Category: Sports News

After facing their medical and physical tests yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens hopefuls were put through a challenging first practice by Laval Rocket coach Pascal Vincent. The players hit the ice at 10:00 AM sharp, and some were still on the ice at midday.

While the day started relatively easily with a few minutes of players taking breakaway shots on the goalies at both ends of the ice, the intensity soon went up after a whiteboard session in which the coach explained what they wanted the players to focus on for the day. Active sticks, poke checks, and combativity —it might just have been rookie camp drills —but for these players, a lot is riding on their performance, and it showed.

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A few players stand out, notably Ivan Demidov, who outperformed Simon Lavigne in a one-on-one drill. The Russian then cut to the inside and scored a beautiful goal on Jacob Fowler. It makes no doubt whatsoever that teams who let Demidov get a breakaway on them will regret it. He scored a few goals that showed just how skilled a player he is.

pic.twitter.com/nlJthLJZKNhttps://t.co/ZbnCNsnHyL

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) September 11, 2025

David Reinbacher also seemed in great shape, and anyone who wondered if he would play differently after his knee injury and surgery can rest easy. The youngster is all in, and his skating is on point. Israel Mianscum can attest to that as the Austrian flew by him in a one-on-one drill.

On Wednesday, Vincent had told the media that he was eager to see how a player like Demidov could apply the defensive concepts that would be taught at camp, but that comment applied to every player, really. For quite a few drills, players had to start by dispossessing a coach with a sticklift before feeding their teammate and joining in the attack.

For those who are already lamenting coaches wanting to denaturalize an offensive talent like Demidov, this is not what that is. Any player will be much more efficient on the ice if he plays both ways. Just think of the work Martin St-Louis did with Cole Caufield, it’s just like that. No matter how talented a player is, his odds of producing get even higher if they are efficient on the other side of the puck.

Unlike last season, the rookies were forced to take a break midway through the practice to allow the Zamboni to do its job. Last year, the players went to the other rink, but that wasn’t possible this time around; the other ice was hosting the Canadiens’ veterans, who were all hard at work.

Throughout the drills, players skated with various linemates, which might indicate that Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, Florian Xhekaj, Filip Mesar, and Luke Tuch were all wearing white jerseys. At the same time, Owen Beck, Vinzenz Rohrer, and Tyler Thorpe were sporting red jerseys. It will be interesting to see if that stays true for Friday’s practice which is also scheduled at 10:00 AM at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. 

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According to a report, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart and the four other players involved in the Hockey Canada trial will be suspended until Dec. 1.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday that Hart, 27, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton will be suspended by the NHL until Dec. 1.

The five players are eligible to sign with NHL teams as of Oct. 15, however.

Friedman also reports that the players will not appeal this decision.

Hart, McLeod, Dube, Foote, and Formenton were acquitted of the charges brought against them in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial on July 24, though the NHL did not immediately reinstate them, ultimately bringing about Thursday's reports.

Previously, it was reported that the Flyers were one of multiple teams interested in Carter Hart.

Flyers governor Dan Hilferty and president Keith Jones declined comment on anything Hart-related during their press conference on Wednesday.

"It’s believed [NHL commissioner Gary Bettman] met with the players sometime in August," Friedman wrote. "NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said during the European media tour in Milan that the not-guilty verdicts should allow the players to return to action."

Hart has not played a competitive game since his last Flyers appearance in Jan. 2024, and should he and the other players be confirmed to be suspended until Dec. 1, he will be 23 months removed from NHL action at the time of his potential return.

UPDATE: The NHL has confirmed the above reports in a statement, which reads as follows.

"The events that transpired after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala in London, Ontario, prior to these players’ arrival in the NHL, were deeply troubling and unacceptable.  The League expects everyone connected with the game to conduct themselves with the highest level of moral integrity. And, in this case, while found not to have been criminal, the conduct of the players involved certainly did not meet that standard.

"Upon learning of the allegations in May 2022, the League commenced a third-party investigation into their conduct. This investigation was extensive, and included, among other things: interviews with every player on the team and several other relevant parties who were willing to meet with us, and examination of hundreds of documents, videos and texts.

"The League paused our process in January 2024, when prosecutors in London, Ontario, announced that Mr. Dubé, Mr. Foote, Mr. Formenton, Mr. Hart, and Mr. McLeod would be criminally charged.

