Apr 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators celebrate the win against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

As the 2025-26 season approaches, we’re previewing each of the Nashville Predators’ Central Division opponents.

This series will feature each team in chronological order and not their predicted order of finish in the division.

Today’s preview focuses on the Dallas Stars.

2024-25 Season By The Numbers

RECORD

50-26-6 (.646)

OVERTIME

7-4

SHOOTOUT

2-2

OVERALL

5th

OFFENSE

3.35 GPG (3rd)

DEFENSE

2.71 GAA (6th)

POWER PLAY

22.0% (17th)

PENALTY KILL

82.0% (4th)

EXPECTED GF/60

2.68 (5th)

EXPECTED GA/60

2.67 (26th)

Season Analysis

Despite a third straight trip to the Western Conference Finals, the results ended up the same for the Dallas Stars: no trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Things unraveled for Dallas in the WCF, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in five games despite looking like the best team on paper heading into the playoffs.

Acquiring Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund before the trade deadline still didn’t bring a Stanley Cup to Big D, and the Stars replaced Peter DeBoer with Glen Gulutzan behind the bench for his second stint as Stars’ head man.

General manager Jim Nill obviously saw something in Gulutzan that wasn’t present 12 years earlier, when Nill fired him in one of his first moves as GM. With captain Jamie Benn coming back on a one-year contract, Rantanen beginning his first full season in Dallas, and Jake Oettinger the obvious No. 1 netminder despite a shaky Game 5 against the Oilers, hopes are still high in Dallas.

The Stars know how to get to the post-season; they’ve treaditionally had one of the top records in the NHL during the regular season and finished fifth overall in 2024-25 with a 50-26-6 record.

It’s finishing in the playoffs that’s been the team’s Achilles heel. They simply ran out of gas against Connor McDavid and the Oilers the past two seasons.

Offense

Rantanen is clearly the top dog for the Stars when it comes to scoring. He was on fire during the playoffs, notching 22 points (9-13-22) in 18 post-season contests.

But shuttling between the Avalanche, Hurricanes and Stars clearly had an effect on his scoring last season. His 88 regular-season points were 16 less than his output the year before.

Perhaps the eight-year deal he signed with the Stars will give him the peace of mind he didn’t have in 2024-25.

Dallas lost some of their scoring punch during the off-season with the departures of Granlund, Mason Marchment and Evgenii Dadonov.

This will put more pressure on former 109-point producer Jason Robertson, who had 80 points last season and is entering his contract year. Matt Duchene (82 points) will also be counted on to keep the scoring machine running. The biggest question offensively is can the Stars keep that machine from glitching deep into the post-season.

Defense

The Stars decided not to make any big splashes defensively. While Cody Ceci left in free agency, Nils Lundkvist hopes to be back following a late-season injury.

Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell are the clear top three on Dallas’s back end, but there are question marks beyond them.

Ilya Lyubushkin, Alexander Petrovic and Lian Bichsel are younger, but need to provide some relief to the top three.

Goaltending

One position that will not be a heated competition in training camp is in net. Oettinger will be the clear No. 1 for the foreseeable future. ‘Otter’ went 36-18-4 in 2024-25 with a 2.59 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.

However, his post-season was up and down (9-8-0, 2.82 GAA and .905 SP.

Like the Stars’ offense, Oettinger needs to have some gas left in the tank for a deep playoff run. Casey DeSmith is a solid backup who is entering the second year of a three-year contract.

Special Teams

As power-play coach for the Oilers prior to his arrival in Dallas, Gulutzan had one of the NHL’s best teams with the man advantage. Neil Graham, who coached the Stars’ AHL affiliate Texas Stars, was hired to head the power-play unit in Dallas, but Gulutzan will certainly have input in that department. Dallas finished 17th on the power play last season.

Alain Nasreddine is the only assistant holdover from the DeBoer regime, and with good reason. He ran a penalty-kill unit that ranked fourth in the NHL last season.

Last Season’s Series

The Predators didn’t have much to cheer about in 2024-25, but they ended the season on a positive note with a convincing 5-1 win over Dallas in the final game.

Otherwise, the season series with the Stars was split 2-2-0. Only one of the four games was close, a 4-3 Dallas victory on Oct. 10.

2025-26 Season Series

The two clubs will first meet at Bridgestone Arena Oct. 26, followed by another in Nashville on Nov. 8. The final game will take place in Dallas Feb. 28.

