Category: Sports News

One year ago, Travis Hamonic and Jacob Bernard-Docker were jostling for position on the right side of Ottawa’s blue line. Both were hoping to cement a role in the bottom pairing alongside Tyler Kleven. But by the time the March trade deadline rolled around, the full-time spot had been won by surprise American Hockey League call-up Nikolas Matinpalo.

Hamonic was the odd man out, getting a lot of press box time down the stretch, while JBD was out completely, traded at the deadline to the Buffalo Sabres.

Fast forward to today, and the two former Senators are back on the same side, this time wearing the winged wheel. The Detroit Red Wings have signed Hamonic to a one-year, $1 million deal, reuniting him with Bernard-Docker, who also inked a one-year free agent contract with Detroit earlier this summer.

Last season was a turbulent one for both players. Bernard-Docker overcame a serious leg injury at practice early in the season and thought he might find a new opportunity with the Sabres. But they healthy-scratched him for over two weeks after he arrived. He played the final 15 games in Buffalo, but the Sabres chose not to re-sign him.

Hamonic did a bit of everything here last season. He started in the bottom pair, then got some top-four minutes after an early injury to Artem Zub. Hamonic had more healthy scratches than any veteran pro would like, but he always made himself available to the team's young defenders, particularly during the rookie seasons of Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven.

It quickly became clear after the Senators’ 2024-25 season ended that Hamonic wouldn’t be part of the club’s future plans. The team immediately re-signed Matinpalo to a two-year deal, brought former first-rounder Lassi Thomson back from Sweden, and traded for L.A. Kings defenseman Jordan Spence at the draft. With that logjam on the right side, including former first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk pressing for NHL work, Hamonic’s exit was inevitable.

'Plan B': Ottawa Senators Owner Signs Three-Year AHL Extension With City Of BellevilleOttawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer and the City of Belleville have confirmed a three-year lease extension to at least the end of the 2029-2030 season. In effect, since Andlauer owns both versions of the Senators, the extension also applies to the NHL-AHL affiliation between the two clubs.

When asked about his season at the year-end media availability in May, the classy veteran took the high road and didn't dwell on any of the negatives.

"I just, quite frankly, tried to do whatever was needed from me and whatever was asked," Hamonic said. "And I kind of played a little bit of everything this year, I think, a little bit of different roles here and there. And just tried to do that as best I could and have as much fun as I could with it. Because we are blessed to play this game and do what I do for a living.

"So I just tried to show up with a smile on my face and let the chips fall where they may every day."

It's not remotely a stretch to suggest that Hamonic fell out of favour with parts of the Ottawa fan base and faced some pointed criticism, which he openly addressed when asked about it in his final session with the local media.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it is what it is. Early on in my career, I was told that you're never as good as they say you are and you're never as bad as they say you are. I was showing up every day and putting my head down and just going to work and doing whatever I could.

Senators Announce French Radio Broadcast Rights, Will TSN 1200 Renew English Rights?The Ottawa Senators have a new French radio partner. They announced today that 104.7 FM Outaouais will carry games in French for the coming season. It's a three-year deal that includes all pre-season, regular season and post-season games.

"The people that didn't like my play or don't like me, or whatever the case may be, they're part of our fan base too. And I went out there and put that jersey on for three and a half years and played my butt off for that fan base. I would have done whatever I had to do.

"They're allowed their opinion but I try to choose more positivity than the negativity, and I don't necessarily sense a good reason to knock people down all the time. I don't get that. But it is what it is."

Hamonic, who turns 35 on Saturday, also made no secret of the fact that he and his family loved living in Ottawa and that he fully intended to keep the door open to continuing his NHL career.

He now heads for Motown after three and a half seasons in the capital, posting a combined 37 points in 201 games for the Senators. Known for his shot-blocking, work ethic, and leadership, he brought a veteran presence to the Sens room with over 900 career NHL games with the Islanders, Flames, Canucks, and Senators.

But with Claude Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller, and Nick Jensen, the Sens have probably filled their roster quota in the veteran, 35 and over category.

By Steve Warne 
The Hockey News - Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:
Brady Tkachuk Adds To His Father's Comments About The Future
Senators Reach Agreement To Buy Land For New NHL Arena At LeBreton
Former Senator Mark Borowiecki Now 'Looks At Fighting From A Different Lens'
Next NHL Expansion Fee May Be 40 Times More Than The Ottawa Senators Paid
Is The Senators' 2025-26 Lineup Is Already Set?

The NHL officially announced the Los Angeles Kings’ official schedule for the 2025-26 season about a month ago, and now the season tickets are also available to purchase. 

We already know the Kings will be playing the Colorado Avalanche on Opening Night, and in their first 11 games of the season, eight will be on the road. 

But, now that all the dates and promotional games were also announced a few weeks ago, here’s a look at five games Kings fans should be most excited about for in the 2025-26 season. 

