Category: Ice Hockey

Evaluating Sharks' trade for defenseman Michael Kesselring: ‘A very good gamble' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

DETROIT — Everybody agrees that Michael Kesselring had a tough season.

But what’s Kesselring at his best? Three NHL scouts couldn’t quite agree.

The Sharks acquired the 26-year-old defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, along with the No. 27 pick in the 2026 Draft, in exchange for the No. 20.

According to Puckpedia’s Perri Pick Value Calculator, the value difference between those seven first-round draft spots is roughly a mid-second rounder, meaning that Kesselring did not come cheaply to the Sharks.

This, despite just two assists in 34 games and many healthy scratches for Kesselring this past season.

But Kesselring is just 26, enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 campaign with the Utah Mammoth, and is a mobile 6-foot-5 right-hander. There’s not a lot of those in the NHL. That season, Kesselring saw the equivalent of second-unit power play usage and notched seven goals and 29 points, averaging 17:41 a night.

Every Michael Kesselring goal from his last full healthy season in Utah.

It’s not the quantity, but the quality of these goals that’s impressive. This doesn’t highlight the rest of his game, but it’s definitely fun to see what he’s capable of when he finds a lane. #SJSharkspic.twitter.com/xoeAVWWvL0

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) June 17, 2026

Can he return to that form…or be better for the Sharks?

“Has top-four potential,” Scout No. 1 said. “Good size, moves well, has some upside.”

There’s a reason why the Sabres wanted Kesselring, along with winger Josh Doan from the Mammoth, in a 2-for-1 swap last summer for point-per-game winger JJ Peterka.

Scout No. 2, however, isn’t as enamored with Kesselring: “Long. Third-pairing, certainly not second-pairing potential. Maybe he kills penalties?”

Per Stathletes, Kesselring had some turnover issues with the Mammoth in 2024-25, sporting a team defense-worst 5-on-5 Neutral Zone Turnovers Per 60. His Pass Completion percentage was also position-worst.

Those numbers were worse in Buffalo.

“Offensive vision is very average,” Scout No. 3 said. “He can get busy with the puck sometimes but wouldn’t consider him careless.”

This scout came in on the middle about Kesselring: “Ideally, he’s a bottom-pairing guy, but there is upside.”

What does he like?

“Big, mobile, and has a decent puck game with a heavy shot,” Scout No. 3 said. “Two-way guy for me. Can play on a second power play unit.”

Kesselring did lead Utah blueliners with 150 shots in 2024-25. And according to Stathletes, he paced this position in 5-on-5 Stretch Carries Per 60, which are puck carries of 30-or-more feet, along with Carries Leading to Shots, his or off his pass.

So Kesselring has clear ability with lugging and distributing the puck, but also must learn to be more reliable with it.

Defensively, Kesselring did lead that Mammoth defense in 5-on-5 Puck Battles Won Per 60, so he’s effective with his size.

All three scouts agree that Kesselring should be an improvement for what was a below-average Sharks defensive corps last season.

“He’s a clear upgrade over what they had last year,” Scout No. 3 said. “Makes them better, for sure.”

How much better?

Scout No. 3 thinks that Kesselring circa 2024-25 would’ve been San Jose’s third-best defenseman last year, behind Dmitry Orlov and Mario Ferraro, and ahead of John Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, Sam Dickinson, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and company.

That’s faint praise.

But the Sharks have just two blueliners signed right now, Orlov and Dickinson, and now, a pair of RFA’s in Kesselring and Mukhamadullin.

So this is Kesselring’s chance to establish himself as an everyday NHL player…or not. Just don’t expect him to change the complexion of a San Jose defense that needs lots more help. He’s a very good gamble, that’s all.

“Like the player. Fills a need for the Sharks,” Scout No. 3 said. “Still has a good amount of upside.”

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

​The Seattle Kraken’s off-season is underway, and while the Vegas Golden Knights fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Finals, it felt like a good time to launch a new series: Did you know?

​This collection will feature articles about the Seattle Kraken, with facts, stories, and interesting tidbits fans may not know—or remember. ​

---

The past five seasons have produced several memorable moments. But the most interesting statistic is that, before the inaugural season even kicked off, the team had retired a jersey number. ​

The number that hangs in the rafters at the Climate Pledge Arena is 32.

