When it comes to gold medal talent, Team USA's projected Olympics roster seems to check all the right boxes.

They've got Matthew Tkachuk, who just won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. They've got Auston Matthews, who is two years removed from scoring 69 goals. They've got a deep and mobile defense, led by former Norris Trophy winners Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox.

And in Connor Hellebuyck, who is the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, they've got arguably the best goaltender in the world.

What they don't seem to have is experience. Or, put differently, they don't have anyone who was participated the last time NHLers participated in the Olympics.

In fact, Brock Faber was only 12 years old when Team USA finished fourth at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

There is no Sidney Crosby, who scored the golden goal in 2010 and won gold again in 2014. No Drew Doughty, who was won gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics . There's not even a Brad Marchand or Mark Stone, who are in their late 30s. On a team that skews young, the Americans have too many millennials and not a single Gen X.

That could change if Patrick Kane works his way onto the team.

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The 36-year-old Kane, who turns 37 in November, was one of the 44 players who attended to the U.S. Team's orientation camp last month. If he makes the team, he would be participating in his third Olympics. But having been left off Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the veteran winger is considered a long shot. 

Still, the idea of capturing gold to go along with his two Stanley Cups is something that is motivating him as he begins what could be his final NHL season.

“The one thing that’s kind of missing is a gold in best-on-best, right?” Kane told NHL.com at the United States Men’s Olympic orientation camp. “It would be fun to have that opportunity.”

Having Kane around at the Olympics, even as a 13th forward, could be more than just a sentimental gesture.

The Olympics is not just some random hockey tournament. This is a global event, where the pressure far exceeds playing for a World Cup or even a Stanley Cup. The U.S. team is young, with only six players on NHL.com's projected roster aged 30 or older. Compare that to Team Canada, where 11 players are 30 or older.

While age is not always a determining factor in skill, the lack of international experience could be an area of concern, especially as pressure ramps up.

Patrick Kane's Last Chance At Hockey Glory May Come With Team USA, Not The Red WingsNo matter how dominant they may be, veteran NHL players rarely, if ever, get to end their playing careers on a perfect note.

Kane, who combined for three goals and nine points in 12 games at the Olympics, is obviously not the same player he was back in 2010 or even 2014. But he is coming off a decent season where he scored 21 goals and 59 points in 72 games for the Detroit Red Wings.

With 492 goals and 1,343 points, he is 31 points away from surpassing Mike Modano as the all-time scoring leader among U.S. born players.

"Obviously a tremendous impact," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said of Kane at Tuesday's NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. "He’s been a great player. He came in very, very young. Certainly, he’s matured as a player professionally over that time and he’s one of the greatest U.S. players of all time. I don’t think anyone can argue that."

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The question is whether Kane is still one of the greatest American players.

Does he belong on a team with Tkachuk and Matthews? Does he warrant a look, even if it means knocking someone younger like Matt Boldy or Cole Caufield off the team?

If you're basing the decision on offensive production, the answer is probably no. But if you're looking at all the intangibles, having Kane's experience could be the final X-factor that helps the U.S. team win gold.

"I don’t want that to be a thing, either, where you’re getting selected for the team because of all that stuff,” Kane told NHL.com. “You want to be selected for the player you are and what you can bring to the team.”

The Montreal Canadiens are inviting another goalie to their training camp.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Canadiens have signed goaltender Kevin Mandolese to a professional tryout (PTO). 

A few PTOs to share, with training camps closing in:#GoHabsGo G Kevin Mandolese#FlaPanthers F Tyler Motte#FlaPanthers D Ben Harpur

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 10, 2025

Mandolese, 25, spent the entirety of this past season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Colorado Eagles. In 19 games with the AHL squad, he posted an 11-6-0 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 2.87 goals-against average. This was after he had a 10-9-2 record, a 3.07 goals-against average, and a .901 save percentage in 23 AHL games with the Belleville Senators in 2023-24. 

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Mandolese has made three appearances at the NHL in his career, with all of them coming during the 2022-23 season with the Ottawa Senators. During them, he posted a 1-2-0 record, a .916 save percentage, and a 3.29 goals-against average. 

Overall, there is no harm in the Canadiens adding Mandolese to a PTO. If he successfully lands a contract for the season, he would give the Habs another experienced goalie to work with at the AHL level. 

