Category: Sports News

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler has ranked the Calgary Flames' pipeline at number 17 in the NHL for 2025.

The top player on the list is none other than Zayne Parekh, followed by this year's first draft pick Cole Reschny, and the newly extended Matt Coronato.

On the opening day of free-agency, GM Craig Conroy hardly made any game-changing moves that suggested this team was going to rely on its younger stars for progression.

As we approach the beginning of training camp and pre-season, that may not necessarily be a bad approach as Calgary has a group of promising young stars as evident by Wheeler's decent 17th ranking which went up a couple spots from 2024's ranking of 19.

But the results have to show in real time by getting to the playoffs.

When the Ottawa Senators selected defenseman Carter Yakemchuk seventh overall at the 2024 NHL Draft, the assumption in most hockey circles was that he'd eventually need a pinch of seasoning in the AHL before cracking the NHL lineup. Then the kid suddenly changed some minds after almost making Ottawa's roster last fall.

But after returning home for his fourth and final year with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, while working on trying to play a more complete game, Yakemchuk's stats plummeted. That probably renewed the general belief that he'll now need to spend some time on the farm, doing his chores, and adjusting to the higher pace and physicality of pro hockey.

But on Tuesday, as a guest on the Coming in Hot podcast, Senators GM Steve Staios made it clear that nothing about Yakemchuk’s status for this fall is set in stone right now.

“I wouldn't go so far that quickly on that,” Staios said, when asked if Yakemchuk was destined for AHL Belleville this year. “We wanted to have a competitive training camp. I think when you want players to come and push and if they do come in and push, it's my job to make sure that we have the room. If they're going to help the Ottawa Senators win, we're in the business of winning and winning at the National Hockey League level.”

Yakemchuk still had a strong final year in Calgary, where his offensive instincts continued to stand out, but it cannot be ignored that his stats were well down from what we saw in his draft year. 

2023–24: 66 games, 30 goals, 71 points, 120 penalty minutes
2024–25: 56 games, 17 goals, 49 points, 82 penalty minutes

But Staios reminded fans that his development has been about more than just numbers.

“The fact that Carter wasn't with our team last year to start was strategic and people can talk about how his point totals and what he did back in junior. I think he had a very good year in developing. And also, talk about adversity. The World Junior event happens and he's not part of it.”

“For a young player, him having to deal with that, I don't think is the worst thing in the world. It really stung him and we weren't happy about it, but these are the moments in time where it's an opportunity for growth.”

While Yakemchuk’s personality may be reserved off the ice, Staios said his game tells a different story.

“Carter's personality is a little bit shy at first. He doesn't play like that when he's on the ice, he's bold and confident. And I think he's continuing to take steps in the right direction. We're really excited about seeing him at camp. He's gonna let us know where he is.”

With fellow right shots like Artem Zub, Jordan Spence, Nikolas Matinpalo, and maybe even Nick Jensen – if he recovers from hip surgery in time – the Senators already have a crowded blue-line picture heading into training camp.

“I know when you look at our roster, like, how does he fit in with everybody that we have on our team right now? Well, again, I like it when they put me in uncomfortable situations where I have to make these types of decisions. We're not dismissing that Carter makes our team out of camp.”

So while the consensus is generally that Yakemchuk will have to wait his turn in Belleville, the door remains very much open for the 19-year-old to make an NHL impact sooner rather than later.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article originally appeared in The Hockey News Ottawa. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of great young players in the organization. Some of them have made their NHL debut already, and some of them are still looking for that opportunity. 

One of the players who has made his NHL debut, Oliver Moore, is going to represent the Blackhawks at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase, which will take place in Arlington, Virginia. 

Moore will be joined by other notable NHL rookies like Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals), Zeev Buium (Minnesota Wild), Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders), and Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers). 

When Moore returns to the organization, he will have a chance to make the NHL team. There is a chance he sees some AHL ice throughout the year, too. The Blackhawks will do what they must to develop him properly. 

Moore was a standout player at the University of Minnesota before playing nine games to conclude the 2024-25 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. In those nine games, he had four assists but is still looking for his first career NHL goal. 

