Category: Sports News

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- There was no second-guessing for Justin Carbonneau.

The St. Louis Blues first round pick (No. 19) in the 2025 NHL Draft was strong in his conviction when asked about his decision to return to junior hockey at Blainville -Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League rather than go the college route to Boston College.

“Going college, I couldn’t be here today, so that’s a big thing,” Carbonneau said Thursday, a day prior to Blues prospects departing for Minnesota for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. “I wanted to spend time with the prospects, the staff, all the players. I think it’s a great opportunity for me and a lot of learning I’ll get through the camp. That’s a big thing. Also, I’ve been there for three years in Blainville, bonding with my teammates. It would have been tough for me to leave that. Two reasons why I made the decision.

“It came close. I think Boston College is a great spot for everyone who goes there, but I feel like QMJHL, they did a lot for me to play where I am today for the last three years. I owe them the opportunity that they gave me at 16 years old. I’ve been loyal to them. This year, we have a great team. We’re trying to win a Cup, the (Memorial) Cup. I think I’m in a great spot wherever I play, but I think it’s a good decision that I took.”

And let’s not forget the greatest reason: earning a spot in the NHL with the Blues this season.

Signing a three-year, two-way, entry-level contract on Thursday was the start to that process.

“I guess it’s (the) first step,” Carbonneau said. “Now it’s an opportunity for me to kind of take it and make the best out of it. It’s the first step for me, so I’m really happy.”

Carbonneau will be at main camp when things kick off Sept. 18 at Centene Community Ice Center, but first thing is first, and that’s the opportunity to play with fellow prospects at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase against the Minnesota Wild on Friday and Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, and a chance to play with Dalibor Dvorsky, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft, and Otto Stenberg, the No. 25 pick that same draft class.

“They’re really good,” Carbonneau said. “I’m grateful to play with them. I think both guys are really talented, a lot of talent. Good offensive guys, a lot of skating, but yeah, with my grit, my scoring abilities, I think I can complete them well. I’m real happy to play with them.”

Dvorsky added, “He’s a great player. A good guy off the ice as well. We only had one practice together, but it felt good. I’m excited to play with them the next two games.”

The Blues left Carbonneau’s decision totally up to him. They of course had their input on what they think is best for the investment they will be making in the forward, but they saw no harm in a decision one way or the other. In this case, it’s a chance to get the product up close and personable right from the start.

“When the kids choose what they want to, we’re happy for them and we support them 100 percent,” Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said. “He’s made a commitment to his junior team and to us and we’re excited about his future. As you see, he’s got great hands, he’s a big kid, he’s mature about his age with his strength. I think that he’s going to excel these next two games for rookie camp and looking forward what he does at main camp as well.”

The Blues have always said that should a kid or young player come into training camp, they will be doing so trying to take someone else’s job. That’s what the 18-year-old Carbonneau will be up against. He has the body (6-foot-1, 191 pounds) to do so, but lacks the experience of challenging men.

“You see your future more clear I think and you see the path that you need to take,” Taylor said. “It gives you some sort of idea where you need to get to. You see the NHL players, you’re here amongst everyone, you kind of see what you need to do to get there, and you’re excited about your future too. One doesn’t trump the other, it’s whatever is best for each individual and he’s chosen this and he feels this is the best situation for him to get to the NHL, and we believe that as well.

“… At the end of the day, kids show us where they’re supposed to be, and we’ll see at camp, see how his strength holds up to other guys. You think you’re coming in and you think you’re strong until you play against NHL players and men. I don’t know how that’s going to play out for him. He’s just a kid I’m really excited about. His future with the Blues is looking bright. We want to play it day by day and let him experience this because this is his first NHL training camp and let it play out and see where it lies.”

Carbonneau, who had 89 points (46 goals, 43 assists) in 62 games last season, will have three choices laid in front of him: make the team out of camp permanently, get nine games and then the Blues decide whether it’s NHL or junior the rest of the season, or he simply needs a full season in the QMJHL because he’s not quite ready for this level of play but gets to help fuel a run for a title at the junior level.