On Wednesday morning, New York Islanders forward Marc Gatcomb joined Jonny Lazarus and Colby Cohen on Morning Cuppa Hockey. 

Gatcomb, 26, just completed his rookie season, recording eight goals with one assist for nine points through 39 games. The undrafted free agent signed a one-year extension worth $900,000 and, alongside No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, at the 2025 NHLPA Upper Deck Rookie Showcase back in August. 

Islanders Sign Forward Marc Gatcomb To One-Year Deal; Avoid Salary ArbitrationThe New York Islanders and restricted free agent forward Marc Gatcomb have come to terms on a one-year deal worth $900,000.

The undrafted forward out of the University of Connecticut shared some awesome stories, but one of the funnier ones was about when he made his NHL debut back on Jan. 14 against the Ottawa Senators at UBS Arena. 

Jean-Gabriel Pageau was battling an illness, so after skating in Bridgeport in the morning, he had to hop in the car and head right to the Belmont. 

But, he had to make a quick stop first at the barber shop:  

 With Darche now at the helm, the Islanders no longer have their hair and beard policies, so this shouldn't happen to another rookie unless they just want to look their best before their NHL debut. 

Check out our Morning Cuppa Hockey, Monday through Thursday, from 9-10 am, on YouTube. 

Morning Cuppa HockeyJonny Lazarus and Colby Cohen know their hockey, but they don't always agree on it. Having played at multiple levels throughout their careers, they have expe...

According to Frank Seravalli, the Florida Panthers have reportedly signed winger Tyler Motte and defenseman Ben Harpur to professional try-outs.

Yesterday, Jason Gregor reported that the Florida Panthers had signed winger Noah Gregor to a PTO, but that has not been confirmed by the team just yet. Today, Seravalli has informed fans that a pair of 30-year-old veterans will attend the Panthers' training camp.

Motte had skated in 455 career games, recording 53 goals and 99 points. Listed at just 5-foot-10, Motte isn't the most physically imposing forward, but he remains tenacious in his pursuit of the puck and provides defensive versatility. 

Motte skated in 55 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings, averaging 11:19 of ice time while scoring four goals and nine points. Throughout his NHL career, Motte has played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Red Wings. 

Harpur is the near-complete opposite of Motte. The 30-year-old defender stands 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds and prides himself on his ability to use his body to his advantage.

Although his physical tools are great, it's been a challenge for Harpur to play in the NHL. Harpur last skated in an NHL game on April 6, 2023, playing just 36 AHL games with the Hartford Wolfpack in the last two seasons. 

Throughout his NHL career, Harpur has notched two goals and 21 points in 198 games, playing for the Senators, Nashville Predators and the Rangers. 

Winnipeg Jets top prospects neglected in NHL Network's ranking of league's top 25 prospects.

The Winnipeg Jets have several prospects on the rise heading into the upcoming season with names like Brayden Yager, Brad Lambert, Colby Barlow and Nikita Chibrikov. However, when the NHL Network released their top 25 prospects in the league, not one Jets prospect was mentioned.

It's time to take a look at the next generation of stars!

Introducing our list of the Top 25 Prospects! pic.twitter.com/1W9xS23R14

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) September 9, 2025

The list has garnered some controversy as 2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer sits a top the list of prospects ahead of established names like Ivan Demidov and Zeev Buium.  

The list is certainly disjointed from a glance as most of the selections are recent draft choices that are still quite fresh and we won't know their true upside for quite some time. NHL Network's Research Development Team is the reported curator of the list and it's not surprising to see the Winnipeg Jets neglected on another front of the NHL media. 

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Nikita Chibrikov vs Jimmy Snuggerud

Chibrikov is one of the most neglected of them all as he was a second round pick back in 2021 and has shown over two seasons now that he can handle an NHL role. With four points over his first five NHL games, he doesn't get mentioned in the same conversation as other talent getting the same opportunity like Snuggerud, who put up stellar numbers in the NCAA while Chibrikov has been producing solid numbers at a pro level for two seasons now. Both players have the potential to be top six forwards throughout their career. 

Colby Barlow vs Brady Martin

Before Brady Martin was selected in the top five of the 2025 NHL Draft, a player with a nearly identical build and similar point production, Colby Barlow, has already been developing since being picked 18th overall in 2023. Barlow stands an inch taller and carries a bit more weight than Martin, but he may not possess the same creative and savvy play style. 

