When Steve Yzerman returned to the Detroit Red Wings in April 2019 to take over the role of general manager, he didn’t have much to work with in terms of enticing prospects, but since then he has built one of the most highly regarded prospect pools in the NHL. 

One of the prospects that has already begun making a considerable impact for the Red Wings is forward Marco Kasper, whom Yzerman made Detroit's Round 1 selection in 2022. 

While Kasper began the 2024-25 NHL season in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins, he would eventually be called up to the team in late October 2025. Naturally, there was a learning curve for him stepping into the most talented League on the planet. 

Soon, Kasper was showing that he belonged in the NHL, and his production began to especially take off once the Red Wings hired Todd McLellan in place of Derek Lalonde, who was relieved in late December. 

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Starting on January 10 through the end of the season, Kasper's 17 goals led all first-year NHL players. What's more, he finished fifth overall in total rookie scoring during that time. 

Tic-tac-GOAL!

Marco Kasper's 13th of the season. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/RdEpZw4sJa

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 16, 2025

Thanks to his accomplishments in his rookie season, Kasper was named the club's Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media. 

Kasper the Friendly ROTY. 👻

More » https://t.co/nGdvj2ra8lpic.twitter.com/LUnlvylAKj

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 10, 2025

Kasper spent the majority of the season's second half centering Detroit's second line alongside future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. 

“I personally feel like I had a pretty good year, but it’s going to be really hard to come back and do just like that and even improve what I want,” Kasper said of his rookie season. “I always talk about how I’m trying to get better every day. It’s something I’m going to focus on this summer.”

Kasper also skated for his native Austria in the 2025 World Championship, ultimately tying for the team lead in goals with four during the tournament. 

The 20-year-old sophomore forward will likely begin the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season once again flanked by Kane and DeBrincat on his wings.

“It’s a skill to be able to play with top players and go to the net and score around the net and he’s scored a lot of his goals in the blue paint, a huge way to create offense in this league,” Kane said in April of Kasper's play. “He pushes the pace up the middle. Great skater, good both ways. And when you get to the net like that, you’re going to get rewarded.”

The Red Wings are less than a month from gathering in Traverse City, Mich. for Training Camp, which will be followed by their annual Red & White Game. This time, the game will be played at Van Andel Arena, the home venue of the Griffins, on Sunday, Sept. 21.

From that point on, Kasper and the Red Wings will begin the exhibition portion of their schedule against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sept. 23 at Little Caesars Arena. 

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Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

For No. 12, we put the spotlight on Mikhail Ilyin, a prospect who - if they're not already doing so - fans should certainly be keeping an eye on. 

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#12: F Mikhail Ilyin

It's easy to get mesmerized from time to time when watching Ilyin play hockey.

He can dance. He can dangle. He can outsmart and outthink his largely older competition in the KHL, and he uses those playmaking smarts to his advantage.

Selected in the fifth round (142nd overall) by the Penguins in 2023, Ilyin, 20, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins this summer. But he will return to the Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL next season, where he has shown some flashes of brilliance in his three seasons.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Forward Looks To Capitalize On Second-Chance OpportunityHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Last season, Ilyin registered seven goals and 30 points in 64 games, and he saw a lot of time on Severstal's top line with Daniil Aimurzin and Kirill Pilipenko. This followed a 12-goal, 29-point campaign in 2023-24. Even if that production doesn't jump out, the fact that Ilyin was a teenager playing on the top line - and on one of the KHL's best lines - says a lot about the kind of potential and maturity that's present in his game. 

Ilyin has been working on his skating, and it's something that is still going to require notable improvement before he can hope to become a regular at the NHL level. But his ability to think the game at a high level makes up for a bit of that deficit. 

Mikhail Ilyin with the sneaky goal off the goalie’s back. A play that represents his ability on the ice.
1 goal and 1 assist for him in his 2nd preseason game! pic.twitter.com/kWs5Ti6Xt5

— Pens Prospects (@pensprospects_) August 22, 2025

His passing is calculated and precise, and even if his footspeed isn't the greatest, he is able to use his frame to work his way around opponents and his poise to skate smoothly. There is not much panic in Ilyin's game, and hopefully - at another year older - his production begins to catch up to the level of his playmaking.

There is a lot of potential and intrigue to Ilyin's game, which makes him an exciting prospect. He already has a lot of the details in his game down to a tee, so if he can put it all together, he could very well make an impact in the Penguins' future middle-six.

