On Friday, most American hockey fans were celebrating their most patriotic holiday. North of the border, up in Manitoba, the Winnipeg Jets were introducing the latest addition to their team. Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews arrived and did his first media as a Jet. 

It is a bit odd to see Toews donning another NHL sweater, but that is the reality of 2025. Winnipeg’s first game will be the first time that Toews suits up since the final game of the 2022-23 season. 

Toews talked about a variety of topics during his presser, including his excitement to return to the NHL with the team he grew up cheering for. 

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XWe're taking you LIVE to the first media availability with Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews! https://t.co/eMjEvdCXnw

“There’s a lot of pressure playing in a Canadian market,” Toews said. “I’m excited to be a part of all that.”

It’s not like Chicago is shy when it comes to sports pressure; the teams that Toews played for just won early and often, so he didn’t feel it as much. Now that he’s in Winnipeg on a team that just won the President’s Trophy but had another playoff failure, things will be different. 

“It’s surreal to be sitting here right now, putting this jersey on,” Toews said on playing for the Jets. “You have these moments throughout your career. I don’t want to say you get jaded, but you get used to it, and you kind of settle in. This is another moment that brings me back to that new feeling, you’re getting drafted again, you’re a young kid. There is definitely that excitement and that motivation to come in.” 

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XOne of the most decorated hockey players in the history of our province is coming home 💙

If anybody deserves to go out on their terms, it is Jonathan Toews. It seems like he is incredibly happy to be returning to hockey after a few years away, getting healthy both physically and mentally. He will go down as a Chicago Blackhawks legend, and he knows that, but playing back in Manitoba will be special for him and his family. 

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EDMONTON – Every July 1st, the NHL calendar resets.

The Edmonton Oilers are preparing for the new year by making improvements to the team in several areas. Stan Bowman is hard at work, ensuring the team maximizes every dollar spent in the best possible way.

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Achieving that goal is easier said than done. That goal is easier to accomplish when you have young, inexpensive players who can contribute to a team’s success.

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If this offseason has taught us anything about the philosophy of Bowman and his management group, it’s that they will not overpay for depth players. Gone are the days of spending $2-$3 million on fourth-line forwards. 

Enter the youth movement.

Bowman had a busy April, signing college players to entry-level contracts (ELCs) and Europeans to inexpensive standard contracts. This list is constructed of players who are 23-years-old or younger who could surprise people and push for a spot on the opening night roster for the Oilers. 

Quinn Hutson

Lane Hutson’s older brother, Quinn Hutson, signed with the Oilers as a free agent on April 14th. After signing his deal with he played in two regular season games to close out the regular season. 

Quinn was able to play two games because of all the injuries the Oilers had at the time. Because of this, we shouldn’t read too much into who his linemates were. 

Adam Henrique and Max Jones were Quinn’s most common linemates. This suggests that there is a possibility that he could work himself into a third-line role with the team. He is a young player who plays a great defensive game. He also earned some time on the powerplay, suggesting that the coaching staff have confidence in his offensive skills as well.

Quinn is the biggest longshot to play for the Oilers on this list, but don’t count him out. His defensive game is a great baseline to have, while his offensive game will help him take advantage of turnovers.

Sam O’Reilly

Sam O’Reilly is a prospect that the Oilers have a lot of belief in. After all, they traded into the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to select him. He plays a great defensive game, which is something this management group and coaching staff are placing extra emphasis on.

O’Reilly had the best offensive year of his OHL career this past season. In 62 games, he set personal highs in goals (28), assists (43), and points (71). This was a 15-point increase over his previous career high the year prior.

The Oilers aren’t going to rush O’Reilly into NHL action. However, they selected him because they believe he can be an effective two-way NHLer. 

O’Reilly is almost guaranteed to get a nine-game audition in the NHL this year. Depending on how great of a summer he has, he can push for the third-line or fourth-line center position. Depending on how he fairs, it could make other players expendable, or push those players into different roles.

One way or another, keep your eyes on O’Reilly at main camp this year.

Oilers Complete 2025 Offseason Guide: Trades, Signings, & MoreEDMONTON – The offseason is in full swing.

Samuel Jonsson

Much ink has been spilled on the Oilers' goaltending situation. However, the Oilers could have a potential solution in net within the organization.

Samuel Jonsson could push for the back-up position, if another suitable goaltender cannot be acquired to push Calvin Pickard down the depth chart. He’s a goaltender with good size (6-foot-5, 201 lbs) who is fast on his feet, according to one scout.

