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"It Just Felt Right" - Sept. 5 2025 - Vol. 79 Issue 2 - Ken Campbell

IT WAS SUCH A big deal that the premier of Manitoba and the mayor of Winnipeg were there, with many minions in tow, chronicling the event so they could show the hardworking folks exactly how their tax dollars are being spent. About 50 season-ticket holders won a contest to be there, too, and they cheered. Loudly. All because Jonathan Toews put a hockey sweater over his head. It was pretty monumental for the guest of honor, too, who hadn’t heard cheers like that since he played in Marian Hossa’s retirement charity game in Slovakia almost two years ago. At one point, Toews looked at Andree Gilbert, a wonderful ball of energy who was beaming in the front row and waving, and said, “Hi, Mom.”

If you’re getting the idea that Jonathan Toews being repatriated to his hometown team is a rather enormous development, well, like Andree Gilbert, your mother didn’t raise no dummy. That Toews is a big deal in his home province might have occurred to you in 2010, when they named a lake near Flin Flon after him. Yeah, a lake. Or when the Dakota Community Centre, in the St. Vital neighborhood where Toews grew up, was renamed the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in 2014. Or when he received the Order of Manitoba a year later, joining Sheldon Kennedy and Reggie Leach as the only other hockey players to be recognized. (Jets chairman Mark Chipman and Hockey Night in Canada host Scott Oake are also members.)

Exclusive: Jets Goalie Prospect Domenic DiVincentiis Eyes NHL Debut in 2025Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis talks season goals with AHL All-Star Game, Calder Cup and NHL Debut in new exclusive interview with The Hockey News. 

STANLEY TO SHELF

After playing in the 2020 bubble playoffs, Toews missed the entire 2020-21 season due to long COVID.

Just to be clear, there have been some pretty good hockey players to come out of Winnipeg over the years. Bill Mosienko (who scored the fastest hat trick in NHL history), Terry Sawchuk, Andy Bathgate, Babe Pratt and Ken Reardon each have their receipts from the Hockey Hall of Fame. And Mark Stone and Seth Jarvis are ripping it up pretty good in the NHL these days. But none of them ever played big-league hockey in ‘The Peg.’ By our count, fewer than 20 local heroes have played for any one of the three iterations of the Jets – the WHA outfit and the NHL Jets 1.0 and 2.0 – and most of them fall into the “we-barely-knew-ye” category. One exception is goalie Joe Daley, who played more than 300 games with the WHA team and won three Avco Cups. There was one guy named Danny Johnson who played three seasons for the WHA Jets, and he was from Winnipegosis. Never heard of that place before. In fact, it sounds more like the affliction that befalls NHL players who put the Jets on their do-not-trade lists than it does an actual city.

It really got to a point where I couldn’t see myself wearing any other jersey- JONATHAN TOEWS ON COMING HOME TO WINNIPEG

Even though Toews has been out of the game for two years and has suffered some debilitating health issues, he probably could have gone somewhere a little warmer. Or where he’d be taxed a little less. Or where he could go out to dinner without being stared at. But he chose the Jets, who signed him to a one-year deal worth $2 million. With bonuses, that figure could jump as high as $7 million if the Jets win the Stanley Cup and Toews is a regular contributor. And wouldn’t that be something?

In the end, the decision wasn’t really a decision at all. And it didn’t even really have to make any sense. “It really got to a point where I couldn’t see myself wearing any other jersey,” Toews told reporters the day he was introduced in early July. “It wasn’t something where you write down the pros and cons on a piece of paper. To me, it wasn’t rational at all. It was more of an intuitive thing, where it just felt right. You can go over the million reasons why, but I didn’t have to call my mom or dad or my brother – anyone really. I just knew in my heart that this is what I wanted to do. So it felt good every step of the way.”

