Category: Sports News

The Los Angeles Kings are just a few weeks away from training camp and less than a month from opening night. For this season, there are still talks around the roster lacking a little firepower, but it's good enough to make the postseason and go home early again. 

However, with a few roster spots still available, the Kings should consider targeting restricted free agents after the market thins out. The question then becomes whether the Kings can tap into the restricted free agent (RFA) pool to add young, high-end talent.

It’s a long path, but one worth examining.

ONLY 20 DAYS TO GO UNTIL PUCK DROP 🫨

And until we see @NHLFantasy's top 20 #FantasyHockey breakout candidates hit the ice — see the full list here: https://t.co/XT8EWvVk6s#NHLFaceOffpic.twitter.com/Ss9X6BXDkB

— NHL (@NHL) September 17, 2025

Why RFAs Are Rarely Targeted

With the Kings needing fresh talent and the organization looking for answers after repeated playoff disappointment, it’s fair to ask whether this could be the moment LA takes a swing.

LA needs to fill some vacant spots on the roster, especially after Corey Perry’s injury, who is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. The Kings can sign a young talent in the market who is looking to prove something and get a contract offer. 

The Kings’ Needs and Outlook

Los Angeles is pressed against the salary cap with long-term deals for Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Kevin Fiala already on the books. They'll need to manipulate things carefully if they're to make a significant addition.

What they need is clear: scoring depth behind Fiala, long-term center assistance with Kopitar aging, and young defensemen who can grow into bigger roles. With that as context, here's a look at which RFAs are a fit — and how likely each might be.

Dream Scenarios (Unrealistic, but Fun to Imagine)

Mason McTavish (Ducks): Anaheim would never let a top young center cross the freeway to LA. Still, Anaheim is listening to trade offers from several teams interested in McTavish, so it is possible. Still, the Ducks and McTavish will most likely sign a long-term deal, forcing the Kings to give up a lot of their young pieces for him in a trade to make it possible.  

Intriguing but Complicated

Luke Evangelista (Predators): A skilled forward with offensive upside, Evangelista could complement LA’s forward group. Nashville would likely match any reasonable offer, but the deal between the two has continued to linger and caused frustration from Evangelista’s side.

So, that gives another team like the Kings a chance to step in and give Evangelista an offer or come up with a trade, but we will have to wait and see how the situation ends with both parties. 

Luke Hughes (Devils): A left-shot defenseman with elite skating, puck-moving ability, and offensive upside. That’s precisely the type of player LA could use as Drew Doughty gets older. The Kings could benefit from picking up Hughes and moving into developing him for the future, as Doughty is slowly declining at his age. 

Why It’s Unrealistic 

Even though Luke isn’t on the same level as his brother Jack, he’s still improving and has shown significant progress this past season. So, it would be doubtful that the Devils would move him or let him go without offering a long-term contract, which is most likely to happen. 

However, it’s still possible that Hughes signs elsewhere if contract talks stall. Since the Kings aren't his top destination, a trade would be necessary, involving the Devils asking for draft compensation and more to finalize the deal.  

Realistic Options

Wyatt Kaiser (Blackhawks): Still developing, the young defenseman could provide organizational depth and long-term upside. With the Kings needing blue-line reinforcements, Kaiser represents a more practical type of target.

The Verdict

While the idea of Mason McTavish in a Kings jersey is fun for fans, the reality is that LA’s best chance in the RFA market lies with the most realistic options like Evangelista, Kaiser, and maybe Hughes if the Kings get creative and really want to target him. These aren’t flashy names, but they could fill immediate needs while still fitting the cap structure.

There's going to be even more competition when the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp gets underway on Thursday.

According to Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports, the Penguins are bringing forwards Robby Fabbri and Brett Murray to training camp on professional tryout contracts. 

Fabbri spent the 2024-25 season with the Anaheim Ducks but was limited to 44 games, finishing with eight goals and 16 points. He has six double-digit goal seasons during his career and scored 18 goals and compiled 32 points during the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Red Wings. 

His best individual season came in 2015-16 when he was a member of the St. Louis Blues, finishing with 18 goals and 37 points in 72 games. When healthy, he's a good depth player, but has been banged up a lot during his career. 