Moore's speed, motor, and skill should allow him to be a solid middle-six forward at the NHL level. Anything more would be a big reward for the Blackhawks for taking a chance on him and developing him properly. 

The Rookie Showcase will take place on September 3, 2025. 

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EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers should be interested in a Minnesota Wild goaltender.

Unfortunately, Marc-André Fleury is retired, and acquiring Filip Gustavsson is a pipe dream. That leaves the Swedish protege, Jesper Wallstedt.

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Wallstedt was drafted 20th overall in the 2021 Entry Draft. The 6-foot-3, 214 lb goaltender has not sailed through smooth waters recently.

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The 2024-25 season was a down year for him, which is why the Oilers need to buy low and acquire a goalie who could be impactful under proper tutelage.

Peter Aubry’s mentoring of Kevin Lankinen and Arvid Soderblom should instill confidence that he can help simplify Wallstedt’s game to become an effective NHL player. 

Wallstedt’s NHL numbers aren’t great at this point in his career. A 3.44 goals against average (GAA) and .877 save percentage (SV%) don’t scream “future number 1 goalie” to me. However, he’s only 22-years-old and isn’t even close to scratching the surface of his NHL potential.

By acquiring him, they would rectify Ken Holland’s draft day blunder, the one where he traded down to add another draft pick to their collection and select Xavier Bourgault 22nd overall.

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Star Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov has been ranked among the 25 best players born since 2000, though he could still use more respect around the NHL.

In the list, compiled by NHL Network, Michkov, 20, ranked 23rd amongst the 25 players born on this side of 2000, though some of the players who placed ahead of him are questionable at best.

Some of those names include Anaheim forward Leo Carlsson, who hasn't scored 50 points in his young career yet, and Los Angeles forward Quinton Byfield, who has back-to-back 50-point seasons but has yet to reach his potential in four seasons as a regular contributor.

Michkov, on the other hand, scored 63 points in his rookie season with the Flyers, leading all rookies in goals with 26. His 63 points ranked second amongst all newcomers, tying him with Macklin Celebrini and trailing Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson by three.

What are your thoughts on our Top 25 Players Born in This Quarter Century list? pic.twitter.com/3ryM33RMDU

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 25, 2025

This, of course, was all while dealing with the NHL's worst goaltending, healthy scratches, benchings, and a coaching change by the end of the year.

Curiously, 2023 draft classmate Connor Bedard, who has now had two seasons similar to Michkov's rookie campaign, ranked all the way up at No. 8.

Cole Caufield, who just scored 30 goals and 70 points for the first time at age 24 on a playoff team, placed 12th.

These players are all deserving, to be clear, but the actual rankings are disproportionate to Michkov's talent, value, and performance in the 2024-25 season.

It's not the first list Michkov has been disrespected on this summer, either; he joined Porter Martone in that category on a list of the projected best NHL players in 2030, five years from now.

It’s the season of weddings, especially in the NHL, as this summer has seen a new batch of players tie the knot with their brides.

Here are 15 of those NHL players who got married this summer.

Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers

Leon Draisaitl invited some current and past teammates to the south of France for his wedding, such as Connor McDavid, Darnell Nurse and Evander Kane. He married Celeste Desjardins, who is an actress from Sudbury, Ont.

Between the vows and the alcohol, the Edmonton Oilers superstar was sure to fit in a celebratory dart, sparking an iconic image that surfaced on the internet.

Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers

It’s been the summer of a lifetime for the Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk. It all started with the Panthers securing their second straight Stanley Cup win in June to kick off the festivities.

Later in mid-July, the left winger exchanged “I do” with his new wife, Ellie Connell, a luxury travel advisor. The couple married in Tkachuk’s hometown of St. Louis.

That wasn’t the end of his summer, as just a couple of days later, it was his turn with the Stanley Cup. Not to mention, in early August, it was revealed that he would be the cover athlete of EA Sports NHL 26. His brother, Brady, and father, Keith, will join him on the cover of the deluxe edition of the game.

Amazing summer for Matthew Tkachuk gets even better with joyful wedding, Stanley Cup dayMatthew Tkachuk is having one heck of a summer.

Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars

Miro Heiskanen brought his loved ones to Rome for his wedding to his wife, Julia Taka-Aho. Heiskanen was not only in Italy for his wedding, but also for the European media tour in Milan.

The wedding was a black-and-white affair with Heiskanen’s former and current Dallas Stars teammates rocking the black tie dress code, such as Jamie Benn, Mikko Rantanen, Radek Faksa and John Klingberg.

Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets nearly qualified for the post-season, thanks to an incredible season by Zach Werenski. While he didn’t get to play hockey in May, He tied the knot with his new wife, Odette Peters. The Werenskis exchanged vows at the New Albany Country Club in Ohio. 

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was one of Werenski’s groomsmen. Larkin and Werenski were teammates for youth team Belle Tire, the University of Michigan and Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and World Championship.

Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Candiens captain Nick Suzuki is one of at least four Habs players to get married this off-season. He and his new wife, Caitlin Fitzgerald, met in about 2016 or 2017, Fitzgerald told NHL.com. Both of them are from London, Ont., and met in high school.

Aside from the Suzukis getting married, his longtime teammate and linemate, Cole Caufield, was the star of the show. Throughout the wedding, the right winger carried around a mug that resembled the back of Suzuki’s jersey, including his name and No. 14 on it.

Canadiens Celebrate The Captain's Wedding It may be the dog days of Summer, but this is peak wedding time, and this weekend, there were plenty of Montreal Canadiens players and former Habs in town. Everyone had gathered to celebrate the union of team captain Nick Suzuki and his longtime girlfriend, Caitlin Fitzgerald. The couple is from both London, Ontario, and first met in high school.

MacKenzie Weegar, D, Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar married his wife, Maggie Wallace, at the Cartier Theatre in Montreal. The venue was very formal, as the Cartier Theatre - formally known as St. Vincent de Paul church - was built in 1928. Flames teammates Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Matt Coronato, Ryan Lomberg and Dustin Wolf, along with former teammate Jakob Pelletier, were among those at the wedding.

Later at the party, the Weegars set up a late-night snack bar, stocked with McDonald’s burgers, fries and other snacks, topped off with an upside-down neon McDonald’s sign.

Noah Dobson, D, Montreal Canadiens

In Newport, R.I., Noah Dobson married Alexa Serowik, who is a NASCAR reporter and a former rinkside reporter and host for the AHL’s Providence Bruins.

The Canadiens acquired Dobson from the New York Islanders during the NHL draft, just days before the wedding on July 1. Dobson had a bunch of former Islanders teammates at the wedding, such as Matt Martin, Mat Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Bo Horvat, Ryan Pulock, Kyle Palmieri ad Scott Mayfield. 

Patrik Laine, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Yet another member of the Canadiens married this off-season, right winger Patrik Laine. He and his new wife, Jordan Smith, married in Palm Beach, Fla. The nuptials were held at Breakers Resort, and the dinner was at The Colony Hotel. Aleksander Barkov, Adam Boqvist, Adam Fantilli, Ivan Provorov, Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes were among those in attendance.

Together, the Laines founded an online mental health platform called ‘From Us to You’, to help promote awareness, as well as an inclusive community where people can communicate and share their experiences.

Filip Chytil, C, Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil got married to his new wife, Nikol. The newlyweds rang the wedding bells in his home country, Czechia.

The 25-year-old had to make a big move and life adjustment earlier in the year when he was traded to Vancouver from the New York Rangers, as part of the J.T. Miller deal.

Speaking of Canucks players, there are reports that center Elias Pettersson quietly got married to Katelyn Byrd this summer as well.

Samuel Montembault, G, Montreal Canadiens

Sam Montembeault got hitched to Daryanne Ayotte at the Four Seasons hotel in Montreal.

As the fourth Hab on the list to get married in the summer, the Canadiens have had a boat-load of festivities in this off-season.

Nicolas Roy, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Nicolas Roy, one of the newest members of the Toronto Maple Leafs, married his wife, Laurie. The couple celebrated this life milestone at the Manoir Montpellier in Montpellier, Que.

