John Tavares has received an invitation to Team Canada’s Orientation Camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

The 34-year-old is one of 42 players on the men’s side to be invited to the three-day off-ice camp hosted by Hockey Canada in Calgary, Alberta. The country has invited 92 players in total, from both the men’s and women’s teams, plus its para hockey teams.

From August 26 to 28th, players will be at Hockey Canada’s headquarters listening to presentations, participating in team-building opportunities and meetings, plus media opportunities for the upcoming season.

“We are excited to unveil the 92 athletes who will kick off the road to Italy, and to bring our men’s, women’s and para hockey teams together for three days as the first step towards our goal of winning triple gold in February,” said Hockey Canada senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, Scott Salmond.

“While the next several months will bring intense evaluation and difficult roster decisions, we look forward to kicking off the season in Calgary and giving our athletes and staff a chance to come together and start to become one team as we set our sights on February.”

Knights' Coach Dale Hunter Believes Easton Cowan Can Make Maple Leafs Out Of Training CampLondon Knights head coach Dale Hunter believes Easton Cowan has a shot to make the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp.

Tavares is coming off one of his best seasons as a Maple Leaf, scoring 74 points (38 goals and 36 assists) in 75 games. His 38 goals are tied for the second-most in a season during his career, only behind the 47 goals he scored during his first season with Toronto.

The veteran forward was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but signed a four-year, $17.55 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs. The annual average value of the deal is $4.38 million.

Tavares has represented Canada on numerous occasions, including the World Juniors, World Cup, and 2014 Olympic Games. He’s won gold medals at each level, though he is still looking for the coveted Stanley Cup to put himself into the Triple Gold club.

Nick Robertson’s Arbitration Filing With Maple Leafs Revealed: What Each Side SubmittedJust two days before Nick Robertson and the Toronto Maple Leafs are scheduled to meet with an arbitrator, both sides have submitted their requests and comparable figures. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Robertson is seeking an AAV of $2.25 million, while the Leafs are asking for $1.2 million.

In 1,184 career NHL games split between Toronto and the New York Islanders, Tavares has scored 494 goals and 620 assists for 1,114 points. Tavares has also tallied 53 points (28 goals and 25 assists) in 75 playoff games.

Also invited to the mini-camp is former Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who was part of a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this summer. Marner signed an eight-year, $96 million contract before being acquired by Vegas in exchange for Nicolas Roy.

The 28-year-old has put up 741 points (221 goals and 520 assists) in 647 games, plus 13 goals and 50 assists in 70 playoff games with the Maple Leafs. Marner is fifth all-time on the franchise's points list, fourth in assists, and fifth in Toronto's all-time playoff points.

'There's Unfinished Business': Anthony Stolarz's Summer Training In Full Swing Ahead Of Second Season With Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz appears to be in peak offseason training mode.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Maple Leafs' John Tavares Among Invitees To Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp

(Top photo of Tavares: Luther Schlaifer / Imagn Images)

The Buffalo Sabres desperately need to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. And while the Philadelphia Flyers aren't quite as desperate as the Sabres are to do so, Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere wouldn't object at all if the Flyers surprised people and got into the post-season this coming year.

Could Philadelpha get in the way of Buffalo as both teams likely pursue a wild-card playoff berth next season? That's what we're getting at in this THN.com Sabres site series. Below, you'll see how Buffalo fared against the Flyers last year, what dates the two teams will play against each other in the nex season, and more. Let's get to it.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

NEW FLYERS PLAYERS: Trevor Zegras, C; Christian Dvorak, C; Noah Juulsen, D ; Dennis Gilbert, D; Dan Vladar, G

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-2-0, Flyers 2-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  December 3 at Philadelphia; December 18 at Buffalo; January 14 at Buffalo

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres and Flyers squared off against one another deep into the regular-season last year, with both teams playing their last game of the season against each other. Philadelphia beat Buffalo in a meaningless final game, but there's always been a solid-rivalry energy when the Sabres and Flyers go head-to-head. 