---

The list so far:

- No. 13 Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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The NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly upon us, and at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re examining each Buffalo player and the expectations on them next year. Each Sabres player has the pressure to get this Buffalo team into the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

We began the series with this look at Sabres presumptive starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen; yesterday, we looked at newcomer goalie Alex Lyon, and today, we’re wrapping up the goalie area with a look at youngster Devon Levi. The 23-year-old has been solid in the minor leagues, but sustained NHL success has been elusive for him in a short sample size.

Let’s look at what Levi’s role is likely to be this coming season, and where he fits into the Sabres’ plans.

Player Name: Devon Levi

Position: Goaltender

Age: 23

2024-25 Key Statistics: Nine appearances, 2-7-0 record (NHL), 872 save percentage, 4.12 goals-against average; 25-13-4 record (AHL), .919 SP (AHL), 2.20 G.A.A. (AHL)

2025-26 Salary:$812,500

2025-26 Expectations: Levi has been the Sabres’ goalie-of-the-future for a while now, and like many young goalies, he’s struggled to be consistent at the NHL level. The truth is, between veterans Luukkonen and former Sabres journeyman James Reimer, the Sabres’ starting job has been there for the taking for Levi. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer Lyon Signed To Serve In Supporting Role In NetThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is just around the corner, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve committed to analyzing every Sabres player and the expectations on them next season. Every Buffalo player has the pressure to get this Sabres team into the playoffs for the first time in a decade-and-a-half, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

But he’s put up a sub-.900-level SP in both of his two relatively-brief NHL seasons, and one of the reasons the Sabres went out and signed veteran Lyon this summer was to get goalie insurance in case Luukkonen struggled yet again and Levi wasn’t ready for the physical and mental toll of the NHL.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Levi isn’t going to get a look at the NHL level this year. To the contrary – if one of Luukkonen and Lyon are injured, Levi can be the American League recall and get into a handful of games. Same goes for underwhelming performances. If Lyon doesn’t get the job done, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may waive and demote him in favor of Levi.

Levi’s strong AHL numbers last year suggest he hasn’t lost the ability to tend goal just because he hasn’t thrived at the NHL level. He’s going to need time to develop, and the Sabres don’t need to put the weight of the world on his shoulders as Buffalo makes a desperate push for the playoffs next season. That means more patience with him and more understanding of him.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: What's In Store For Goalie Luukkonen The NHL’s 2025-26 season is now only a handful of weeks away, so it’s as good a time as any for THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to break down expectations for every Sabres player next year.

If they play their cards right with Levi, the Sabres could have a No. 1 netminder for the next decade or more. But this is a delicate balance, weighing Levi’s interests on one side, and the Sabres’ immediate needs on the other side. And Buffalo can't afford to make a developmental mistake with a talent that could prove extremely valuable to them for a long time to come.

Levi showed at the AHL level he’s a beast. The challenge now for him is to make those dominant skills translate at the NHL level. He’s not anywhere close to losing ground in the Sabres’ goalie ranks, but Levi needs to show he’s ready, willing and able to stick with Buffalo at the next chance he gets. 

EDMONTON – Goalies haven’t had the best time playing for the Edmonton Oilers lately.

Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have had their moments of struggle (with Skinner struggling more than Pickard). Goaltending and defensive play are the backbone of a Stanley Cup Champion team.

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It’s true, the Oilers came close to winning it twice. But, close is fine when it comes to horseshoes and hand grenades - not hockey.

The Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, and Detroit Red Wings all have a prospect goaltender (or two) who could boost the Oilers' depth at the goalie position. Michael DiPietro, Nico Daws, Sebastian Cossa, and Trey Augustine have all been connected to the Oilers at one point or another.

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Of those options, Daws has the most NHL experience. However, this hasn’t stopped other hockey pundits from suggesting otherwise.

Allan Mitchell of The Athletic has identified DiPietro as a trade target for the Oilers. In a piece penned earlier in August, Mitchell makes the statement that DiPietro is “the best inexpensive goaltender available.”

With only three games of experience, it takes gusto to make that claim. Daws has better results in a much bigger sample size, while Cossa’s draft pedigree has earned him a longer leash than DiPietro.

The lack of NHL experience gives this writer pause. Given the other options available in Cossa and Daws, DiPietro should only be considered an option for the Oilers if they strike out elsewhere.

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Former Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov, one of the greatest and most dynamic players to ever wear the Winged Wheel, will be appropriately honored by having his iconic No. 91 jersey raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena in the upcoming season. 

Fedorov, who defected to Detroit from the Soviet Union at great personal risk to himself, played a pivotal role in the Red Wings' Stanley Cup victories in 1997, 1998, and 2002. During his time in Detroit, he scored exactly 400 goals and won numerous awards, including the Hart Trophy in 1994 as the NHL's Most Valuable Player. 