"After more than one year of pretrial proceedings, the criminal trial commenced in April 2025, and lasted approximately two months, concluding on June 13, 2025. The verdicts finding each of the players not guilty were announced in a lengthy and thorough opinion by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia on July 24, 2025. In her decision, Justice Carroccia carefully reviewed the record presented to the court.

"In relying on both our own investigation, and the conclusions reached by Justice Carroccia in her opinion, and the players’ acquittal, the League has determined that the conduct at issue falls woefully short of the standards and values that the League and its Member Clubs expect and demand.

"The League is now confronted with how best to respond to all that has happened -- the conduct of the players, the criminal proceeding, and the acquittal of the players.

"Each of the players, based on in-person meetings with the League following the verdicts, expressed regret and remorse for his actions. Nevertheless, we believe their conduct requires formal League-imposed discipline.

"Given their conduct, we carefully evaluated the players’ acquittal in court and the time spent away from the game. Taking into account that the players have been away from the game for 20 months – including since their acquittals in July -- we have determined that the players will be eligible to sign an NHL contract no sooner than October 15, 2025, and eligible to play in NHL games no sooner than December 1, 2025, bringing their total time out of the League to nearly two years.

"The League expects and requires that, going forward, each of the players will uphold the standards required of NHL players both on and off the ice."

This is a developing story.

Luchanko out, Bump's intriguing line and more from Flyers rookie camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — It wasn’t quite Matvei Michkov mania like last September.

But as the Flyers’ 2025 rookie training camp opened Thursday, there were still plenty of notable prospects to track. However, one was not on the ice.

We’ll get into that and more before the Flyers’ prospects take on the Rangers’ prospects for the first of two matchups this weekend at PPL Center.

No Luchanko

After missing development camp in July because of a groin issue, Jett Luchanko was not on the ice Thursday. The Flyers announced that he was held out for precautionary reasons and is expected to be available for the start of main camp in a week.

It is a tad concerning that Luchanko was not cleared for rookie camp when the injury was believed to not be too serious earlier this summer. But there really is no rush to get Luchanko into rookie camp. He went through it last September and impressed. He even got a four-game taste of the NHL as an 18-year-old.

So, with main camp being the focus, it looks like the 2024 first-rounder won’t play in the rookie games.

“Just things from the season, just taking the time in the summer to try to do what I can to get better,” Luchanko said in July about the injury. “I don’t think it’ll be an issue at all for coming forward.”

The speedy center has an outside shot to crack the Flyers’ season-opening roster again. But if he doesn’t, going back to the OHL and vying to play for Team Canada again at the IIHF World Junior Championship wouldn’t be a bad thing.

A Bump in excitement

Alex Bump, Jack Nesbitt and Samu Tuomaala formed what could be the Flyers’ top line Friday night. We’ll see if the Flyers roll with that in Game 1 against the Rangers, but there’s a lot to like with that line.

Bump loves to score the puck, Nesbitt has all kinds of size and skill and Tuomaala brings high-end speed. The trio produced a goal in a 3-on-2 drill, with Tuomaala finishing on a nice shot.

Jack Nesbitt to Alex Bump to Samu Tuomaala, who finishes with a nice shot. Could be a fun line to watch in rookie games if it sticks. pic.twitter.com/43tMENt2hG

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 11, 2025

“I thought they were great,” John Snowden, the Phantoms’ head coach who runs rookie camp, said. “There’s a little bit of everything on that line. Bumper makes a ton of plays, he’s poised with the puck. Samu can score when he gets any kind of chance in a good area of the ice. I thought Nesbitt can do a little bit of everything — he gets pucks back, he’s long, he disrupts plays so he can extend O-zone possessions.”

Bump is the headliner of rookie camp. The 21-year-old winger has a legit shot to make the big club’s roster.

“He’s not coming to camp to hope to play one day; he’s coming to make the team,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in July. “If he’s good enough, we’ll have to figure it out.”

Alex Bump with a nice shot past Carson Bjarnason here.

Bump is skating on a line with Jack Nesbitt and Samu Tuomaala. We’ll see if that sticks for one of the rookie games. pic.twitter.com/X78bj4fumr

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 11, 2025

Big club updates

Rasmus Ristolainen, wearing a non-contact jersey, had a rehab skate Thursday morning. The 30-year-old defenseman is working his way back from a second triceps tendon rupture.

His recovery was slated for six months after he underwent surgery March 26. He’s not expected to participate in training camp.

