BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff announced on social media on July 11 that he is withdrawing from the university. He was facing a likely suspension.
The Hockey Show: Bill Lindsay talks Stanley Cup championship comparisons, Bill Zito appreciation
The Hockey Show returned on Friday for the first episode of the offseason.
This week, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork starting off by reviewing their Rescue Paws fundraising drive, which raised $300 over the course of the postseason.
Before getting into the meat of the show, the boys played a viral video of former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky begrudgingly getting into a fight with a drunk man on the golf course.
Joining The Hockey Show this week is Florida Panthers radio color commentator and NHL Network analyst Bill Lindsay.
He spoke about the difference between experiencing Florida’s first Stanley Cup win last season and then going through the run to their second straight title this year.
The boys also asked Billy about Panthers GM Bill Zito missing out again on the GM of the Year award, Florida’s moves in the offseason to re-sign all their big free agents and his favorite nicknames from during his playing days.
Additionally, this week’s wins and fails of the week included Roy re-upping on his hatred for the New York Islanders over their re-signing of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, some amazing audio from goaltender Alex Lyon after he signed with the Buffalo Sabres and Sam Bennett breaking out the Panthers goal song at his wedding earlier this month.
You can check out the full show in the video below:
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Jeff Skinner Signs With One-Year Deal With San Jose
The NHL free agency market grew remarkably thin after the initial rush of signings in the opening week. One of the more prominent names unsigned was former Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner, but the veteran winger found a home on Friday, signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks.
The 33-year-old was bought out of the final three years of his eight-year, $72 million contract last June and quickly signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner was thought to be an option for the Oilers in their top-six playing alongside either Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid with another former Sabre Evander Kane expected out for the entire regular season.
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The former 40-goal scorer was relegated mostly to a bottom-six role last season and scored 16 goals during the regular season and one goal in five games in his first Stanley Cup Playoff action. The Oilers did not show much interest in bringing back Skinner even after trading Kane to Vancouver Viktor Arvidsson to Boston, and losing Corey Perry and Connor Brown in free agency, choosing instead to re-sign Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen, and add Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar as UFA’s.
The Sharks are at best a longshot to make the playoffs and since July 1 have been more focused on adding veterans on short-term deals to get to the cap floor and establish a support structure around youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. GM Mike Grier signed defenseman Dmitri Orlov to a two-year deal, John Klingberg to a one-year deal, and claimed Nick Leddy off of waivers from St. Louis, adding $14.5 million in salary.
If Skinner has a productive season playing in the Sharks top-six, his contract will be easily movable at next season’s trade deadline.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
NHL News: Ex-Blackhawks Defender Signs With Jets
Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Isaak Phillips will be staying put with the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets have announced that they have signed Phillips to a two-year, two-way contract. Starting next season, Phillips will have a $812,500 cap hit at the NHL level with the Jets.
We've signed defenceman Isaak Phillips to a two-year contract ✍️ pic.twitter.com/KTY0Uqva3R
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 11, 2025
Phillips, 23, was traded by the Blackhawks to the Jets back in January in exchange for defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin. Following this, Phillips played in 39 games with the Jets' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, where he posted three goals and eight points.
Phillips was selected by the Blackhawks with the 141st overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 56 games over four seasons with the Blackhawks, Phillips posted two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 31 penalty minutes, and 89 hits. He also played in three games during the 2024-25 season with the Blackhawks before being traded to the Jets, where he scored a goal and threw three hits.
Phillips also recorded one goal, eight points, 54 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating in 28 games this past season with the Rockford IceHogs before being traded to Winnipeg.
Now, after signing this new contract with the Jets, Phillips will look to continue to improve his game. It will be interesting to see if he can earn a spot on the Jets' NHL roster next season from here.
Former Blackhawks Goalie Signs With New TeamFormer Chicago Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia is taking his talents overseas.
Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Garrett Crochet explains decision to skip All-Star Game
Garrett Crochet explains decision to skip All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet pulled himself out of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game to keep his arm fresh for the second half of the season.
Crochet earned his second straight All-Star nod amid a Cy Young-caliber campaign, but at an MLB-leading 120.1 innings pitched this season, the left-hander is already 25.2 innings away from matching his career-high. The 26-year-old left-hander understandably doesn’t want to add to that hefty workload during an exhibition.