“One step at a time, but yeah, my goal is I have nothing to lose, right,” Carbonneau said. “I’ll go all out, I’ll try to show everything I have and try to learn from older players and guys that have played for the Blues. My goal is to play there one day and be there with them. It’s going to be a fun experience.

“I think I want to show my passion, I want to show that I care, my compete level, my grit. I think a lot of people know that I can score goals and I have offensive talent, I would say, but I’m here to show them passion about my game, I compete and all out for everything I do.”

Blues' Long-Time Play-By-Play Announcer Joins KingsThe St. Louis Blues' long-time play-by-play announcer, John Kelly, will be joining the Los Angeles Kings on their FanDuel Sports Network telecasts, filling the vacancy created by Hall of Fame announcer Nick Nickson’s retirement, the team announced on Thursday.

The five players from Hockey Canada's 2018 world junior team who were found not guilty of sexual assault this summer will eventually be allowed to return to the NHL.

Centers Michael McLeod and Dillon Dube, goaltender Carter Hart, left winger Alex Formenton and defenseman Cal Foote will be eligible to sign NHL contracts as of Oct. 15.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic's Chris Johnston and Sean Gentille initially reported the news, while the NHL confirmed the reports shortly afterward.

The players are suspended until Dec. 1. They can, however, begin conditioning with a team on Nov. 15, according to The Athletic.

Justice Maria Carroccia found McLeod, Foote, Dube, Formenton and Hart not guilty of sexual assault in Ontario Superior Court in London, Ont., on July 24. McLeod was also found not guilty of one count of being a party to the offense. They were initially charged in connection with allegations of sexually assaulting a woman in a London hotel room after a Hockey Canada gala.

The Crown reportedly decided not to appeal the verdicts. It had 30 days from July 24 to file a notice of appeal.

The NHL released a statement Thursday shortly after the initial reports.

"The events that transpired after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala in London, Ont., prior to these players’ arrival in the NHL, were deeply troubling and unacceptable," the statement said. "The league expects everyone connected with the game to conduct themselves with the highest level of moral integrity. And, in this case, while found not to have been criminal, the conduct of the players involved certainly did not meet that standard."

The NHL said it conducted a third-party investigation into the players' conduct after learning of the sexual assault allegations. It included interviewing every player on the 2018 world junior team and other parties who were willing to meet with them, as well as examining hundreds of documents, videos and texts.

That investigation paused in January 2024 when London Police announced it charged the five men.

All Five Former World Junior Players Found Not Guilty In Hockey Canada Sexual Assault TrialWarning: coverage of the Hockey Canada trial includes details of alleged sexual assault that may be disturbing to readers.

"In relying on both our own investigation, and the conclusions reached by Justice Carroccia in her opinion, and the players’ acquittal, the league has determined that the conduct at issue falls woefully short of the standards and values that the league and its member clubs expect and demand."

The NHL said it had in-person meetings with each of the acquitted men following the verdicts and acknowledged they expressed regret and remorse for their actions.

"Nevertheless, we believe their conduct requires formal league-imposed discipline," the statement said.

The NHL decided it will bring the players' total time out of the NHL to nearly two years by delaying their eligibility of playing until December.

NHL Anticipates Eligibility Update On Hart, Formenton, Dube, Foote And McLeod In 'Near Future'Nearly seven weeks have passed since the five players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial were found not guilty on all charges. And yet, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Dillon Dube continue to remain ineligible to return to the NHL.

Dube, Hart, McLeod and Foote have not played in the NHL since they each took a leave of absence in January 2024.

Formenton last played in the NHL in April 2022. He became an RFA. The Ottawa Senators gave him a qualifying offer to retain his rights, but Formenton was not re-signed. He played parts of two seasons for Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss National League before he was granted a leave of absence in January 2024.

Earlier in the week, Formenton signed a three-and-a-half-month contract to rejoin Ambri-Piotta.

The NHLPA released a statement as well on Thursday.