The Bottom Line

Dallas may have a new coaching staff, but much of the team’s core is still intact. Therefore, the pressure of lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup for the second time in team history will remain.

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Arniel, Winnipeg A Good Match - Dec. 28 2004 - Vol. 58 Issue 18 - Jon Waldman

While the lockout continues to keep team employees out of NHL arenas, several are taking the opportunity to explore other shinny venues. One such person is Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Scott Arniel.

Arniel has been taking time during the lockout to sit in the pressbox at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre and check out American League talent. While one might expect the Kingston, Ont., native to be around the Sabres’ AHL affiliate, he has instead positioned himself where he can check out more of the players he has yet to see.

“(In the Sabres’) situation - with Rochester being an hour away-1 don’t really need to be there because we have so many staff there right now,” said Arniel, selected 22nd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL entry draft. “We have guys there at almost every practice, we have guys down there for all the games.

“So I’ve been coming to the Moose games, 2% watching some of the teams I haven’t seen in a while, getting familiar with some of the players I’ve never seen—or maybe some of the ones I’ve seen in years past and I check on their growth.”

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. 

GLORY-FILLED JUNIOR CAREER

Arniel’s junior career was glorious, as he won two Memorial Cups with the Ontario League’s Cornwall Royals and was part of Team Canada’s World Junior Championship-winning team in 1982. He started his NHL career with the Jets in 1981-82, but was dealt to the Sabres four years later. After four seasons in Buffalo, where his two-way skills helped the Sabres become one of the league’s premier defensive teams, Arniel was traded back to Winnipeg before the 1990-91 season.

Arniel’s second go-around with the Jets was shorter than his first, as he lasted only one season before being shipped to the Boston Bruins in 1991. He split the next season between Boston and the AHL, then finished off his playing career with a seven-season stint in the International League. While in the IHL, he suited up for San Diego, Houston, Utah - and finally, the Manitoba Moose, who had relocated from Minnesota a few seasons before Arniel’s retirement in 1999.

One year after he hung up his skates for good, Arniel returned to the Moose as an assistant, coach for the 2000-campaign, staying for two seasons before joining the Sabres in 200203 in the same role.

Throughout his time with the Jets and Moose, Arniel liked to call the Winnipeg Arena his office.

When the building closed last ber, Arniel was among several Winnipeg alumni who came to say goodbye to the old barn. He enjoyed the opportunity to come back and see both the Arena and some old friends from his playing days.

“I think they did a good job of going out in style,” said Arniel of the closing celebrations. “For all the players that were there, it was a great thrill for us to be back for the last game, rehash some old stories and hear some stories you haven’t thought of in a few years.”

Jets Prospect Showcase: Key Players, Lineups, Viewing Info & Preview for Matchups vs. Senators, Canadiens This WeekendThe Winnipeg Jets face off against the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators in the 2025 Prospects Showcase on Saturday and Sunday.

NEW WINNIPEG RINK

While the Winnipeg Arena was dear to the hearts of Winnipeggers, the new MTS Centre has impressed many - Arniel included. The new multipurpose facility, which Arniel feels should have been built years ago, has consistently attracted sellout crowds for the Moose since it opened.

Arniel sees the new complex as a big attraction for Winnipeg.

“I love it,” he said. “I think it’s 15 years too late, but they’ve done a tremendous job here and I think that it has really put a buzz on around the city. I think everybody is excited about the rink…(the ownership) group went all-out and they made sure they did this first-class.

“It was sad to see (the Winnipeg Arena) go, but when you come into a building like this, you sort of forget it pretty quick.”

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EAST MEADOW, NY -- Former Montreal Canadiens forward and current New York Islanders forward Emil Heineman spoke with us for the first time at Anders Lee's Jam Kancer in the Kan event on Saturday. 

The 23-year-old is coming off his rookie NHL season, a tale of two halves after a car accident in Seattle put a damper on a productive start to his NHL career. 

Heineman had 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points in 37 games before just one assist over the final 25 games -- he added one goal in their five-game playoff series against the Washington Capitals. 

Emil Heineman Profile & ProjectionMathieu Darche’s first major move as GM of the New York Islanders was trading defenseman Noah Dobson, with the package centered around two first-round picks.

The Swede is really excited to be on Long Island. Here's our interview with one of the newest Islanders:

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you were traded?