​The story behind the retired number is that Kraken fans made 32,000 ticket deposits on the team's first day of existence. ​The team honored its fans by placing the number in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena before its inaugural game. ​

At the time, Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke shared a message with fans before the first game.

"You did it. And we will never, ever forget," Leiweke said to NHL.com. "And tonight, we will retire the number 32. We will never forget what you've done. We will always be reminded that jersey flies from the rafters of this beautiful arena, and we honor you."

​The Kraken went on to lose 4-2 to the Vancouver Canucks in their home opener, after falling 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights in their first NHL game.

​The number not only represents the fanbase but also reflects that the Seattle Kraken are the 32nd team in the National Hockey League, added in 2021-22.

​In the last five seasons, the team made the playoffs once, in 2022-23.​

Number 32 remains in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena, though it was never worn by a Kraken player.

​Leiweke had one more message for Kraken fans on that historic day: “Let’s go, Kraken!”​

Vitals

Player: Kris Letang
Born: April 27, 1987 (Age 39 season)
Height: 6’ 0”
Weight: 199 pounds
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Shoots: Right
Draft: Third round, 2005 NHL Draft, No. 62 overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins
2025-26 Statistics: 74 games played, three goals, 31 assists, 34 total points, minus-4
Contract Status: Two years remaining on a six-year. $36.6 million contract with $6.1 million salary cap number

Story of the Season

Letang is the one member of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ big three that has really started to show signs of age and slowing down.

While Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were still big-time contributors in 2025-26 and providing the Penguins with great value with their contracts, Letang simply did not. He has lost a step in his game and has not yet really adjusted to that, still having moments where he tries to play the way he did at his peak. It is not a good combination. While there were still some moments and individual games where Letang could put everything together and play like Kris Letang, those moments were few and far between.

The good news: Some of those moments came in extremely clutch situations, scoring overtime game-winning goals against both the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets to help give the Penguins key points in their push for a playoff spot against teams they were competing with in the playoff race. The game-winning goal against Columbus in late November capped off a two-goal third period comeback win for the Penguins that was one of their best wins of the season (and also one of their two multiple goal come-from-behind wins in Columbus this season).

Monthly Splits

via Yahoo!

Letang had a solid start to the season in October, recording six points with a plus-8 rating in his first 12 games of the season. He also had a solid December with nine points in 14 games. But his November and March were both especially bad, both offensively and in terms of giving up goals, and played a big role in his overall down numbers for the season.

Regular season 5v5 advanced stats

Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 11 defensemen on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.

Corsi For%: 48.8 (6th)
Goals For%: 49.1 (9th)
xGF%: 50.0 (9th)
Scoring Chance%: 48.6 (9th)
High Danger Scoring Chance%: 49.6 (9th)
5v5 on-ice shooting%: 9.8 (9th)
On-ice save%: .904 (5th)
Goals/60: 0.00 (11th)
Assists/60: 0.83 (7th)
Points/60: 0.83 (7th)

There is not a lot to love here about Letang’s perfomrance.

He did not score a single goal during 5-on-5 play, saw a serious drop in his playmaking with the assists, and was no longer an overly effective player in terms of driving position.

Making things even worse, he seemed to be the common denominator for a lot of his partner’s struggles.

Sam Girard was significantly better and more productive when he was not paired with Letang.

Ryan Shea was significantly better and more productive when he was not paired with Letang.

The only defenseman that seemed to have any meaningful success with Letang this season was Brett Kulak in their 278 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey together.

In other words, the 2025-26 season was finally the season that Kris Letang played like the player that his harshest critics always thought that he was. It only took 18 years, but it happened.

Charts n’at

This chart speaks to the above that the decline has been real for Letang. His decade+ days of being a quality No. 1 defenseman are a memory and his WAR ranking and offensive impact has been in sharp decline lately.

