure of helping return the Penguins to the playoffs after their first miss in 17 years.

Unfortunately, not a whole lot has gone right for the Penguins since, and Karlsson's tenure has been a mixed bag. He is owed $10 million by the Penguins for two more years, as San Jose retained $1.5 million as part of the initial trade. 

Should The Penguins Deal Erik Karlsson? It May Not Be As Simple As It Seems.With the 2025 NHL Draft just two weeks away and free agency to follow directly after, the trade market is beginning to heat up.

If Pittsburgh is able to move Karlsson, it would also present a challenge in terms of roster-building, as they are currently already thin on their blue line and would require a contingency plan to replace Karlsson's role. Matt Grzelcyk is likely to hit the unrestricted free agent market, Kris Letang is due for his role to be a bit more diminished, and top defensive prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke aren't quite ready for top-four roles yet. 

Karlsson is one of three Penguins' players - the others being top-six scoring forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust - generating some buzz on the trade market ahead of the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday as well as free agency on Jul. 1.

NHL Rumors: 3 Penguins Off-Season Trade CandidatesThe off-season is now officially here, and the

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Feature image credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Former New Jersey Devils defenseman Daniil Misyul is heading overseas, as he has signed a one-year contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

Misyul, 24, was traded by the Devils at the 2025 NHL trade deadline to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Marc McLaughlin. Now, the former Devils blueliner is on the move again after signing this KHL deal.

Before being traded to the Bruins, Misyul made his NHL debut for the Devils this season on Oct. 22 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During it, the 6-foot-3 defenseman recorded one hit, one block, and a minus-1 rating. This would be his lone NHL appearance with the Devils. 

Misyul appeared in 47 games this season with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, where he recorded eight assists, 33 penalty minutes, and a minus-8 rating. This was after he had four goals, 14 points, and a plus-1 rating in 44 games with the Comets during the 2023-24 season.

Misyul was selected by the Devils with the 70th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. 

Report: Devils Made Push For Jonathan ToewsOne of the main areas that the

Photo Credit:  © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Scott Wilson is on the move, as he has signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL.

Wilson appeared in 60 games split between Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Salavat Yulaev Ufa during the 2024-25 season, where he posted 13 goals, 17 assists, and a plus-14 rating. This was Wilson's third straight season in the KHL, and he will now be staying in the league after landing this two-year deal with Sibir Novosibirsk. 

Wilson was selected by the Penguins with the 209th overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he spent his first four NHL seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18 with the Penguins, where he recorded 13 goals, 32 points, 218 hits, and a minus-2 rating in 106 games. He also had six points in 23 playoff games during his time with the Penguins and also won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017. 

In 193 career NHL games split between the Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres, Wilson posted 20 goals, 31 assists, and 365 hits. His last appearance in the NHL was during the 2019-20 season with the Sabres, where he recorded one goal, one assist, and a plus-1 rating in six games. 

Pittsburgh Penguins Release 2025-26 Preseason ScheduleWith the off-season here, the

Photo Credit: © Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

In 2024-25, Ryan Donato had a career year with the Chicago Blackhawks. After setting out to improve his skating and offensive numbers a summer prior, it paid off for him, which led to a new contract. 

After a 31-goal and 31-assist for 62-point season, Donato knew that he would be getting paid this off-season. After not being extended ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, it became unclear if the next deal would come in Chicago. Luckily for everyone involved, it did. Last week, the Blackhawks announced a new four-year deal with a $4 million cap hit. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on XFOUR MORE YEARS OF RYAN DONATO‼️ 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/dmJ0ENjlc0

On Tuesday, Donato had his first media availability following his contract extension. He had a lot to say in regards to playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and why he chose to stay. 

"There's temptations of the free market, but for me, I love Chicago," Donato said. "I'm a pretty loyal guy. I've always wanted to be a Blackhawk. I didn't want change."

At 29 years old, you're not expecting a career year again, but you can expect him to be a great mentor for the young talent coming through Chicago. He will score goals and make plays as well, which will certainly help them win more games as the team comes together with more skill. 

"[They're] pushing themselves to make a big jump right away at the beginning of the season. Obviously, there's a lot of young guys, so the internal competition is going to be great. It's an incredible bright spot for the Blackhawks." 