It’s possible that he plays another season in Sweden before plying his trade to North America. However, he’ll have an opportunity to impress the organization once training camp rolls around. If he makes a good impression, he might force the Oilers to make a difficult decision.

Matt Savoie

The final prospect on this list is Matt Savoie. Savoie split his time between the NHL and AHL in the 2024-25 season. He played big minutes for the Bakersfield Condors in all situations. 

Savoie’s time in the NHL was brief, yet impressive. He displayed great offensive skills, proving he can gel with the likes of Leon Draisaitl.

Savoie is a forward who has a strong work ethic and a high motor. The smaller forward has the ability to evade oncoming forecheckers. This is a handy talent to have, that will be tested at the NHL level.

All in all, these four Oilers prospects could surprise hockey pundits by staking their claim to a roster position for opening night this season.

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Pavol Regenda recently signed a contract extension with the San Jose Sharks, but apparently he could have signed a more lucrative deal elsewhere. The 25-year-old Slovak right winger signed a two-way deal worth $775,000 US if he plays in the NHL or $350,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of $400,000, as per PuckPedia.

Shortly before signing, he appeared on a Slovak podcast(P)opičí Biznis, where he spoke about why he chose not to play in Russia. He also spoke about the trade that moved him from the beach in San Diego to San Jose, living on an AHL salary in a major U.S. city, and the trouble with attracting NHL players to the Slovak national team.

The translations are from written versions that appeared in a recent Hokej.cz article written by Dominik Dubovči.

“There were various offers from Europe,” Regenda said. “Even from Russia, but I wouldn’t go there right now. I know what it’s like for the guys who are there now. And I don't want to be a dick, because people automatically take it that you support the war and go to work for blood money.

“Meanwhile, my teammate, who just went to Russia, has a million dollars net for the season! If a Slovak received such an offer, 99.9% of people would leave their families at home and go. But if you go there as a hockey player, you automatically support the war.”

“Sports and politics are not related at all, but I know that there are guys out there who get threats and hate messages. So I said no to Russia. There will be offers from the KHL in the future. Maybe when the war’s over, I might go there.”

Martin Pospíšil after Olympic qualifiers: “It was never anything against the players” from the KHL Martin Pospíšil was calm and reflective after Slovakia’s 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Sunday in Bratislava, which qualified the team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Regenda was acquired by San Jose in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 22 in exchange for Justin Bailey. In the podcast, Regenda recounted that experience and, while doing so, oddly compared San Jose to his hometown of Michalovce, a town of 35,000 in eastern Slovakia near the Ukrainian border.

“Right after training in the gym, the general manager told me that I’d been traded. I don’t like changes, but I had to pack up and get on a plane within an hour. It was quite a shock, I played a game that very day! It was challenging. I went from the most beautiful city in America to San Jose. A new environment... It’s like comparing Bratislava and Michalovce. The sea was further away, there wasn’t much to do, while San Diego was excellent in this regard. But I was doing well in hockey after the trade. Plus, we were much higher in the standings.”

Regenda explained what it’s like living in a major U.S. city with an AHL salary.

“I had 90,000 after taxes, and 23,000 of that went towards rent. Everyone in Europe thinks that if we play in America, we’re automatically rich, but the expenses are massive. In Slovakia, for example, I can buy food for a week for 60 euros (approx $70 US or $95 CDN). In the USA, you spend twice, three times that much. I prefer to cook at home, I don’t like going out to eat very often, but some guys were in restaurants all the time. That’s $100 right away.”

Pavol Regenda: “I think I can play in the NHL and I know what I have to do to be there” With his flowing sandy-blond hair, Pavol Regenda looks like he could be a surfer and seems quite at home in Southern California after two hockey seasons there.

Regenda also spoke about the Slovak national team. At the Olympic qualifyers last August, Regenda played on an effective line with Martin and Kristián Pospišil – part of a balanced attack on a Slovak team that included Tomáš Tatar, Adam Sýkora and Šimon Nemec.

At the recent IIHF World Championship, however, no full-time NHL players went and, with 19 career games, Regenda was by far the most NHL-experienced player on the team. Slovakia failed to qualify for the quarterfinals and the team received plenty of criticism at home.

“The young guys – Slafkovský, Nemec, Černák – don’t want to go to the World Championships because, in my opinion, they’re pissed off with the whole system, how it works in Slovakia...

“You come to the national team and you look like an idiot in front of people. One person says that you don’t even try, another person's (betting) ticket is ruined...

“Nothing works in Slovakia, so why should sports work?”

