Last week, Ben Kuzma of The Provincereported the Detroit Red Wings were among the clubs monitoring Quinn Hughes' situation with the Vancouver Canucks this season.

Hughes' future in Vancouver has been the subject of ongoing speculation since the spring, after Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said his captain would one day like to play alongside his brothersJack and Luke, who both belong to the New Jersey Devils.

The Canucks aren't shopping Hughes, who is signed through 2026-27. However, this season could be crucial in determining his fate. If they miss the playoffs again, the 25-year-old defenseman could be reluctant to sign a contract extension, forcing the Canucks to consider trading him.

Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now pointed out Hughes' ties to Michigan, including playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth and with the NCAA's Michigan Wolverines.

If Hughes were interested in playing for the Red Wings, Duff believes they should make a serious trade bid next summer. That would include offering up top prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka in a package deal.

PuckPedia indicates that Hughes lacks no-trade protection, meaning the Canucks can ship him to the highest bidder. However, if the Wings become one of them, they must ensure he's willing to sign an extension.

NHL's Biggest Trade Bait With 2025-26 Season Almost HereIt is an exciting time for hockey fans with the new season approaching. Soon, NHL teams will be back to playing regular-season hockey, as it officially begins Oct. 7. 

Turning to the Calgary Flames, they seemed headed toward an amicable parting of ways with Rasmus Andersson.

The 28-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible next July, and contract extension talks broke down in June, sparking speculation about possible trade destinations.

Andersson denied he only wanted to be traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, calling it “fake information.” While this season could be his last with the Flames, he doesn't believe it will distract his teammates.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes Andersson is likely to be moved by the March 6 NHL trade deadline. However, he reported that neither side has fully closed the door on a contract extension.

LeBrun believes Andersson might be open to an eight-year contract, but doesn't think the Flames are willing to go that long. Andersson turns 29 in October, which explains their reluctance.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Anaheim Ducks are now a week into their 2025-26 training camp and are still reportedly far apart in negotiations with projected second-line center Mason McTavish on a contract extension.

The Ducks don’t have many position battles to speak of heading into the season, at least not in terms of impact roles.

With McTavish in the lineup, the Ducks’ top nine forward group is relatively set, consisting of himself, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry, Alex Killorn, Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano, Chris Kreider, and Mikael Granlund.

Preseason: Takeaways from the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Los Angeles Kings

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-0 Loss to the Kings

Through the unknown duration of McTavish’s absence, however disappointing on a macro level, it allows an opportunity for a hungry forward to earn a look in the top nine.

Beckett Sennecke

The most substantial benefactor could come in the form of 2024 third-overall draft pick Beckett Sennecke, who played back-to-back games to open the exhibition season, including in Monday’s 6-1 win over the Utah Mammoth, when he scored tenaciously off the rush. He was slotted on a potent line centered by Leo Carlsson and opposite Chris Kreider.

“He’s got some skill. He’s got a lot of nice things to his game,” Ducks new head coach Joel Quenneville said of Sennecke after Monday’s win. “The growth in a young player taking that next big step is their consistency. Learn how to be a good pro.

“The tendencies from junior, you gotta make sure you take the right habits with you. But, he showed some really good flashes and we like the way he’s progressing in camp.”

After signing his ELC in the summer of 2024, Sennecke’s only options for the 2025-26 season are to either play in the NHL or head back to the CHL to play for the Oshawa Generals.

To make the team out of camp, Sennecke needs to prove, beyond any doubt, that he’s not only NHL-ready but can have a positive nightly impact. Especially because the stated mandate from the team is to make the playoffs this season.

To this point, he’s left something to be desired. He’s flashed his trademark skill, has had some extended puck touches, and appeared dangerous multiple times, but his puck management and fundamental defensive tendencies have proved costly at both the “Golden State Rookie Faceoff” and in his two preseason games.

As with anything, these are only exhibition games and not many overarching conclusions should be reached, but these are the opportunities for young players like Sennecke to earn spots on NHL rosters.

Sam Colangelo and Nikita Nesterenko

Though spending the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, both Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo were given extended looks with with Ducks last season.

Nesterenko tallied six points (4-2=6) in 20 games over two separate NHL stints, while Colangelo notched 12 points (10-2=12) in 32 games over three stints.