However, not all hope is gone. Letang can still move the puck within the offensive zone really well to create shot and chance assists. He is good with in-zone offense once the puck gets that far. Being so low in exit success rates with the inability to carry the puck as well as failing to deny entries and prevent chances defensively shows some areas that have become drastically limited for Letang in the aging process. He also somehow managed to score zero 5v5 goals this season, a bit of an anomaly considering he’s scored 4-10 5v5 goals each season since coming back from next surgery in 2017.

Even at an older age, Letang’s skating and burst is still reasonably good relative to the rest of the league. As a notorious workout/fitness freak, there’s no doubt that Letang is doing all that he can to keep his body in as top of shape as possible. Gotta give him a lot of credit for that, and all his endless work in the gym has certainly paid off to help him keep some power in his skating, even late in his career.

Highlights

Tanger calls game in his 1,200th 🙌

With his game winner, Kris Letang has the second-most overtime goals by a defenseman in NHL history (13). pic.twitter.com/Kmj5AaISX1

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) January 2, 2026

Most OT points all-time:

Sidney Crosby – 48
Evgeni Malkin – 46
Connor McDavid – 46
Leon Draisaitl – 45
Patrick Kane – 43
Erik Karlsson – 41
Patrick Kane – 41
John Tavares – 39
Kris Letang – 37

We have the top-2 players AND defensemen in OT points 👀
pic.twitter.com/sNFCUW7Cqv

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) November 29, 2025

Questions to Ponder

The two biggest questions regarding Letang are whether or not he can rebound in any way this season and find a way to be productive in a smaller role, and whether or not he will actually be on the team next season?

Letang has always seemed like the most likely of the big three to play elsewhere, and the Penguins might be open to moving him and his contract if the opportunity presents itself. That does not seem likely for a variety of reasons, ranging from Letang having a full no-movement clause and having the ability to veto any trade he does not want, as well as the fact there simply may not be a huge market for a 39-year-old defenseman counting more than $6 million per season against the salary cap and coming off arguably the worst season of his career.

Ideal 2026-27

It still seems likely that Letang will be a Penguin, but he is going to need to adjust his style of play and his role is going to need to change. He does not need to be the focal point of the defense or be the player pushing the pace of play, mostly because he does not really possess the skating or skills to do that anymore. If he can play an 18-minute per night role in more sheltered situations, while chipping in the occasional 5-on-5 goal, there might still be something here that they can use. He just needs to know his limitations. The Penguins also need to know his limitations.

Bottom line

Letang is a giant in Penguins history and one of the best, most important players to play for the franchise. There may have been a handful of better defensemen to briefly play for the Penguins (Paul Coffey, for example), but Letang has had the greatest career of any Penguins defensemen with the Penguins. He has won three Stanley Cups here, scoring a game-winning goal in a Stanley Cup clinching game, and consistently been one of the best overall defensemen in the NHL. He is a borderline Hall of Famer. All of that will always be important, even if he is not that version of himself at this stage of his career.

Pensburgh Grade: D+

I read something recently quoting somebody else who said your favorite World Cup (the soccer version) is the one that happens when you’re about 8-13 years old or so, because it’s when things still feel magical but before you grasp how cynical and corrupt FIFA is and how the world is in general.

All that aside, if you appreciate soccer at all, then the World Cup — even this bloated, peace-prize-for-toddler-favors version — is still fun as hell, for the coming together of cultures sharing party moments in celebration of a stupid game. Scots taking over Fenway Park, Uzbeks bouncing in a small group surrounded by tens of thousands of Colombians. A DR Congo fan standing still for the entirety of each match. Tourney favorite Spain running into Cabo Verde having its 2010 Jaro Halak moment. Jerry Jones keeling over somewhere, hopefully. (No?)

It will for sure pacify me until the NHL draft and free agency begins, at least.

There’s not a whole lot of news on that front just yet, but it’s coming, surely.

(P.S. Thanks to all for the encouraging words on Bear and the fun nerding out on handedness in Wednesday’s thread.)