This time around, the Sabres and Flyers will play each other three times within a six-week span starting in early December and lasting until mid-January. And if Buffalo continues being a strong team at home this coming season, they have an excellent opportunity to put some standings space in-between them and the Flyers.

That said, the Flyers make some understandable gambles -- and some curious ones -- in the current off-season. Zegras was no longer a good fit in Anaheim, and the Flyers need some of the scoring power Zegras has been able to bring early in his NHL career. Dvorak was given a one-year, $5.4-million contract at a time where teams value the third-line center position Dvorak is pretty solid at.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Will Buffalo Shock Re-Arranged Rangers Next Year?THN.com's ongoing series on the Buffalo Sabres and their opponents next season continues with this look at the New York Rangers and the considerable changes the Rangers have made thus far this off-season, as well as their record against the Sabres and their schedule head-to-head this coming season.

And given that the Flyers had the league's fifth-worst goals-against average (3.45) last season, getting a veteran goalie -- in this case, former Calgary Flames netminder Dan Vladar, who signed a two-year deal at $3.35-million per season -- was paramount for the Flyers to even hope to be playing meaningful hockey down the stretch.

If there was an X-factor that could be at play in the three games the Flyers and Sabres play next year, it could prove to be new Flyers coach Rick Tocchet. If the Jack Adams Award-winner as the NHL's best bench boss in 2024 with the Vancouver Canucks can drop into that Philadelphia room and instill a sense of confidence in his players, the Flyers can look to fast-track their development and contend for a playoff berth sooner than later.

Still, if we're talking about how the Sabres and Flyers will do against each other, we feel good about Buffalo's chances of winning at least two of the three games they'll play next season. Buffalo's defense is clearly better than Philadelphia's, and the same goes for the Sabres' depth of high-end talent at forward. Buffalo has more upper-tier talent at all positions, so a Sabres sweep wouldn't and shouldn't be out of the question next year.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Are Retooling Islanders A Better Team Than Buffalo?Welcome back to  THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site. In recent days and weeks, we've been focusing on the teams the Sabres will square off against next season. And in today's file, we're turning our attention to a team Buffalo will be taking on in the latest battl(es) of New York (state) -- the New York Islanders.

The big question with this rivalry may be about the two teams' goaltending. Vladar doesn't have to be a superstar to do the job in Philadelphia. He just has to keep the Flyers within a one-or-two-goal distance from their opponent, and let Philly's offence win the game for them. And in Buffalo, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Devon Levi and Alex Lyon are a better trio than Vladar, Ivan Fedotov and Samuel Ersson.

You can see, then, why there are bigger expectations for the Sabres than there are for the Flyers right now. Philadelphia is still in the early stages of a proper rebuild. Buffalo is well beyond the honeymoon stage of their core talent coming up and settling in. So Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will be under enormous pressure to use Buffalo's superior depth to their advantage.

It's difficult to envision both the Flyers and Sabres being playoff teams next season. But it also feels like it will be unlikely that Philadelphia and Buffalo both fail to make the playoffs next year. There's lots to like on both teams, but the Sabres should have an urgency to their game that we doubt the Flyers can match. . 

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Will Devils Remain Formidable Metro Team -- And Will New Jersey Once Again Beat Sabres In Season Series?The Buffalo Sabres are a team that needs to make a playoff appearance this coming season. But in a continuing series, we're examining each of Buffalo's Eastern Conference-rivals that could be in the way of the Sabres making it into the post-season. And in this file, we're examining the rivalry between the Sabres and New Jersey Devils.

And until they both rise to the very top of their respective divisions, the Flyers and Sabres will only be hoping for a Cinderella playoff run.

The Hockey Show is back with a new episode, and this week we’re welcoming a three-time Stanley Cup champion!

Joining hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork on this week’s show is former New Jersey Devils great and current team analyst Ken Daneyko.

At the moment, Daneyko is coaching in the summer 3ICE league which is taking place in South Florida at the Baptist Health IcePlex, which is the Florida Panthers new practice facility.