Photo © Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images: Anaheim Ducks forward Pavol Regenda (40) passes the puck from behind the net against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2023-24 NHL season. 

Hockey Slovakia President Miroslav Šatan: ‘The Door To The National Team Is Still Open to Juraj Slafkovský’ Back in October, Montreal Canadiens right winger Juraj Slafkovský heaped heavy criticism on the Slovak Ice Hockey Association and Hockey Slovakia fired back, dismissing the remarks as “ill-considered statements of a young player.”

The Carolina Hurricanes landed top free agent target Nikolaj Ehlers on Thursday, signing him to a six-year, $51 million deal.

The talented forward, along with Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky, spoke with the media over Zoom on Saturday about the signing.

Here's what they had to say:

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Nikolaj Ehlers

On what went into his decision to sign with Carolina: A lot of things. I'm very excited about the prospect. I'm very excited about the team in Carolina. They've been a tough team to play against in the past and I like all the young players that are there. The interest that Carolina has shown was something that obviously helped a lot with the decision making. It made me very excited.

On how he feels he'll fit into the Hurricanes' system: I think my speed. The stress game that Carolina plays in the sense of when they don't have the puck. For example, trying to get the puck back as quick as possible. I think with my speed, I'm able to do that. I think with my speed, I can create a lot of room for the other guys as well and I believe that I will fit in very nicely and that's obviously something you look at as well when you try to make a decision. I talked to Rod [Brind'Amour] and we had kind of the same vision about how things are going to go and again, the talks that I've had with the people in the Canes organization is something that really excited me.

On the decision to leave Winnipeg: Very emotional. Obviously I'm very excited to join the Canes organization, at the same time, I'm also sad to be leaving an organization that helped me achieve my dream of being an NHL player. I've been in Winnipeg for 10 years, been a part of the organization for 11, and created a lot of great relationships on and off the ice. [Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff], [executive chairman Mark Chipman], [head coach Scott Arniel]. I talked to those three guys yesterday and it was very emotional. I had a lot of things to say and I had a lot of thank yous that I needed to get out because those guys and that organization is top notch. I told them why I made the decision that I made and they obviously respected it and were happy for me. At the same time, I'd been there for 10 years. So it was very emotional. I loved the organization and I'll always hold the city of Winnipeg very close to my heart. It's the place I lived the longest in my whole life. So it was some very good conversations and a lot of people I won't ever forget.

On if there was anything the Jets could have done differently to have convinced him to stay: I think it was [inevitable]. Like I told them, they didn't do anything wrong. I was there for 10 years, I loved it there, I loved the organization, the people in it, the guys. They became family. The city of Winnipeg, the fans... Everyone that's played in Winnipeg knows how incredible it is to play there. For me, it was more about trying something new and challenging myself. Getting out and seeing different things, a different culture. That's what I wanted to do. Obviously I loved playing in Winnipeg, will never forget my time, but it was time for me personally to get out and experience something different and challenge myself on and off the ice.

On what he thinks Carolina can help bring out of him: That's one of the things I'm trying to figure out. I think every player always has a little more and I'm hoping that maybe a different culture, a different playing style will make me a better player. I think I definitely could have done that in Winnipeg as well in some way, but this was more the overall feeling of, 'Okay, I need to go out and see what's out there and challenge myself.' I think there's still a lot of ways I can improve as a player and as a person. I'm excited to see how that works out.

On if he has any early goals or targets for next season: Fitting in great with the team is my most important thing. I'm not a guy who sets a target of goals, assists or points. I want to go in and get to know the guys, get to know the organization, get to know the city and get comfortable as quick as possible. All I've heard is great things about the team there and they all are like family, so I don't think that will be a huge problem for me and I think the rest will come pretty quickly. I'm excited for that.

On his perception of the Hurricanes before signing: Like I said in my first answer, they've always been hard to play against. You go to Carolina and you know exactly that they're going to be ready to play, that they're going to come out hard and they're going to keep stressing you out until they get the puck back. So now to be on the other side of that will be pretty fun. Again, I know how it is on hockey teams. It's like a family with al the players. Like I've said, I've only heard good things, so I'm excited to meet all the guys. Some of them have already reached out, which means a lot to me, and it just makes it even more exciting to get this season going. The rest... I'll obviously have some talks with some more players, with Rod as well, to set myself up in the best way possible come training camp.