“For me, it’s just looking at my past four years,” Crochet said, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. “In 2022, I threw zero innings. In ‘23, I threw 13. Last year, I threw 146 and this year I’m on pace for 200. From my standpoint, it makes no sense to make that 201 to throw in a game that doesn’t determine my team’s fate throughout the season.
“Especially because we’re looking at the postseason. If I threw 20 innings in the postseason, I’m almost 100 innings over last year which was over 100 innings above the year prior. It just didn’t make sense to me.”
The Red Sox’ schedule also didn’t help Crochet’s cause. Crochet is set to start Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, so he’d head into the All-Star Game on only three days rest.
Crochet pitched a scoreless fourth inning while representing the Chicago White Sox at the 2024 All-Star Game. This time, he’ll watch from the dugout alongside teammates Alex Bregman, who also won’t play as he returned from a quad injury on Friday.
“It’s a huge honor to be there,“ Crochet added. ”I threw last year with it being my first one. If I were to go next year, I would probably throw. But just with the way my continued growth is, and my workload ceiling, I’d rather not add to it.”
With Crochet and Bregman sitting out, veteran closer Aroldis Chapman will be Boston’s lone representative in Atlanta. Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize will replace Crochet on the American League roster.
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 15.
Jesse Winker placed on IL with back injury, Jared Young called up amid flurry of moves
Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker is heading back to the IL just a few days after returning from an extended absence.
Winker, who exited Thursday's game against the Orioles after just one at-bat due to back tightness, was placed on the 10-day IL due to back inflammation, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Jared Young was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take Winker's spot on the roster.
In addition, the Mets activated Kodai Senga from the IL and recalled Austin Warren from Syracuse.
To make room on the roster, Justin Hagenman was optioned to Syracuse and Rico Garcia was designated for assignment.
With Winker on the IL, the Mets will essentially be without a regular DH until after the All-Star break, which begins for them after Sunday's game in Kansas City.
Starling Marte landed on the IL on Tuesday, retroactive to July 7. The expectation is that he'll be able to return right after the break, with the Mets beginning the second half against the Reds on July 18 at Citi Field.
On the at-bat before he came out, Winker popped out to end the first inning. He was pinch-hit for in the fourth inning by Mark Vientos.
The 31-year-old was playing in just his second game since May 4 after returning from the injured list on Tuesday after working his way back from an oblique injury.
Winker was hitting .239 with a .739 OPS (112 OPS+) prior to his oblique injury, totaling just one home run and 10 RBI.
The lefty hit .286 with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, and five walks over five games in the minor leagues during his rehab assignment.
The New CBA Could Allow A Canadiens Player To Reach A Big Milestone
It came as good news for any hockey fan that the negotiations for the new CBA between the NHL and the NHLPA went so smoothly that they were able to ratify it a year before it even came into force. No strike, no lockout nonsense, just uninterrupted hockey for the next five years (the last year of the current CBA and the four years of the new one).
But amongst the highlights of the new deal is a disposition which could have a significant impact on one Montreal Canadiens player. From the 2026-27 season, the NHL teams will be playing 84 games rather than 82 like they have been for some time now, this means the Habs will be playing 166 games in the next two seasons. That’s the exact number of games Brendan Gallagher needs to reach the all-important 1,000 games milestone.
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The alternate captain has two seasons left on his six-year, $6.5 million AAV contract. Although some fans were once critical of his contract, hoping it would be bought out, his recent season has appeased the masses, as he played all 82 games and scored 38 points.
It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that he managed to play all 82 games of the season, and on top of that, 21 of his 38 points were goals. It had been a long time since he reached the 20-goal mark; in fact, the last occurrence was in 2019-20, when he put up 22 goals in a 59-game Covid-shortened season.
The devoted veteran has now played 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle, and if he manages to stay healthy and isn’t traded or bought out, he could finish his contract having played exactly 1,000 games all wearing the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.