Islanders News

Hockey’s just around the corner! Sort of not really but kind of. The prospect camp Blue-White scrimmage is on July 1, and maybe Gavin McKenna will be there after we trade Bailey, Donovan and a 5th to get him. [Isles]

Elsewhere

• The Knights have hired their latest coach, promoting their AHL guy. [NHL]
• And in their benevolence, they actually allowed fired coach Bruce Cassidy to talk to one team. [Sportsnet]
• However, that team was the Maple Leafs, who just hired former Kings coach (and Isles assistant) Jim Hiller. Son of Bourne talks himself into thinking that’s a fine hire. [Sportsnet]
• Hiller vows to make the Leafs fun again. [Sportsnet]
• TRADE: Buffalo moved up from 27 to 20 in the draft by sending Michael Kesselring to San Jose. [NHL]
• Jamie Langenbrunner joins the Predators’ new front office. [TSN]

The Calgary Flames haven't played a game of the 2026-27 season.

According to oddsmakers, they may not need to.

If the early Stanley Cup futures are any indication, the betting market has already reached a harsh verdict on Calgary's chances, essentially labeling the Flames as one of the NHL's least likely contenders. At +35,000 odds to win the Stanley Cup, only one team is viewed as having a slimmer path to hockey's ultimate prize: the Vancouver Canucks at +40,000.

It's a staggering level of skepticism.

For perspective, a $100 wager on the Flames would return $35,000 in winnings if they somehow lifted the Cup next June. Even a single dollar would turn into $350. Those aren't simply underdog odds—they're rebuild odds.

And it's difficult to argue with the logic.

Calgary's 2025-26 campaign unraveled almost immediately. A disastrous 2-8-2 start in October buried the club before Halloween, forcing the organization to confront reality months earlier than expected. By season's end, the Flames had finished 34-39-9 with 75 points, ranking 29th overall and narrowly avoiding the league's basement only by holding the regulation-wins tiebreaker over the New York Rangers.

Rather than chase an unlikely playoff spot, management committed to a different direction.

Rasmus Andersson was moved in January. MacKenzie Weegar followed in February. Nazem Kadri departed in March. What began as a veteran-heavy roster gradually transformed into a team prioritizing tomorrow over today.

The makeover may not be finished.

Alternate captain Blake Coleman is entering the final season of his contract, and with Calgary firmly in transition, his name continues to surface as a logical trade candidate. If the organization remains committed to accumulating assets, another familiar face could be gone before opening night.

That's why the betting market isn't buying a surprise turnaround.

The Flames aren't simply being projected as a team that misses the playoffs. They're being viewed as a franchise still in the early stages of constructing its next competitive window.

Around the rest of Canada, the outlook is considerably brighter. The Edmonton Oilers opened at +1,100, the Ottawa Senators at +1,600, the Montreal Canadiens at +2,200, the Toronto Maple Leafs at +4,000 and the Winnipeg Jets at +5,000.

Sitting atop the board are the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, who enter the summer as +750 favorites to repeat.

Of course, futures odds in June rarely tell the entire story. Trades, free agency, injuries and breakout seasons can reshape a franchise in a matter of months.

But for now, the message from oddsmakers couldn't be much clearer.

No team in the NHL is being given less of a chance than the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks—and the Calgary Flames aren't far behind.

The Colorado Avalanche don't have a Cale Makar problem.

They have a Cale Makar price tag to figure out.

As the franchise turns the page from another disappointing playoff exit, there may not be a bigger offseason priority than locking up the best defenseman on the planet for the rest of his prime. The good news? That process appears to be little more than a formality.

The Hockey News heard from multiple sources before GM Joe Sakic addressed the media at the club's end-of-season availability that Makar is expected to finish his career in Colorado, with a contract extension viewed internally as all but inevitable.

That shouldn't surprise anyone.

Elite defensemen almost never reach unrestricted free agency, and Makar has become far more than the face of Colorado's blue line. He's the engine that drives one of the NHL's most explosive offenses, a former Conn Smythe Trophy winner and dual Norris Trophy winner who has redefined what the position looks like.

The only real question isn't whether Makar will sign.

It's how high the number climbs.

His current contract carries a $9 million average annual value, a figure that once looked enormous but now feels like one of the league's biggest bargains. With the salary cap set to continue rising and the market for superstar talent exploding, Makar is in line for a substantial raise.

A deal in the $15-16 million range feels entirely realistic.

