It's a small world in the Central Division as the Nashville Predators announced on Tuesday that they had hired former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson as an assistant coach. 

He replaces Todd Richards, who will not be returning to the Predators staff this coming season. Richards had been with the Predators since 2020, originally hired onto John Hynes' staff. 

Hynes was fired in 2023, and Andrew Brunette was named the Predators' head coach the same year. 

"Luke [Richardson] brings a wealth of NHL experience as both a player and coach to our staff, and we are excited to welcome him and his family to the organization," Predators general manager Barry Trotz said in a press release. "With that experience, we believe he will be a valuable new voice and set of eyes - not just for our defensemen, but for our coaching staff."

"His strong character, leadership, perspective as a former NHL head coach, and ability to connect with both young and veteran players will elevate our team on and off the ice."

Welcome to Smashville, Assistant Coach Richardson!

Full details » https://t.co/kk6Ns88FDwpic.twitter.com/nkcopm9239

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 24, 2025

Richardson spent the previous three seasons with the Blackhawks, posting a 57-118-15 record over 190 games as head coach. He was fired 26 games into the 2024-25 season after a 8-16-2 start by the Blackhawks. 

Prior to his time in Chicago, he was an assistant coach for the Montreal Canadiens from 2018 to 2022, which included a run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. Richardson also served as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders during the 2017-18 season. 

Along with praising Richardson's experience as a strong defensive-minded coach, Trotz believes that Richardson will bring a "different perspective" not just to the Predators' defensemen, but the team as a whole. 

With the NHL Draft commencing on Friday and Richardson working with a younger corps in Chicago, the Predators may look to build and capitalize on a younger roster. 

The Predators have nine picks in the upcoming draft in the following order: fifth (first round), 23rd (first round), 26th (first round), 35th (second round), 55th (second round), 67th (third round), 131st (fifth round), 163rd (sixth round) and 182nd (sixth round).

While the Nashville Predators aren't the oldest franchise in the NHL, they have a lot of history of picking in the first round of the NHL Draft.

In its 27-year history, the Predators have selected 25 times in the first round. Amongst those first-round selections, some have had massive success in Nashville, others have found it elsewhere, and a few have been busts.

With the Predators picking fifth, 23rd and 26th overall in this year's draft, we take a look back at every first-round pick by Nashville. 

MORE: Analyzing every Nashville Predators first round NHL Draft pick: 1998-2002

2003: Ryan Suter (defenseman, 7th overall) 

While it took a bit for the Nashville Predators to see defenseman Ryan Suter make his NHL debut, the wait paid off. 

He was selected seventh overall out of the United States National Development Program, recording 24 points in 42 games. After being drafted, he'd play a season at Wisconsin, recording 19 points in 39 games.

Suter was expected to debut at the start of the 2004-05 season, but the NHL lockout forced him to make his professional debut with the Milwaukee Admirals. The following year, in his rookie season, he had 16 points in 71 games.

However, his numbers quickly grew as one of the most promising young defensemen in the NHL. From 2007 to 2012, Suter recorded at least 31 points per season, with the peak coming during the 2011-12 season (46 points in 79 games). He also had a plus/minus of 20 during the 2010-11 season. 

He also represented the United States during the 2010 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal. Suter was also named to the NHL All-Star game in 2012. 

Suter's exit from the Predators may be one of the most memorable moments of his career as he signed a 13-year, $98 million contract with the Minnesota Wild alongside New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise. 

While Suter solidified as one of the better defensemen in the league, his numbers peaked in the late 2010s. The Wild eventually bought out Suter's contract in 2021, and he signed with the Dallas Stars on the first day of free agency. 

In 2024, he was bought out by the Stars and signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues, 

While Suter is undecided on his future, he has played over 1,500 NHL games, only the third American player to do so. With this potentially being his final upcoming season, he could make a return to Nashville. 

2004: Alexander Radulov (forward, 15th overall) 

Alexander Radulov has been in and out of the NHL since he was drafted by the Predators in 2004. 

Selected 15th overall out of Russia's second-tier professional league, Radulov came to North America and played with the Quebec Remparts for two seasons. 