Emil Heineman: "My agent called around five o’clock Swedish time, because there had been some rumors going around. He just wanted to give me a heads up. I was like, 'Alright.' I actually went to a soccer game back home, and during that time, I started checking out New York a little bit—where everything is. But then I had to remind myself, 'Hey, it hasn’t happened yet,' so I calmed down. When they finally called, I was like, 'Alright, here we go.' I saw it on Twitter too, so I kind of knew it was coming. But once it happened, I was really excited. It’s a new adventure for me and my girlfriend, so we’re both looking forward to it."

Q: Mathieu Darche said you had to be included in the deal. What does it mean to know he wanted you?

Heineman: "Obviously, it means a lot to me to have that kind of confidence shown in me. It makes me even more excited to be here. Like I said, I’m really looking forward to it."

Q: Looking back, how do you reflect on last season?

Heineman: "Last year, honestly, I didn’t think or even know if I would make the team. I just came into camp, gave it everything, and saw where it would take me. After a while, you start to feel more comfortable in the league. It was tough when I had that break in the middle, but overall, I’m proud of what I brought last year. I really learned how to play in the NHL, and more importantly, how to stay in the league—how to show up every day and be consistent. For this year, I’m excited to take the next step. It’s a new team and a new system, but I want to bring my 200-foot game, help the team in any way I can, and be as useful as possible.

Q: Did you know anyone on the team before coming to New York, and how has the transition been so far?

Heineman: "All the guys have been unreal. It’s been so easy to get into the group. I’ve only been here about a week, but the transition has been smooth. The only guy I’d played with before was Simon—we played World Juniors together. Having him here made things easier, just to ask for help with little things like the apartment. Other than that, Adam Boqvist is from a place really close to me, so I’ve had that connection too."

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We’re now four days into rookie camp, and much has been written already about Florian Xhekaj putting on 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason. On Saturday night, for the first time, we were able to see if he could carry that bigger frame in games, and the answer is a resounding yes.

Some players struggle to cope when they get heavier, but not Xhekaj. He has the strength to carry that weight, he didn’t lose any speed, and he’s an even more imposing presence. At one stage in the Montreal Canadiens’ first game of the Prospect Showdown, one of the Winnipeg Jets’ players was skating towards him, clearly looking to land a hit, but he ended up turning away, almost as if he realized who he was about to hit, and I expect it’s not the last time we’re going to see it this season.

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Even if it was only a rookie tournament game, it was a big test for Xhekaj to find himself on that top line with the two players who are arguably the most NHL-ready on the team. Pascal Vincent explained his decision to put him there in these terms:

We played him at center all year last year, and he had a lot of success. He scored 24 goals without ever really getting power-play time, and we want to expand his use and put him in different situations. With Kapanen and Demidov, we wanted a physical presence. We also wanted someone who could address the issue if someone looked at Demidov sideways. He didn’t need to do any of that, but he’s aware of that. We don’t need to talk about it, but to be able to play with those two and contribute offensively and defensively, rather than just being a physical force, taking faceoffs as he’s a righty. Kapanen’s a lefty; it was great to see those three together. If we had more time, we could develop something exciting, but we only have two games.

- Vincent on putting Xhekaj on the first line

If Xhekaj doesn’t make the Canadiens, there’s no doubt that he’ll be getting a more significant role with the Laval Rocket. That’s what last night was about: checking what he could do when put in a more offensive setting, and he showed that he has plenty of potential. He didn’t look like he was just Demidov’s bodyguard; he didn’t look out of place either. He looked like a hockey player who could compete alongside someone as talented as Demidov, and that’s huge for this organization.

It will be essential to ensure that he manages his expectations, though, after coming off such a great first professional season, he must not fall into the same trap that Owen Beck did, and set his sights too high, putting too much pressure on himself. The truth of the matter is that, in all likelihood, when he makes the NHL (it’s not accidental that I didn’t use the word if here), he won’t be playing on the top six, but he will be ideally suited to an energy line that’s also able to contribute to all aspects of the game.

The days in which a player could make a career out of being a goon are long gone, but that’s not a problem for Xhekaj because he’s so much more than a threatening physical presence. In a way, it’s funny to see the Canadiens have such a player in their ranks after being hurt so much by Tom Wilson in their series against the Washington Capitals last spring. Could Xhekaj end up being the Canadiens’ own Wilson? At this stage, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but there’s still plenty of work to be done if he wants to get there.