When John Tavares realized his dream of signing with his hometown team in 2018, he sent out a picture on social media of himself sleeping as a little fellow on his Toronto Maple Leafs bedsheets, which triggered an entire fan base on Long Island. When Toews signed with Winnipeg, he posted a photo of himself, his father and his little brother in garish Jets T-shirts that had SELANNE emblazoned across the chest from arm cuff to arm cuff. The only reason someone isn’t currently doing hard time for that crime against fashion is that it was the ’90s, and, for some reason, people thought that actually looked good.

(SERGEI BELSKI-IMAGN IMAGES)

I just knew in my heart that this is what I wanted to do. So it felt good every step of the way- JONATHAN TOEWS

Toews’ is a feel-good story by any metric. If his unconventional healing journey means he has recovered enough from Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and long COVID to the point he can make a meaningful contribution to the Jets in their quest for a long playoff run, there’s the potential for some magical moments. (Who knows, if Toews comes out of the gates blazing, does Team Canada Olympic GM Doug Armstrong consider him for the role as the 13th forward in Milan?)

At the very worst, the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer gets an opportunity to go out on his own terms with the team he grew up worshipping. Nothing wrong with that. “I’m not going to sit here and talk about goals and assists and all that,” Toews said. “Ultimately, I will try my best to be honest and realistic with myself as far as what the challenges are. Since I hit the ice and have really been skating these last months, it didn’t feel like that much time had gone by. It is a long time on paper if you are playing hockey. I’m trying to be realistic about what the challenges are.”

Jets Prospect Showcase Takeaways: Zhilkin, DiVincentiis Within Reach Of NHL JumpWinnipeg prospects Dominic DiVincentiis, Danny Zhilkin lead pack as most notable names entering Jets training camp following impressive performances at Prospect Showcase. 

PAST BECOMES PRESENT

Toews showed his excitement for joining his hometown team by posting a childhood photo to Instagram.

One of the biggest challenges for Toews, aside from tempering expectations, will be maintaining the on-ice pace among the best players in the world after missing two seasons while already in his mid-30s in a league that certainly didn’t get any slower in his absence.

And even though there are some examples of Hall of Fame players sitting on the sidelines for at least two seasons at that point in their careers, it’s not a large sample size. Gordie Howe first retired from the NHL just after turning 43 and sat out two years, then dominated the WHA when he came back as a 45-year-old – even playing a final NHL season at 51 after six in the WHA. Mario Lemieux missed three seasons after his first retirement at 31, then came back and was spectacular. Even though he suited up for only 170 of the 324 games Pittsburgh played between his re-debut and his curtain call in his final five NHL seasons, he scored 229 points in that time.

Conversely, Guy Lafleur retired for three seasons at 33 and was just OK when he came back. Dickie Moore sat out two years and returned to join the expansion St. Louis Blues at 36, and it became clear pretty quickly he simply didn’t have it.

But none of those players, including Lemieux, came back at that age from such debilitating circumstances. In reality, Toews hasn’t been himself for about five years. Don’t forget that prior to playing his final two seasons with the Blackhawks, Toews missed the entire truncated 2020-21 season due to a case of long COVID that made it almost impossible for him to get out of bed on some days. He struggled along with the Blackhawks for the next two seasons before becoming a UFA, but he never ended up going to market. Because he simply couldn’t. The affliction Toews has cannot be cured because it’s a syndrome, not a disease, usually associated with exposure to biotoxins. And it’s one that not only left him unable to prepare for or perform in the NHL but also feeling confused and confounded.

I realized, with or without hockey, I wanted to take care of my body. I had kind of accepted I might not play again- JONATHAN TOEWS

Still, they don’t call him ‘Captain Serious’ for nothing. Despite the setbacks, Toews took control of his health, and he now sounds like someone who has a new lease on life. The journey was unconventional, and Toews left no stone unturned, drastically altering his lifestyle and diet. His quest for health took him on an Eat, Pray, Love-type of odyssey to India, where he immersed himself in a practice called Ayurveda, undergoing a five-week detox known as Panchakarma, which is designed to release the toxins stored in the body – toxins that were making him ill.

