Category: Sports News

Welcome back to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s Coaches as Players series. Last time, we looked at defensive coach Kevin Dean’s Stanley Cup and Calder Cup-winning career with the New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, and Chicago Blackhawks. This time around, we’ll be looking at Brett McLean’s time with the Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers. 

Despite never playing for them at the NHL level, McLean was originally drafted by the Stars. Selected 242nd overall in 1997, the center went to the Stars in the ninth round of the draft. Originally from Comox, BC, McLean played for the Kelowna/Tacoma Rockets of the WHL for five seasons, before being moved to the Brandon Wheat Kings. He spent 1999 to 2002 with four different teams — the Saint John Flames (AHL), Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL), Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL), and Houston Aeros (AHL). 

McLean made his NHL debut on December 10, 2002, playing for the Blackhawks against the New York Islanders in a 3–2 win for his team. His next game was a 4–3 win the day after against the New York Rangers. These were his only two NHL games of the season, however, as he spent the bulk of the year with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. With the Admirals, he scored 23 goals and 38 assists in 77 games. 

In the 2003–04 season, McLean carved out a more permanent spot with the Blackhawks, skating in 76 games and spending only four with the Admirals. This season indicated the start of what would be a solid, consistent NHL career (ignoring the lockout of 2004–05). He nabbed his first career NHL goal in his first game of the 2003–04 season on October 16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Only three games later, he posted a two-goal effort against the San Jose Sharks. McLean finished the season with 11 goals and 20 assists.

As mentioned before, due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, McLean and the rest of the league were forced to play elsewhere. While some pushed for AHL roster spots, McLean went to Sweden, where he played with the Malmö Redhawks of Elitserien. In 38 games, he scored seven goals and six assists as well as tallied 102 PIMs. In the Kvalserien SHL (a round-robin tournament used to determine whether the club would qualify to play in the SHL the next season), McLean tallied a goal and an assist in nine games. 

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After the lockout, McLean joined the Avalanche for the first of two seasons during his career. He played a full 82-game season, scoring nine goals and 31 assists in this span of time. In Colorado’s conference semifinal loss, McLean played in eight games and tallied one assist. The season after, he scored 15 goals and 20 assists in 78 games. Since he joined the Avalanche in the 2005–06 season and left after the 2006–07 season, McLean just missed current Canucks head coach Adam Foote during his own NHL playing career. 

In 2007–08, McLean moved on to the Panthers organization. In his first year with the team, he scored 14 goals and 23 assists in 67 games played, making this his most offensively-productive NHL season in his career in terms of his average point production pace. The year after, he posted seven goals and 12 assists in 80 games played in what would be the last NHL season of his career. 

From then on, McLean headed back to Europe to round out his playing career, save for a 36-game stint with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL in 2011–12 in which he scored seven goals and 14 assists. Aside from that, he primarily played in Switzerland with SC Bern (2009–2011) and HC Lugano (2011–2015), as well as in Austria with Black Wings Linz (2015–2017). He also represented Team Canada at the Spengler Cup five different times, winning once in 2012. 

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Okay, so the schedule has been released, and news drops have died down. Aside from a couple of signings, a few extensions, and decisions made to fill out coaching staffs, it's been a quiet summer for the Colorado Avalanche.

With that, you asked and I answered. Let's get into the mailbag:

Can we expect 30 goals from Lehkonen this year? - @partialbreakpod on X

I think if you get Artturi Lehkonen fresh out of the gate, as opposed to his season debut on November 5th last season, 30 goals is absolutely and easily attainable for him. 

He underwent shoulder surgery in the summer of '24 following an incredible 11-game postseason run, where he collected six goals and five assists.

First shift of Game 1 against Dallas, Lehkonen went to the bench in a lot of pain after this play. I remember him talking to the trainer for about three minutes. This could be where his shoulder injury occurred. pic.twitter.com/rqPa8lqqau

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) May 23, 2024

In saying that, not many athletes can undergo a significant offseason surgery and a rigorous rehabilitation routine, then return to put on a career season. Lehkonen did that last season, putting up a career-high 27 goals and totalling 45 points in 69 games.

Upon returning, Lehkonen immediately found a fairly permanent spot next to Nathan MacKinnon on the first line, a step up from his steady second-line presence in the 2023-24 season. Playing next to one of the best players in the NHL can work wonders for a player's numbers, and Lehkonen reaped the benefits of that last season, especially where his goal count is concerned. Based on early lineup projections, it looks like he'll be maintaining his spot on the first line this upcoming 2025-26 season.