Pascal Vincent is very aware of the diamond in the rough he has in his hands, though, and you can see just how enthusiastic he is about working with the youngster. At this stage, it would be a big surprise to see Xhekaj crack the lineup in Montreal, but it doesn’t matter; he still has things to work on, and nobody’s ever been too prepared for the NHL.

---

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Top 50 - Detroit Red Wings - Sept. 25 2017 - Collector's Edition Issue - Ken Campbell

CONSIDER THIS. Only four players in NHL history have played more than 1,500 games, while doing so all for the same franchise. And three of them – Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom – did it with the Detroit Red Wings. (Shane Doan is the other.) The Wings have had some of the game’s greatest individual talents and they stuck around for a very long time. Detroit has won the majority of its 11 Stanley Cups in three clusters, two in the 1930s, the dynasty of the 1950s and the one that came along more than 40 years later. It should come as no surprise the players on those teams dominate the list of top players.

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1 GORDIE HOWE

POS | RW YEARS | 1946-71 GP | 1,687 G | 786 A | 1,023 P | 1,809

WHEN YOU’RE THIS great, they call you Mister. And Howe, who was just as well known as ‘Mr. Hockey,’ earned every bit of the enormous respect he received, both from the fans whom he treated like royalty and opponents whom he treated like an annoyance.

No player in the history of the game better combined the artistry and brute physicality of hockey better than Howe. The rare feat of a goal, assist and a fight in the same game is named after him. But so are numerous schools and a $48-million bridge that will link Canada to the United States at the Windsor-Detroit border. You don’t garner that kind of respect unless you’re one of the most durable and consistently brilliant athletes in the annals of professional sports. Howe scored at least 20 goals for 22 straight years in the NHL. He scored more points in the NHL after he turned 30 than he did before. When he was 41, he scored three more goals than years he had spent on Earth. There has never been anyone better in Detroit, and there very likely never will.

2 NICKLAS LIDSTROM

POS | D YEARS | 1991-2012 GP | 1,564 G | 264 A | 878 P | 1,142

IF GORDIE HOWE is the epitome of enduring excellence for the Red Wings at forward, Lidstrom is his equal on the blueline. And like Howe, Lidstrom was more dominant in his 30s than he was in his 20s. It’s hard to believe he didn’t win his first Norris Trophy until he was 31 – after three straight runner-up finishes – but it’s easy to believe he was good enough to win six more after that.

There have been better defensemen in NHL history – not many, mind you – but there were none who played with the steadiness and poise Lidstrom did for as long as he did. The Red Wings won their Cups largely on the strength of their uber-talented forwards, but it was Lidstrom who started many of the plays by getting the puck out of danger and up to those forwards.

3 STEVE YZERMAN

POS | C YEARS | 1983-2006 GP | 1,514 G | 692 A | 1,063 P | 1,755

MARK MESSIER IS regarded as the greatest leader the game has ever seen, but not far behind him on that list is Yzerman. Like Howe and Lidstrom, Yzerman enjoyed a long career that was defined by a sustained level of superior play and the respect he garnered from teammates and opponents. It’s a testament to Yzerman that the No. 19 has evolved into one of the most revered numbers in the game.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Yzerman’s career was how he seamlessly made the transition from one of the league’s most brilliant offensive talents to one of the greatest two-way players. And as dominant as Howe was, it bears mentioning Yzerman finished only 54 points behind Howe in Detroit, despite playing 173 fewer games.

4 TERRY SAWCHUK

POS | G YEARS | 1950-55, 1957-64, 1968-69 RECORD | 351-243-132 GAA | 2.44 SP | n/a

Regarded by many as the greatest goalie ever, Sawchuk is also one of the game’s most prominent tragic figures. At the top of most Detroit goaltending categories, he backstopped the Wings to three Stanley Cups in the 1950s.

5 TED LINDSAY

POS | LW YEARS | 1944-57, 1964-65 GP | 862 G | 335 A | 393 P | 728

Again with the respect. The NHLPA changed the name of the trophy it gives to the player-voted MVP from that of a prime minister to Lindsay. ‘Terrible’ Ted Lindsay to opponents, he was anything but for the Red Wings.

6 RED KELLY

POS | D YEARS | 1947-60 GP | 846 G | 162 A | 310 P | 472

Before becoming one of the greatest two-way centers in history in Toronto, Kelly was an alltime great on the blueline in Detroit. A huge factor in their four-Cup ’50s dynasty, Kelly inspired and won the first-ever Norris Trophy in 1954.