That's a staggering figure for a defenseman, but Makar has never been viewed as a player interested in squeezing every possible dollar out of an organization. Those around the team have long described him as someone who understands the value of roster construction. He wants to be paid like one of hockey's elite players, but he also wants to give Colorado every opportunity to surround him with a championship-caliber roster.

That balancing act could become one of the most fascinating negotiations of the summer.

There's also an interesting piece of NHL history working against the Avalanche.

No team has ever won the Stanley Cup with a player carrying a cap hit above $10 million.

The trend has come close to ending. The Vegas Golden Knights captured the 2023 Stanley Cup with Jack Eichel earning exactly $10 million, while the Florida Panthers won back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025 with both Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky carrying $10 million cap hits. But no champion has yet broken the eight-figure ceiling beyond that mark.

Of course, context matters.

The salary cap has climbed dramatically, making raw dollar figures less meaningful than the percentage of cap space occupied by a superstar contract. What once represented an enormous slice of a team's payroll will become increasingly manageable, making it feel inevitable that someone eventually shatters the trend.

Colorado may very well be the team that does it.

The Avalanche have already begun reshaping their roster, sending Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday in exchange for two draft picks and goaltender Magnus Chrona. The move creates additional flexibility while opening the door for further additions.

And more moves should be coming.

Colorado has some work to do if they hope to reclaim its place among the league's elite. Finding quality depth defenders will be just as important as completing Makar's extension, especially after another season that ended well short of Stanley Cup expectations.

There's little doubt Makar will be wearing burgundy and blue for years to come.

The bigger challenge for Joe Sakic and the Avalanche front office is building a roster around him that's capable of turning another historic contract into another championship parade.

Andre Tourigny isn't going anywhere.

After leading the Utah Mammoth to the first playoff appearance in franchise history and overseeing the steady transformation of one of the NHL's youngest rosters, the organization has rewarded its bench boss with added security. According to The Fourth Period and Daily Faceoff insider Dave Pagnotta, Utah has signed Tourigny to a one-year contract extension, keeping him behind the bench through the 2027-28 season.

The timing is hardly surprising.

Tourigny was entering the final year of his previous deal in 2026-27, a scenario that often creates unnecessary uncertainty for both coaches and players. Instead, the Mammoth have quietly eliminated that distraction, signaling confidence that the architect of their rebuild is still the right person to guide the franchise's next step.

Financial terms of the extension have not been disclosed.

The decision follows the most successful campaign the organization has enjoyed since arriving in Utah. The Mammoth finished 43-33-6, good for fourth place in the Central Division and the Western Conference's first Wild Card berth. Their postseason debut offered another glimpse of the progress being made, as Utah grabbed a 2-1 series lead over the eventual Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights before ultimately falling in six games.

While the playoff exit stung, it also reinforced a larger point: the Mammoth are no longer simply rebuilding—they're beginning to compete.

Tourigny has spent five seasons guiding the franchise, dating back to its Arizona Coyotes era, compiling a 170-195-45 record. On paper, that .470 points percentage ranks among the league's lowest over that span, but the raw numbers hardly tell the full story. He inherited a roster built for patience rather than immediate success and gradually developed a young core that finally broke through this season.

His longevity is notable in an era where NHL coaches rarely survive extended rebuilds. Counting his tenure in Arizona, only Jon Cooper, Jared Bednar and Rod Brind'Amour have held their positions longer than Tourigny.

Officially, however, the NHL views the Mammoth as an expansion franchise rather than a relocated Coyotes club. That technical distinction means Tourigny is credited with only two seasons behind Utah's bench, making him the league's 10th-longest tenured head coach despite never leaving the organization.

Whether measured by five years or two, the message from Utah's front office is unmistakable: the franchise believes its upward trajectory is just beginning, and it wants the coach who helped lay the foundation to remain at the helm.

The San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 20th overall selection.

Kesselring, 26, is currently set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027, if he only signs a one-year contract with the Sharks. The Florence, South Carolina native spent just one season with the Sabres, which certainly didn’t go the way either side had planned. In 34 games, he had just two points, both of which were assists, 50 penalty minutes, and just 25 hits.