The thing to keep an eye on here will be just exactly how many games he dresses for this season. If he can eclipse 70 games played this upcoming season, I expect Lehkonen to become a 30-goal scorer for the first time in his NHL career.

How do you see the Avs working the power play with MacKinnon and Necas both preferring to set up in the left faceoff circle? Who takes over for Mikko/Drouin on the right side? - @AvsCanesFan on X

What the Avalanche could really benefit from on their power play is a dynamic, puck-moving forward. Good thing they have two in both Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.

The entire power play setup last season was incredibly stagnant, including, strangely enough, MacKinnon, who is usually known for his ability to create space and move the puck well with his speed thanks to his speedy crossovers. Necas is known for having a lot of confidence, speed, and agility in the o-zone as well.

You're a wizard, Marty 🪄#GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/dxFaLopT7Z

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 7, 2025

In this situation, I'm more inclined to let Nathan MacKinnon do his thing (and potentially encourage him to create a little movement on that left side) while also encouraging Necas to put his agility to use.

With Dave Hakstol taking over for former assistant coach Ray Bennett on structuring the power play this year, the hope is that they will benefit from a fresh voice on the ice. Personally, I'd be interested in seeing them take a page out of the Edmonton Oilers' book. McDavid is known as a dynamic forward with the ability to move the puck and set up his teammates from anywhere. If any player can recreate that, I'd love to see it be Necas.

 Now, in regards to who occupies the right side where Rantanen, then Drouin - and occasionally Lehkonen - usually played on PP1, they might have to get a little creative. 

As a whole, to put it bluntly, both units of the power play sucked last year, especially in the postseason. Their inability to capitalize on the man-advantage is arguably what lost Colorado their series against Dallas. If they stick to the 1-3-1 formation they've run the last few years, Nelson would be the ideal substitution here. His vision offensively mixed with his ability to hit one-timers accurately and effectively would be a lethal addition to the ideal overall vision for this first unit.

But... If I'm Hakstol, I'm also wondering if I can shake up the plan enough to give Lehkonen another shot on PP1, given the chemistry he and MacKinnon have developed on a line together in the last year. If they move away from a 1-3-1 formation, I can see his grit and prominent finishing ability making him a worthy addition to the top unit as well.

Odds that Necas walks back to Carolina (we miss him) - @josh_holdner98 on X

Josh, as much as I hate to, I might break your heart here.

In my eyes, the chances of Martin Necas heading back to the team that drafted him is slim to nil.

The main reason why: he and Rod Brind'Amour couldn't exactly see eye to eye on how he would be utilized in the lineup.

Rumors Are Circulating Around Martin Necas and a Potential TradeIt's officially summer, folks.

Necas and MacKinnon complement each other too well for the Avalanche not to explore every possible - but reasonable - avenue to hold onto him for the foreseeable future. He's no Mikko Rantanen, but for what he can provide on the ice, I think he could be a talented, affordable option for the top line, considering some of the wingers on the market come 2026 free agency who may also be looking for payraises (Jason Robertson, anybody?).

The trick is finding a number that both Necas' camp and the Avalanche front office can agree on, but that's a debate for a different article.

What exactly is going on with the [Utah] Grizzlies situation, have they renewed affiliation and what's going to happen with them being sold at the end of the upcoming season? - @darksistervis on X

On June 22nd, the Utah Grizzlies announced that due to a "period of transition" with ownership, the team is exploring a potential sale of the team, which could result in a relocation of the franchise.

A message to our devoted fans 💚 pic.twitter.com/r0IFfK5V1M

— Utah Grizzlies (@UtahGrizzlies) June 23, 2025

Based on the above press release, it seems like the team is preparing for a move in location and ownership, giving fans one last hoorah in the Maverik Center this upcoming 2025-26 season.

Now, this isn't to say that the Avalanche will lose their ECHL affiliate. The way I see it, that all depends on where the new potential buyers want to put it... and if they decide to move forward with the current ownership group and find some way to make things work in West Valley City.

This isn't to say that the Avalanche will maintain the affiliation, either, and could become one of just two teams without a deal with an ECHL club. The only other two NHL clubs that would benefit the organization moving closer to them would be the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Ottawa Senators, who each do not currently have an ECHL affiliate.