The former Cup winner discussed what it was like building a champion with the Devils, comparing that team with the current Florida Panthers and how they play the game and how he milked every single minute out of his 24 hours with the Cup after the Devils’ three wins.

Roy and Dave also ranked NHL logo changes, they got into the latest with the Florida Panthers and their Stanley Cup summer and looked at how some of the team’s contracts are being viewed.

This week’s wins and fails included the ageless Jaromir Jagr, an insane ending to a roller hockey championship game and some jarring axe throwing by a well-known NHL mascot.

You can check out the full episode below:

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The Detroit Red Wings have been active so far in the 2025 offseason with respect to player movement. 

Not only did they trade Vladimir Tarasenko and his $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild, but they also signed a multitude of free agents, including forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton along with defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ian Mitchell. 

Jonatan Berggren and Albert Johansson, both of whom were restricted free agents, agreed to new contracts. 

Additionally, they shored up the crease by acquiring veteran goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Petr Mrazek. 

However, Red Wings fans are still hoping that GM Steve Yzerman is lying in wait to soon pounce and make what could be considered a major splash of an acquisition. 

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

There are few executives in professional sports today who keep their cards closer to the vest than Yzerman, though he did say he was open to making a major move during his end-of-season press conference. 

Unfortunately, opportunities to acquire some of the more notable names in free agency didn't present themselves.

Mitch Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights in a major sign-and-trade, while the Florida Panthers somehow managed to re-sign Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand before they hit the open market. 

Reports surfaced that former Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, wasn't interested in even discussing a contract with Detroit. Goal scoring forward Brock Boeser re-signed with the Vancouver Canucks, while former New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller was traded to the Hurricanes and subsequently signed an eight-year extension. 

For Yzerman, he said there wasn't much he could do in this situation and that it wasn't exactly a surprise that they weren't able to so much as sit down with some of the more notable names. 

"We were were certainly open to it," Yzerman said. "The guys that we were hoping to talk to all signed before free agency with their clubs, or got traded. In the case of Mitch Marner, we didn't even get an opportunity to talk to these guys. There's not much you can do about that.

"Going into free agency, I think we all recognize that it was going to be difficult all around the league. There weren’t as many as what we would all consider high-end free agents available this year. So it wasn't really a shock to us that we weren't able to get anything done with any of the bigger name guys."

That being said, there is still plenty of time between now and the start of Training Camp in mid-September for a trade. 

Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who has ties to Michigan and scored 35 goals this past season, remains a talked-about name in trade rumors. Additionally, goal scoring forwards Bryan Rust (Pontiac, MI native) and Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins have been linked to the Red Wings as potential acquisitions. 

On the back end, Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Jack Roslovic, who played last season for the Hurricanes, are possibilities for Yzerman to consider. 

While Yzerman expressed hope that the players currently on Detroit's roster take another step in the upcoming campaign, there still remains the potential of a major pickup via the trade market. 

The opportunity is still there, and Yzerman could choose to make that leap at any moment. 

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Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy is a player to keep an eye on. The right-shot blueliner is entering the final season of his contract, so he certainly stands out as a potential trade chip for the rebuilding Blackhawks. This is especially so when NHL teams are often willing to pay more for big, right-shot defenseman.

Due to this, let’s look at three teams who could target Murphy if he is made available by the Blackhawks. 

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings could make a lot of sense as a landing spot for Murphy, as it is clear that the right side of their defense could use improvement. If the Red Wings acquired Murphy, he could slot nicely on their second pairing with Simon Edvinsson and would also be a clear option for their penalty kill.

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars’ biggest weakness currently is the right side of their defense. Because of this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they made a push to acquire Murphy, whether that is this summer or during the season. If the Stars acquired him, he would provide them with a clear upgrade over Ilya Lyubushkin in their top four. Therefore, there could be a good match here.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes could also be an intriguing landing spot for Murphy. When looking at their roster, it is fair to argue that they could use another experienced blueliner on their right side. If the Hurricanes acquired Murphy, he could be a good fit on their bottom pairing with offensive defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. 

