Milan Lucic is attempting an NHL comeback by joining the St. Louis Blues on a professional tryout.

The Blues announced the PTO signing Tuesday morning, adding that the NHL reinstated Lucic.

The 37-year-old last played on Oct. 21, 2023, with the Boston Bruins. After that, he took a leave of absence from the team and later joined the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Lucic was reportedly charged with domestic violence around the time he took his leave, but the case was later dismissed.

Brittany Lucic, his partner, posted a photo of the two smiling together on Instagram in July. She reposted it on her Instagram story on Tuesday.

"Some people would rather see you broken than see you heal," she wrote in the caption. "They question your strength and recovery like it’s not real. But healing is real… and it’s exactly what this world needs more of." 

If Lucic signs an NHL contract, he has a chance at reaching 1,200 career NHL games and 600 points in his 18th season. He's currently at 1,177 matches played and 586 points, so he'd need to play in 23 contests and record 14 points to reach those milestones.

Before Lucic recorded two assists in four games with the Bruins in 2023-24, he played 77 games with the Calgary Flames in 2022-23, putting up seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points. He also recorded 168 hits that season.

Lucic could also increase the number of active NHL players who don't wear a visor.

Right now, that small group consists of four players under contract: Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly, Zach Bogosian and Ryan Reaves. Lucic hasn't regularly worn a visor during his NHL career, either.

All those players were NHL regulars by the time the league introduced a rule in 2013-14 that made any skater who had played fewer than 25 games by that point wear a visor.

When the rule was introduced, Lucic had already played 405 games, recording 97 goals, 142 assists, 239 points, 600 penalty minutes and 1,091 hits. He also had 84 playoff games under his belt, with 22 goals, 54 points and a Stanley Cup championship with the Bruins in 2010-11. His career playoff totals are 136 games, 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points.

The Final Four NHL Skaters Who Play Without VisorsOnly four players who don't wear visors remain under an NHL contract.

Lucic played eight seasons with the Bruins before joining the Los Angeles Kings for one year, then spent three campaigns with the Edmonton Oilers and four in Calgary before rejoining Boston.

The soonest game action Lucic could appear in for the Blues is Saturday, Sept. 20, when they take on the Dallas Stars, whose captain is the visor-less Benn, in a pre-season contest at 7 p.m. ET.

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

The Los Angeles Kings are hoping they can make a deep run into the playoffs next season, and while some fans questioned their moves this offseason, they seem confident in their ability to finally get past the first round.

There has been some speculation recently that the Boston Bruins could be looking to trade Fabian Lysell, and the Kings could be a strong fit.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bruins would be willing to move him after he has failed to break into the NHL, but they may be looking for a steep return.

Lysell, who is 22 years old, has 3 points in just 12 NHL games in his career. Last season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins, he scored 11 goals and added 23 assists for 34 points through 52 games. 

He is a strong offensive player, and having been a first-round pick back in 2021, Bruins fans were hoping he could’ve broken into the big leagues by now, but that hasn’t happened.

The Kings could flip a couple of future mid-round picks for Lysell, but realistically, it may cost them a conditional second-round pick to get the deal even close to coming to fruition. 

He could step into a depth role with the Kings as a bottom-six forward as soon as next season, and if he gels well with a new team, he could move his way up the lineup fast.  

Matvei Michkov had an excellent rookie year for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, but don't expect him to reach his full potential overnight.

Michkov, 20, quietly led all NHL rookies in goals last season with 26, and ultimately finished joint-second amongst all rookies in scoring, tying Macklin Celebrini with 63 points and narrowly trailing Lane Hutson's 66.

A big step forward is in the cards for the Flyers' Russian sensation, but a step forward and a leap are different.

Semantics, yes, but let's just say Michkov should be allowed at least another season to really come into his own for the Flyers at the NHL level.

Aside from the offseason trade for Trevor Zegras, who has to find his own way as well, the Flyers did very little to further assist Michkov on the ice--literally and figuratively--otherwise.

Flyers' Matvei Michkov Reveals One Important Goal for 2025-26 SeasonWhile star Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov has been careful about speaking about his individual goals and aspirations, one target for the 2025-26 season should make everyone excited despite being vague in nature.

Defensemen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert will end up as forgettable signings as fringe journeymen defensemen added to fill a temporary need, 

The same is likely true for forward Christian Dvorak, who will probably never share the ice with Michkov barring an unforeseen rash of injuries or struggles with performance from other centers higher in the lineup.