I did reach out to the organization to see if they had any updates on advancements on this, but I haven't heard anything in response at the time of publishing this. My best advice is to keep an eye on the Utah Grizzlies account on X for any official updates, my own X account, where I will report any updates, or here at The Hockey News, where any news that unfolds will break.

Are there any plans to celebrate the team’s 30th season in CO. They did cool logos and center ice designs for 10, 20, and 25 but radio silence on this year? - @iceisnice303 on X

While details are still hush-hush, I did get confirmation from the Avalanche that they WILL be celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.

From what I'm told, fans can expect an official announcement sometime in August. 

---

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For a few years now, the Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the sexy picks to win the Stanley Cup. Pundits, fans and hockey executives see Carolina as a team with a terrific core – and clearly, Hurricanes management feels the same way.

On Thursday night, Carolina GM Eric Tulsky signed Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $40.92-million contract extension. On Friday, the Hurricanes’ social media team tweeted all seven of Carolina’s players who are under contract through the 2030-31 season – a number that is the highest in the NHL through that time frame. 

The Hurricanes narrowly lead the Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers, which have six players signed through 2030-31. The Washington Capitals have five players signed for that long. 

This negotiating tactic is essentially a gamble by Tulsky on his core talent, and the same goes for Canucks GM Patrik Allvin, Panthers GM Bill Zito and Capitals GM Chris Patrick. There may come a time when one or more of these GMs part ways with some of the players they’ve currently signed to long-term extensions, but in these early stages of those contracts, you want players to feel secure and focused solely on playing as well as they can. And you don’t arrive at that goal if players are constantly signed to one- or two-year deals. 

The Hurricanes have handed out contracts with significant term on them. While Blake is only 21, Carolina has other youngsters under long-term contracts, including star forwards Seth Jarvis (23), Logan Stankoven (22) and right winger Andrei Svechnikov (25). But there are more experienced players also under long-term deals with the Hurricanes: star center Sebastian Aho, newcomer left winger Nikolaj Ehlers, shutdown blueliner Jaccob Slavin and newcomer defenseman K’Andre Miller all are under contract through at least ’30-31.

Tulsky has also handed out some sort of no-move or no-trade clauses to many of his players. A whopping 13 current Hurricanes have a no-move or no-trade clause of one form or another. And while that also works to make players more confident about their future, it’s likely to make it harder for Tulsky to maneuver his way through the trade market if things don’t work out to Carolina’s satisfaction in at least the next six seasons.

The Hurricanes have yet to make it out of the Eastern Conference final in four appearances over the past 19 years, so the challenge for Carolina’s core is plainly apparent: get into the Cup final, win the second Cup in franchise history and reward Tulsky for the investment he’s made in them. Playing well in the regular season matters to some degree, but it’s not nearly as crucial for this Hurricanes team as getting out of the East in the post-season.

Blake has only played 81 career regular-season games. But he’s going to get a huge raise to $5.11 million per season once his entry-level contract expires at the end of the coming season. Blake would’ve only been an RFA if Tulsky had allowed his first contract to expire without an extension. But Tulsky more or less cut out some years that would’ve paid Blake less, and in turn, Blake surrendered some of his golden years, contractually speaking, to get a bigger raise sooner rather than later.

When Blake’s new deal does expire in 2034, he’ll still be only 30 years old. By that time, he could position himself for a massive raise as a UFA, either from the Hurricanes or from another team. Eight years may feel like an eternity right now, but Blake, six of his Carolina teammates, and a growing number of young NHLers are all finding long-term security to be the preferred approach to their financial future.

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(Header/feature image courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

When the Philadelphia Flyers acquired goaltender Dan Vladar from the Calgary Flames this offseason, the move registered as more of a soft rumble than a seismic jolt. Vladar, 27, has largely flown under the radar in a backup role behind Jacob Markström and, more recently, Dustin Wolf. But the Flyers saw something worth investing in—a still-developing goalie with untapped upside, prototypical size, and the kind of technical base that can be molded into something more under the right guidance.