ALL 21 BRENDAN GALLAGHER GOALS OF THE 2024-25 SEASON! 21 BUTS!Brendan Gallagher had a remarkable bounce back season. He got himself back up the 20 goal mark, hitting 21 total. Here's a compilation of all 21 goals he sco...It would be a fitting end for the man who was fifth in team scoring this past season and third in goals scored. Not so long ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that Gallagher could play a full season with his injury track record, but he did manage to do it this past season, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
It would be hard not to be happy for the veteran if he did reach the 1,000-game milestone, after all, the odds were hardly in his favour. A fifth-round pick and 147th selection overall at the 2010 draft, who was only 5-foot-9, most counted him out without knowing anything about him, but straight from his first training camp, two things were obvious: he was playing like a player much bigger than he was, and his determination was without limit.
The alternate captain has stuck with the Habs through highs and lows and never wanted to move elsewhere. This season, he climbed his way into the Canadiens’ record book and reached several milestones. His 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle are the 20th most games played in the storied uniform, with 239 career goals, he is the 15th most prolific goal scorer in franchise history (and that’s a long history), his 225 assists are the 39th highest total. His 464 points are the 27th highest total.
Only five players have played 1,000 games with the Canadiens: Henri Richard (1,258), Larry Robinson (1,202), Bob Gainey (1,160), Jean Beliveau (1,125), and Claude Provost (1,005). That’s some pretty elite company, and for everything he has accomplished on the ice, Gallagher is deserving of joining it. For that to happen, though, everything will need to play out perfectly. It would be agonizing for fans to see Gallagher’s career come to an end just short of the milestone. Think of how many of them still mention Andrei Markov’s 990 games and the way he fell just short…
Photo credit: Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Images
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Maple Leafs Re-Sign Fowards Cedric Pare And Sam Stevens To Marlies Contracts
The Toronto Marlies are bringing back two more depth players.
The club announced on Friday afternoon that they've signed Cedric Pare and Sam Stevens each to one-year AHL contracts. Both players spent the entirety of last season with the Marlies, with Pare appearing in 59 games and Stevens appearing in 21 games.
Pare played a majority of his minutes as a center in Toronto's bottom six. In 59 games with the club, the 26-year-old scored 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points, his second-highest total in the AHL since he turned pro.
The forward signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs last summer and became a restricted free agent on July 1. You might remember Pare because of his accidental knee-on-knee collision with Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine during preseason last September, which forced the Finnish forward out for two months.
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Pare has 39 goals and 56 assists in 207 career AHL games over four seasons. The 2017 sixth-round pick by the Boston Bruins has yet to appear in an NHL game. Pare became a restricted free agent after Toronto didn't qualify him as a restricted free agent in June.
Stevens is also a center who spent most games down the middle of the Marlies' top six last season. AHL Toronto first signed the forward after his final season (2023-24) at Boston University, where he scored 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 40 games.
The 25-year-old scored two goals and two assists in 21 games with the Marlies this past season. In 142 games at Boston University, Stevens had 26 goals and 24 points. This is going to be the forward's second pro season.
Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.
It's been a busy couple of days for the Marlies, who revealed their regular season schedule on Thursday and made a significant number of AHL signings earlier in the week. Toronto signed Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Ben King, and Nick Rheaume to one-year AHL contracts, while also re-signing Marko Sikic and defenceman Ryan McCleary to one-year deals on Tuesday.
The Marlies also signed former Marlie Marc Johnstone to a two-year AHL contract, Ken Appleby to a one-year contract, and re-signed Reese Johnson. Toronto's regular season begins on the road on October 10 against the Rochester Americans.
(Top photo of Pare: Thomas Skrlj / Toronto Marlies)
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Ha-Seong Kim, Joe Boyle and Brice Matthews
FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
Ha-Seong Kim (SS Rays): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues
Originally hoping for a mid-May return from shoulder surgery, Kim finally made it back on July 4, which was more than five weeks after he initially started a Triple-A rehab assignment. That assignment, which was paused in mid-June because of a minor hamstring problem, saw him hit .208/.352/.250 in 91 plate appearances, causing a great deal of doubt over whether Kim was going to be his usual self in his first weeks and months back from surgery. Four games later, those concerns have already been alleviated.