7 SERGEI FEDOROV

POS | C YEARS | 1990-2003 GP | 908 G | 400 A | 554 P | 954

He was as outstanding offensively as he was in his own end. Won three Cups, a Hart, a Pearson and two Selkes.

8 ALEX DELVECCHIO

POS | C YEARS | 1951-74 GP | 1,549 G | 456 A | 825 P | 1,281

Known for durability and gentlemanly play, he never seemed to mind being stuck in Howe’s shadow.

9 SID ABEL

POS | C YEARS | 1938-52 GP | 570 G | 184 A | 279 P | 463

‘The Production Line’ pivot won the Hart in 1948-49. ‘Old Bootnose’ is one of seven Wings with retired numbers.

10 PAVEL DATSYUK

POS | C YEARS | 2001-16 GP | 953 G | 314 A | 604 P | 918

‘The Magic Man’ was a highlight reel whose attention to detail and defense kept him from putting up huge stats.

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11 MARCEL PRONOVOST

POS | D YEARS | 1950-65 GP | 983 G | 80 A | 217 P | 297

A blueline stalwart on the Wings’ 1950s dynasty, he was compared to Eddie Shore. Played in Cup final eight times.

12 EBBIE GOODFELLOW

POS | C YEARS | 1929-43 GP | 557 G | 134 A | 190 P | 324

Equally adept at forward and defense, he led Detroit to three Cups and was the first Wing to win the Hart Trophy.

13 HENRIK ZETTERBERG

POS | LW YEARS | 2002-PRESENT GP | 1,000 G | 326 A | 578 P | 904

The last active link to their most recent dynasty. Yet another player who always excelled at both ends of the ice.

14 NORM ULLMAN

POS | C YEARS | 1955-68 GP | 875 G | 324 A | 434 P | 758

An adept stickhandler and forechecker. Led the Wings in goals three times in the 1960s, with Howe in the lineup.

15 JACK STEWART

POS | D YEARS | 1938-50 GP | 502 G | 30 A | 79 P | 109

Earned nickname ‘Black Jack’ for his penchant for hitting hard and clean. Two Cups, three-time first-team all-star.

16 SYD HOWE

POS | LW YEARS | 1935-46 GP | 513 G | 188 A | 247 P | 435

No relation to Gordie, but he also made his mark as an offensive player and won three Stanley Cups in Detroit.

17 BRENDAN SHANAHAN

POS | LW YEARS | 1996-2006 GP | 716 G | 309 A | 324 P | 633

Nine years in Detroit, scored 30-plus goals seven times and recorded 100 or more PIMs eight times.

18 BILL QUACKENBUSH

POS | D YEARS | 1942-49 GP | 313 G | 40 A | 89 P | 129

One of the cleanest players of all-time, he was the first defenseman in NHL history to win the Lady Byng Trophy.

19 HERBIE LEWIS

POS | LW YEARS | 1928-39 GP | 483 G | 148 A | 161 P | 309

One of the fastest skaters in the early era, he also played for Detroit under the Cougars and Falcons monikers.

20 LARRY AURIE

POS | RW YEARS | 1927-39 GP | 489 G | 147 A | 129 P | 276

A heart-and-soul player with talent, he was a huge factor in franchise’s first two Stanley Cup titles in 1936 and ’37.

21 CHRIS OSGOOD

POS | G YEARS | 1993-2001, 2005-11 RECORD | 317-149-75 GAA | 2.49 SP | .905

Sits second only to Sawchuk in games played, minutes, wins and shutouts. Was No. 1 man on two Cup winners.

22 KRIS DRAPER

POS | C YEARS | 1993-2011 GP | 1,137 G | 158 A | 203 P | 361

Unheralded contributor to the Wings’ most recent Cup dynasty, he won the Selke and centered ‘The Grind Line.’

23 SLAVA KOZLOV

POS | LW YEARS | 1991-2001 GP | 607 G | 202 A | 213 P | 415

A key but lesser-known member of ‘The Russian Five,’ he won two Cups with solid play and production.

24 GARY BERGMAN

POS | D YEARS | 1964-73, 1974-75 GP | 706 G | 60 A | 243 P | 303

Never won a Cup in Detroit but was a steady blueline presence on teams that struggled after the 1950s dynasty.