What he does have, however, is an elite shot that helped him score 46 goals at the same age Martin is now. While Martin still has a year or two before making the jump to pro hockey, Barlow is beginning that transition this season. The two are close but Barlow could very well be a better player at the end of the day. 

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Brad Lambert vs Isaac Howard

The NCAA is a hard league to find comparable for as the league used to featured older players that played a more physical style of game while the CHL had their leagues operate as a better training ground for developing players. This has changed however as the American schools are catching up thanks to name, image and likeness deals that allow their players to get paid. Still prior to this adjustment, Howard was a solid colligate player with 105 points over 108 games. 

While in Finland, Lambert played in a more advanced league in Liiga, the highest league in the country and one of the top pro hockey leagues in the world. His numbers weren't as impressive as Howard's but when joining the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL, Lambert torched the league for 38 points in just 26 games. He helped the Thunderbirds go on a lengthy playoff run in which he recorded another 26 points over 17 games. 

He continued his success into pro hockey and has been a force in the AHL. Howard is expected to get a top nine role with the Oilers due to their lack of depth, while Lambert is going to be vying for a Jets main roster spot at training camp. The two may get to face off and see who performs better as early as September 23rd when the Jets take on the Oilers in pre-season action. 

Brayden Yager vs Sam Rinzel

Despite being drafted higher, producing at a stronger rate in Juniors, and putting up better numbers in international competition, Sam Rinzel is ranked inside the top nine prospects while Brayden Yager is notably absent. Rinzel recorded just one point with Team USA, while Yager produced five points in as many games representing Canada. Over two NCAA seasons, Rinzel averaged under a point per game, whereas Yager posted 332 points in 265 WHL games.

Yager also has more overall game experience despite being a year younger, and he has shown greater upside. His potential was high enough to be involved in a major trade for another top prospect, Rutger McGroarty. Rinzel does hold a significant physical advantage with four extra inches in height and 20 additional pounds, but once Yager begins developing in his first pro season with the Manitoba Moose, their prospect stock could quickly become comparable.

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The Minnesota Wild re-signing Marco Rossi on Aug. 22 and the Calgary Flames inking Connor Zary (Sept. 5) have put more attention toward the contract negotiations of Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish and New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes.

Like Rossi and Zary, both players are RFAs coming off their entry-level contracts. McTavish is eligible to sign an offer sheet, but Hughes is not. So far, there's no indication the Ducks center will get an offer from a rival club.

Teams in the market for a second-line center have been linked to McTavish, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks. However, recent reports claim the Ducks remain intent on signing him.

On Friday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Ducks could attempt to sign McTavish to a bridge deal. However, he's heard that management prefers a long-term contract.

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Meanwhile, the Devils have just over $6 million in salary-cap space, leading some observers to suggest they must shed some salary to re-sign Hughes. Sportsnet's Luke Fox believes that's why left winger Ondrej Palat and defenseman Dougie Hamilton have been mentioned as trade candidates.

On Aug. 29, NJ.com's Ryan Novozinsky reported that the Devils sought a three-year bridge contract or an eight-year deal, but Luke wants his next contract to end in 2030, the same year that his brother and teammate, Jack Hughes, will have his deal expire.

As for salary, Fox suggested Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings as a comparable for McTavish. Byfield is in the second season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. Meanwhile, the Devils could seek something for Hughes along the lines of Brock Faber's $8.5-million cap hit on his eight-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.

The Hockey News' Adam Proteau believes the two clubs are under pressure to get these two talented RFAs under contract as soon as possible.

Proteau considers Hughes to be the difference between the Devils securing home-ice advantage for the 2026 playoffs or competing for a wild-card berth. Meanwhile, the rebuilding Ducks need all hands on deck (including McTavish) to end their post-season drought.

Hughes could end up signing before McTavish. Friedman observed that the Ducks have shown a willingness to wait until they get the deal they want, even if it means negotiations drag through training camp.

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.

The Minnesota Wild, not really known for signing guys to professional tryouts (PTO's), has signed forward Brett Leason to a PTO. They recently signed defenseman Jack Johnson to a PTO as well.

Leason, 26, played in 62 games for the Anaheim Ducks last year. He recorded five goals, 12 assists, 17 points and 64 hits. The previous season he recorded 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points and 80 hits.

The 6-foot-5 forward has been a bottom-six forward during his 220 career NHL games. He has also been on the penalty kill which is something the Wild are constantly looking for help with.