Neither player has a prototypical fourth-line skill set, though they’ve both worked tirelessly to improve those aspects of their games; they are perhaps more suited for traditional top-nine roles.

Colangelo has added levels of battle and puck possession prowess while showing a scoring touch at every level he’s played.

“I think I proved last year I could play in the top nine, but that doesn’t really mean anything now,” Colangelo said at training camp. “It’s a fresh slate, a new coaching staff, so I’m just trying to bring it every day and take that spot.

“Obviously, it sucks with Mac not being here as one of my best friends, but like everyone said, it’s kind of part of the business, and I know when he shows up, he’ll be ready to go.”

Nesterenko uses his feet to create plays and provides more of a transition element with layers of playmaking and creativity.

Ryan Poehling

The Ducks brought in Ryan Poehling as the NHL piece of the trade that sent Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers.

The anticipation was (and remains) that Poehling would slot into the fourth-line center spot. However, he, like Nesterenko and Colangelo, has shown more offensive upside to his game than that of a typical fourth-liner, as he’s coming off of his most productive season a year ago, when he scored 31 points (12-19=31) in 68 games.

“I pride myself on a 200-foot game, and defense is something that’s very important to me and something that can help this team win. We’ve got a lot of skill guys on this team, a lot of guys that can put pucks in the back of the net.

“For myself, I think it’s just playing a 200-foot game and helping out offensively when I can, but more importantly, just shutting down the other team defensively.”

He’s a detailed fleet-of-foot center who can have an impact in every zone as well as in transition. If the Ducks decide to load up a top six with the majority of their firepower, he could, in theory, contribute to a more defensive-oriented third line with some scoring upside, a la Yanni Gourde during the Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup years.

The hope is that McTavish’s contract dispute is settled as soon as possible, but this window could be seen as an audition of sorts for those third/fourth line bubble players should injury occur at some point in the season.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Right Shot Defense Position Battle

The Providence Bruins are going to have a boatload of talent going into next season, specifically offensively. For the 2025-24 campaign, their top-six forward group, and maybe even deeper, will be littered with NHL-fringe players.

Last season, Providence finished eighth in the overall AHL standings, registering 90 points and a 41-23-8 record. With that, they advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, but were eliminated by the Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division semifinal, losing in five games.

The Bruins’ offense was already one of their strong suits last season. They finished fifth overall in goals scored with 240, averaging 3.33 goals per game. They also had the best power-play percentage in the Eastern Conference - third-best in the entire league - registering 21.4 percent.

Providence lost two of its top five scorers from last season in Vinni Lettieri and Tyler Pitlick. However, center Georgii Merkulov, their leading scorer from last season with 54 points, remains. On top of that, center Patrick Brown and Riley Tufte are also sticking around as they signed one-year contracts in the off-season.

Coach Ryan Mougenel won’t have to worry about making up for lost scoring because they’ll be receiving a few players who will only bolster their attack.

Five AHL Coaches Nearing Promotions To The NHLOftentimes, when an NHL coach is fired or removed from their role in any fashion, it’s natural to immediately look for candidates who are next in line to take that job. The obvious picks are outside hires who have NHL experience and who are one or two years removed from an NHL coaching position.

Along with the previously listed players, Providence will still have Matthew Poitras, Fraser Minten, Fabian Lysell and others on the roster. But still coming in are center Alex Steeves and right winger Matej Blumel.

Steeves is coming off the best season of his four-year pro-hockey career. He scored 36 goals and 62 points in 59 games for the Toronto Marlies last season. He finished second in the league in goals and eighth in points. He also made a few NHL appearances for the Toronto Maple Leafs in each of those four years.

The one player who had more goals than Steeves last season was also picked up by the Bruins organization in Blumel. The Czech right winger scored a league-leading 39 goals, but also ended up second in the AHL in points with 72 to his name. He was just one point behind San Jose Barracuda center Andrew Poturalski, who is now a member of Omsk of the KHL.

There’s no denying that a handful of those players who make up Providence’s scoring depth will get looks with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. But, in the big picture, this team should be reaching new heights this coming season.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.        

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- These days when entering the St. Louis Blues locker room, veer to the right and there’s defenseman Tyler Tucker, low-keyed as usual.

But there’s a difference these days: there’s smiles and laughter to go along with it, and for good reason.