During his time in the QMJHL, he put up two monster seasons. In 2005, he had 75 points in 65 games and 11 points in 13 playoff games. In 2006, he recorded a whopping 152 points in 62 games off 61 goals and 91 assists. In the playoffs, Radulov had 55 points in 23 games. 

He had a solid first two seasons in the NHL, recording 37 points in 64 games in his rookie year and 58 points in 81 games during the 2007-08 season. Radulov would then leave the NHL to play for Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL, leading to a complex contract dispute among the Predators, Radulov, and Salavat Yulaev. 

Radulov's signing with Salavat Yulaev while still under contract with the Predators led to Radulov getting suspended from international play by the IIHF and by the Predators for the 2008-09 season. 

He'd eventually return to Nashville for the 2011-12 season and have his suspension lifted. Radulov scored seven points in nine games and six points in eight playoff games before getting suspended by the Predators again due to a violation of team rules. 

Nashville announced it would not extend Radulov's contract, and he'd return to Russia to play for CSKA Moscow. Radulov came back to the NHL in 2016, spending a season with the Montreal Canadiens and five seasons with the Dallas Stars. 

In 2022, Radulov returned to the KHL and recently won the Gagarin Cup with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. 

Radulov had the potential to be a franchise player for the Predators, but was limited by his off-ice behavior and clash with Predators management. 

2005: Ryan Parent (defenseman, 18th overall) 

While defenseman Ryan Parent had a short stint in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, he never played a game with the Predators.

Selected 18th overall in 2005, Parent embodied the physical presence that Nashville had been looking for. The year after he was drafted, Parent returned to the Guelph Storm, where he recorded 21 points in 60 games and 122 penalty minutes.

He eventually joined the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2005-06 playoffs, playing in 10 games. The parent was sent back to Guelph for a fourth and final season, where he recorded 10 points in 43 games and accumulated 86 penalty minutes. 

In 2007, Parent was traded to the Flyers, alongside fellow Predators first-round pick Scottie Upshall, for Peter Forsberg and a pair of draft picks. He played in 106 games with the Flyers, recording seven points before getting traded back to the Predators for the rights to Dan Hamhuis. 

Nashville then traded Parent to Vancouver, where he was placed on waivers and sent to the AHL, where he spent the rest of his career. 

While Parent had a physical side to his game that the Predators have traditionally favored, the scoring never came around. 

2007: Jonathon Blum (defenseman, 23rd overall) 

After trading its 2006 first round pick for Brendan Witt, the Predators selected defenseman Jonathon Blum 23rd overall in 2007, its highest pick in two years. 

Nashville went for a more offensively minded defenseman as he was fresh off a 51 point season with the Vancouver Giants during the 2006-07 season. He'd return to Vancouver the following two years, recording 63 points (2007-08) and 66 points (2008-09).

He'd spend his first three professional seasons in Milwaukee before cracking the Predators roster during the 2010-11 season. Blum had eight points in 23 games in his rookie season and seven points in 33 games the following year.

Blum flipped back and forth between Nashville and Milwaukee, posting strong numbers in the AHL but struggling to replicate that production in the NHL. 

As a free agent, Blum signed with the Minnesota Wild for the 2013-14 season, but continued to flip between the NHL and AHL. In 2015, Blum left the NHL for the KHL and has spent the rest of his career in Russia, Sweden and most recently Germany. 

Blum had 179 points in 336 AHL games, but just 24 points in 110 NHL games. It's a big "what if" Blum was able to transfer his AHL production to the NHL. 

2008: Colin Wilson (center, 7th overall) 

The Predators moved around the board during the 2008 NHL Draft, trading the ninth overall pick and a second round pick for the seventh overall pick . 

The bump up two spots allowed the Predators to select Boston University center Colin Wilson. In his draft season, Wilson netted 35 points in 37 games and upon returning to Boston for the 2008-09 season, he recorded 55 points in 43 games. 

Wilson split time between Nashville and Milwaukee in his rookie season, but quickly cemented himself as a regular on the Predators main roster.

He spent eight seasons in Nashville from 2009 to 2017, recording 237 points in 502 games.