“He’s going to be out until probably the early parts of next season unfortunately,” general manager Danny Briere said in April after last season.

Tyson Foerster was also wearing a non-contact jersey as he took part in a skate with the full big club group. The 23-year-old winger had surgery this offseason on his elbow to address an infection. He’s expected to be ready for the Oct. 9 opener.

“Tyson’s on pace to be there for us when the season starts,” president of hockey operations Keith Jones said Wednesday.

The Philadelphia Flyers prospects took the ice Thursday to kick off rookie camp, with the top dogs gaining a big head-start and leading the way.

There was one notable absentee, though, as 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko was held out for precautionary reasons, according to the Flyers.

Aside from Luchanko, everyone else was accounted for.

Lines and defensive pairings began to take shape after the first few drills; here's what I came away with ahead of the rookie series against the New York Rangers this weekend, in no particular order:

Alex Bump - Jack Nesbitt - Samu Tuomaala
Denver Barkey - Jacob Gaucher - Devin Kaplan
Nikita Grebenkin - Karsen Dorwart - Alexis Gendron
Tucker Robertson - Matthew Gard - Nathan Quinn
Sawyer Boulton

Hunter McDonald - Oliver Bonk
Ty Murchison - Spencer Gill
Austin Moline - Luke Vlooswyk
Andre Mondoux - Ethan Samson

Joey Costanzo, Carson Bjarnason

Philadelphia Flyers Confirm 2 Rookie Camp InvitesThe Philadelphia Flyers will welcome two fresh faces to the fold when they kick off rookie camp later this week.

As expected, the top prospects were among the most impressive, and, yes, it is only practice.

I didn't see Nesbitt do too much, but it should be noted that Bump and Tuomaala were often the set-up guys or the trigger men, so the 2025 first-round pick was more occupied doing the thankless stuff.

"There's a little bit of everything on that line," Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden said. "Bumper makes a ton of plays and he's poised with the puck. Samu can score when he gets any kind of chance in a good area. I know that Nesbitt can do a little bit of everything.

"He gets pucks back, he's long, disrupts plays so he can extend those offensive zone possessions. I thought they were really good."

Other players who stood out, at least in my eyes, were Barkey, Kaplan, Gendron, and Grebenkin.

Gendon was very involved offensively and was able to get on the end of scoring chances with regularity. To that end, Grebenkin was a monster protecting the puck, made a handful of plays defensively, and plays with a healthy dose of creativity.

I'd be shocked if the former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect isn't a finalist for an NHL roster spot in a few weeks.

We have not seen much of Barkey, since he dealt with mono last summer and then had a long Memorial Cup run that held him off the ice at training camp.

3 Flyers Prospects with the Most to Prove at 2025 Training CampIf the Philadelphia Flyers are to make any noise in the 2025-26 season, some up-and-coming prospects will need to steal the spotlight and show some progress.

The 20-year-old plays every bit the way he did in junior with the London Knights - digs into battles, plays with poise and patience, knows how to attack the net in different ways, and makes the passes an offensive producer would make.

Barkey certainly will be a fun player for Snowden to utilize in Lehigh Valley this year.

As for Kaplan, he, too, is turning pro after his collegiate career with Boston University came to an end earlier this year.

The Flyers' former-third round pick looks a bit twitchier and quicker than I remember, which is an awesome sign for a player his size.

Kaplan made his NHL debut in Game 82 against Buffalo on April 17 and was beaten in his defensive zone coverage to allow a goal, so he's by no means a finished product.

To that end, though, I think the Flyers would be comfortable giving him another opportunity at some point this season if necessary.

The same is true of defenseman Oliver Bonk, who was a clear standout Thursday in his return to the ice alongside Barkey.

The Flyers tasked him with getting bigger and stronger, and, so far, the former first-round pick claims to have gained 15 pounds this summer to get up to an even 200.

I can't see Bonk beating out a Helge Grans for a roster spot right away barring a morbid training camp from the latter, but he's a strong candidate to see NHL ice this season nonetheless.

"The biggest thing we left them with today is, no matter where your situation falls, make an impression," Snowden added. "That's gonna be the biggest thing. Be who you are, don't change who you are as a player. Come in and play the way that you play, but leave an impression."

For Snowden, "every single guy was really good today," and the Flyers will begin to set their sights on the Rangers for a quick two-game rookie series this weekend.

After that, the real business starts with training camp and the preseason.

The results of The Hockey News’ 2025-26 NHL pre-season fan survey are in. 