Donato knew that this was an interesting situation to be in at his career stage. He isn't getting any younger, but he's young enough to make an impact on a youth-filled core. He made it clear that he recognizes that the future is bright in Chicago, and he wants to be a part of it. 

Next up for Chicago is taking a big step in the rebuild. 2025-26 might not be the year that they make the playoffs for the first time in a while or anything like that, but they'd like to have more meaningful improvement along the way. With that comes pressure. However, Donato has an interesting approach to that idea. 

"It's hard to say pressure. I've always had a confidence for what I can do. For me, it's an opportunity league. I was very thankful for the opportunities that I've gotten here playing in Chicago. With that opportunity, I think I can do a lot."

For the first time in his NHL career, Donato is secure in a spot where he has found an elevated level of success. He wants to be in Chicago, his family wants to be in Chicago, and the Blackhawks organization wants him. 

Will Donato play with Connor Bedard on the top line over the entire contract duration? Probably not. However, he knows that his role will redefine over time, and that will be his way of helping the organization become a winner again. 

"I never really wanted to go anywhere else," Donato said of his negotiations. When a good player wants to stay that bad, believe them. He has been a great warrior throughout his NHL tenure up to this point. Now, it's time for the team to grow with the youth and veterans alike, all feeling good. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Thanks to a surplus of draft picks he stockpiled, Flyers GM Daniel Briere was able to land a much-needed center to play on one of the top two lines.

Hello, Trevor Zegras.

Goodbye, playoff drought?

OK, adding Zegras alone isn’t going to end the Flyers’ string of futility – five straight years without a playoff spot, just one playoff-series win in the last 13 seasons.

But it’s a start.

Now, Briere must improve the Flyers’ massive hole in the net, where his team was last in the NHL in save percentage (.879) last season and 28th out of 32 teams in goals-against per game (3.45). (Yes, the defense was partially to blame.)

Briere was able to acquire the creative Zegras at a surprisingly modest price: sending the Anaheim Ducks fourth-line center Ryan Poehling and a second-round draft pick (45th overall) this year and a fourth-rounder in 2026. The Flyers still have six picks left in the first two rounds later this week, including three in Round 1.

For the Flyers, the 24-year-old Zegras checks all the boxes. He’s young, shifty on his skates and, when healthy, productive. Oh, and he plays the position the Flyers desperately needed to bolster.

Selected ninth overall in the 2019 NHL draft and once touted as the face of Anaheim’s franchise, Zegras was named to the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2021-22 and had back-to-back 60-plus-point seasons in his first two years in the league.

Plagued by injuries this past season, he managed 12 goals and 32 points in 57 games, playing mostly at wing. The previous year, injuries limited him to 15 points in 31 games.

So Zegras – who had back-to-back 23-goal seasons earlier in his career – is on a mission to show he can stay healthy for an 82-game campaign. If successful, the Flyers hope he will jump-start a power play that was 30th in the NHL and an offense that ranked 24th.

The Philadelphia Flyers Get An Early Steal By Trading For Trevor ZegrasLast week, Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere spoke about the difficulty of acquiring a first- or second-line center. 

Briere will have his sights on the draft Friday and Saturday. He will also keep an eye on adding a goalie in the near future. 

Jake Allen, Ilya Samsonov, Dan Vladar, Alex Lyon, Ville Husso, Anton Forsberg and Vitek Vanecek are among the UFAs. Allen (2.59 GAA, .908 save percentage) is the best of the mediocre group, and Briere, who has the draft picks to make a deal, may have to trade for a goalie. If oft-injured Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko becomes available in the final year of his contract, there’s the option of reuniting with former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. St. Louis Blues backup Joel Hofer also surfaced in trade speculation, although GM Doug Armstrong put a stop to it.

On average, the Flyers have finished 26th out of 32 teams in goals allowed over the past five seasons. That, of course, has contributed mightily to missing the playoffs in each season during that span.

But their overall defensive issues go well beyond the last five years. The Flyers have not had a top-10 finish in fewest goals allowed in 19 of the last 20 years, finishing in the bottom-third during most of those seasons.

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No matter who ends up wearing the gold jersey with the Nashville Predators' fifth overall pick, general manager Barry Trotz believes the team will be selecting a "really good player." 

