Category: Sports News

Egor Zamula will be one of multiple Philadelphia Flyers battling for a roster spot come training camp and preseason.

Injuries to other defensemen saw an early season surge from Emil Andrae, who supplanted Zamula in the Flyers' lineup for parts of the season.

Zamula, 25, played 66 games last season and 63 games this past season, coming in and out of John Tortorella's gameday squad due to inconsistencies and, sometimes, struggling with the pace of play.

With new head coach Rick Tocchet coming to town, the 2025-26 season will be a fresh start for Zamula, who now faces competition for a roster spot in the form of Andrae, as well as Helge Grans, Adam Ginning, Hunter McDonald, and newcomers Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.

Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Igor Kravchuk, a former NHL defenseman and current KHL assistant coach, believes the book is not closed on Zamula in Philadelphia.

Kravchuk noted that Zamula and Alexander Romanov, who just signed a massive eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Islanders, were both standouts on the same Russian U18 and U20 national teams, but their careers have since gone in opposite directions. 

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"By the way, Romanov was a leader of the defense in the Russian youth team, along with Egor Zamula. Unfortunately, Zamula’s career is not going as well as Romanov’s," Kravchuk told Russia-Hockey.ru in a recent interview. "The current Philadelphia is a peculiar team. There are problems with the balance of the roster, with the entertainment. Zamula is a little lost in it, but there is still time to return his career to the right trajectory. Especially since the coach has changed in the club."

Heading into the crucial third full season of his NHL career, Zamula has already played for Alain Vigneault, Mike Yeo, John Tortorella, and Brad Shaw in parts of five seasons.

Next up will be Tocchet, who's previously coaxed career years out of Jakob Chychrun, Filip Hronek, and Quinn Hughes during his time working with those players.

Assistant coach Todd Reirden, tasked by Tocchet with running the penalty kill and defense, has previously worked with John Marino, Marcus Pettersson, Mike Matheson, Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Nate Schmidt when those players were in their early and mid-20s, too.

Whether or not the previously undrafted Russian can follow in their footsteps remain to be seen, but the potential is there.

Zamula, at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, has the size the Flyers need and want on their defense, even if he seldom uses it to his advantage.

The left-shot defender also has a penchant for sneaking shots through traffic, and has a better shot in general than most would give him credit for.

That's something that led to Tortorella and Co. icing him for power play minutes, even though Zamula is not particularly agile and one of the slowest skating defenders in the NHL.

But, for a guy who played even strength minutes almost exclusively this season, Zamula's underlying analytics looked amazing, as noted in the image above.

He cut his penalty minutes from 32 to six from 2023-24 to 2024-25, and those can be a good indicator of whether or not a young, non-physical, non-fighter player is struggling to keep up with his competition.

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And yes, Zamula scored only three goals, 12 assists, and 15 points in 63 games this season, but he only registered 37 shots on goal. Zamula's 8.1% shooting percentage actually impressively ranked in the 85th percentile amongst his defensemen peers, according to NHL EDGE.

The big flaw, as previously referenced, will be Zamula's skating. His top speed, 22+ MPH bursts, 20-22 MPH bursts, and 18-20 MPH bursts all ranked below the 50th percentile.

The 6-foot-3 defender will now need to shift his focus towards building trust with a new coaching staff with his in-zone defending and play with the puck; managing the puck effectively will be crucial to Zamula's success, given his weaknesses with mobility and turnovers.

Heading into the last year of his contract, Zamula's Flyers future is entirely in his hands.

The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?

From this writer's perspective, it's a no-brainer -- there's next-to-nothing left in free agency. Sure, the Sabres can take a run at center Jack Roslovic, who posted 22 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. Or perhaps Buffalo can offer former Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson a second stint with the Sabres; Olofsson had 15 goals and 29 points with Vegas last season, and who knows -- he might get back to the 28-goal form he had with Buffalo in 2022-23. 

Otherwise, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is looking at a whole lot of slim pickings in free-agency. And that means it's almost certainly going to be trades Adams makes that remodels Buffalo's lineup for next season.

Of course, everyone and their know-it-all neighbor is expecting the Sabres to trade RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. Adams came out after free-agency began and stated plainly that he's going to match any offer sheet a team would present to Byram, but let's remember that GMs are always playing a long game of chicken with their counterparts. We're not suggesting Buffalo won't match a Byram offer sheet, but we are saying Byram is the biggest trade chip Adams is likely to use in the coming days and weeks, and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Personally, it's our opinion that Adams should be prepared to trade other Sabres veterans, but for argument's sake, let's presume that Buffalo trading Byram is the Sabres' biggest move before training camp begins in the fall. You'd better believe that Adams has to hit a home run with a Byram trade -- we're talking an experienced forward who can contribute meaningfully right away next year -- to justify parting ways with Byram.

Olofsson Another Former Sabre Still Unsigned The signings by NHL clubs have ground to a halt five days into free agency, with the most sought-after players locked up on Day 1 and the biggest fish in Nikolai Ehlers finally signing with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. A pair of former Buffalo Sabres are among the most prominent players still not signed. Jeff Skinner had 16 goals last season with Edmonton, but played sparingly in the playoffs, while Victor Oloffson had a solid injury-shortened season with the Vegas Golden Knights.   