As we approach the start of the new campaign, NHL fans have shared their predictions, preferences and perspectives on a ton of topics. Thank you to all those who participated.

We begin with revealing the results of the first nine questions from the survey, including favorite teams and players, biggest pest, Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup predictions and more.

As a note, for responses that listed multiple players or teams, the first player or team listed was counted.

Favorite Team

Don't see the chart? Click here.

Keep the answers for the favorite team and player questions in mind when reading the rest of the results over this three-part series.

Three Canadian teams led the way, with the Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs combining for 35 percent of the votes.

Following the trio of Canadian teams are six consecutive Eastern Conference squads, then six Western Conference clubs.

Favorite Player

Don't see the chart? Click here.

Considering the Canucks received the most votes for favorite team, it’s little surprise that captain Quinn Hughes earned 22 votes.

Canadian heroes Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid come in the top three in this section of the survey. Aside from their outstanding talent and accolades, they both have a tournament-clinching goal for Team Canada in their careers.

Some respondents listed a current player and a former player, such as Joe Sakic and Mario Lemieux. Someone else listed Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman. (Whichever name was listed first was counted.)

And to the Canucks fan that said “Pettersson” – you’ll have to be more specific.

Most Underrated Player

Don't see the chart? Click here.

This question never seems to have a collective answer and can change with every season. But these results for the most underrated player in the NHL show a clear top three: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin.

Suzuki is coming off a career year, scoring 89 points and leading his Habs to the playoffs. With that, he was left off Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, which sparked a real debate about Suzuki’s ability.

Connor is arguably a budding superstar who can score at will, posting 41 goals and 97 points last season. 

Meanwhile, Slavin is often discussed as the best defensive defenseman in the NHL, a type of player that doesn’t get all the hype. 

“How he's not in the Norris Trophy conversation every single year, it doesn't seem right,” Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters last spring.

NHL’s Biggest Pest

Don't see the chart? Click here.

For the NHL’s biggest pest, there seems to be a theme for the top three. Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett all play for the Florida Panthers and have won a Stanley Cup together. Even former Panther Nick Cousins made the list.

Outside of Florida’s trio, Capitals’ right winger Tom Wilson was the only other player to receive double-digit votes with 14. Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk sneaks in at No. 5.

Most Dominant Player Right Now

Don't see the chart? Click here.

There was no contest nor any doubt as to who would get the most votes for this question. Connor McDavid received 129 votes, which equals over 60 percent of all responses.

The Edmonton Oilers captain is one of the few players in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy on the losing team in a Stanley Cup final. That alone is a testament to his dominance in the NHL. 

In his 10-year career, McDavid has had eight seasons with 100 or more points. The two seasons where he didn’t reach the 100-point mark were his rookie campaign, when he played 45 games due to injury, and 2019-20, when he scored 97 points in 64 games in a season cut short by COVID-19.

Most Dominant Player In 10 Years

Don't see the chart? Click here.

The trio of Macklin Celebrini, Gavin McKenna and Connor Bedard could be the faces of the NHL in 2035, according to the fans.

Fans got a taste of what Celebrini and Bedard are made of, since Bedard has been around for two seasons and Celebrini wrapped up his rookie campaign last year. But McKenna is yet to be drafted into the NHL.

The former Medicine Hat Tiger is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. He’s coming off a WHL championship, where he recorded 48 goals and 167 points in 72 regular-season and playoff games. He’s taking his talents to NCAA Penn State in his draft year and could be college hockey’s next superstar.

2025-26 Hart Trophy Winner

Don't see the chart? Click here.

While McDavid was once again the clear winner, he didn’t get as big a chunk of the votes as he did for the “most dominant player right now” question. Nathan MacKinnon, meanwhile, got a bigger chunk in second place than the dominance question.

In fact, 16 people who voted for McDavid for most dominant player predicted MacKinnon to win the Hart Trophy.

The defending champion of this award, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, received only one vote. He’s tied with “Definitely not Matthew Tkachuk.”

McDavid has the best odds of winning the Hart Trophy at 2.90 (+190), according to BetMGM. MacKinnon is second, at 5.75 (+475).

2026 Stanley Cup Champions

Don't see the chart? Click here.

The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, are favorites to win it again, according to the fan survey. That said, it’s close between them and the Dallas Stars.

Florida was the only Eastern Conference squad in the top five, which suggests we could see an exciting post-season in the Western Conference yet again between contenders in Edmonton, Dallas, Vegas, Colorado and Winnipeg.