“Michael has a big frame with solid two-way ability,” Sharks General Manager Mike Grier said in the official press release. “He is a responsible player in the defensive zone with a well rounded offensive game, and will be a good upgrade for us patrolling the blueline. We’re happy to have him a part of the organization.”

Known mainly for his defensive play during college and early in his professional career, Kesselring established himself as a solid two-way presence in Utah. In 82 games with the then Utah Hockey Club, he set career highs in goals (7), assists (22), points (29), penalty minutes (89), takeaways (22), and time on ice (17:41). Looking back at 2024-25, Kesselring had one of the hardest shots in the NHL. His 103.77 miles per hour rocket against the Colorado Avalanche was the third-fastest shot in the entire league that season, trailing just Tage Thompson and Gustav Forsling, both of whom were over 105 MPH.

Although his skating speed fell off a bit in Buffalo under Lindy Ruff, Kesselring was also pretty quick during his only season in Salt Lake City. He had a max skating speed of 22.39 MPH, which placed him in the 77th percentile. 

In San Jose, it seems likely that Kesselring will slot onto the second or third defensive pairing, assuming the Sharks are able to add another right-handed defenseman to play top-pairing minutes. He should be a good complement for a young, offensive-minded defenseman like Luca Cagnoni or Sam Dickinson, as he’ll provide a steady safety net alongside them.

Kesselring can provide some offense, but he shouldn’t be used primarily as a puckmover or on the power play. He mainly thrives in 5-on-5 play, focusing on the defensive end of the ice. Historically, he hasn’t gotten much usage on the penalty kill, but he could be an interesting candidate for the Sharks in that regard as well. 

The Sharks have started to address their holes on the blue line. While they still have quite a bit more to get done before the season starts in September, the defense looks considerably better than it did just 24 hours ago.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

There are multiple players from the glory years of the Detroit Red Wings who currently work for the organization, led by former captain Steve Yzerman, who has served as the club's general manager since April of 2019. 

Former Grind Line teammates Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby both remain with the organization. Draper serves as the club's assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting, while Maltby works as a professional scout.

Dan Cleary, who won the Stanley Cup with the club in 2008, is the Director of Player Development, while former defenseman Niklas Kronwall is an advisor to Yzerman while overseeing the tracking and development of European prospects. 

And of course, there is former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman and captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who is vice president of hockey operations.

But he'll also be taking on a new challenge as the Senior Advisor for the Swedish national team, a role that isn't expected to impact his work with Detroit. 

Ny sportslig ledning i Tre Kronor 🇸🇪
Nicklas Lidström, Tommy Boustedt och Jack Han förstärker organisationen kring herrlandslaget.
✅ Senior Advisor (Lidström)
✅ Player Personnel Manager (Boustedt)
✅ Analytiker (Han)
Läs mer https://t.co/X9Yy4TZ0t5#TreKronorpic.twitter.com/PQkDjHVEba

— Tre Kronor (@Trekronorse) June 17, 2026

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

"I am really looking forward to returning to the national team activities," Lidstrom said via The Swedish Ice Hockey Association. "For Tre Kronor, it is crucial to have a continuous and strong dialogue with both players and NHL clubs, not least based on the demands and conditions that prevail around the major tournaments. Being able to contribute to that work feels both inspiring and meaningful." 

Red Wings' Moritz Seider Earns Multiple Hart Trophy VotesDetroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider received multiple votes for the Hart Trophy, given annually to the most valuable NHL player during regular season play.

During his playing career, which was spent entirely with the Red Wings, Lidstrom captured the Norris Trophy seven times as the NHL's top defenseman, and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during Detroit's 2002 Stanley Cup championship run.

When Yzerman hung up the skates in 2006, Lidstrom was chosen as the Red Wings' next captain. He wore the "C" for the remainder of his career before retiring in 2012, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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.

We're almost a week away from the 2026 NHL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are likely making their final preparations for it. 

They're set to have the No. 22 pick in the first round next Friday night and one player who could be available to them is Adam Novotny.

Novotny spent the 2025-26 season with the Peterborough Petes in the OHL and had a great season, finishing with 34 goals and 65 points in 58 games. He also had one assist in six playoff games. 