If Adams doesn't come away with a major trade in the coming days and weeks, a sense of despair will wash over Sabres fans. They're not naive enough to imagine that Buffalo's lineup as-is can somehow vault over most teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division and end their 14-year streak without Stanley Cup playoff hockey. They know it's going to be a long season if they're at that point.

Adams can pretend all he wants he's going to retain Byram's services. But if Byram returns, the Sabres are going to be top-heavy with defensemen, and light on the type of high-end forwards Buffalo needs to be a true playoff contender. So it's up to Adams to find a team that is (a) in need of Byram's skills, and (b) prepared and stocked to give the Sabres the high-impact forward they're looking for in return.

That said, nobody is going to be doing the Sabres any favors as they make alterations to their lineup. So Adams has to drive a hard bargain on the trade front. He can't pretend he's happy with the roster as it's currently constructed. He's really only added role players thus far, and that can't be the final result he's looking for.

Are The Sharks Hunting For Byram?Most of the speculation surrounding the Buffalo Sabres continues to be on restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram. Earlier this week, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that interested clubs were contemplating an offer sheet and that could still be the case if Byram does not opt for salary arbitration by 5 pm Saturday. The St. Louis Blues according to Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic are in hot pursuit of the blueliner, but the Blues may have company.

If we're still waiting for a Byram trade a month from now, something seriously wrong has taken place in Buffalo. Whether it's trade paralysis on Adams' behalf, a directive from ownership to keep the payroll well below the salary cap limit, or both, there's going to be a clear issue in the front office, and Sabres fans will see right through it.

You can't say Adams is on the clock in terms of making a trade or two in the next day or so. But every day that passes without a major trade only builds pressure on him to do something of consequence.

Adams has to come up with something he can show Sabres fans and give them something to invest in, financially and emotionally. Otherwise, the backlash against Adams will be heavy, prolonged and justified.

After a start to the NHL’s 2025 free agency period saw the Toronto Maple Leafs trade away star right winger Mitch Marner, Leafs GM Brad Treliving hinted at more moves to come from his team. 

“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said after Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday. “That’s really where our focus is.”

We’re taking Treliving at his word, and we don’t expect him to make any more notable moves in free agency. So, trades are going to be the route the Maple Leafs make to fill that need, and one trade in particular makes a lot of sense for Toronto, is acquiring veteran center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in return for defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Now, before we go any further, let’s be clear – both Kadri and Rielly would have to sign off on this deal to make it happen. Each of them has a no-trade clause, and in Rielly’s case in particular, Flames GM Craig Conroy would have to sell Rielly on coming to Calgary – at least, in the short term.

Why is that? Well, because the smart thing Conroy could do would be flipping Rielly to a playoff-bound team in need of an experienced blueliner who can contribute on offense and eat up 20 minutes a night. That’s probably not the Flames right now, especially after they do what many think they’ll do by trading veteran blueliner Rasmus Andersson. But if Rielly agreed to be moved to Calgary for the time being, with the knowledge that he can direct Conroy as to where to flip him, the deal definitely makes sense for both sides.

Certainly, the money involved in a Kadri/Rielly trade is almost a perfect match. Kadri is signed at $7-million per season for the next four years, while Rielly is signed at $7.5- million per season for the next five years. If the Flames are taking on that extra year of Rielly’s salary, Treliving may have to add another asset to make a deal work for the Flames – something like a second-round draft pick, which the Maple Leafs have in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

But if that deal goes down, the Leafs change their DNA and add a second-line center, probably moving freshly re-signed pivot John Tavares to the wing. And all of a sudden, the Leafs would have a plethora of centers – Auston Matthews, Kadri, Tavares, new Leaf Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton and David Kampf. That’s more than Toronto needs down the middle, but at that point, Treliving could trade or buy out Kampf, freeing up more money to spend on wingers, or perhaps, on a depth defenseman.

It won’t be easy for the Leafs to turn a position of need into a position of strength, but one trade – albeit a big trade – could do the trick for them in that regard. A reunion with Kadri surely would be welcomed by the former Leaf, and his growth as a competitor and his Cup championship pedigree from his time with the Colorado Avalanche would only help the Buds become a significantly harder team to play against.

Saying goodbye to Rielly – a cornerstone component in Toronto and a terrific human being – would be tough for the Leafs. But the time to act and move on from Rielly is now, and if the Leafs and Calgary can work together on finding him a better work situation, Rielly would be erring if he didn’t accept a trade and get a new lease on life on the ice, the same way Marner has. 

If Treliving is able to pull off this deal, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. The fit on Toronto’s end is just about perfect, and the Leafs’ desire to change their makeup would be fulfilled by bringing Kadri back to a place he still considers home.

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Multiple high-profile players have been on the move during this off-season, and with these moves, there is the possibility of seeing new partnerships and dynamic duos come into fruition. 

Several teams across the NHL have two players who share undeniable chemistry with each other. A great example of that is with the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who always complement each other on the ice with their elite abilities.