On his familiarity with Frederik Andersen: I love that guy. We are very familiar. I'm excited to play with him. He's been a great goalie throughout his NHL career. We've obviously talked. He called me as soon as he heard the news. We've got the Olympics coming up in February as well, so it will be a very special year, I think. To have him there as well to help me get integrated as quickly as possible and show me around the city and so on, will help me a lot. I'm excited. It's going to be fun to play with another Danish guy.

On if he had any conversations with former Hurricane Nino Niederreiter on Carolina: Let me put it this way, I've talked to a lot of people. Obviously the decision came a bit later than people thought and the only reason for that was to set myself up in the best way possible to make the right decision. And I needed that time. I wasn't trying to drag it out and make people wait. It was just what I needed to be comfortable in the decision making. So yes, I talked to a lot of people and obviously tried to take in all the information and all the different impressions. It was a stressful, busy, but exciting time. A lot of time on my phone, let's put it that way.

On if he was looking for a "quieter market" in Carolina: It wasn't the media, you know I love you guys. No, I wouldn't put it that way. Like I said, I had been in Winnipeg for 10 years and I don't think I ever was in any way bad during the media or I hope you guys didn't feel like I didn't like you guys because I had a great relationship with every one of you. I hope that we can build something in Carolina... they already built that. They got the fans, they got the city rallying around the Canes, so I don't think it's quiet. Obviously Canada is a completely different story in the sense of the media and all of that, but it wasn't a specific thing I was looking for. You play hockey for the city. I love playing hockey, but you want the fans to be excited about your team, you want the fans to stand outside the rink like they did in Winnipeg and watch the playoff games and go nuts. That's what gives you the extra energy and I believe that they've built something similar to that in Carolina. So I'm excited to feel that.

On what he'll cherish most about his time in Winnipeg: I mean, it's 10 years. You know what I mean? There's no chance I can pick out one or two because the memories I've made there on and off the ice with guys on the team and people off the ice, neighbors and just the city of Winnipeg is something that I will take with me and cherish forever. It won't be the last time I'm in Winnipeg, obviously I'll be playing there as well, but I really did love living and playing in Winnipeg. Again, you've got moments that stick out. Obviously my first playoffs, my first goal at home and playing these past playoffs there where you can't leave the rink because there are so many people outside. It might sound annoying that you can't leave the rink, but that's the cool part about it, right? There are so many memories with the players and I've already talked to them about it and I'll never forget those guys and the people in the organization and the city. 

On how grateful he was to be able to still return from injury this past postseason and have a final memory with the Jets: It was very important to me to play and try to help the team win the Stanley Cup. But when I got injured, it hurt me a lot. And I think you get the feeling of, 'Okay, I might not play this playoffs,' or you just have no idea what might happen. You're injured, but we had a great team in Winnipeg trying to nurse me back to playing hockey again and it went two or three weeks quicker than it was supposed to. So I'm very grateful that I got to play such a cool last two games against St. Louis and a series against Dallas where I thought we really had a chance to do something special. Getting those last few games in Winnipeg, it's something that I think about now, but it wasn't something that I was thinking about during the season or during the playoffs. It sunk in sometime after and that Game 7 against St. Louis is, I believe, one of the craziest games in Winnipeg hockey history and I'll definitely never forget about that one.

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Eric Tulsky

On the point at which the organization was confident they were landing Ehlers: When I got the call saying that he was signing with us. He had a lot of teams interested in him. He's a great player. I think in the end, for him, if he just wanted the most money he could have gotten more for sure. From my understanding, he was looking for a place that felt like the right fit, where he'd be happy, where he'd have a chance to win and so it turns into a recruiting pitch. It's a personal decision for what feels right to him. All we can do is present him the information that we have on our team and help him understand why we think he'd enjoy it here and wait for his decision.

On how he feels Ehlers will fit into the team: He's incredibly fast and dynamic with the puck. He'll bring creativity to our game. We have the puck as much as any team in the league and the more we can turn that into premium scoring chances, the better off we'll be. Nikolaj is the kind of player who can create scoring chances out of nothing and that's the sort of thing that you can layer onto what we've already built and it can help take us to the next level.

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The NHL off-season gives us the perfect opportunity to examine each team’s prospect pools, continuing now with the Boston Bruins.

In this series, Tony Ferrari will dig into each NHL team’s strengths and weaknesses, a quick overview of the latest draft class, where each team's positional depth chart stands and who could be next in line for an NHL opportunity.

A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises.