He was one of several players to meet with the Penguins at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo earlier this month and really appreciated the meeting. 

"They showed you your clips, usually negative ones. But, obviously, I think they just want to hear how you're going to react to "many failures," if I could say it like that. And I think I did well," Novotny said. "I think they told me I did a good job, so it was nice. I like my coaches to be honest with me. [For] all the people around, I just want to hear the truth, not walk around something and not be honest. I always appreciate that feedback, and how is that going to get better, right? So, for sure, I was happy for that."

The first thing that jumps out about Novotny is his shot. He can really rifle the puck, and he's not afraid to use it. One of my favorite examples of this came in overtime against the Brantford Bulldogs. Novotny came into the zone on a two-on-one rush and slowed up a little bit before unleashing a beautiful shot for the OT winner. The Bulldogs' goaltender had no chance on it.

He scored some nice one-timers on the power play from the right circle, and was set up from the left circle as well. Speaking of the power play, he really moves around on it, which often confuses the opposing penalty killers. Sometimes he'd be on the left or right circles, and other times he'd be at the point or behind the net. 

Sticking with special teams, he can also play on the penalty kill and had a beautiful shorthanded goal against the Niagara IceDogs. He came in on a breakaway and made a sick backhand move for a goal. 

Penguins' Draft Prospect Profiles: Tommy Bleyl Tommy Bleyl is a super fun defenseman who is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. Should the Pittsburgh Penguins pick him if he's available at No. 22?

Novotny also showcased his speed on that goal, which is another strong element of his game. He's a good skater with a nice first burst and also skates with a ton of power. He's hard to knock the puck off of once he gets moving.

Don't sleep on Novotny's play around the net, either. He likes to crash the crease and get his nose dirty in those battle areas. With his size, he's tough to move once he's there. 

He still needs some work as a playmaker, but that could come as he continues to develop. He did have some nice plays where he set up teammates for goals, but I still felt his playmaking was lacking a bit. 

I liked his effort and compete level throughout the season, too. He does a solid job of getting back to help defensively and never gives up on a play.

If he's there at 22, I can definitely see the Penguins looking at him, since he has many of the traits they look for in a draft pick. 

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

The 2026 NHL Draft will take place next Friday. The Chicago Blackhawks currently hold the 4th overall pick, only behind the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks. 

There is reason to believe that Ivar Stenberg, the consensus second-best player in the draft, will fall to the Blackhawks at 4. That could happen if the Maple Leafs select Gavin McKenna, the Sharks select a defenseman, which is an organizational need, and the Canucks select their head coach's son, Caleb Malhotra. 

Although that scenario makes a ton of sense, something happened on Wednesday that could change everything. 

The San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 20th overall pick. The Sabres basically gave up Kesselring so that they could move up 7 spots. 

WE’VE GOT A TRADE 🔀

Hello Michael Kesselring and 27th overall!

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 17, 2026

Kesselring gives the Sharks another good, young player to work with on the blue line. That could, in theory, feel less pressure to draft one. 

If that were the case, they could select Stenberg and add him to their embarrassment of riches at forward. Of course, that would likely eliminate the Blackhawks from getting one of the three top forwards in this year's draft unless they trade up. 

San Jose is by no means "set" on defense, but this is another good piece added to their puzzle. They still could stand to add another top prospect at the position, which would be good for the Blackhawks, but this is certainly a wrinkle in the lead-up. 

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

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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

The Buffalo Sabres made a notable move on Wednesday, trading defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick of this year's NHL Entry Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for this year's 20th overall pick. The move is not surprising, as Kesselring struggled during his only season as a Sabre.

With the Sabres moving on from Kesselring, let's take a look at three more Sabres who have the potential to be traded next. 

Devon Levi, G 

Devon Levi has been a very popular name in the rumor mill since Buffalo's season has ended. With the Sabres having three other goalies ahead of him on their depth chart, it would not be shocking if the Sabres give Levi a fresh start elsewhere. This is especially so when noting that he did not play in a single NHL game this season.

In 52 games this season for the Rochester Americans, Levi had a 23-20-9 record and a .904 save percentage. 