All three free agents, as well as Zegras, are under contract for one more season only.

They are temporary complements to a Flyers roster centered around Michkov, who will have to find his next step on his own accord.

Defensive awareness and skating are the two obvious areas in need of improvement from the 20-year-old, but less defense can sometimes lead to more offense, as we've already seen time and time again.

It would not be unrealistic to dream up a 70- or 80-point season from Michkov, especially if Zegras can turn back the clock to just two seasons ago.

There's also a point to be made for positive regression for other Flyers players, such as Travis Konecny.

Ex-Flyers Prospect Backs Matvei Michkov to Become Face of the FranchiseStar Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov doesn't lack supporters in and around the NHL these days, but he's just received even more big praise.

Konecny ended his season with just seven goals in his final 44 games, and two in his final 25.

Considering how much he and Michkov played together at times under John Tortorella, there's arguably 10 points Konecny left on the table for his Russian counterpart over that second-half slump.

That alone is enough to boost Michkov into the 70-point threshold, flirting with 80 points.

There's also the dreaded specter that is the Flyers' power play.

As a team, the Flyers had the third-worst power play percentage in the NHL last year at 15%, and they were one of four teams (Florida, Tampa Bay, Boston) to allow 10 or more short-handed goals.

Michkov (8), Konecny (8), and Tyson Foerster (6) combined for 22 of the Flyers' 32 power play goals last season; no other Flyers forward managed more than two.

If, say, Sean Couturier added five power play goals to the one he scored last season, he'd have reached 20 goals and 50 points. Would the conversation around the Flyers captain be different? Probably.

But, this is all to say that Michkov can't do it all on his own. He has his own work to do, and his Flyers teammates have theirs.

Michkov won't enter his Nikita Kucherov era overnight, but he's well on his way.

EA SPORTS NHL has released the first deep dive trailer for NHL 26's revamped Be A Pro mode, we break down what is new below.

As previously mentioned, the pricey pond hockey introduction that has been a long running joke in the community has been removed. 

Be A Pro careers will begin with a new starting point, the semi-finals of the World Junior Hockey Championship. The Memorial Cup can still be played before your draft. 

Players must prove themselves in pre-season, and can be sent to the AHL. Players can spend the entire season in the AHL and win the Calder Cup, complete with a trophy celebration. A players performance will impact progression and line promotion. 

Multiple new cutscenes and cinematics have been added, as well as voice actors for the first time in NHL franchise history. 

These cutscenes include the NHL draft, entering the dressing room for the first time, tunnel walkouts, and Stanley Cup Finals celebrations. These cinematics include new facial animations and emotions. 

Your path to the NHL starts here. See what’s new in the revamped #NHL26 Be A Pro.

Pre Order for 7 Day Early Access: https://t.co/Tr60L5Dwmipic.twitter.com/OybYjcm7fl

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 19, 2025

Be A Pro will feature less conversations than previous games, with each conversation having more consequences on your relationship with your brand, teammates, or management. 

New media scrums will have on and off ice impacts. 

The revamp to NHL 26's X-Factor system will allow players to emphasize certain traits and playstyles, shaping your character to your liking. 

The Be A Pro HUB has also received a facelift, pictured below.

 There were no specific mentions of updates to the contract negotiation process in NHL 26 so it will be interesting to see how that is handled. 

Using some metrics from PlayStation trophy tacker and from Thrash it is evident how popular the Be A Pro mode is within NHL games and how much time players dedicate.

These changes shown in the trailer are great on the surface, lets hope ICE-Q 2.0 along with these updates allows for a fresh Be A Pro experience.

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.  

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#25 - Matteo Costantini - C (Western Michigan - NCAA)

Costantini was the Sabres fifth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, held in October because of the COVID pandemic. GM Kevyn Adams had only five picks in his first year as Sabres GM, but hit the jackpot with his first two picks; first-rounder Jack Quinn and second-rounder J.J. Peterka. Costantini is a local product from nearby St. Catharines, ON, and scored 68 points (36 goals, 32 assists) in 50 games for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. He played one season in the USHL with Sioux City before two years at the University of North Dakota.