Initial Thoughts

After over a decade of being one of the NHL’s most dangerous contenders, the Boston Bruins are beginning to look toward the future. Whether you call it a retool or a rebuild, the Bruins sent key players out the door at the trade deadline, and they seem to have their eyes on the draft and the world of prospects. They acquired Marat Khusnutdinov, Will Zellers and Fraser Minten at the deadline, which started stocking up their cupboard. 

Khusnutdinov is an incredibly smart, tactical forward who can play both center and on the wing. His speed and transition ability are quite impressive, and although he wasn’t able to break through offensively in a limited role both pre and post-trade, he has some really intriguing dual-threat ability. He will stay in the lineup because of his 200-foot game, but his skill and transition game will help him find a nice role in the middle six. 

Zellers is an incredibly skilled puck handler who could have one of the most entertaining highlight reels of any prospect. His offensive tools allow him to get into excellent scoring position, and his shot has come a long way over the last couple of years. His scoring comes from dangling a defender and getting his shot off quickly and accurately. He’s not really a typical Bruins-style player, but there is a lot to like in terms of betting on upside and skill. 

Minten is much more of a Bruins pick, being an intense, intelligent player who can play with some jam. His shot is good, and he plays a simple, north-south game that won’t wow anyone. Minten’s entire game is based around his ability to read the ice and make the right play. He isn’t flashy, but he’s effective. 

Fabian Lysell played a dozen NHL games last season, and despite not really finding the scoresheet too often, the impact he had on the Bruins after the trade deadline was impressive. His speed and transition ability were immediately evident. Lysell will have to win a spot on the roster in training camp, but the pure talent is as high as almost anyone in the pipeline outside of James Hagens, who was just drafted seventh overall. Lysell has had some growing pains because when you figuratively go 110 miles per hour every time you’re on the ice, you can have some issues. If Lysell can slow down a bit at times and play a bit more tactically, he could be a stud for the Bruins. 

The blueline is a bit bare for the Bruins. Jackson Edwards brings a really interesting physical edge, and maybe there is something there as a bottom-pair guy. 

Loke Johansson is a big, defensive-minded blueliner who is mobile, but he’s not really much of a difference-maker. Kristian Kostadinski could be an interesting defender if he can refine his defensive game at Boston College with his physical edge.

Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season

Fraser Minten (C), Matthew Poitras (RW), Marat Khusnutdinov (C/LW), Fabian Lysell (RW/LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 7th overall - James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)

Round 2, 51st overall - Will Moore, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 2, 61st overall - Liam Pettersson, D, Vaxjo Jr. (Swe.)

Round 3, 79th overall - Cooper Simpson, L, Shakopee (Minn. H.S.)

Round 4, 100th overall - Vashek Blanar, D, Troja-Ljungby Jr. (Swe)

Round 5, 133rd overall - Cole Chandler, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL)

Round 6, 165th overall - Kirill Yemelyanov, C, Loko Yaroslavl Jr. (Rus.)

When the Bruins decided to trade key pieces at the trade deadline, it signalled that the 2025 NHL draft would be the beginning of a new era for the Bruins. Although they didn’t quite reach the bottom of the standings, they were selecting in the top 10 with their own pick for the first time in a long time.

Despite the best efforts from teams like the New York Islanders to trade up and try to get ahead of the Bruins, it didn’t happen, and they chose the center from Boston College, James Hagens. 

The fit is about as perfect as it could be. The Bruins need a new centerpiece for the future, and Hagens has the potential to be that. Coming into the year, Hagens was the top prospect for this year’s draft class, but strong seasons from a few others and a year that wasn’t quite on par with recent college draft eligibles Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini resulted in Hagens dropping down the board.

Hagens is a supremely skilled playmaker with incredible creativity. His skating is agile and swift. He moves with a shiftiness that can give defenders fits. It’s given him the ability to open up passing lanes and create small advantages for himself all over the ice. Hagens is no slouch as a goal-scorer either, using his speed to attack the slot, and he has a wicked snap shot that can pick corners. He even seemed to add some level of physicality to his game despite his undersized frame. Hagens has a real chance of being the face of the Bruins one day. 

In the second round, the Bruins selected a future teammate of Hagens at Boston College, Will Moore. The NTDP center is a play connector who always looks to move the puck in a positive direction. He’s a strong passer who works give-and-gos at a high level and shows excellent touch on passes all over the ice. Moore brings a physical edge as well. He lacks the top-end gear of a high-end producer, but he brings a steadiness you need in the middle six. 

Swedish defender Liam Pettersson’s game is raw, but the upside is incredibly intriguing. His skating and passing in transition allow him to get the play moving up ice. Pettersson is a shifty puck handler who can evade pressure and fire off passes to outlets. His defensive game will need lots of improvement, but with the tools and a bit of physical maturity, he could be really intriguing. 