25 ROGER CROZIER

POS | G YEARS | 1963-70 RECORD | 131-121-41 GAA | 2.93 SP | .903

First goalie to win Conn Smythe Trophy and first player to do so on a losing team. He also won the Calder Trophy.

3 Red Wings Prospects That Could Make NHL Debut This SeasonExploring three Detroit Red Wings prospects that could make the jump to the NHL in the 2025-26 season.

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

26 TOMAS HOLMSTROM

LW, 1996-2012; 1,026-243-287-530

One of six with 4 Cups and 1,000 GP as Wing

27 MARTY PAVELICH

LW, 1947-57; 634-93-159-252

Rocket Richard’s shadow retired in his prime

28 HARRY LUMLEY

G, 1943-50; 163-105-56, 2.75

Debuted as Wing at 17, led NHL in wins twice

29 CHRIS CHELIOS

D, 1999-2009; 578-21-131-152

Became Wing at 37, first-team all-star at 40

30 REED LARSON

D, 1977-86; 708-188-382-570

Six 20-goal years, top 10 in shots six times

31 VLADIMIR KONSTANTINOV

D, 1991-97; 446-47-128-175

Fearless hitter was plus-185 in six seasons

32 JOHN OGRODNICK

LW, 1980-87, ’92-93; 558-265-281-546

First-team star had 176 goals in 4-year span

33 NIKLAS KRONWALL

D, 2003-present; 795-76-302-378

Big banger NHL-best plus-16 in ’08 Cup run

34 NORMIE SMITH

G, 1934-45; 76-71-31, 2.26

Retro 1936 playoff MVP had 92-save shutout

35 MICKEY REDMOND

RW, 1971-76; 317-177-133-310

Third ever with back-to-back 50-goal years

36 NICK LIBETT

LW, 1968-79; 861-217-250-467

Two-way ironman scored 20-plus six times

37 IGOR LARIONOV

C, 1995-2000, ’00-03; 539-89-308-397

Was oldest player to score in Cup final at 41

38 MARCEL DIONNE

C, 1971-75; 309-139-227-366

Detroit’s career leader in points per game

39 GERARD GALLANT

LW, 1985-93; 563-207-260-467

30-plus goals, 200-plus PIMs 4 years in row

40 BRUCE MACGREGOR

C, 1961-71; 673-151-184-335

Speedster fourth in NHL goals in 1966-67

41 JIMMY HOWARD

G, 2006-present; 199-124-54, 2.43, .915

Calder runner-up top 10 in wins, SP 4 times

42 WARREN GODFREY

D, 1955-62, ’63-68; 528-23-77-100

Steady blueliner wore 8 numbers in Detroit

43 JOHAN FRANZEN

LW, 2005-present; 602-187-183-370

GWG beast led NHL in playoff goals in ’08

44 BOB PROBERT

LW, 1985-94; 474-114-145-259

29 goals, sixth-highest PIMs ever in 1987-88

45 KIRK MALTBY

RW, 1996-2010; 908-107-115-222

‘Grind Line’ pillar 5th in playoff GP for Wings

46 STEVE CHIASSON

D, 1986-94; 461-67-200-267

QB’d power play and battled in the alleys

47 MIKE VERNON

G, 1994-97; 53-24-14, 2.40, .898

Won Smythe and 30 of 42 playoff games

48 PAUL COFFEY

D, 1993-96; 231-46-193-239

Norris winner 5th in Wings’ points per game

49 MUD BRUNETEAU

RW, 1935-46; 411-139-138-277

Three-time champ ended longest NHL game

50 DARREN MCCARTY

RW, 1993-2004, ’08-09; 659-120-155-275

One of 3 Wings with 4 rings and 1,000 PIMs

Red Wings Blue-Chip Prospect Enters Make or Break Season For ELCFormer Red Wings second round pick Dylan James enters crucial last season with University of North Dakota. 

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If the Bell Centre was pretty tame for the first game of the Prospect Showdown with a low attendance for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators game, it was absolutely electric for the evening game featuring the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets. Straight from the moment the starting lineup was announced, it felt like a regular-season night in the Mecca of hockey.

While the Canadiens had a talented roster on the ice, the players still came out ready for a physical game, throwing hits whenever they had the opportunity. Even Ivan Demidov joined in; he leaned into a hit he saw coming and stayed up after impact. The hit of the night, however, belonged to Owen Protz, who ran Kieron Walton over like a train would have.

