Category: Sports News

Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams pulled off a few trades in the lead-up to the NHL Draft and on Draft weekend, one of which being the deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins that sent veteran defenseman Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round pick for the younger and less expensive Conor Timmins. 

The Penguins are among five clubs sending their youngsters to LECOM HarborCenter this week for the 2025 Prospect Challenge, but as the calendar clicks toward the start of NHL training camps, Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas may be one of the more active executives in terms of making trades, as the Pens are clearly in a rebuild posture and have numerous veterans entering the last year of their contracts.  

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Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Penguins veterans Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are among the players they are willing to move. Dubas does not have any pressure to trade either winger, since they have three years remaining on their contracts, but the return for both may be at its highest with each coming off of career years.

Rakell has a partial eight-team no-trade clause on his contract, but Rust can be moved anywhere, something that might be attractive to the Sabres, since the club trying to end their 14-year playoff drought is not a popular destination. The question is whether Adams is willing to give up the young assets necessary to acquire either Rakell or Rust. That is something that might have to wait until well into the regular season, and if Buffalo is within range of a playoff spot. 

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The Ottawa Senators have said on several occasions that you can never have enough right-shot defensemen in your organization. But this summer, they've acquired a pile of righties. They got Jordan Spence in a draft-day mugging of the Los Angeles Kings. They also re-signed Finnish defensemen Nik Matinpalo and Lassi Thomson, signed former Minnesota Wild defenseman Cameron Crotty, and welcomed former first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk to life as a first-year pro.

So maybe you can have enough right-shot defensemen.

And that may not be great news for 24-year-old Max Guenette, the last RFA defenseman remaining in the organization. According to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, "the expectation is that he will be dealt before camp." At the moment, not including Guenette, the Senators have eight right-shot defensemen under contract within their organization.

Nick Jensen's timetable for a return to the lineup will play a large role in the plans for Guenette. If Jensen ends up being out long-term, or just isn’t the same player anymore after hip surgery, there's a chance that could change things.

Guenette, the Belleville Senators’ alternate captain, was a 7th-round pick by Ottawa in 2019. The 6-foot-1, 201-pounder from L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, has appeared in eight NHL games in his career. He was called up last season but didn’t see any game action, and he posted 23 points in 58 AHL games for the B-Sens.

Given that he cleared waivers to be sent down to Belleville last fall, and not much about his stock has changed since then, the Sens wouldn't be counting on much in return if they choose to move him elsewhere.

The best they could hope for is an AHL player of similar impact who simply plays at a different position — one where the Senators aren’t operating at a surplus.

By Steve Warne
This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa

More Sens Headlines at THN:
Former Ottawa Senators Winger Alex Formenton Returns To Pro Hockey
Ottawa Senators Radio Play-By-Play Team Won't Travel To Road Games This Season
Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk: 'We Want More'
Four Major Storylines This Month At Ottawa Senators Training Camp
Staios: 'We're Not Dismissing That Yakemchuk Makes Our Team Out of Camp'
Ottawa Senators: Ranking The Six Best At Each Position

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#6 - Brodie Ziemer  - Right Wing (Minnesota - NCAA)

Ziemer was the Sabres third-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas after scoring 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) in 61 games as part of the US National Development Program’s Under-18 squad, and after posting a dozen points and serving as team captain of Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Under-18s.

The 19-year-old winger was a standout for Team USA at the 2025 World Junior in Ottawa last January in their gold medal-winning effort, and he put up good numbers (12 goals, 11 assists in 38 games) as a freshman at the University of Minnesota. Ziemer is a high-motor player with good two-way skills and possesses leadership abilities, but he will have to get stronger to improve his chances of a successful professional career. 

Elite Prospects says Ziemer “plays the short-range, give-and-go passing game, but also finds the cross-slot threats. Inside space, he deceives defenders. Without it, he deftly redirects passes through opponents into space.” The feisty forward is a lock to be part of Team USA at the 2026 World Junior in Minneapolis this December.

Arseni Gritsyuk is adjusting to life in New Jersey, but he doesn’t have to do it alone.

This offseason, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald signed two new additions to the team: Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. Both veteran forwards are expected to play key roles on the roster, but for Dadonov, his impact could be especially important heading into the 2025-26 season.

Dadonov has been part of the NHL since 2009. At that time, Gritsyuk was just nine years old.

After 11 seasons in the league, the Devils brought Dadonov in for the upcoming campaign. Born in  Russia in 1989, Dadonov was drafted 71st overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers.

He spent six seasons with Florida before stints with the Ottawa Senators (2020–21), Vegas Golden Knights (2021–22), Montreal Canadiens (2022–23), and Dallas Stars, where he played the past three years.

While the right winger has put up solid numbers, 361 points in 617 games, he was brought to New Jersey for more than just scoring.

Mentorship.

The Devils selected Arseni Gritsyuk in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, he has developed in the Kontinental Hockey League before officially making the jump to North America this summer. Now, he’s preparing for his first NHL training camp with New Jersey.

Excitement has surrounded his arrival, but the adjustment is significant. Moving from Russia, where he was born and raised, to North America, where his career will continue, is no small transition.

