The Chicago Blackhawks have a good amount of young players with plenty to prove during the 2025-26 season. Because of this, let's discuss three specific Blackhawks with the most to prove this upcoming campaign.

Spencer Knight 

The Blackhawks made a notable move over the weekend, signing goaltender Spencer Knight to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.83 million. By giving Spencer this kind of deal, the Blackhawks demonstrated that they have a lot of faith in him. Now, the 2019 first-round pick will be looking to prove that he can be an impactful starting goalie for Chicago. In 38 games last season split between the Florida Panthers and Blackhawks, he had a 17-16-3 record, a 2.72 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. 

Lukas Reichel 

If Lukas Reichel does not get traded by the Blackhawks before the start of the season, he will plenty to prove to them this campaign. The 2020 first-round pick has had trouble breaking out with the Blackhawks and will be aiming to change that in 2025-26. In 70 games this past season with the Blackhawks, he posted eight goals, 22 points, and a minus-16 rating. 

Kevin Korchinski 

This is certainly a big year for Blackhawks prospect Kevin Korchinski. The 21-year-old defenseman will be aiming to prove that he is ready to be a full-time NHL player for the Blackhawks. There is no question that the 2022 seventh-overall pick has a lot of potential, and now he will be aiming to break out for Chicago. In 16 games this past season with the Blackhawks, he recorded one goal, one assist, and a minus-2 rating. 

Milwaukee Admirals forward Joakim Kemell (25) gets a drink on the bench during practice Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators wrapped up rookie camp by taking two of three games at the NHL Prospect Tournament in Tampa, Florida.

Nashville’s prospects captured the first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday and followed it up with a victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday before falling to Florida on Monday.

While it may not have ended on a positive note, it gave the Predators' prospects who participated a chance to learn and gro with the ups and downs that make up professional hockey.

Now that rookie camp is completed, the prospects return home to prepare for training camp, which gets underway Wednesday.

Here are three takeaways from the tournament.

Martin Continues To Stand Out

If Brady Martin is hoping to send a message that he deserves to make his NHL debut this season, he did nothing to discourage those hopes during the prospect tournament.

The Predators’ fifth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft picked up a goal and an assist in the opener against the Lightning. The goal came when he was awarded a penalty shot after being hindered on a breakaway in the second period of the Preds’ 3-2 win.

On the play, Martin first went wide to his right, then cut back to the slot before putting a shot low blocker side to put the Predators ahead 2-1.

Martin’s helper came in the opening frame. After the Lightning scored first on a power play, he found Joakim Kemell at the top of the right circle. Kemell rifled a shot top-shelf to tie the game.

Martin didn’t score the rest of the tournament, but contributed in other ways on both ends of the ice. He wasn’t afraid to go for loose pucks, his passing was sharp, and he showed poise and maturity throughout the three games.

“He's competitive,” Milwaukee Admirals head coach Karl Taylor said of Martin after the game. “I thought Brady played very well for his first kind of pro type of camp. He definitely looked like a guy that might have played in Milwaukee already with some maturity.”

Whether Martin suits up for NHL action in 2025-26 remains to be seen. But his play at the World Junior Summer Showcase in early August, coupled with his play at the prospect tournament, certainly gives the Predators brass something to think about.

Other Prospects Also Made Good Impressions

Kemell also turned some heads. The winger scored on the man advantage against Tampa Bay, then assisted on Reid Schaefer’s game-winning goal in the victory over Carolina.

On that play, Kemell zipped a beautiful cross-ice feed to defenseman Ryan Ufko after eluding several Hurricane defenders. Ufko then fed Schaefer on the doorstep for a tap-in.

Nashville’s 17th overall pick in 2022, Kemell appears ready for a crack at the NHL level. Unlike Martin, he has three seasons of AHL experience with the Admirals under his belt.

Even Schaefer was quick to give Kemell credit for his goal.

“I think it all starts with Kemell with that nice crossfeed pass to Ufko,” Schaefer told reporters after the win. “And then, obviously for ‘Uffy’ to find me there back door is a good play all around.”

Schaefer, whom the Predators acquired in a 2023 trade with the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Mattias Ekholm, is coming off a shoulder injury that caused him to miss most of last season. He used his 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame to fend off several Carolina attackers and deflect Ufko’s pass into the net for the game-winner.

Most likely, Shaefer will start 2025-26 in Milwaukee, but showed some promise during the tournament.

Some Valuable Lessons Were Learned

Game results are not the objective in prospect tournaments, but that doesn’t mean these young guys don’t want to win.

The Preds showed fight in their 6-1 loss to Florida, with Cole O’Hara scoring the club’s lone tally with four minutes left in regulation, his second of the tournament. The loss may not have counted in the standings, but it stung nonetheless.

“It was definitely a tough game today, not the way you want to go out, but I think we dug deep and we stuck through it,” Ufko said after the game. “The game wasn't going our way, but at the end, I think we were all glad we got one in.”

It’s a great reminder that things won’t always go your way, and that such losses can be a motivator.

“We fought through some things, but you leave with a bit of a stale taste,” Taylor said. “Maybe that's a good thing going into camp, right? So, we got humbled and a little bit exposed, and the players should be feeling like, ‘We need to focus on the next opportunity.’ And for them, that'll be main camp, playing with the big boys and being challenged playing with grown men.”

Main camp begins on Wednesday with off-ice meetings, and the first on-ice sessions come Thursday at Ford Ice Center Bellevue.

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The NHL player pool is an ever-evolving group of elite-level talent. But getting into the elite of the elite takes a special type of athlete.

Whether it be the ascension of Jack Hughes or the rise of Evan Bouchard, we see young NHL stars become truly elite players every year.

This year, there are a few young NHL players who can take that next step into the elite of the elite. Here are eight of those players with a legitimate chance at ascending to the top of the league.

Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators

There may not be a defender in the NHL more ready to sneak into the Norris Trophy conversation than the Senators' Jake Sanderson.

His two-way play is impressive. His stout defense uses his length and mobility to close quickly and thwart chances whenever an attacker threatens.

In transition, he’s a confident puck-carrier who doesn't hold onto the puck too long and understands when to draw pressure and evade. In the offensive zone, Sanderson has grown into a mobile puck-mover who excels when given the chance to set up his teammates.

While he isn’t quite elite in any regard just yet, he’s on the cusp as a defender and in transition.

Sanderson averages more than 24 minutes a night and can play in all situations. He was leaned on to play when the game was tightest, protecting leads or pushing to tie the game late.

If Sanderson can improve on his 57-point output from last year and continue to impress in his own end, he might not just push into the elites on the blueline. He could end up being a Norris finalist.

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

While Knies might not become a 90-point elite scorer, he's already one of the best power forwards in the NHL. His 29 goals and 29 assists as a 22-year-old are already better than Sam Bennett's career highs.

With some added development, Knies has a real chance at becoming a more offensively gifted player than one of the NHL's more widely regarded elite power forwards.

Knies has had the advantage of riding shotgun alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for most of the first couple of seasons that he’s been in the NHL. With the latter leaving the Maple Leafs for Vegas, Knies must step it up and fill some of the vacated offense.

Knies throws his weight around, digs in the corners and powers his way to the net as well as any young forward in the game. If he can continue working on the finesse that playing with the Leafs' top dogs has forced upon him, he could be a 70-plus-point power forward who falls in between Brady and Matthew Tkachuk on the scale of production.

Simon Edvinsson, D, Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings watched Moritz Seider develop into a stud, so when they see some similarities with Edvinsson, they are excited about the possibility of two beasts on the back end.

For long stretches of last season, the duo was paired together, and they were the only defensive pair in the Motor City that had any chance of keeping up with other teams’ top attackers. They were one of the NHL’s truly elite defensive pairs.

The hope for Detroit this upcoming season is that Edvinsson and Seider can each anchor their own pair, elevating an otherwise underwhelming partner.

Edvinsson is big, rangy and skilled with the puck. He can contribute at both ends of the ice because of his tools. He needs to refine some of his decision-making, but we saw some encouraging signs as the season progressed as well. The Wings could have two true pillars to build around on defense.

Dylan Guenther, RW, Utah Mammoth

The Arizona Coyotes' move to Utah perfectly coincided with the breakout campaign for Guenther, who put up 60 points in 70 games, finishing second on the team in goals with 27.

When Guenther was hot last season, he looked like he could challenge 40 or even 50 goals and eclipse a point per game. Guenther showed some dominant offensive flashes last season.

This season, Guenther will be given plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent. Either riding alongside Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller or being given a more lead role alongside Barrett Hayton and JJ Peterka, we should get to see Guenther play with offensive players, whether he’s on the top line or not. Guenther is a lethal shooter who can line up one-timers on the power play or fire bombs off the rush. He’s a difference-maker for the Mammoth.

Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets

Fantilli surpassed 30 goals and had flashes of brilliance for the Blue Jackets last season.

He showcased his 200-foot game, and with that, we saw the moments of complete control that Fantilli is capable of. His speed, skill and powerful finesse game are impressive to watch with and without the puck. His rookie season was cut short by a lacerated calf injury, so last year was his first full season.

Coming into his third NHL season, Fantilli is poised to take a step toward being the No. 1 center Columbus has never quite locked down. They’ve managed to have good centers but never an elite one. Fantilli can be exactly that as soon as this season.

Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks

After a very good rookie year and a less-than-stellar sophomore campaign, Bedard could finally reach the elite level he was projected to be at when Chicago drafted him first overall in 2023.

Bedard is already an elite-level shooter, and everyone who has seen him play knows that. Unfortunately, in Chicago, Bedard has been asked to take on a lot. He’s been the primary driver of offense, given the keys to the No. 1 center spot since Day 1 and tasked with turning the Hawks back into the superpower they once were.

This upcoming season, we should start to see the pieces around Bedard fill out.

Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore should be with the team for the whole season. The defense group should be much improved, as Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov should be given more opportunities. Spencer Knight will be the full-time starting netminder.

The Hawks will have pieces around Bedard that will force teams to take at least some of their focus off the young phenom. If all goes well, we could see Bedard eclipse the 40-goal, 80-point mark with ease this year.

William Eklund, LW, San Jose Sharks

In San Jose, the attention was constantly on Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith as they were the hot new toys for the team, but 22-year-old William Eklund had a coming-out party of his own.

His playmaking was impressive and direct, often coming on plays that didn’t have as much flash or flair as his younger teammates.

Eklund has puck skill and excellent handling ability, but he only uses them when needed and doesn't overdo it. He works hard, gets to pucks and advances play. He’s always been an effective player, but last year, we saw his efficiency shoot through the roof.

Likely playing alongside Celebrini again this upcoming season, it will be fun to watch the young duo continue to develop their chemistry and grow as players. The two young players complement each other and play smart hockey, which allows them to read and react as play develops. Despite playing on a Sharks team that is likely to struggle once again, it won’t be shocking to see one or both of them challenge 80 points this year.

Dustin Wolf, G, Calgary

In a year where we had a rookie play with the poise and structure of a 10-year vet (Macklin Celebrini) and another break records for the game’s most historic franchise (Lane Hutson), it was Dustin Wolf who was often considered the league’s best rookie.

Wolf was the reason the Flames were in the playoff race as long as they were and his end-of-season fall-off was the only reason they fell out of the race. As Wolf went, so did the Flames.

With a 53-game NHL season under his belt, Wolf knows what to expect. No other U-24 netminder even touched 40 games last year, and only one eclipsed 30 (Spencer Knight), so it was impressive to see that not only could Wolf handle that workload, he was stellar until right at the very end. Wolf isn’t the biggest goalie, but he’s always been one of the best at his age level. Now that he’s an NHLer, he’s going to be pushing to go from Calder finalist to Vezina finalist.

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Lots of current and future AHL talent was on display this past week across 10 different NHL Prospect Tournaments.

It is tough to base long-term opinions on such a short showcase but we took a look at a few players who have played in the AHL or are on AHL deals below that stood out in their rookie tournament 

Scott Morrow - (D) New York Rangers 

Morrow played 14 games with the Carolina Hurricanes and notched 39 points in 52 games with the Chicago Wolves last season. 

The 22-year-old was one of the most experienced players at the tournament but looked like the best player on the ice most of the time. He displayed his offensive ability with five points over two games against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Jacob Fowler - (G) Laval Rocket 

After a tremendous performance in 11 appearances with the Rocket, including in eight Calder Cup Playoff games, Fowler picked up right where he left off in the rookie showcase.

The 20-year-old allowed just two goals in 60 minutes of game time and looks to continue to develop his game alongside veteran Kaapo Kahkonen in Laval this season. 

Jacob Quillan - (F) Toronto Marlies

After posting 37 points in 67 games as an AHL rookie with the Marlies last season Quillan stood out offensively against Ottawa and Montreal.

The 23-year-old will look to be a driver offensively with the Marlies and compete for playing time with the Maple Leafs this season. 

Joakim Kemell - (F) Nashville Predators

Another player with lots of professional experience, Kemell looked dangerous and constantly created plays in the prospect tournament.

The 21-year-old looks to graduate to the NHL full-time after 40 points in 65 AHL games last season.

Joakim Kemell with a LASER 🎯 pic.twitter.com/7SNGpUTu6l

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) September 12, 2025

Kenny Connors - (F) Los Angeles Kings

Connors picked-up a hat trick and added an assists in two games against the San Jose Sharks.

A fourth round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2022, Connors seems set to jump into a big role with the Ontario Reign this season after three years at UMass. 

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

Flyers release 2025 training camp roster and schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet’s first training camp as the Flyers’ head coach kicks off Thursday.

The club has 58 players in camp.

Rasmus Ristolainen is not listed on the roster. As expected, the defenseman is out for camp and the early part of the season as he recovers from surgery on a second triceps tendon rupture. He had a rehab skate last Thursday.

“Risto is moving ahead,” general manager Danny Briere said Tuesday. “We knew all along that he wouldn’t start the season, but everything is looking good for him to meet up with the team in hopefully the first month and a half, two months of the season, at some point. On that front, it’s trending in the right direction.”

Practices at Flyers Training Center are open to the public. Here are the schedules for the Flyers’ regular season and preseason.

Below is the Flyers’ training camp roster and schedule.

Forwards (33)

Defensemen (18)

Goalies (7)

Schedule

The New Jersey Devils’ prospects wrapped up three games at the 2025 NHL Prospect Challenge in Buffalo this past week, finishing the tournament with a 2–1 record.

They opened with a dominant 8–2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, followed by a 4–2 victory against the host Buffalo Sabres. Their only loss came in the finale, a 6–4 setback to the Boston Bruins.

Prospect Challenge Roster Forwards: Tag Bertuzzi, Alexander Campbell, Brian Carrabes, Cole Davis, Josh Filmon, Caleb Hadland, Lenni Hämeenaho, Shane Lachance, Nathan Lecompte, Jack Malone, Matras Melovsky, David Rozsíval, Cam Squires, Dylan Wendt

Defensemen: Mikael Diotte, Seamus Casey, Jimmy Dowd Jr., Ethan Edwards, Jeremy Hanzel, Luke Reid, Jackson van de Leest

Goaltenders: Tyler Brennan, Trenten Bennett, Jakub Malek

Several players stood out during the tournament. Defenseman Seamus Casey appeared in just one game before resting for the season ahead, a decision that wasn’t surprising given his NHL experience last year following an impressive camp. Tag Bertuzzi and Mikael Diotte both finished with three points, while rookie goaltender Trenten Bennett, selected in this year’s NHL Draft, made his first start in a Devils sweater.

But the biggest impression came from Shane Lachance.

The 6-foot-5, 21-year-old defenseman played in two of the three games, collecting three points. His combination of offensive skill and physical presence, from scoring two goals to delivering big hits and even dropping the gloves, quickly put his name on the radar ahead of training camp.

Lachance was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in March 2025 as part of a three-team deal that sent Trent Frederic out of New Jersey. A sixth-round pick in 2021, he spent the past two seasons at Boston University before turning pro.

Now, he’ll look to carry that momentum into Devils training camp, which begins tomorrow in Newark. While cracking the NHL roster won’t be easy, Lachance’s performance in Buffalo showed he could be a serious contender.

The New Jersey Devils’ prospects will be joined by the full roster tomorrow in Newark for the official start of 2025 training camp.

The prospects hit the ice a week earlier at the NHL Prospect Challenge in Buffalo, where they put together an impressive showing.

Prospect Challenge Roster Forwards: Tag Bertuzzi, Alexander Campbell, Brian Carrabes, Cole Davis, Josh Filmon, Caleb Hadland, Lenni Hämeenaho, Shane Lachance, Nathan Lecompte, Jack Malone, Matras Melovsky, David Rozsíval, Cam Squires, Dylan Wendt. Defensemen: Mikael Diotte, Seamus Casey, Jimmy Dowd Jr., Ethan Edwards, Jeremy Hanzel, Luke Reid, Jackson van de Leest. Goaltenders: Tyler Brennan, Trenten Bennett, Jakub Malek.

The Devils finished the tournament with a 2–1 record. They opened with a dominant 8–2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, followed by a 4–2 victory against the host Buffalo Sabres. Their only loss came in the finale, a 6–4 defeat to the Boston Bruins.

Now, attention turns to training camp, where the prospects will share the ice with the veterans while competing for spots on the 2025–26 roster. Among those who stood out in Buffalo was 20-year-old winger Lenni Hämeenaho.

Hämeenaho, listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, was a difference-maker during the tournament, especially in Game 2 against Buffalo, where his play helped swing momentum. Selected 58th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, he has spent the past few seasons playing professionally in Finland, where his strong performances built anticipation for his North American debut.

Not only did Hämeenaho find the back of the net, but his hockey sense and quick decision-making drew praise and put his name firmly on the radar. While it remains likely he’ll begin the season with the AHL’s Utica Comets given the Devils’ depth, his showing in Buffalo sparked plenty of optimism about his NHL future.

Whether in Utica or New Jersey, Hämeenaho is giving fans a glimpse of the skill and promise that could make him a key part of the Devils’ future.

The puck drops on training camp in just 24 hours, and the New Jersey Devils are gearing up for another push at a successful season. A key factor will be staying healthy, something that has plagued the team in recent years and limited their playoff potential.

No player has felt that more than 24-year-old forward Jack Hughes.

Drafted first overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Hughes has endured multiple season-altering injuries, including two major shoulder surgeries.

In 2021–22, Hughes was on pace for a career year with 26 goals and 30 assists in just 49 games before a hit from Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom caused an MCL sprain that required surgery. In 2023–24, Hughes put up 74 points in 62 games but missed roughly 20 contests after crashing into the boards in November, suffering another shoulder injury. And last season, he was once again off to a strong start when another upper-body injury struck. He returned briefly, but ultimately needed shoulder surgery that ended his season early—despite already recording 74 points in 62 games.

Hughes discussed his health and the season ahead with Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast during the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas.

“I’m feeling good right now. My body’s in a good spot, and I feel like my head is in a good spot too,” Hughes said. “I’m excited for the year to come.”

Now entering his seventh NHL season, Hughes says he’s ready to go. Tomorrow, he’ll hit the ice at training camp, hoping this year is finally the one where health and success go hand in hand.