Cooper Simpson was one of the most intriguing high school players in the draft because of his wicked shot, high-end skating and versatile puckhandling. As with most high schoolers, there are some concerns with how he will translate at the pro level, as he doesn’t bring much in the way of a physical game and can falter under physical pressure. Simpson excels in space and loves to attack downhill, which should bode well for him as he advances to higher pace environments. He needs to work on his defensive game, but Simpson is a scorer, so that’s what the Bruins hope to have found. 

The Bruins' selection of Vashek Blanar was a bit unexpected, but after watching some additional tape on him, it looks like the Bruins are betting on size and potential. He shows flashes of play creation from the back end and is very close to pulling plays off at the offensive blueline, even if he comes up a bit short at times. Defensively, he uses his length well and closes quickly most of the time. There are times you’d like to see him get a bit more intense, but there is a solid foundation of tools and size to work with. 

Cole Chandler is a typical Bruins-style, underappreciated player. He does a lot of the little things well and plays a high-energy, detail-oriented game. Chandler looks to initiate contact in puck races and tries to gain the little advantages. He isn’t the most skilled, the fastest, or even the strongest player, but he does so many of the right things. He could end up being a player who finds a nice role in the bottom-six down the road. 

A late-round swing on Kirill Yemelyanov might be a sneaky good pick for the Bruins as they add a center who plays a sound 200-foot game. He isn’t the most skilled or fleetest of foot, but he has enough there to be a legitimate prospect. Yemelyanov shows some really smart passing and seems to understand how to move the puck with short, simple passes to get it into excellent positions up ice. 

Strengths

Despite a number of weak points, the Bruins have done a good job of finding players who fill their depth chart down the middle. Players like Letourneau and Gasseau have been centers quite often in their careers to this point, but likely project as wingers at the next level. Even with that, they added Hagens and Moore to a group that already features Locmelis and Minten, both of whom could play NHL games this season. 

Weaknesses

The Bruins have been a very good team for a very long time, and although they’ve committed to at least a retool, they lack prospects in a major way. 

The pipeline has quite a few weaknesses, including a complete lack of U-23 talent in net. That’s somewhat excusable, though, considering that Boston has its goalie of the future in Jeremy Swayman already on the big club. 

What is increasingly concerning is their lack of defense prospects, specifically on the right side. Wanner is the only notable right-handed defender in the system. Their left side is almost as bad. The Bruins need to infuse their prospect pool with some defense prospects because they have no one who projects as more than a depth player.

Hidden Gem: Dans Locmelis, C/W

One of the best examples of a player with a bunch of average to slightly above average tools with the ability to become more than the sum of his parts, Locmelis is going to be an interesting player for the Bruins in the beginning years of their rebuild. 

After a solid season at UMass in the NCAA, Locmelis jumped into the AHL and put up 12 points in just six games. His playoff didn’t go quite as well with just one point across four contests, but there is a ton of promise as a depth scorer. Locmelis has been one of the most impactful performers for the Latvian national team at all levels, from U-18 to the men’s squad. He is continuously improving on that stage, so finding a role in the Bruins system looks like a decent bet. 

Next Man Up: Fraser Minten, C

The Bruins added Minten at the deadline last season, getting him in the deal that sent Brandon Carlo to Toronto. Minten is an intelligent, steady center who has a very good shot and a stout 200-foot game. He lacks the dynamism and upside of a true top-six center, but he brings everything you could want in a third-line center. His motor never quits, he takes excellent routes around the ice, and he isn’t a guy who is going to chase for offense. Minten was a very solid get for the Bruins, and he’s a player that they were able to almost immediately put into their lineup, signifying the beginning of a new era of Boston hockey. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Cooper Simpson, Will Zellers, Cole Spicer, Brett Harrison, Andre Gasseau, Christopher Pelosi

C: James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Dans Locmelis, Will Moore, Cole Chandler, Kirill Yemelyanov

RW: Fabian Lysell, Dean Letourneau, Ryan Walsh

LD: Jackson Edward, Loke Johansson, Kristian Kostadinski, Frederic Brunet, Elliott Groenewold

RD: Max Wanner

G: Philip Svedeback

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of the Hockey News print edition.

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The offseason is in full swing, free agency has started to slow down, and Ottawa Senators fans are turning their attention to what next season’s roster might look like. But Sens fans will always have a soft spot for players who once battled for Ottawa, or at least some curiosity about how they're making out these days.