Luckily, he has support.

After a 13-and-a-half-hour trip to New Jersey, Gritsyuk told NHL.com that he met up with Dadonov soon after arriving.

He’s also leaning on assistant coach Sergei Brylin, another Russian-born Devil. Drafted in 1992, Brylin played his entire career in New Jersey and now serves behind the bench. He’s already helped Gritsyuk settle in, giving him a tour of team facilities and providing a familiar presence in his native language.

Although Gritsyuk learned English in preparation for his NHL move, he acknowledged how helpful it is to have Russian speakers around as he adapts on and off the ice.

“It’s important,” Gritsyuk told NHL.com. “If I didn’t have them, it would be a little bit harder for me.”

One of his biggest challenges so far? Learning his teammates’ names.

“In Russia, you go in a room and everyone’s name is Sergei, Maxim, Anton,” he joked. “Here it’s Jake, Bobby, Scott, Markstrom, Marky. It’s a little bit different.”

From Ex-players to current players and everything in between, we've got you covered. 

Did you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News - Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week. 

42 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #42The Columbus Blue Jackets have 42 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #42. 

Kevyn Adams - 2000-01 - Adams was drafted 25th overall in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins. 

Adams was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL expansion draft. He would Adams would score 22 points in 66 games with the Blue Jackets before being traded at the trade deadline to the Florida Panthers alongside a 4th round pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft in exchange for Ray Whitney and future considerations.  

Although it felt like Adams played in Columbus for a long time, his stay was very short, and CBJ fans at the time were not happy about the trade initially. But when Ray Whitney stepped into Nationwide Arena, that all changed. 

Adams went on to play until the 2008-09 season. In January of 2009, Adams retired from the league and became a player agent. He was hired by the Buffalo Sabres as a Development Coach in 2009 and has held various positions, including Assistant. Coach, Director, Youth Hockey Supervisor, Vice President, and Sr. VP of Business Administration. On June 16, 2020, however, he was promoted to the big job of General Manager of the Sabres, where he still holds that position today. He is, however, on the hot seat, as the Sabres haven't made the playoffs since 2011. 

From The Archive: Meet A Mascot - StingerThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

STINGER, AT 6-FOOT-9, is an oversized yellow jacket wasp who gets his green coloring from a combination of the natural bee yellow and the blue of the coats worn by Union soldiers from the Buckeye State during the Civil War (from whom Columbus draws its nickname.)

He was unveiled to the public in 1998 and appeared on a uniform shoulder patch from Columbus’ first season in 2000 through to the end of 2002-03. He’s also been featured on a goalie mask, when Keith Kinkaid donned a depiction of Stinger on his lid during his brief stint in central Ohio last season.

41 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #41The Columbus Blue Jackets have 41 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #41. 

Ben Simon - 2005-06 - Simon was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1997 NHL Draft. 

Simon, a native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, played 13 games for Columbus during the 2005-06 season. He totaled zero points. He left for Europe and played one season in the EIHL in England. He retired in 2011. 

Simon moved into coaching almost immediately after retiring. His first head coaching job was for the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2013-14 for one season. He spent 5 years as the Head Coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. He has been an assistant for the Iowa Wild for the last two seasons. 

Former Blue Jackets Forward Still Looking For New TeamNow that the calendar has flipped to September, it means hockey is back. With that, there are still a handful of players looking for work. Some of the top names include Jack Roslovic, Robby Fabbri, and Matt Grzelcyk, but there is one forward who stands out. That is former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson, who is still searching for a team willing to give him a chance.

After spending last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Atkinson was left unsigned on July 1, making him an unrestricted free agent. Unfortunately, his time with the Lightning didn’t end well. He was placed on waivers just before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, and after clearing, he was frequently called up and reassigned back to the AHL.  

40 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #40The Columbus Blue Jackets have 40 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #40. 

Jared Boll - 2007-16 - Boll was drafted in the 4th round of the 2005 NHL Draft.

Boll played in 518 games for the CBJ and totaled 62 points. He is #1 all-time in CBJ history with 1,195 and has 154 fights to his name. 

Jared Boll was a big man in his playing days. Standing 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, there weren’t too many who would willingly step up to Boll. He was an old-school enforcer who would not hesitate to stand up for his teammates and take one on the chin if necessary. In his career, he fought the St Louis Blues more than any other team. He had four seasons where he had fight totals over 20 and there were a few seasons that were 15+. His most common opponent was Krys Bach (5), and he fought the likes of Paul Bissonnette (4), George Parros (4), and Clayton Stoner. Boll is the best enforcer the CBJ has ever had.

After retiring from the Anaheim Ducks, Boll returned to Columbus, where he is now an assistant coach. 

39 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #39The Columbus Blue Jackets have 39 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #39. 

Greg Moore - 2009-10 - Moore was drafted in the 5th round of the 2003 NHL Draft. 

Moore played four games for the Jackets during the 09-10 season and had zero points. On March 1, 2010, Moore was traded by the Islanders to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After signing with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, he was traded back to Columbus on February 28, 2011. 