In four NHL seasons, one with the Washington Capitals and three with the Ducks, Leason has recorded 25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points and 195 hits.

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According to Marco D'Amico of RG Media, St. Louis Blues top prospect Justin Carbonneau could sign his entry-level contract very soon, and has been informed that he will have the opportunity to make the roster out of training camp and pre-season.

Carbonneau was selected with the 19th overall pick in the most recent NHL Draft after he recorded an outstanding 46 goals and 89 points in 62 QMJHL games with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. With the new CHL-NCAA agreement, Carbonneau could have committed to a college team, but has chosen to remain in the QMJHL and compete for a roster spot.

“After the World Junior Summer Showcase, I went back to St. Louis where I met with Jim Montgomery and the rest of the coaching staff,” Carbonneau told RG Media. “We discussed team strategies and expectations for me, and we also spoke about possible opportunities to crack the roster.”

The message the 18-year-old received was versatility. Carbonneau needs to prove that he is more than just a point producer, someone they can trust in their own end and in high-leverage situations.

“I want to show that I can be played in all situations and that’s a necessity to be ready to crack an NHL roster,” said Carbonneau. “ I need to work to show I can be trusted and bring value to my teammates.”

Because Carbonneau's offensive game has obtained plenty of praise during the NHL Draft process, his ability to throw his weight around and engage himself in the forecheck has flown under the radar. Standing 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, the right-handed shooter can more than stand his ground against bigger players, welcoming and initiating it when needed.

The Blues' top prospects will be competing in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase starting on Sept. 12. The roster features Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, Adam Jiricek and Carbonneau. The practices begin on Sept. 11, and this weekend is an excellent opportunity for Carbonneau to showcase why he should make the team.

“I have nothing to lose, I’m showing up to win a spot at camp,” said Carbonneau. “And, if not, I’ll be going back to an excellent situation with the Armada, where we get to compete for a President’s Cup.”

“Nothing to Lose” — Carbonneau Aims to Crack Blues Roster, Earn ELC Justin Carbonneau reflects on being drafted by the Blues, his first camp in St. Louis, and the work ahead to earn a roster spot in the NHL.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 33 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #33. 

Let's take a look.

Petteri Nummelin - 2001 - Nummelin was drafted by Columbus in the 5th round of the 2000 NHL Draft.

After playing just 61 games for Columbus during its inaugural season, Nummelin bolted back to Europe to play for HC Lugano of the Swiss National League. He would return to the NHL in 2006 to play for the Minnesota Wild for two seasons but would again leave for Europe. 

During his career, he played in Switzerland, Finland, Norway, and even Japan before retiring in 2019. Nummelin was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2024 and is currently an assistant coach for HC Ajoie of the Swiss National League. 

Jamie Allison - 2002-2003 - Drafted in 1993 by the Calgary Flames

Allison played 55 games for Columbus from 2001 to 2003 and had one point. After leaving Columbus in 2003, he went to play for the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers. 

Before retiring in 2006, Allison had a wild thing happen. On December 13, 2005, goalie Chris Mason got hurt during the pre-game, resulting in the Predators having no backup goalie. As he was scheduled to be a healthy scratch that game, Allison was dressed as the backup goaltender instead.  

Jeremy Reich - 2004 - Drafted in 1997 by the Chicago Blackhawks

Reich played 9 games for the Jackets during the 2003-04 season and had one point. He spent most of his time playing for the Syracuse Crunch, where he had 118 points over five seasons.

He would go on to play in 90 games for the Boston Bruins, and played a season in the DEL. He played semi-pro hockey off and on until 2024 and was a coach for several years in minor hockey. 

Fredrik Modin - 2007-2010 - Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 3rd round of the 1994 NHL Draft.

On June 30, 2006, Modin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Marc Denis. Modin played in 176 games for Columbus and had 85 points. After playing four seasons with the CBJ, he was traded to the LA Kings on March 3, 2010. 

On May 11, 2011, he announced his retirement due to back issues. He came back to the Columbus organization in 2015 and worked as a Hockey Operations Advisor until 2018. 

Tomáš Kubalík - 2011-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2008

Kubalík played in 12 games over two seasons from 2010 to 2012. He spent most of his time playing for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. 