In 21 games at Triple-A Durham, Kim managed just three extra-base hits, a 23% hard-hit rate, an average exit velocity of 83.9 mph and a high of 105.1 mph. In four major league games, he’s already topped 105.1 on four occasions, peaking at 107.0 mph. His homer Thursday off Walker Buehler checked in at 106.4 mph. Six of his 10 balls in play have been hit hard. The shoulder isn’t holding him back.
Kim isn’t going to be a major offensive force, but he might do a little better in the friendlier hitting environment in Tampa than he did in Petco, and he should steal quite a few bases. He was 6-for-6 in that regard on his rehab assignment, and he’s already tried two in his first four games back, though he was thrown out once. He should wind up with about 15 steals and solid numbers elsewhere, making him worth rostering in even the shallowest of leagues.
Joe Boyle (SP Rays): Rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues
Boyle, recalled to pitch behind Drew Rasmussen last Sunday, doesn’t yet have a spot in Tampa Bay’s rotation, but it’s only a matter of time. His two major league appearances this season have seen him allow a total of two hits in 10 innings, and he’s yet to give up earned run. In Triple-A, he had a 1.84 ERA and a 96/31 K/BB in 73 innings. He’s still not exactly a strike thrower, but the walks aren’t so costly when they’re paired with stuff like this.
The Rays got Boyle from the A’s over the winter as the primary return in the Jeffrey Springs trade and introduced him to a splitter as a replacement for a poor changeup. He’s quickly taken to it, and he’s been throwing it 91-94 mph to go along with his 96-100 mph heater. His slider remains his No. 2 pitch, and it’s awfully tough to hit, but he often fails to locate it well. He’s more around the strike zone with the splitter, and now hitters can’t be sure they’re going to get the fastball when he’s behind in the count.
It’d be nice if there was a stricter plan for Boyle. Not only do the Rays have a full rotation at the moment, but they could also get Shane McClanahan back at the end of the month. Still, Drew Rasmussen has an innings limit, and Taj Bradley is sporting a 4.60 ERA. Something will give. The Rays might even trade a starter in the hopes of getting help elsewhere. Boyle needs to be very much a part of the team’s plan for the second half, and he has too much upside to leave in free agent pools.
Brice Matthews (SS Astros): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues
Matthews won’t get to take part in the Futures Game this weekend, but it’s because he’ll be in the majors instead; the Astros gave their 2023 first-round pick and probable No. 1 position player prospect his first callup Friday after he hit .283/.400/.476 in 325 plate appearances for Triple-A Sugar Land.
What’s unclear is whether Matthews is up to stay. Although he’s listed at shortstop above, he’s been used mostly at second in Triple-A, and all of his MLB playing time should come at second. The Astros hope to get Jeremy Peña back right after the break. They also have Chas McCormick rehabbing and a couple of other injured players perhaps returning before the end of the month. Still, second base is mostly unclaimed in Houston. Jose Altuve has been playing there a lot more since Peña went down, but his defensive numbers remain rough, which is why the Astros wanted him in left field in the first place. Mauricio Dubón has been very good of late, but he’s still probably best utilized as a utilityman. If Matthews starts off well, the Astros will be tempted to keep him up.
That’s not to say Matthews is necessarily ready. The Triple-A line is very good, but he’s still striking out 30 percent of the time. That number could climb to over 35 percent in the majors, which would make it very difficult for him to hit for average. Still, he’s shown improved power this year, he’s always taken plenty of walks and, with 25 steals in 31 attempts this year, he’s an asset on the basepaths when he reaches. That speed gives him ample fantasy potential. Most likely, it won’t be realized until 2026, but he’s worth keeping an eye on.
Waiver Wire Quick Hits
- The Red Sox have given Romy González a much-deserved chance against right-handers the last two days, and he deserves a long look, particularly given that Abraham Toro is the current alternative at first base. He could offer some mixed-league value as a regular, especially since he’d likely do more running. All four of his steals this season have come versus righties. Even though he’s been on base more often against lefties in his career, he has a far easier time stealing against righties, having gone 15-for-17 against them and 7-for-11 against lefties in essentially one full season of playing time (606 plate appearances).
- The Diamondbacks had to put another closer on the IL after Shelby Miller was diagnosed with a strained forearm. That probably makes Kevin Ginkel worth a try in deeper leagues, even with his 8.57 ERA. Ginkel got roughed up in his first two appearances back from the minors last month, but he’s allowed two runs over nine innings since. With his velocity down about one mph, he’ll probably continue to get hit a little harder than usual, but, you know, saves.
