With Toronto Maple Leafs training camp set to open on Thursday, a lot of eyes will be on 20-year-old Easton Cowan. After accomplishing a historic list of achievements at the major junior level with the London Knights, including winning the 2024 Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's Most Outstanding Player and winning the Memorial Cup in 2025, the only remaining question is if the player has a shot at making the Maple Leafs lineup this season.

"He had an exceptional year. He won a championship. He got to experience a lot of things. [The] World Junior Championship went through a lot of development, not just on the ice but off the ice. I think he's ready now to come and try to push to be on the team," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said of Cowan. "Now, is that now? Is that October? Is that December? Is that a year from now? The players will decide. And it really does come down to that. The players tell us. They tell us each day. They'll tell us at the end of camp. And so that's what the next three-ish weeks are for.”

Cowan is arguably Toronto’s top prospect right now, and with the departure of Mitch Marner this summer, a player with Cowan’s offensive acumen could help the Maple Leafs. At the same time, the Leafs want to make sure they don’t rush him to a point where he’s on the team before he is ready.

Easton Cowan Adds Size, Reveals What It Will Take To Make Maple Leafs Roster Out Of Training CampAll eyes are on Easton Cowan as he heads to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rookie tournament in Montreal this weekend. The prospect will play professional hockey for the first time this season. His performance this weekend and at the Leafs’ upcoming training camp will determine if he plays in the NHL with the Leafs or in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.

Cowan played one of Toronto’s two games at the Rookie Showcase event in Montreal last weekend. The player added some size and weight to his frame this summer, coming in at 190 pounds and 5-foot-11. Knowing he’s going to play in Toronto no matter if it’s with the Maple Leafs or the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, Cowan emphasized working on the defensive side of his game for any long-term success.

“I just gotta be a worker, gotta be a hound, get pucks in, get pucks out, play simple because me and the Leafs organization know that if I do that my offense will take over. So just focus on defense first and the offense will come,” Cowan said last week.

Takeaways From Maple Leafs' First Game Of Prospect Showdown Against SenatorsDespite the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects falling to the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 at the Prospect Showdown in Montreal, there were some positives as the players became more comfortable in their first game since the summer break.

With the Maple Leafs getting deeper at the forward position this season, it may prove tough for Cowan to make Toronto’s lineup. He’ll have to show he has the physicality and consistency to outwork others in front of him. But even if he doesn’t make the club out of camp, the Leafs could call him up later in the season when needed if injuries pop up.

What probably would have been best for Cowan last year was playing in the American Hockey League, but the player wasn’t eligible because he was under 20. Per the CBA and agreement with the Canadian Hockey League, 19-year-olds were required to return to their junior club if they didn’t make an NHL lineup. That will change beginning next season as each NHL team will be allowed one exception per year.

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Hockey is back in South Florida.

The Florida Panthers will hit the ice on Thursday for their first official practice of 2025 Training Camp at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

Florida is gearing up to defend their back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships, and they’ve got a roster that is built to do just that.

On Wednesday, THN Florida posted one word for every Panthers forward ahead of them kicking off training camp.

Now we’ll cover the defensemen and goaltenders:

Aaron Ekblad: Lineup

As in, stay in it. Over the past couple seasons, Ekblad has missed a total of 57 games between injury and suspension. It’s quite a change from the durability he showed during the first five years of his career, when he only missed 19 games combined. The 29-year-old has said that he wants to get back to that kind of reliability, so we’ll see the stars re-align for Ekblad this season.

Seth Jones: Comfort

Between the regular season and the playoffs, Jones has played 44 games in a Panthers sweater after being acquired at last season’s Trade Deadline. Learning the defensive systems of a team that has won consecutive Stanley Cups while leaning on their defensive hockey is not an easy task, but Jones managed to look darn good despite the limited adjustment time. Now, with an offseason to learn and absorb, and a full training camp to put everything into motion, Jones should be able to take things to another level this season.

Gustav Forsling: Pristine

No notes. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Niko Mikkola: Future

Mikkola has proven to be a perfect fit with the Panthers, and his play has been incredibly consistent over his two seasons in South Florida. He’s 29 years old and playing the best hockey of his career, but he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Will he cash in on the open market or keep the bus rolling with the Cats?

Dmitry Kulikov: Home

The Panthers’ first round selection from all the back at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kulikov found his way back to South Florida during the summer of 2023 after playing for seven different, non-Florida teams in seven years. Since re-arriving, consistent health has allowed his game to flourish. He’s now won a pair of championships with the team that drafted him, and he has a deal signed that will keep him with the Cats until he’s 37 years old.