After a successful freshman season (21 points in 35 games), his sophomore year was a disaster, with three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 25 games. After being sat out frequently during the regular season and playoffs, he used the NCAA transfer portal and shifted to Western Michigan. The change resulted in more opportunities to play up the middle, which was beneficial, as Costantini scored 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) and an excellent +20 plus/minus in 38 games. His senior season was not as productive personally, with 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 40 games, but the 23-year-old was part of the Broncos NCAA Championship run. 

The Sabres signed Costantini to a two-year AHL deal on July 1, giving him an opportunity to earn himself an NHL entry-level contract.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The St. Louis Blues signed forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout (PTO) on Aug. 19. With training camp still being roughly a month away, there is still time for the Blues to bring in another player or two on a PTO before the pre-season begins if they wish to. 

Due to this, let's take a look at two potential PTO targets who the Blues should consider taking a chance on.

Luke Kunin

The Blues' bottom six could use a boost, so bringing in a player like Luke Kunin on a PTO could be worth considering. The 27-year-old has shown throughout his career that he can make an impact due to his physicality and penalty-killing ability. The Chesterfield, Missouri native is also capable of playing both center and on the wing, which adds to his appeal. 

In 75 games this past season split between the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets, Kunin recorded 11 goals, 18 points, and 187 hits. 

Victor Olofsson 

Victor Olofsson is another interesting unrestricted free agent (UFA) who could be a good player for the Blues to invite to training camp on a PTO. While he does not offer the same kind of physicality as players like Lucic and Kunin, he would give the Blues another scorer to take a look at. 

In 56 games this past season with the Vegas Golden Knights, Olofsson posted 15 goals and 29 points. With numbers like these, the three-time 20-goal scorer could compete for a spot on the Blues' third line. 

Ex-Blues Forward Joins New Team After Historic YearFormer St. Louis Blues forward Josh Leivo had a historic season in the KHL with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in 2024-25. In 62 games, he scored a KHL record 49 goals and recorded 80 points. He then followed that up by posting two goals and 15 points in 14 playoff games for the KHL squad.

The St. Louis Blues confirmed Tuesday that former Edmonton Oilers veteran forward Milan Lucic will attend training camp on a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

We've signed Milan Lucic to a professional tryout. #stlblues

DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/fsCekt9xnjhttps://t.co/fsCekt9xnj

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) August 19, 2025

Following a stint in the NHL Players' Assistance Program and rumors back in August of 2024 that he was looking to make a return, his attempt at a comeback is happening. Lucic has since completed the program and been reinstated by the NHL.

For Oilers fans, the news brings back memories of a high-profile free agency signing that was supposed to be the first big thing to go with Connor McDavid, but never lived up to expectations.

Signed to a massive ticket at $42 million, the Oilers went all in on Lucic, thinking he would be the team's big power forward success story. For a while, he was effective, scoring 23 goals and 50 points in his first season with the team in 2016-17. 

Things went downhill not long after. 

Related: McDavid v. the Decade of Darkness: Part 1: My Introduction to the Oilers

He played two additional seasons with the team before being traded to the Calgary Flames for James Neal. The Oilers moved the contract but took on salary retention, a conditional pick, and eventually bought out James Neal — leaving the Oilers still paying for players no longer on the roster.

Lucic, 37, has played 17 NHL seasons in the NHL. His most recent run was a second go-round with the Boston Bruins, but he also spent time in Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Calgary. He won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, likely one of the big reasons the Oilers spent so much to acquire him a few seasons later. 

At one point, Lucic was viewed as a game-changer. The idea was he could score, hit, and put fear into his opponents, all while protecting Connor McDavid. This was the duo that was supposed to lead Edmonton into the playoffs and help the team turn the corner. McDavid had called him a dream teammate prior to his arrival. 

Instead, Lucic’s stint in Edmonton became a cautionary tale.

His production plummeted, he slowed down to the point he struggled to keep pace, and his physical impact faded as the game changed. By the end, he was a $6 million forward who was vastly overpaid and viewed as nearly untradable.

The Oilers did eventually find a taker in Calgary, where he never scored more than 10 goals in a single season. 

His best days are clearly behind him and making a NHL roster could be a long shot. However, the Blues are going to give him a look. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Rasmus Andersson's future remains a hot topic in Calgary this summer. The 28-year-old Flames defenseman is UFA-eligible next July.

Contract extension talks in June failed to produce an agreement, making him the frequent subject of off-season media trade chatter.