Toews occasionally talked about his healing journey in India, which included mud baths, pain-inducing massages, yoga sessions, fire-prayer ceremonies and pooping. Lots of pooping. “I realized that, with or without hockey, I wanted to take care of my body,” Toews said. “I wanted to do the right things. I wanted to let life go where it’s supposed to go. I got to the point where I pretty much needed to get myself off a timeline to return. So, in my mind, I had kind of accepted in a way that I might not return to play again. And while it was a challenging thing to do, at the same time, a very healthy thing to do, to wake up every day and not think, ‘This is where we’re going.’ ”

That’s pretty un-Captain-Serious-like. But it worked. After accepting life on life’s terms, Toews began to get healthy. More strength led to longer workouts, which led to feeling good on the ice, which led to Toews believing he could still play in the NHL and make an impact.

And if he’s right, the Jets will have strength to die for down the middle. Adam Lowry is expected to be out until at least the end of October after hip surgery, but when the Jets are whole, their top three centers are Mark Scheifele, Lowry and Toews. In Scheifele, the Jets have a play-driving talent. In Lowry, they have a two-way demon who fights for every inch of the ice and makes every shift as fun as taking on Nick Tarnasky on the golf course. And in Toews, the Jets potentially have another guy who can tilt the ice at both ends and provide the kind of experience and guidance they need. There is nothing Toews has not seen during his career.

“Teams talk about being in those moments,” said Jets coach Scott Arniel. “That’s why those guys who have won championships, won Stanley Cups, are so important. We brought Luke Schenn in this year, and there were times where just him being around a Cup and having that experience and what he said (helped). If it’s one of our third-line players or one of our defensemen or if it’s Adam Lowry having a quiet conversation with him at dinner or in the dressing room, just picking his brain – to be able to do that just speeds up the process. You’re going to pay attention because he’s lived it, he’s done it, and he’s won everywhere that he’s been.”

Divisional Focus: Jets Look to Snap Losing Skid versus Last-Place PredatorsThe Winnipeg Jets aim to win three crucial divisional games over the Nashville Predators next season after losing four of their last seven matchups. 

When Toews steps out onto the ice in October, it will be his first game action in more than two calendar years.

You’re going to pay attention because he’s lived it, he’s done it, and he’s won everywhere that he’s been- JETS COACH SCOTT ARNIEL

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged that Chipman has dreamed of this scenario basically since the Jets returned to Winnipeg in 2011. And now, it’s reality – at least for one season. Maybe more. The Jets have done a remarkable job of keeping players around, but they haven’t been able to keep them all. After 10 seasons, Nikolaj Ehlers took advantage of free agency and left, but the acquisition of Toews has helped remove some of the sting from that departure. Contrary to the words of Thomas Wolfe, you can actually go home again.

Toews really has nothing to prove, and this is a low-risk investment for the Jets, too. It will take some time to adjust to Toews not wearing the Blackhawks’ uniform, but the hockey world has had two years to ease itself into that reality. Toews is in a good place with his health and outlook. And he’s in a great place when it comes to putting the final touches on his career, regardless of how it turns out. Someday, there will probably be a statue of Toews outside the United Center, like there is of Dale Hawerchuk in front of the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. But for now, Toews is focused on the new sweater, not the old one.

“Things change,” he said. “And it is for the best sometimes.”

Jets Announce Training Camp Roster and ScheduleThe Winnipeg Jets have announced their training camp roster and schedule for the upcoming week's training camp. 

Lukas Riechel, a former first-round pick, has had an up-and-down tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks. He is an incredibly skilled player, but he hasn't been able to stick in a top-six role.

His strengths also may not be best suited for a bottom-six role, so it's been frustrating for him and the team. For this reason, moving him could be on the table for Kyle Davidson and his staff. 

On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman implied that he could be on the trade block now. 

“I just think that it's a name that's out there, that [Reichel's] name is out there," Friedman said. "And I think it's understood that the Blackhawks are willing to make the move if they find a trade partner. And I think the player understands it might be time, too. So I've just heard that as we go into camp, that's just a name that's out there.”

