As the Calgary Flames look to take a step forward in their retooling efforts, don’t be surprised if some fresh faces start making more regular appearances on the blue line. All drafted in 2020, these three defencemen have spent the past few seasons developing within the Flames system—and now, they’re knocking louder than ever on the NHL door.

Here’s a look at three homegrown blueliners Flames fans should keep a close eye on in 2025-26:

Ilya Solovyov – The Next One Up?

At 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, Ilya Solovyov brings a solid frame, a smooth skating stride, and a physical edge that makes him a natural fit on an NHL blue line. After being selected in the seventh round (205th overall) back in 2020, Solovyov has developed steadily through the Wranglers system and got his feet wet in the NHL last season with five appearances. He picked up an assist in those games and showed flashes of the two-way potential that has made him a standout in the AHL.

Last season with the Wranglers, Solovyov turned heads with his poise, offensive instincts, and ability to jump into the rush when the opportunity presents itself. He’s shown he can move the puck and bring some bite defensively, making him a strong candidate to push for a full-time NHL role coming out of training camp.

He’s entering year two on his deal with the Flames worth $1.55 million total. The first year was a two-way contract, but it turns into a one-way deal this season — indicating the organization believes he’s close to sticking around with the big club.

Yan Kuznetsov – Quietly Climbing

If Solovyov is the flashier puck-mover, Yan Kuznetsov is his quieter, steadier counterpart. Drafted in the second round (50th overall) in 2020, Kuznetsov plays a traditional stay-at-home style that’s built on smart positioning, physical strength, and sound decision-making.

He made his NHL debut on January 9, 2024, against the Ottawa Senators, and while it was just a single appearance, it showed that he’s next in line to be trusted in a shutdown role. Last season in the AHL, he posted an impressive plus-21 rating with the Wranglers, alongside 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) in 72 games—showcasing his ability to contribute at both ends of the ice.

The Flames clearly see value in his progression, re-signing Kuznetsov this summer to a two-year contract that goes to a one-way in its second year. That puts him firmly in the mix for more NHL time this season.

Jeremie Poirier – High Risk, High Reward

Few prospects within the Flames’ pipeline bring as much offensive upside from the back end as Jeremie Poirier. Taken in the third round (72nd overall), Poirier is a dynamic skater with a natural flair for jumping into the rush, threading passes, and running the power play. When he’s dialed in, he looks like a future 50-point NHL defender.

Injury slowed him down during his second pro season, but he bounced back strong in 2024-25, putting up 42 points (5 goals, 37 assists) in 71 games. His minus-9 rating highlights the ongoing need for more consistency and defensive discipline—but the raw tools are undeniable.

With rookie Zayne Parekh now in the system, it may have pushed Poirier down the depth chart, but his experience could still make him an intriguing option for some NHL consideration. 

Poirier is signed through 2025-26 on a deal worth $775,000. He’ll be an RFA after that, and this season could be a defining one in determining whether he takes the next step in his NHL journey.

Final Thoughts

The Flames have been patient in developing their young defensive core, and now that patience may start paying off. Solovyov looks ready to push for a full-time roster spot, Kuznetsov continues to prove himself as a reliable depth option, and Poirier brings the kind of offensive firepower that could make him a fan favourite—if he can round out the rest of his game.

All three have taken different paths, but they share a common thread: drafted by the Flames in 2020, developed within the system, and now on the verge of becoming NHL regulars.

Keep an eye on this trio—because chances are, you’ll be seeing a lot more of them in Calgary this season.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

While most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed, there are still some interesting players who are available for the taking. One of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta, as the 35-year-old blueliner is still looking for his new home.

When looking at the remain UFA defensemen on the market, there is no question that Rutta is one of the top ones available. Thus, it would not be surprising in the slightest if he ended up landing with another NHL team before training camp is here. 

Rutta spent this past season with the San Jose Sharks, where he recorded three goals, six assists, nine points, 81 blocks, and a minus-3 rating. This was after he had five goals, 14 assists, and 19 points in 69 contests with the Sharks during the 2023-24 campaign.

Overall, teams looking for help on the right side of their third pairing and penalty kill could consider bringing in Rutta. He is a steady veteran defensive defenseman, and it also does not hurt that he has two Stanley Cup championships on his resume. 

In 56 games during the 2022-23 season with the Penguins, Rutta had three goals, nine points, 71 hits, and a plus-3 rating. His time with the Penguins ended when he was dealt to the Sharks in the deal that sent Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh during the 2023 NHL off-season. 

Penguins Promising Goalie Is Clear Breakout CandidateGoaltender Joel Blomqvist got into his first NHL action this past season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, the young goaltender ran into some trouble adjusting to the NHL level with Pittsburgh, as he had a 4-9-1 record, a 3.81 goals-against average, and a .885 save percentage in 15 appearances.