“My Heart Beat Faster”: Sergei Fedorov Recaps Finding Out Of Jersey Retirement NewsThe iconic No. 91 jersey of former Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov will soon be taking its rightful place in the rafters of Little Caesars Arena, and will be displayed alongside the eight previously retired numbers that include his teammates Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

Fedorov's longtime teammate Darren McCarty, who was a part of all three of the aforementioned Stanley Cup wins as well as a fourth in 2008, couldn't be happier for him. 

"This was just right," McCarty said during a recent Woodward Sports segment. "If you ask me straight up if I ever thought it would happen while certain things were in palce, no. But this is where we're at." 

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Noting the struggles of the Red Wings to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, McCarty said that he felt this is one of the things that fans of the club can look to in terms of the culture that continues to be a work in progress. 

"It's one of those things that it feels like the world has settled back into place, at least for the Red Wings," he said. "What are we looking for with the Winged Wheel culture right now? There's not a lot of things to really put your hat on, but this is one of them." 

"I couldn't be happier for my friend and teammate, someone who is one of the best to ever do it, and I know it means a lot to him, too." 

Fedorov's countless accomplishment during his time with the Red Wings was overshadowed by his controversial holdout following the 1997 Stanley Cup win, during which he infamously signed a front-loaded offer sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes in early 1998. 

While the Red Wings matched the offer sheet, the relationship between the two sides appeared irreparable when Fedorov reportedly rejected a five-year, $50 million contract offer in 2003 and later signed for less money with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. 

It was especially startling, considering the Mighty Ducks had just swept Detroit in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs months earlier. 

Upon Fedorov's return to Detroit in December 2003 for the first time wearing opposition colors, he was heavily booed by the sellout crowd at Joe Louis Arena. 

Thankfully, the relationship between Fedorov and the organization as well as the fans has been mended in recent years, and he'll rightfully take his place alongside other franchise legends like Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, and others this January. 

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The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of young players who fans should pay close attention to in 2025-26. Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj is certainly one of them.

Xhekaj just completed his third NHL season with the Canadiens, and it was a bit of an up-and-down year for the 6-foot-4 blueliner. In a career-high 70 games, he recorded one goal, five assists, 118 penalty minutes, 180 hits, and a minus-13 rating. Overall, he had some growing pains like many young defensemen do, but he also showed signs of improvement at the same time. 

With Xhekaj being just 24 years old, it would not be surprising in the slightest if we see the left-shot defenseman take a notable step forward with his development in 2024-25. It can take defensemen some time to truly break out, and this could very well end up being the case with Xhekaj. 

The potential for Xhekaj to blossom into a steady stay-at-home defenseman who can play big minutes is certainly there, and it will be intriguing to see if he can become just that for the Canadiens next season. If the hard-nosed defenseman does hit another level with his play, it would be huge for a Canadiens club looking to continue to trend in the right direction. 

3 Canadiens Ranked Among Best NHL Players Born In 2000sRecently, the NHL Network ranked the top 25 players born in the 2000s. With the Montreal Canadiens being one of the NHL's most promising young teams, it is not surprising in the slightest that three of their players have made the cut.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are essentially two different teams. The first Penguins team is a veteran-laden squad featuring star forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and star defensemen Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson. And the second Pittsburgh team is the one that’s actively being planned for the future, featuring youngsters and prospects including wingers Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, and defensemen Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke.

Indeed, Pens GM Kyle Dubas has spoken out about his team’s dual focuses at this time. He talked to NHL.com in late April and made it clear he’s got Pittsburgh’s best experienced players and players-of-the-future in mind as he moves the team forward.

“It's going to be continuing to maximize the prime or the end of careers of some of the players that we have,” Dubas said of the team’s direction, adding it's also going to be about  “expeditiously developing some of the young players that have already come onto the roster, that are about to come onto the roster.”

Big Update On Evgeni Malkin's Penguins Future RevealedAccording to The Athletic's Josh Yohe, Evgeni Malkin will play his final season as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025-26 because the team is not expected to offer the star forward a new contract once his deal comes to an end after next season.

There’s no question there’s excellent talent in Pittsburgh’s veteran core. And at the same time, there are young Pens players who need to draw into NHL action to learn on the job. But making players like Crosby and Malkin wait for the Penguins’ youngsters to develop into elite NHL contributors is a gamble that doesn't seem like a wise one for Dubas.

And one thing’s very likely – at some point in the next regular season, it will make sense for the Penguins to convince Malkin to waive his no-move clauses in his current contract and become the top rental player we’ll see in the NHL next year.

