The Calgary Flames are in a familiar position – the “mushy middle,” where they’re not good enough to be a playoff team and not bad enough to get high-enough NHL draft picks.

It looked like the Flames were about to escape that position this season when they were in a playoff spot for a long time and added some players at the trade deadline, but they ended up falling short anyway.

To that end, the Flames are better off building for the long term. Staying in the mushy middle won’t lead anywhere.

Calgary can acquire top draft picks and prospects if they’re willing to part ways with key veterans in trades and avoid being a mushy-middle squad once again.

That leads to Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson – a minute-munching blueliner who is in his prime at 28 and has one year left on his contract at a $4.55-million cap hit. With rumors that contract extension talks for Andersson aren’t going well, the prospect of Calgary GM Craig Conroy dealing Andersson becomes more tantalizing by the day.

The Flames don’t need to trade Andersson immediately. Conroy can still be patient for a few more days. But if a situation arises on July 1 – the opening of free agency – where Florida Panthers blueliner Aaron Ekblad re-signs or heads elsewhere, Andersson could easily be the best D-man available to acquire. At that point, the Flames could set a high price for Andersson that many teams should line up to pay.

Wouldn’t that make a heck of a lot of sense for Calgary than hanging onto Andersson and embracing the status quo? It’s not as if Andersson was going to put the Flames on his back and singlehandedly deliver Calgary into the 2026 playoffs. So why not trade him for what could be a terrific package of picks and prospects and be patient as Flames youngsters develop into a core that will be with the Flames for the long haul?

It’s not like the Flames don’t have any other veterans, either. Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar is signed through 2030-31. Jonathan Huberdeau, Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri are all around on offense for now, although it would be worth seeing if there’s a good return for Kadri as well.

You can argue that Calgary was only two regulation wins out of making the post-season last year, and a slight tweak of improvement would make the Flames a playoff team in 2025-26. But that’s the best possible development. 

It’s just as likely, if not more likely, that the same group misses the playoffs again. If they do narrowly miss out yet again, it will be another missed opportunity, and they’ll yet again fail to be low enough in the standings to acquire a foundational piece in the draft.

We’ve argued consistently that being a mushy-middle team is the worst place a team can be. But that’s where the Flames appear to be headed in 2025-26. So, moving a defenseman who averaged 23:59 of ice time last season would help Calgary immensely. 

NHL Rumor Roundup: Could Noah Dobson And Rasmus Andersson Hit The Trade Block?The contract negotiations of two notable defensemen have drawn considerable interest recently in the NHL rumor mill. 

It would take guts to move Andersson, and while Conroy has shown he has guts with last year’s deal with Philadelphia that saw the Flames acquire forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, Conroy would need to be just as gutsy to move on from Andersson.

That said, what are they really doing – other than wasting time – if they’re not building a legitimately elite team to compete with the real powerhouse teams in the Pacific Division?

You can’t convince us that the Flames have the generational talents that Western Conference teams like Edmonton, Colorado and even Chicago have. And so it becomes crystal clear that Calgary has to bear down and suffer through some lean seasons to be able to draft and develop the high-end players they need to legitimately compete with the true powerbrokers in the West.

That process can kick into high gear with the trading of Andersson. If Conroy makes him available, he’s going to get a spectacular package in return. And if it means the Flames have to fall to the bottom of the Pacific for a couple years, so be it. 

The alternative – the mushy middle – is a far worse destiny for this franchise. And the sooner Conroy comes to terms with that reality, the better things will be for long-suffering Flames fans.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The 2025-26 Hockey season is started to rev up.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced the 2025 preseason schedule today. 

Below are the dates and times for the 7 preseason games. 

• Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

• Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

The NHL Draft will take place this Friday in LA, and then free agency opens on July 1. Before you know it, the season will be here, and the CBJ plan to look much different. 

Let us know what you think below.

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.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets Forward Manny Malhotra Wins Calder CupFormer Columbus Blue Jackets forward Manny Malhotra, head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL, won the Calder Cup last night by defeating the Charlotte Checkers in six games. Former Blue Jackets Draft Pick And Calder Cup Champion Signs In EuropeAnother former Blue Jacket has found a new home in Europe.  2025 NHL Draft Order Officially ReleasedThe 2025 NHL Draft is this Friday, and the Blue Jacket picks are official. 