Murray has spent his entire pro career with the Buffalo Sabres organization and has compiled two goals and six points in 26 NHL games. He has played in 325 AHL games with the Rochester Americans and has 100 goals and 206 points. 

The first practice of Penguins training camp will start at 8:45 a.m. ET on Thursday from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Each practice is free and open to the public. 

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The San Jose Barracuda announced they have signed forward Oliver Wahlstrom to PTO/AHL contract for the 2025-26 season.

Wahlstrom will attend San Jose Sharks training camp with an opportunity to make the team but has a guaranteed AHL deal with the Barracuda.

The 25-year-old had four points in 27 games with the New York Islanders, two points in 16 games with the Boston Bruins, and 15 points in 19 games with the Providence Bruins last season. 

A native of Portland, ME., Wahlstrom has recorded 37 goals and 73 points in 236 career NHL games and 21 goals and 40 points in 69 career AHL games. 

The #SJBarracuda have signed F Oliver Wahlstrom to an AHL Contract for the 2025-26 season pic.twitter.com/OZ8gVXNG5G

— SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) September 16, 2025

If he does not make the NHL out of camp Wahlstrom will make a nice addition to a Baracuda team that lost reigning AHL MVP Andrew Poturalski this off-season. 

The 11th overall selection of the Islanders in 2018, Wahlstrom is extremely talented but has struggled to find consistently in the NHL, he should have lots of opportunity with the Sharks organization.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.      

Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano is set to join the organization this season, GM Brad Treliving says.

The 41-year-old was first spotted around the club again during the summer at Maple Leafs development camp. He spoke in front of the prospects about his NHL career, from being an undrafted defenseman to winning the Norris Trophy in 2019.

Giordano was then seen last weekend behind the bench with the Maple Leafs at the Prospect Showdown in Montreal. During Toronto’s media day on Wednesday, Treliving confirmed that the former defenseman would have a role with the team this season.

“We'll have an announcement there. Mark will be joining the group here primarily on the Marlies side,” Treliving said. “And then some of the other changes and promotions, and we've added some pro scouts and different folks, so we're going to get that out to you. I don't want to break all the news here.”

Giordano spent part of three seasons with the Maple Leafs, from 2022 to 2024. He was acquired by the club from the Seattle Kraken at the trade deadline and was part of Toronto’s defense core when they eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning from the playoffs in 2023, their first playoff series win since 2004.

'I Like To Bring It All': What To Expect From Dakota Joshua In First Season With Maple LeafsDakota Joshua might not know many players on the Toronto Maple Leafs yet, but he has familiarity with head coach Craig Berube.

The Norris Trophy-winning defenseman hasn’t formally announced his retirement, but has taken on several roles, including appearances on TSN last season. He also coached 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer this summer.

Giordano played parts of 18 seasons in the NHL, tallying 918 points (158 goals, 419 assists) in 1,148 games with the Maple Leafs, Kraken, and Calgary Flames.

He’s not the only former Maple Leaf being officially brought into the organization. Kyle Clifford announced his retirement from professional hockey earlier this summer and confirmed he’d be joining Toronto as a development coach.

"I’m very excited about the next chapter with Toronto in player development," he told The Hockey News earlier this summer.

Matias Maccelli's Motivation Is The 'Highest It Has Ever Been' Ahead Of First Season With Maple LeafsMatias Maccelli is ready to put the summer workouts and informal skates behind him and get into Toronto Maple Leafs training camp.

Clifford had two stints in the Maple Leafs’ organization as a player. He was acquired by the club in 2019, along with Jack Campbell. After one season in Toronto, Clifford joined the St. Louis Blues on a two-year, $2 million contract, before returning to the Maple Leafs in a trade after one season.

Toronto also has former defenseman Jake Muzzin under the umbrella of its development staff.

Latest stories:

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The Hockey News Big Show discusses pressing NHL topics as training camps kick off.

What To Expect From Alex Ovechkin, Training Camps by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:

01:30: What is Kirill Kaprizov looking for since he reportedly turned down a contract offer from the Minnesota Wild?

05:15: What teams could potentially trade for Kaprizov if the WIld think they can’t re-sign him?

08:20: Is J.T. Miller the right choice as captain of the New York Rangers?

12:00: Will any team sign Carter Hart?

15:00: Which player missing the start of the season is the biggest blow to their team?