For a season like 2025-26, the Chicago Blackhawks could give Reichel some ice on all four lines to see where he fits. This might not be something that benefits the player or team, though, so trading him could be for the best. 

There have been instances where struggling first-round picks change the way they play and end up having long NHL careers in a different role than they were expecting when they were first drafted. However, the player has to be willing to do that, and sometimes it is impossible to come with their first team. 

If the Blackhawks can find a trade partner, all they'd be hoping for is a pick or prospect to come back in return. It certainly wouldn't be an asset that moves the needle, but it could be something that helps with depth in the future. 

Moving on from a disgruntled player would be the main return on the trade for the Blackhawks anyway. Getting anything of value in this situation would be a win. 

For the team acquiring Reichel, they'd be taking a low risk to gain a talented player with upside. If they can get him to accept and execute a role on their team, it would benefit everyone. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Kevin Dahl - 2001 - Drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in the 1988 draft.

Dahl played 4 games for the Jackets during the 2000-01 season and had 0 points. After his time in Columbus ended, he wouldn't play another NHL game.

The former Bowling Green State University Falcon played three years in Germany before finally retiring in 2004. He played for the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL before retiring. 

Blake Sloan - 2001-2002 - Undrafted out of Park Ridge, Illinois.

Sloan played 74 games for the Jackets and had 10 points in parts of two seasons for Columbus, including the inaugural season.

He spent the last 8 years of his career playing in Sweden for a year, and in the DEL for the last seven. 

Darren Van Impe - 2003 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1993. 

He played 14 games for the Jackets during the 2002-03 season and had 2 points. He would never play another NHL after his time in Columbus. 

He left for Europe in 2003, playing in Germany until 2008. 

Manny Malhotra - 2004-2009 - Drafted by the New York Rangers in 1998.

Malhotra was the ultimate competitor. He played 344 games for Columbus and had 145 points from 2003 to 2009. After leaving Columbus, he would play another 7 seasons, including playing 23 games for the Lake Erie Monsters in 2015-16.

He retired after that last season and moved into coaching. After spending several years with the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs, he was named head coach of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks in 2024. In his first season as head coach, he led his team to a Calder Cup Championship. 

Ryan Murray - 2014-2020 - Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012. 

Oh, what could have been with Ryan Murray. The former #2 overall pick in 2012 played 347 games for the CBJ and had 110 points. The oft-injured defenseman only played 82 games in a season once and played over 60 games only twice.

He won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022 and played for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022-23 season, but hasn't had a contract since. 

Zac Dalpe - 2018 - Drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2008. 

The former Ohio State Buckeye forward played 25 games for the Jackets and had 4 career points. Where Dalpe made his money was in the AHL, playing for six different franchises, including five with the Cleveland Monsters.

Dalpe played in 133 games for the Monsters and had 100 points. For his career, he played 574 games and totaled 393 points. On July 7, 2025, Dalpe retired from hockey and was hired by the Seattle Kraken as a Development Coach. 

Adam Boqvist - 2022-2024 - Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018. 

Boqvist played 133 games for Columbus after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021. He was not offered a contract last summer by new GM Don Waddell and was allowed to sign elsewhere. He joined the Florida Panthers last season but was placed on waivers. The New York Islanders picked him up and would spend the rest of the season there. On May 30, 2025, the Islanders re-signed Boqvist to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension.

Zach Aston-Reese - 2025 - Undrafted out of Staten Island, New York. 

On July 1, 2024, Aston-Reese signed a one-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas put him on waivers on October 7, 2024, and the Jackets swooped in and claimed him. He played in 79 games for Columbus last season and had 17 points. ZAR provided leadership and experience to a locker room trying to deal with the loss of Johnny Gaudreau. 

Zach Aston-Reese is signed to a 1 year, $775,000 contract extension on January 13, 2025. Aston-Reese collaborated with the Gaudreau Family 5K to design the medals awarded to participants in the 5K. 

Who is your favorite #27? Please share your thoughts on our forum.