He left for Europe in 2013 and played there until he retired in 2024. He's played in Czechia, Finland, Poland, France, and Germany. For the last couple of seasons, he was an asst. coach for ERV Schweinfurt of Germany's fourth division. 

Adrian Aucoin - 2013 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1992.

Aucoin signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2012. He played 36 games for the Jackets and had four points. Following his one season with the CBJ, he would retire on November 19, 2013. 

Aucoin has been coaching various age groups of youth hockey since his retirement. 

Markus Hännikäinen - 2016-2017 - Hännikäinen was undrafted out of Helsinki, Finland.

Hännikäinen had signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 20, 2015. Over parts of four seasons, he played in 91 games for Columbus and had 15 points, which included 8 goals. He spent most of his time playing for the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters.

In February of 2020, Hännikäinen was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Arizona Coyotes, ending his time with Columbus. 

Hännikäinen left for his native Finland when the COVID pandemic hit and never returned. He's played in the KHL(Finland), DEL, SHL, and is signed with HC Litvínov in Czechia for 2025-26. 

With 33 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena, the anticipation for the season is in full swing. Take a look at the schedule of events below.

Blue Jackets Participate in 2025 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo

The Blue Jackets will take part in the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo from Thursday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 14. They’ll play three games and have one day off.

The schedule looks like this:

Thursday, Sept. 11 7 p.m. vs. New Jersey Devils

Friday, Sept. 12 `No Game Scheduled

Saturday, Sept. 13 7 p.m. at Buffalo Sabres

Sunday, Sept. 14 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh Penguins

This will be the second year Columbus has participated in the Prospects Challenge. Before that, they played in the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City. As for the roster, it won’t be released until closer to the tournament.

Blue Jackets’ 2025-26 Training Camp and Pre-Season

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

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

* Games in bold are home games * 

Let us know what you think below.

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Former Cleveland Monster Signs PTO With PredatorsFormer Cleveland Monster Dylan Gambrell has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Nashville Predators, according to Anthony Di Marco. Blue Jackets Will Participate In 2025 Prospect ChallengeThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced they will participate in the 2025-26 Prospect Challenge in Buffalo, taking place from September 11-15. FROM THE THN YEARBOOK: Blue Jackets Predicted To Finish 6th In The Metropolitan DivisionThe hockey season is around the corner, and that means The Hockey News has put out one of its most special and most coveted issues of the year. It's THN Yearbook season.

Without warning, aside from a heads-up an hour before it dropped, the Montreal Canadiens released their behind-the-scenes at the draft video on Tuesday night. With the rookie camp set to kick off the following morning and the anticipation building in town, the timing couldn’t have been better.

The team has long mastered the art of compiling thrilling videos that take the fans not only behind the scenes at the actual draft, but in the run-up to the yearly event. In other words, the video also features the scouting combine in Buffalo, and we get an extended look at the interview the team conducted with Hayden Paupanekis. The center not only came prepared, but he said all the right things.

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After he compared himself to a polar bear or a grizzly bear because they’re vicious, Dr. David Scott, a consultant in sports psychology, challenged him, asking how he could be vicious and only have 29 penalty minutes in 39 games. The youngster calmly replied that you don’t need to get penalties to be vicious and play hard, there’s no need to two-hand people in the face. When asked if he only saw his future at center, he answered that he would play wherever he was asked to by the coach. At the end of the interview, Dr. Scott congratulated him for handling himself well.

Unsurprisingly, the Canadiens drafted the power forward in the third round, as their amateur scout for Canada, Ben Shutron, was quite high on him. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the Memorial Cup hosting Kelowna Rockets under the watchful eye of new assistant coach and former Canadiens blueliner, Josh Gorges. As for the co-director of amateur scouting, Nick Bobrov, he was sold on Bryce Pickford, but Montreal was able to pick him later with the 81st pick.

Clearly, the Canadiens approached the draft with the mentality that they would move; they wouldn’t just pick at 16 and 17. In addition to trying to pull off the trade with the New York Islanders, the team was also evaluating players in case they were able to move up. In the end, the trade materialized, and Montreal didn’t get to pick in the first one. Still, it didn’t matter as they were very high on their second-round pick, Alexander Zharovsky, but they weren’t alone, which is why they had to trade up to get the 34th overall pick to avoid seeing another team snatch him from under their nose.