In 2017, Wilson was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2019 fourth round pick where he finished his NHL career in 2020. 

While Wilson wasn't a franchise player with the Predators, he proved to be a consistent producer. 

2008: Chet Pickard (goalie, 18th overall) 

In the Predators second move in the first round, they'd trade the 15th overall pick to the Ottawa Senators for the 18th overall pick and a third round pick. 

Ottawa ultimately won this trade, selecting three-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman William Karlsson with the pick. Nashville took another risk by selecting a goalie in the first round, Chet Pickard, from the Tri-City Americans. 

In his draft year, Pickard posted a 46-12-4 record with a .918 save percentage and 2.32 goals against average. He was named CHL Goaltender of the Year in 2008 and would win a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

Pickard played for the Milwaukee Admirals during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, before getting sent down to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL). A 3.39 and 3.12 goals against average during the 2011 and 2012 seasons saw Pickard leave for Sweden for a season. 

He returned to North America for the 2013-14 season, starting the year with the Oklahoma City Barons before being demoted to the Bakersfield Condors after posting a 5.34 goals against average over six games. 

In 2015, he left for Europe again, playing in Germany for the rest of his professional career till 2022. 

With Nashville selecting Pekka Rinne in the eighth round of the 2004 draft and Juuse Saros in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, the Predators should steer clear of goalies in the first round. 

With the off-season here, the Pittsburgh Penguins have released their 2025-26 preseason schedule. The Metropolitan Division club will play seven games this preseason, with three at home and four on the road. 

The Penguins kick off their preseason on Sept. 22 against the Montreal Canadiens before facing off against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres twice. 

Here is the Penguins' full preseason schedule:

Monday, Sept. 22 at Montreal Canadiens, 7:00 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 24 at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:00 pm 

Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 pm 

Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:00 pm 

Monday, Sept. 29 at Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 pm 

Wednesday, Oct. 1 at Buffalo Sabres, 7:00 pm 

Friday, Oct. 3 vs. Buffalo Sabres 7:00 pm

Penguins Receive Rangers' 2025 First-Round PickThe

Photo Credit: © John Jones-Imagn Images

Detroit Red Wings officially release their 2025–26 preseason schedule, featuring matchups versus Maple Leafs, Penguins

The Detroit Red Wings have officially released their 2025–26 preseason schedule, with eight games beginning on Tuesday, September 23 and wrapping up on Saturday, October 4. The exhibition slate includes familiar rivals like Chicago, Toronto, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh, offering fans an early glimpse of the team’s roster battles and off-season additions.

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XPreseason! 📰 » https://t.co/aFaaSRM1w1

Full Preseason Schedule:

• Sept. 23 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (Little Caesars Arena)
• Sept. 25 vs. Buffalo Sabres (Little Caesars Arena)
• Sept. 26 at Pittsburgh Penguins (PPG Paints Arena)
• Sept. 27 at Buffalo Sabres (KeyBank Center)
• Sept. 29 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Little Caesars Arena)
• Sept. 30 at Chicago Blackhawks (United Center)
• Oct. 2 at Toronto Maple Leafs (Scotiabank Arena)
• Oct. 4 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Little Caesars Arena)

More Red Wings: From Svechnikov To Raymond: Grading Detroit’s Last Ten Years Of First-Round Picks

A Look Back at Past Preseasons

Detroit’s preseason results over the past two years offer some insight into how they typically ramp up before Opening Night.

• 2024-25: 3-3-2
• 2023-24: 5-2-1
• 2022-23: 3-5-0

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

What To Watch For This Preseason

Roster battles are always a sight to look out for during the early games as the Red Wings high-end prospect pool is tested at the highest level. Players like Nate Danielson, Carter Mazur and Axel Sandin-Pellikka among others are all battling to impress management and hopefully earn themselves a roster spot. 

Another thing to look out for is the goalie competition as the franchise is loaded with options between the pipes. Alex Lyon, Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot are all vying for main roster minutes while rising stars in Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine are looking to carve themselves out a role at the NHL level. 

