It may be the dead of summer and a quiet time in the hockey world, but I've still been to the rink once a week thanks to a numberofcamps, either skills-based or for international tournaments.

Because I'm watching teenagers, I know that most of them still have a lot of growing to do – but how much? 

If a kid is already huge, such as 2026 NHL draft prospect Ethan Belchetz of OHL Windsor (he's already 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds), there's no need to worry. But a lot of the kids at Canada's U-17 camp, eligible for the 2027 NHL draft, are harder to forecast. 

A 5-foot-9 defenseman would have to be really special to make the NHL, but that same kid could easily grow three inches in the coming years, and no one would have any questions about his viability.

Famously, Mitch Marner was listed at 5-foot-7.5 and 130 pounds when the London Knights took him 19th overall in the 2013 OHL draft. Marner, now one of the most dangerous forwards in the NHL, grew up to be six-feet tall and 180 pounds, according to NHL.com. On the other hand, some players never shoot up, and it doesn't matter anyway – Johnny Gaudreau and Cole Caufield being prime examples.

But just for funsies, I asked a bunch of scouts and agents (whose job it is to convince scouts their clients are still growing) what their favorite unscientific way is to guess if a teen player is going to get a lot taller in the coming years. Here's a cross-section of responses:

"How big are his feet? A shorter kid with big feet is going to grow."

"Look at his skate size."

"Look at Mom and Dad, or look at the feet and hands."

"Look at the mom."

"Brothers."

"I've tried it enough to see there's no concrete way of predicting it. I usually look at Mom and Dad and try my best to see which parent the kid takes after the most. Grandparents are looked at, too. I know a guy who swears it's Grandpa on the mom's side, but I have counter-examples of that."

"Take the height difference in inches between the dad and mom, divide by three and add to the kid's height at 16 or 17."

"It's all guesswork."

I suppose if there were a tried-and-true answer, it would be a lot easier to predict which players will have both the talent and size to become NHL stars one day. In the meantime, teams will continue to take leaps of faith on kids they like, or simply value safe size – as prospect writer Jerome Berube noted after the 2025 NHL draft, not a single sub-six-foot defenseman was taken this year. But I'll leave the last word to one scout who lives by a very strong axiom:

"If the kid is 5-foot-6 and he shaves every day – he's cooked."

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Despite signing a two-year contract with the Shanghai Dragons to become their next head coach, Gerard Gallant still has his eyes set on the NHL. 

Since getting fired by the Rangers in 2023, Gallant has been unable to secure an NHL coaching job. 

As time has gone on, Gallant admitted that he’s continued to grow frustrated due to a lack of interest from NHL teams.

“I’ve been out for two years … and nothing’s happened yet,” Gallant said. “Am I a little pissed off? Yeah. But that’s the way it goes and you wait for your turn and your opportunities.

“So, I took this job. I’m going to Russia, going to St. Petersburg. I have a two-year contract and I’m going to honor that contract.”

Gallant coached the Rangers for two seasons from 2021 to 2023. 

The 61-year-old coach made these comments after it was reported a few months ago that Gallant was eager to prove he didn’t deserve to be fired by the Rangers. 

Gerard Gallant Named Head Coach Of KHL’s Shanghai DragonsGerard Gallant has been named the head coach of the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons. 

“I don’t know if he’s (Gallant) been in any of these particular interviews this year, I just don’t know,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said. “I have heard he’s eager to prove that when he got let go by the Rangers, It wasn’t only about him, and he wants an opportunity to show people that. We’ll see if he gets an opportunity with teams to talk about that.” 

It looks as if Gallant is looking to salvage his reputation in the KHL with the hopes of landing an NHL head coaching gig in the near future. 

What makes sports, and hockey specifically, unique and intriguing are storylines. In the NHL, it's the off-ice drama, milestone-chasing and pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

NHL players enter each season thinking it could be their best one yet. Sometimes, it is, but for others, it's a real struggle.

The struggles or shortcomings of these players put pressure on them to bounce back and prove to critics they are better than what they previously showed. 

Here are five NHL centers who have the most to prove in the 2025-26 season. 

Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks

The 2024-25 campaign was one to forget for the Canucks' Swedish star.

Pettersson finished the season with just 15 goals and 45 points in 64 games, and the 26-year-old looked lost offensively at times, looking unsure with what to do with the puck and lacking confidence when given the puck in advantageous situations. His shot rate dropped 1.7 per game from 2.52 in 2023-24 and 3.21 in 2022-23, and his shooting percentage also fell to 13.8 percent from 16.4 the year prior.

Pettersson dealt with a lot of off-ice issues, primarily coming from J.T. Miller, who is now with the New York Rangers. Pettersson received somewhat of a pass for his poor performance last year due to those issues and a couple of injuries, but he undoubtedly still faced a lot of heat.

If he can't bounce back this season, serious questions will need to be asked about his future in Vancouver, even though the full no-move clause on his contract kicked in this summer and runs through 2031-32 with an $11.6-million cap hit. 