Blue Jackets’ 2025-26 Training Camp and Pre-Season

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

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

Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

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Shortly before the Toronto Maple Leafs and the legends teed off at their annual charity golf tournament at Rattlesnake Point in Milton, Ontario, legendary alumni and Hockey Hall-Of-Famer Darryl Sittler gave some advice to the new crop of players like Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, Matias Maccelli, Michael Pezzetta, just to name a few.

“Enjoy the day. Today is one of the last days ahead before they start training camp. I know every season you look forward to training camp,” Sittler said. “We've got new players on the team, so you're looking to blend in with them and obviously have a good training camp and a good year. I look forward to it. Maybe this is the year finally those hockey gods will be with us and we can win a few rounds in challenge for the Cup.

Sittler, ever the optimist, never won a Stanley Cup in his career, but as he mentioned in the media scrum, played with a lot of the Leafs who did win back in 1967, the franchise’s last triumph.

“Those guys came to training camp with the idea of getting in shape. I was a rookie coming out of London, and I believed that if I was in the best shape possible, coming into camp had a chance of making the team,” Sittler recalled. “So instead of being overweight and drinking beer in training camp, I was ready to go and was fortunate to make the team my first year. But nowadays, the guys train, as you know, all year round. They're ready for it. Training camps are much shorter than they were when I played. So, yeah, they're all used to it. They're getting ready to go.”

Among the topics Sittler touched on include

• His relationship with the current Maple Leafs players
• The anniversary of his overtime goal at the 1976 Canada Cup
• Mitch Marner’s departure and how he adjusted when key players left during his tenure
• The evolving role of the captaincy
• Matthews chasing down the Leafs’ goal record held by Mats Sundin
• The passing of former Leafs president and Hockey Hall-Of-Fame goaltender Ken Dryden

Legendary Canadiens Goalie and Ex-Maple Leafs President Ken Dryden Passes Away After Cancer BattleThe hockey world is mourning a hockey legend as former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden has passed away at age 78 following a battle with cancer.

Q: Have you ever known some of these younger guys as you kind of help them kind of get used to their new settings too?

Sittler: Well, I don't know them well. I mean, I've rounded a few of the functions and events. So Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, you know, Mitch Marner. These guys are all beating my records that I've had over the last few years. So I send a few texts out to them congratulating them, which is great. It's awesome to have to do that. Today's a special day for me. It was 49 years ago today, I scored the overtime goal in the Canada Cup (1976), and that was a big moment. I wasn't fortunate to win a cup, but to represent Team Canada. We just had a reunion in Montreal about a month ago, and I think there was 15, 16 guys there. It was probably one of the better teams Canada's ever put together. And the other thing that's kind of cool, my first grandson, Luke, it's his 21st birthday today, so it's September 15th today, I'll always remember.

Q: What do you remember most about the goal?

Sittler: Just afterwards, everybody coming out on the ice. Our friend Don Cherry was the coach at the time, and we had the goalie, (Vladimir) Dzurilla, who came way out of the net, And Grapes happened to mention that to us as he was going into the washroom between overtime and regulation time. And he made sure the media let everybody know that he helped Darryl Sittler score that goal.

Q: You mentioned Mitch. How different does it feel when a guy who's been around for a while isn't there the next year?

Sittler: Well, I'm sure it will be an adjustment for the current guys. I mean, Mitch was such a part of our team. He's such a great player. You talk about his goals and assists and his creativeness, which is awesome to watch, but he's very good defensively. He's an all-around player, and I guess for Mitch, sometimes these things happen. He's moving on. He'll do very well, I think, in Las Vegas, and we'll miss him here.

Q: I'm sure you've seen that before, though, right, where a team says goodbye to somebody, but then they kind of rally around each other and find different ways and different rules for guys to kind of expand upon.