"We are pleased that Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod will have the opportunity to resume their NHL careers," the NHLPA said. 

"The players co-operated with every investigation. Upon their full acquittal by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia, we initiated discussions with the NHL regarding the players' return to work. To avoid a protracted dispute that would cause further delay, we reached the resolution that the league announced today. We now consider the matter closed and look forward to the players' return."

Senators GM Steve Staios was asked about Formenton on Monday.

"I have no comment on that. In fact, it's a league matter, and the player is ineligible to play," Staios said.

Philadelphia Flyers governor Dan Hilferty was asked on Wednesday about whether the team would consider bringing back Hart, who played six seasons for them.

"At this point, we're going to make no comment on that situation," Hilferty said. "The NHL has made it clear they'll speak first, and right now, we're not prepared to comment at all on the Carter Hart situation."

Jonathan Tovell contributed to this report.

Welcome back to Screen Shots, where we tackle three hockey topics in shorter chunks. This edition comes after the NHL and NHLPA player media tour featured three days full of intriguing quotes and news.

Without further ado, we lead off with a topic that Vancouver Canucks fans have certainly heard much of this off-season.

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New Jersey Devils star center Jack Hughes addressed the possibility of eventually playing with brother and Canucks captain Quinn Hughes.

"Honestly, I'm not afraid to say it. I would love for Quinn to, you know, eventually I'd love to play with him," Jack Hughes told reporters at the tour. "Whether that's in New Jersey or at what time that takes, at some point, I want to play with Quinn. But yeah, that's the question going around. They talk all day about it up in Vancouver, you know?"

This is sure to heighten the anxieties of Canucks fans who’ve been worried that Quinn Hughes will eventually leave Vancouver and join Jack Hughes in New Jersey.

But by the same token, and as Quinn Hughes said on Wednesday, of course, brothers would want to play with each other at some point. But you can always find brothers who’ve played entire NHL careers on different teams. 

That’s what makes the Olympics and World Cup of Hockey so compelling – you have teammates who are from the same place and same family tree. You don’t need to play on the same team at the NHL level. If the Canucks give him reason enough to stay in Vancouver, Quinn Hughes will stay. That’s what Canucks fans should be hoping for.

Jack Hughes may believe the Devils will be his only NHL home. But Quinn Hughes could believe the Canucks are his only NHL home. Truth can be stranger than fiction, so anyone who tells you how this all plays out is only taking a guess at it. We’ll have to see what the Hughes Bros. decide, because there will be interest in their future until they’re locked up for the long haul.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Crosby Addresses Trade Rumors, Quinn Hughes Reacts To Brother's CommentsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are rebuilding their roster, even though management won't admit it. Forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell and defenseman Erik Karlsson have been frequently mentioned as trade candidates throughout the off-season.

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As the media tour unfolded in Las Vegas, league deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league is planning on shortening the time it takes to get through the first round of the NHL draft.

While Daly said the “strong majority” of NHL teams still want a decentralized draft, there will be production changes to speed up the first round, which took about an hour and a half longer than usual in 2025.

"While it wasn't as overwhelming a vote as it was the first time we asked, it was still a strong majority (of teams that) wanted to have a decentralized draft," Daly said. "It was the first time we've done it, so from a production standpoint, I think there are going to be significant changes. It's not going to be a four-and-a-half hour first round." 

That’s welcome news in a world where attention spans are shorter than ever.

As it goes with every pro sports league, the NHL worked on the storytelling of the draft that prioritized the personalities and reactions of the athletes, their families and the GMs and scouts who make the selections. But when it took that long to do it, the effectiveness of that storytelling waned because people were ready to hit the hay.

The league has come many miles in its overall draft production quality and marketing. That doesn’t mean it should be complacent. And Daly’s comments on the draft’s first round are good news, but observers will follow up on it next year.

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In some great news, the NHL, NHL Players Association and NHL Alumni Association announced plans to provide all retired players with access to health care. 

“It’s just a real great story about all of the groups coming together to make a big difference for NHL players that are the foundation of the game,” said Glenn Healy, president and executive director of the NHL Alumni Association. “This is like Christmas Day for us.”