Ex-Blackhawks Defenseman Among Top Free Agents LeftWith it now being August, many of this year's notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are still some UFAs with plenty of experience who have yet to get signed.

Photo Credit: © Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

We’re now reaching the halfway point of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series with the Boston Bruins at No. 17.

In these summer splash rankings, we’re looking at every team’s roster additions, departures, hirings and firings to see who improved, got worse and stayed largely the same.

You can see which teams finished below the Bruins at the bottom. But before we get to that point, we’re going to break down the state of the Bruins.

Additions

Viktor Arvidsson (RW), Tanner Jeannot (LW), Sean Kuraly (LW), Michael Eyssimont (LW), Alex Steeves (C), Jordan Harris (D)

The Breakdown:The Bruins fell to pieces last year, posting an 8-9-3 record out of the gate, and they never really recovered from it. 

Once Boston GM Don Sweeney finished moving out some cornerstone pieces – including Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo and Florida Panthers left winger Brad Marchand – there was the bleak reality that this Bruins team is too streaky. When you post a 10-game losing streak in the tail end of your schedule, it’s safe to say there are some fundamental issues with this team.

Now, Sweeney and the Bruins acted to employ as many physically ornery players as possible to exact a toll on opponents night in and night out. Arvidsson, Jeannot, Kuraly and Eyssimont all welcome a physical game, and new Bruins coach Marco Sturm will deploy them to make opponents' lives miserable.

That said, these additions likely won’t propel the Bruins back into the playoffs. With these peripheral additions, Sweeney has doubled down on his core, featuring superstar right winger David Pastrnak, defensemen Charlie McAvoy, Nikita Zadorov and Hampus Lindholm, and goalie Jeremy Swayman. 

If the Bruins expect adding so-called “character players” will punish opponents enough to win 45 games and make the playoffs, we’re not nearly so confident that will come to pass. That said, they fill in some of the gaps from the players who left at the trade deadline to ensure this team doesn’t finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division again.

Departures

Vinni Lettieri (C), Cole Koepke (LW), Parker Wotherspoon (D), Jakub Lauko (C), Oliver Wahlstrom (RW), Tyler Pitlick (C) 

The Breakdown: The Bruins did most of their roster remodelling last year, and what’s left now is a team with not a lot of depth but is still close to the salary cap ceiling. They now have about $2 million to make another addition, but letting go of fringe players doesn’t move the needle. Sweeney has chosen to have cap flexibility over low-ranking players sticking around on relatively lucrative terms.

Lettieri moved on to the Maple Leafs, Koepke joined the Winnipeg Jets, Wotherspoon became a Pittsburgh Penguin, Lauko signed in Czechia, Wahlstrom is a UFA and Pitlick signed with the Minnesota Wild. With all due respect, these players didn’t do enough this past season to either warrant a full-time job or a notable role on the squad.

The Bottom Line

In the big picture, the Bruins have improved on paper compared to the end-of-season roster, but not to any great degree. 

Yes, adding sandpaper to the team will likely have a positive effect on Boston’s game. The problem is that the Bruins are playing in the Atlantic Division, which many see as the strongest division in the NHL.

Every team in the Atlantic has designs on a playoff spot next year. Whether it’s the Ottawa Senators wanting to follow up their core’s solid season last year with a second straight playoff appearance, or whether it’s the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings all aching to be a post-season team next year, all eight Atlantic teams want to win and win now. So, there are clearly going to be some Atlantic teams that disappoint, and we fear that may be the case for Boston in 2025-26. Their goaltending was suddenly suspect, their pipeline hasn’t fed the main roster with many big-impact players, and veteran players like center Elias Lindholm don’t appear capable of stepping up with more offense.

Sure, the Bruins are going to be a pain in the rear end to deal with next season, but that doesn’t make them capable of pulling out of last season’s tailspin and proving that the 2024-25 campaign was merely a momentary blip on the radar for Boston. But it’s equally likely, if not more so, that the Bruins find out the hard way that, once you’re out of the playoff picture, it’s rather difficult to get back in.