Sittler: Well, back in my era, the Ballard days, I mean, when (Punch) Imlach came, they traded a lot of good guys after those teams, you know, guys like my buddy Lanny (McDonald) and a number of other players. So, yeah, it's not the nicest thing in the game, obviously. You learn to adjust, but it's your job, and that's what you have to do, and you have to pick it up and blend in with the new guys. You're a team. The logo on your crest is the most important thing for all of us, and I think players realize that.

Worst Leafs Trades Since 1967 Countdown – No. 3: Punch Imlach pushes Darryl Sittler out the doorYou can view the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs in two distinct pe...

Q: You mentioned Auston. How do you think the captaincy has changed, the role of the captain in the NHL, if at all?

Sittler: Well, I don't know if it's changed a lot. The captains before me were George Armstrong, Dave Keon, and when I was named captain in '75, I guess it was, it was a great honor, and I think Auston realizes there's a responsibility that comes with being a captain, not only on the ice but off the ice, and I think he's done a great job. The other important thing as a captain is to have strong leadership around you, So guys with John Tavares and a number of the other older guys, Morgan Rielly, give them that support, and that's what we need to do a job. But there's a lot of pressure that comes being with captain, and people look at you as kind of the guy that is the lead. And when things are going well, you get a lot of credit, probably more than you maybe deserve. And when you're losing, you get a lot of crap that more than maybe you deserve. But Auston's a good guy. He means all he wants to win the cup here, and he's doing a good job.

Q: He's chasing down Mats Sundin's goals record. Getting pretty close.

Sittler: Well, I mean, he's had an exceptional run out of here. As you know, I don't know. For his age, I think he's more more than anybody else at this point in his career. So, I mean, records are made to be broken. I know when I passed Dave Keon, that was a special moment for me, knowing that it probably wasn't going to last forever. And then Mats came along and passed me. So, those are things that happen. And if you have a great hockey team and good players, those records will continue to be broken.

‘That’s A Lot Of Goals’: Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Becomes Sixth-Fastest Player In NHL History To Reach 400 GoalsOn Tuesday in Buffalo, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews reached a significant milestone. 

Q: Your Leafs of the late 1970s were a pretty good team, but you couldn't get past Ken Dryden in the Montreal Canadiens. Any thoughts on Ken's passing?

Sittler: Well, that was very sad. Ken died too young, as we all know. And I only played against Ken in the '70s. He was phenomenal. And the Canadiens, they had one of those teams where they were just better than all of us. You know, they had more depth, and then they had Ken in goal on top of that. I mean, for him to win six Stanley Cups in eight or nine years he played was phenomenal. Got to work with Ken at MLSE as the president and enjoyed my time with him. He's a real gentleman, a good guy, and I'm sorry to see him going. My condolences to his family. Linda was awesome. They were great for me. Ken was the president when my wife Wendy passed away and I asked him if they could honor her and myself by putting her name on the banner, and Ken was the guy that made that decision, so I'll never forget that.

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As the new season draws near, it’s hard not to notice that the Montreal Canadiens’ penalty kill has been depleted this offseason. GM Kent Hughes elected to let Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak walk away in free agency, and David Savard retired. While there are plenty of options on the blueline to step into Savard’s skates on the PK, the same cannot be said about up front, however.

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If Martin St-Louis is short of options, there’s one player who’s more than willing to step in: captain Nick Suzuki. Speaking to RDS’s Marc Denis at the Canadiens’ golf tournament, the center described his own objectives as follows:

Just kind of more of the same, I think I can improve still in different areas, even scoring, and you know, getting assists and all that. I think that comes with playing with good players and being a good team. Just trying to focus on my defensive side, hopefully penalty kill a bit more this year, and being really good at that too. […] I’ve always PKed my whole life and I love it. I think I can be effective on it, but Marty’s trying to manage the minutes and give guys opportunities to do that, so we’ll see what happens, but I’m there and ready if he needs me to PK.

- Suzuki on his objectives and playing on the PK

As Suzuki said himself, the coach is mindful of managing his ice time, but he clearly would like to do it. As reported earlier this summer, playing that role for the Canadiens would likely increase his chances of making Team Canada for the Olympics. While he’s the number one center in Montreal, that’s not the kind of role he’d play on the national team, and showing just how effective he can be on the penalty kill would be a plus.