In a recent episode of the Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens, we heard that GM Kent Hughes consulted with team captain Nick Suzuki before acquiring Patrik Laine, and in this video, we see Hughes test the waters about a possible pick of Zharovsky. Before trading up to get him, Hughes texted rookie Ivan Demidov asking if he was awake. Not only was Demidov awake, but he was also positive about his work ethic and absolutely sold on his skills and talent. It was no secret that the Russian was on the Canadiens’ radar as they had set a meeting with him in Florida ahead of the draft.

The video goes on to show Hughes and Gorton calling a couple of their draftees, Zharovsky and LJ Mooney, who was clearly over the moon about being drafted by the Canadiens. Gorton made a point of reminding him that the Habs have had a lot of success with undersized Americans like Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield.

What this video highlights particularly well is the fact that the Canadiens have moved forward in their rebuild; it’s not just about the future anymore, it’s about the present. The team didn’t hesitate to send Emil Heineman and two first-round picks to the Islanders for a player that fits the Habs’ timeline age-wise, but can also help solidify their defense right away.

The video also gives us a peek at development camp and one of Martin St-Louis always inspired speech, basically telling the young hopefuls that making the NHL is not just about having the motivation and the will to get there, you need the discipline to stick with your training no matter how hard it is, even if you’re alone in the summer and you do not have the other hopefuls competing for a spot pushing you. The coach has got a knack for making speeches that light a fire under players; he knows how to inspire the same intensity he put forward on the ice when he was playing.

In short, the 23-minute video is an excellent way to get ready for the upcoming season and get to know a little bit more about players who are hoping to be Canadiens players down the line.

---

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Just like Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby, is at the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, and Pierre Lebrun had the opportunity to speak to him. The TSN and Athletic Insider revisited comments the All-Star player made in February during the 4 Nations Face-Off, noting that he had grown up a Habs fan and would never forget the reception he received from the crowd in the Bell Center that night.

Never one to pull any punches, LeBrun asked the captain if he was trying to hint at something when he mentioned that he grew up a Habs fan. Unsurprisingly, Crosby said that he wasn’t, but he still appreciates the fact that the team wants him (LeBrun added he probably meant the fanbase).

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Canadiens: About That Crosby Pipe Dream...

LeBrun also tested the waters with Crosby’s longtime agent Pat Brisson, and while he believes his client should be competing for the Stanley Cup every year, it’s the player who has the ultimate say on his destiny.

Growing up a Habs fan or not, if the Pens’ captain were ever to decide he wants to move on, it would more than likely be to chase a Stanley Cup, and as much as the Canadiens’ faithful may wish to land number 87, Montreal is not one of the top Cup contenders right now. Crosby’s good friend Nathan MacKinnon plays on a team that’s arguably much closer to a Championship than the Habs are right now.

Besides, if Crosby were to request a trade, Kyle Dubas wouldn’t just give him away. Pittsburgh is on the verge of a rebuild and needs both young players and futures. The Canadiens have plenty of good young players, but how much can one sacrifice for a player who has just turned 38 years old? We’ve heard pundits on TV or radio advocating that it would make sense to trade Cole Caufield for Crosby, but I cannot see it. As good as Crosby is, two years of his talent versus at least five more years of a sniper who has yet to hit his ceiling?

It doesn’t make sense to me, despite how vital a good center is to a hockey team. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have always been transparent about wanting to build a perennial contender. They wouldn’t just roll the dice on a trade that could make the team better for a very short while and then suffer a setback. If the Canadiens were ever to consider acquiring the long-time Pens’ captain, it would have to be at a very reasonable price, and it’s hard to imagine a world where no GM is ready to overpay for the three-time Cup Champion.

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Top Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Egor Zavragin has yet to play for his KHL club, SKA St. Petersburg, in the early goings of the 2025-26 season.

Zavragin, 20, was on SKA's bench as an unused substitute in Monday's 3-2 loss to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where 22-year-old Artemi Pleshkov drew the start and stopped 28 of 31 shots.

Zavragin's place on the bench as the backup goalkeeper was actually a promotion for him, too.

On Saturday, Sergei Ivanov started for SKA against the Shanghai Dragons, but was yanked after 35:18 after allowing six goals on 20 shots. Pleshkov replaced Ivanov and stopped all five shots he faced in the final 23:37 of the 7-4 loss.

This is all to say that, without Zavragin on the ice, SKA is disappointingly 0-2-0 on the season.