For the first time in his NHL career, the 25-year-old can finally feel a bit comfortable with his surroundings; he can feel comfortable what he’s doing and most importantly, he can finally feel at home.

The NHL has always been the destination, but it’s been quite the journey for the Blues’ seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

This is Tucker’s eighth training camp, and in the previous seven, it’s always been about proving himself. There’s never been a guarantee he would land a job in the NHL.

But that’s all changed in the past year or so, so much so that instead of chasing after someone else’s job, now other’s are chasing Tucker’s position, and that’s OK with him. Because since he arrived at his first Blues training camp in 2018, it’s been quite the ride.

“It’s been a long journey but well worth it,” Tucker said.

The 6-foot-1, 204-pound left-handed shot is healthy again after the most unfortunate of injuries, a right knee injury late in the third period of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Winnipeg Jets and part of the Blues’ top six and most likely in the opening night lineup.

Through ups and downs, learning on the fly and good and bad play, recalls and options back to the American Hockey League to exceptional play, especially last season under Jim Montgomery and when inserted into the playoffs, Tucker has arrived on the scene as one of the boys.

“I feel like I’ve obviously taken a lot of steps and then had a little setback,” Tucker said. “Just kind of keep on proving throughout the camp and into the preseason and what not. Just trying to get better every day is big for me, and playing with confidence.”

Confidence. It’s a word players often speak of, but it’s so vital to one’s success. Tucker’s confidence has obviously soared within the past year and he felt the momentum on his side finally. And instead of shying away from it, he’s looked back on seven-plus years of blood, sweat and tears and learned to embrace the pot of gold.

“He definitely has worked for everything he’s got, and he’s done it the hard way,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said of Tucker. “The hard way is fighting guys, blocking shots and playing a hard game, obviously which he needs to play. And then a little bit of up and down and up and down. You can tell he feels more comfortable and I think you’re going to get a really good ‘Tucks’ this year. He’s one helluva teammate and normally me saying it, the majority of the guys in this locker room would say you’d take Tyler Tucker as a teammate every single day of the week.

“He actually has one of the best sticks of getting guys, and getting in guys’ faces and just being reliable with his body and his stick and breaking up plays and he’s very good at it.”

Tucker’s momentum built with a strong showing with Springfield of the AHL last season when he put up 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 games and a plus-6. When he got recalled on Dec. 19, 2024 and Montgomery was hired a week later on Dec. 25, there was no turning back. He played 38 games in the regular season and put up seven points (three goals, four assists) averaging 14:35 minutes per game but a steady, reliable skater on the Blues’ third pairing.

“I got to play a lot of games with a very experienced D-partner in (Ryan) Suter, and that was a big help,” Tucker said. “I feel like you learn a lot of little things. Not the flashy things or anything, but just simple, little things that you take and they go a long way, I feel like, throughout a series or throughout multiple games. So I think that’s the biggest thing. Other than that, confidence is one of the biggest things for me.”

Tucker didn’t open the series against the Jets but entered it in Game 2 and had he not been injured, likely would have stayed in the entirety of that series. His style of play helped change the complexion for the Blues that ultimately turned it into a seven-game series after losing Games 1-2 on the road.

“He played to his strengths. He knows who he is,” Montgomery said. “He was physical, but also, he’s a hockey player. He’s around the puck. His instincts take him to where the puck’s going to be. So he’s either ending plays defensively or offensively, he’s keeping pucks alive for us.”

But when Tucker’s right knee buckled toe-picking a check in the D-zone corner against Brandon Tanev, his playoff and season ended in a snap.

“Obviously tough,” Tucker said. “I felt like I was playing real good hockey towards the end. Tough to go down, obviously kind of in a meaningless game towards the end of the period. Just sucks, but happy to be back, happy with all the rehab and what not, hard work, stuff I did in the summer paid off and just happy to be back on the ice.”

Tucker is healthy, and barring any change in tactics, he will open the season on the third D-pairing with newly-acquired Logan Mailloux.

“I’ve played against him in the minors,” Tucker said. “Obviously see what he did in junior. Very, very talented player. Big guy with a lot of skill. Those are very hard to come by. Obviously just try and get him the puck and he’ll do good things with it. We’ve spent a lot of time here in the last month or so. I feel like I know him pretty well. He came in and we’ve been friends right away. It’s been nice. He’s super easy to get along with. I’m sure everyone can tell you it’s been a real easy transition for him.