Flyers also announce that they have signed goalie Dan Vladar to a 2-year contract with a $3.35 million AAV.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) July 1, 2025

That guidance, in Philadelphia, will come from Kim Dillabaugh—a holdover from John Tortorella’s coaching staff and a coach with a quiet but substantial reputation for refining goalies’ mechanics, consistency, and confidence. And if there's a path forward for Vladar to evolve from a platoon option into a legitimate tandem partner—or more—it runs through Dillabaugh’s tutelage and a clearer sense of identity in the Flyers’ evolving crease.

By the Numbers: The Vladar Profile

Vladar’s career numbers don’t leap off the page, but they also deserve context. Through 105 NHL games, he’s posted a .895 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average, but much of that sample came in inconsistent usage patterns. The 2024–25 season, his best stretch to date, saw him put up a .898 SV% in 30 games—not staggering, but far from catastrophic.

His underlying numbers paint a more nuanced picture. In limited stretches, Vladar has graded out as an average or slightly below-average goaltender in goals saved above expected (GSAx), a metric that accounts for shot quality. He tends to struggle against lateral attacks and broken plays—think royal-road passes, rebounds, and slot-line one-timers—but shows poise and economy against straight-line rushes and point shots.

Not on Dan Vladar's watch! 🙅‍♂️

He stopped every single shot sent his way for his first @pepsi shutout of the season! pic.twitter.com/vbbWDTjtHX

— NHL (@NHL) November 2, 2024

At 6-foot-5, Vladar is a large goaltender who doesn’t need to over-challenge to fill the net, but he often does. One of the knocks on his game is that he can be overly aggressive in his positioning, which leaves him vulnerable to backdoor passes and dekes in tight. When his reads are clean and his movement is compact, he looks like a starting goalie. When he’s chasing the game—particularly in scramble scenarios—he can look overwhelmed and out of sync.

Strengths: Athleticism, Size, and Rebound Control

Let’s start with the positives. Vladar’s size and athleticism are legitimate NHL-caliber traits. He moves well for his frame, and when he trusts his angles, he can appear calm and controlled in net. His glove hand is solid, and his rebound control has improved significantly over the past two seasons. He does a good job of deadening shots into his chest and directing low shots to the corners, limiting second-chance chaos.

On film, one of Vladar’s biggest strengths is how well he reads point shots through traffic. He has an upright stance that allows him to see over screens and, when he's tracking well, he’s difficult to beat cleanly from distance. That matters in a Flyers system that emphasizes net-front defense and shot blocking but still gives up volume.

He’s also shown flashes of above-average puck handling—he’s not quite a third defenseman like Devon Levi or Mike Smith in his prime, but he can assist in breakouts and dump-ins, which is a valuable tool in Tortorella’s transition-conscious system.

Weaknesses: East-West Movement and Game Management

Vladar’s primary areas of concern lie in his lateral movement and recovery tracking. When forced to move laterally in the crease—especially against quick puck movement—he can lag a half-second behind the play. This leads to desperation saves, or worse, overcommits that leave the net exposed. His post integration on wraparounds and low plays is still inconsistent, which is particularly notable given the growing league-wide emphasis on low-to-high puck movement and short-side attacks.

Another area where he can improve is game management. Vladar sometimes loses his technical structure during long defensive-zone shifts. Instead of staying within himself and trusting his positioning, he’ll overreact to screens or bite too hard on initial puck movement. These issues can compound into snowball periods—stretches where he’ll allow two or three quick goals and struggle to reset mentally.

This is precisely where Kim Dillabaugh’s influence could be transformative.

The Dillabaugh Effect

If there’s one consistent hallmark of Dillabaugh’s coaching tenure in Philadelphia and Los Angeles before that, it’s this: he builds goaltenders from the inside out. Technical discipline, mental resilience, and routine management are his calling cards.

Flyers goalies past 9 games (since Sam Ersson last played):
Ivan Fedotov: 3-1-1, 2.91, .901
Aleksei Kolosov: 3-1-0, 2.25, .913
Asked John Tortorella how much credit should go to goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh for the work with 2 rookie goalies, both of whom struggle with English pic.twitter.com/0LFX66SrUb

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) December 1, 2024

Consider what he's done with Sam Ersson, whose positioning and rebound control have quietly evolved into a foundational strength over the last year, especially in the context of having a suddenly intense workload with—through no fault of Ersson's—inadequate preparation to handle it all.