Uvis Balinskis: Regular

Last season, Balinskis was a regular in Florida’s lineup, playing 76 games in what proved to be a strong first full NHL season. After the arrival of Jones, however, Balinskis became the seventh defenseman, playing only when someone was hurt or suspended from that point on. The coaching staff raves about his consistency and professionalism, so it will be interesting to see if he can solidify a spot in the top six once again.

Jeff Petry: Footsteps

The newest Panthers blueliner will look to follow in the footsteps of veterans like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Nate Schmidt, who each signed one-year deals with Florida and went on to have exceptional seasons with a team that they were extremely good fits for. The Panthers signed Petry because they feel he’s a strong candidate to have a similar success story.

Sergei Bobrovsky: Share

If it were up to Bob, he would play every single game he suits up for. Fortunately, he knows that listening to his goaltending coach, Robb Tallas, when it comes to limiting his ice time and staying fresh, is a key to the success he’s had over the past three postseasons. Sharing the goal crease during the regular season is crucial for Bob and the Panthers if they want to continue boasting the strongest, most consistent goaltending in the league come playoff time.

Daniil Tarasov: Sponge

Soak up as much as you can from one of your goaltending idols (Bob) and from the wealth of knowledge contained within Florida’s goaltending excellence department.

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Photo caption: Apr 25, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrate after they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in game three of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers are looking to ratchet up the competition for NHL roster spots this year, and that starts with the beginning of training camp on Thursday.

Just prior to the conclusion of rookie camp earlier in the week, Flyers GM Danny Briere challenged his team to battle with each other for more responsibilities on the ice, stating that "nobody should be comfortable or happy with what they've done in the past."

So, opportunities are going to be there for the taking, both at the forward positions and on defense.

The obvious place to start here is at the forward position, where two left winger spots are technically open, though players like Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak can move to the left wing to accommodate players like Rodrigo Abols and Jett Luchanko.

Nick Deslauriers is still on the Flyers' roster, but he'll be battling with prospects Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin for a place in the lineup.

Bump is not exactly tailor-made for a fourth-line role, so this is conceivably going to come down to Grebenkin vs. Deslauriers as long as Bump doesn't have a poor training camp.

If the Flyers choose to keep eight defensemen, they're limited to 13 forwards. If Grebenkin and Bump make the lineup, would the Flyers be willing to have Deslauriers as the only reserve forward instead of another center?

Flyers: Aleksei Kolosov's Official Role, Getting a Second NHL ChanceThe 2025-26 season represents a fresh start for a number of Philadelphia Flyers, but goalie Aleksei Kolosov may have the biggest opportunity of all.

That's where players like Helge Grans and Emil Andrae affect the big picture.

Right now, the Flyers have veterans Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert in the equation, and Egor Zamula could potentially reprise his role as the sixth defenseman from last season.

Andrae's 5-foot-9 stature works against him, and Briere has already warned that the Flyers are "going to need the Emil we saw early [last] season for him to stick around."

He and Zamula were in and out for each other in the lineup at times under John Tortorella, and that is, for all intents and purposes, one of the main roster battles to watch, in addition to whatever Gilbert can say for himself and bring to the table as a career tweener defenseman.

On the other side are Juulsen and Grans, who will be vying for ice time in place of the injured Rasmus Ristolainen.

As it stands, Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale will continue as the two top-four right defensemen, though only Drysdale is a right-shot.

It's certainly plausible that Sanheim moves back to the left under a new head coach in Rick Tocchet, and both Grans and Juulsen play with Ristolainen out.

Flyers Rookie Camp: Which Prospects Are Early Standouts?The Philadelphia Flyers are set to kick off training camp in only a few days, and some of their top prospects are already positioning themselves well for strong seasons.

But, assuming the operation carries over from the Tortorella era, it's one or the other, not both.

Juulsen played under Tocchet already in Vancouver with the Canucks, established himself as an NHLer, and endeared himself as a rugged shot-blocker type.

The problem is that the 28-year-old had a -12 rating in 35 games last season and didn't record a single point, whereas Grans out-produced Juulsen in one game, his NHL debut.

Tocchet may favor familiarity and experience in Juulsen, but his responsibility is to also develop the Flyers' young players, which includes Grans, who took major strides by playing in his first six NHL games last season.

As for my early predictions?

I suspect Bump and Grebenkin take the two winger spots and push Deslauriers to the bench. The 31 games Deslauriers played for the Flyers last season were his fewest since his rookie campaign in 2013-14 (17 games) and he'll turn 35 in February.

Andrae brings more to the table than Zamula despite his slight build, and I think pairing him with a fellow Swede and familiar defenseman in Grans can help get the most out of both players.

Zamula and Juulsen remain as bench options in the event one or both youngsters struggle.

It should also be noted that Grans is no longer waivers-exempt, while Andrae is for 34 more games or until the end of this season.

How this all ultimately plays out remains to be seen, but these are the players worth focusing on the most throughout training camp this fall.