Blues 2025 First-Round Pick Justin Carbonneau Chooses QMJHL In 2025-26, Leaving Door Open To Crack NHL Roster Also
St. Louis Blues prospect Justin Carbonneau, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has made his choice and it's a familiar one.
The forward has decided to return to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and play for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada next season.
He made his choice on Friday, announced by the Armada:
Ça, ça commence bien le week-end 😎🎱#LeFuturEstMaintenant⚡️ pic.twitter.com/XNq2GcfBa2
— ArmadaBLB (@ArmadaBLB) July 11, 2025
Carbonneau, who had 89 points (46 goals, 53 assists) in 62 regular-season games last season, projects to play for a squad that will be among the favorites to win the QMJHL and potentially represent a side competing for the Memorial Cup.
He conferred with the Blues last week, but ultimately made the decision with his family that it was best to advance his playing career where he's familiar.
And by doing so, Carbonneau can attend Blues training camp in September, leaving the options open that there's at least a chance of being a player that can come in and steal an NHL job, or if not, he has that option of going to juniors, something that wouldn't have been available had he chosen the college route.
Should Carbonneau somehow made the opening night roster, the Blues can showcase him for nine NHL games before deciding whether he remains with the big club or heads to junior for the season, but it all depends on if he signs an entry-level contract. Stay tuned.
Minnesota Wild Re-Signs Michael Milne To A One-Year Contract
ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild issued a qualifying offer to forward Mikey Milne on July 1st. The Wild have now announced they have re-signed the forward to a one-year, two-way contract.
He will make $775,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2025-26 season.
Milne, 22, appeared in one NHL game for the Wild during the 2024-25 season. He played 6:34 of ice time and had three hits in a game against the Dallas Stars.
The 5-foot-10 forward is a speedy and aggressive winger who was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, recorded 15 goals, 11 assists, and 26 points in 60 AHL games with the Iowa Wild last year. He had two power-play goals and one shorthanded goal.
In three seasons with the Wild, Milne has 30 goals, 30 assists, 60 points and 90 penalty minutes in 157 career AHL games.
Other Wild News
Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel On A One-Year ContractST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced a few free agent signings. They signed goaltender Cal Petersen along with forward Tyler Pitlick. They have also signed forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Nico Sturm To A Two-Year DealST. PAUL, Minn - As previously written, Nico Sturm would be a perfect fit for the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have now announced they have signed the free agent to a two-year contract at $2 million AAV.
Wild Issue Qualifying Offers To Marco Rossi, Michael Milne & Part Ways With Four PlayersST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced qualifying offers for forwards Marco Rossi and Michael Milne. They did not make qualifying offers to Graeme Clarke, Adam Raska, Luke Toporowski, and Ryan O’Rourke. Rangers And Bruins Linked As Possible Destinations For Jack Eichel If He Does Not Sign Contract Extension With Golden Knights
Jack Eichel is yet to sign a contract extension just yet with the Vegas Golden Knights as questions about his future are beginning to be discussed.
The growing speculation is that Eichel will sign a contract extension with the Golden Knights at some point, but if that were not to happen for whatever reason, the New York Rangers have been linked as potential destinations for the superstar.
“I think other teams around the league are expecting it (Eichel contract extension with the Golden Knights) to get done,” ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said.
“I haven’t heard anything about Eichel not wanting to get it done, so my expectation that is something that gets done this summer, but we shall see, and if he does happen to say ‘oh wait, I would rather go play on the East Coast or maybe I’m not ready to make a decision yet,’ then obviously the Rangers would be very high on the list of teams he’d be interested in along with the Boston Bruins of course.”
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Vegas is already working out what Eichel’s contract extension could look like.
Rangers Finding A Way To Make It Work With Mika Zibanejad And Avoid NoiseWith the dust mostly settled, it appears as if Mika Zibanejad will return to the New York Rangers for the 2025-26 season.
Friedman also added that Eichel’s potential contract extension could be even more expensive than Mitch Marner’s new eight-year, $96 million contract.
The Rangers have been rumored to have their eyes on some big-name players during the 2026 offseason.