Photo Credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The NHL summer splash rankings continue with team No. 20, the Seattle Kraken.

In this series, we’re focusing on every NHL team’s off-season, ranking teams that got worse, better and mainly stayed the same. We’re analyzing each franchise’s additions, departures and, where applicable, coaching and management hirings and firings.

We’re now at the point in the rankings where we’re zeroing in on teams that essentially have stayed the same this summer. The teams that finished below the Kraken are listed at the end. Let’s look at what Seattle has done.

Additions

Mason Marchment (LW), Frederick Gaudreau (C), Ryan Lindgren (D), Matt Murray (G), Lane Lambert (coach)

The Breakdown: The Kraken had a disappointing performance in 2024-25, finishing seventh in the relatively weak Pacific Division. Entering its fifth season of operation, Seattle has had difficulty putting a balanced attack together. 

This past season, the Kraken had the NHL’s ninth-worst defense at an average of 3.20 goals against per game. 

New GM Jason Botterill only addressed that weakness with the signing of former New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Lindgren and former Minnesota Wild center Gaudreau, the latter of whom posted 18 goals and 37 points as a bottom-six forward this past season.

Meanwhile, the trade acquisition of former Dallas Stars left winger Marchment was a coup for Botterill. Marchment played only 62 regular-season games this past season, but he posted a career-high 22 goals, and his 47 points were tied for the second-most in a campaign in his career. Marchment is also entering a contract year, so he’ll be motivated to get a raise on his $4.5-million cap hit. But the three newcomers are net-positives for Seattle, even if only slightly so.

That said, the biggest addition is Lambert coming in as Seattle’s new coach. The former New York Islanders bench boss and Toronto Maple Leafs associate coach has a clear task ahead of him: get this team back into the post-season for the first time in three years. Bylsma couldn’t get the job done in one year and was fired, so the pressure on Lambert will be immediate and considerable.

Departures

Andre Burakovsky (LW), Michael Eyssimont (C), Dan Bylsma (coach)

The Breakdown: For the most part, the Kraken lost only fringe players this summer. Eyssimont is a high-energy depth asset who had 16 points this past season. Burakovsky – who was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks – generated only 10 goals and 37 points in 79 games. Burakovsky’s pedigree as a two-time Stanley Cup winner only got him so far in Seattle, and essentially swapping him out for Marchment is good work by Botterill.

Bylsma had only one year on the job before the team dismissed him. Bylsma’s 35-41-6 record this past season is hardly the stuff of coaching legend, and after the Kraken only finished ahead of the lowly San Jose Sharks in the Pacific last year, Botterill moved swiftly to give Lambert his second chance at a head coaching gig.

Under Lambert, the Maple Leafs’ defensive attack was solid. If he can get the Kraken’s defense in respectable order, Lambert will be considered a successful hire. But nothing is guaranteed in that regard, so time will tell whether changing out Bylsma for Lambert was the right move by Botterill.

The Bottom Line

To get back into the post-season, the Kraken must improve defensively. But even if that happens, Seattle still needs (a) young players like forwards Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and Kaapo Kakko to continue to develop their respective games, and (b) veteran contributors Jared McCann, Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz to do their share of the heavy lifting up front.

The Pacific’s wild-card race is up in the air after likely playoff locks Edmonton, Vegas and Los Angeles settle in again at the top of the division. Seattle will be battling the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks for that last playoff spot – but that’s presuming the highly competitive Central Division only sends four of its teams into the post-season. The Central had five playoff teams this past season, so the Kraken have to do their utmost to challenge for a top-three spot in the Pacific.

We don’t believe Seattle has gotten worse this summer, but it’s also clear they’re not considerably better than they were last season – hence, their place in the middle portion of our NHL summer splash rankings. The Kraken obviously aren’t satisfied with their 2024-25 results, but until the newly rejigged lineup proves it can improve on last season, it’s fair to start out the year being skeptical they can do so.

Summer Splash Rankings

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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There have been so many fantastic players who donned the Red, White, and Blue over the years. From Maurice Richard to Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur up front, to Larry Robinson and Serge Savard on the blueline, and to Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, and Carey Price in net, the Montreal Canadiens had plenty of idol material.

You might be surprised to hear who former Canadiens defenseman Alexander Romanov’s idol was, however. No, it wasn’t Larry Robinson; he’s way too young for that, and no, it wasn’t Andrei Markov, who patrolled the Canadiens’ blueline with pride until the end of the 2016-17 season, or Shea Weber.