Pettersson possesses a deep offensive toolkit, as well as great defensive instincts, which give him all the makings of a No. 1 center. He's shown he could do it before, but he must prove it once again.

Elias Pettersson's Revenge Year Is Nigh With Vancouver CanucksVancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson is hungry for a season to be happy about.

Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders

First things first: Barzal needs to stay healthy.

He's missed a large chunk of games in three of his first eight seasons in the NHL, which makes it incredibly difficult to remain consistently productive. In 2024-25, Barzal played in only 30 games and notched just six goals and 20 points.

The previous season, the 28-year-old netted 23 goals and 80 points in 80 games, scoring at a point-per-game pace for the first time since his stunning 85-point rookie season.

Barzal's speed and playmaking make him a threat each time he steps on the ice. Forming a duo with Bo Horvat as the Islanders' top two centers should allow Barzal to take advantage of easier matchups while Horvat takes on the opponent's top line. 

Barzal has seemingly been written off of Canada's Olympic roster, but a strong start to the season could put him back in contention.

Matty Beniers, Seattle Kraken

Like Barzal, Beniers has struggled to regain the form he had in his rookie season.

Beniers took home the Calder Trophy just three seasons ago, scoring 24 goals and 57 points in 80 games. Since then, Beniers has notched 37 and 43 points.

The 22-year-old has steadily improved on the defensive side of the puck, becoming one of the better two-way centers in the NHL. Playing under coach Lane Lambert should only enhance that aspect of his game.

What Beniers needs to do is start scoring again. The Kraken depend on him and Shane Wright to produce like top six centers, and if they are both scoring at just over 0.5 points per game, the Kraken's rebuild will be at a standstill for a long time. 

Beniers signed a seven-year contract worth $7,142,857 annually that he needs to live up to, and the 2025-26 season is a prove-it year for the 2021 second overall pick. 

Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks

For anyone who considers Bedard's first two seasons in the NHL as poor, they might want to take another look.

The 20-year-old has eclipsed the 20-goal and 60-point mark in each season, playing with players who are far below his talent level. 

While there are some valid concerns about skating speed and underlying numbers that took a dip in Year 2, Bedard's talent is always apparent, and as he matures, the chances he creates will become goals.

With that being said, it is time for those chances to start becoming goals. It's not uncommon for highly drafted players like Bedard to break out in their third season in the NHL, as Jack Hughes, Aleksander Barkov, David Pastrnak and many others have. If Bedard shows out in the first half of the season, he could very likely find himself on Canada's Olympic roster.

Connor Bedard Is Ready To Become An NHL Superstar In His 20sEveryone in the hockey community will be wishing Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard a happy birthday on Thursday. 

Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Besides playoff success, there isn't much for Matthews to prove. He's won three Rocket Richard Trophies, a Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay and a Calder Trophy. Matthews has also finished as a finalist for the Selke Trophy. Besides the Art Ross, Matthews has won it all in the regular season.

What's different this year is that he's expected to come into the season healthy and prepared to play without Mitch Marner. While the Maple Leafs' superstar has proven to be a play driver in short stints without Marner, he'll need to do it throughout an 82-game season.

The 27-year-old will also need to step up in the playoffs. He's done so before, but far too often, he hasn't taken a series by the reins and dominated, especially later in each round. If he can do both of those things this season, he'll have proven that he truly is among the greats. 

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers know the importance of goaltending.

Despite reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years, the hunger is stronger than ever to win the ultimate prize. This past year’s run in particular could have had better goaltending.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

That’s why there is speculation of the Oilers being interested in Carter Hart, despite his standing with the league. The Oilers have also been connected to others, such as Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Trending Oilers Stories

Connor McDavid's Best Way Forward With OilersEDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid stand to benefit from two unstoppable forces: a ballooning NHL salary cap and the pressure cooker of needing to win now.

4 Oilers Goalie Targets Better Than Carter Hart

Oilers Eyeing Trade For Former Oil Kings Goaltender?

Oilers Looking at 3 Potential PTO Options

REPORT: Oilers Checked In On Top Goalie Prospect

Oilers' Kris Knoblauch On Biggest Area To Get BetterEDMONTON – Special teams are special for a reason.

With Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard guarding the twine in the big leagues, the organization has elected to shake things up elsewhere. Primarily, they brought in Matt Tomkins to be the veteran presence with the Bakersfield Condors. 

The other goalie with the Condors has yet to be determined, because the Oilers did not offer an extension to Olivier Rodrigue. Now, he has agreed to terms with a KHL team.

«Барыс» заключил односторонний контракт с Оливье Родригом, соглашение рассчитано на один сезон до 31 мая 2026 года. pic.twitter.com/3BcYCj8aqV

— ХК «Барыс» (@AstanaBarys) August 14, 2025

Rodrigue and Barys Astana have agreed to a one-year contract.

Rodrigue spent the last three seasons grinding in the AHL full-time. Last year, he had an 18-16-6 record, a 3.12 goals against average (GAA), an .897 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.