For Vladar, Dillabaugh’s value could lie in two core areas:

1. Pace Control and Poise – Helping Vladar rely less on raw athleticism and more on proper positioning. That means fewer over-challenges, less wasted movement, and a better read-react rhythm.
2. Post Play and Recovery Structure – Refining his RVH mechanics and post integration could limit short-side leaks and awkward recoveries—areas where Vladar has been exposed at the NHL level.

With Dillabaugh’s guidance, Vladar doesn’t need to become a Vezina finalist. He needs to become more predictable—to his defensemen, to his coaches, and to himself.

The Tandem Question: Can Vladar–Ersson Work?

The Flyers have made it clear: they’re not handing the net to any one goalie in 2025–26. This is a transitional season, a developmental year, and the goal is to see who steps up. Sam Ersson, who carried the load admirably last year, returns with a chance to seize a true 1A role. But he’s not immune to slumps—and the organization would benefit from true internal competition.

Enter Vladar.

For a tandem to work, you need complementary styles and mentalities. Ideally, one goalie provides a safety valve when the other falters. They push each other in practice, support each other off the ice, and offer differing looks in-game.

Vladar and Ersson could provide that blend.

Ersson plays a controlled, economical style—sharp edges, calculated pushes, and sound puck tracking. Vladar is looser, more explosive, and can steal games when he’s dialed in. That contrast can work if both are on the same page with goalie coaching and communication. It’s worth noting that Ersson has thrived under Dillabaugh’s system and might serve as an internal model for Vladar to emulate.

What’s more, both goalies are under contract and relatively inexpensive—allowing the Flyers to evaluate without long-term cap constraints. 

The Ceiling and the Question Ahead

Dan Vladar is not a sure thing just yet. He’s not a young franchise goalie-in-waiting, and he’s never been handed the net for a full season to prove otherwise. But he is a compelling bet—a talented goaltender with room to grow, a manageable contract, and a frame and skill set that could flourish under structured coaching and consistent usage.

And the Flyers don’t need him to be elite. They need him to be stable. They need him to push Sam Ersson, to give them a chance on back-to-backs, and to offer a sense of calm in net. With the right coaching influence and a clearer game plan, Vladar could reach a level he hasn’t yet found.

And if he does? The Flyers may have secured a piece of their future crease—one that arrived without a ton of fanfare, but who could prove essential in the slow, deliberate march back to playoff contention.

Bottom Line

In a league where goalie development is unpredictable and opportunity often outweighs pedigree, Dan Vladar is a bet worth making. And in Philadelphia, where change is the only constant at the moment, he just might find what he’s been missing all along: a system that believes in him and is willing to give him the right opportunities to truly show his stuff.

Kick off the weekend with rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.

Predicting Kyle Connor's Next Contract With The Jets by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Karine Hains discussed in today's episode:

0:00: How will the Florida Panthers become salary cap-compliant?

4:25: Predicting the next contracts for Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti

9:50: Will the Columbus Blue Jackets be able to stay in playoff contention this season?

13:51: Will Max Pacioretty suit up for an NHL team this season?

17:58: How will Canada's coaching staff for the Olympics impact the roster decisions?

22:00: Who will be the Montreal Canadiens' second-line center?

26:24: Did the New Jersey Devils do enough this summer to make a deeper playoff run?

30:04: Breaking down Jackson Blake's extension with the Carolina Hurricanes

34:53: Did the New York Islanders get a good deal by avoiding arbitration with Maxim Tsyplakov?

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

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Promo image: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

Last week, NHL fans were finally graced with the schedule for the 2025-26 regular season. Chicago fans may have a couple of dates circled already based on the matchups. 

For one, there is Patrick Kane’s third return to the United Center as a member of the road team. That will take place on December 13th, 2026, as the Detroit Red Wings will be at the United Center. 

Jonathan Toews, who has been away from the NHL over the last two seasons, will make his first-ever appearance in Chicago as a visitor. He signed a deal with the Winnipeg Jets earlier in the offseason, who will visit the UC on January 19th, 2026. 

Another tilt that Blackhawks fans may be excited about is their first matchup against one another. Toews and Kane have played against each other on the international stage, but never in the NHL. 

That first matchup will come in Detroit when the Jets visit the Red Wings at Little Caesar’s Arena on December 31st, 2025. It's New Year’s Eve showdown for these two Chicago sports legends. 

They will play a second time on January 24. This time, Kane’s Red Wings will visit Toews and the Jets up in Manitoba. 