Healy, Daly and NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey met with media in Las Vegas Tuesday to discuss the unveiling of the Retired Players Emergency Healthcare and Wellness Fund, to which the league and players association will each contribute $2 million per year through 2029-30. 

According to the memorandum of understanding, $2 million will go annually to the league and PA’s Emergency Assistance Fund, which assists NHLAA members without insurance coverage, facing catastrophic health issues without insurance coverage, and those members experiencing financial hardship. The remaining $2 million will be put towards helping provide wellness support for NHLAA members.

Healy told reporters that 787 former NHL players who didn’t have a pension will now be covered.

“Every player will have the ability to have a family doctor through Zoom, whether you played one shift or 10,000 games,” Healy said. "You have the ability to have a mental wellness professional within 30 minutes on Zoom, so if you don’t feel comfortable call me or our medical teams, you’ll have that ability…No one will walk alone.”

You have to be happy for the former NHLers who now will have some degree of security in knowing they can get help for what ails them.

There’s no competition in this sense of things – these are all players, young and old, who are trying to be there for one another. The NHL and NHLPA have done well in working with the alumni to ensure a better quality of life for athletes who have made the league what it is.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

After facing their medical and physical tests yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens hopefuls were put through a challenging first practice by Laval Rocket coach Pascal Vincent. The players hit the ice at 10:00 AM sharp, and some were still on the ice at midday.

While the day started relatively easily with a few minutes of players taking breakaway shots on the goalies at both ends of the ice, the intensity soon went up after a whiteboard session in which the coach explained what they wanted the players to focus on for the day. Active sticks, poke checks, and combativity —it might just have been rookie camp drills —but for these players, a lot is riding on their performance, and it showed.

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A few players stand out, notably Ivan Demidov, who outperformed Simon Lavigne in a one-on-one drill. The Russian then cut to the inside and scored a beautiful goal on Jacob Fowler. It makes no doubt whatsoever that teams who let Demidov get a breakaway on them will regret it. He scored a few goals that showed just how skilled a player he is.

pic.twitter.com/nlJthLJZKNhttps://t.co/ZbnCNsnHyL

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) September 11, 2025

David Reinbacher also seemed in great shape, and anyone who wondered if he would play differently after his knee injury and surgery can rest easy. The youngster is all in, and his skating is on point. Israel Mianscum can attest to that as the Austrian flew by him in a one-on-one drill.

On Wednesday, Vincent had told the media that he was eager to see how a player like Demidov could apply the defensive concepts that would be taught at camp, but that comment applied to every player, really. For quite a few drills, players had to start by dispossessing a coach with a sticklift before feeding their teammate and joining in the attack.

For those who are already lamenting coaches wanting to denaturalize an offensive talent like Demidov, this is not what that is. Any player will be much more efficient on the ice if he plays both ways. Just think of the work Martin St-Louis did with Cole Caufield, it’s just like that. No matter how talented a player is, his odds of producing get even higher if they are efficient on the other side of the puck.

Unlike last season, the rookies were forced to take a break midway through the practice to allow the Zamboni to do its job. Last year, the players went to the other rink, but that wasn’t possible this time around; the other ice was hosting the Canadiens’ veterans, who were all hard at work.

Throughout the drills, players skated with various linemates, which might indicate that Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, Florian Xhekaj, Filip Mesar, and Luke Tuch were all wearing white jerseys. At the same time, Owen Beck, Vinzenz Rohrer, and Tyler Thorpe were sporting red jerseys. It will be interesting to see if that stays true for Friday’s practice which is also scheduled at 10:00 AM at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. 

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According to a report, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart and the four other players involved in the Hockey Canada trial will be suspended until Dec. 1.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday that Hart, 27, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton will be suspended by the NHL until Dec. 1.

The five players are eligible to sign with NHL teams as of Oct. 15, however.

Friedman also reports that the players will not appeal this decision.