While the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp is just about to kick off on this side of the pond, play has already resumed in the KHL, and one Habs’ prospect has been busy playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. It’s already been two years since Montreal drafted Bogdan Konyushkov in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, but Tricolore fans have seen very little of him so far.

The right-shot defenseman did come to the Canadiens’ development camp this summer and enjoyed the experience. Still, there’s no plan for him to come over until the end of his two-year pact with Torpedo, which is set to expire after the 2026-27 season.

Speaking to Sergey Demidov of Research Ground, the 22-year-old explained that even though he did sign an extension with his KHL club, he still dreams of playing in the NHL. Before he does that, though, he wants to help his current team win a championship.

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The young man is quite reasonable; while he dreams of making the NHL, he recognizes the Canadiens' influence and acknowledges that his family’s happiness must come first.

During his time in Montreal for the development camp, he met Ivan Demidov, and while impressed by his skills and talent, it was his countryman’s work ethic that left the most significant impression. He recalls that two months before training camp even opened, Demidov was skating twice a day and hitting the gym in between his two on-ice sessions.

Konyushkov is a realist and he knows he still needs some more development, given how much ice time he gets in the KHL, it’s not a bad thing that he has committed to play there a couple more years, he’ll have more responsibilities and ice time there than he would in Montreal or Laval with so many young blueliners being part of the organization.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on Konyushkov in the next couple of years, and if everything goes according to plan, he should be ready to try his hand at North American hockey at the end of the 2026-27 season.

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Training camp is a chance for every player to prove their worth. When it comes to the New York Islanders, this camp should be one of the most competitive ones we've seen in quite a while. 

There's an abundance of center and wingers -- a good problem to have -- but it also means that difficult choices are on the horizon for first-year general manager Mathieu Darche. 

Like many NHL teams, the Islanders will likely run a 23-man roster, with two extra forwards and an extra defenseman. That means that, at some point, the Islanders will need to cut 38 players from their training camp roster. 

Now, some of the cuts are straightforward -- Kashawn Aitcheson and Burke Hood are returning to juniors -- but when it comes to other decisions, one obstacle could be a deciding factor: waivers. 

For example, if the Islanders are deciding between Isaiah George and Adam Boqvist for the seventh defenseman job, only one of these players -- George -- is waiver-exempt. Would the Islanders risk losing Boqvist?

What about Ethan Bear, a right-side defenseman with 275 NHL games under his belt? 

New York Islanders 2025 Training Camp: Roster Battles & CompetitionAfter an offseason that featured a blockbuster trade, the first overall pick, and a few free agent additions, the New York Islanders head into training camp with some unanswered questions.

When it comes to the forward group, which of Pierre Engvall, Marc Gatcomb, or Kyle MacLean won't make the cut? Does Calum Ritchie earn a job, meaning only one of the three names above makes the roster?

Ritchie is waiver-exempt, by the way. We'll note that so is Maxim Shabanov, but he's making the team. 

Engvall, given that he is in year three of a seven-year deal worth $3 million, is unlikely to be claimed, but it's possible that MacLean and Gatcomb would be.

Goaltending will be the biggest position to watch. If...if Semyon Varlamov actually is ready to start the season, I doubt that the Islanders will be carrying him, Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich, the latter who was signed as a Varlamov insurance policy.

If Rittich isn't kept, he'll hit the waiver wire before the start of the season, along with Marcus Hogberg.  Goaltenders are always in high demand, and we are already seeing teams, -- the Colorado Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood may not be ready for the start of the season -- in need of bolstering their goaltending.

This is not to say that the risk of losing someone to waivers is the only reason to keep them on the NHL roster. But it is certainly something that Darche will be keeping in mind. 

The players mentioned, if waived, would hit the wire the day before all teams have to send in their NHL cap-compliant rosters. So, for many teams, they are trying to shed cap, not add more on. 

That's why you rarely see players claimed during that final waiver day. So, it's very possible that the players the Islanders do ultimately waive pass through cleanly. 

Also, keep in mind that if a player passes through waivers and is recalled, he can be on the NHL roster for a maximum of 30 days or have played in 10 NHL games to need to pass through waivers again. 

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

Well, today is the day: Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp is finally here.

With full rosters revealed - and GM and POHO Kyle Dubas speaking to the media at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday - there are sure to be some intriguing storylines heading into camp this season.

Here are six training camp storylines to watch this year.

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1. How will the new coaching staff change things up?

After former head coach Mike Sullivan and the Penguins parted ways at the end of April, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas got to work in replacing most of the coaching staff. That started with new head coach Dan Muse's hire on Jun. 4, with assistants Todd Nelson, Nick Bonino, Rich Clune, Troy Paquette, and Mike Stothers to follow.