No matter what, Chicago fans will see this as a duo that spent so many great years together. Three of those years ended with them lifting the Stanley Cup, which will never be forgotten. 

Although fans are certainly going to be interested in watching what the Blackhawks do next in their rebuild, seeing some old friends battle it out will make for some great TV. The Blackhawks are off on New Year’s Eve, so everybody can lock in on that game hosted by the Red Wings.

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

Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius had an excellent showing in his second appearance for Finland at the IIHF World Junior Championships, which allowed the 19-year-old center to sit out the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis beginning on Friday. Helenius had six assists in seven games last January and will likely center Finland’s top line at the 2026 WJC in Minnesota next December.

Three Sabres prospects Adam Kleber, Brodie Ziemer, and Luke Osburn are taking part in the showcase as part of Team USA’s split squad. Kleber, the Sabres second round pick (42nd overall) in 2024, and Osburn, Buffalo’s fourth-round pick (102nd overall), will be teammates on the Blue squad, while Ziemer, the club’s third rounder (71st overall) will be on Team White. 

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 In other news, the Sabres are scheduled to appear twice on Amazon Prime Monday Night Hockey NHL coverage this upcoming season. The package of 26 games opens on Canadian Thanksgiving (Monday, Oct. 13) with a doubleheader featuring the Detroit Red Wings at the Toronto Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues at the Vancouver Canucks. 

The Sabres will be on the following Monday, October 20 against the Atlantic Division rival Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, while the second game will be at Key Bank Center on December 1 against the Winnipeg Jets. The television schedules for the US packages on ESPN and TNT will be revealed in September.    

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo  

The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings continue with the New York Islanders at No. 24.

In this series, we’ve been putting the spotlight on each team’s off-season, going from the teams that got the worst to the best. To arrive at those conclusions, we’ll be analyzing all notable additions and departures, including trades and free-agent additions, departures, hirings and firings.

We’re already in the big group of teams that have stayed the same for the most part.

At the bottom of this article, you can see the teams that finished lower than the Islanders. But right now, we’re going to get things started by focusing on the Isles.

Additions

Jonathan Drouin (LW), Emil Heineman (LW), Maxim Shabanov (RW), Matthew Schaefer (D), Adam Boqvist (D), David Rittich (G), Mathieu Darche (GM) 

The Breakdown: The Islanders were tied for the NHL’s fifth-worst offense this past season, averaging only 2.71 goals-for per game. After the Islanders announced Lou Lamoriello wouldn’t return as GM-president, former NHLer Darche immediately went through trades and free agency to add three NHL-caliber forwards to boost their production.

Drouin resuscitated his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche, posting a combined 30 goals and 93 points in 122 games over the past two seasons. The 30-year-old should be part of the Islanders’ top-six forwards and a fixture on the power play. Meanwhile, Heineman – acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens – will make the Isles’ bottom six younger and faster. 

Russian sniper Shabanov joined the Islanders after thriving in the KHL. The 24-year-old is a skilled player who could get power-play time, but the 5-foot-8 right winger must prove he can handle the physicality.

The Isles’ defense looks significantly different with the departure of Dobson and the additions of first overall draft pick Schaefer and former Florida Panthers blueliner Boqvist. 

Finally, Darche added goaltending insurance with the signing of journeyman netminder Rittch, since Semyon Varlamov may or may not be recovered from injury this upcoming season.

Departures

Matt Martin (LW), Hudson Fasching (RW), Noah Dobson (D), Mike Reilly (D), Lou Lamoriello (GM) 

The Breakdown: The changes for the Islanders started at the top with Lamoriello after not being able to keep the Isles in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Also, veteran enforcer Martin retired, and the Islanders’ defense corps took a huge hit with the departure of Dobson, who was their most-used D-man at an average of 23:16 of ice time in 71 games this past year.

You can make an argument that the Isles effectively replaced Dobson with Schaefer, but that’s asking an awful lot of an NHL rookie who won’t turn 18 until September. Schaefer is also a left-handed defenseman, while Dobson played on the right. Dobson was an RFA, but he had 70 points in 2023-24 before dropping to 39 points this past season.

Losing UFA Fasching and new Carolina Hurricanes D-man Reilly won’t hurt all that much, as both players were fringe contributors last season. But the loss of Dobson looms large over the Islanders at the moment.