And as for our summer splash rankings, Boston is squarely in “ho-hum” territory. Time may prove us wrong, but the Bruins don’t look like a playoff team after the changes Sweeney has made. And their entire off-season has been little more than a shoulder shrug.

Summer Splash Rankings

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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.

Kickstart your weekend by listening to rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.

Has Oilers GM Eased Concerns About Connor McDavid Leaving? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here’s what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Adam Kierszenblat discussed in this episode:

2:00: Reacting to Hockey Canada’s Olympic orientation camp invitees

7:40: What will be Toronto Maple Leafs RFA Nick Robertson's next cap hit?

10:30: Was the Dylan Samberg extension a good deal for the Jets?

14:30: Could Nicklas Backstrom play his way onto the Swedish Olympic team?

18:00: Buffalo Sabres goalie Devon Levi hasn't lived up to expectations yet, but will he be able to after signing a contract extension?

22:40: Will Zayne Parekh crack the Calgary Flames' roster this upcoming season?

26:40: Have Oilers GM Stan Bowman's comments about Connor McDavid’s next contract quieted down any noise involving the captain potentially leaving next summer? Or is there still a chance he moves on?

31:00: Will any or all of Claude Giroux, David Perron and Nick Jensen stick with the Ottawa Senators beyond this season?

32:50: Will Mackenzie Blackwood continue to live up to the standards he set for himself last season on the Colorado Avalanche?

36:50: Are there any teams that would be willing to trade for Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry?

40:00: Is it fair to make the draft rights the same across the board, no matter whether a prospect plays overseas or in North America?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

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Amazon

Promo photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Detroit Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren was given the opportunity to reach a new career-high in NHL games played in the 2024-25 NHL season, skating in 75 out of 82 games. 

Berggren, who scored 15 goals in the 67 games he played in during the 2022-23 NHL campaign, managed just 12 goals with 12 assists this past season. While his future in Detroit appeared somewhat cloudy, he affixed his signature to a one-year contract extension in June.

Berggren knows that the upcoming 2025-26 season could be a make-or-break campaign for him that will go a long way in determining his future NHL path, as he recently explained to the Red Wings' official website. 

“Last year was a good year for me,” Berggren said. “I feel like I got more opportunity after Todd [McLellan] became head coach, and I think I played better. This one-year deal is a prove-it-deal for me. I want to show what I can do.”

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

After his first real NHL experience in 2022-23, Berggren would then spend the majority of the following season in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He scored at just over a point-per-game pace, racking up 24 goals with 32 assists for 56 points in the 53 games he played. 

Berggren also expressed appreciation for the security that his new one-year contract affords him with the Red Wings heading into the upcoming campaign.

BERGGREN OUT OF THE BOX AND THE WINGS WIN IT WITH 35 SECONDS LEFT 😱 pic.twitter.com/uyx9D7R4Eq

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 3, 2025

“It felt like I was part of the team,” Berggren said. “It’s hard when you’re going up and down between the AHL and NHL, so I got that confidence being there for a full year and I’m going to build off that.”

The good news for the Red Wings is that Berggren, who has often gone by the affectionate nickname "Jonny Burgers", believes he's in a much better position physically than he was two seasons ago.

“Especially last summer, I feel like that was really good and then at Training Camp, everything felt good,” Berggren said. “I took another step last year, but I feel like I’m starting at a higher level this year maybe than where I was two years ago. I want to do the same thing this summer because I feel like that’s going to give me a good result this year.”

Berggren, who got a chance near the end of last season to play on Detroit's top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, expressed optimism for the Red Wings beginning the new season with Todd McLellan as head caoch.

“I feel like we played really good hockey when Todd came in,” Berggren said. “Now that we’re going to start with him, it’s going to be good to have a full camp with the new systems rather than how we had to learn during the middle of the season. That’s going to be huge.”