Expressen.se recently reported that Andersson wasn't impressed with a media rumor suggesting that he would only accept a trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, claiming the story wasn't true. He doesn't have full no-trade protection, carrying a six-team no-trade list. 

Andersson also addressed a report by TSN's Darren Dreger claiming the Flames received a substantial offer from the Los Angeles Kings. He said he knew what the proposal was but declined to say which team it came from. The blueliner also indicated that he gave Flames management a list of clubs he'd agree to sign with if he were traded, but the team that made the proposal wasn't among them.

According to Andersson, he hasn't spoken with Flames management since the trade proposal was made over a month and a half ago.

Earlier this summer, Flames GM Craig Conroy indicated that he'd spoken with Andersson and there was no issue with him starting this season in Calgary. Nevertheless, it's expected that the veteran blueliner will be moved at some point before the March trade deadline.

Meanwhile, in Edmonton, most of this summer's speculation regarding the Oilers has focused on their limited options for improving their goaltending depth. However, a more pressing need is their salary cap space.

PuckPedia indicates the Oilers are under the $95.5 million cap by $225,000. Any attempt to add another player will require moving out salary in the deal, or a cost-cutting trade beforehand. 

On Aug. 7, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer suggesting Mattias Janmark could be a trade candidate. The 32-year-old left winger is earning an average annual value of $1.45 million through 2026-27, but he's now seeing fourth-line minutes. 

Stauffer believes the Oilers could shed a salary by the start of the season, accrue cap space and use it to acquire a player by the March trade deadline. There could be better options to upgrade between the pipes by then.

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

The Detroit Red Wings announced they will retire Sergei Fedorov's jersey number this upcoming season.

Fedorov’s No. 91 will rise to the rafters on Jan. 12, 2026, when the Red Wings host the Carolina Hurricanes.

"We are honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his No. 91 to its rightful place hanging in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena,” Red Wings Governor and CEO Chris Ilitch said in a press release.

“His exceptional skill, relentless drive and lasting impact playing a pivotal role bringing three Stanley Cup championships to Detroit make him the perfect embodiment of the qualities deserving of our franchise’s most prestigious honor,” Ilitch added.

It has been a long time coming for Fedorov to earn this honor from the Detroit organization. It will be nearly 17 years since his last NHL game that Fedorov's number is retired.

Fedorov played 908 games over 13 seasons for Detroit, scoring 400 goals and 954 points in that span. In his overall NHL career, he played 1,248 regular-season games and recorded 483 goals, 696 assists and 1,179 points between the Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals.

Among all Russian NHL players, only Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin have more goals, assists and points than Fedorov.

“I’m extremely grateful for this tremendous honor,” Fedorov said. “Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise.

“I was fortunate to be part of some unforgettable teams, and above all, I’m proud of the three Stanley Cup championships we won for our amazing fans in Hockeytown,” he added.

On top of the Russian’s three Stanley Cup championships with the Wings, he earned several other accolades in his 18-year career.

The 1993-94 campaign was by far Fedorov’s best. In that season, he scored a career-high 56 goals and 120 points. With that, he was awarded the Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and one of his two Selke Trophy wins. He even finished fourth in the Lady Byng Trophy voting.

Over half a decade after retiring from the NHL, Fedorov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016.

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

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have signed veteran forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout, the club announced on Tuesday morning.

Lucic, 37, last appeared with the Boston Bruins in 2023-24 when he had two assists in four regular season games, last playing on Oct. 21, 2023; he played briefly for current Blues coach Jim Montgomery but had his career cut short at the time due to a domestic incident involving his wife and led to Lucic's arrest. He was enrolled in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program after taking an indefinite leave of absence. Lucic has since completed the program and been reinstated by the NHL.

Lucic's wife, Brittany, has posted on her Instagram page, that the couple has been working strongly on putting their lives back together.

The Vancouver native has played in 17 NHL seasons, including nine with Boston, four with the Calgary Flames, three with the Edmonton Oilers, and one with the Los Angeles Kings and has played in 1,177 regular-season games. Lucic has 586 points (233 goals, 353 assists) and 1,301 penalty minutes and 29 goals, 48 assists (77 points) in 136 Stanley Cup playoff games, winning a Cup in 2011 with the Bruins.