The Rapid City Rush are teaming up with the YMCA of Rapid City to host their first-ever NHL STREET learn-to-play-hockey camp on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 9:30 – 11:00 Am.

Members of the Rush organization and the local hockey community will be in attendance to run the clinic, which will feature hands-on instruction, skills stations, and scrimmages. Registration is open for all kids aged seven through 12, with no prior hockey experience required. All equipment will be provided, and families do not have to be YMCA members to participate.

“The YMCA brings our youth together as a community to celebrate fun and wellness.” Elaina Kempin, Marketing Director for the YMCA of Rapid City, said in a statement. “Our wonderful partnership with the Rapid City Rush helps us achieve our mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

Launched in 2023, NHL STREET is the official youth hockey league of the National Hockey League. It is designed to provide kids and their families with the best of what youth sports can be: having fun, staying active, making friends and creating great memories. This is the first NHL STREET initiative offered in the state of South Dakota.

“NHL STREET was created to bring the love of hockey to more kids in more communities—and this event is a great example of that mission in action,” Savannah Green, Director of Community Relations and Social Engagement for the Rush, said. “When you combine the energy of the Rush with the reach of community organizations like the YMCA, you unlock something really powerful.”

The YMCA of Rapid City is located at 815 Kansas City St., Rapid City, SD 57701. Registration is $35 per child. All participants will take home a custom NHL STREET hockey jersey.

For more information about Street Camp, click here.

The Rush will kick off their 2025-26 regular season in Independence, Missouri against the Kansas City Mavericks on Friday, Oct. 17. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 Pm MT.

(Photo Courtesy of the Rapid City Rush)

Canadian left winger Scott Wilson, 33, has signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday. It will be Wilson’s fifth KHL team in five seasons.

Originally from Oakville, Ont., Wilson played junior hockey for the Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL before playing three years of college hockey at Umass-Lowell. He was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 and signed with Pittsburgh in the spring of 2014 after his junior season.

Between 2014 and 2020, Wilson played 193 NHL regular-season games for the Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, recording 51 points and 58 penalty minutes. He also played 26 playoff games, all with Pittsburgh, recording 10 points and 11 penalty minutes.

His only complete NHL season was 2016-17, and he was part of Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup championship team that year, playing in 78 regular-season games and 20 playoff games.

RUMOR: Jesse Puljujärvi Headed To Switzerland After AHL FinalsJesse Puljujärvi is currently playing in the AHL’s Calder Cup finals. On Sunday, he scored an overtime goal in Game 5 keep his Charlotte Checkers alive against the Abbotsford Canucks.

After two more AHL seasons in the Florida Panthers organization, Wilson first went to the KHL in 2022. In four seasons with Vityaz Moscow Oblast, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Wilson has 117 points in 188 regular-season and playoff games.

Wilson joins a Sibir team that finished seventh in the KHL’s Eastern Conference last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The team also includes former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikita Soshnikov and Toronto prospect Vladislav Kara.

Photo © Brad Penner-Imagn Images: Scott Wilson playing for the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019-20 season. 

Former NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

The Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly working on a trade that would send Tomas Hertl to the Hurricanes. 

The report was shared by EliteProspects' Cam Robinson, who took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share what he's heard. Robinson said, "There's some smoke out there that Carolina could be bringing in Tomas Hertl. I'd like to reiterate. Smoke. Have yet to confirm anything, but the noise is loud enough and from enough places for me to try and really dig into it."

Marco D'Amico of RGmedia also shared a report that he's heard "reports he may be on his way out of Vegas this morning to the Eastern Conference."

The Golden Knights have been linked to Mitch Marner since last summer, when there were rumors that he could be made available in trades. This offseason, Marner is the prized unrestricted free agent with several insiders claiming the Golden Knights are among the favorites, if not leading the race. 

Hertl has a modified no-trade list, which states that he can approve three teams he'd be willing to be traded to. The 31-year-old scored 32 goals and 61 points in 72 games in his first full season with the Golden Knights, proving to be a valued second-line center behind Jack Eichel and in front of William Karlsson.

It was also Hertl's most productive season on the power play, scoring 14 goals and 23 points, both of which were career highs.