18:50: Who will take the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-line right winger role?

21:20: What other players should the Maple Leafs target?

23:40: What is Leafs prospect Easton Cowan’s ceiling?

28:15: What are the expectations for Alex Ovechkin as he turns 40 this season?

31:30: What’s the most intriguing team going into training camp?

34:50: Which captain-less team will name a captain first, and who will it be?

37:20: Which opening-day matchup are you most excited to watch?

38:50: What’s your favorite outdoor venue? What stadium would you like to see host an NHL specialty game?

42:00: What’s your favorite example of a player ending their career by returning to their longtime squad?

43:20: If the NHL changed the playoff format so more teams would make it, would Buffalo make the cut?

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

After an offseason that featured a blockbuster trade, the first overall pick, and a few free agent additions, the New York Islanders head into training camp with some unanswered questions.

Michael Ostrower contributed to this story. 

While most of the 23-man roster looks locked in, a handful of players are still battling for NHL spots.

Islanders 2025-26 NHL Training Camp Roster Is OutAhead of Thursday, the New York Islanders have released their training camp roster. The list consists of 35 forwards, 18 defensemen, and eight goaltenders:

That said, the line combinations remain a work in progress, and head coach Patrick Roy recently offered some insight into how the top nine forwards might shake out to start camp:

Jonathan Drouin – Bo Horvat – Maxim Shabanov

Anders Lee – Mathew Barzal – Kyle Palmieri

Anthony Duclair – JG Pageau – Simon Holmstrom

Roy’s proposed lines notably put Maxim Shabanov, the 2025 offseason’s top international free agent, on the first line.

Roy’s Plan Is To Start Shabanov On Top Line At Islanders Training CampMonday morning at the New York Islanders Children's Foundation Golf Outing, Islanders' Head Coach Patrick Roy revealed his way-too-early lineup thoughts ahead of training camp. 

While the 24-year-old Russian had 67 points (23 goals, 44 assists) in 65 KHL games, finishing top three in the league in both assists and goals, his immediate placement on the top line is a stark contrast to Maxim Tsyplakov.

Tsyplakov was the top international free agent during the 2024 offseason, and while he opened the 2024-25 season on the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, he began training camp in a depth role.

Given that Shabanov stands just 5-foot-9, 167 pounds, and his playstyle is the opposite of Tsyplakov’s, it makes sense why they view him as a top-six forward and not a bottom-six guy. 

Roy’s tentative lines provide insight into how training camp will start, but each player still has to earn their spot.

Jonathan Drouin and Bo Horvat will likely stay together to open the season, but Shabanov still has to earn the first-line, right-wing spot, with Palmieri the other suitor for the role.

Whichever of the two gets left off the first line will be a prime candidate to join Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee on the second line.

The third line is set with Anthony Duclair, JG Pageau, and Simon Holmstrom offering Roy a speedy trio capable of stretching the ice and contributing offensively.

While Roy did not comment on the fourth line, it will likely consist of Emil Heineman, Casey Cizikas, and Maxim Tsyplakov, with Kyle MacLean, Marc Gatcomb, and Pierre Engvall fighting to make the 23-man roster.

But, you can’t rule out Calum Ritchie, the Colorado Avalanche’s top prospect, who they sent to the Islanders in the Brock Nelson deal, from making the team. He looks NHL-ready and could win a job, whether that’s at center ice or on the wing. 

The Islanders' defense underwent some major changes this offseason with the departure of Noah Dobson and the addition of Matthew Schaefer, but four of the six lineup regulars appear set in Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech, Tony DeAngelo, and Ryan Pulock.

When healthy, all four defenseman have been heavily relied on under Roy, and that is unlikely to change in 2025-26.

From there, Schaefer is the favorite to be the third left-shot defenseman in the lineup, though the Islanders will make him earn it.

His main competitor will be Isaiah George, who greatly developed his game in Bridgeport (AHL) following a 33-game NHL stint in the first half of the 2024-25 season.

Scott Mayfield is expected to be the third right-shot defenseman in the lineup, but Adam Boqvist could give him a run for his money.

Boqvist’s game offers the Islanders a higher offensive ceiling given his skating, agility, and playmaking. 