There is also a history with Lucic involving Peter Chiarelli, who serves as the Blues' vice president of hockey operations and was Bruins GM from 2006-15; the Bruins drafted Lucic in the second round of the 2006 NHL Draft and he spent the first eight seasons of his career with Boston.

In a move that was long overdue, the Detroit Red Wings announced this morning that the iconic No. 91 jersey number of Sergei Fedorov will be retired and raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena. 

The ceremony will take place on January 12 before a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

91 TO THE RAFTERS.https://t.co/EzoLOkDqWzpic.twitter.com/NOdxptplNv

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 19, 2025

👀 pic.twitter.com/dKQKfALY7S

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 19, 2025

Fedorov's story of defection from the Soviet Union in the middle of the night was nothing short of incredible, and he would go on to become one of the greatest and most thrilling players not only in Red Wings history, but in all of the NHL. 

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

Fedorov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player in 1994, and would help the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2002. Fedorov was also a six-time NHL All-Star while winning the Lester B. Pearson Award (1994) and twice winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy (1994, 1995). 

The relationship between Fedorov and the Red Wings wasn't without complications, as he infamously held out following the 1997 Stanley Cup victory and even signed an offer sheet with the Hurricanes, who were owned by Peter Karmonos, a bitter business foe of Mike Ilitch. 

The Red Wings matched the offer, and Fedorov remained with Detroit for several more years. During his time with the Red Wings, he played in 908 gams and scored exactly 400 goals while adding 554 assists, along with 50 goals and 113 assists in 162 playoff games. 

His 954 career points in a Red Wings uniform rank sixth all time in team history. 

Fedorov’s time with the franchise officially ended in the 2003 offseason when he signed with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the same team that had eliminated the Red Wings from the playoffs earlier that spring, after reportedly turning down a pair contract offers from Detroit.

Upon Fedorov's return to Joe Louis Arena in December 2003 with the Mighty Ducks, he was treated as a villain and heavily booed by the fans.

Fedorov would later play for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals before returning to Russia to play in the KHL. 

Thankfully, Fedorov’s relationship with Red Wings fans has been mended in recent years, as he received a warm welcome during the 2013 Alumni Game at Comerica Park before the 2014 Winter Classic, as well as when he took part in the ceremonial puck drop at Joe Louis Arena in 2015.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015, while also being inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame the following year. 

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

With the 2025-26 season fast approaching, NHL Network has released its Top 20 Defensemen list featuring Golden Knights standout Shea Theodore at No. 15. 

Our Top 20 Defensemen Right Now list has a total of:
• 19 total All-Star Game appearances
• 9 All-Rookie team honors
• 6 James Norris Memorial Trophies
• 2 Calder Trophies
• 2 Conn Smythe Trophies
• 9 Stanley Cups

What do you think of our list?@NHL | #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/0MaGYS04de

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 13, 2025

The Original Misfit has had a successful career with the Knights after making the transition from the Anaheim Ducks. Over the span of eight seasons he has a total of 346 points (73 goals, 273 assists) playing in 511 games.  

He played a key role in Vegas' historic inaugural season finishing with 29 points (six goals, 23 assists), working his way into a top-four role. During their 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs run he continued to prove himself finishing with 10 points in 20 games further helping them advance to the Cup Final where they came up short to the Washington Capitals. 

📲 Shea Theodore is a Stanley Cup Champion 🐻 pic.twitter.com/w7OChKHau8

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 16, 2023

During the record-breaking 2022-23 season he finished with 41 points (eight goals, 33 assists) leading up to his first Stanley Cup championship. During the playoffs he helped the organization win their first title with 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in 21 playoff games. 

This past season he went even further by scoring an NHL career-high 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in 78 regular-season games. 

There is much to look forward to for the 30-year-old come September.

On Monday, Bleacher Report put out a ranking of each team in the NHL’s number one defenseman. For the Chicago Blackhawks, they consider Alex Vlasic to be the number one and ranked him as the 31st best in the NHL. This is not saying he’s the 31st best defenseman; this is saying that he’s the 31st best number one. 

Vlasic is a very good player. Although this feels a little disrespectful, especially since he was so good in 2024-25, it may be closer to reality than not because of how many good number one defensemen there are in the NHL. 

B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on XRanking each team’s best defenseman, league-wide, via B/R’s Adam Gretz 👀 Link to full breakdown 🔗: https://t.co/XHIf2acqAF

Vlasic’s a great player in his end, but he doesn’t produce points at a high rate, so he isn’t even a prototypical number one. Not every team, or even close to every team, has a guy who is elite in all three zones. 

