Category: Sports News

The Chicago Blackhawks have several exciting prospects who will be looking to cement themselves spots on their NHL roster next season. One interesting prospect who fans should not ignore heading into the 2025-26 season is forward Ryan Greene.

Greene, 21, was selected by the Blackhawks with the 57th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, the 6-foot-1 has shown good promise, and this was undoubtedly the case this past season with Boston University. In 40 games with the school in 2024-25, he recorded career highs with 13 goals, 25 assists, and 38 points. This was after he had 31 points in 38 games during his freshman year with BU in 2022-23 and 36 points in 40 games with the school in 2023-24. 

After completing his third season with BU in 2024-25, Greene signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks, officially marking the end of his time with the school. 

Following signing his entry-level deal, Greene appeared in his first two NHL games with Chicago in 2024-25, where he had zero points, one shot, and three blocks. While he did not get on the scoresheet in his first two NHL games, he showed promise and will certainly be a youngster to watch next season because of it. 

Overall, with how well Greene played in college, he is undoubtedly among the Blackhawks' promising prospects. It will be interesting to see how much of a step forward he takes in his development next season from here, but it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future. 

Blackhawks Have Intriguing Trade Target To ConsiderWhile the Chicago Blackhawks are still in the middle of a rebuild, it would be understandable if they looked to add another skilled forward before the 2025-26 campaign is here. This is especially so if it is a player who can help them beyond this upcoming season.

It was fascinating last season to watch the Montreal Canadiens take on the Philadelphia Flyers, not only because the three duels were close contests, but because, against all odds, Daniel Briere and co. had managed to get Matvei Michkov to cross the Atlantic faster than anyone expected.

The two sides were well matched last year; they both scored 11 goals in the season series, but the Canadiens came out on top with two one-goal lead wins. Two of the games were played in Philadelphia, and the teams split the honours of those two, while the Habs won the only game in Montreal.

Canadiens New Forward Is Intriguing Addition
Canadiens Immortalized Last Season In A Short Film
Canadiens Had Trouble With The Rangers

The first matchup took place in the last week of October, in Pennsylvania, and was a short 4-3 win for the Canadiens. It was one of Cayden Primeau’s good games, with the netminder making 23 saves on 26 shots, while Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher led the charge for the Habs with two points each. Both teams’ best rookies were kept off the score sheet as Montreal managed to contain Michkov, and Philadelphia did the same with Lane Hutson.

The second duel took place five months later, toward the end of March, and the result was different. The former Broad Street Bullies signed a 6-4 win in which Michkov shone brightly, scoring two goals and an assist. He missed a golden hat-trick opportunity in an empty net, and frustrated by the miss, he tried to storm to the dressing room at the buzzer, but the Flyers' leadership stopped him in his tracks and made him salute the crowd after his two-goal performance. Meanwhile, Hutson recorded two assists in the loss while Jakub Dobes struggled and surrendered six goals on 30 shots.

The final duel was on the last Saturday night home game of the season, and the Canadiens managed to rock the building with a 3-2 win. It was Samuel Montembeault’s only game against the Flyers, and he made 21 saves on 23 shots for a .913 save percentage.

If the Canadiens want to build on the success they enjoyed last season, they need to find a way to dominate teams that are lower than they are in the standings; they cannot afford to play down to the opposition. The Flyers finished the season dead last in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points and missed the playoffs. These are the kind of teams the young Canadiens need to learn to take advantage of.

The Flyers' most significant offseason move was the acquisition of Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks. The center had been rumoured to be on the market for a couple of seasons now, and it only cost Briere former Canadiens Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick at the 2025 draft, and a fourth-round pick at the 2026 draft.

On the free agency market, they signed former Hab blueliner Noah Juulsen and center Christian Dvorak to a six-year deal with a $4.45 M AAV. They also tried to improve in front of the net by adding Dan Vladar, who had spent the last four seasons with the Calgary Flames. The 27-year-old was stuck between star rookie Dustin Wolf in Alberta and will be hoping to play a bigger role with the Flyers. The situation in the net has been a constant issue in Philadelphia. Goalies Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov both struggled against the Canadiens this past season, and some new blood will surely help.

When the Flyers take on the Habs this upcoming season, it won’t be a battle of the star rookies between Michkov and Hutson anymore, a battle that the Canadiens’ defenseman won since he was the Calder Trophy winner. Still, it will be the battle of the two young Russians. Michkov will surely want to show Montreal that they should have grabbed him in 2023 rather than waiting for Ivan Demidov in 2024.