Muse said upon his hire that the Penguins would likely deploy a mix of systems, so there figures to be some changes in that department. It will also be interesting to see Nelson's approach to the power play and Stothers's to the penalty kill, which are the respective units they will be overseeing. Stothers will also be the defensive coach, something that has been a sore spot for the Penguins over the past several seasons.

'I Couldn't Be More Excited To Get Started Here': 3 Takeaways From Dan Muse's Introductory Press Conference As Penguins' Head CoachOn Wednesday, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas formally introduced Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

But another thing to watch is that Muse values an individualistic approach to coaching, which is something he discussed in his introductory press conference in June.

"You have guys in different places in their careers, and that's very clear," Muse said. "My job coming in here is going to be to help maximize each person and to help each person work toward what their highest level could be right now. And that's going to be my focus."

Be on the lookout for small changes from Sullivan's old system. Major changes don't happen overnight, and it will be in the beginning stages during camp. But there should still be some evidence of change.

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2. Can any other forward prospect beat out Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty?

The battle at the forward position will be one of the more interesting ones in all of camp. We wrote about some dark horse candidates to crack the NHL roster out of camp, but honestly, roster spots aren't even guaranteed for Koivunen and McGroarty out of camp.

McGroarty missed the Prospects Challenge with an undisclosed injury, and Dubas will provide an update prior to the start of training camp on Thursday. But, assuming he is in the equation, who may realistically be able to beat out Koivunen and McGroarty for an NHL roster spot?

Some of the names on the short list include SHL Forward of the Year Filip Hallander, prospects Avery Hayes and Tristan Broz, and Robby Fabbri, who was signed to a paid tryout (PTO) contract on Wednesday. But, to be clear, this list is very short.

Koivunen and McGroarty both proved they belonged at the NHL level at the end of the 2024-25 season, and the Penguins are pushing toward a youth movement. This will be revisited a bit later, but they are the two prospects with targets on their backs - even if some veteran players have targets on their backs as well.

4 Dark Horse Candidates To Break Penguins' NHL Roster Out Of CampPittsburgh Penguins' training camp is officially only two days away, and there will be many storylines to watch this year.

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3. How will the Penguins' left side shape up?

One of the other most interesting positional battles for the Penguins during training camp and the pre-season will, without a doubt, come on the left side.

During the offseason, the Penguins signed Parker Wotherspoon, Alexander Alexeyev, and Caleb Jones, and they are retaining Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, and Owen Pickering. Perhaps even prospect Emil Pieniniemi can be included in the positional battle group, too. 

As evidenced, there is a lot of uncertainty on the left side, and the battle for - really - all three spots is wide open. With the departure of Matt Grzelcyk in free agency, Wotherspoon is probably the frontrunner to be deployed in the Penguins' top-four alongside one of Karlsson or Letang, but the other two spots are anyone else's to take.

Is Pickering ready for top-four minutes, and can he crack the roster? Can Graves find new life under a new coaching staff? Can Shea step up like he did at times last season? Can Alexeyev, 25, surprise and reach greater heights this season?

If you're looking for true positional battles where nothing is guaranteed, this is the one for you. 

Can Penguins' Defenseman Bounce Back This Season?Among the biggest holes on the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster this season is the one at left defense. 

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4. Can Harrison Brunicke outperform himself from last season?

Brunicke was the story during training camp in 2024, as the then-18-year-old impressed Dubas, the coaching staff, teammates, and fans alike with what appeared to be pro-readiness at such a young age.

In fact, he impressed so much that he hung around camp until the very end, when the Penguins elected to keep McGroarty on the roster instead due to several factors such as the injury situation, McGroarty's impressive camp, and the already-existing logjam on defense. But even though McGroarty got the edge in the end - and Brunicke had to be sent back to juniors - the young defenseman made a pretty strong impression and nearly earned a nine-game trial with the NHL club.

If he finds that level again this time around - or if he bests his camp from last year - he may just force the Penguins' hand. If they are as committed to the youth movement as they seem to be, Brunicke would, at least, get the nine-game trial in that case - especially since sending him back to junior hockey this season may not be the best thing for him, and the AHL/CHL rule change will likely not come into effect this season.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Defenseman Exceeds Expectations, Eyes NHL Roster SpotHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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5. Silovs or Blomqvist?

The goaltending situation within the entire organization will be interesting to watch. But there is a particular battle in training camp that should provide a lot of intrigue. 

Since Alex Nedeljkovic was dealt to the San Jose Sharks and Arturs Silovs was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks, the door has been opened to a legitimate battle for the second goaltending spot on the NHL roster. Tristan Jarry figures to be on the NHL roster, but Silovs and Joel Blomqvist both have an inside track at that other slot.

Who will come out on top? Silovs put together a remarkable Calder Cup campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks last season, and Blomqvist showed signs of potential in his first 2024-25 NHL stint. They're just one year apart in age, and they have a similar degree of experience at the NHL level.