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No, it wasn’t Alexander Ovechkin either; no matter how many goals he scored, it was Carey Price—the face of the Canadiens’ franchise for so long. Romanov made the declaration on a Russian TV show earlier this week, even admitting that Price was on his phone wallpaper.

The 25-year-old was a second-round pick for the Canadiens, 38th overall at the 2018 draft. Thought to be a reach at the time, the Russian blueliner blossomed into an excellent defenseman and was sacrificed by the Habs to acquire Kirby Dach at the 2022 draft.

He has since been a key cog of the New York Islanders’ blueline and was signed to an eight-year contract with a $6,25 million AAV by new GM Mathieu Darche. With Noah Dobson’s trade to the Canadiens, Romanov should be called on to take even more responsibilities on Long Island this season.  

Alexander Romanov came to the studio for a live broadcast and told a lot of interesting things. Here is an excerpt where he mentioned that his idol has always been Carey Price, and that he was on the wallpaper of his phone😅🥹 pic.twitter.com/1gxX0x0Tw3

— Милена (@D1VDsAGUJsk2iPk) July 27, 2025

Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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Shortly after the Abbotsford Canucks began celebrating their Calder Cup championship, a few of the players got to work.

Their goalie was busy doing interviews – because he was the biggest reason they won the thing – so he didn’t see his teammates surreptitiously cutting the netting off the Canucks’ goal at Bojangles Coliseum. (Greatest arena name ever, by the way.)

By the time Arturs Silovs was finishing up his on-ice interview, his teammates had managed to remove the mesh from the iron and draped it over his shoulders. It was symbolic in a couple of ways. First, it reminded all who watched the Canucks’ playoff run that Silovs was so simpatico with his net that almost nothing got by him. Second, it was the affirmation that, as the Canucks knew all along, the net indisputably belonged to their 24-year-old Latvian goalie, who seems to have a penchant for playing out of his mind in big games.

Silovs started each of the Canucks’ 24 games during the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs, winning 16 while putting up a .931 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average. He was also named playoff MVP. But that’s not the half of it. In the final series, the Canucks were outshot 229 to 147 by the Charlotte Checkers, an average of 13.7 shots per game over the six games.

In Game 1 of the series, Silovs faced 54 shots. That’s not including the one that went past him when teammate Ty Mueller won a defensive-zone draw in overtime and pulled it directly into the Abbotsford net while Silovs was turning around after taking a drink of water. It was later ruled that Silovs was not set for the play, and the goal was called back before Danila Klimovich scored on the power play in double overtime.

More symbolism. It seemed the only time opponents could figure Silovs out was when he wasn’t ready. But when he was, his play was remarkable. Silovs posted a .934 SP in the final series. One of the key reasons the Canucks won the Calder Cup was that they never lost two straight games. They lost eight times in the playoffs, and in the games after a loss, Silovs went 8-0, tossed up two shutouts and recorded a .948 SP.

“Arty’s play in those games was unbelievable,” said Canucks rookie coach Manny Malhotra.

And because of that, Silovs found himself at the top of the mountain, just months after struggling through a disastrous start to the NHL season.

He entered the year having created high expectations for himself after getting the Vancouver Canucks to Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs in 2024. In 2023, all he did was lead Latvia, the little engine that could, to a bronze medal at the World Championship. For his efforts, Silovs was named the top goalie and MVP of the tournament.

And when he was asked what the Calder Cup win means to him, he spoke like someone who doesn’t expect to be competing for it ever again.

“You’re finishing a part of your career with a milestone,” Silovs said. “Not everyone can say they won a Calder Cup, right? I think it’s really special…and I think it’s going to help a lot in the future.”

Yeah, about that. Things were interesting in Vancouver’s crease. The brilliant-but-injury-riddled Thatcher Demko has one year left on his current deal at $5 million, but he signed a three-year contract extension worth $8.5-million annually. The Canucks also signed 30-year-old Kevin Lankinen to a five-year, $22.5-million extension that kicks in next season.

You’d have to wonder whether they would have signed Lankinen long-term if they’d known what Silovs was going to accomplish in Abbotsford.

For his part, Silovs has one year left on a deal that will pay him $800,000 – whether he plays in the NHL or the minors – before he becomes an RFA with arbitration rights. But what makes all of this so intriguing is that in order to be sent to the minors in 2025-26, Silovs would have to go on waivers.

The Canucks decided to avoid a scenario where they risked having a cumbersome three-goalie setup or lost Silovs for nothing. That's why they traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 14 for Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.

We do know that Silovs can play. His body of work in the AHL, internationally and, at times, in the NHL has proven he’s ready to be a full-time NHL goalie. The fact that Latvia chose to name him among the first six players for their 2026 Olympic team is a testament to the faith they have in him to deliver on the world stage.

