Following a season of turmoil for the Vancouver Canucks, this off-season has been relatively quiet.

The Canucks' biggest deal was re-signing Brock Boeser on the eve of his UFA eligibility. They also signed goaltender Thatcher Demko and right winger Conor Garland to contract extensions.

The Canucks made some moves in the trade market. In June, they acquired right winger (and Vancouver native) Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers. Last month, they shipped goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins and sent popular left winger Dakota Joshua to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Since then, the Canucks have attempted to bolster their depth at center, particularly on their second line. Their current in-house options are the oft-injured Filip Chytil and the inexperienced Aatu Raty.

They were linked to Jack Roslovic for weeks. The versatile 28-year-old forward can play center or wing and is considered the best player remaining in the depleted free-agent market.

However, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reported last week that the Canucks interest in Roslovic had cooled. One reason could be his inconsistency, which has seen him bounce from the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes since the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

Drance believes the Canucks could enter the season pinning their hopes on a healthy Chytil and Raty's promising performance late in the 2024-25 campaign to help them manage their situation in the short term. If they're still in need of a center as the season goes along, he believes they'll turn to the trade market.

However, Patrick Johnston of The Provinceindicated that making trades for a center has been difficult this summer. He doesn't expect they'll have much success before the start of the season.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Are The Devils Interested In Jared McCann? Could The Kings Trade Brandt Clarke?Seattle Kraken left winger Jared McCann was the subject of trade conjecture last month. It was reported that the Kraken were open to the possibility of moving the 29-year-old McCann.  

The Canucks could have Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish on their radar. The 22-year-old restricted free agent has frequently surfaced in trade rumors this summer. However, Johnston observed that several other clubs are also keeping tabs on McTavish.

Johnston's colleague Steve Ewen pointed out that the Canucks had an interest in Marco Rossi before he signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Wild. Ewen also noted they might be following McTavish's situation, but believed the Ducks would re-sign him.

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The popular sporting video game series by EA Sports, NHL 26, is set for a September 12 release for Playstation and XBOX. 

Over the past week, the software developer has begun unveiling its rankings for each different playing position in the game. 

Among those listed within the Top-10 at each position will be a handful of Winnipeg Jets players. 

The first position ranking provided by EA Sports was that of defencemen. Not only did the game provide its Top-10 defencemen overall, it further broke down the blueliners based on which side of the ice they suit up on.

Cracking the Top-10 left defencemen list was Winnipeg Jets alternate captain Josh Morrissey. After earning sixth-place on the NHL Network's annual list of defenders, the 30-year-old Calgary product came in at No. 8 on EA Sports' list. 

His overall rating was up one percentage point from NHL 25 to a 90 overall, ranking him in line with Jaccob Slavin and Adam Fox, only trailing Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, Roman Josi, Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin and Miro Heiskanen on the charts.

Morrissey had 14 goals, 62 points, 22 penalty minutes and a +17 rating in 80 games last season for the Presidents' Trophy winning Jets. 

The NHL and broadcast partners in the United States (ESPN and TNT networks) have released their schedule of exclusive broadcasts for the 2025-26 season.

The Anaheim Ducks are scheduled to feature in just five games between these two corporations:

Nov. 11 at Colorado Avalanche (TNT)


Dec. 3 vs Utah Mammoth (TNT)

Jan. 13 vs Dallas Stars (TNT)

Feb. 1 vs Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN)


Feb. 3 vs Seattle Kraken (TNT)

All of Anaheim’s opponents in these contests are Western Conference foes, as the team looks to take another sizable leap in the standings after a 21-point improvement in 2024-25 and make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

A new coaching staff, two high-profile departures, and four key acquisitions highlight the Ducks’ 2025 offseason, but those storylines weren’t enough to entice ESPN or TNT into broadcasting more than five of the franchise’s games.

The Ducks' pivotal 2025-26 season commences on Oct. 9 in Seattle to take on division rival, Seattle Kraken.

Anaheim Ducks Fan Survey Series Results: Lofty Expectations Amid Skepticism of Pat Verbeek

Ducks’ Young Blue Line Could Be Their X-Factor in 2025-26

The New York Islanders will play 10 nationally televised games during the 2025-26 NHL season. Three of those games will be broadcast on ESPN+/Hulu, two on ESPN, and the other five on TNT. 