The Vegas Golden Knights traded Roy to Toronto on July 1 as part of the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade.

Nicolas Roy Gets Married To Wife, Laurie, Ahead Of First Season With Maple LeafsA month and a half after being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nicolas Roy and his family celebrated a huge life milestone.

Braden Schneider, D, New York Rangers

Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Josee, at Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alta., with a beautiful view.

The 23-year-old had teammates Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere at the event, as well as former Rangers D-man Ryan Lindgren.

Jalen Chatfield, D, Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield, 29, married his longtime partner, Drew, in late July.

The couple said “I do” at the Merrimon Wynne House in Raleigh, followed by the reception at the AC Hotel North Hills.

Kasperi Kapanen, RW, Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers right winger, Kasperi Kapanen, married Matleena in Helsinki, Finland. Not long after their wedding on Aug. 1, the Finnish couple travelled to Greece for their honeymoon.

Kapanen was claimed off waivers on Nov. 19 by the Oilers. Since that day, he became engaged with Matleena on Dec. 24, and played in the Stanley Cup final in June.

Steven Lorentz, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs center Steven Lorentz got married to Erin with an outdoor wedding and reception at Braestone Farm, about 150 kilometers north of Toronto.

Lorentz wrapped up his first season with his hometown Maple Leafs. This off-season, he earned a three-year contract, the longest deal he’s signed since his entry-level contract.

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Red Wings recent 2025 5th-round pick Nikita Tyurin Talks Development, KHL Debut, and Championship Mindset.

As one of the newest additions to the Red Wings' pipeline is 2025 fifth-round pick 18-year-old defenseman Nikita Tyurin, who is already making a name for himself in Russia and his rapid development hasn’t gone unnoticed in Detroit.

Tyurin recently reflected on a standout season in Russia that saw him shine at both the junior and professional levels. The 18-year-old defenseman capped his rookie campaign in Russia's Junior Hockey League (JHL) with a Kharlamov Cup championship, a KHL debut, and a gold medal at the Challenge Cup, all while establishing himself as one of JHC Spartak’s top young players.

Red Wings Select Nikita Tyurin With 5th-Round PickThe Detroit Red Wings selected defenceman Nikita Tyurin with their fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XWelcome to Detroit, Nikita!

Tyurin recorded 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists) in 50 games for Spartak, finishing as the team’s second-highest scoring defenseman. The Moscow native averaged 18 minutes of ice time per game, displaying poise beyond his years and earning a call-up to the senior Spartak roster in the KHL.

In a recent interview with the official JHL website, Tyurin shared insight into his offseason development, his experience transitioning to pro hockey, and the mentality that has driven his progress. He started off by saying how quickly he was back in the gym working on conditioning as he returned just a week after last season ended. 

“I have participated in a development camp and the first team’s training camp. I continue to prepare for the season, and devote my free time to getting rested. It would be nice to make the KHL team’s roster and I have been doing my best for that to happen,” Tyurin said, discussing his preparation for 2025–26. 

Focused on taking the next step in his career, Tyurin has put in serious work on his physical strength. After watching the Florida Panthers showcase why hockey is dominated by physicality and strength once again rather than finesse, it's a good omen that Tyurin is focusing on adding weight like most young players should.

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

“I want to be a tougher player, I have gained five kilos of muscle compared to the weight I had in the 2024/25 season. My current weight is 85 kilos and I want to increase it up to 90," Tyurin explained. 

While Tyurin continues to grow physically, his maturity on the ice was already evident in his KHL debut last season. He explained in the interview how nervous he was in his first game but over time he started to understand and get into the flow of things. 

“First, I had been brought into the lineup for the game against CSKA, but I hadn’t played that night. Then I was dressed for the game against SKA and made my debut in the second period. I had some fear, but after the first shift things became much better," Tyurin said “I tried to play simple: receive the puck and quickly pass it up to the forwards. There was some hesitation at one point, but everything was good in general."

Red Wings Prospect Emerging as Top Talent After Impressive KHL Pre-SeasonRussian prospect for the Red Wings dazzles with three goals through KHL pre-season. 