He left for Europe in 2011 and would play in Germany and Czechia until he retired in 2015. He went into coaching immediately, retiring. He has coached at various levels for the United States Development Team and is currently the Head Coach for the U.S. National U-17 Team. He's also been a head coach for the USHL's Chicago Steel, and three seasons for the AHL's Toronto Marlies. 

Blue Jackets Announce Fan Events For 25th Anniversary SeasonThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced a series of fan events and community givebacks as part of their 25th anniversary season.

Fans can take part in bidding for the Blue Jackets Foundation’s annual Golf Classic silent auction. Items include a lunch with the organization’s leadership group, headlined by Boone Jenner, a “GM for the Day” experience with general manager Don Waddell, and a behind-the-scenes game night experience with play-by-play announcer Steve Mears.  

38 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: Boone JennerThe Columbus Blue Jackets have 38 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the captain of the Blue Jackets - Boone Jenner

It’s hard to believe Boone Jenner has been around since 2013. Seems like only yesterday he made his NHL debut for Columbus, but even back then, people knew he was going to be the captain of this team. On October 12, 2021, Jenner was named the 7th Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his captaincy just a few days before the start of the 21-22 season. Jenner was born to lead and shows it. He's not a screamer on the bench, he's not overly dramatic, but his teammates listen to him and gets respect from players around the league. 

Columbus Clippers Wear Special Blue Jackets Jersey In Triple-A Baseball GameLast night, the Cleveland Guardians' Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, wore special Columbus Blue Jackets jerseys for a special CBJ Season Ticket Holder Event. 

While wearing the Blue Jackets-style uniforms, the Clippers battled back through eight innings to take the lead. Unfortunately, they gave it up and headed into the ninth tied. That set the stage for a perfect finish to a night honoring the Blue Jackets.  

37 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #37The Columbus Blue Jackets have 37 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #37. 

Mattias Timander - 2001-02 - Timander was drafted in the 9th round of the 1992 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins. 

Timander was taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. After playing for the Jackets during their first two years of existence, he was traded to the New York Islanders in 2002. He finished his CBJ career by playing in 154 games and totaling 22 points. 

When the lock out of 2004-05 happened, Timander left for his home country of Sweden, where he played until he retired in May of 2013. 

Report Suggests Stars Had Interest In Blue Jackets' OlivierEarlier this week, a report surfaced from Jeff Marek suggesting that the Dallas Stars were one of the teams interested in Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Mathieu Olivier if he had hit the open market.

Earlier this week, a report surfaced from Jeff Marek suggesting that the Dallas Stars were one of the teams interested in Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Mathieu Olivier if he had hit the open market.  

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With the 2025-26 season creeping ever closer, the landscape of the NHL and team outlooks are becoming clearer.

The Anaheim Ducks made a 21-point leap in the standings in 2024-25, improving upon their 2023-24 total of 59 points to 80 points.

With the addition of four veteran players and Joel Quenneville behind the bench, the team's stated goal from ownership to general manager Pat Verbeek and the roster players is to make the 2026 playoffs.

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Media outlets seem to, at the very least, be buying into the Ducks no longer dwelling at the bottom of the NHL standings and soon putting an end to their elongated rebuild in which they’ve missed the playoffs in each of the last seven years.

Also seemingly buying into it are Las Vegas oddsmakers, who are giving the Ducks decent odds to either remain in the same area of the standings as last season or improve slightly.

According to BetMGM, the Ducks have expectedly low odds to win the Stanley Cup (+12500), Western Conference (+5000), and the Pacific Division (+3500). However, they’ve been given +180 odds to improve by ten points in the standings and eclipse the 90-point plateau, +250 odds to achieve their goal of making the playoffs, and were given an over/under (o/u) number of 84.5 points.

Their o/u number ties them with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Philadelphia Flyers, projecting them around the bubble of the middle third and bottom third of teams in the overall NHL standings.

The Ducks will be relying on a myriad of aspects if they’re to make another sizable jump in the standings and reach the 95-100 point mark, as has been required in the last half-decade in the Western Conference.

Along with the usual, relatively clean injury sheet and bounces going their way needed for teams projected near the playoff bubble, the Ducks will need their young core pieces to take the next steps in their development, Lukas Dostal to translate his success as a tandem goaltender to a starter, their older veterans not let their play decline (too much) on the wrong side of 30 years old, and for Quenneville to prove he hasn’t lost a step in his four years away from the game.

Though much of the Ducks' relative success in 2024-25 could be attributed to their goaltending, they parted ways with John Gibson, half of that successful tandem, and Trevor Zegras, who was an offensive spark to a team desperate for one, the quartet of acquisitions (Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, and Peter Mrazek) have the potential to fit the team’s desired play style and depth chart more conductively, amplifying the young stars and helping better realize their potential.

A five-point improvement is a modest number for a team with designs of playing meaningful hockey until (at least) game 82. Those buying into Verbeek’s plan, the roster, and potentially an elite coaching staff, could be in for easy money with that wager (were they so inclined). Playoffs are a loftier prediction, but still within the realm of possibility for the first time in at least half a decade in Anaheim.

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