Listing him as the number one is a product of what happened in 2024-25. The Blackhawks traded Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers, and that left Connor Murphy and Alec Martinez behind on a blue line with a bunch of players under 24. 

Martinez has since retired, and Vlasic is already better than Murphy. However, is he the true number one on the team? Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel would like a word. 

Each of them made their NHL debut in the final quarter of the season last year. Levshunov, who Chicago took second overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, played 18 games. He had six assists during that time, while having some ups and downs defensively. 

Rinzel, who was taken by the Blackhawks 25th overall in 2022, played in nine games after his season with the University of Minnesota ended. In those 9 contests, Rinzel collected six assists. 

By the time the season was over, all three of Rinzel, Levshunov, and Vlasic were playing big minutes. None of them looked out of place doing it, even when they were against some of the top offensive players in the world. 

There are sure to be slumps for them all as they continue to evolve in the best league in the world, but they all possess tremendous skill that can help them make an impact at the NHL level. 

So, if the question is, who is the number one defenseman on the team right now? The best answer is that these three have the inside track to take that role on. They all may share it throughout the year, which is probably best for a young team like the Chicago Blackhawks. 

If any of them has the highest ceiling, based on what we’ve seen so far, it has to be Rinzel. He looked incredible in his stint with Chicago. However, he must come into 2025-26 and stay at that level while progressively getting better. Levshunov, being a second overall pick, has to be in the mix for the lead as well because of his pedigree. 

If Vlasic turns out to be a number three, Chicago’s blue line will be in good shape. Other players like Ethan del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Louis Crevier, and Kevin Korchinski, amongst others, are looking to make an impact in the lineup as well. 

The Blackhawks' rebuild has been slow and at times painful, but they've been great at adding defensemen who look the part of NHL regulars. That is the first step in becoming a contender. 

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

Top Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim might be the best rearguard on his team, but his ranking amongst his peers around the NHL isn't nearly as flattering.

In Bleacher Report's latest ranking of each NHL team's best defenseman, Sanheim, 29, representing the Flyers, ranked just 29th, ahead of only the likes of Dmitry Orlov (32nd, San Jose), Alex Vlasic (31st, Chicago), and Adam Pelech (30th, New York Islanders).

Even more curious is that names like Erik Karlsson, Morgan Rielly, Vince Dunn, and Cam Fowler were ahead of Sanheim, and many would argue that Fowler isn't even the best defensemen on his team.

That honor belongs to hulking right-shot defenseman Colton Parayko, who represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off last winter alongside Sanheim and new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet.

Rielly, and Karlsson, especially, are shadows of the players they once were, reaching the peaks of their offensive production seasons ago.

Flyers' Travis Konecny Has to Clear One Big Hurdle to Reach True StardomThe Philadelphia Flyers don't quite have a true star player just yet, but a few adjustments from Travis Konecny could do the trick.

Sanheim, too, had a down year offensively, but much of that can be attributed to a lack of power play time, lots of difficult defensive minutes, and an overall lackluster Flyers team that failed time and time again to live up to expectations, even after the surprise addition of Matvei Michkov last summer.

The rangy Flyers defenseman was always going to be a good No. 2 or great No. 3 on a Stanley Cup contender, which makes him no different than a Dunn, a Parayko, or even a Dougie Hamilton.

But, given how poor the Flyers were for swaths of last season, Sanheim unfortunately did not receive the respect he's earned over the last few seasons.

It's not the first instance of such a snub this offseason, either.

Flyers Duo Snubbed from 'NHL 2030' Top 30 Players ListThe Philadelphia Flyers are certainly hoping that young stars Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone will be top 30 NHL players five years from now, but there are some who would push back on that.

Just a few days prior, Bleacher Report also bizarrely excluded top Flyers prospect Porter Martone from their list of the 10 most exciting prospects playing in the NCAA this upcoming season.

Based on first-hand knowledge, this will only be added motivation for a scrappy Flyers team looking to wash away a bad 2024-25 season, but the unusually strong disrespect has been a strange trend to follow this month.

Sanheim scored eight goals, 22 assists, and 30 points for the Flyers last season, posting a -6 rating while averaging a career-high 24:30 of ice time.