“I feel good, really good. Obviously a long summer, a lot of rehab, a lot of boring stuff. I feel ready to go. Obviously first game in a while in Columbus there (last Sunday), but it felt good. Everything with the knee is going well.

“It definitely took some time. Probably two-, two-and-a-half months before I kind of started back to regular training and what not. Obviously I was in the gym, but doing more so rehab and knee-specific exercises and trying to rebuild my muscles and what not rather than just lifting with the other guys, team aspect of the gym in the summer. It went well. Obviously very thankful for the team to help me get back.”

The Blues know who Tucker is, big, strong, physical and willing to drop gloves. But what about his offense? Did he show something last season that can help putting pucks into the net on a more frequent basis? This shot against Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets that turned out to be the game-winner in Game 4 speaks volumes:

“I think it’s very underrated because the things he did offensively last year, I don’t know if he had three or four goals, but he had opportunities to have a lot more and he gets pucks through and we had a lot of almost-tips,” Montgomery said. “He’s looking for sticks and stuff. Very underrated offensively.”

“Whenever I’ve gotten the opportunities to be an offensive guy, I like doing that,” Tucker said. “It’s kind of how I played in juniors, but I’m just worried about taking care of my own end first and then if those opportunities present themselves, I’ll take them.”

Now the big question: how does Tucker build off that strong momentum gained last year? If he can find that success again, his ceiling is waiting.

“I think just continue where I left off,” he said. “Towards the end of the summer, I felt like I was a little behind. So just trying to ramp things up, keep getting better every day, trusting myself and playing with confidence is a big key for me. I thought especially down the stretch last year, that was a huge thing in my game is I felt confident with the puck, playing and doing things … not to say I normally don’t feel comfortable with but not as comfortable. I think just building and keep going in the right direction, trusting myself, trusting my instincts, just simple things. Obviously when you get hurt, you feel like you’re a long ways out. But I feel like I’m right around the corner.”

The Blues hope so.

Pius Suter "Did The Homework," Feels He Found Right Fit With St. Louis BluesMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the initial floodgates to free agency opened on July 1 and NHL teams had their checkbooks out, sometimes there would always be someone that would fall through the cracks, perhaps not making a hasty decision and wanting to take some time to contemplate one’s next destination. Blues First-Round Pick Snuggerud Injured In Practice, Lucic Also Hurt; Each Day To Day MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues were hit with a bit of their first injury bug during training camp. Blues Coach Praises Jordan Kyrou For Maturity And Defensive HabitsSt. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou is entering his sixth full season as an NHL player, and the book is out on his skill, but the talented forward has matured and improved on other aspects of his game, according to coach Jim Montgomery. 

Yegor Chinakhov, Jake Christiansen, Kent Johnson, and Dante Fabbro provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 24 of 25 Pens shots in the 4-1 CBJ win on Wednesday night. 

Jet Greaves got to play the entire 60 minutes and played really well at times, flashing his lightning-quick glove more than a few times. 

Head Coach Dean Evason raved about the play of defenseman Jake Christiansen's play the last two nights. Evason said, "We just had a lengthy conversation about how well he played yesterday and today, how hard he played, how detailed he played, how gritty he played." Kent Johnson also said that although he has an offensive side to his game, he knows his role in the NHL and does it well. 

Jake Christiansen is going to make Don Waddell and Dean Evason's jobs hard. 

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Yegor Chinakhov scored his first goal of the preseason and had an assist.
• Jake Christiansen scored his first goal, which was on the power play.
• Kent Johnson scored a power play goal.
• Dante Fabbro scored a shorthanded empty net goal and had an assist.
• Zach Werenski recorded two assists.
• Kirill Marchenko had an assist.
• Charlie Coyle tallied his first assist.
• Jet Greaves made 24 saves on the night.

Team Stats

• The Jackets power play went 2/7 on the night.
• The Columbus PK stopped all five Penguin power plays.
• Columbus won 52% of the faceoffs.

Up Next: The Blue Jackets travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday night to take on Marc-André Fleury and the Pens. 

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The New York Islanders are two weeks away from their 2025-26 season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. 