The Golden Knights acquired Hertl at the 2023-24 trade deadline, shocking the hockey world. Hertl was injured at the time and thought to be unavailable due to both his injury and the fact that he was in the second year of an eight-year, $8,137,500 contract he signed with the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights sent David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round pick to the Sharks in exchange for Hertl, at 17 percent retained, and a pair of third-round picks. 

Golden Knights Veteran Center Could Be Available In Trades; No Indications Quite YetWilliam Karlsson's name has been floated out by many insiders, and although no concrete reports have come from the Vegas Golden Knights, a trusted insider revealed fresh information.

The rumor shared by Robinson is still very fresh, so no possible returns or additional information has been given. Robinson claims that "there's some out of Carolina," which also informs us that the two teams likely haven't even begun to consider what else they would involve in the deal. What is known is that if the Golden Knights want to acquire Marner, they need to shed off cap space, and moving Hertl's $6.75-million cap hit would do just that. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Ilya Samsonov Won't Return To The Golden Knights; Testing Free AgencyGoaltender Ilya Samsonov will not return to the Vegas Golden Knights and will test the free agency waters, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. 

Former Bruins captains Chara, Thornton elected to 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame class originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Two former captains of the Boston Bruins — Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton — have been voted to the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2025.

“Across his exceptional 24-year career, Zdeno put forth an unparalleled combination of size, strength, and ability each time he took the ice,” Bruins president Cam Neely said in a statement released Tuesday. “He kept opponents on notice with his commanding physicality and set the tone for his teammates with a stout defensive acumen, all while having the power at any given time to unleash one of the hardest shots ever recorded.

“His legendary leadership qualities were also continually on display, particularly when it came to his renowned off-ice conditioning which set a standard for all our players to follow. To put it simply, Zdeno’s skill set stands among the most unique in the century-plus history of the National Hockey League, making him enormously worthy of enshrinement into the Hockey Hall of Fame where he will be remembered forever as one of the very best to play our sport.”

This was the first year both players appeared on the ballot, and their inclusion in this class is no surprise. They are joined in the 2025 class by Jennifer Botterill, Brianna Decker, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny, Jack Parker (builder) and Danièle Sauvageau (builder).

The Bruins drafted Thornton with the No. 1 overall pick in 1997. He lived up to the hype as a No. 1 center and elite offensive player. He tallied 454 points (169 goals, 285 assists) in 532 career games with the Bruins.

Success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs eluded Thornton as the Bruins advanced past the first round only once in his seven-plus seasons in Boston. The B’s traded him to the San Jose Sharks during the 2005-06 season for an underwhelming return.

It was a low point for the Bruins, but the trade did free up valuable salary cap space, and in the summer of 2006 they used that cap flexibility to sign Chara as a free agent.

Chara, the tallest player in league history at 6-foot-9, immediately transformed the culture of the franchise. He was a legit No. 1 defenseman — a top-five player at the position for a long time — and a tremendous leader. He won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09 and probably deserved to win it another two or three times.

Chara’s legacy is transforming Bruins back into Stanley Cup-caliber franchise

Chara helped the Bruins win the 2011 Stanley Cup over the Vancouver Canucks — ending the team’s 39-year championship drought.

He played a total of 14 seasons with the Bruins from 2006-07 through 2019-20. The Bruins reached the playoffs 11 times over that span, including three trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

Chara is the first longtime Bruins star from the last 15 years to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Patrice Bergeron, who isn’t eligible for a few more years, could be next. Brad Marchand deserves to go in at some point, too, but he’s still playing.

In the run-up to the draft, which is scheduled for Friday night and Saturday, there are plenty of draft-centric articles in every outlet and plenty of content posted on social media as well. Yesterday, on one of the NHL social media accounts, there was a post about a 2020 redraft, and the Canadiens’ pick that year did very well.

In 2020, the Montreal Canadiens had the 16th overall pick, and they selected blueliner Kaiden Guhle. Now, five years later, they’ve locked Guhle up to a six-year contract with a $5.55 AAV. He’s the only defenseman Kent Hughes has identified as part of his young core so far, or at least the only one he has signed long term. There is no doubt that the Canadiens’ GM will try to sign Lane Hutson long term, and there are also rumblings about a potential contract extension for Mike Matheson.