Fans can also expect the Red Wings to test new combinations, especially after several summer additions and potential departures to see what works and what doesn't ahead of an important season for the franchise. 

More Red Wings:Patrick Kane Dangles Through 1,000 Pucks in Bauer Ad

The Red Wings fell just short of the playoffs in 2024–25 despite a promising start. With another offseason of growth, GM Steve Yzerman will be hoping this preseason helps solidify a group capable of taking the next step. The eight-game slate offers a balance of challenge and opportunity to get the lineup sharp by Opening Night in mid-October.

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Bruins interested in moving up in draft? What to make of latest rumor originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is not afraid to make bold moves. Could we see one ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft?

The Bruins currently own the No. 7 overall pick in the first round. It’s their highest pick since 2011 and it comes after the Original Six franchise finished tied for the fourth-worst record in the league this past season.

The B’s should be able to get a very good player at No. 7, but what if a prospect they really like might not be available at that spot in Round 1? Could they try to trade up?

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler published his latest 2025 NHL mock draft Tuesday, and it includes an interesting piece of intel on the Bruins.

“Sounds like Bruins also have interest in moving up,” Wheeler wrote. “My sense is the Flyers and Bruins at 6-7 like the same three players: Martin, O’Brien and Hagens. Everyone keeps telling me those three won’t get past 6-7. And yet, there appear to be eight players for seven picks.”

It’s a very good year to need a center in Round 1, which is great for the Bruins because that’s the position they most need to upgrade in this draft. We could potentially see as many seven centers selected in the top 10 picks.

The problem for the Bruins is that several other teams in the top seven picks also need a center.

Based on recent expert mock drafts, one of Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin and Roger McQueen should be available at No. 7. James Hagens could fall to that range, too, but most mock drafts have him coming off the board before No. 7.

Hagens was the No. 1 rated prospect on TSN reporter Bob McKenzie’s draft rankings before the 2024-25 season. Hagens played well for Boston College, but he didn’t dominate offensively as some expected, so he’s been slotted a little lower in recent rankings. Hagens came in at No. 7 in McKenzie’s final pre-draft list.

The Bruins could have as many as five first-round picks and four second-round picks over the next three drafts, so if they want to trade up this week, Sweeney does have some good assets to potentially use in deals.

The first round of the draft is Friday night. Rounds two through seven take place Saturday afternoon.

The Calgary Flames are in a familiar position – the “mushy middle,” where they’re not good enough to be a playoff team and not bad enough to get high-enough NHL draft picks.

It looked like the Flames were about to escape that position this season when they were in a playoff spot for a long time and added some players at the trade deadline, but they ended up falling short anyway.

To that end, the Flames are better off building for the long term. Staying in the mushy middle won’t lead anywhere.

Calgary can acquire top draft picks and prospects if they’re willing to part ways with key veterans in trades and avoid being a mushy-middle squad once again.

That leads to Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson – a minute-munching blueliner who is in his prime at 28 and has one year left on his contract at a $4.55-million cap hit. With rumors that contract extension talks for Andersson aren’t going well, the prospect of Calgary GM Craig Conroy dealing Andersson becomes more tantalizing by the day.

The Flames don’t need to trade Andersson immediately. Conroy can still be patient for a few more days. But if a situation arises on July 1 – the opening of free agency – where Florida Panthers blueliner Aaron Ekblad re-signs or heads elsewhere, Andersson could easily be the best D-man available to acquire. At that point, the Flames could set a high price for Andersson that many teams should line up to pay.

Wouldn’t that make a heck of a lot of sense for Calgary than hanging onto Andersson and embracing the status quo? It’s not as if Andersson was going to put the Flames on his back and singlehandedly deliver Calgary into the 2026 playoffs. So why not trade him for what could be a terrific package of picks and prospects and be patient as Flames youngsters develop into a core that will be with the Flames for the long haul?

It’s not like the Flames don’t have any other veterans, either. Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar is signed through 2030-31. Jonathan Huberdeau, Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri are all around on offense for now, although it would be worth seeing if there’s a good return for Kadri as well.

You can argue that Calgary was only two regulation wins out of making the post-season last year, and a slight tweak of improvement would make the Flames a playoff team in 2025-26. But that’s the best possible development. 