Despite four preseason games remaining, several questions have been answered. 

No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer will be making the team -- there's no if, and's or but's about it. 

He'll at least start with veteran defenseman Scott Mayfield, who has been communicating tremendously with the 18-year-old, whether it's during a drill in practice or during a preseason game. 

How quickly will Schaefer force head coach Patrick Roy's hand into playing more minutes?

Islanders Mathew Barzal Makes Bold Prediction About No. 1 Overall Pick Matthew SchaeferThere's been tremendous hype around the New York Islanders' No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, and it's been well deserved. 

It may just come down to Schaefer needing to play higher in the depth chart -- maybe with Ryan Pulock, given how much of a game-changer he can be, immediately or soon after. 

The Islanders elected to move Mathew Barzal back to center after a few seasons on Bo Horvat's wing, and so far, so good for No. 13. He looks tremendous in training camp, as going back to center "is like riding a bike", per Barzal. His chemistry with team captain Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri is strong.

The Islanders' top line of Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov is likely to remain intact over the next two weeks. Still, we need to see a bit more from the European free agent signing, who is working extremely hard to acclimate to the speed of the NHL game. 

When it comes to the Islanders' third line, Anthony Duclair has really impressed in camp. Despite still working his way back from a torn groin, his skating looks sharp, and he looks more like the guy who played the first five games with the Islanders to start last season, not the player who returned too early from the injury. He, alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom, is another line that's sticking.

As for the fourth line, Emil Heineman seems to have won a job. The question is, has Maxim Tsyplakov won the spot to Casey Cizikas's right?

Tsyplakov is currently day-to-day (maintenance) and, like Heineman, has Marc Gatcomb, Kyle MacLean, and Calum Ritchie breathing down his neck.

Speaking of Ritchie, he looks like a kid on a mission to make this team, whether it's at center or wing. I think he needs to be a center -- Roy certainly agrees -- but unless Barzal is moved back to Horvat's wing or Cizikas is being shifted to the wing, as we saw in 2024-25, Ritchie will likely start in Bridgeport. 

As for the defense, the six starters seem to be locked in:

Alexander Romanov-Tony DeAngelo

Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock

Matthew Schaefer-Scott Mayfield

It seems that Adam Boqvist will serve as the seventh defenseman, but Isaiah George is certainly right there. Ideally, the Islanders don't want George not playing, as it makes more sense for him to be in Bridgeport playing big minutes than serving as a seventh defenseman. 

When it comes to the Islanders' goaltending situation, Ilya Sorokin is the clear starter, and David Rittich seems poised to be his backup. However, Marcus Hogberg is trying to prove he should be the No. 2, with both looking strong in their first preseason showings, each playing half the game. 

Rittich has looked stronger in training camp, but Hogberg impressed a tad more in his preseason slate. 

The Islanders face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night before a quick turnaround, hosting the New Jersey Devils on Friday night at UBS Arena. 

Ben Danford is getting more and more confident as Toronto Maple Leafs training camp rolls on.

After the 19-year-old missed the entirety of last year’s camp with a concussion, which he suffered during Toronto’s rookie camp, he’s entered this season with the belief that his game has taken a step forward.

Danford has played four games thus far, dating back to the Prospect Showdown in Montreal. And after every game, the coach (Marlies bench boss John Gruden or Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube) has spoken glowingly about his play.

“I thought Danford played a good, solid hockey game,” Berube said after Toronto’s opening pre-season win against the Senators on Sunday. “It’s not a flashy game by any means, but it’s just, first-pass, defending well, plays a hard game. Pretty much mistake-free. It was impressive.”

Danford’s last appearance came in Toronto’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators on Tuesday night. The defenseman had 15:55 of ice time, the lowest among players on the team’s back-end. However, he was playing with the Maple Leafs’ regulars, including Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev, whom Danford got to train with this summer.

“He just had a good attitude. He worked hard, and he’s a great skater. He was just doing everything that I was doing, and it was a good skate,” Rielly told The Hockey News of skating with Danford. 

“I think it’s nice when you've got a guy like that that’s motivated and has something on his mind that he wants to go out and prove. And I mean, he looks great, so I think he’s doing an outstanding job.”