The Canadiens Had Moved On From Zegras
Canadiens: Bob McKenzie Final Draft Ranking Is In…
Canadiens: Hage Is Committed To Getting Bigger

In 169 NHL games, Guhle has put up 58 points and 130 penalty minutes, but the defensive side of his game has made a difference for the Habs. This season, in 55 games, he has recorded 104 hits for a 1.89 hits-per-game average (seventh on the team) and blocked 124 shots for a 2.25 hits-per-game average (third on the team). If he played a full season, he would have been much higher.

In it’s redraft, the NHL puts Tim Stutzle as the first overall pick (he was initially picked third), Lucas Raymond as the second (fourth at the draft), Jake Sanderson as the third (fifth overall in 2020), Seth Jarvis in fourth (selected initially at number 13), Brock Faber in fifth place (he was picked at 45th), Quinton Byfield in sixth place (he was initially second), Anton Lundell in seventh place (picked 12th overall), Alexis Lafreniere in eight place (original first-overall pick), JJ Peterka in ninth place (selected initially 34th overall), and Kaiden Guhle in 10th place (he was originally selected at 16th overall).

Kaiden Guhle going from 16th overall to 10th overall in the NHL 2020 redraft #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/66kIXxw08G

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) June 24, 2025

Guhle’s selection that year was a homerun for the Canadiens, but the fact that some of these guys fell in the second round goes to show how hard it is to evaluate young talents and project yourself into the future.

Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will now officially have two first-round picks for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

According to the New York Post's Larry Brooks, the Rangers are sending the 12th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Penguins instead of their 2026 first-round pick. 

Breaking: Rangers have notifed the NHL that they are sending this year's 12th overall first-rounder to Pittsburgh to complete the JT Miller deal instead of deferring the transfer to 2026, Post has learned.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) June 24, 2025

The Rangers owed the Penguins a first-round pick due to multiple trades. The Rangers first traded a conditional first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks to acquire J.T. Miller. From there, the Canucks quickly traded the Rangers' first-round pick to the Penguins in the deal that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to Vancouver.

Now, the Penguins know that they will be receiving the Rangers' 2025 first-round pick instead of next year's. With this, the Penguins now have both the 11th overall and 12th overall picks for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

While next year's draft class is deeper than this year's, the Penguins should be happy about landing another good first-round pick in the top 15. It will be intriguing to see what they end up doing with it from here. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Recent speculations suggest Mitch Marner might consider signing a short-term contract instead of a long-term deal. 

The 28-year-old right winger has completed a six-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and is expected to test the UFA market on July 1.

With the salary cap expected to rise significantly in the coming years, James Mirtle of The Athletic suggested stars like Marner and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid could prefer short-term contracts, enabling them to cash in again under a higher salary cap while still in their playing prime. 

Mirtle's colleague Pierre LeBrun reported the “rumor de jour” had Marner signing a two-year contract between $12 million and $13 million. However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported he'd received pushback on his suggestion that soon-to-be former Maple Leaf might accept a short-term deal.

As for potential suitors, Friedman recently observed recent conjecture suggesting the Vegas Golden Knightscould be the team to beat for Marner's services.

Speaking of UFA forwards, Sam Bennett raised a stir last week when he told Florida partygoers that he's not leaving the Panthers. His remarks gave the impression that the 29-year-old Conn Smythe Trophy winner had a contract extension in place. 

Bennett has completed a four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.425 million. His gritty two-way style played a significant role in the Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, which would make him the top center available if he goes to market on July 1. 

However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that sources say the brakes are being pumped on the extension talk. While he thinks Bennett wouldn't have made that announcement if he didn't know how negotiations are going, there has been no agreement. As of this writing, that remains the case. 

Meanwhile, the ongoing contract stalemate between the Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi has made the 23-year-old center a fixture of late in the NHL rumor mill. 

The Hockey News’ Dylan Loucks recently cited The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reporting the Vancouver Canucks were among the clubs interested in Rossi. On June 19, LeBrun's colleague Michael Russo and Joe Smith indicated the Canucks may have offered up their first-round pick (15th overall) in the upcoming NHL draft.

Patrick Johnston of The Province cited a source confirming the Canucks pitched their first-rounder along with a player, though it's uncertain if it was a roster player or prospect. 

The Canucks must do better than that to land the Minnesota center. Russo and Smith claim Wild GM Bill Guerin wants a player who can replace Rossi's production, saying he'd prefer a center but would also accept a scoring winger. They noted the Wild have been linked to JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. 