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Much like in Brossard, Demidov’s talent was once again apparent; his stickhandling is second to none, and he was the source of the first goal of the game when he brought the puck to the net, and Florian Xhekaj reaped the reward of his hard work. Oliver Kapanen also had an assist on the play.

PROTZ 🚂#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/7dPYnlmXoc

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 13, 2025

Like any player of that caliber, though, Demidov must be careful not to try to do too much. On the Canadiens’ first power play, he tried to be too cute, attempting to fool two Jets and losing possession; that wasn’t a regular occurrence, however.

The first power play unit featuring the top line of Xhekaj, Kapanen, and Demidov, joined by Owen Beck and David Reinbacher, had fantastic puck movement, moving the Winnipeg penalty killers from side to side, and twice they nearly realized a perfect play. Still, it ended up being a tic-tac-stop with Domenic Divincentiis denying them. After 20 minutes, it was 1-0 Montreal, and shots were 14-7 for Pascal Vincent’s men.

The Jets’ goaltender was powerless when Montreal got back on the power play in the second frame, and Kapanen completed the tic-tac-toe started by Demidov and Reinbacher with a powerful one-timer. The Austrian played a solid game and didn’t pass on a single opportunity to join the attack.

While the Canadiens’ defensemen struggled to get out of their zone at times, it wasn’t when the Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom pairing was on the ice. The former fifth-overall pick had a great game offensively, although at times defensively, he did look a bit rusty, but that’s to be expected from someone who missed so many games last season.

After Vincent sent Mikus Vecvanags in goal in relief of Jacob Fowler, who had not given up a single goal, the Jets quickly struck twice through Danny Zhilkin on the power play and then Chase Yoder on a breakaway to tie up the score at 2-2 even though the Canadiens had a 22-12 edge in shots at the time.

The second frame ended in a 2-2 tie, and Tyler Thorpe tried to start something up with a rival after the whistle, but he only managed to buy himself a front row seat to the first two minutes of the third frame.

Winnipeg seemed to have more energy in the third frame and battled hard to take a 3-2 lead with less than four minutes left in the game, but Demidov was not about to let his team lose in that manner. In his next shift, he got a nice feed from Oliver Kapanen and took off on a breakaway. Even with the kind of night Divincentiis was having, he was powerless against the Russian’s silky hands, and the Bell Centre erupted in a deafening cheer when he tied it up at 3-3.

IVAN DEMIDOV EST BEL ET BIEN RÉVEILLÉ

CAN CONFIRM IVAN DEMIDOV IS AWAKE

WPG 3, MTL 3#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/dvVt44FIs6

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 14, 2025

The Jets weren’t done, though, and Zhilkin found a way to score his second of the game to steal the win despite the Canadiens dominating 41-25 in shots. In the end, the result matters very little at this stage, but what does matter is just how dominant Demidov was. After the game, Vincent raved about him:

The goal he scored, as well as his overall offensive contributions on the ice…I've seen it in practice for two days, but to see what he can do on the ice at such high speed is truly impressive. But I spoke about it earlier, it’s his passion, his desire to be the difference maker. […] Every time you send him on the ice, you have the feeling something’s going to happen, and it does. We had a lot of scoring chances tonight, and he’s part of that in the vast majority. What he can do on the ice isn’t luck; it’s a guy who has worked on his game. He’s still very young, and he’ll get even better, but you get an idea of the kind of difference maker you can have on each of his shifts. For a coach, it’s fun to have.

- Vincent on Demidov

The Bell Centre crowd also shone brightly tonight, on September 13, for a meaningless game in a prospect tournament, the building was absolutely rocking. In the last period, the wave went around the arena many times, and it got so loud that it actually reminded me of the atmosphere from last year’s playoffs race, which is quite something given the circumstances. Asked to comment on that, Vincent explained:

It's amazing, it’s hard to describe…I’m 53 years old, I’m an older man, and I feel the energy from those people, and I can only imagine, and I’ve been in the NHL for years, in the playoffs. I feel, and for some guys, unfortunately, it’s the only time they’re going to wear an NHL jersey, just to experience that is a story you’re going to tell your kids and grandkids. At the same time, for us, I feel like we can evaluate players on how they react when they are on the big stage. So there are a lot of components to it.

- Vincent on the Bell Centre atmosphere

The Canadiens’ prospects will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they’ll take on the Maple Leafs at 3:00 PM and if the game is as spectacular as tonight’s the fans will be going home happy.

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