Maple Leafs See Big Growth In Easton Cowan As Craig Berube Praises His Simplified GameHas Easton Cowan done enough through two preseason games to warrant serious consideration for the club’s opening lineup? While it may be too early to judge, Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect is making a strong case by doing all the right things.

Danford hasn’t been shy to voice that Rielly and Tanev are players he admires. “I’ve looked up to (Tanev) for quite a few years now. I feel like that’s someone I can really learn off of," the young defenseman said.

To skate with those players during a summer training is one thing. To get into game action with them during the pre-season is another. It’s a huge step for Danford, and he understands that.

“Last year, I didn’t get the full experience, so to get into a game with all those guys was really cool,” Danford said on Wednesday. “Last year, I didn’t really get to be around them that much, just having the injury. So to get to know them, play in a game with them, be on the ice with them in practice, they’re all great guys.”

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There’ll be plenty of memories from Danford’s first game inside Scotiabank Arena. The fans and the atmosphere will surely be the number one thing. He’ll also remember returning to the bench and hearing the positive feedback from the Maple Leafs’ top defenders as well.

“All the guys I played with on the back-end (Rielly, Tanev, Brandon Carlo, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson), you come off for a shift and you had a good one, and they’ll make sure to let you know,” Danford said. 

“They’re really good at being positive. That definitely helped last night. They were really positive when I made a good pass. That definitely helped my confidence throughout the game. They did a great job, and I look up to them.”

On Wednesday, Rielly reflected on when he was a young defenseman trying to make a name for himself in the league. He earned a full-time role with the Maple Leafs in the fall of 2013, following a season which was split between the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

“It’s a strange feeling. You come in here and you’re trying to make the team. You’re essentially trying to take someone’s job and trying to prove yourself and start your career,” the 31-year-old said. 

“It can be a little bit strange. You don’t have a ton of communication with the coaching staff, just because there’s lots happening. And so you just try to come in every day and work hard and perform and execute and do what’s asked of you. And I think all our young guys are doing that, so it’s been good to see.”

'My Goal Was To Leave No Stone Unturned': How Morgan Rielly's Summer Could Set Him Up For Success With Maple LeafsShortly after the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in May, Morgan Rielly and general manager Brad Treliving sat down to review the year.

As Rielly watches Danford, he sees a younger version of himself: a prospect with plenty of upside, who’s just trying to navigate the early goings of his hockey career. And even when Rielly is preparing for a massive season ahead personally, he sees the importance of guiding Danford along.

“I think you just want to support your teammates. But also for a young guy, you want him to build confidence, and you also want to make him feel good about himself. It’s not easy being in that position. I’ve been there,” Rielly said. 

“I’ve had relationships with guys that are very supportive, and I’ve had relationships with guys that are kind of s****y to you. You look back at those, and I don’t want to be one of those guys. I want to be someone that can support the young guys, and he’s doing a great job for us. I think all of us, between O (Ekman-Larsson), myself, Caber (McCabe) and Tany (Tanev), we’re just really impressed with him, so I think it’s worthwhile to tell him.”

Danford added, “I’m just trying every day here at training camp. Trying to put my best foot forward, not overdo things. Just take it day by day. And to hear that, it’s obviously great feedback, but I just got to keep rolling, just keep taking it day by day, keep getting better every day.”

'The Issue Has Been The Number': Maple Leafs, Anthony Stolarz's Camp Reportedly Continue Going Back And Forth In NegotiationsWith just over two weeks until the beginning of the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz’s camp are reportedly still grinding away at getting a deal done.

It’s not often you get a defensive prospect who makes this much of an impression at camp, especially at his first. He has another year of junior under his belt after being picked in the first round (31st overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. But still, it usually takes a defender several years to develop into a meaningful player at the NHL level.

Danford might have another season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals coming up, but he might be a step closer to the NHL than previously thought.

“Hockey IQ and feet,” said Berube, of why Danford has fit so seamlessly into the team’s game. “I watch him play; he just knows what he’s doing. He knows where the puck’s going. He’s simple. He doesn’t overcomplicate it. 

“I’m not saying he doesn’t ever, but for the most part, he sees the outlet, makes the play, and he’s a good defender. He plays with a little bite, too, like he’s a physical guy and plays with some edge. But I love his feet, and I love that his head’s up all the time seeing the play, and he’s a pretty smart player.”