Hart, McLeod, Dube, Foote, and Formenton were acquitted of the charges brought against them in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial on July 24, though the NHL did not immediately reinstate them, ultimately bringing about Thursday's reports.

Previously, it was reported that the Flyers were one of multiple teams interested in Carter Hart.

Flyers governor Dan Hilferty and president Keith Jones declined comment on anything Hart-related during their press conference on Wednesday.

"It’s believed [NHL commissioner Gary Bettman] met with the players sometime in August," Friedman wrote. "NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said during the European media tour in Milan that the not-guilty verdicts should allow the players to return to action."

Hart has not played a competitive game since his last Flyers appearance in Jan. 2024, and should he and the other players be confirmed to be suspended until Dec. 1, he will be 23 months removed from NHL action at the time of his potential return.

UPDATE: The NHL has confirmed the above reports in a statement, which reads as follows.

"The events that transpired after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala in London, Ontario, prior to these players’ arrival in the NHL, were deeply troubling and unacceptable.  The League expects everyone connected with the game to conduct themselves with the highest level of moral integrity. And, in this case, while found not to have been criminal, the conduct of the players involved certainly did not meet that standard.

"Upon learning of the allegations in May 2022, the League commenced a third-party investigation into their conduct. This investigation was extensive, and included, among other things: interviews with every player on the team and several other relevant parties who were willing to meet with us, and examination of hundreds of documents, videos and texts.

"The League paused our process in January 2024, when prosecutors in London, Ontario, announced that Mr. Dubé, Mr. Foote, Mr. Formenton, Mr. Hart, and Mr. McLeod would be criminally charged.

"After more than one year of pretrial proceedings, the criminal trial commenced in April 2025, and lasted approximately two months, concluding on June 13, 2025. The verdicts finding each of the players not guilty were announced in a lengthy and thorough opinion by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia on July 24, 2025. In her decision, Justice Carroccia carefully reviewed the record presented to the court.

"In relying on both our own investigation, and the conclusions reached by Justice Carroccia in her opinion, and the players’ acquittal, the League has determined that the conduct at issue falls woefully short of the standards and values that the League and its Member Clubs expect and demand.

"The League is now confronted with how best to respond to all that has happened -- the conduct of the players, the criminal proceeding, and the acquittal of the players.

"Each of the players, based on in-person meetings with the League following the verdicts, expressed regret and remorse for his actions. Nevertheless, we believe their conduct requires formal League-imposed discipline.

"Given their conduct, we carefully evaluated the players’ acquittal in court and the time spent away from the game. Taking into account that the players have been away from the game for 20 months – including since their acquittals in July -- we have determined that the players will be eligible to sign an NHL contract no sooner than October 15, 2025, and eligible to play in NHL games no sooner than December 1, 2025, bringing their total time out of the League to nearly two years.

"The League expects and requires that, going forward, each of the players will uphold the standards required of NHL players both on and off the ice."

This is a developing story.

Luchanko out, Bump's intriguing line and more from Flyers rookie camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — It wasn’t quite Matvei Michkov mania like last September.

But as the Flyers’ 2025 rookie training camp opened Thursday, there were still plenty of notable prospects to track. However, one was not on the ice.

We’ll get into that and more before the Flyers’ prospects take on the Rangers’ prospects for the first of two matchups this weekend at PPL Center.

No Luchanko

After missing development camp in July because of a groin issue, Jett Luchanko was not on the ice Thursday. The Flyers announced that he was held out for precautionary reasons and is expected to be available for the start of main camp in a week.

It is a tad concerning that Luchanko was not cleared for rookie camp when the injury was believed to not be too serious earlier this summer. But there really is no rush to get Luchanko into rookie camp. He went through it last September and impressed. He even got a four-game taste of the NHL as an 18-year-old.

So, with main camp being the focus, it looks like the 2024 first-rounder won’t play in the rookie games.

“Just things from the season, just taking the time in the summer to try to do what I can to get better,” Luchanko said in July about the injury. “I don’t think it’ll be an issue at all for coming forward.”