How The AHL's New Age Eligibility Rule Will Impact The WHL
The NHL and NHLPA have released details about the new CBA that will come into effect for the 2026-27 season. The new agreement features numerous changes, including a playoff salary cap, the elimination of team-enforced dress codes and contract length limits. The 167-page document also includes a new rule regarding AHL eligibility, which will affect WHL players moving forward.
The 21st item in the new CBA has to do with what age players can join the AHL. The exact wording is, "NHL will reopen its agreement with the CHL to seek to eliminate the mandatory return rule for 19-year-old Players. NHL will seek to limit NHL Clubs to Loaning no more than one (1) 19-year-old Player per year to the AHL without the requirement of first offering such Player to his junior Club." In short, this means that a select number of players can make the jump to the AHL a year early if their drafted NHL team feels they are ready to turn pro.
Just like the new NCAA rule, this will impact the WHL. While only 32 players will be eligible for this rule, some will likely be from the WHL. Ultimately, this could impact how teams prepare for the season, as WHL franchises may lose their best players a year early.
The first players that this rule will impact are those born in 2007. Some notable names who could make the jump to the AHL early include Ben Kindel, Braeden Cootes and Radim Mrtka. These three players were all drafted in the top 15 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and could be deemed ready at 19 to join the AHL.
Ultimately, these new eligibility rules will impact not only WHL teams but also organizations across the CHL. While it is a positive that players have new options available, management groups from all 61 teams will need to adjust how they plan for the future. In the end, it will be interesting to see which players are selected to make the jump to the AHL early, as the list is sure to include those from the WHL.
Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more from The Hockey News.
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NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Columbus Blue Jackets’ New Generation Takes Shape
The Columbus Blue Jackets are the latest focus in our NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari digs into the Blue Jackets’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises.
Initial Thoughts
The Blue Jackets are on the rise. They are starting to see the youngest members of the squad make a major impact as they look to return to the post-season for the first time since the 2020 COVID-19 playoffs. Although a few players remain from that team, this is a new generation of Blue Jackets hockey, and Adam Fantilli leads it.
Fantilli reached the 30-goal plateau as a 20-year-old center last year, finishing fifth on the team in scoring. His value as a two-way center has also begun to show itself. As Fantilli enters his third NHL season, there could be a significant step in production this year, bringing him closer to point-per-game production.
The Jackets found their franchise center in Fantilli. Now, it’s just about surrounding him with talent.
Kent Johnson helps bring that talent. This past year seemed like the first time an NHL coach embraced that Johnson is one of the most purely skilled players in the NHL. Johnson blossomed because of it with 57 points in 68 games. Johnson is capable of things most players could only dream of. He’s a video game in real life. He and Fantilli showed some amazing chemistry at times. Going into his age-23 season, Johnson is primed for a true breakout.
Fantilli and Johnson don’t qualify as prospects, but the Blue Jackets do have quite a few very solid prospects.
Headlining the group is Cayden Lindstrom, the fourth overall pick from the 2024 NHL draft. The big, physical forward has a fantastic blend of power and skill to his game. He will crush a player along the boards as they look to break out of their defensive zone, steal the puck and power his way to the net and get a shot off with a defender on his back. After missing most of this past season recovering from his back injury, Lindstrom is headed to Michigan State University, where he will get to test his skill against bigger, faster competition.
James Malatesta and Luca Del Bel Belluz got into a few NHL games but spent most of this past season in the AHL. Malatesta had a slightly more challenging season than his rookie campaign, but his intelligence and tactical play remained. Del Bel Belluz, meanwhile, took a major step up at the AHL level, which earned him an extended call up, getting into 15 NHL games. He put up eight points in his NHL stint, which is probably good enough to keep him in a roster spot going into next season.
Luca Pinelli finished his OHL career with a solid season in Ottawa despite the team missing the playoffs. Pinelli plays with his heart on his sleeve. He was a two-year captain for the 67’s and gave his all on every shift. Pinelli has a great shot, some wicked vision and tenacity that helps mute the concerns about his 5-foot-9 size. He must prove he can handle the physical nature of pro hockey. He had a brief stint in the AHL at the end of this past season and played well.