Thu, Oct. 16 – vs. Edmonton Oilers | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN+/Hulu

Thu, Oct. 30 – vs. Carolina Hurricanes | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN+/Hulu

Tue, Dec. 9 – vs. Vegas Golden Knights | 7:00 PM ET | TNT

Tue, Jan. 6 – vs. New Jersey Devils | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN+/Hulu

Wed, Jan. 21 – vs. Seattle Kraken | 9:30 PM ET | TNT

Wed, Jan. 28 – vs. New York Rangers | 7:30 PM ET | TNT

Tue, Feb. 3 – vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | 7:30 PM ET | TNT

Sun, Mar. 1 – vs. Florida Panthers | 6:30 PM ET | ESPN

Thu, Mar. 5 – vs. Los Angeles Kings | 9:30 PM ET | ESPN

Tue, Mar. 10 – vs. St. Louis Blues | 7:30 PM ET | TNT

That means the Islanders will play 72 games on MSGSN, the same total they had last season. 

There has also been some start time changes as well to six games. 

Oct. 16 vs. Oilers → 7:30 PM (was 7:00 PM)

Oct. 30 vs. Hurricanes → 7:30 PM (was 7:00 PM)

Jan. 6 vs. Devils → 7:30 PM (was 7:00 PM)

Jan. 21 vs. Kraken → 6:30 PM (was 7:00 PM)

Feb. 3 vs. Penguins → 7:30 PM (was 7:00 PM)

Mar. 1 vs. Panthers → 6:30 PM (was 4:00 PM)

READ THE LATEST

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The National Hockey League and its broadcast partners announced their schedule for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday. Between Turner (TNT) and the ESPN networks, the Chicago Blackhawks have 15 scheduled national games. 

That kicks off with Opening Night against the Florida Panthers. Florida will raise their second straight banner on October 7th, followed by a game against the Blackhawks, which will be seen on ESPN’s main channel. 

Highlights include a handful of TNT showdowns against the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues, as well as ESPN+ matchups against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, and Vegas Golden Knights. 

The full national schedule for Chicago can be seen here: 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xour national broadcast schedule is here!📺 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/kG8BUIp1td

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

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 47 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #47. 

Let's take a look.

Aaron Johnson - 2003-07/2011-12 - Johnson was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Johnson played 172 games for the Jackets over two stints. Scouts said of Johnson was "A puck-moving defenseman, Johnson is a very good skater. Has good offensive instincts and can quarterback the powerplay. Can play a tough and physical game. Needs to improve his play in his own end."

During his time with Columbus, he also spent three years with the AHL Syracuse Crunch, where he had 73 points in those three seasons. 

In 2016, he left North America and signed on with Adler Mannheim of the DEL in Germany. He then left for England, where he played for the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL. In 2021, he became a Player-Asst. Coach for a season. He came back home to Columbus in 2021 and joined the Jackets as a Team Consultant. Last season, he was the Team Relations Specialist for the Jackets 

Geoff Platt - 2005-07 - Platt was undrafted out of Mississauga, Ontario.

Platt made his NHL Debut in December of 2005 as a 20-year-old undrafted rookie. He played in 41 games for his CBJ career and had 14 points. 

He left North America in 2008 and headed for Finland. He then left for the KHL and played five years with the Dynamo Minsk of the KHL. In 2012, he became a citizen of Belarus. He stayed in Europe and played in the KHL, Sweden, and Finland until he retired in 2023. 

Platt also began playing international hockey for Belarus once he gained citizenship, playing in the IIHF World Championships and Olympic Game Qualifiers. He's worked for Tappara U20 as a skills and development coach for the last three seasons. 

Dalton Prout - 2011-17 - Prout was drafted by Columbus in the 6th round of the 2010 NHL Draft. 

Prout made his NHL debut on March 30, 2012, against the Florida Panthers. From there he would go on to play in 224 games for the Jackets. He would also play in four seasons with the Springfield Falcons and Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. 

Prout was a big, rugged defenseman known for his physicality and toughness. In the 2015-16 season, he finished the year with 102 penalty minutes. 