The speedy center has an outside shot to crack the Flyers’ season-opening roster again. But if he doesn’t, going back to the OHL and vying to play for Team Canada again at the IIHF World Junior Championship wouldn’t be a bad thing.

A Bump in excitement

Alex Bump, Jack Nesbitt and Samu Tuomaala formed what could be the Flyers’ top line Friday night. We’ll see if the Flyers roll with that in Game 1 against the Rangers, but there’s a lot to like with that line.

Bump loves to score the puck, Nesbitt has all kinds of size and skill and Tuomaala brings high-end speed. The trio produced a goal in a 3-on-2 drill, with Tuomaala finishing on a nice shot.

Jack Nesbitt to Alex Bump to Samu Tuomaala, who finishes with a nice shot. Could be a fun line to watch in rookie games if it sticks. pic.twitter.com/43tMENt2hG

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 11, 2025

“I thought they were great,” John Snowden, the Phantoms’ head coach who runs rookie camp, said. “There’s a little bit of everything on that line. Bumper makes a ton of plays, he’s poised with the puck. Samu can score when he gets any kind of chance in a good area of the ice. I thought Nesbitt can do a little bit of everything — he gets pucks back, he’s long, he disrupts plays so he can extend O-zone possessions.”

Bump is the headliner of rookie camp. The 21-year-old winger has a legit shot to make the big club’s roster.

“He’s not coming to camp to hope to play one day; he’s coming to make the team,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in July. “If he’s good enough, we’ll have to figure it out.”

Alex Bump with a nice shot past Carson Bjarnason here.

Bump is skating on a line with Jack Nesbitt and Samu Tuomaala. We’ll see if that sticks for one of the rookie games. pic.twitter.com/X78bj4fumr

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 11, 2025

Big club updates

Rasmus Ristolainen, wearing a non-contact jersey, had a rehab skate Thursday morning. The 30-year-old defenseman is working his way back from a second triceps tendon rupture.

His recovery was slated for six months after he underwent surgery March 26. He’s not expected to participate in training camp.

“He’s going to be out until probably the early parts of next season unfortunately,” general manager Danny Briere said in April after last season.

Tyson Foerster was also wearing a non-contact jersey as he took part in a skate with the full big club group. The 23-year-old winger had surgery this offseason on his elbow to address an infection. He’s expected to be ready for the Oct. 9 opener.

“Tyson’s on pace to be there for us when the season starts,” president of hockey operations Keith Jones said Wednesday.

The Philadelphia Flyers prospects took the ice Thursday to kick off rookie camp, with the top dogs gaining a big head-start and leading the way.

There was one notable absentee, though, as 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko was held out for precautionary reasons, according to the Flyers.

Aside from Luchanko, everyone else was accounted for.

Lines and defensive pairings began to take shape after the first few drills; here's what I came away with ahead of the rookie series against the New York Rangers this weekend, in no particular order:

Alex Bump - Jack Nesbitt - Samu Tuomaala
Denver Barkey - Jacob Gaucher - Devin Kaplan
Nikita Grebenkin - Karsen Dorwart - Alexis Gendron
Tucker Robertson - Matthew Gard - Nathan Quinn
Sawyer Boulton

Hunter McDonald - Oliver Bonk
Ty Murchison - Spencer Gill
Austin Moline - Luke Vlooswyk
Andre Mondoux - Ethan Samson

Joey Costanzo, Carson Bjarnason

Philadelphia Flyers Confirm 2 Rookie Camp InvitesThe Philadelphia Flyers will welcome two fresh faces to the fold when they kick off rookie camp later this week.

As expected, the top prospects were among the most impressive, and, yes, it is only practice.

I didn't see Nesbitt do too much, but it should be noted that Bump and Tuomaala were often the set-up guys or the trigger men, so the 2025 first-round pick was more occupied doing the thankless stuff.

"There's a little bit of everything on that line," Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden said. "Bumper makes a ton of plays and he's poised with the puck. Samu can score when he gets any kind of chance in a good area. I know that Nesbitt can do a little bit of everything.