Jordan Greenway, LW

The Sabres need to free up cap space with them having so multiple pending free agents, both unrestricted and restricted. Due to this, it would not be surprising if the Sabres traded Greenway and his $4 million cap hit before July 1. He is simply making too much for his role as a bottom-six forward. 

In 40 games this season for the Sabres, Greenway recorded one goal, six points, and 57 hits. 

Josh Norris, C 

Josh Norris is another Sabres forward who should be watched this off-season. While he is a key part of the Sabres' forward group, his $7.95 million cap hit is definitely high for what he provides. With this, it is fair to wonder if the Sabres could try to flip him in a trade package to land another high-impact forward. 

In 44 games this season with the Sabres, Norris had 13 goals, 21 assists, and 34 points. 

Ryan Craig has been named the fifth head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Yes, the fifth. Incredibly crazy considering the team has only been around since 2017 and has made it to the Stanley Cup Final three times since inception.

The former Brandon Wheat Kings captain has been handed the keys in Vegas, by a familiar friend, nonetheless. Thus completing a coaching climb through the only NHL organization he has ever known from behind the bench.

Craig, 44, joined the Golden Knights as an assistant coach ahead of the franchise’s inaugural 2017-18 season and quickly became part of one of hockey’s greatest expansion stories. He helped guide the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five of his six seasons as an assistant and was behind the bench when Vegas captured its first Stanley Cup championship in 2023.

From there, Craig continued building his resume with the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.

Over three seasons as Henderson’s head coach, Craig helped the club improve each year, increasing its win total from 28 victories in 2023-24 to 29 in 2024-25 before a franchise-best 39-21-12 record and 90-point campaign in 2025-26. The Silver Knights also advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs this spring.

Long before his rise through the Golden Knights' organization, however, Craig’s leadership qualities were on display in Manitoba.

The Abbotsford, B.C. product spent five seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings from 1998 to 2003, where he played under current Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who was Brandon’s owner and general manager.

Craig served as the Wheat Kings' captain for two seasons, led the club in scoring twice and was named to the WHL East First All-Star Team during his final junior season. He was also recognized as both the WHL and CHL Humanitarian of the Year.

That leadership followed Craig throughout his professional playing career.

Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the eighth round of the 2002 NHL Draft, Craig went on to play 198 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Columbus. He also appeared in 711 AHL games and served as captain of an incredible nine different teams, including the 2015-16 Calder Cup champion Lake Erie Monsters.

Now, after years of leading as a player and developing as a coach, Craig will get his first opportunity running an NHL bench.

For the Wheat Kings, it represents yet another connection between Brandon and one of the NHL’s most successful modern - and sometimes cutthroat - franchises.

More than two decades after McCrimmon watched Craig grow into a leader in Westman, the two are reunited as they look to bring another Stanley Cup to Vegas.

The San Jose Sharks traded for a defenseman on Wednesday, June 17 and also changed where they will select in the first round of this month's NHL draft.

The Sharks acquired Michael Kesselring from the Buffalo Sabres. As part of the trade, they will move seven spots down in the 2026 draft, giving up their 20th overall pick for Buffalo's No. 27 pick. The 20th pick was previously acquired from Edmonton in the Jake Walman trade.

Kesselring was limited to 34 games because of injury and had only two assists. But he had seven goals and 29 points in 2024-25 with Utah, which sent him to Buffalo with Josh Doan in the J.J. Peterka trade.

The Sharks were in need of defensive depth with John Klingberg, Mario Ferraro, Nick Leddy and Vincent Desharnais potentially heading to unrestricted free agency. Kesseling is a restricted free agent.

The Sharks will now select second and 27th in the first round of the June 26-27 draft. They got the No. 2 overall pick in the second draft lottery drawing.

Sharks-Sabres trade grades

Sharks: B-

The Sharks need defensive depth and Kesselring showed promise during his time in Utah. They still hang onto their two first-round picks but will select 27th instead of 20th with their second pick.

Sabres: B

Kesselring didn't pan out in Buffalo because of an injury. They move him rather than re-sign him and jump seven spots in the draft.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sharks trade for Michael Kesselring, swap NHL draft picks with Sabres