While Mayfield is signed for another five seasons, both Roy and Mathieu Darche have emphasized a desire to add speed to the lineup, and Boqvist offers just that.

In the most probable outcome where Mayfield and Schaefer make the lineup, Boqvist is the favorite to earn the seventh defenseman role since George is waiver-exempt.

Ethan Bear, a right-shot defenseman signed to a one-year, $775,000 deal this offseason, is a close friend of Barzal and is another name to consider during training camp.

The Islanders will also need to sort out which goaltender will back up Ilya Sorokin.

Semyon Varlamov underwent season-ending surgery after trying to work his way back from a lower-body injury sustained last November. We do not know his status for training camp yet.

The last thing we were told is that he was skating.

The Islanders signed veteran backup David Rittich as an insurance option in case Varlamov did not stay at full health.

Depending on New York’s confidence in Varlamov’s health, Rittich could open the season at Sorokin’s backup, or even as a third goaltender on the roster if Darche fears Rittich will be claimed on waivers.

The latter is unlikely, as multiple goaltenders similar to Rittich will be placed on waivers, but anything is on the table after last season’s goalie carousel saw the Islanders use five different netminders.

The Islanders will open training camp on Thursday, September 18th.

The NHL season is almost here. Training camp kicks off this week around the league with preseason games to follow. With training camp comes several questions for the Ducks, five of which hold higher priority than others.

When will Mason McTavish sign?

Out of all the burning questions, this one is the biggest for the Ducks. McTavish, a restricted free agent (RFA) is still currently unsigned with training camp a day away from commencing.

With Trevor Zegras now in Philadelphia, the pathway to No. 2 center behind Leo Carlsson is McTavish’s for the taking. This summer, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek identified McTavish as a long-term piece for the organization, saying that they are fortunate to have both Carlsson and McTavish.

While that may be true, Verbeek may be in danger of repeating the same sequence from a few years ago, when contract disputes with Zegras and Jamie Drysdale dragged into training camp and both players subsequently missed time due to injuries. Both players are now no longer part of the organization, plying their trade together in Philadelphia.

Anaheim has short-term options for the second line center spot as long as McTavish remains unsigned. Free agency addition Mikael Granlund is capable of filling that role, like he did for the past couple of years in San Jose. Ryan Strome has done the same in years past, though his production is closer to that of a third line center than a true No. 2.

There’s no question though that the longer this contract dispute drags out, the more detrimental it could become. With Joel Quenneville (and almost  an entirely new coaching staff) taking charge, being present for the start of camp to learn new systems and knock the rust off is essential.

How will the forward lines shake out?

McTavish is an important part of the forward corps, but with or without him, there are still plenty of moving parts that need to be settled.

The trio of Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn may get an early look to see if they can continue the production that they had during the second half of last season.

With McTavish absent for the time being, Granlund may jump up into the no. 2 center position and be flanked by Troy Terry and fellow offseason addition Chris Kreider.

Questions Facing Each Anaheim Ducks Forward Heading into the 2025-26 SeasonThe 2025-26 season is now around the corner after a long offseason. The Anaheim Ducks have lofty goals and one major piece of business left on the table to take care of: Mason McTavish's contract extension.

The non-presence of McTavish opens up an opportunity (for the time being) for one of Anaheim’s young forwards to make a good impression and push for a roster spot. 2024 third overall pick Beckett Sennecke has been the talk of the town in Ducks land, with his options this season split between returning to the OHL or playing in the NHL.

Other youngsters like Nikita Nesterenko, Sam Colangelo and Tim Washe will be competing for bottom-6 spots. Nesterenko and Colangelo could make the full-time jump to the NHL this season after splitting time between the top tier and the AHL last season.

What will the blue line look like?

Anaheim’s defense is chock-full of youth, with Radko Gudas (35) and Jacob Trouba (31) the only elder statesmen on the backend. Jackson LaCombe (24) will look to build on his breakout sophomore campaign while fellow left-handers Pavel Mintyukov (21) and Olen Zellweger (22) should benefit from playing more regularly. That leaves one spot on the right side for likely a trio of players in Drew Helleson, Tristan Luneau and Ian Moore.

Helleson, 24, took on a bigger role upon being recalled last November and solidified himself as part of the bottom pair by the end of the season. Known more for his defensive prowess than offensive ability, he signed a two-year extension this offseason.