While he has had his peaks and valleys, he’s not unlike a lot of young goalies who take a few years – and in many cases, a few organizations – to find their places in the hockey world. Silovs is young for a goalie, but he’s also got a cross-section of experience and success that suggests he deserves a sustained shot at proving he can stay in the NHL.

Silovs was brilliant at times for the big club during the 2024 post-season. But when the NHL crease was his to start the regular season, he struggled – and he struggled mightily. He gave up five or more goals in three of his nine starts, and his only two wins of the season came against the Chicago Blackhawks, and we’re not even sure if those even count these days.

Brighter days are ahead, one would presume, for both Silovs and other Canucks prospects who made a push in the playoffs. For the short term, Silovs was intent on living in the moment and enjoying the accomplishment.

“It’s so special,” he said. “Basically, I grew up with this team. We started with nearly everyone at the same time. We had some ups and downs, and to manage to win with the same guys is unbelievable.”

Could The Penguins' Arturs Silovs Become The Next Dominik Hasek?How's that for a headline, eh? When the Vancouver Canuckstraded 24-year-old Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday for a fourth-round pick and a middling prospect in Chase Stillman, they did so with their fingers crossed that he won't make them look ridiculous.

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This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue and was lightly edited for online after the Canucks traded Silovs to the Penguins.

Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

According to a new report, the goalie-needy Edmonton Oilers are not expected to target former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart at this time.

Hart, 26, was found not guilty of sexual assault in the 2018 Hockey Canada trial by Justice Maria Carroccia and remains an unrestricted free agent, though the NHL has deemed Hart and the other four players ineligible to return for the time being.

But, while Hart awaits an update on his status from the NHL, it would appear the Oilers have been ruled out as a potential landing spot for the Flyers' former No. 1 goalie.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Hart is a "non-starter" for the Oilers as things currently stand.

"I was told that Carter Hart is a non-starter for the Edmonton Oilers, and, beyond that, he's a non-starter for everyone right now coming off his acquittal in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case in court in London, Ontario, as ruled upon last week," Seravalli said during a livestream for B/R Open Ice.

"Him and the other four former NHL players have been labelled by the NHL as ineligible, and they're going to continue to review the file before determining next steps in the commissioner's office. Until they are cleared to play, it's not even really a conversation worth having, even though the NHLPA has strongly voiced their objection to how the NHL has viewed this situation."

Carter Hart is a "non-starter" for the Edmonton Oilers as the five former Hockey Canada players acquitted of sexual assault remain ineligible to play in the NHL (w/ @frank_seravalli) pic.twitter.com/4FNDVaYRAA

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 29, 2025

It's unclear how long it'll take for the clash between the NHL and NHLPA to resolved, and for the NHL to reach it's final decision.

For what it's worth, Alexey Sopin, the general manager of the KHL's Avangard Omsk who added Michael McLeod to his roster last season, believes a solution will be reached sooner rather than later.

"I can’t give an exact date – we’ll wait a week or two. From our contacts with Michael, his agents and North American hockey specialists, we understand that the league will not delay the decision, and they should release it in the next week or two," Sopin told Championat in a recent interview. "That is, either they allow them to play, or they don’t allow them, or they allow them, but they recommend that clubs not sign a contract with them. I think that the league itself will not delay this decision, and in the near future we will find out everything."

For both sides, it would make the most sense to find common ground ahead of training camp and the start of the preseason, but that remains to be seen.

For now, Hart isn't quite on the table for the Oilers or any of the other NHL teams.

The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of exciting young players on their roster who could become nice pieces for them later down the road. Forward Colton Dach is certainly one of them, as the 22-year-old forward has shown promise early on his professional career.

Dach played in his first 25 NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he recorded two goals, five assists, seven points, and 86 hits. With numbers like these, he chipped in a bit offensively, but more notably stood out due to his immense physicality. With this, he certainly should compete for a spot in the Blackhawks' bottom six next season.

Down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs in 2024-25, Dach played very well, posting 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points in just 33 games. This was after he had 11 goals and 16 points in 48 games with the AHL squad in 2023-24. With numbers like these in the AHL, it would not be surprising in the slightest if Dach gets his offense up a bit more with the Blackhawks next season.

With all of this, there is no question that Dach is a prospect who should not be slept on. The prospect of him blossoming into a solid top-nine forward at the NHL level is there, and it is going to be very fascinating to see what kind of campaign he has with the Blackhawks in 2025-26 because of it. 

Blackhawks Have Interesting Potential Target In Ex-Bruins ForwardWhen looking at the Chicago Blackhawks' current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use a bit more forward depth. Due to this, bringing in another potential option for their bottom six could be smart for the Original Six club. 

Photo Credit:  © Matt Marton-Imagn Images