After an incredibly high-scoring QMJHL career, Jordan Dumais was injured for the first half of the year before jumping into the AHL. He had 11 points in 21 games, but he never really got up to speed. The 21-year-old will aim to return to his high-end offensive production. Dumais’ most effective play has always been in the offensive zone, using his passing and vision to open up chances for teammates.
On the back end, the Blue Jackets have a few notable players, highlighted by Charlie Elick. He is a big, mobile defensive blueliner who shows some flashes of puck-moving ability, but he’s not ever going to be mistaken for a high-end producer. His value comes from shutting play down and getting involved physically.
Stanislav Svozil is a two-way defender who has been solid in each of his two years with the Cleveland Monsters. He skates well and uses that to his advantage at both ends of the ice. He mirrors attackers, closes out at one end of the ice, evades pressure and makes crisp passes at the other. He doesn’t have much high-end skill, but he should be able to play a decent depth role with solid breakout passing and good defensive play at the NHL one day.
Corson Ceulemans has had an interesting development path. He has all the physical tools, including skating, size, strength, puckhandling and passing, but he hasn’t put it all together just yet. He went from the BCHL to the NCAA to the AHL, and each level put him to the test. This will be a big season for the 22-year-old, as he will look to finally start building and providing steady value in the AHL in hopes of earning an NHL call-up.
Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season
Adam Fantilli (C), Denton Mateychuk (D), Cole Sillinger (C/W), Kent Johnson (LW/C), Luca Del Bel Belluz (C)
2025 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 14th overall - Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL)
Round 1, 20th overall - Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Krasnaya Armiya Moscow Jr. (Rus)
Round 3, 76th overall - Malte Vass, D, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)
Round 5, 160th overall - Owen Griffin, C, Oshawa (OHL)
Round 6, 173rd overall - Victor Raftheim Hedin, D, Brynas Jr. (Swe.)
Round 7, 198th overall - Jeremy Loranger, C, Sherwood Park (BCHL)
The Blue Jackets hope the 2025 NHL draft is the last where they pick in a non-playoff position for a while.
Big right-shot defender Jackson Smith is arguably the second-best defender in the class. He is incredibly mobile and has some of the most enticing physical tools. He’s shown flashes of puck-rushing ability and offensive creation. His most valuable trait is his transition defense, where he mirrors opposing players, steps up and either takes the puck off their stick or finishes with the body. Smith must find some consistency, but he has the tools to become a very solid No. 2 or No. 3 defenseman.
A few picks later, Columbus selected the first goalie of the draft, Pyotr Andreyanov. The highly touted Russian is one of the most athletic goalies in the class. His skating is surgical, rarely wasting a movement and consistently finding ways to stay square with the puck. Andreyanov instantly shoots to the top of the Jackets' goalie depth chart, and he could be the goalie of the future for the franchise. In the meantime, he signed a five-year contract extension with CSKA Moscow as he continues to develop.
Malte Vass is a strong defensive player, using intelligent reads and strong skating to ensure he is in a good position to kill plays. The Swede’s play on the puck is best when he keeps things simple and doesn’t try to do too much. Vass is a simple passer who finds the first outlet and hits it quickly. He’s not fun to watch from a skill perspective, but he’s effective, and his physicality gets people out of their seats.
Owen Griffin epitomizes a player who excels in many aspects of the game but doesn’t have a standout trait. Griffin shows some skill, a steady 200-foot game and a predictability in his play that coaches will love. If he were a bit bigger, teams would likely have seen him as a bottom-six option more easily, but at 5-foot-10, he must prove his worth in the bottom six to get to the NHL level one day.
In the sixth round, Columbus swung on a toolsy, raw defender with some size, Victor Raftheim Hedin. The 6-foot-4 blueliner tries to get involved in plays, whether that's jumping up to join the rush, creeping down off the point in the offensive zone or cheating over to help in the defensive zone. Raftheim Hedin must play a more structured game and learn to refine the little things, but his mobility, tools and athleticism are all interesting traits to build on.
The Blue Jackets’ last pick was a massive swing on a scoring forward from the BCHL, Jeremy Loranger. His 105 points led the league with an 18-point margin over the second-place scorer. Loranger is small, and he plays accordingly, avoiding physical play whenever possible. This was a major concern for teams, as you need some sort of ability to handle physical play. Loranger is a creative passer who weaves through traffic with the puck and fires off passes. In the seventh round, this is exactly the kind of swing you want to take.