Trotz spoke to media on Tuesday ahead of the NHL Draft, which is set to take place on Friday and Saturday. Nashville has three picks in the first round (fifth, 23rd and 26th) and nine picks in the entire draft. 

Their fifth overall pick this year is the Predators' highest since they drafted Seth Jones fourth overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. 

Trotz said that Predators management is trying to figure out who will be selected ahead of them, but they are confident that they will get a good pick no matter who they select.

One of the names that Trotz floated was Boston College center James Hagens. 

Hagens is expected to be drafted within the top five, going as high as third or falling right into the Predators' lap at fifth. This past season with the Eagles, he recorded 37 points in 37 games, including an appearance in an NCAA Regional Championship. 

He also helped the United States win the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording nine points in seven games. 

Trotz categorized Hagens as a player that was "right in our wheelhouse." 

With having such a high pick, the Predators could go an alternate route and trade, which Trotz said he's open to in the right circumstances. 

After last season's 30-44-8 finish, a rebuild doesn't seem to be on Trotz's mind, as he remains confident that the current group can be successful. 

Outside of the draft, Trotz addressed a handful of other topics that have come to light since the end of the season. 

On captain Roman Josi's diagnosis and recovery from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Trotz said Josi has been working with a specialist and should be in good shape, both mentally and physically, by the time training camp arrives. 

Forward Jonathan Marchessault, who was acquired by the Predators via free agency last summer, was rumored to have been interested in a trade from Nashville, specifically Montreal. Trotz said there was "no truth" to the rumors. 

The Hockey News Wraparound Show discusses today the NHL's Metropolitan Division clubs and the Hockey Hall of Fame's 2025 class.

Will The Penguins Have A Pivotal Rebuilding Year? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Kelsey Surmacz and Jonathan Bailey discussed in this episode:

0:00: Could Trevor Zegras become a No. 1 center with the Philadelphia Flyers?

4:05: Will this be a pivotal rebuilding year for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

9:05: Was it a smart move for the New York Rangers to opt in for their 2025 first-round pick to be traded in the J.T. Miller deal?

12:30: Could Tomas Hertl be heading to the Carolina Hurricanes?

15:57: Will the New Jersey Devils be able to re-sign Jake Allen?

19:50: Could the Columbus Blue Jackets trade their first-round pick?

23:05: What is the biggest need for the Washington Capitals at the draft?

27:25: Will the New York Islanders be able to extend Noah Dobson?

33:00: Breaking down the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame class

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Promo image credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin is calling it a career.

The 36-year-old announced the news on Tuesday afternoon, following his 15th season in the NHL. Martin, however, isn't completely leaving hockey; he'll remain with the New York Islanders as a special assistant to general manager and executive vice president Mathieu Darche.

After being selected in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders, Martin began his professional career with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2009. He made his NHL debut on Feb. 9, 2010, registering two assists in a 4-3 shootout win over the Nashville Predators.

Martin would play six more seasons with the Islanders before signing a four-year, $10 million contract with the Maple Leafs. The forward joined Toronto at a pivotal time, as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander were each entering their first full NHL season.

Report: Clubs View Vegas Golden Knights As 'Team To Beat' In Mitch Marner Sweepstakes As Maple Leafs Free Agent Hits MarketWith the NHL Draft and free agency fast approaching, the league is buzzing with activity, and no name is generating more speculation than Mitch Marner. While teams prepare for the draft, there is widespread debate about where the top free agent will end up.

The Windsor, Ontario, native was seen as a mentor, helping guide the young players through a likely whirlwind of a year while offering protection. Martin scored five goals, four assists, and racked up 123 penalty minutes in his first season with Toronto.

He scored two assists in six games against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs that same year. His two tallies came in Game 2, one of which was the secondary assist on former Maple Leaf Kasperi Kapanen's double-overtime goal to tie the series at one.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Alexander Mogilny Finally Inducted Into Hockey Hall Of Fame After Years Of SnubsFinally, after nearly two decades away from the game, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward

The Maple Leafs ended up falling to the Capitals in six games.