This battle is another one that's wide-open, and the result could prove very consequential for either - especially with Sergei Murashov knocking on the door.

4 Penguins Who Could Surprise In 2025-26It’s no secret that the expectations for the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t exactly sky-high this season. The team is somewhere in the midst of a rebuild, and there is uncertainty regarding the futures of several players on the roster.

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6. Will Dubas use waivers to cut veterans?

If the young players really show out for camp, do not be surprised to see Dubas exercise waivers to move some of the veterans off of this roster.

Obviously, the big names would be safe, and guys like Tommy Novak and Anthony Mantha are unlikely to go anywhere. But anyone else? Well, it's anyone's guess.

Veterans such as Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes, and Noel Acciari are not guaranteed a roster spot. Even younger players like Connor Dewar and Philip Tomasino - both just signed to one-year deals this summer - are not. Simply put, if a guy like Hallander plays well enough to earn a spot on the team, he is not going to be blocked as was the case in years prior.

If the young guys earn it, they will be rewarded. So, expect to see one or two of the veterans waived after training camp.

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

On Wednesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have agreed to a contract extension with defenseman Wyatt Kaiser. 

Kaiser was an RFA with the hopes of getting a deal done before training camp began, and the two sides were able to come together successfully. The deal is a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.7 million. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xhi Wyatt!👋 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/UDrC9Plahj

Kaiser set career highs in goals with four, points with 8, and games played with 57 during the 2024-25 season. He also managed to be a contributor in blocked shots and hits, which is part of what makes him a solid young defensive defenseman. 

Despite the Blackhawks starting to build some nice depth on the back-end, they are mostly young players, so a good rotation will be necessary in 2025-26. Kaiser will be a part of the mix on the left side. 

When the rosters came out for training camp, Kaiser's name did appear on it with the designation that he was without a contract. Now, he will be able to report to camp with no issues. 

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

After taking a major step in the right direction in 2024-25, the Montreal Canadiens followed that up with a busy off-season. They notably brought in star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in a big trade. They also acquired a young forward in Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux.

While Dobson and Bolduc are the Canadiens' newcomers that are being talked about most, the Habs also brought in an interesting veteran forward who should not be ignored: Sammy Blais. 

The Canadiens quietly signed Blais to a one-year, $775,000 contract back in July. This was after the 6-foot-2 forward spent all of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, where he recorded 14 goals and 40 points in 51 regular-season games. He also made a big impact during Abbotsford's championship run this spring, recording six goals, 19 points, and 77 penalty minutes in 23 playoff games.

Now, after a successful season in the AHL, Blais will be looking to get back to the NHL level with the Canadiens. When looking at the Habs' group, it is fair to wonder if the 2014 sixth-round pick could make the Habs' roster as an extra forward with a strong training camp. His hard-nosed style of play and versatility could get him some consideration for their fourth line. 

Blais last played at the NHL level with the St. Louis Blues in 2023-24, where he recorded one goal, seven points, and 194 hits in 53 games. It will now be interesting to see if he can claw his way back to the NHL with the Canadiens from here. 

Media days have kicked off for the Vegas Golden Knights, and while the main focus is what’s to come on the ice this season, that doesn’t mean that the Knights can’t have a little fun. 

The series The Summer I Turned Pretty has taken the world by storm, and the ongoing question all summer has been: “Are you team Jeremiah or Conrad?” Based on Jenny Han’s bestselling trilogy, the show follows Belly Conklin as she returns to Cousins Beach stirring up many emotions, and forces her to choose between two brothers. 

While it may not be so obvious, a few unexpected fans of the show are some of the Golden Knights themselves. The video includes fan favorites, defenseman Noah Hanifin, center Cole Schwindt, right-winger Mitch Marner, and center William Karlsson. 

Turns out, even pro hockey players couldn’t avoid the appeal of the show. All episodes are now streaming on Prime Video. 

Personally, I’m happy to hear that the Knights and I are on the same page. 

We’re almost at the start of the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re nearing the conclusion of our exclusive player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Sabres player this coming season.

We’ve already made our way through Buffalo’s goaltenders, blueliners, and the grand majority of the Sabres’ top-four lines of forwards. And in today’s file, we’re analyzing the expectations for right winger Beck Malenstyn, a player who is firmly entrenched on Buffalo’s fourth line. Malenstyn may even be in danger of losing his job as an everyday NHL player.