"He gets pucks back, he's long, disrupts plays so he can extend those offensive zone possessions. I thought they were really good."

Other players who stood out, at least in my eyes, were Barkey, Kaplan, Gendron, and Grebenkin.

Gendon was very involved offensively and was able to get on the end of scoring chances with regularity. To that end, Grebenkin was a monster protecting the puck, made a handful of plays defensively, and plays with a healthy dose of creativity.

I'd be shocked if the former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect isn't a finalist for an NHL roster spot in a few weeks.

We have not seen much of Barkey, since he dealt with mono last summer and then had a long Memorial Cup run that held him off the ice at training camp.

3 Flyers Prospects with the Most to Prove at 2025 Training CampIf the Philadelphia Flyers are to make any noise in the 2025-26 season, some up-and-coming prospects will need to steal the spotlight and show some progress.

The 20-year-old plays every bit the way he did in junior with the London Knights - digs into battles, plays with poise and patience, knows how to attack the net in different ways, and makes the passes an offensive producer would make.

Barkey certainly will be a fun player for Snowden to utilize in Lehigh Valley this year.

As for Kaplan, he, too, is turning pro after his collegiate career with Boston University came to an end earlier this year.

The Flyers' former-third round pick looks a bit twitchier and quicker than I remember, which is an awesome sign for a player his size.

Kaplan made his NHL debut in Game 82 against Buffalo on April 17 and was beaten in his defensive zone coverage to allow a goal, so he's by no means a finished product.

To that end, though, I think the Flyers would be comfortable giving him another opportunity at some point this season if necessary.

The same is true of defenseman Oliver Bonk, who was a clear standout Thursday in his return to the ice alongside Barkey.

The Flyers tasked him with getting bigger and stronger, and, so far, the former first-round pick claims to have gained 15 pounds this summer to get up to an even 200.

I can't see Bonk beating out a Helge Grans for a roster spot right away barring a morbid training camp from the latter, but he's a strong candidate to see NHL ice this season nonetheless.

"The biggest thing we left them with today is, no matter where your situation falls, make an impression," Snowden added. "That's gonna be the biggest thing. Be who you are, don't change who you are as a player. Come in and play the way that you play, but leave an impression."

For Snowden, "every single guy was really good today," and the Flyers will begin to set their sights on the Rangers for a quick two-game rookie series this weekend.

After that, the real business starts with training camp and the preseason.

The results of The Hockey News’ 2025-26 NHL pre-season fan survey are in. 

As we approach the start of the new campaign, NHL fans have shared their predictions, preferences and perspectives on a ton of topics. Thank you to all those who participated.

We begin with revealing the results of the first nine questions from the survey, including favorite teams and players, biggest pest, Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup predictions and more.

As a note, for responses that listed multiple players or teams, the first player or team listed was counted.

Favorite Team

Don't see the chart? Click here.

Keep the answers for the favorite team and player questions in mind when reading the rest of the results over this three-part series.

Three Canadian teams led the way, with the Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs combining for 35 percent of the votes.

Following the trio of Canadian teams are six consecutive Eastern Conference squads, then six Western Conference clubs.

Favorite Player

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Considering the Canucks received the most votes for favorite team, it’s little surprise that captain Quinn Hughes earned 22 votes.

Canadian heroes Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid come in the top three in this section of the survey. Aside from their outstanding talent and accolades, they both have a tournament-clinching goal for Team Canada in their careers.

Some respondents listed a current player and a former player, such as Joe Sakic and Mario Lemieux. Someone else listed Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman. (Whichever name was listed first was counted.)

And to the Canucks fan that said “Pettersson” – you’ll have to be more specific.

Most Underrated Player

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This question never seems to have a collective answer and can change with every season. But these results for the most underrated player in the NHL show a clear top three: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin.

Suzuki is coming off a career year, scoring 89 points and leading his Habs to the playoffs. With that, he was left off Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, which sparked a real debate about Suzuki’s ability.

Connor is arguably a budding superstar who can score at will, posting 41 goals and 97 points last season. 