There will be plenty of expectations for the youngster in Canadiens’ land this season, but those expectations will more than likely take center stage when Philadelphia comes to town. Michkov had a great rookie season with 63 points, despite playing for John Tortorella. This year, playing for Rick Tocchet, he should be on a longer leash. As for Demidov, he will surely benefit from Martin St-Louis’ tutelage. The coach has always been supportive of his players and seems to do exceptionally well with young players.

The duel of the season will take place on November 4, at the Bell Center, and while that’s a Tuesday night, there’s little doubt that the building will be sold out.

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Undrafted Swedish Defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson Invited to Detroit Red Wings Training Camp

Despite being passed over in the 2025 NHL Draft, Swedish defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson will get a valuable opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the NHL.

Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) on XCarl-Otto Magnusson invited to Detroit camp according to agent Randy Edmonds. #LGRW

The 18-year-old has been invited to the Detroit Red Wings’ training camp ahead of the 2025–26 season, according to an announcement by his agent, Randy Edmonds, on Instagram.

Magnusson stands approximately 6 feet 6.7 inches and weighs 223 pounds, giving him the kind of size that’s hard to ignore on the blue line.

Though the Red Wings cannot sign him to a contract this season due to his undrafted and junior status, the camp invite allows the towering defenseman to gain valuable experience in an NHL setting.

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

Could the Red Wings Make a Competitive Offer for Devils’ Luke Hughes?New Jersey Devils may consider dealing restricted free agent Luke Hughes with the Red Wings being a potential suitor.

Magnusson recently made the move from Frölunda HC in Sweden to North America, joining the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats. Moncton selected him in the second round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Last season, he dressed for three games with Frölunda’s SHL team, logging ice time in one.

Internationally, Magnusson has featured for Sweden’s national junior team, most recently at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis. He went scoreless over five games in the tournament. He’s also been named to the Junior Crowns’ (Juniorkronorna) squad for the team's U.S. tour ahead of the upcoming season.

The Red Wings’ camp could mark an important step for Magnusson as he begins his North American hockey journey and looks to catch the eye of NHL scouts for future drafts.

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

Although it’s just the beginning of August, October is just around the corner. It won’t be long before the United Center is packed with excited hockey fans cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks. 

It is unlikely that the Blackhawks are going to be a playoff-caliber team, but there will be excitement due to the youth on the roster. Stars like Connor Bedard, Artyom Levshunov, and Frank Nazar, among other young players, will lead the way. 

There may be a few prospects that make their NHL debuts during the 2025-26 season. We saw plenty of debuts at the end of last season. Even more are on the way. These three could be up with the big club before the season is complete: 

1. Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis had one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons in the history of the OHL while playing for the Brantford Bulldogs. In 65 games played, Lardis scored a total of 71 goals. He also added 46 assists for 117 points.

Now, Lardis is signed and is expected to turn pro in 2025-26. Although he is slated to start with the Rockford IceHogs, you never know what his training camp/preseason could earn him. 

"He's slotted to be a pro next year," said Assistant GM of player development Mark Eaton. "Which pro team [he ends up with] will be up to him in September". 

It sounds like the Blackhawks are going to let him decide where he lands with his play. After all the goals he scored in 2024-25, it's hard to ignore his potential to play in the NHL as soon as this year. 

"Hopefully, this will be my first year pro." Nick Lardis said on the topic. "That's going to be my goal going into the summer. Stay motivated, try to make the team. Whatever happens, happens. Keep getting better."

The good news for Chicago is that he is highly motivated to make the team. He is also okay knowing that if he falls short of making the NHL roster right out of camp, he will continue to work on his game wherever he's asked to play. The NHL is usually where players in his situation end up by the time it's all said and done. There's a great chance he makes his debut in 2025-26. 

2. AJ Spellacy

AJ Spellacy is on a nice little run. Since being drafted in the third round,  72nd overall, he’s made a great impression on the Chicago Blackhawks organization. He was so good in the 2024 preseason that he looked like someone who deserved to make the NHL team right out of the draft. 

The Blackhawks made the wise choice to send him back to major junior, where his development continued. Now, it’s fair to wonder if there is a chance to make the team this time around. He has a shot to make his NHL debut at some point in 2025-26. 

Spellacy's year with the Erie Otters wasn't as productive as some might have thought when he was dominating an NHL preseason, but that's how it goes sometimes. With better players around him, he seems to turn up the heat. 

It isn't Spellacy's specialty to be a high-end offensive player. He thrives as an energy guy who plays the game the right way in all three zones. 

If he has a good camp and preseason, he may get nine games before Chicago sends him back to Erie, but that is ultimately up to his play.

He played with the top-rated players at the World Junior Summer Showcase, which gives him an inside track to make the team in the Winter. Again, that will be up to his play, Chicago's plans for him, and how USA Hockey sees fit for their team. 