The KHL outfit already replaced Roman Rotenberg, Matvei Michkov's former coach, with NHL legend Igor Larionov moving behind the bench, and the roster features players like Joseph Blandisi (already suspended), former Flyers forward Mikhail Vorobyov, veteran center and former NHLer Andrei Loktionov, Nikolay Goldobin, Rocco Grimaldi, Trevor Murphy, and St. Louis Blues prospect Matvei Korotky.

KHL Forward Supports Flyers' Aleksei KolosovAhead of what will be his first full training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, top goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov continues to draw support from his peers from all over the globe.

If Larionov's poor luck continues, he may be forced to turn to Zavragin, which would be something certainly celebrated by the Flyers across the pond here in Philadelphia.

Flyers fans may recall how the 20-year-old former third-round pick dominated in the KHL last season under heavy expectations, going 20-14-3 across 43 games between SKA and HC Sochi and ripping off a 2.50 GAA, a .917 save percentage, and four shutouts.

In the Gagarin Cup playoffs, Zavragin was 1-2-0 with a 3.22 GAA and .913 save percentage across four games.

Plus, it certainly doesn't help Zavragin's case that only three of SKA's top 10 point-getters from last season remain.

Ivan Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Arseniy Gritsyuk, Zakhar Bardakov, Tony DeAngelo, and, potentially, Evgeny Kuznetsov, have all left for the NHL, while only Sergei Plotnikov, Marat Khairullin, and Valentin Zykov remain.

If things don't continue to trend upwards for Zavragin, perhaps the Flyers will have other ideas on how to best develop their top goalie prospect that don't involve the KHL.

The offseason is ending the same way it started for forward Luke Evangelista and the Nashville Predators, as both parties have not agreed on a new contract. 

Tuesday, upon the announcement of the Predators' training camp roster and preseason schedule, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta posted on Twitter/X that contract negotiations between the Predators and Evangelista were ongoing, but both parties "remained far apart on a deal."

It's the first news pertaining to Evangelista's contract that has been made public since July 15, when Evangelista did not sign his original qualifying offer, which was extended on July 1. 

Following the opening of the free agency market, General Manager Barry Trotz was asked about Evangelista's contract negotiations and he said both sides were still trying to "figure out a term that fits." 

Trotz also called Evangelista "the future" of the organization, showing that the Predators do want to keep Evangelista in Nashville for a longer term. 

His previous deal with his entry level contract, which was three-years, $2,392,50. 

Drafted 42nd overall by the Predators in the 2020 NHL Draft from the London Knights, Evangelista has quickly developed into a top-six forward. Last season, he scored 32 points in 68 games, and the season prior, he had 39 points in 80 games. 

It's not surprising that the Predators are trying to lock Evangelista into an extended contract as they have done so with other players, and have been criticized for it this offseason. 

Brady Skjei's seven-year, $49 million contract and Nic Hague's four-year, $22 million contract were ranked as two of the worst contracts in the NHL by The Athletic. The Athletic also scrutinized Juuse Saros' eight-year, $61.92 million contract. 

Jonathan Marchessault came to Nashville on a five-year, $27.5 million contract in the 2024 offseason because Vegas wouldn't sign him to the length Nashville eventually gave him. 

Evangelista is still on the Predators training camp roster, which will commence on Sept. 17 with team meetings. The first practice will be held on Sept. 18 and the first game is a split-session against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 21 at Bridgestone Arena. 

Evangelista contract saga 

Predators extend qualifying offer to forward Luke EvangelistaAfter Sunday's trade, sending defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sisson to Vegas for defenseman Nicolas Hague, the Nashville Predators have extended a qualifying offer to forward Luke Evangelista.  'Fixing defense' was focus for Trotz, Nashville Predators in free agency Compared to a year ago, the start of free agency was very quiet for the Nashville Predators. Nashville Predators qualifying offer to Luke Evangelista expires TuesdayThe Nashville Predators have been waiting patiently for the decision on forward Luke Evangelista.  Analysis: Do the Nashville Predators have issues signing players to the 'right' contracts? For the second time in less than a week, the Nashville Predators players' contracts have come under scrutiny again by The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn.  Column: Whatever happens with Evangelista's contract will dictate confidence in Nashville Predators front officeIs this an actual crisis or is this just spiraling in the offseason?  