But let’s get down to all the notable information about Malenstyn, then harbor an educated guess about what’s most likely to be ahead for the 27-year-old in ‘25-26:

Player Name: Beck Malenstyn

Position: Left Winger

Age: 27

2024-25 Key Statistics: 76 games, four goals, 10 points, 10:32 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$1.35 million

2025-26 Expectations: As you can see by Malenstyn’s individual numbers, he’s not a threat to go on a point-producing spree anytime soon. Malenstyn is almost the dictionary definition of what NHL management members want out of a fourth-line forward: he’s physical – he led all Sabres forwards with 191 hits last year – and he’s big at 6-foot-3 and can give you some decent minutes on defense. Other than that, you’re likely to come away disappointed with Malenstyn, who barely got to double-digits in points in his first year as a Sabre.

We’re not saying Malenstyn isn’t an NHLer, but in an era when every salary cap dollar saved is a dollar you can spend on a difference-maker, you can probably find young players on entry-level contracts making about a half-million less than Malenstyn makes to do the same job. Remember, this is a player who averaged 10-and-a-half minutes per game. We're obviously not talking about someone who is out there in crucial situations.

And given that this is Year 2 of Malenstyn’s two-year contract, we wouldn’t expect an announcement of a contract extension for him anytime soon. Indeed, with younger Sabres pushing up against him in Buffalo’s depth chart – players like first-year Sabres winger Josh Doan, and any one of Buffalo’s small army of young players -- seeking an opportunity to show what they’re made of.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer Winger Danforth A Role Player At Best For Buffalo In '25-26The NHL’s 2025-26 season is about to begin, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re approaching the end of our player-by-player series in which we analyze every Sabres player’s expectations for the coming season.

For better or worse, we know what Malenstyn is made of. He’s an honest player, and one who can drop down, block shots and kill penalties for you. But he’s being relatively well-compensated as a fourth-liner, so he’s going to start the year on a line with right winger Justin Danforth and center Peyton Krebs.

Krebs still has some ceiling as an NHLer, and if he can come out of the gate thriving, Malenstyn’s individual numbers could get a boost. But otherwise, we can’t expect Malenstyn to be the catalyst for a surge in the offense generated by Buffalo’s fourth line.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Buffalo Hoping Center Krebs Will Emerge As Key CogThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is just about upon is, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re near the end of our player-by-player series in which we break down each Buffalo player’s expectations for the coming year.

Malenstyn may depart the Sabres at the end of this season, or sooner. He could be used as salary cap ballast to make an in-season trade work under Buffalo’s financial picture. But it’s difficult to envision Malenstyn as a long-term piece of the puzzle in Western New York.

The bottom line -- there are many players on Malenstyn’s level, and even if the Sabres appreciate what he does, that means constant change is likely in the cards for him, and a new employer for him at this time next year. But he still has time to ensure he stays in Buffalo beyond this coming year.

The Montreal Canadiens had a game-changing off-season.

You don’t win top spot in THN.com’s Summer Splash series if you’re not the cream of the crop in terms of off-seasons. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has done great work in improving the overall quality of the team with the trade acquisitions of star defenseman Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc, and Montreal now has a terrific shot at improving on its solid 2024-25 season.

Still, when you’re rebuilding from the basement to the ceiling the way the Habs are, you’re still going to have some problem areas to deal with. And as the 2025-26 season appeared close on the horizon, the Canadiens’ chief problem area is their second-line center.

While Montreal has more than enough cap space to go out and trade for an experienced hand to fill the role, Habs brass are giving the first shot at the job to youngster Kirby Dach again. Canadiens fans no doubt are hoping the 24-year-old Dach can rise to the occasion, but some will point to his bad luck on the health front as a reason to be skeptical he can thrive as Montreal’s No. 2 pivot.

In six NHL seasons, Dach has played more than 58 games in a single season just one time – when he appeared in 70 games for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021-22. Even in the two seasons shortened by COVID-19, he missed at least part of the season.

All in all, Dach has appeared in only 269 career regular-season games, the 10th-most among the 2019 NHL draft class despite making the league right away. So it’s understandable why some observers would rather Hughes acquire a more experienced hand to be their second-line center.  You want the proven commodity, and Dach is certainly not that.

From this writer’s perspective, there’s simply not enough sample size for Dach to be adequately judged. And the truth is, Dach's scoring rate dropped significantly last season, from putting up 14 goals and 38 points in 58 games in 2022-23 to generating just 10 goals and 22 points in 57 games in 2025-26. Those numbers certainly aren’t going to cut it as the Canadiens’ second-line center. 

This coming year, Dach is about to have what is probably his last best shot at flourishing with the Habs and realizing the potential that came with being the third-overall draft pick in 2019. He’s in the final season of a contract that pays him $3.36 million, but he’s not going to get a significant raise unless he improves significantly. 

That’s just the law of the pro sports jungle, and if Dach doesn’t realize his potential, he'll be quickly replaced, either internally or via a trade or free agent-signing next summer or sooner. The rubber is about to hit the road for Dach in a major way, and he needs a seriously solid start to the season – and throughout the season, for that matter – for him to solidify his status as a Canadiens fixture moving forward. The stakes are sky-high for him, and in that regard, he’s no different than the Canadiens as a whole.