Getting a taste of the NHL, even if it's just a small bite, could be good for Spellacy and his development. The tools are there for him to be an impactful player full-time one day soon. 

3. Sacha Boisvert

The Chicago Blackhawks have an impressive player in Sacha Boisvert. The young two-way forward was a first-round pick by Chicago (18th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. 

Boisvert attended the University of North Dakota in 2024-25, and he was one of the best freshmen in the country. However, his coach, Brad Berry, was fired. That didn't sit well with Boisvert, who was recruited by Berry. 

Early in the off-season, Boisvert announced that he'd be transferring to play for Jay Pandolfo at Boston University, which has an incredibly productive development program for young hockey players. 

"I know Jay Pandolfo personally, [I] played with him," Mark Eaton said. "I know what he's about and instilling pro habits in guys, playing a 200-foot game, being responsible on both sides of the puck. Sacha is that already, but it's just going to be driven home even further at BU. He's going to play a huge role on a good team, making deep runs."

When BU's season is over, whether that's ahead of the Frozen Four or as National Champions, there is a chance that Boisvert signs with the Blackhawks and makes his NHL debut. He'd likely only get 2-7 games with the Blackhawks, depending on when he signed, but it would be a great experience nonetheless. 

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

Czech forward Jakub Vrána, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Linköping HC, the Swedish Hockey League club announced on Friday.

The move has been heavily rumored for more than two months and, for Vrána, it marks a return to the club where he played from age 15 to 19 and got his first tasted of professional hockey. He recorded 34 points in 98 SHL games as a teenager.

“I personally felt that this day would come at some point,” Vrána is quoted in the club’s announcement. “For me it was just a matter of time. I am very happy to represent Linköping again and now I just can’t wait to get to the city and the organization, and start working together with the team.”

Vrána was born in Prague and, for a while, there was also speculation that he’d sign with Sparta of the Czech Extraliga. However, Linköping was the clear front-runner.

“It’s been a pretty hectic summer for me to be honest,” Vrána continued. “I left the US and then I had a couple of options around Europe to choose from, but for me personally, I chose with my heart. I’m extremely happy to be coming back to Linköping again as I basically grew up in the city. I left my home country when I was 15 years old, played a lot in the academy, got the chance to play senior hockey for the first time and made a lot of friends that I still have close to me. All of that has helped shape me into the person and man I am today, and I’m very grateful for that.”

CONFIRMED: Nicklas Bäckström Is Back In SwedenSwedish center Nicklas Bäckström, 37, has signed a contract to play for Brynäs, the SHL club announced at a press conference on Monday morning. The contract is for one year plus an option.

“We’ve been very clear in recent years that he would be a dream signing for us and that we have now managed to land him of course feels fantastic,” said Linköping sports director Peter Jakobsson. “We know that Jakub’s first choice recently has been to get a new contract in North America, which we fully understand as it is every hockey player’s dream and vision. It indicates a hunger and drive in him which we value very highly. When the opportunity has not come, at the end of the day it has been funneled down to a couple of clubs in Europe and there he has, as he himself expressed in our conversations, chosen with his heart.”

While he played in Linköping, Vrána was chosen 14th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He established himself as a regular NHLer, recording 52 points in 69 games for Washington in 2019-20, and he regularly represented Czechia at the IIHF World Championships.

However, his career eventually became marred by injuries, declining play and a spell in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program. Over the last four seasons, Vrána has only played in 110 NHL games, recording 49 points. He was also unable to earn a spot on the Czech national team roster last spring, getting cut prior to the 2024 Worlds in Prague.

Jakub Lauko Returns Home To Czechia On Multi-Year DealCzech forward Jakub Lauko, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Friday.

Overall, Vrána has 223 points in 406 NHL regular season games with the Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators. He also has eight points in 38 playoff games, all with Washington, and was part of the 2018 Stanley Cup championship team.

“He has a fantastic shot and is a fantastic skater,” Jakobsson said of Vrána. “It’s easy to say he’s an offensive forward, but he’s developed his defense during his time in North America. We’re a team that wants to work hard and do the right thing all over the court with everything that means, and that goes for Jakub too. In our eyes, we’re getting a complete player.”

Vrána joins a Linköping team that finished 12th in the SHL standings last season and has missed the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. In addition to Vrána, the team’s roster includes ex-NHLers Nick Shore, Oscar Fantenberg, Christoffer Ehn, Remi Ellie and Ty Rattie.

Ducks’ Italian Goalie Prospect Loaned Back To Swedish ClubItalian goaltender Damian Clara, has been loaned by the Anaheim Ducks to Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Saturday.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is the sixth-best winger in the NHL, according to NHL Network.