Ducks’ Young Blue Line Could Be Their X-Factor in 2025-26The Ducks have a lot to be excited about when it comes to this season and beyond. Despite the departure of fan favorite Trevor Zegras via trade, they added a couple of veterans with plenty of playoff experience in Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund. They also revamped their coaching staff, giving Greg Cronin, Rich Clune and Brent Thompson the boot in favor of Joel Quenneville, Jay Woodcroft, Ryan McGill and Andrew Brewer.

Luneau, 21, had a terrific season in the AHL this past year, putting up 52 points in 59 games. A knee infection cut his 2023-24 season short and the beginning of his 2024-25 season in the NHL showed that he was not yet ready to make the jump. But with another pro season under his belt, Luneau has the opportunity to make the NHL roster out of camp once again. This time, it’s possible he may stick around.

Moore, 23, joined late last season, signing his entry-level contract (ELC) following the end of his collegiate career at Harvard. He played a few games in the AHL before coming up to the Ducks, but didn’t look too out of place in the three games that he played on. Moore was on the Ducks’ rookie faceoff roster, but did not play in either of the two games, perhaps a strong endorsement that Ducks brass already know what Moore can do.

What kind of impact will the new coaching staff have?

There’s no question that Anaheim is gunning for a playoff spot this season. It’s why Verbeek bid adieu to Cronin, Brent Thompson and Rich Clune this summer and brought in Quenneville, Jay Woodcroft, Ryan McGill and Andrew Brewer.

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Quenneville HiringFollowing the news conference to announce Joel Quenneville being named the 12th Ducks head coach in franchise history, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek spoke to local media. Below is a full transcript of the media scrum (Questions and answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity):

Quenneville’s systems should benefit the young blueliners offensively while also helping create a much more cohesive unit defensively. A league-worst power play (11.76%) will get new life breathed into it by Woodcroft while McGill looks to repair a penalty kill that been near the bottom of the league for the past few seasons.

A team with stronger systems and better special teams should help take a load off of Lukáš Dostál and whoever his backup will be, whether it’s Petr Mrázek or Ville Husso.

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This prospect list was originally published in the The Hockey News' annual yearbook

With rookie camp in the books and the big boys set to take the ice for training camp on Thursday, here is a look at the Vegas Golden Knights' top prospects.

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Trevor Connelly

Pos LW Age 19

2024-25 Providence (HE)

Makes quick reads, distributes well and dashes around the ice. Will benefit from reps at AHL level.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

2. Matyas Sapovaliv

Pos C Age 21

2024-25 Henderson (AHL)

Meager point total masks great work done defensively. He’s adept at matchup game.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

3. Raphael Lavoie

Pos C Age 25

2024-25 Henderson (AHL)

No doubting his offense, but he needs to develop reliability away from puck to reach next level.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

4. Jakob Ihs Wozniak

Pos C Age 18

2024-25 Lulea Jr. (Swe.)

Broke scoring record for 17-year-old in Swedish junior. Consistency key to him reaching potential.

Expected NHL Arrival ’29-30

5. Lukas Cormier

Pos D Age 23

2024-25 Henderson (AHL)

Skilled puck-mover and potential power-play quarterback missed majority of 2024-25 with injury.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

6. Pavel Moysevich

Pos G Age 21

2024-25 St. Petersburg (KHL)

Fought for starts with SKA last season. Regular playing time will help big, athletic keeper develop.

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

7. Arttu Karki

Pos D Age 20

2024-25 Assat (Fin.)

Returned to Finland to play pro. Does everything well but nothing spectacularly. A project prospect.

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

8. Mathieu Cataford

Pos C Age 20

2024-25 Rimouski (QMJHL)

CHL’s scholastic player of the year showcases on-ice smarts with his knack for reading play.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

9. Akira Schmid

Pos G Age 25

2024-25 Henderson (AHL)

Consistency in the AHL was a challenge, but his performance behind an NHL defense was great.

Expected NHL Arrival ’25-26

10. Mateo Nobert

Pos C Age 18

2024-25 Blainville-Bois. (QMJHL)

Pass-first playmaker with good vision drives play. He will have to adjust to pace at next level.

Expected NHL Arrival ’30-31

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