Trading Dobson was probably the right thing to do as this Isles franchise shifts its focus to the long term with a new GM, but that doesn’t mean trading him isn’t going to take a toll on the Islanders’ back end in 2025-26. Schaefer eventually will be their top blueliner, but as he adapts to the NHL game, there’s going to be a grey period in which the Isles struggle in their zone.

The Bottom Line

The Islanders were one of the more active teams in trades and free agency this summer. That said, we’re ranking who got better or worse for this upcoming season.

They’re worse on defense for 2025-26. Their additions on offense should help, but it’s tough to say at the moment whether the team overall will improve if the back end can’t hold the fort. In the grand scheme of things, Darche has begun the painful process of pressing reset on the Islanders and focusing on refreshing the core and depth of his team.

That said, the Islanders are still very much a team of veterans, including captain Anders Lee, star center Mat Barzal, center Bo Horvat, defenseman Ryan Pulock and goaltender Ilya Sorokin.

This is a team in transition, and Darche has been tasked with making the Islanders into a legitimate Cup threat, even if it means struggling in the early stages. They’re nowhere close to being a Cup front-runner right now, but with the development of youngsters like Schaefer, the Isles should eventually be a better team and a Metropolitan Division powerhouse. Right now, though, their changes in this off-season have them well behind the league’s teams that have clearly improved. 

The best you can say about the Islanders is they’re at about the same level as they were last year – but that still means they’re likely to miss the playoffs for the second straight season and the third time in the past five years. They’re 24th in the NHL summer splash rankings, but they’ve had a respectable off-season and appear to be on the right track.

Summer Splash Rankings

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

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Red Wings could explore a trade for Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who is reportedly on the trade block.

The 2026 NHL Free Agent class has the potential to be the biggest in league history with some of the biggest names up for grabs. Barring a similar event to this year where all the top players re-sign, we could see a major shake up within the league.

Most hockey fans look to biggest names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin among others on the block and salivate at the idea of their team nabbing one of the league's best. For Detroit fans, there's a name to look out for in the bunch and could be dealt early on into the season with Buffalo's Alex Tuch.

The 29-year-old Syracuse native is entering the final year of a seven-year deal with a very friendly $4.75 million cap hit per season for a winger that has produced 94 goals with 111 assists for 205 points over the last three seasons. Tuch has been rumored to be on the trade block for some time now and Detroit is looking to add a top six winger. 

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His recent numbers have him ahead of names like Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat and Zach Hyman. Detroit bench boss Todd McLellan and the rest of the coaching staff would need to juggle around the lineup as Tuch is a right-hand shot that wouldn't be able to take over the vacant left wing spot on the top line but could slide into the second line centre spot while Marco Kasper moves up to left wing. 

Tuch was drafted 18th overall back in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. He was later dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights as part of an agreement that they would select Erik Haula during the building of their team in the 2017 expansion draft. He would go on to have four solid years with Vegas, where he would produce 30-50 points and would also contribute in four different playoff runs. 

Detroit Red Wings 2025-26 Betting OutlookExploring betting options for the Red Wings ahead of the 2025-26 season. 

The Buffalo Sabres, while in the basement of the league at the time, had a rising star that wanted out in Jack Eichel. He would go on to be traded to the Golden Knights with Tuch being one of the focal points of the return package to Buffalo. Tuch was able to return to the NHL team he grew up closest to and was successful throughout his youth in the early 2000s. 

During his first full season in Buffalo, he would score 36 goals along with 43 assists for just short of 80 points through 74 games. He would certainly be a difference-making player when put in the right situation and that could be in Detroit. He would get a meaningful role on a rising team with significantly better talent around him and could see top line power play minutes, making his upside close to his career-best year at 80 points.

Tuch and the Sabres were recently involved in contract talks but if things go south, the Red Wings may be able to give Buffalo and offer that'll persuade them to deal him and start fresh with more NHL talent.

This kind of deal would be rare as it would be inter-divisional but if it does happen it'll likely be at the end of the season in free agency or a deal could involved some of Detroit's young talent that are on the verge of making the jump to the NHL in Carter Mazur, Michael Rasmussen or one of their current main roster players like Jonatan Berggren or Elmer Soderblom. 

Former Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateSportsbooks reveal head-to-head prop bet between former teammates in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

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