The 25-year-old netminder was drafted 62nd overall by the Oilers in 2018. The 6-foot-1 Rodrigue played in two NHL games, collected a 3.10 GAA and a .862 SV%.

Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Oilers Goalie Signs In Kazakhstan Canadian goaltender Olivier Rodrigue, 25, has signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana, the Kazakhstan-based KHL club announced on Thursday.

The New Jersey Devils have racked up 1,125 wins in franchise history, placing them 17th in the NHL’s all-time wins list. For a team established in 1982, that’s not a bad spot.

Earlier this month, the NHL shared a chart ranking all 32 teams by total franchise wins. On the surface, it’s fun to see where the Devils land, right in the middle of the pack, but the list doesn’t tell the whole story.

The top spots are dominated by the Original Six: the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks. Naturally, they tower over newer franchises in total wins; they’ve had decades more games to play. That’s why total wins alone are a flawed metric for comparing franchises.

While the Devils may appear “average” on this list, the reality is they’re anything but. Despite recent struggles, making the playoffs just nine times in the past 10 seasons, they remain one of the NHL’s most successful franchises since joining the league.

New Jersey has won three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003), tying them for 11th in Cup wins alongside the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning. That’s ahead of older franchises like the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres, both of whom entered the league in 1970–71 and have never hoisted the Cup. Five other franchises, the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild, are still chasing their first.

This paints a far more accurate picture of the Devils’ place in NHL history. They may not crack the top tier in total franchise wins, but when measuring by championships, resilience, and impact, New Jersey stands tall among the league’s elite.

Detroit AHL coach Brian Lashoff believes Red Wings have tools to fix defensive woes from last season.

The Red Wings enter next season with multiple areas of their game that they would like to improve upon with one of them being their defence. Detroit finished bottom 12 in goals against average last season with no improvement since bringing on a defensive minded coach like Todd McLellan in late December. During that span, the Red Wings were still bottom 13 in goals against average and signaled that a change needed to be made. 

The Hockey News recently caught up with Brian Lashoff, Assistant Head Coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate, who shared compelling insights into the system and scheme adjustments being introduced ahead of next season by the Red Wings coaching staff. According to Lashoff, it's important for a team that struggled in a particular area the previous year to reset and establish a new “standard” for their style of play moving forward.

“You see the structure they're putting in place, the details that they're focusing on, and I think those types of things are going to give them success in the long run,” Lashoff explained “I think the start of the season is going to be the biggest thing and I think that's a great thing about their staff, and is setting a standard right away, and then holding the team to that standard.”

Red Wings Fantasy Hockey Outlook: Kasper and Gibson Potential League WinnersJohn Gibson, Marco Kasper among several Detroit Red Wings poised to outperform their early undervalued Fantasy Hockey rankings.

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

Lashoff is no stranger to the Red Wings organization, having played 136 NHL games over seven seasons with Detroit, including a notable NHL debut in which he scored his first career goal from the blueline. However, the bulk of his career was spent in the AHL, where he logged 629 games over 14 seasons with the Griffins, serving as team captain in his final years. In 2023, he transitioned from player to coach, joining the Griffins’ coaching staff. While the shift came with its challenges, Lashoff credited the strong support from the staff around him for making the adjustment much smoother.

“From the start, I've felt like things have gone well, I've been given responsibility right off the bat, I think that's been huge for me to kind of learn and learn from Dan Watson and Steph Julian, two guys that I really respect who have had success as coaches,” Lashoff claimed “I've learned a ton from them, they helped me get my feet wet and get going right away my first year, and then last year continue to roll through things being a coach.”

Lashoff has played with several of the Red Wings current blueliners during his time with the Griffins like Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and more meaning he can truly speak to the talent of the players after seeing it every day. He firmly believes with the new adjustments and some of the younger defencemen taking a step forward that their blueline can make a step forward this season despite making no significant changes. 

“I think defensively, it's a team that I think has the potential to be a strength of them, So we're excited to see everything kind of get to work in September,” Lashoff said. 

"Super Excited" Jacob Bernard-Docker Can't Wait To Begin With Red Wings It was an active offseason for Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who not only traded the disappointing Vladimir Tarasenko and his $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild but also signed several new players. 

Detroit’s most intriguing addition on the blue line is former first-round pick Jacob Bernard-Docker, a bit of a lottery ticket with untapped potential. However, the most impactful move on the back end is undoubtedly the blockbuster trade for All-Star goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson immediately becomes the Red Wings’ best goaltender in over a decade, and with a new defensive system being tailored to support him, there’s real potential for the team to rally around him and take a meaningful step forward defensively.

Having the full summer to evaluate what worked and what didn’t will be a major asset for head coach Todd McLellan, who has a strong track record of transforming defensive play. In San Jose, he helped elevate the Sharks to a top six defence in the NHL, and in Los Angeles, he led the Kings to a top nine ranking. Replicating that kind of improvement in Detroit is well within reach. The only real question is how much the defensive metrics will climb and whether they’ll rise high enough to justify Lashoff’s belief that defence could become a true strength of this team.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!