It’s just as likely, if not more likely, that the same group misses the playoffs again. If they do narrowly miss out yet again, it will be another missed opportunity, and they’ll yet again fail to be low enough in the standings to acquire a foundational piece in the draft.

We’ve argued consistently that being a mushy-middle team is the worst place a team can be. But that’s where the Flames appear to be headed in 2025-26. So, moving a defenseman who averaged 23:59 of ice time last season would help Calgary immensely. 

NHL Rumor Roundup: Could Noah Dobson And Rasmus Andersson Hit The Trade Block?The contract negotiations of two notable defensemen have drawn considerable interest recently in the NHL rumor mill. 

It would take guts to move Andersson, and while Conroy has shown he has guts with last year’s deal with Philadelphia that saw the Flames acquire forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, Conroy would need to be just as gutsy to move on from Andersson.

That said, what are they really doing – other than wasting time – if they’re not building a legitimately elite team to compete with the real powerhouse teams in the Pacific Division?

You can’t convince us that the Flames have the generational talents that Western Conference teams like Edmonton, Colorado and even Chicago have. And so it becomes crystal clear that Calgary has to bear down and suffer through some lean seasons to be able to draft and develop the high-end players they need to legitimately compete with the true powerbrokers in the West.

That process can kick into high gear with the trading of Andersson. If Conroy makes him available, he’s going to get a spectacular package in return. And if it means the Flames have to fall to the bottom of the Pacific for a couple years, so be it. 

The alternative – the mushy middle – is a far worse destiny for this franchise. And the sooner Conroy comes to terms with that reality, the better things will be for long-suffering Flames fans.

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The 2025-26 Hockey season is started to rev up.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced the 2025 preseason schedule today. 

Below are the dates and times for the 7 preseason games. 

• Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

• Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

The NHL Draft will take place this Friday in LA, and then free agency opens on July 1. Before you know it, the season will be here, and the CBJ plan to look much different. 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Former Columbus Blue Jackets Forward Manny Malhotra Wins Calder CupFormer Columbus Blue Jackets forward Manny Malhotra, head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL, won the Calder Cup last night by defeating the Charlotte Checkers in six games.

Former Blue Jackets Draft Pick And Calder Cup Champion Signs In EuropeAnother former Blue Jacket has found a new home in Europe. 

2025 NHL Draft Order Officially ReleasedThe 2025 NHL Draft is this Friday, and the Blue Jacket picks are official. 

The Rapid City Rush are teaming up with the YMCA of Rapid City to host their first-ever NHL STREET learn-to-play-hockey camp on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 9:30 – 11:00 Am.

Members of the Rush organization and the local hockey community will be in attendance to run the clinic, which will feature hands-on instruction, skills stations, and scrimmages. Registration is open for all kids aged seven through 12, with no prior hockey experience required. All equipment will be provided, and families do not have to be YMCA members to participate.

“The YMCA brings our youth together as a community to celebrate fun and wellness.” Elaina Kempin, Marketing Director for the YMCA of Rapid City, said in a statement. “Our wonderful partnership with the Rapid City Rush helps us achieve our mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

Launched in 2023, NHL STREET is the official youth hockey league of the National Hockey League. It is designed to provide kids and their families with the best of what youth sports can be: having fun, staying active, making friends and creating great memories. This is the first NHL STREET initiative offered in the state of South Dakota.

“NHL STREET was created to bring the love of hockey to more kids in more communities—and this event is a great example of that mission in action,” Savannah Green, Director of Community Relations and Social Engagement for the Rush, said. “When you combine the energy of the Rush with the reach of community organizations like the YMCA, you unlock something really powerful.”

The YMCA of Rapid City is located at 815 Kansas City St., Rapid City, SD 57701. Registration is $35 per child. All participants will take home a custom NHL STREET hockey jersey.

For more information about Street Camp, click here.

The Rush will kick off their 2025-26 regular season in Independence, Missouri against the Kansas City Mavericks on Friday, Oct. 17. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 Pm MT.

(Photo Courtesy of the Rapid City Rush)