He continued by explaining that the size of the other players was evident and solidified the idea of needing to add more muscle mass. Tyurin explained that he was having a hard time winning puck battles as he would need to predominantly use his stick and not his undersized body for checking. 

Tyurin closed off the interview by explaining that he wants to be an "interesting player" and that he wants to take creative risks on the ice. Some of the successful attempts were admired by his coaching staff but failures were heavily scrutinized. Tyurin made it clear that he wants to develop into a two-way blueliner that can move the puck and make plays. 

When asked about his goals for the season, Tyurin echoed a mindset shared throughout the Red Wings organization: win when it matters, win in the playoffs and ultimately win championships. He also aims to secure a full-time spot on a KHL roster, a significant step in his development. Playing in one of the world’s most competitive leagues will allow him to test himself against elite talent just a step below the NHL. If his rapid progression continues, Tyurin could emerge as a late-round steal for the Red Wings in the coming years.

NHL Insider Says Gavin McKenna Factored Into Detroit Skipping McTavish Offer SheetDetroit's trade talks with Anaheim for RFA Mason McTavish likely stalled due to pending first overall pick says NHL Insider. 

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Ben Danford will have one final stop before Toronto Maple Leafs training camp.

The 19-year-old, who’s currently participating in Oshawa Generals training camp, is one of 31 prospects invited to the Upper Deck/NHLPA rookie showcase in Washington, D.C. next week. 

Among the other invites are 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders), Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals), Brayden Yager (Winnipeg Jets), Carter Yakemchuk (Ottawa Senators), and Tij Iginla, son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla (Utah Mammoth).

Danford’s coming off a strong season with the Generals, where he captained the club to the OHL Championship series against Easton Cowan and the London Knights. Oshawa was only able to win one game in the series, with London taking home the OHL title and the Memorial Cup a few weeks later.

Danford scored five goals and 20 assists in 61 games with the Generals last season. Although his point total was lower than the year prior, the defenseman became stronger in several areas of his game, including his puck distribution.

“He just kills plays,” said Toronto 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins, who’s battled against Danford several times in the OHL. 

“Once you hit that blue line, he’s coming at you, and he’s coming at you fast. And he has a really good stick as well, which makes it a lot harder for a player trying to get by and not turn that puck over at the blue line.”

Danford missed the entirety of Toronto’s NHL training camp last year after suffering a concussion before the Prospect Showdown against the Montreal Canadiens in early September. He was on the receiving end of a hit from free agent invitee Marshall Finnie in rookie camp before heading to the two-day evetn

Once the 2024 first-rounder was cleared to play, he was loaned back to the Generals and stepped back into the lineup right away. Danford was named captain of Oshawa two days after he was returned to the OHL club.

The defenseman was invited to Team Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase in July and hopes to play in his first World Juniors later this year. However, first, he’ll need to attend Maple Leafs training camp, where he knows the competition will be a step up from what he’s used to.

“Who knows when I’m going to make the jump to pro, but I think I need to get bigger and stronger and faster,” said Danford. “The way (NHL players) can move and stuff and how strong they are on pucks, that’s a really big eye-opener, so I feel like that’s something that I can really get better at.”

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One of the most significant turning points last season for the Colorado Avalanche was the acquisition of Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators and, most importantly, Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks. Both completely turned around the team's goaltending situation for the better, earning the “Lumberyard” nickname from the fans. With their first season down, what does this tag team look like heading into the season, and how can they help the Avalanche get a better start this season?

The Lumberyard 🪵 https://t.co/RKjEGgsslB

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2024

After Darcy Kuemper left for the Washington Capitals in 2022 Free Agency, the Avalanche had to make a quick pivot in their goaltending situation. Acquiring Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers to be their starting goaltender. His debut season was great, finishing with career highs across the board now that he was given the reins to the starting position and not behind Igor Shesterkin. In 62 games, he finished with a record of 40-16-6, a .918 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.53 goals against average (GAA). Among the entire NHL, he was tied for first in wins with Linus Ullmark, eighth in SV%, and third in games played.