Martin would play one more season with Toronto, scoring three goals and nine assists in 50 games. After a career-low 7:59 of average ice time throughout that season, the Maple Leafs traded Martin back to the Island on July 3, 2018, in exchange for Eamon McAdam.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Alexander Mogilny Finally Inducted Into Hockey Hall Of Fame After Years Of SnubsFinally, after nearly two decades away from the game, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward

The enforcer helped the Islanders get to the second round of the playoffs in his first year back with the Islanders. His NHL career concludes after 987 NHL games, where he put up 81 goals, 97 assists, and 1168 penalty minutes.

(Top photo: Tom Szczerbowski / Imagn Images)

With the 2025 NHL Draft just a few days away, the New York Rangers’ trade talks involving K’Andre Miller are continuing to heat up. 

According to Vince Mercogliano of USA Today, the Rangers are seeking their “final-and-best offers this week” for Miller.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, there have been 12-15 teams in the mix on Miller in recent weeks, but the teams with the most interest in the young defenseman remain unidentified. 

Larry Brooks of The New York Post went as far as to say that it seems inevitable that Miller will be moved this offseason.

The 25-year-old defenseman is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 and after showing signs of regression during the 2024-25 season, the Rangers are reportedly hesitant to give Miller a long-term contract extension. 

“They don't want to give him term, they've indicated if they sign him to an extension it's not going to be a long-term extension and that's why his name is out there,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said.

There Are ‘12-15 Teams’ In The Mix For K'Andre MillerWith K’Andre Miller on the trade block, what is the level of degree of interest in the young defenseman?

The Blueshirts have also been linked to free-agent defensemen Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov, two potential replacements for Miller. 

This past season, Miller recorded seven goals, 20 assists, and 27 points in 74 games while averaging 21:57 minutes.

On Tuesday, longtime New York Islanders forward Matt Martin announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. 

He'll serve as a special assistant to general manager Mathieu Darche. 

Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) on X#Isles GM Mathieu Darche explains Matt Martin’s role as special assistant in his interview with @alanhahn on @ESPNRadio:

Martin, who the Islanders drafted by the Islanders in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Draft, spent 14 of his 16 NHL seasons on Long Island. He played 132 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2016-18 before being re-acquired ahead of the 20218-19 season. 

The 36-year-old, who played 855 games with the Islanders, finishes his career just 13 games shy of reaching the 1,000-game milestone. In 987 career games, Martin has recorded 3,931 hits with 178 points (81 goals, 97 assists). 

Martin's passion for the game and leadership on and off the ice have meant the world to his teammates and the fan base. It's part of why he was the Islanders' 2025-26 nominee for the King Clancy.

He founded the Matt Martin Foundation to maintain his connection with the Long Island community. He hosts an annual hockey camp and poker tournament during the offseason.

The tournament raised money of over $140,000 for service animals, gifting a dog to an FDNY captain. 

The recipient of the award will receive a $25,000 donation to a charity of his choice. Captain Anders Lee became the third Islander to receive the honor last season, joining Bryan Trottier and Doug Weight in 1989 and 2011, respectively.

Him staying around is only a positive for the organization as he begins his career on the management side of things.

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Photo credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2025 on Tuesday which included eight selections: two builders (Jackie Parker and Daniele Sauvageau) and six players (Duncan Keith, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker).

While all were deserving of the nod, there was, yet again, one notable exclusion: Rod Brind'Amour.

The 2006 Stanley Cup Champion and Carolina Hurricanes legend has been eligible for selection into the Hockey Hall of Fame for 12 years now, but it seems like he continues to be overlooked.

The process works as follows: Each member of the committee is permitted to select only one player for nomination.

Once nominated, a player must then receive at least 75% of the vote from the 18-person committee, with each member permitted to vote for up to four male players each.  

Players are supposed to be adjudicated on "playing ability, sense of fair play, character and contributions to his or her team or teams and to the game of hockey in general."

So it's clear that Brind'Amour meets and exceeds all of those criteria, but yet he continues to be disregarded.

The centerman is one of the best examples of longevity in the game, having played 1,484 games, the 28th most in league history (he was in the top-20 when he retired).

It wasn't like he was dragging out his career toward the end either, as he was playing over 18 minutes a night every year until his 20th season and he averaged over 21 minutes a game for his career.

Brind'Amour was also one of the early pioneers of the fitness movement in the NHL, earning the moniker "Rod the Bod."