Strengths
For a team that struggled for so long down the middle, center has become a bit of a strength in its pipeline.
Fantilli and Cole Sillinger are U-22 players already on the roster and playing center. You can add Del Bel Belluz to that list this year, in all likelihood.
Their top prospect, Lindstrom, could be the center the Jackets pair with Fantilli to form a dangerous one-two punch on the top two lines. Griffin was a nice addition in the draft. Pinelli and William Whitelaw are potential wingers at the next level, but they still have a chance to play down the middle. That’s an impressive group.
Weaknesses
The Jackets have a pretty solid prospect pool all around, but the left wing lacks some talent. Malatesta is a solid prospect, but he wouldn’t be considered a high-end player. Oiva Keskinen is a fine prospect who could be a depth scoring option, and he’ll play his first AHL season this upcoming year after a couple of solid campaigns in the Liiga. Beyond that, Columbus could use a forward or two on the left side.
Hidden Gem: Luca Marrelli, D
The activation in Marrelli’s game has always been there, but in his final OHL season, he took full advantage of it. The Oshawa defender consistently joined the rush or jumped into the fray off the blueline. It allowed him to take advantage of his ever-improving shot and continue to impact the game as a facilitator. Marelli was second in playoff scoring as he helped lead his team to the final, where they lost for a second straight year to the London Knights. He will take his talents to Cleveland in the AHL next season.
Next Man Up: Luca Del Bel Belluz, C/W
For all the high-quality prospects the Jackets have, many of them are already in the NHL, or they are a year or two away. Del Bel Belluz is next up, and although he’s less exciting than some of their other youngsters, he’s still a solid prospect. He’s a tactical scorer who finds ways to connect plays with effective passing and intelligent positioning. He’s not a star, but he will be a solid contributor.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: James Malatesta, Oiva Keksinen
C: Cayden Lindstrom, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Luca Pinelli, William Whitelaw, Owen Griffin
RW: Jordan Dumais, Kirill Dolzhenkov, James Fisher
LD: Jackson Smith, Stanislav Svozil, Malte Vass, Andrew Strathmann, Aidan Hreschuk, Daemon Hunt
RD: Charlie Elick, Corson Ceulemans, Luca Marrelli
G: Pyotr Andreyonov, Sergei Ivanov, Evan Gardner, Melvin Strahl, Nolan Lalonde
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
Shohei Ohtani has top-selling MLB jersey so far this season. Two other Dodgers rank in top four
Shohei Ohtani has the bestselling jersey in baseball.
Again.
He is joined in the top four by Dodgers teammates Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.
Again.
According to rankings released Friday based on sales of Nike jerseys from the Fanatics network, fans have purchased Ohtani's No. 17 Dodgers jersey more than that of any other player during the first half of the 2025 season.
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It's not Ohtani's first time at the top of the jersey sales rankings. The two-way superstar from Japan was No. 1 for the 2023 regular season, his last with the Angels, and the 2024 regular season, his first with the Dodgers. His jersey was also the top seller during the most recent offseason, after he was named the 2024 National League MVP and won his first World Series championship.
According to MLB, Ohtani’s jerseys have sold more than any other player in the U.S., Japan and worldwide since 2023.
New York Yankees superstar and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge is No. 2 on the 2025 list, followed by Freeman at No. 3 and Betts at No. 4. Freeman and Betts also joined Ohtani in the top four in sales during the offseason, with Freeman at No. 2 and Betts at No. 4.
Read more:Dodgers unveil Kobe Bryant bobblehead to be given away Aug. 8 at Chavez Ravine
For the 2024 regular season, Betts ranked at No. 4, while Freeman came in at No. 18. Freeman has been riding a wave of popularity since the World Series, during which he hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 and eventually was named the series MVP.
New York Mets star Francisco Lindor has the No. 5 jersey of 2025 so far, followed by Mets teammate Juan Soto, Rafael Devers of the San Francisco Giants, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres and Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, in his 18th MLB season, has the No. 20 bestselling jersey.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.