The Canucks even beat out the Jets in the voting despite missing the playoffs last year. All 11 people who chose Vancouver said they’re Canucks fans.

And despite Florida being the popular pick, two fans were clear about how they feel toward the team. "Anyone but the Panthers PLEASE," one fan said. Another fan said, "I hope it's not Florida again."

The Panthers have the best odds of winning the Cup at 7.00, according to BetMGM. The Avalanche and Golden Knights are tied at 9.00, followed by the Hurricanes (9.25), Oilers (9.50) and Stars (11.00).

2026 Olympics And 2028 World Cup Winners

Don't see the chart? Click here.

This question was meant to see which country’s national men’s team will not only win the Olympics but the 2028 World Cup of Hockey as well.

With over 65 percent of the vote, Team Canada is the favorite to win both international competitions. Canada has won the last four best-on-best international tournaments: the 4 Nations Face-Off from last February, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2014 and 2010 Winter Olympics.

Team USA was second with 62 votes, while Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Russia also received votes. Russia will not be in the 2026 Olympics, while the eight teams for the World Cup haven’t been announced yet.

Four voters predicted different teams for each tournament, which was a combination of Canada, the USA and Russia.

Canada has the best odds on BetMGM of winning the men's hockey tournament in the 2026 Olympics, at 2.75, while the Americans are at 3.00.

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

It has been a busy and exciting summer for Brady Martin.

The center was selected by the Nashville Predators fifth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft and has spent the summer getting more familiar with Music City and his potential future teammates, even living with Filip Forsberg. 

"Him [Forsberg] and his wife were great, and little baby Felix was awesome," Martin said. 

He's slowly immersed himself in the team's culture, while at the same time proving that he deserves a spot on the roster. 

September will be a critical month for Martin. He's preparing to play in the NHL's Prospects Tournament in Tampa this weekend and will return to Nashville for Predators training camp and preseason. 

Martin stated when he was drafted that he wanted to make the roster this fall and that time has just about come.

"I just want to go out there and play to my strengths. That's a big thing for me," Martin said. "I want to do my best and hopefully come back after the rookie tournament, maybe get some preseason games and we'll see how it goes from there." 

Along with staying with Forsberg, Martin came down to Nashville to get some work in ahead of training camp with the Predators assistant captain and Ryan O'Reilly.

While he's yet to play an NHL game, Martin said working with Forsberg and O'Reilly has given him a look into the mentality it takes to play in this league. 

"It's just about the way they act and the way they do things," Martin said about being around Forsberg and O'Reilly. "They have a routine and they take it so seriously. They always try to get better every day and they put in the work." 

 Martin really hasn't had a break this summer. Following the draft, Martin was at rookie camp in Nashville and a few weeks later was at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis, playing with Team Canada. 

As mentioned earlier, he arrived in Nashville early to work with Predator vets, and is now getting ready for three games in the Prospect Tournament and then training camp, which will feature five games. 

There's a lot on his plate, but being at the rink keeps him level and allows him to decompress. 

"I like coming to the rink and getting back here, so that's my mental recharge," Martin said. "Cooling down and hanging out with the guys. Being a part of the team is a big thing for me." 

The Predators are in need of depth down the middle and Martin's addition to the roster could help that effort. He has already signed his entry-level contract with the team. 

If he is still in need of development, the NHL is planning to introduce a new rule to its Collective Bargaining Agreement to send one 19-year-old CHL player to the American Hockey League.

The Canadian Hockey League still needs to agree upon the rule, and the eligibility needs to be straightened out, as Martin is still 18 years old, but will be 19 years old by the end of the NHL season. 

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Easton Cowan is happy to be in one spot for the upcoming season.

If the 20-year-old doesn’t make the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp, there’s only one place he’ll end up: in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. No more OHL, no more London. The winger will remain in Toronto with whatever happens once October rolls around.

“My mind’s pretty free right now. I got no worries,” Cowan said on Thursday after the first day of Maple Leafs rookie camp. “I know I’ll be playing somewhere in Toronto this year, and obviously I want to play in the NHL, but I just got to have a good mindset and keep it free.”

Cowan is one of 26 players participating with the Maple Leafs in the 2025 Prospect Showdown at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, this weekend. The group practiced on Thursday and will go again on Friday, before busing to Montreal.