In that spirit, here's a list of 11 ex-Senators who found new NHL homes this past week and where they’re headed next. Remarkably, the list includes no less than five players the Sens chose in the first round of the NHL Draft.

Shane Bowers

Shane Bowers never actually played for the Senators, but was drafted in the first round in 2017. That fall, Brady Tkachuk joined Bowers at Boston University. But during that season, five months after he was drafted, Bowers was sent to Colorado in the Matt Duchene deal. Bowers has played in 13 NHL games and was traded by the New Jersey Devils this week to the San Jose Sharks for forward Thomas Bordeleau.

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Connor Brown

Connor Brown played three seasons for the Ottawa Senators before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 2022. After suffering a major knee injury that sidelined him for much of that season, his offense dipped, and he managed just four goals and 12 points in 71 games with the Edmonton Oilers the following year. However, Brown bounced back last season with a 30-point campaign, enough to earn a four-year, $12 million contract with the New Jersey Devils.

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Logan Brown

Ottawa’s 2016 first-round draft pick, Logan Brown has struggled to find a consistent role in the NHL. Plagued by injuries since he was drafted, Brown has played only 35 games in the league. Despite this, after he parted ways with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, the LA Kings took a chance on the talented but injury-prone center, signing him to a one-year, two-way contract.

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Jacob Bernard-Docker

Jacob Bernard-Docker, 25, never fully found his footing in Ottawa and was traded along with Josh Norris to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Dylan Cozens and Dennis Gilbert. After playing 15 games for Buffalo, he was not offered a qualifying contract and became a free agent. He signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings worth $875,000.

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Cody Ceci

Cody Ceci, another former Sens first-rounder, played six seasons with Ottawa from 2013 to 2019, and seems to get no shortage of flak from fans wherever he goes. But since leaving the Sens, he's been to the playoffs every year, so there's that. Ceci is now with his seventh NHL team after the LA Kings signed him to a four-year contract worth $18 million. He's been remarkably resilient, missing only 10 games in four years. Ceci even put in some overtime last season, appearing in 85 NHL games.

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Evgenii Dadonov

Evgenii Dadonov played for the Senators in the 2020–21 season before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. That trade later led to controversy, as the details of Dadonov’s contract were not properly communicated, ultimately costing the Senators their 2026 first-round pick. Or at leats it's scheduled to. Dadonov went on to play two and a half seasons with the Dallas Stars, reaching the playoffs each year. He was a solid contributor with 20 goals and 20 assists this past season. He’s now signed a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils worth $1 million plus performance bonuses.

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Parker Kelly

Parker Kelly signed with the Colorado Avalanche last summer and posted nearly identical numbers to his previous season in Ottawa. For the Senators, he had 8 goals and 10 assists and didn't even get a qualifying offer; in Colorado, he notched 8 goals and 11 assists and got a four-year contract worth $1.4 million (AAV). Go figure...

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Curtis Lazar

The fifth Ottawa first-rounder on this list, Curtis Lazar played two and a half seasons with the Senators before being traded in 2017. Though he never lived up to his draft billing, Lazar has carved out a steady NHL career. After two seasons with the New Jersey Devils, he's now joined the Edmonton Oilers on a one-year contract worth $750,000.

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Matt Murray

Goalie Matt Murray signed a four-year contract with Ottawa in 2020, a deal that ended up being one of the worst in franchise history. After playing just two games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Murray was signed by the Seattle Kraken to a one-year, $1 million contract. He’ll look to revive his career in the Pacific Northwest.

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Mike Reilly

Now 31, Mike Reilly played 70 games over two seasons with the Senators between 2019 and 2021. He recently signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. Reilly appeared in just 18 games last season with the New York Islanders. We're just glad to see him able to carry on his career after undergoing a heart procedure in November of last year.

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Vladimir Tarasenko

Tarasenko, who had 33 points in 80 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings, has joined his third NHL team since leaving the Senators at the 2024 trasde deadline. With one year remaining on his contract, Detroit traded him to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations. Tarasenko acknowledged the need for change, and now looks to revitalize his game in Minnesota.

And there you have it — 10 former Senators who’ve found new homes this summer. Looking up and down the list, there honestly aren’t many names that would make Sens fans feel much regret.

Maybe that's another sign the team has indeed turned a corner and is heading into better days.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa
Image Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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A few weeks after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tinus Luc Koblar is soaking up his time in the city.

The 17-year-old forward was one of 48 players at Toronto's development camp this week, skating as the team's highest selection (second-round, 64th overall) in this year's draft. Almost immediately after stepping onto the ice, Koblar's size and skating appeared comparable to that of former Maple Leaf Pierre Engvall.

Koblar calls himself a two-way center and playmaker, who is effective at both ends of the rink. Despite this being a development camp with many larger players this year, Koblar's 6-foot-3 frame appears evident against others at the camp.

"Tinus is a strong player with good size," said Leksands IF  junior manager Jesper Ollas. "He is strong on the puck and can create situations based on that, both for himself and for others... He reads the game well and has developed his defensive qualities very well during the past year when he started playing center."

One of the knocks about Koblar's game is his speed within smaller areas of the rink. He's a physically imposing player, but when the forward needs to beat his opponent to the puck, he's often a bit behind.

A first-look at Maple Leafs 2025 second-round pick Tinus Luc Koblar at development camp. pic.twitter.com/lbR3QQS7e5

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) July 3, 2025

Koblar understands that that part of his game needs to improve, though. He revealed on Thursday that he plans to work on getting stronger and more explosive this summer ahead of another season with Leksands IF in Sweden.

"He picks up good speed on longer distances," Ollas added, "but his challenges are to be faster and quicker in small areas."

Aside from the physical attributes that Koblar possesses, you can immediately see how much of a competitor he is. Never does he quit on a drill, nor does the forward not give 100 percent, even when it comes to his off-ice work, too.

"His absolute strength is his mindset," Ollas said. "He competes in every situation and always wants to be the best, whether it is on or off the ice."

'What's This Horse About?': Maple Leafs Prospects React To Having Wild Colt At Development CampThe Toronto Maple Leafs prospects didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they rolled into Exhibition Place on Friday morning.

Victor Johansson, a teammate of Koblar's in Sweden, who was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, was ecstatic when he watched Koblar's name pop up on the TV when Torotno was picking.

 "Just that he gets drafted to the same place as me was just hilarious. I love it. I started to scream when he got drafted here because I got so happy," Johansson said, with a smile so large you couldn't wipe it off his face.

Johansson and Koblar had just finished an on-ice session. After the entire group finished up on the ice, the two Leksands teammates stayed on, feeding pucks back and forth before slamming them into a net.

"Do you want us to get off?" Koblar asked with a smile to one of the arena staff who was standing behind the glass, waiting to zamboni the ice.

'I Saw My Name And I Was Going Crazy': Maple Leafs Prospect Rylan Fellinger Describes Getting Drafted Into The NHL While Attending PromRylan Fellinger, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ sixth-round selection (185th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, had a quite unique draft experience: he wasn't at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles when his name was called. Instead, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenseman was in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, attending his high school prom.

The two are great teammates and get along quite well off the ice too.

"I thought I was going to be the only Swede here, couldn't talk Swedish, so I was like, 'Yeah, you guys (the Leafs) want to draft Tinus, yeah?'" Johansson grinned. "And then it happened, so really happy and how he is as a teammate is, great guy overall, very competitive, and a really good hockey player."

When Johansson watches Koblar on the ice or battles him in practices in Sweden, what immediately catches his eye is his smoothness as a skater. "To be that tall and to go around guys like he does, you can't find that in everyone."

There's a lot to like about the Maple Leafs drafting someone like Koblar. If he develops, the towering forward could be the perfect player Toronto took a chance on in the second round of the 2025 Draft.

It will take time, though.

'Time Will Tell': Is Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Ready For The NHL Next Season?One year ago, it was only the NHL or OHL for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. However, now, it'll be NHL or AHL for the 20-year-old.

Koblar is going to return to Sweden and play another season there rather than coming over to North America, where his CHL rights belong to the OHL's Brampton Steelheads. There's no sense of rushing the player into anything, especially when he's still not even 18 (his birthday is on July 21).

"It's a great community and the levels, like J-18, J-20, and the A team, it's really super close, so it's not that hard to go between them," Koblar said of his choice to remain in Sweden. "The trainers and the staff is always helping you to develop and they just want you to be at your best."

With two Olympian parents—his mom a biathlete and his dad an alpine skier—there's a lot of competitiveness in his genes. Koblar doesn't like losing as much as anyone, adding that his parents have taught him a lot about being a high-competition athlete.

That could turn into a massive positive for Toronto in the long run.

"[They taught me] just the importance of putting in the work and don't take any chances for granted, and do 100 percent every time."

(Top photo: Nick Barden / The Hockey News Toronto)