It's understandable, however, that Martin St-Louis would like to manage his top center’s minutes since he is his top offensive weapon. However, suppose the Canadiens manage to ice a truly competitive second line, and it takes some of the production’s burden off Suzuki’s plate. In that case, there might be more of an opportunity for Suzuki to play when down a man.

That will be one of the stories to follow as training camp unfolds and we get to see who St-Louis would like to see shoulder the load when down a man.

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Despite having the worst goaltending in the NHL last season, the Philadelphia Flyers are reaping the benefits of their patience with the goalie position so far.

This patience dates back to the 2023-24 season, Danny Briere's first as Flyers GM, when the organization had to deal with the unexpected loss of Carter Hart whilst turning the keys over to the inexperienced Sam Ersson the minute he started showing flashes of being an NHL-caliber goalie.

Instead of panicking, Briere and the Flyers stayed the course, riding out the storm, dropping out of playoff position, and opting to go with in-house options like Felix Sandstrom and Cal Petersen.

Plus, Ivan Fedotov came over at the very end of the year, and the Flyers were able to begin assessing him.

So, while the Flyers ultimately missed the playoffs and threw a once-promising year in the trash, they did end up with a higher draft pick than they would have ordinarily gotten, which ended up becoming Jett Luchanko at the end of the day.

Coming into a 2024-25 season with similarly low expectations, the Flyers again followed the path ahead of them with Fedotov, Ersson, and rookie Aleksei Kolosov.

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It didn't work, no, but Fedotov (and everyone else's) failures put the Flyers in a position to draft Porter Martone in June.

Then, Fedotov, a 2015 seventh-round pick, was swapped for a 2026 sixth-round pick in Sunday's surprise trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets without Briere and Co. retaining a penny of his $3.275 million cap hit.

Briere obviously wasn't going to go into the 2025-26 season with the same dire straits in goal, which is why Dan Vladar was signed to play alongside Ersson.

Kolosov, apparently, is back in the fold and should be the team's de facto No. 3 goalie going forward.

That's important because the Belarusian goalie is still just 23 and can glean some valuable development playing a significant amount in the AHL in addition to whatever NHL time comes his way.

If Kolosov doesn't work out, fine. The Flyers have him under contract for this season only, and Carson Bjarnason, who is only now turning pro, is waiting in the wings behind him.

In a few years, Egor Zavragin will be aboard this ship, too.

So, while Fedotov's two-year, $6.55 million contract was heavily criticized at the time, it didn't cost the Flyers anything but time that they needed to use to evaluate the team as a whole anyway.

The 28-year-old Russian went through a lot to realize his dream of playing in the NHL with the Flyers, and the Flyers were happy to oblige, even at a price that many considered obscene.

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Now, Ersson is in the last year of his contract, and Vladar was only brought in on a two-year deal.

The Flyers are fortunate to say they have no long-term commitments in goal and remain fully flexible heading into the future.

If one or both of Kolosov and Ersson can't get going this season, the Flyers can start drafting more goalies with Bjarnason and Zavragin hitting their early 20s. That process just starts over again, that's all.

Many would probably consider the Flyers fortunate to get more back from Fedotov than what they even spent to draft him a decade ago, but Briere and Co. earned their luck with their patience if so.

And, this sixth-round pick isn't a throwaway.

Seattle Kraken starting goalie Joey Daccord was drafted (199th) in the same round as Fedotov (188th) in 2015, and Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf was drafted 214th overall in the 2019 draft.

The Flyers drafted Roddy Ross, who just finished four years of playing in USports, over Wolf that year, so that's strike two for this example.

But, the point is that, if the Flyers can nail their draft picks, it can matter a whole lot. By staying patient with Fedotov and themselves, they earned another chance at making something like that happen, which can change the entire course of this rebuild.

The Flyers' front office deserves major props so far, even if the short-term results haven't been very good.