Easton Cowan Headlines Maple Leafs Roster For Prospects Showdown in Montreal, Schedule Of GamesThe Toronto Maple Leafs rookie roster is set to take on the rookies of the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at the 2025 Prospect Showdown this weekend at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Cowan is set up on a line with Maple Leafs-signed Jacob Quillan and Borya Valis. He’s rooming with Toronto's seventh-round pick in 2024, Sam McCue.

“I played with his brother in London, and they're the exact same,” Cowan smiled. “It's pretty funny, but yeah, he's a good roommate.”

After spending most of the summer training at home in London, Ontario, Cowan returned to Toronto three weeks ago. He’s added a bunch of weight—seven pounds of muscle to be exact—and says he’s in the best shape ever coming into training camp.

'This Is The Most Confident I've Felt': Easton Cowan's Goal Is To Make The Maple Leafs Out Of Training CampEaston Cowan has his mind set on making the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp.

The forward also has a new place for his first year in Toronto.

“I'm actually renting off (Fraser Minten),” Cowan grinned. “He bought a place last year, so I'm going to rent off him and stay there this year.”

The two built a strong relationship while being prospects in the Maple Leafs organization. Although drafted a year apart, Cowan and Minten clicked the first day they met and have been great friends ever since.

Minten, however, was dealt to the Boston Bruins during the trade deadline in March for defenseman Brandon Carlo. Despite that, though, the two former teammates still keep in touch quite often.

Ex-Maple Leafs Prospect Fraser Minten To Participate In Bruins Rookie Tournament Despite Ending Last Season In NHLDespite having 25 games of NHL experience over two seasons, Fraser Minten was announced as part of the Boston Bruinsrookie tournament roster this week. Speaking to reporters at Warrior Ice Arena, Minten was asked how it came to be that he would take part in the tournament. It turns out Minten didn’t volunteer. He’s just following Bruins GM Don Sweeney’s orders.

“I probably FaceTime him every day. He had a good summer in Vancouver. He's enjoying it in Boston,” said Cowan. “I think he's got a good chance of making the team.”

Minten finished last season with the Bruins and could make the NHL club out of training camp this fall. With Cowan also closing in on the NHL, the two could face off against each other this year for the first time.

“We haven't (talked about it) yet, but I mean it’d definitely be cool,” Cowan said. “Hopefully, he'll take me out to dinner or something.”

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Sep 27, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Jiri Smejkal (13) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Brady Keeper (36) during the third period at Bell Centre. David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The South Carolina Stingrays have added some NHL experience to their blueline with the signing of Brady Keeper for the 2025-26 season.

Keeper, 29, comes to the Lowcountry with both NHL and AHL experience. The 6-foot, 203 pound defenseman spent three separate stints in the NHL with the Florida Panthers and played four seasons in the AHL, last with the Laval Rocket in the 2023-24 season.

“Brady brings a tremendous amount of experience to our team, having played at both the NHL and AHL levels throughout his career,” head coach Dave Warsofsky stated. “I've had some great conversations with him about the role he'll play for us, and it's clear he's committed to helping us win here in Charleston. After taking some time away from the game, Brady is eager to get back on the ice and make an impact. He’s a valuable addition, and we believe he'll play an important role in our success this season.”

Keeper signed with the Panthers on March 18, 2019 after he was a standout player for the University of Maine and made his NHL debut on March 29, 2019. He became the first member of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation to play in the National Hockey League in a 5-2 win for Florida over the Ottawa Senators.

After his debut, Keeper played in two more games for Florida over the next two seasons and played in the AHL for the Springfield Thunderbirds and Syracuse Crunch.

During the 2019-20 season, the defenseman posted career highs in Springfield with 18 points (6-12-18) and totaled 108 penalty minutes, seventh most in the AHL that year.

Following his time with the Panthers, Keeper signed with the Vancouver Canucks and played for their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, in the 2022-23 season before signing with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2023-24 season. He tallied four points (1-3-4) in 22 games with Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, that year.

In his career in the AHL, Keeper posted 32 points (11-21-32) in 131 games.

The Cross Lake, Manitoba native played with Justin Nachbaur, who played in 48 games with South Carolina last season, for the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 2016-17. Nachbaur helped get the Stingrays on Keeper’s radar.

“I’m really excited to get the opportunity to be a Stingray,” Keeper said following the signing. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Stingrays organization from my buddy [Justin] Nachbaur so I’m really excited to get down there, meet everyone and get the season going.”