TICKETS 𝘣𝘺 𝘓𝘈 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴

Available now: https://t.co/PiUcpHOvMppic.twitter.com/f03sKwJBpX

— Bailey LA Kings (@BaileyLAKings) August 15, 2025

Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche, October 7

Opening Night is like no other. The Kings will host their 2025-26 home opener against one of the top teams in the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche. 

The opening faceoff will be a playoff-like atmosphere, featuring special pregame ceremonies and fan giveaways. Guests Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar make this an instant early-season test for L.A.

Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights, January 14

Two of the L.A.'s beloved teams clash — at least in a metaphoric way — on Dodgers Night as the Kings host the Vegas Golden Knights. The fans have in store for unusual Dodgers-themed Kings gear, giveaways, and playoff-like passion on the ice. 

The Kings and the Knights have developed one of the most bitter rivalries in the Pacific Division, and adding an extra special theme night has made this game all the more special.

Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, April 11

Connor McDavid in town is must-see hockey. The Oilers have been the Kings' playoff roadblocks in the last four seasons, and this is the last time they will meet in the regular season, which could have mammoth postseason ramifications. 

It’s also a promotional game and theme night,  with Fan & Season Ticket Member Appreciation Night, presented by True Classic. Puck drop is set for 1:00 PM, and the first 10,000 fans through the doors will receive a commemorative felt pennant. 

Kings vs. Philadelphia Flyers, March 19

Celebrate hockey, community, and culture as the Kings host Armenian Heritage Night at Crypto.com Arena. The unique night will feature exclusive in-arena programming in celebration of Armenian culture, plus a ticket package including a hockey jersey for a Philadelphia Flyers vs. Kings game that features an Armenian Heritage Kings jersey. With the 7:30 PM faceoff, the game is set to be both meaningful and memorable to fans.

Kings vs. Florida Panthers, November 6

The Kings will host the Panthers, who are the two-time defending champs, winning the last two Stanley Cups against the Oilers. It will also be a theme night where both teams will be honoring and celebrating heroes in our community. 

This special evening will feature tributes throughout the game as the Kings face the Florida Panthers, one of the league’s toughest teams. Puck drops at 7:30 PM, making it a perfect midweek night to support a great cause and enjoy top-tier hockey.

Former Henderson Silver Knights players Jake Bischoff and Gage Quinney have signed one-year contracts with the KHL's Shanghai Dragons for the 2025-26 season, the team announced Friday. 

Bischoff recorded three goals and 21 points in 59 games while captaining the Knights last season. 

The 31-year-old defenseman has racked up 27 goals and 110 points in 367 career AHL games with the Silver Knights, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and Chicago Wolves.  

A seventh round pick of the New York Islanders in 2012, Bischoff is pointless in four career NHL games with the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Quinney had nine goals and 36 points in 50 games with the Silver Knights last season.

The 30-year-old is Henderson's all-time franchise leader in goals (64) and points (168) in 212 games. 

The Las Vegas, NV., native has 114 goals and 280 points in 383 career AHL games with Henderson, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Chicago Wolves. He has one assists in three career NHL games with Vegas. 

Patrik Rybar, Jake Bischoff, Alexander Bryntsev, Pavel Akolzin, and Gage Quinney Join Shanghai Dragonshttps://t.co/eYSwEckyP5

— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) August 15, 2025

The Dragons recently hired former NHL coach Gerard Gallant to lead the team behind the bench.

With these signings more than 30 players who played in the AHL last season have now signed in the KHL.

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.      

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey has been named to the NHL Network's annual Top-20 list. 

Each offseason, amid the dog days of summer's slowest period through mid-August, the NHL Network slowly releases its list of the league's Top-20 players at each position. 

Released systemically and over a lengthy period of time, NHL Network compiles 20 wingers, 20 centres, 20 defencemen and 20 goaltenders in advance of training camp, sparking debate amongst NHL fans throughout North America. 

This time around, Winnipeg's top blueliner, Josh Morrissey, earned the honour of being NHL Networks' No. 6 defenceman in the league, earning a bump up the rankings from last year's No. 12 placement. 

Morrissey helped his Jets to a league-best record and a second-consecutive Jennings Trophy for the team allowing the fewest goals against. Personally, the 30-year-old blueliner racked up 14 goals, 62 points and 22 penalty minutes in 80 games for the Jets last year. He earned his second Top-5 Norris Trophy voting finish, while leading the Jets with 24:23 ice time per game last year. He was a plus-22 and had 22 power play points on the season. 

Morrissey, who is Winnipeg's heart and soul on the back-end, is up to 80 goals, 373 points and 321 penalty minutes in his 662-game career over nine seasons with the Jets. 

NHL Network's full Top-20 Defencemen list:

• Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
• Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
• Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
• Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
• Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
• Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
• Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
• Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
• Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
• Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
• Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
• Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
• Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars
• Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
• Adam Fox, New York Rangers
• Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
• Mikhail Sergachev, Utah Mammoth
• Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
• Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild