Category: Sports News

The Vancouver Canucks 2025 Development Camp has officially concluded. This year's week-long camp featured the entire 2025 draft class, as well as prospects who have taken part in the past. One of the players who hit the ice this week was 2023 draft prospect Aiden Celebrini, who was attending his third development camp since joining the Canucks. 

Celebrini was one of three prospects from Vancouver's 2023 class to attend this year's camp. The right-shot defender was joined by Vilmer Alriksson and Matthew Perkins, who were also participating in their third development camp. In speaking with the media, Celebrini explained how excited he was to come to this year's camp and how these training sessions have helped him develop into the player he is today. 

"Coming in for the third time, this is, this is one of the highlights of my summer, said Celebrini. "Just getting that opportunity to work with the big team and better your game and ready your game for that NHL level, I think this camp again just primed me in a lot of ways, to take that next step in my development. Feeling really excited about this second half of the year and this next season."

Development camps can be intimating for some players. Prospects want to make a strong impression as for many, it is their first time working with an NHL organization. According to Celebrini, it is also important for players to enjoy themselves, while trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible. 

"Hockey's fun. Try to have fun with it. I mean, it's always a blessing to be able to put on that Canucks jersey and learn from these legends of the game. So I think it's just take no day for granted. I know I'm putting everything I can into into developing my game and definitely taking my process seriously and kind of asking everything from myself every single day, but at the same time, you got to have fun with it because if you don't enjoy the process, then you're just spinning your wheels... "You're not getting judged. That's not what this is for. Just take this opportunity to better your game. Like, I know, probably heard it all week this week, but be a sponge, doesn't make the message any less important. Just be a sponge. Just be selfish with it. Take as much as you can out of it and use this to just take that next step."

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As one of the returning players, one of Celebrini's goals for this development camp was to be a leader. This meant helping players adjust both on and off the ice. As Celebrini explained, he knows exactly how some of the new prospects are feeling, as he experienced the same situation back in 2023. 

"Obviously, being an older guy, getting to experience what it's like coming back and seeing kind of the nerves of some of the younger guys that I had a few years ago. Going from one year of juniors to two years of college. Haven't really gotten to experience that very much. So that was really cool for me. I thought try to be a leader and try to  set the tone for the other guys here."

As Celebrini mentioned, the Canucks development staff is filled with former NHL players who are ready to help the next generation. This includes Daniel and Henrik Sedin, whom the 20-year-old defenceman watched while growing up in BC. Like many who grew up cheering for Vancouver, Celebrini views the Hall of Famers as role models not just for their on-ice work, but the type of people they are off the ice. 

"Like I said in that video last year, I had a lot of friends and family ask me about it. I mean, they're machines. At least they didn't pass me this year. But, yeah, I really look up to those guys. Not only their incredible careers, but how they approach life after their careers. You look at them, they're the most incredible human beings, and they're just, they're perfect, you know. You look at them, Grouse Grind, on the ice, they look like they can still play, and it just shows like how much care and attention, they put into their lives. They're incredible role models."

Celebrini was also able to give a scouting report on fellow Canucks defensive prospect Tom Willander, who signed his entry-level contract after the season ended. Over the past two seasons, Celebrini and Willander have played at Boston University and have become very close off the ice. According to Celebrini, fans in Vancouver should start to get excited, as he believes Willander has a bright future in the NHL. 

"I couldn't be happier for him. He's going to be a fan favourite, for sure. He's a fun guy, fun personality, and obviously a really talented hockey player. He's very smooth, very sound defensively, and you like that nice, Swedish stride. Yeah, he's a lot of fun. And gonna miss him out there with me, but hopefully I'm there with him soon."

In the end, Celebrini is an intriguing prospect whom the Canucks are hoping will turn into a draft-day steal. He is headed back to the NCAA next year and is projected to play a key role on Boston University's blue line. A standout at this year's development camp, Celebrini's on-ice play and leadership qualities could pave the way for a successful career at the pro level. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

One year ago, it was only the NHL or OHL for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. However, now, it'll be NHL or AHL for the 20-year-old.

Cowan is one of 48 players at Toronto's development camp this summer. He's one of two, however—along with London Knights teammate Landon Sim—who are remaining off the ice for the entire week.

"He's played over 100 games the last couple of seasons, so it was more just allow him to have a bit of recovery time," Maple Leafs assistant GM, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser, said on Thursday.

The fact that Toronto is giving their 2023 first-round (28th overall) pick all the opportunity to rest before Maple Leafs training camp is interesting, but not surprising. They're allowing him to stay off the ice, away from the nearly two-hour ice sessions (only behind the glass), to prepare for what comes later this summer.

"He's going to have a big few months here coming up and allow him to train, more importantly off the ice right now," Wickenheiser added, "put on some of the weight that he's lost through the season, and just get some rest."

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Cowan has accomplished everything at the junior level after winning the Memorial Cup with the Knights on June 1. His 39 points (13 goals and 26 assists) in 17 games led all OHL players in playoff points, and his three goals and four assists in five games at the Memorial Cup earned him the tournament's MVP honors.

"This time last year, I wasn’t as good as I am now," Cowan said on Thursday at Maple Leafs development camp. "Just being able to manage the puck better, I’ve learned that a lot this year, and obviously with the Knights organization, they helped me out a lot.

"I felt when games got bigger, I got better. Those are the games I love to play in, when there’s a lot of people watching and there’s high stakes."

'He Meant A Lot To Me': Easton Cowan On Mitch Marner Leaving Maple Leafs For Golden KnightsToronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has followed Mitch Marner's junior footsteps, winning a Memorial Cup with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, but he hasn't been in contact with the player yet since Marner joined the Vegas Golden Knights after nine seasons with the Leafs.

Entering training camp last fall, one of the topics surrounding Cowan's game was the junior habits that he still possessed. There were moments when he looked timid, too, which ultimately led to Toronto returning him to London in October.

"I think he made a big jump this year," Wickenheiser affirmed.

"The intangibles he brings, he plays with a lot of passion, a lot of drive. But just in terms of the way he played and conducted himself as a leader and an impact player, especially in the Memorial Cup, produced, led the team, and the habits that he needs to play pro, we saw improve in the latter half of the year this year."

Cowan still needs to prove, though, that the pro habits have been expelled from his game. It's one thing to see it disappear against OHL talent. It's another to watch it vanish versus NHL competition.

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"In junior, you can get away with long shifts and lagging, not tracking back pucks, things like that, and we talk a lot with him about the things that will translate to being an everyday impactful pro player," said Wickenheiser.

"Cleaning up those areas of the ice, being able to play on the inside, to play with pace day in and day out, and just to be physically strong so that when he comes in, he can handle the grind that it is."

Cowan said that he'd ideally like to get his weight to 190 pounds by the end of this summer, adding that 187 could be the more achievable goal. "Add some more cornerweight on me and keep my speed," the forward said.

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With Wickenheiser applauding Cowan for ridding the junior habits from his game in the latter half of his OHL season, it'll be up to him to prepare for what's next: a possible NHL position with the Maple Leafs.

"I have the chance to get a job, and that’s up to me to go out there and show what I can do and play my game," Cowan said. "Still a couple months away, so I’m going to take every day day-by-day and just keep getting better."

What Toronto does in the rest of the offseason will help in determining where Cowan could end up in training camp. If the Maple Leafs acquire another top-six forward, Cowan could be battling for a bottom-six spot.

That could already be the case, though, with players like newly-acquired Matias Maccelli—plus Max Domi, who's had success playing with Auston Matthews before—potentially getting an opportunity ahead of Cowan.

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If that's indeed the case, it'll be an uphill battle for the young forward. But, we've witnessed Cowan turn heads before, so it'd be unfair to say it's unattainable this time around.

"Time will tell. I guess that's the question that we all are asking ourselves," said Wickenheiser of Cowan making the NHL roster.

"But my money's on him that he will be fit enough and prepared enough, the experience to be able to step in and play will be — we'll see probably very quickly when (training) camp starts."

(Top photo of Cowan: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens’ development camp wrapped up on Thursday, and on day three, fans were treated to two mini-games between Team Red and Team White. The competitive level was relatively high, and the first game ended in a 2-2 tie while the second finished 2-1 thanks to a Tyler Thorpe game-winner seconds before the end of the game.

A few players stood out for me, Thorpe being one of them, and not only because he scored a pair of goals, one in each game, but also because of his size. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, the right winger moves well, and he’s not afraid to use his big frame, all the while showcasing some skills and a scoring touch.

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At the opposite end of the spectrum was LJ Mooney. At 5-foot-7 and 162 pounds, the diminutive winger still managed to stand out. He plays a solid game and isn’t easy to take off the puck; he plays with a lot of heart and determination, a bit like Brendan Gallagher, really, but the skills package he has is even more impressive. On top of shining on the ice, the youngster also went to speak to Francis Bouillon after the game and asked him what he should be doing as a small player. The development coach told him:

You are aware of your strengths and weaknesses. When I was playing, I didn’t want to allow anyone to tell me I wouldn’t play because I’d get beat one-on-one. Just focus on the right things, and work hard. It’s a player who impressed me with his speed, but also with his spirit and energy. He’s not a player who’ll stay on the outside; he goes in, goes to the net, wants to create chances.

- Francis Bouillon on LJ Mooney

During the games, he caught my eye as he seemed fearless, fearing no one and nothing.

I was also impressed by Aatos Koivu’s play. While he wants to make his own path and name, in the shootout after the game, he gave everyone who saw his father play an absolute blast from the past, recreating one of Saku’s best moves. His skating and hands were impressive during play, as were his decision-making and reaction time; he seems to have a high hockey IQ. At 6 feet and 163 pounds, he will need to put on some muscle to be able to pull the same kind of moves in the NHL, but the talent is there.

Tel père, tel fils :)

Like father, like son#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/kyVGZhd7EG

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 3, 2025

Koivu and Mooney are still some time away from turning professional in North America. Still, if they continue to develop in the right way, they will be very entertaining to watch.

Photo credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

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Happy Fourth of July from THN Florida!

For the third straight summer, Florida Panthers fans have quite a bit to celebrate.

In 2023, Cats fans were elated after the team’s incredible, improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final after squeaking into the playoffs as an eight seed.

Last year, not only the Panthers get back to the Final, but they won the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup in an unbelievable, nail-biting seven-game series against the Edmonton Oilers.

Then there was this year, when Florida returned to the championship series for the third year in a row, only to find those same Oilers waiting in the Final and looking for revenge.

Unfortunately for Edmonton, there was no revenge to be had.

This time, the Panthers took out the Oilers in six games, winning the Stanley Cup on home ice for the second year in a row.

In addition to all that winning, Panthers General Manager Bill Zito has also found a way to keep the team’s entire core intact and locked into long-term, franchise friendly deals.

That was capped off by the re-signings of Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand over the past couple weeks.

Overall, as we’ve been saying for a while now, it’s a great time to be a Florida Panthers fan.

From us here at THN Florida, we wanted to wish everyone a very happy and safe July 4th!

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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; The Florida Panthers pose for a photo with the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

There's been a lot of talk lately about how much pressure there is playing in a passionate hockey market like Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs are taking a unique approach when it comes to that issue as the club's annual development camp kicked off this week. On Wednesday, Assistant GM of Player Development Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser revealed that they had a session on Tuesday about managing pressure and performance in Toronto. Maple Leafs alumnus Wendel Clark and head coach Craig Berube also addressed the group. But there was also another rather unusual guest on the docket.

"We brought in a world-class horse trainer to spend a couple of hours. Actually, we brought in a wild colt, a wild horse, to talk about how you manage emotions and how you go through handling pressure in tricky situations," Wickenheiser said. "(They're) actually using a horse. So it's going to be interesting."

A horse trainer by the name of Jeff Davis and a horse were brought in from Oklahoma, according to Wickenheiser. It's an idea that was discussed with Leafs Director of Player Development Danielle Goyette. Maple Leafs Special Advisor Shane Doan, who grew up on a farm, was also into the idea.

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The horse will not be on the ice, unfortunately. 

"We all think it's a good idea, but I'll let you know tomorrow if it works or not," Wickenheiser added.

Players like Easton Cowan, who got the nickname 'Cowboy' for growing up on the form and his work ethic, should be a natural at this session. If any of the attendees knows what it's like to deal with pressure, it's the Mount Brydges, Ontario native, who will be many will be keeping an eye on to see if he's ready to make the jump to the NHL level.

(Photo credit: certifiedclinician.com)

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He was supposed to be a 'Jet for life'.

It was supposed to be, 'draft and develop'.

So what went wrong between Nikolaj Ehlers and the Winnipeg Jets?

Nothing, yet everything. 

Selected early in the 2014 NHL Draft, Ehlers bypassed the American Hockey League and jumped right into NHL play following a stellar Junior career with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads. He scored his first goal against Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers on October 13, 2015.

Ten seasons later and the now 29-year-old has opted to part ways with the organization that took him ninth overall.

Ehlers has since become the NHL's all-time leading scorer among Danish-born players. Over his time with Winnipeg he has shot up the rankings to the fourth position in Jets' 2.0 history in games played, goals, assists and points. 

His time with the Jets was spectacular.

Always one to provide a laugh, a raw and honest opinion, or a slow, drawn-out response in his media availabilities, Ehlers was just as loved off the ice as he was on it.

Skating in 674 games for the Jets, the Dashing Dane put up 225 goals and 520 points to go alongside 222 penalty minutes and a +106 +/- rating. He had another nine goals and 21 points in 45 postseason games.

And despite his diminutive stature, the speedy forward was never afraid to get in the face of his opponents, willingly dropping the mitts when called upon. Who could forget his spirited tilts against Ryan Getzlaf, Jamie Benn, Brad Marchand or Corey Perry? 

On Thursday, Ehlers opted to sign a six-year, $51 million contract with the Eastern Conference's Carolina Hurricanes, effectively ending his time in Manitoba. The choice came after earning the right to be an unrestricted free agent by way of years of service to Winnipeg.

Unable to sort out any sort of extension with GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and the front office staff during the past season, Ehlers let his name stand as a UFA and opted to test the waters of free agency. It took until the third day of the signing period for him to officially come to a decision, but the choice was a definitive one: he was not going back to Winnipeg.

Whether it was even an option in his mind is likely a question that will never be answered. Did Cheveldayoff offer to match the Hurricanes' offer of six years at $8.5 million per season? 

It's very possible that Chevy and Co. did not offer a dollar value of $8.5 million per season, as that is the exact number they are paying their top centre Mark Scheifele and Hart Trophy winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck - who both signed matching extensions two seasons ago. 

If it was all about the money, Ehlers likely could have signed elsewhere for seven seasons at an even higher rate of pay, so the decision to move to Carolina likely comes as a culture shift with a hope for more effective usage and a real shot at the Stanley Cup.

Ehlers, who ranked ninth among forwards in ice time in the Jets' second round playoff matchup with Dallas finished the round as the team's point-scoring leader. Fittingly, that has been a role he has found himself in over the majority of his time with the Jets.

Whether it was under the coaching of Paul Maurice, Dave Lowry, Rick Bowness or Scott Arniel, he never could quite find a way to usurp various characters on the top line and power play unit, including Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi - to name a few. 

His ~16 minute average of ice time per game puts him somewhere between second and third line players, despite owning speed, a skillset and hockey IQ among the very best in the league. 

Check out that time on ice stat:

“Third liner” https://t.co/Vl5RJjwR0L

— Carter Brooks (@CBrooksie84) July 3, 2025

It is with the Hurricanes where he hopes to find a new path to greatness. A strong forward corps including the likes of Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal should provide ample competition for the always passionate Ehlers. 

Will he find his Stanley Cup glory with Carolina? He sure thinks so, and has 51 million reasons to believe his new landing spot is as legitimate as they come. 

After having spent time under the watchful tutelage of recent back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning head coach Paul Maurice, Ehlers will now get to work for another champion and noted winner, Rod Brind'Amour. 

With Winnipeg in the rearview mirror, Ehlers will look to stay healthy and play six complete 82-game seasons in Carolina - something he only managed to do three out of his 10 seasons in Winnipeg. 

With the NHL schedule yet to be released for the 2025-26 season, fans will surely look to circle the lone battle at Canada Life Centre between the Jets and Hurricanes for the coming year, where Ehlers should receive a hearty hello from fans in attendance. 

Although it wasn't the ending that Jets fans had in mind, it is a change of scenery that hopefully gives a much deserving player the chance he so highly covets - that of playing meaningful minutes and winning a Stanley Cup. 

And with Carolina, he should be able to accomplish both.