Guerin downplayed the speculation, telling a local network that his club isn't dying to trade Rossi. He praised the youngster, but added that the Wild are trying to sign him to a deal that fits their price range.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

While speaking to reporters, including St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Matthew DeFranks, St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong shared that prospect defenseman Theo Lindstein will play in North America next season. 

Doug Armstrong said that Swedish defenseman prospect Theo Lindstein would be making the jump to North America this fall.

— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) June 23, 2025

Lindstein, 20, has been developing his game in Sweden, but he is now ready to begin his North American professional career. The 6-foot defenseman may need to spend some time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Springfield Thunderbirds before making the jump to the NHL level. However, there is no question that his future is bright. 

Lindstein spent the entirety of this season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Brynas IF. In 44 games with the SHL squad, he recorded four goals, nine points, and a plus-9 rating. He also posted two goals and five points in 17 playoff games this season.

Lindstein was selected by the Blues with the 29th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He is one of the Blues' most promising prospects, and it will be fascinating to see how he performs during his first season in North America in 2025-26 from here. 

Blues Take Fascinating Defenseman In New Mock DraftBarring any changes, the St. Louis Blues will be selecting 19th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Blues will certainly be hoping to hit with this pick, especially when noting that they won't select again after it until the fifth round.

Photo Credit:  © Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

It’s good to be a Tkachuk these days.

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, along with his brother Matthew, were just named as two of the six players for the Team USA preliminary roster for the Olympics. Brady and the Senators finally snapped an eight-year playoff drought, and then he joined his brother, Matthew, as he celebrated his second straight Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last week.

Now it's summer, and time to kick back and just be young guys in their 20s (who happen to multi-millionaires).

Their father, Keith Tkachuk, also did pretty well for himself in hockey, playing 18 years in the league. He’s still enjoying the game these days, not quite so involved anymore, happily cheering on his boys and savouring their NHL successes. He was down at ice level for another Cup celebration in Sunrise last week, hugging it up with the family and posing for photos.

But we were reminded of Keith's excellence as a player last year when he was named to the St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame, alongside the late Pavol Demitra, a former Senator, and goalie Mike Liut, as part of the 2024 class.

With all that family hockey success, it’s becoming harder to ignore the one glaring omission from the family’s legacy: Keith Tkachuk still isn’t in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Will he get the call on Tuesday?

Lanny McDonald, the chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame board, and Ron Francis, the chair of the Selection Committee, will reveal the Class of 2025 at 3 pm on Tuesday afternoon (June 24).

Keith finished his NHL career with 538 goals, the second most of any eligible player not currently in the Hall (Patrick Marleau has the most at 566). That number places him among the top 35 goal scorers in league history, ahead of multiple Hall of Famers. He was a five-time NHL All-Star, captained the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotesen seasons, and became only the fourth American-born player to hit the 500-goal mark.

500 goals is one of those incredible individual milestones that should, with very few exceptions, make you an automatic member of the Hall of Fame. After Jeremy Roenick went in last year, Tkachuk, Marleau, Pat Verbeek, and Peter Bondra are the only members of the 500 club on the outside looking in.

Last season, the Blues inducted him into their Hall of Fame, a nod to the nine seasons he spent in St. Louis, mentoring young players and providing the same kind of leadership his sons now bring to their own clubs. Just like dad, Brady is hard-nosed, emotional, skilled, and (insert expletive here) impossible to play against.

While Brady and Matthew continue to thrive, probably bound for the Hall themselves in 15 years or so, the elder Tkachuk remains on the outside when it comes to hockey’s ultimate individual honour.

It’s about time that changed.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Banner image credit: Scott Rovak-Imagn Images

More Sens Headlines at The Hockey News:

Bonus Round: Claude Giroux’s Contract Talks In Ottawa Coming Down To The Wire
Would Kings Defenceman Jordan Spence Be A Fit With The Senators?
Should The Senators Have Surrendered This Year's First-Round Draft Pick Instead?
Senators Bring Back First-Rounder For Second Tour Of Duty
Rewriting The Draft: A Decade Of First-Round 'What-Ifs' for the Senators
Potential First-Round Draft Targets For The Ottawa Senators: Defenceman Blake Fiddler

The Abbotsford Canucks — AHL affiliates of the Vancouver Canucks — captured their first Calder Cup in franchise history Monday night, defeating the Charlotte Checkers in six games.