He was also a highly successful two-way player. While known for his defensive ability, he still collected 452 goals and 1,184 points

In addition, the centerman was also one of the game's best ever faceoff men.

While the NHL didn't start tracking faceoff wins until 2005, Brind'Amour is credited with a 59.32% win rate in the dots for his age 35-39 seasons, well past his prime.

Brind'Amour broke into the league as a teenager with the St. Louis Blues in 1989, after a standout freshman season with Michigan State that saw him capture CCHA Rookie of the Year honors.

Immediately, he was impact player, with 26 goals and 61 points in that first season. 

He made the NHL's All-Rookie Team that year and played one more season with the Blues before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Brind'Amour was again a dominant force on the ice throughout his time in Philly, with multiple 70+ point seasons and Selke votes (he was inducted into the Flyers' Hall of Honor in 2015),  but it wasn't until his eventual trade to the Hurricanes where he really cemented his legacy.

The veteran center went on to become team captain and led the franchise to its one and only Stanley Cup in 2006 (he also should have won the Conn Smythe that year, but Cam Ward, an Edmonton-born netminder, ended up with that honor instead). He also won back-to-back Selke trophies.

Honestly, there is also no singular player more impactful and more meaningful to the Carolina franchise and fanbase than Rod Brind'Amour.

Rod Brind'Amour Awarded North Carolina's Highest Civilian HonorGovernor Roy Cooper presented Brind'Amour with membership following his team's 4-1 win over Columbus on Sunday.

So in terms of impact to the game and his teams, Brind'Amour is right there at the top. He's also a class act, great person and represents the game so well.

Furthermore, there are plenty of players already in with either similar or worse resumes than Brind'Amour.

So why isn't he in the Hall of Fame yet? Your guess is as good as mine.

But it is notable that the entire selection process is shrouded in secrecy. None of the selection committee's votes are ever made public and no one except for the 18-person committee is privy to those conversations.

Perhaps a little transparency could go a long way.

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A star-studded class is heading to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Led by a couple of Norris Trophy-winning defensemen, Zdeno Chara and Duncan Keith, along with former Hart Trophy winning Joe Thornton, and Jennifer Botterill, a three-time Olympic gold medal winner with Team Canada, the Hockey Hall of Fame will welcome eight new members in November. A vote on Wednesday by the selection committee in Toronto also guaranteed fall enshrinement for Brianna Decker and Alexander Mogilny as players and longtime NCAA men’s coach Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau, who served Team Canada as a general manager, coach and consultant, as builders.

Mogilny made the Hall of Fame in his 17th year of consideration.

Sauvageau will be the first woman to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder.

An induction ceremony will be held on Nov. 10 in Toronto.

A candidate’s entire hockey career is considered by the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee, but Chara, Keith, and Thornton built overwhelming resumes based solely on their respective accomplishments in the NHL.

Chara played the most games by a defenseman with 1,680. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 2009 and captained the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Keith was a key figure on the Chicago Blackhawks’ Cup champions in 2010, 2013, and 2015, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP for that third championship run. His Norris wins came in 2010 and 2014.

Thornton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft, is most remembered for his time with the Bruins and San Jose Sharks, and is one of only 15 players to score 1,500 points. And though he never played for a Cup champion, he won a gold medal for host Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Mogilny debuted in the NHL in 1989 with the Buffalo Sabres. A dynamic offensive player, he finally won the Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2000. He is a member of the IIHF Triple Gold Club, winning Olympic gold (1988) and the IIHF World Championships (1989) for the former Soviet Union in addition to the Cup.

Botterill was a first-team All-American in each of her four seasons at Harvard University. She played professionally until 2011 and was a mainstay for Canada’s national team at the Olympics and IIHF World Championships, where she was named MVP in 2011.

Decker played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin and earned awards, but her star turn came for Team USA, with whom she won the gold medal six times at the IIHF World Championships and gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Parker captained Boston University in his final season as a player and became his school’s head coach in 1973. His teams won the NCAA championship three times and appeared in an NCAA-record 24 tournaments during his 40 seasons.

Sauvageau’s contributions to the women’s game are unrivaled among non-players in Canada. She was part of seven Winter Olympics in various roles with Team Canada. Sauvageau also was the first woman to coach in the QMJHL, as an assistant with the Montreal Rocket.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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