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Less than 24 hours ahead of the start of training camp, the Nashville Predators have made five additions to their roster. 

Defenseman Scott Harrington and forward Isaac Ratcliffe have been invited to training camp via a professional tryout. Defenseman Hayden Barch and forward Alex Kostov will be at training camp via an amateur tryout. 

Forward Viktor Norringer, who played in Sweden last season and will be with the Muskegon Lumberjacks this fall, will also be at training camp. He was drafted by the Predators in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. 

Norringer was also in attendance during Predators rookie camp in July. 

Harrington was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft and has since bounced around the league. He's played with the Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.

His best NHL season came in 2018-19, where he scored 17 points in 73 games with the Blue Jackets and four points in 10 playoff games. During the 2023-24 season, he played in Switzerland with Zurich SC and GCK Lions. 

Harrington returned to North America this year, playing 49 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues AHL affiliate. He scored five points in 49 games. 

The Philadelphia Flyers drafted Ratcliffe in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft, but he has only played 10 NHL games since then.

He spent three and a half seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms from 2019 to 2023. Ratcliff was called up to Philadelphia for 10 games, scoring four points. In 2023, he was traded to the Nashville Predators and played 13 games with the Milwaukee Admirals. 

As a free agent, he'd sign with the Chicago Wolves for the 2023-24 season, scoring 10 points before returning to Milwaukee for the 2024-25 season, where he played 13 games. Radcliffe has also attended the Blues' training camp on a professional tryout back in 2023. 

Barch is just 18 years old and is coming off his first junior season with the Saginaw Spirit. In 27 games, he scored five points and logged 29 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he played in five games, recording a point and four penalty minutes. 

Barch also competed for the Predators in the NHL Prospect Tournament this past weekend in Tampa. 

The 19-year-old Kostov is entering his fourth junior season with the Flint Firebirds. He's coming off a strong campaign with Flint during the 2024-25 season, scoring 45 points in 68 games. He Kostov also had three points in five playoff games. 

At 6-feet-4-inches, this is a player that could really jump out at camp for the Predators. He played for the Predators in the NHL Prospect Tournament this past weekend in Tampa. 

On top of these five additions, Daniel Carr, Kyle Marino, Oasiz Wiesblatt, Zack Hayes, Chad Nychuk and T.J. Semptimphelter are all attending training camp on a tryout agreement. 

Mar 27, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Jonathan Marchessault (81) goals is waved off after review from the NHL against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

As the 2025-26 season approaches, we’re previewing each of the Nashville Predators’ Central Division opponents.

This series will feature each team in chronological order and not their predicted order of finish in the division.

Today’s preview focuses on the St. Louis Blues.

2024-25 Season By The Numbers

RECORD

44-30-8 (.585)

OVERTIME

8-6

SHOOTOUT

4-2

OVERALL

14th

OFFENSE

3.05 GPG (13th)

DEFENSE

2.82 GAA (11th)

POWER PLAY

22.1% (16th)

PENALTY KILL

74.2% (28th)

EXPECTED GF/60

2.24 (30th)

EXPECTED GA/60

2.31 (5th)

Season Analysis

After the Blues brought in Jim Montgomery to replace Drew Bannister as head coach last November, things began to look up.

The team went 35-18-7 the rest of the way, and grabbed the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, getting back to the post-season for the first time since 2022.

Their reward: Matching up with the Winnipeg Jets, winners of the President’s Trophy for posting the best regular-season record.

The Blues gave it everything they had, falling in double overtime in Game 7 of the first round.

As he begins his first full year with St. Louis, Montgomery will now have the expectations of getting back to the playoffs again. His other challenge will be to balance a mixture of seasoned veterans with youth.

Offense

After putting up 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games for the Blues last season, Zack Bolduc was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Logan Mailloux. Fourth-line center Radek Faksa, after one season with the Blues, returned to his former team, the Dallas Stars, in free agency.

Otherwise, the Blues’ main offensive core is intact. Robert Thomas, who led the club with 81 points in 2024-25, will once again be the top center. Jordan Kyrou, who led the Blues in goals with 36, dodged off-season trade rumors and is also back.

The Blues are hoping for another great season from Dylan Holloway, who tallied 26 goals and 63 points in his first season. If he hadn’t missed the playoff series against the Jets with a hip injury, who knows what might have been?

Pius Suter (25 goals, 46 points) signed a two-year contract with St. Louis in free agency, and should also give the offense a boost.

Defense

The Blues succeeded in getting younger on the blue line by waiving 34-year-old Nick Leddy and acquiring the 22-year-old Mailloux. Ryan Suter, 40, became a UFA.