The Canucks had a trio of former Hurricanes, either on the roster or on the staff, who now will have their names in the history books.

Let's take a look at those three:

---

Phil Di Giuseppe

Drafted in the second round of the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Canes (the forward was actually the team's first pick that year as they had traded away their first to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Jordan Staal), Di Giuseppe would appear in 147 games with the Hurricanes and would play for the organization from 2014-2018.

Di Giuseppe made his NHL debut with the Canes on Dec. 5, 2015 and would score his first career goal on Dec. 8 in Dallas.

In 2019, he was claimed off of waivers by the Nashville Predators. He then played two seasons within the New York Rangers' organization and has spent the last three years in the Vancouver Canucks' organization.

Di Giuseppe had six goals and 11 points in 24 games this AHL postseason.

---

Manny Malhotra

A first-year head coach with the Abbotsford Canucks, Malhotra joined the Hurricanes organization in 2013.

The veteran centerman was coming off of a major eye injury that had required multiple surgeries and left him with permanent vision impairment and it looked like his career was practically over, but he was still committed to playing and Jim Rutherford and Carolina gave him a chance.

The Canes worked out a deal with the two-way, faceoff specialist to have him start on a PTO with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL while he was tested by team doctors and having his physical ability was assessed, before ultimately deciding to sign him to a one-year deal.

Malhotra would play in 69 games that season, scoring seven goals and picking up 13 points, while also rocking a 59.5% faceoff win rate.

The veteran was also named an alternate captain after Tim Gleason was traded mid-season.

---

Justin Pogge

Abbotsford goaltending coach Justin Pogge had a brief stint with the Hurricanes organization over a decade ago.

He was traded to Carolina along with a 2010 fourth-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Aaron Ward.

He would play four games for the Albany River Rats in 2010 and then played in the Charlotte Checkers inaugural season after the relocation in 2010-11, posting a 22-18-4 record that year with a 0.907 save percentage.

The journeyman goaltender may not have had a long professional career in North America, playing in just 254 AHL games and seven NHL games, but he did travel the world, playing in Italy, Sweden, Germany, Slovakia and Russia too.

He took up coaching in 2022-23, serving as a consultant for Team Canada and eventually coaching the U18 and World Cup teams as well.

This was his first season coaching on an actual team's staff.

---

Recent Stories

• Hurricanes Hold Six Picks As NHL Draft Approaches
• What Might A Jason Robertson Trade Package Look Like?
• Is Mitch Marner The Answer For Carolina?
• The Carolina Hurricanes' 2025 UFAs
• The Carolina Hurricanes' 2025 RFAs

---

Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.     

Former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Manny Malhotra, head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL, won the Calder Cup last night by defeating the Charlotte Checkers in six games.

The Canucks finished the regular with a 44-24-2-2 record, which was good enough for second in the Pacific Division. Abbotsford beat Tucson, Coachella Valley, Colorado, and Texas before beating Charlotte in the Final.

Manny was hired by Abbotsford in May of 2024 after spending a few seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs Organization.

Malhotra played 344 of his 991 career NHL games with Columbus. He scored 53 goals and totaled 145 points for the Jackets. Two months into the 2015–16 season, Malhotra signed a professional try-out contract with the Lake Erie Monsters on December 3, 2015. He played in 23 games and had six points. He was drafted 7th overall by the New York Rangers in 1998.

Congrats to Manny Malhotra and the Abbotsford Canucks on their Calder Cup Championship.

Let us know what you think below.

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.

Former Blue Jackets Draft Pick And Calder Cup Champion Signs In EuropeAnother former Blue Jacket has found a new home in Europe.  2025 NHL Draft Order Officially ReleasedThe 2025 NHL Draft is this Friday, and the Blue Jacket picks are official.  Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Cameron ReidWe are officially four days away from the 2025 NHL Draft and there are no shortage of news and rumors. Today, we saw Trevor Zegras be dealt to the Anaheim Ducks and it seems like there could be more moves like that happening over the next few days. The Columbus Blue Jackets could find themselves dipping into the trade market as well as we lead up to the draft. There are some reports suggesting that they are willing to part with one of their first round picks to make the team better now.

On Monday morning, the Anaheim Ducks traded forward Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Peohling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Moving on from Zegras after a pair of injury-riddled seasons that followed two 60-plus point seasons to start his career was a bold and divisive move by Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, and one that has a likelihood of reflecting poor asset management.