Meanwhile, Slavin is often discussed as the best defensive defenseman in the NHL, a type of player that doesn’t get all the hype. 

“How he's not in the Norris Trophy conversation every single year, it doesn't seem right,” Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters last spring.

NHL’s Biggest Pest

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For the NHL’s biggest pest, there seems to be a theme for the top three. Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett all play for the Florida Panthers and have won a Stanley Cup together. Even former Panther Nick Cousins made the list.

Outside of Florida’s trio, Capitals’ right winger Tom Wilson was the only other player to receive double-digit votes with 14. Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk sneaks in at No. 5.

Most Dominant Player Right Now

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There was no contest nor any doubt as to who would get the most votes for this question. Connor McDavid received 129 votes, which equals over 60 percent of all responses.

The Edmonton Oilers captain is one of the few players in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy on the losing team in a Stanley Cup final. That alone is a testament to his dominance in the NHL. 

In his 10-year career, McDavid has had eight seasons with 100 or more points. The two seasons where he didn’t reach the 100-point mark were his rookie campaign, when he played 45 games due to injury, and 2019-20, when he scored 97 points in 64 games in a season cut short by COVID-19.

Most Dominant Player In 10 Years

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The trio of Macklin Celebrini, Gavin McKenna and Connor Bedard could be the faces of the NHL in 2035, according to the fans.

Fans got a taste of what Celebrini and Bedard are made of, since Bedard has been around for two seasons and Celebrini wrapped up his rookie campaign last year. But McKenna is yet to be drafted into the NHL.

The former Medicine Hat Tiger is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. He’s coming off a WHL championship, where he recorded 48 goals and 167 points in 72 regular-season and playoff games. He’s taking his talents to NCAA Penn State in his draft year and could be college hockey’s next superstar.

2025-26 Hart Trophy Winner

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While McDavid was once again the clear winner, he didn’t get as big a chunk of the votes as he did for the “most dominant player right now” question. Nathan MacKinnon, meanwhile, got a bigger chunk in second place than the dominance question.

In fact, 16 people who voted for McDavid for most dominant player predicted MacKinnon to win the Hart Trophy.

The defending champion of this award, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, received only one vote. He’s tied with “Definitely not Matthew Tkachuk.”

McDavid has the best odds of winning the Hart Trophy at 2.90 (+190), according to BetMGM. MacKinnon is second, at 5.75 (+475).

2026 Stanley Cup Champions

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The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, are favorites to win it again, according to the fan survey. That said, it’s close between them and the Dallas Stars.

Florida was the only Eastern Conference squad in the top five, which suggests we could see an exciting post-season in the Western Conference yet again between contenders in Edmonton, Dallas, Vegas, Colorado and Winnipeg.

The Canucks even beat out the Jets in the voting despite missing the playoffs last year. All 11 people who chose Vancouver said they’re Canucks fans.

And despite Florida being the popular pick, two fans were clear about how they feel toward the team. "Anyone but the Panthers PLEASE," one fan said. Another fan said, "I hope it's not Florida again."

The Panthers have the best odds of winning the Cup at 7.00, according to BetMGM. The Avalanche and Golden Knights are tied at 9.00, followed by the Hurricanes (9.25), Oilers (9.50) and Stars (11.00).

2026 Olympics And 2028 World Cup Winners

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This question was meant to see which country’s national men’s team will not only win the Olympics but the 2028 World Cup of Hockey as well.

With over 65 percent of the vote, Team Canada is the favorite to win both international competitions. Canada has won the last four best-on-best international tournaments: the 4 Nations Face-Off from last February, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2014 and 2010 Winter Olympics.

Team USA was second with 62 votes, while Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Russia also received votes. Russia will not be in the 2026 Olympics, while the eight teams for the World Cup haven’t been announced yet.

Four voters predicted different teams for each tournament, which was a combination of Canada, the USA and Russia.

Canada has the best odds on BetMGM of winning the men's hockey tournament in the 2026 Olympics, at 2.75, while the Americans are at 3.00.

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3.

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