The countdown is now approximately a month and a half until Berggren and the rest of his Red Wings teammates gather in Traverse City for Training Camp, which will be followed by their first exhibition matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks on September 23. 

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The New Jersey Devils and the NHL have announced that international fans can now stream every NHL game, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final, on DAZN, as part of a new multi-year partnership.

The deal covers over 200 countries and territories outside of North America, making it easier than ever for fans around the world to follow their favorite teams and players.

DAZN is a British-based sports streaming platform, owned by Access Industries and headquartered in London. Originally founded as Perform Group in 2007, it rebranded as DAZN in 2015. The platform broadcasts a wide range of live and on-demand sports, with a core focus on combat sports like boxing and MMA, available without pay-per-view fees. DAZN is accessible by subscription across various devices.

As part of this agreement, NHL.TV will be integrated into the DAZN platform. This means fans outside the U.S., Canada, and the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) will now be able to watch NHL games through NHL.TV on DAZN.

For the New Jersey Devils, this partnership is especially significant. The franchise has developed a strong and growing international fanbase, one that stretches far beyond the Prudential Center in Newark.

During last season’s NHL Global Series, the Devils traveled to Prague, Czechia, where they opened their season with a win against the Buffalo Sabres. But beyond the victory, the trip highlighted the team's global reach. According to NHL.com, fans came from across the world, including Scotland, Spain, and even Australia,  to cheer for the Devils.

One fan, Mikaela Mackie from Melbourne, told NHL.com, “We all know each other from Twitter. It’s fantastic to connect with other people and have that common interest. It makes it easy to start that conversation and get along.” 

That common interest, of course, is the New Jersey Devils.

The team’s global appeal is also fueled by its international roster. One standout example is Ondřej Palát, Devils winger and alternate captain, who hails from Frýdek-Místek, Czechia. Palát has a strong fan following in his home country, and thanks to this DAZN partnership, his supporters can now stream all 82 regular-season games, plus the playoffs, with ease.

Globally, nearly 30% of NHL players were born outside North America. Reaching that international audience has become a core part of the league’s long-term strategy.

Steve McArdle, NHL Chief Operating Officer, explained to NHL.com:

“Media distribution is at the core of our global strategy, and we are thrilled to partner with DAZN to continue to expand our global reach and engage with our fast-growing international fan base. Our shared commitment to innovation, gold-standard technology, and providing an exceptional content delivery service will allow us to deliver NHL content to hockey fans around the world on the platforms they prefer.”

This new partnership not only benefits Devils fans abroad, it also supports the NHL’s broader mission to grow the game globally, making hockey more accessible to the next generation of fans, no matter where they live.

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Hockey Canada revealed their roster for the summer camp for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, with 42 players from 20 different NHL clubs. One of the dozen teams that was not represented was the Buffalo Sabres, although two former Sabres and an ex-Buffalo draft choice were named. 

Two-time Stanley Cup winner Sam Reinhart was among five Florida Panthers named, along with Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour. Former Sabres draft pick Brandon Hagel was one of three Tampa Bay players chosen who played at the NHL Four Nations Face-Off for Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. 

 

Other Sabres Stories

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Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

2021 top overall pick Owen Power was thought to have an outside chance of being selected after a career-high 40-point season, but the five left-shot blueliners selected were Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey, Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers, Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Colorado’s Devon Toews.

Buffalo is expected to have a number of players who will be in the mix for an Olympic bid for their respective countries. Rasmus Dahlin is a shoo-in for Team Sweden, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch will be in the mix for Team USA, as will Jiri Kulich for Czechia, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Former Sabre JJ Peterka will undoubtedly be a part of Germany’s squad next February, along with Henri Jokiharju for Finland, 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

How in-depth analytics highlight value of Sharks' 2025 NHL offseason additions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks have added many new players this offseason, but are any of them difference makers?

Between trades and free agency, the Sharks have added forwards Adam Gaudette, Philipp Kurashev, Ryan Reaves, and Jeff Skinner, while also addressing the blue line with defensemen John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, and Dmitry Orlov. San Jose also added goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.