Here are three pairs of players who have never played together before, but could dominate once they get a chance to share the ice.

Mitch Marner And Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights were the winners of the Mitch Marner sweepstakes before he was able to officially enter free agency. GM Kelly McCrimmon acquired the right winger from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.

Marner is one of the league’s best playmakers. He finished the season as the fifth-best scorer in the league with 102 points. Marner ranked three spots above new teammate Jack Eichel, who scored 94 points last year.

Marner and Eichel are similar in a lot of ways in how they play the game. They’re premier playmakers who recorded a combined 141 assists, 74 of those being primary helpers. In addition to their offensive skill, they take pride in the other side of the ice as they both finished top 10 in Selke Trophy voting.

Noah Dobson And Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens made a huge splash in acquiring 25-year-old Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The defenseman was traded to the Habs for left winger Emil Heineman, as well as two first-round picks from the 2025 draft.

Dobson is coming off a down year with the Islanders, but is more than capable of taking over a game from the blueline. Two seasons ago, he recorded a 70-point campaign that saw him receive a top-10 ranking for the Norris Trophy.

There is a prime opportunity for Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis to pair Dobson with reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The two D-men complement each other with their contrast in size and could be a successful pairing for years to come.

Trevor Zegras And Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers

Trevor Zegras’ time with the Anaheim Ducks has come to an end after five seasons with the club. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick in the 2025 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. 

Zegras is known for his creativity, soft hands with the puck and his playmaking ability. New Flyers coach Rick Tocchet hinted at pairing Zegras and his playmaking with right winger Matvei Michkov when he spoke to The Athletic following the trade.

“We’d be idiots not to explore it and talk about it, and try to manifest it where it can work,” Tocchet said after Philadelphia acquired Zegras. 

The 24-year-old has played left wing and center with the Ducks, but because of his size, there’s a risk putting Zegras in the middle. “I definitely think it’s our obligation to see if he can play centre,” Tocchet said. “He really wants to give it a shot.”

Michkov and Zegras have shown they are confident in how skilled they are, attempting multiple ‘Michigan’ moves between them in their short careers. It could be breathtaking to see what they could potentially do together if they shared a line.

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.

For the first time in his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson has leverage. The forward filed for salary arbitration on Saturday, which allows a third party to decide his compensation for the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old Robertson scored a career-high 15 goals and added seven assists last season. He played in 69 games with the Leafs last season, a positive sign that the player’s history of injury is indeed in the past. However, the forward was limited to playing in just three of Toronto’s 13 playoff games this past spring, due to decision-making from Leafs head coach Craig Berube.

Robertson has been in the Leafs organization since he was drafted in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Expectations were high for him to replicate his elite goal-scoring at the Ontario Hockey League level, especially when the player was fast-tracked to an NHL debut by suiting up for the club during the 2020 NHL playoffs. However, a combination of injuries and underperformance, coupled with the back-and-forth he experienced in the 2023-24 season between the Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies (AHL) as the club managed its salary cap, has stunted the player’s growth.

'I Understand It But I'm Not Going To Sit Here And Say That I'm Happy': Maple Leafs' Roster Shuffle Tests Nick Robertson's Patience Upon His Return to the TeamRobertson was called up to the Maple Leafs after being sent down to help the team open up some salary cap space.

Last year, Robertson began the summer by requesting a trade away from Toronto. Instead of getting his wish, however, he signed a one-year, $875,000 deal to remain with the team. This past week, the Leafs tendered a $919,000 qualifying offer to Robertson in order to retain the forward’s rights.

Report: Maple Leafs Restricted Free Agent Nick Robertson 'Still Would Prefer A Change Of Address'Robertson reportedly requested a trade away from the Maple Leafs back in June and hasn't changed his stance.

With the departure of Mitch Marner this offseason, players like Robertson will be counted on to pick up the slack in the scoring department. This makes assessing his fair value an interesting exercise if the team and player are unable to come to an agreement beforehand.

The Maple Leafs and Robertson can continue negotiating up until their scheduled hearing begins. Once that happens, both sides will make their case based on prepared comparables (i.e., other players with similar stats, age, and roles) before a third party rules on final compensation.

'The Puzzle Has Got To Come Into Play': Maple Leafs Not Rushing Contracts Of RFAs Nick Robertson And Pontus HolmbergWhile the talk of the town might be whether the Toronto Maple Leafs can sign John Tavares before July 1 rolls around, you cannot forget about their younger restricted free agents.

The “walkaway” number in the collective bargaining agreement is $4.85 million, according to Puckpedia.com. Any award exceeding that number would allow the Leafs not to be obligated to sign the California-born forward, and he would then become an unrestricted free agent.

Robertson currently has 32 goals and 24 assists in 156 NHL games. Given the history, it's not a surprise at all that the player would exercise his right to leverage for the first time in his NHL career. Finding the right value on the player will be interesting.

An arbitrator can only award a one or two-year contract for Robertson. Hearings for all 11 players announced for arbitration will run from July 20 to August 4. 

(Photo Credit, Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

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