In an article published on Wednesday, the site—with the help of NHL Network producers and analysts—revealed its top 20 wingers across the league. A few prominent players placed behind Nylander were fellow Swede Adrian Kempe (20), Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (17), Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk (14), and Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk (7).

Nylander had a career year with the Maple Leafs, finishing second in goals with 45, behind Edmonton Oilers’ forward Leon Draisaitl, who scored 52. He was also second in team scoring with 84 points in 82 games, only trailing Mitch Marner with 102 points.

“Nylander is one of four players to score 40 goals in three straight seasons for the Maple Leafs along with Auston Matthews (five straight, 2019-24), Rick Vaive (1981-84) and Lanny McDonald (1976-79),” NHL.com wrote. “Nylander also played all 82 games for the third straight season; his streak of 259 consecutive games played is seventh among active NHL forwards.”

NHL 26 Trailer Features Mitch Marner Shooting On Maple Leafs — Does He Score?The time of year has arrived when Electronic Arts teases the latest installment of its popular hockey video game series. On Thursday, the company dropped a two-minute trailer for NHL ’26 — and, as expected, they slipped in shots of players sporting their new teams’ jerseys.

Right in front of the 29-year-old on the list is Marner, who’s now with the Vegas Golden Knights. He joined Vegas after a sign-and-trade with Toronto, which featured Nicolas Roy heading back to the Maple Leafs. Marner finished fifth in the NHL for points last season.

Dallas Stars’ forward Mikko Rantanen (4), Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov (3), Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak (2), and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov make up the remainder of the NHL’s top wingers.

Nicolas Roy Ready for Top-Six Role With Maple Leafs Whenever Called UponWhile the Toronto Maple Leafs continue their search for a top-six forward ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season, newly acquired center Nicolas Roy could help fill the gap in the meantime.

A fascinating player who was left off the list was Matthew Knies. Although Brady Tkachuk led the Ottawa Senators to their first playoff birth in eight seasons, Knies finished last year with more points in the regular season (29 goals and 29 assists).

However, it’s worth mentioning that Brady had more playoff points (seven in six games) than Knies (three goals) in the first-round series between Toronto and Ottawa, which the Maple Leafs won in six games. Nylander tallied nine points (three goals and six assists) in the series.

Two-Time Stanley Cup Winner Kyle Clifford Retires, Joins Maple Leafs In Player Development RoleFormer Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford is calling it a career.

Despite being on summer break, Nylander has had a massive offseason. First, he was named one of six players to represent Team Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan this February. The Swede was also awarded the GuldPucken this week, given to the top Swedish hockey player of the year.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Former Maple Leafs Star Mitch Marner Ahead Of William Nylander In NHL.com's Top Winger Rankings

A pair of Florida Panthers made an appearance on a national television morning show this week.

Good Morning America correspondent Victor Oquendo and ABC Miami’s Josh Moser were at the Baptist Health IcePlex on Friday Morning.

They had a chance to catch up with Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe and defenseman Aaron Ekblad from a perch overlooking the team’s practice ice.

“They’ve built a world class facility here,” Verhaeghe said when asked by Oquendo about the new facility. “With the two rinks, our gym, our room, it’s honestly amazing. We’re practicing sometimes and the kids are up on the glass asking for pucks, bringing us signs and everything like that, and it’s really special. The support from the community is unbelievable.”

During the interview, a junior hockey camp featuring South Florida youngsters draped in Panthers gear was taking place on the ice below.

When the kids were done, Ekblad and Verhaeghe were set to hit the ice for a workout.

It’s part of the offseason process as the Panthers will be pushing for the extremely rare and elusive three-peat.

“The last few seasons have been amazing,’’ Verhaeghe said. “Going to the finals, winning back-to-back (championships). We’ve built something special here, with all the guys, and the fans are on board. It’s really something special here.”

While Verhaeghe has reached the postseason in each of his five seasons with the Panthers, it hasn’t been pleasant of a path for Ekblad.

A foundational piece of Florida’s core, Ekblad’s Panthers reached the playoffs just once during his first five seasons after making the leap to the NHL as an 18-year-old first overall pick in 2014.

“We have been through plenty of ups-and-downs as a franchise, and to be where we’re at now is pretty special,” said Ekblad. “The fans and everybody in the community are behind us, all the way through two championships and three Stanley Cup Final (appearances) and we’re trying to build on that every day.”

You can check out the full segment by clicking here.

TEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Stanley Cup returns to Finland for hometown visit with Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola

Report: Evan Rodrigues won't be traded, considered a 'really important player' by Panthers

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Joined By Brother And Father On Deluxe Edition Of EA Sports NHL 26

Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist brings Stanley Cup to hometown in Sweden

Florida tan: Panthers name engraved onto Prince of Wales Trophy for third straight season