Prout was known for his fights and wasn't afraid of anyone. Over the years, he fought Tom Wilson, Chris Neil, and Pat Maroon. But his fights with Boston's Milan Lucic were probably his most memorable, including a fight where Prout dropped Lucic with one punch. You can re-live that magic moment below. 

Prout was traded to New Jersey by Columbus for Kyle Quincey, March 1, 2017, and that's where the story would end for Prout's Columbus career. He would go on to play for Calgary and San Jose before retiring during the 2019-20 season. 

He was hired by GM Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers in 2021 as a Pro Scout and can be seen in the press box of Nationwide Arena fairly routinely. 

Marcus Björk - 2022-23 - Marcus Björk is an undrafted defenseman out of Umea, Sweden.

Björk was signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent on May 24, 2022. From there, he would be called from Cleveland on November 12, 2022, to make his NHL debut. 

In what would turn out to be a very bad season for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Björk would have a terrific season in what would turn out to be his only NHL games played. 

He played in 33 games for the Jackets that season. He scored 3 goals and totaled 11 points and averaged just over 18 minutes a game on the ice. Not bad for a rookie fresh out of Europe. But, unfortunately for Björk, that would be the end of his NHL season to this point. 

Björk also played in 44 games for Cleveland that season and had 15 points. It seemed that Björk was going places. But when the following season rolled around, Björk was sent to Cleveland, where he would play in 51 games in the 2023-24 season and total 25 points. 

At the end of the 23-24 season, Björk was not offered a contract and was left as an unrestricted free agent. He headed back to Europe and signed with Kärpät of LIIGA in Finland. He scored 21 points in 32 games. 

With 47 days left until opening night at NWA, fans are starting to get a tad restless. There's been very little news the last month or so besides small signings here and there. The RFAs are signed, there are no UFAs, so it's almost time to get down to business. 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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The first thn.com/anaheim Summer Survey Series is in the books. This offseason has been the busiest in Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek’s 3.5-year tenure thus far, giving the roster and coaching staff a facelift while implementing a mandate to end the franchise’s elongated rebuild and seven-year playoff drought.

Thank you to all who voted in these polls. We love hearing from you, and we find it immensely important to gauge the fanbase's views on key aspects of the team heading into a new season.

Votes were tallied both on the thn.com/anaheim site, and on social media platforms (twitter and bluesky).

Without further ado, let’s get into the results:

How Would you Grade the Anaheim Ducks Rebrand?

How Would you Grade the Anaheim Ducks Rebrand?

The Ducks' rebrand is one season in and an unequivocal success, with three-quarters of voters giving it an “A” or “B” grade and zero “D” or “F” votes. Though many have stated their preference for the Mighty Ducks eggplant and jade color scheme, the modernized Mighty Ducks logo, and commitment to putting the “orange” in Orange County seems to have won over the fanbase.

How Would You Grade the Job Pat Verbeek has Done So Far?

How Would You Grade the Job Pat Verbeek has Done So Far?

The general patience of the Ducks fanbase is expectedly wearing thin when it comes to their opinions of Verbeek. Lack of success, the influx of expensive veterans in the back half of their careers, and a now-established reputation as a shrewd negotiator when it comes to RFAs hasn’t exactly endeared Verbeek to fans. 81% of voters gave him a “C” grade or below. A high bar has been set for the upcoming season, and reaching it would likely boost those numbers a year from now.

When Will the Anaheim Ducks Make the Playoffs?

When Will the Anaheim Ducks Make the Playoffs?

Speaking of that high bar, this is it. Making the playoffs this season is the mandate. After a 21-point leap in the standings, a lot has to go right for the Ducks to take another sizable jump to get to the playoff threshold (typically 95 points). Fans are expecting a return of playoff hockey to Honda Center in either April of 2026 or 2027, as that’s where 100% of voters placed their votes. It’s go time.

Who is the Ducks Number One Defenseman of the Future?

Who is the Ducks Number One Defenseman of the Future?

Pavel Mintyukov has the draft pedigree and raw two-way talent, but Jackson LaCombe’s breakout 2024-25 season seems to have won over the hearts of Ducks fans. He improved greatly in his sophomore season compared to his rookie year and earned every minute of his team-leading ice time. He’ll have to prove last year wasn’t a fluke, elevate his game even further, and fend off younger hungry players, but he’s given no reason not to believe he’s capable.