Ducks Trade Trevor Zegras to the Flyers

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Trevor Zegras-Ryan Poehling Trade

A Timeline of Trevor Zegras' Tenure with the Anaheim Ducks

However, the Ducks did acquire a piece in the trade that fills a significant need within their depth chart and that provides a more suitable fit to what Verbeek is building in Anaheim.

"The big thing is we're trying to retool the roster in a way that all the pieces fit cohesively, where you have different players on different lines that complement each other," Verbeek told media following the trade.
"So, I think from that aspect, that's ultimately the decision that we came to, just kind of reshaping and retooling our roster."

Before Monday’s trade, the Ducks had $32.19 million in cap space and a need for a true two-way middle-six center who could provide depth offense, absorb difficult matchups, and boost the NHL’s 29th-ranked penalty kill.

Poehling (26) is on the lower end of the middle-six center spectrum, perhaps closer to the label of a bubble top-nine center, but he does provide what the Ducks were missing down the middle of their depth chart.

"Ryan's 6-foot-2, he's 215 pounds. He has really good speed and, as I had mentioned before, (improving) some of the special teams, Ryan is the No. 1 guy that goes over (the boards) for the Flyers on a penalty kill, and (we're) looking to improve in that area," Verbeek said.
"He is certainly going to add speed and he's going to add penalty-killing ability for our roster. I'm trying to shore up certain aspects of our special teams play, players who can do a good job there."

Career to Date

Poehling is a former first-round draft pick (25th overall in 2017) of the Montreal Canadiens out of St. Cloud State University and the USNTDP. He played three seasons in the NCAA between 2016 and 2019, tallying 13 (7-6=13) points in 35 games as a freshman, 31 points (14-17=31) in 36 games as a sophomore, and 31 points (8-23=31) in 36 games as a junior.

He signed his ELC in the offseason before the 2019-20 season and split his time that year between the AHL, where he scored 13 points (5-8=13) in 36 games for the Laval Rocket, and NHL, where he scored two points in 27 games for the Habs.

He spent the entirety of the 2020-21 season in the AHL, producing at a near point-per-game level with 25 points (11-14=25) in 28 games before suffering a wrist injury that required surgery, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.

He played a total of 85 games for the Habs throughout his first three NHL seasons, totaling 22 points (13-9=22) before he was traded along with Jeff Petry to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round pick and Mike Matheson.

Poehling played one season with the Pens and scored 14 points (7-7=14) in 53 games, but wasn’t extended a qualifying offer and became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023.

The Philadelphia Flyers inked him to a one-year contract with an AAV of $1.4 million on July 1, 2023, and extended him to a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.9 million on Jan. 26, 2024.

In his two seasons on the Flyers, he assumed a third-line center role, produced 59 points (23-36=59) in 145 games, and was their second-most utilized forward on the penalty kill (235:16 TOI).

On-Ice Impact

Poehling has the makeup of a positively impactful two-way center who has prioritized the defensive side of the puck to this point in his career, and who hasn’t seen the offense fully click at the NHL level in his four full NHL seasons.

His skating stride isn’t technically perfect, but it doesn’t hinder his explosion, four-way mobility, or ability to cover vast amounts of ice. He’s tenacious on the forecheck and backcheck, displaying proper angling and sealing techniques with a disruptive stick, and he’s astute in defensive zone coverage.

An underrated aspect of his game is his ability to transition. He displays proper puck-supporting routes as pucks move throughout the defensive zone on breakouts, is confident and decisive with the puck on his stick, and makes smart decisions upon entry when the blueline is afforded. He makes deft connecting plays in the neutral zone and does well to present himself as a passing option. With a tad more effectiveness at the critical moments of a developing play, he could easily uncover another layer to his offensive production.

Poehling will likely never produce at a 50-plus point level consistently, but with his skill, 40 points per season is within reason, a decent output for a two-way third-line center behind an offensive duo of Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson in the top six.

Poehling has one year remaining on his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent upon expiry. If the fit in Anaheim is seamless, he could earn an extension and a stable roster spot as a bottom-six center for the foreseeable future.