Now, we know Malkin has expressed his desire to retire as a Penguin, telling The Athletic, “I retire with Pittsburgh. The Penguins are my team. I love this team. When I retire it's here.”

That said, what if the Penguins are all but eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention by the 2026 NHL trade deadline or sooner? Is Malkin going to be content to play out the string with a meaningless number of games to end the year? Or will his competitive juices begin to stir as the season plays on and he starts considering being a rental for a handful of weeks and going out on a high note? 

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas Has A Plan - And He Knows What He's DoingFor GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins, a new organizational direction is clear - if you've been paying attention

In answering those questions we have to say we’re absolutely not sure Malkin is a lock to stay in Pittsburgh through the end of next season. He’s got full control over his NHL destiny, but the opportunity to play on an elite team for a month or two and chase another Cup is an opportunity not all stars receive. If Malkin wants to retire as a Penguin, sign a one-day contract next summer and retire as a Pen that way. That’s how another Russian star forward went out, with Pavel Datsyuk signing a one-day deal with the Detroit Red Wings before hanging up his skates.

To be sure, Malkin doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. He’s got three Stanley Cups to his credit, as well as a Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP, and a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. You don’t often see players with that Hockey Hall-of-Fame-caliber resume being available on the trade market.

But imagine what Malkin could do for the Penguins’ future if he accepted a trade to a Cup contender this coming season. The return the Pens could get for Malkin would accelerate their rebuild and help stock Pittsburgh’s shelves with high-end draft picks and prospects. It will hurt in some ways to see Malkin in another team’s jersey for a short span, but it also would greatly contribute to the Penguins becoming a legitimate long-term Cup contender sooner than later.

The Pittsburgh Penguins Should Have Extra Motivation For The Next Two YearsThe Pittsburgh Penguins have a slew of players who are either in the final or second-to-last year of their contract. 

If he did accept a trade, Malkin would underscore his contributions to the Penguins one last time by giving back to the franchise as a result of being moved out of town. And you have to know teams would be lining up to make a major bid on Malkin’s services. 

For those reasons, Dubas would be wise to go to Malkin and persuade him to be moved. It makes sense for the Penguins as an organization to move on from him, and it makes sense for Malkin as a competitor to move on. 

It may not happen until the trade deadline, but if the season ends with Malkin still a Penguin, a great opportunity will be lost. There’s going to be a white-hot market for his services, and Dubas needs all the help he can get in building the future Pens. And that can happen if Malkin green-lights a deal and gives back something of great value to Pittsburgh one more time.

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The Montreal Canadiens have made plenty of moves this off-season, but it is fair to argue that they should not be done yet. When looking at their roster, it is apparent that they could use another forward.

One of the Canadiens' biggest needs is an upgrade at the second-line center position. The problem is that there are not too many notable names available at this point in the summer. Marco Rossi, who was a restricted free agent (RFA), recently re-signed with the Minnesota Wild on a three-year deal. Top RFA Mason McTavish would be a fantastic addition for the Canadiens, but the feeling is that Anaheim wants to keep him around, rather than moving him. 

Canadiens: Friedman On Offer SheetsWhile there are many ways in which a team can improve in the offseason, none is more controversial than taking the offer sheet route. This Summer, many had hoped that promising young forwards like Marco Rossi and Mason MacTavish would be targeted; the latter, in particular, was the one most Montreal Canadiens fans had their heart set on, but neither received any.

However, there is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) still available who could be a very good player for the Canadiens to take a chance on: Jack Roslovic.

Roslovic, 28, is the best UFA left and would have the potential to be a solid addition to the Canadiens' roster if they brought him in. While he is not necessarily a big-name player, he would create more competition for players like Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook when it comes to the Canadiens' second-line center spot. 

Yet, Roslovic's versatility allows him to play right wing, so he could help boost the Canadiens' depth at that position. too. Furthermore, due to his offensive skill, he could work well on the Canadiens' second power-play unit if they signed him. 

Roslovic is coming off a solid season with the Carolina Hurricanes, posting 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games. He has also recorded at least 22 goals and 44 points twice in his career, so he has the ability to chip in well offensively.

Overall, on an affordable short-term deal, Roslovic could be a very good player for the Canadiens to bring in to boost their forward group. It will be interesting to see if they end up targeting him from here. 

3 Canadiens Ranked Among Best NHL Players Born In 2000sRecently, the NHL Network ranked the top 25 players born in the 2000s. With the Montreal Canadiens being one of the NHL's most promising young teams, it is not surprising in the slightest that three of their players have made the cut.