Connor McDavid’s pending contract with the Edmonton Oilers is more than just a story about one player's tough decision and how it will affect him and his family. This is potentially a story about the dominoes that fall after McDavid makes his extension preference clear.

The reality is, while there is no one like the Oilers' captain, what McDavid chooses to do could reshape the NHL’s free-agent landscape.

The amount of money McDavid ultimately makes as the market drastically changes amid a rising salary cap could send ripples through the NHL. The NHLPA knows that McDavid's deal -- whatever it looks like when it's finally agreed upon -- will impact other high-profile unrestricted free agents waiting to see what the superstar signs for. 

'Absolutely I Want To Stay In Edmonton': Veteran D-Man On Possible Extension

“Is This Real?” Insider Says McDavid’s Comments Has NHL on Alert

TSN’s Frankie Corrado said on Domino’s That’s Hockey, elite UFAs are going to fall in line after McDavid's deal is finalized. That means players like Jack Eichel, Martin Necas, and Adrian Kempe could take their cue from McDavid, all knowing they'll be making a little (or a lot) less than he will.

Players Are Waiting On McDavid, Who Is Taking His Time

Let's say Eichel wants to sign in Vegas, and he'd prefer to re-up with the Golden Knights sooner rather than later. If he believes he's worth $14-$15 million per season, he could ask for that, but not necessarily if McDavid takes $15 to stay in Edmonton over the next two or three seasons.

On the other end, and where a player might benefit, Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday:

"Adrian Kempe, entering last year of his contract, just sat down with our media gathering at the NHL Player Media Tour in Vegas. He says there's no rush from his end or the team on an extension but he feels talks will pick up in the next few weeks or months. Wants to stay in LA."

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It makes sense there would be no rush. If McDavid signs for $16 million per season, Kempe can get well above $10 or $12 million, suggesting he's not $4 or $5 million less valuable per season than Edmonton's superstar.

The rare exception might be Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. His situation is clear, as he's aware the Wild can't afford to lose him, and he'll get $15 million or more per season on a long-term deal if he asks. Corrado hinted Kaprizov could use his incredible leverage to ask for whatever he'd like, regardless of McDavid's extension terms. 

Is The NHLPA Pressuring McDavid?

Some reports suggest McDavid may also be weighing league-wide implications. The NHLPA, according to insiders, may be quietly applying pressure to McDavid not to take too big a discount.  A steep team-friendly deal affects several players, and too big a pay cut could lower salaries for other members. The NHLPA does not want that. 

Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal writes:

“On Friday I was speaking with an old colleague of mine who is now in labor law. He commented on the Connor McDavid contract situation and mentioned the “quiet” pressure on 97 from the NHLPA to set the new standard for how players are paid going forward. Connor and his family are truly in a “push and pull” situation in the middle of it all. Take too much, your team has cap issues. Take too little, it sets a different salary precedent for other players. That is a lot of pressure. No wonder he wants to take his time. But I still expect a deal done before Game One of the regular season.”

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If true, it's a tough spot for McDavid to be in. Perhaps he doesn't care and will do what he feels is in his best interest. Again, he's a unicorn. However, what we know from McDavid is that he steps up when the league asks. He's been instrumental in the All-Star formatting and trying to put the best product on the ice. It would make sense he'd feel an obligation to his fellow star players.

McDavid Says All That Matters Is Winning

Despite these considerations, McDavid’s priority appears to be winning. He is focused on keeping the Oilers competitive, and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said, “The one thing I can absolutely tell you with 100 percent certainty about this summer, is that everybody who was around him feels that the back-to-back Stanley Cup defeats have only made him more hungry to win.” 

One social media post read, “He doesn’t care about anyone outside this organization. Money is NOT the issue. It is something more intrinsic.”

NHL Officially Closes LTIR Investigation Into OilersAccording to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Edmonton Oilers are off the hook for whatever it was the NHL was looking into regarding Evander Kane and the team's use of LTIR last season. 

If winning is the only medicine for what's ailing McDavid, perhaps what other players want or need, or where the NHLPA lands doesn't come into play.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal said, “I don’t see McDavid feeling beholden to the NHLPA. But I can’t read his mind. No one can. As for the NHLPA, more money for one member just means less for another. Not sure ceiling matters in context of hard cap.” 

What is clear is that McDavid’s decision is about more than personal gain. With other top-tier UFAs watching closely, his contract could set the ceiling—or at least signal the market—for the NHL’s next wave of superstar deals. 

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