After being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks last December, Cam Fowler (40 points in 68 games between the Blues and Ducks), will be counted on for veteran leadership. So willColton Parayko and Justin Faulk.

Philip Broberg showed why the Blues made a smart choice signing him to an offer sheet prior to last season, recording 29 points in 68 games.

Goaltending

Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer made a nice tandem in net last season. Binnington’s 2.69 goals-against average was his best since 2020-21.

Hofer went 16-8-3 with a 2.65 GAA and .904 SP. He’s 25, and signed a two-year, 6.8-million contract in June.

Special Teams

Overall, the Blues’ power play ranked 16th in 2024-25. But they got significantly better after Jan. 1, scoring at a 26.7% clip the remainder of the season, ranking fifth during that span.

Things were not so great with the penalty-kill unit, finishing 28th &74.2%). Adding Pius Suter should be a big help, after he guided the Vancouver Canucks to a third-place ranking in the NHL in that department. Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich will also be back on the top PP and PK units.

Last Season’s Series

The Blues were a thorn in Nashville’s side in 2024-25, going 4-0-0 over the four-game series. Only the final contest, a 3-2 Preds loss on March 27, was close. St. Louis outscored the Predators 18-8 in the series.

2025-26 Season Series

The two teams won’t meet in the regular season until December, when they’ll square off three times: Dec. 11 in Nashville, Dec. 15 in St. Louis, and Dec. 27 also in St. Louis. The final get-together is Feb. 2 in Nashville.

The Bottom Line

The Central will be a tough division again this season with the likes of Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado, etc. But if the Blues can be more consistent throughout the season and hang around, they’ll be in the playoff conversation.

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The Ottawa Senators made it official on Wednesday: restricted free agent winger Alex Formenton will not be returning to the NHL club.

Formenton was one of five players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team who were found not guilty on charges of sexual assault after a team banquet in London, the summer after the team’s gold medal victory. The verdict came down a couple of months ago, and speculation on Formenton's future immediately began to swirl in Ottawa, since his playing rights still belonged to the Senators.

On Wednesday, the opening day of the 2025 Senators training camp, general manager Steve Staios was made available to the media and was asked, among many other things, to comment on Formenton’s status.

"Well, I've engaged in discussions with the agent," Staios said. "And I think both sides agree that it would be best for everybody for a fresh start (with a different team) for Alex."

Staios noted he has not spoken with Formenton directly and will now gauge the market to see if there’s interest in an available trade for the player's rights. Formenton and the four other players are eligible to sign an NHL contract as of October 15th, but they cannot play until December 1st.

Formenton has already signed a 3.5-month deal with his former Swiss team, extending well into December. Still, it’s reasonable to assume contractual accommodations are in place that would allow him to return to the NHL this season, should a team pursue him.

HC Ambrì-Piotta welcomed the fleet-footed Formenton back warmly last week. On social media, the club shared a highlight package, images from his official team shoot, and even an in-house interview—his first hockey-related media appearance in years.

“Yeah, it feels amazing," Formenton said. "To get back on the ice feels really good. Like I’ve said before, it feels like home here. I’m so excited to get started and play in front of these fans.

“It seems like a very tight group. Everyone’s willing to fight for each other, and hopefully it’ll be a very successful season. The fans deserve it, and everyone in that room deserves it.”

Formenton last played for the Senators during the 2021-22 season. He had 18 goals and 31 points in 79 games. But the 26-year-old is also maybe the fastest player to ever don a Sens uniform, and elite speed is always an enticing virtue. It's not enticing enough for the Sens to want to re-sign him, but maybe it's enough to bring back a modest asset in a trade.

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According to Brooks Bratten of NHL.com, the Nashville Predators have signed former Philadelphia Flyers forward Isaac Ratcliffe to a professional tryout (PTO). 

Ratcliffe spent this past season with the Predators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, recording one goal and two assists in 13 games. This was after the 6-foot-5 winger spent the 2023-24 season with the Chicago Wolves, where he posted seven goals, 10 points, and 60 penalty minutes in 66 AHL games. 

Ratcliffe was selected by the Flyers with the 35th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old forward spent the majority of his time with the Flyers organization with their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 162 games over five seasons with the Phantoms, he recorded 22 goals and 56 points. 

Ratcliffe also played in 10 NHL games with the Flyers during the 2021-22 campaign, where he posted one goal, four points, 10 penalty minutes, and 18 hits. Since then, the London, Ontario native has not made an appearance at the NHL level and has spent each of the last three seasons exclusively in the AHL.

Ratcliffe's time with the Flyers came to an end during the 2022-23 season when he was traded to the Predators in exchange for future considerations. Now, he will be looking to earn a contract for the 2025-26 season from the Predators after landing this PTO.