Was Beckett Sennecke a Good Pick at Third Overall in 2024?

Was Beckett Sennecke a Good Pick at Third Overall in 2024?

A big swing on a late-rising prospect with one of the highest picks in franchise history when several talented defensemen (Zeev Buium, Sam Dickinson, Zayne Parekh, etc.) and the dazzling consensus No. 2-ranked forward, Ivan Demidov, were still on the board had many scratching their heads on draft night in 2024. However, a year later and with more familiarity, Sennecke has many fans pleased that Verbeek and the Ducks' scouting staff went in the direction they did. The pick was defensible then and is defensible now. Two-thirds of voters are buying into Sennecke as a core piece of the Ducks franchise moving forward.

Which Anaheim Ducks Offseason Acquisition are You Most Anticipating?

Which Anaheim Ducks Offseason Acquisition are You Most Anticipating?

Chris Kreider ran away with this one, and it’s an easy sell. His acquisition cost wasn’t high, he’s a year removed from back-to-back-to-back 35-goal seasons, and he hopes to provide the Ducks a consistent and impactful goalscoring presence they’ve been bereft of in recent years. When Trevor Zegras was traded to Philadelphia, Verbeek stated he’s at the stage where he’s looking to find pieces that fit his vision for the direction of his build. Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, and Petr Mrazek will all be addressing needs in specific roles on the depth chart.

What are Your Career Expectations for Lukas Dostal?

What are Your Career Expectations for Lukas Dostal?

The freshly inked and newly crowned starting goaltender in Anaheim is now the tenth-highest-paid goaltender in the NHL. He’s met every challenge thrown at him in his young career and is now set for more consistent and predictable starts than when he was sharing the crease with John Gibson during his first two seasons in the NHL. His game hasn’t shown many, if any, gaps, and he has the talent to be considered among the NHL’s elite in the not-too-distant future. However, voters are understandably apprehensive about predicting him to become a consistent Vezina contender like Igor Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck, and the like. Two-thirds of votors feel "perennial All-Star" is a more achievable expectation.

Do You Agree with the Decision to Hire Joel Quenneville as the Anaheim Ducks Head Coach?

Do You Agree with the Decision to Hire Joel Quenneville as the Anaheim Ducks Head Coach?

Backlash was more than understandable and expected, but after an introductory press conference in which Joel Quenneville expressed remorse for his inaction as the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks 15 years ago and arrived with an extensive list of individuals who’ve helped him on his journey of growth, the overwhelming majority of Ducks fans seem completely bought into what he’ll bring to the Anaheim bench. A sparkling resume and an elite staff at his flanks have instilled a sense of unfamiliar hope to the organization.

What are Your Expectations for Leo Carlsson?

What are Your Expectations for Leo Carlsson?

From this point and moving forward, the Ducks will go as far as Leo Carlsson can take them. He’s endlessly talented, with the tools and runway to become one of the best players in the NHL. He represents the reason teams bottom out in rebuilds and represents the hardest ingredient to acquire when building a contender. Ducks fans were promised a superstar at the 2023 NHL Draft when they finished at the bottom of the 2022-23 standings, and that remains what nearly 70% of voters are expecting from Carlsson today.

What is the Anaheim Ducks Biggest Remaining Need?

What is the Anaheim Ducks Biggest Remaining Need?

The Ducks addressed goalscoring, utility, and penalty killing needs within the forward group in the 2025 offseason, but left the blueline untouched despite yet another poor defensive season. Though a top-line impact winger would be a flashy add and a middle-six two-way center a necessity for championship teams, two-thirds of voters feel the biggest need is on the right side of the blueline. Defense wins championships, and the Ducks could use a true play killer to complement their stable of young puck movers on the backend.

Training camp will soon commence, and hockey will be back before we know it. It’s been a long summer, and there’s still business that needs attending to, but this series has been a blast for me, personally, and has been a great way to make the offseason seem less dull. So, thank you for participating and reading.

Ducks’ Young Blue Line Could Be Their X-Factor in 2025-26

Reports: Mason McTavish Prefers a Long-Term Contract while Pat Verbeek Prefers a Bridge, where Talks Stand