Frankly, most of these veterans probably are a little past their prime, so it’s hard to say if any will be difference makers, but each, in small-but-significant ways, can still make an impact.

Per Stathletes, let’s look at some of the underrated ways that the new Sharks can help their new team.

Adam Gaudette

The 6-foot-1 center-winger should be able to add some scoring to the bottom-six with his net front presence and dangerous one-timer.

Gaudette actually led the Ottawa Senators with 16 5-on-5 goals last year, with a team-leading six off the one-timer.

How Can Gaudette Continue Late-Bloomer Success With Sharks? (+)

He’s not as adept at passing or carrying the puck, but he should be able to shoot it.

Philipp Kurashev

Kurashev, on the other hand, is happy to carry the puck and dish it.

Per Stathletes, in 2023-24, Kurashev’s breakout campaign for the Chicago Blackhawks, he led all forwards in 5-on-5 Successful Passes and Puck Carries Per 60.

This playmaking mentality could make him a nice fit next to shooters Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Skinner, or Gaudette.

Ryan Reaves

Reaves is still one of the NHL’s most-feared enforcersm and should provide a degree of protection for the Sharks’ young guns.

He’s also still a guy who’s likely to come up with the puck along the boards: The 38-year-old led the Toronto Maple Leafs in Puck Battles and Puck Battles Won, suggesting he can still keep up with the league.

Jeff Skinner

The six-time 30-goal scorer still has a gift for getting open.

In limited playing time, the 33-year-old sniper led the Edmonton Oilers in 5-on-5 Cycle Shots Per 60.

Where’s Jeff Skinner Most Dangerous? Who Should Sharks Play With Him? (+)

What does this look like? Skinner will be trying to get open around the middle of the offensive zone, while his linemates dig for the puck.

Could he score 20 or 30 goals with more playing time on the Sharks? That doesn’t seem far-fetched, considering his track record.

The Sharks will need to pair Skinner with a strong playmaker to maximize his success.

John Klingberg

The offensive blueliner can still carry and dish the puck.

During the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, the 32-year-old blueliner was second among defensemen behind kingpin Evan Bouchard in both 5-on-5 Puck Carrys and Successful Passes Per 60.

Don’t count on him to shoot the puck much though, he’s more a playmaker.

The Sharks are hoping for a renaissance campaign from the oft-injured former star, and his work during the post-season suggests that it could happen.

Nick Leddy

Leddy, 34, struggled with the St. Louis Blues last year, but before that, he was a top-four stalwart.

Two areas where the smooth-skating 6-foot-0 defenseman declined last year?

The banged-up veteran won a blueline-low 37.7 percent of his 5-on-5 Puck Battles last year. He was just fifth in Zone Entry Attempts.

Compare that to a healthy 2023-24, when he won a robust 66.4 percent of his Puck Battles and was third in Zone Entry Attempts.

Some improvement in both areas will go a long way for the Sharks.

Dmitry Orlov

The Sharks haven’t had a defenseman like Orlov in a while.

He actually led a deep Carolina Hurricanes blueline in 5-on-5 Offensive Zone Possession Time Per 60: The two-way defenseman should help the Sharks to sustain OZ time, a glaring weakness for San Jose since they traded Erik Karlsson.

In the last two seasons, the Sharks have been dead-last in the NHL in OZ Possession Time, “one-and-done” being an appropriate adjective for their pop gun offensive attack.

Orlov should help keep the puck cycle alive, which should free up shooters like Toffoli and company.

Alex Nedeljkovic

It’s a small sample size, but last year, Nedeljkovic and his Pittsburgh Penguins battery mate Tristan Jarry had the worst 5-on-5 Rush Shot Save % in the league.

So it’s incumbent on a veteran Sharks’ blueline and developing forward group to improve their OZ puck possession time, puck management in all zones, and kill more plays at the blueline, so not to expose Nedeljkovic in the same way.

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The Chicago Blackhawks, the last time the Olympics had NHL players participating, were swarmed with Olympians all over their roster. Things are a little bit different coming into 2025-26, which will finally be a year where the NHL takes a break to go to the Olympic Games in Italy. 