It was an excellent start for the goaltender and the organization. He had some flaws, but he showed that with a great supporting cast in front of him, he could help win you games. However, asking for a goaltender in 60+ games was a lot, and the sudden announcement of Pavel Francouz's retirement made things even more challenging. It was up to rookie Justus Annunen to step up and help Georgiev in relief.

Though the 2023-24 season started to show some of the more minor flaws Georgiev showed in his debut season. He still finished with 38 wins because the team in front of him was so talented, but his stats started to drop. A .919 SV% into a .897 SV%, a 2.53 GAA into a 3.02 GAA. Those trends continued into the 2024-25 season. In just 18 games, he had a .874 SV% and a 3.38 GAA. It was clear that his game had diminished, and given the team's current state, it needed a new face in net.

It started with Wedgewood, a long-time NHL veteran, in hopes of strengthening the backup position, sending Annunen back. Hoping he can come in relief and help Georgiev get his mind right if he struggles a bit, and that is what happened. Wedgewood took over the net due to his outstanding performance and forced Georgiev into a backup position. 

As much as Wedgewood was great, he has never been a true “starter” in the NHL. His most extensive playing time was 32 games during the 2022-23 season with the Dallas Stars. It wouldn't be until December that General Manager Chris MacFarland had found his starter in Blackwood.

What was supposed to be the goalie for the future for the New Jersey Devils, taken 42nd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, was moved to San Jose and now given another chance for a contending team, and he did just that. Being “his favorite team growing up”, Blackwood went 8-1-1 with a .940SV% to start his tenure with the Avalanche and finished the season with a 22-12-3 record with a .913SV% and a 2.33 GAA.

"This was my favorite team growing up," Mackenzie Blackwood Speaks to Colorado Media For the First Time Since TradeMackenzie Blackwood appeared in front of the media for the first time since his trade to the Colorado Avalanche. Availability followed morning skate, which marked Blackwood's first appearance with the team.

The biggest factor that led us to this point is the Avalanche's start. In their first 27 games of the season, they had a record of 14-13-0, with a -13 goal differential. The bad start especially doesn't help when, after acquiring both new goaltenders, they finished the season 32-15-4 and went from last in the Central Division to pushing for the top spot, but since they dug themselves too big of a hole in the beginning, they were stuck in third place for most of the season, near the end. 

They were four points behind the Stars, who finished the regular season on a seven-game losing streak and 14 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first, who, besides being in first for most of the season, had a little stumble near the mid-season but caught themselves and finished strong.

This is where the “Lumber Yard” comes into play. Say the Avalanche started the season 14-6-7, or something similar to that record, and finished the regular season how they did. Those games where they blew a lead late or were blown out from the beginning, imagine if they were wins or overtime losses just for the individual point. Those add up and show at the end of the season that could have determined whether they fought for home ice against the Stars in Round 1 or for top spot in the division against the Jets to face a wildcard opponent instead.

When the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with Kuemper and Francouz, as much as the team in front of them was otherworldly great, the goalies still stood tall. Kuempers' .921 SV% and 2.54 GAA in the regular season turned into a .902 SV% and a 2.57 GAA. Even when Francouz had to step in for a few games when Kuemper went down with an eye injury, he still finished with a .906 SV% and a 2.81 GAA in ten games, seven of which he started.

The Avalanche aren’t asking the two to be world beaters in cases like Andrei Vasilevskiy with the Tampa Bay Lightning or Sergei Bobrovsky with the Florida Panthers. Just a strong last line of defense, where if the offense isn’t clicking in one game, they can help keep them in it for as long as they can, so the elite talent in front of them can win them the game.

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Avalanche Storylines to Watch: 2C Locked InHeading into the 2025-26 NHL season, the Colorado Avalanche finally have something that they haven’t had since the 2021-22 season: a true second-line center that's under contract for the next couple of seasons. Avalanche Storylines Heading Into the 2025-26 Season: Valeri Nichushkin’s PerformanceAs we approached the 2024-25 season, a question on everyone's mind was Valeri Nichushkin's return after a six-month suspension. Despite the hurdles, the 'Chu-Chu Train' has shown remarkable resilience, scoring 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points in 43 games. His journey is a testament to the power of determination. What more can we expect from him this season?