Ryan Winterton is likely entering his third AHL season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds and has been on the cusp of an NHL roster spot for two years now, raising the question of when it will be Winterton's turn to lock down a role on the Seattle Kraken.

Winterton's AHL rookie campaign witnessed him notch 22 goals and 35 points in 58 games, ranking fourth in goals and ninth in points. His sophomore season saw his goals scored number dip, but his points per game increase. Winterton potted 18 goals and 37 points in 56 games, ranking third in goals and sixth in points. 

In each of his first two seasons in the AHL, Winterton earned a callup to the big leagues, skating in nine games in 2023-24 and 12 games in 2024-25. The recently turned 22-year-old has recorded just one assist in 21 games.

Winterton hasn't locked down an NHL role yet, but the consensus is that he is close. While he wasn't a game breaker in his small sample size of NHL games, Winterton was noticeable for positive reasons. 

Standing 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, the 2021 third-round pick is engaged on both sides of the puck. Offensively, he is a strong skater with a balanced offensive approach. With the puck, Winterton has been described as possessing a shot-first mentality, complemented by great puck distribution, which contributed significantly to his even goals-to-assists ratio in his sophomore season.

The other advantage Winterton has is that he is a versatile forward, with the ability to play up the middle and as a winger, although his center ice abilities haven't been used in the NHL just yet. 

With each player, there are reasons why they should be in the NHL and why they shouldn't. For Winterton, the reasons why he shouldn't are quite simple. The first reason is that the Kraken roster has plenty of NHL veterans, meaning his only opportunities at the moment are through injuries or if the Kraken are sellers at the deadline. The second reason is that the Kraken organization are preaching patience. They want Winterton to be as well-equipped as possible when he makes the complete transition to the NHL. 

Winterton was one of the final roster cuts last year following training camp and pre-season, partly due to his status as a waiver-exempt player. With the additions of Mason Marchment, Frederick Gaudreau and the emergence of prospect Jani Nyman, Winterton is once again on the outside looking in when referring to earning a roster spot out of camp. But the Kraken will deal with injuries at some point during the season and will likely be sellers at the deadline, which should undoubtedly open up space for Winterton to make the jump.

At that point, it's solely up to him to prove that he is ready for consistent NHL games by performing at a high level in the AHL and improving on his recent numbers. Nyman, Tye Kartye and Ryker Evans are examples of players who have broken through from the Kraken's farm system, and Winterton is hoping to join that list. 

Five Kraken Youngsters Who Could Make Their NHL Debuts This SeasonThe Seattle Kraken's youth movement begins in 2025-26, which means there will be several opportunities for young Kraken prospects to make their NHL debuts. Three Kraken Prospects Looking To Dominate Rookie Camp And Prospect ShowcaseThe Seattle Kraken's rookie camp kicks off on Thursday with 17 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders practicing at the Kraken Community Iceplex before taking on the Vancouver Canucks' prospects in a two-game showdown. 

Former Flyers goalie Hart to be reinstated by NHL after Hockey Canada trial verdicts originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Former Flyers goaltender Carter Hart and four other players involved in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial will be reinstated by the NHL.

The league announced Thursday that Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod will be permitted to sign with any NHL club starting Oct. 15 and eligible to play starting Dec. 1.

On July 24, the players were found not guilty almost a year and a half after being charged with sexual assault, stemming from a June 2018 incident in London, Ontario.

As part of a long statement, the NHL released the following Thursday:

“The events that transpired after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala in London, Ontario, prior to these players’ arrival in the NHL, were deeply troubling and unacceptable. The league expects everyone connected with the game to conduct themselves with the highest level of moral integrity. And, in this case, while found not to have been criminal, the conduct of the players involved certainly did not meet that standard.”

The NHLPA released the following statement:

“We are pleased that Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod will have the opportunity to resume their NHL careers. The players cooperated with every investigation. Upon their full acquittal by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia, we initiated discussions with the NHL regarding the players’ return to work. To avoid a protracted dispute that would cause further delay, we reached the resolution that the league announced today. We now consider the matter closed and look forward to the players’ return.”

The Flyers cut ties with Hart in June 2024 when they didn’t issue him a qualifying offer, turning his restricted free-agent status into unrestricted. He had been away from the team since January 2024 after being granted an indefinite leave of absence.

At a press conference Wednesday, when asked about potentially bringing back Hart, the Flyers declined comment and deferred to the league’s process.