Anaheim Ducks Draft Preview: Best Fits at 10 Overall

Opinion: Following Playoffs, Pat Verbeek Vindicated for High Asking Price in John Gibson Trade Talks

Ducks Announce 2025-26 Preseason Schedule

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

While it was reported that the Montreal Canadiens had interest in Trevor Zegras some time ago, including at last year’s draft, GM Kent Hughes had since moved on from the former Anaheim Ducks player. The former ninth overall pick at the 2019 draft was once a promising prospect who oozed talent, but injuries have plagued his last two seasons, and he didn’t progress as expected, posting 15 points in 31 games in 2023-24 and 32 points in 57 games this past season.

When the Canadiens were interested in Zegras, they were drawn to his pure offensive skills and talent. However, after selecting Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage at the 2024 draft, their interest shifted elsewhere. It’s not that a team can have too much offensive talent, but you build a contender by carefully putting together an ensemble cast with complementary skills. The best example is probably the current champions, the Florida Panthers, who have found that balance. In contrast, the runner-up, the Edmonton Oilers, are still struggling to surround the best player in the world with the right pieces to take that last step.

Should The Canadiens Take A Run At Tavares?
Canadiens: Will Price Get The Call?
Canadiens: Bob McKenzie Final Draft Ranking Is In…

Speaking to the media after the trade, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek indicated that Zegras wanted to play center. Still, they saw him more as a winger, and they already had their top two centers in Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish. This made Zegras surplus to requirements, and while the return obtained may seem underwhelming, it simply reflects how much his value had declined.

To land Zegras, the Philadelphia Flyers only had to give former Canadiens player Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick at Friday’s draft, and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick. The pivot who was drafted 25th overall by the Canadiens at the 2017 draft and has since become a good depth center after being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Jeff Petry trade that landed the Canadiens Mike Matheson. He then signed with the Flyers as a free agent and posted 28 points in 77 games during the 2023-24 season and 31 points in 68 games this past season. His last two years have been more productive than Zegras's, and his style of play is more fitting for the Ducks’ needs at center.

For those who are lamenting the fact that it wouldn’t have been costly for the Canadiens to roll the dice on Zegras, you can be glad that Montreal is not in that stage anymore. At this stage of their rebuild, the Habs have more precise needs, they’re no longer seeing what raw assets they can acquire and foster as part of their foundation. They now know that they need and a player like Zegras just isn’t it.

At 6-foot and 185 pounds, he wouldn’t help address the Canadiens’ need for a big forward who can provide some physicality. If the playoffs taught us one thing, it’s that the Canadiens need more size and players who can handle the physical toll of the postseason. Players who can go to the dirty areas and establish a physical presence. Cole Caufield might have become less of a perimeter player, but he is still just 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, try as he may, he remains easy to move off the puck in heavy traffic, he doesn’t have the big frame to protect the puck in those areas.

There’s no guarantee the Canadiens will be able to address that need through a trade or on the free agency market this Summer, but Hughes will try and to do that, he needs to target the right players. Forget about Mason McTavish, Verbeek’s chat with the media made it clear yesterday that he’s not going anywhere.

The top six players, especially centers, are tough to acquire when you don’t draft them. Hughes did try when he traded for Kirby Dach, believing in his potential, and so far, the 6-foot-4 and 221-pound pivot hasn’t lived up to it. At his end-of-season press conference, the Canadiens’ GM stopped short of saying that this upcoming season would be the big center’s last chance, but he did say it would be a crucial season for him.

Insane goal from 2019 Draft eligible Kirby Dach. No idea why people have him dropping... top 5 talent pic.twitter.com/XgCty1hAqm

— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) April 8, 2019

If Dach was to show up to camp in fine form and find the form he was showing before suffering a knee injury in the second game of the 2022-23 season, he could a fantastic internal answer to the Canadiens’ need. He would however need to find a way to remain healthy, which has proven tricky for him since the start of his career. He has never played a full 82-game season, the most he has played in one campaign is 70 games and that was back in 2021-22.

In other words, Dach could be the solution, but there are a lot of ifs and buts there. When the puck drops on the new season, he will be entering the final year of the four-year contract he signed shortly after being traded to Montreal. That deal has a $3,362,500 AAV and once it’s up, he will be a RFA. So far, he’s not done anything to show he would deserve a significant raise or a long-term contract as a part of the Canadiens’ young core. The 24-year-old needs a big year and the Canadiens also need a big year from him.

Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.