Maple Leafs' Nick Robertson Credits John Tavares For Lessons On Recovery Nick Robertson had a standout performance in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first scrimmage on Saturday, scoring the only two goals of the session. While it may have been just a scrimmage, this kind of success is a welcome boost for the 24-year-old, who is fighting to earn a consistent spot in the lineup.

At such a young age, how has the defenseman made such a strong impression on the entire organization?

“I think a big one is I’m keeping it simple out there, not overdoing things. I think my play style is just not overdoing things on the blue line, the offensive blue line,” Danford said. 

“I’m having a really good first pass. I’m playing hard defense. I’m not trying to be that flashy player because that’s not who I am. I’m a guy that’s going to lock down the back-end, so that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

How long Danford stays with the team remains to be seen. Usually, with prospects who are destined to return to junior, teams like to give them a couple of games to gain an understanding of the pro game.

Danford is different than the other prospects who are heading back to junior. He’s a player who’s put himself in the conversation of being a legitimate part of the Maple Leafs over the next few years.

“I mean, this training camp has been a really good experience so far. I just want to stay here as long as I can. Just keep putting my best foot forward, and we’ll see what happens.”

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THN’s Jason Chen just released his latest article on the NHL power rankings, and he has the Montreal Canadiens in 16th place. Given the fact that they made the playoffs but were eliminated in five games, faster than anyone else, it makes sense to see them in that spot. Mind you, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New Jersey Devils also bowed out of the first round in five games, but are ranked 11th and 14th, respectively, ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who lost their first-round series in six games.

There have been some changes in Montreal since that loss in five games to the Washington Capitals, though. Out are Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, David Savard, Emil Heineman, Cayden Primeau, and Logan Mailloux. In are Noah Dobson, Zack Bolduc, Joe Veleno, Samuel Blais, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Ivan Demidov are in from the start. Youngsters Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, and Florian Xhekaj are knocking on the door.

Canadiens: Demidov Shuts Down Michkov Comparisons
Canadiens Return A Prospect To His Junior Team
Canadiens: The Xhekajs Have Got The X Factor

The penalty kill took quite a hit, but on the other hand, the power play got quite a helping hand. Kent Hughes went talent hunting and found some, which will give Martin St-Louis something he hasn’t had on the man-advantage since he first took charge of the Canadiens: options.

On paper, Hughes has made significant changes, and they look good, but you don’t win games on paper; you win them on the ice. So far, the Canadiens have won their two preseason games, but neither of the teams they faced had a full NHL lineup, and even if they did, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are not expected to be contenders this year.

As the regular season gets nearer and cuts start happening, we’ll get to see, slowly but surely, how good Hughes’ moves really were. There’s another unknown in the equation, though: surgically repaired Kirby Dach will be getting yet another kick at the second center can, and this time, he’s done everything he could this summer to get ready.

Drafting power rankings is always a complex exercise, but even more so when there are so many unknowns around the league. Let’s check in those rankings after a week of regular season, when we’ll at least have some answers to the big questions.

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It may only be two games of NHL preseason action, but this former Philadelphia Flyers goalie has been dominant in limited ice time.

Ex-Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov, who was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2026 sixth-round pick back on Sept. 14, has been nearly perfect in parts of two preseason games for his new club.

Fedotov, 28, made his Blue Jackets debut against the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 21, starting the game and playing two full periods.

Across 40 minutes, the former Flyers draft pick stopped 14 of 15 shots (.933) and was credited with the win, as he was still in the game when the game-winning goal was scored by forward Luca Del Bel Belluz.

Two days later, on Sept. 23 against the Buffalo Sabres, Fedotov put together another masterclass, starting for the Blue Jackets again and making 24 saves on 25 shots (.960) in 40 minutes across two periods.

Overall, Fedotov earned one 4-1 win over the Blues, partook in a narrow 2-1 loss to Buffalo, and stopped a total 38 shots on 40 attempts in four periods of action (.950).

Again, it is preseason, and Fedotov has shown these flashes in a Flyers uniform before without backing it up with any kind of consistency.

As for the Flyers, they've enjoyed some solid performances from Aleksei Kolosov in their two exhibition games so far, and newcomer Dan Vladar has yet to take the ice for the Flyers in the preseason.

But, if Fedotov can continue this scintillating run of form, this might be a conversation worth revisiting in the near future.