One player that the front office, fans, and the league would like to see work his way onto Team Canada's roster is Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard. If he made it, that would mean that he had a tremendous start to the year, and he looks like the marketable player that everyone was hoping he'd be when he was selected first overall in 2023. 

Bedard didn't make the Four Nations Face-Off roster last season, but he didn't earn it. In all honesty, he probably wasn't even one of the first four or five off. With that said, his potential is what makes people think he has a shot at the Olympics. 

On Wednesday, Canada announced their roster for the 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp, which will take place in August. Connor Bedard made the camp. 

B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on XMacklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, and Quinton Byfield among the newcomers joining Canada's 2026 Olympic orientation camp, which will take place in August 👀 Full roster ⬇️

Bedard joins other young stars like Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks as newcomers. A lot of stars that have made Team Canada so great over the years are also going to be there, like Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, and Nathan MacKinnon, among others. 

Canada will enter the Olympic Games with as good a chance as anyone to win the Gold Medal. When the young players mentioned are bubble guys for the roster, that speaks to the depth of Hockey Canada. 

Heading into the latter stages of the NHL off-season, this will be a great experience for Bedard. Learning from some of the game's most prolific stars can be great for development. 

Connor Bedard opted to miss the IIHF World Championships earlier in the off-season. That may make him have to work extra hard to catch Hockey Canada's eye, but they won't deny the best chance to win. It's up to Bedard, through his play at the camp and with the Blackhawks, to prove that he can help them. 

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has won two Olympic Gold Medals throughout his legendary career and will have the chance to win a third at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. 

Crosby was one of 42 NHL players invited to Canada's orientation camp to prepare for the 2026 Olympics. He is joined by the likes of Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel, Sam Bennett, and many more. 

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first to feature NHL players since the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. 

Hockey Canada has invited 42 NHL players to orientation camp in preparation for the 2026 Italy Olympics:

26 Forwards: Bedard, Bennett, Byfield, Celebrini, Cirelli, Crosby, Hagel, Horvat, Hyman, Jarvis, Johnston, Konecny, MacKinnon, Marchand, Marner, McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins,…

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) August 1, 2025

After winning a Gold Medal for his country at the 2005 World Juniors, Crosby guided Team Canada to Olympic Gold Medals in 2010 and 2014. He also helped his country win a Gold Medal at the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey before assisting Canada to win this year's 4 Nations Face-Off. 

The 4 Nations Face-Off served as an appetizer for the 2026 Olympics and was a major success for the NHL. 

Canada's Olympic orientation camp will take place in Calgary from August 26-28. 

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Featured Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

With it now being August, things around the NHL have naturally slowed down significantly. It is not surprising, as most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed. However, there are still some veterans who are UFAs at this point in the summer, and one of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto. 

The Penguins elected not to re-sign Nieto this off-season after he spent each of the last two seasons with the team. In 32 games this past season with Pittsburgh, the Long Beach, California native recorded one goal, two assists, three points, 39 hits, and a minus-8 rating.

Nieto was also placed on waivers by Pittsburgh in February. After clearing them, he joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 15 games with the AHL squad, he recorded three goals, four assists, seven points, and a plus-2 rating.

While the 2024-25 season was a tough year for Nieto, it is fair to wonder if a team out there could consider inviting him to training camp on a professional tryout (PTO). The 2011 second-round pick has plenty of experience and can be a serviceable bottom-six forward when playing at his best. Thus, he could be a decent veteran for a club to bring in to improve their forward depth.

In 54 games over two seasons with the Penguins, Nieto recorded two goals, five assists, seven points, 53 hits, and a minus-3 rating. 

Penguins Forward Could Become Important PieceIn March, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Tommy Novak from the Nashville Predators in a multi-player trade. This was after Novak recorded 13 goals, nine assists, 22 points, and a minus-5 rating in 52 games with the Predators before the trade.

Photo Credit:  © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images