Liverpool took control of the game quickly, lost control of it gradually, and won it again eventually
Right then, the preambles have been entirely and completely completed, and as soon as Liverpool break from their huddle we can get on with kicking off.
The players are in the tunnel. The crowd have assuaged their lonely-walk-based fears. Not much stands between us and football.
Continue reading...The San Jose Barracuda announced they have signed forward Oliver Wahlstrom to PTO/AHL contract for the 2025-26 season.
Wahlstrom will attend San Jose Sharks training camp with an opportunity to make the team but has a guaranteed AHL deal with the Barracuda.
The 25-year-old had four points in 27 games with the New York Islanders, two points in 16 games with the Boston Bruins, and 15 points in 19 games with the Providence Bruins last season.
A native of Portland, ME., Wahlstrom has recorded 37 goals and 73 points in 236 career NHL games and 21 goals and 40 points in 69 career AHL games.
The #SJBarracuda have signed F Oliver Wahlstrom to an AHL Contract for the 2025-26 season pic.twitter.com/OZ8gVXNG5G
— SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) September 16, 2025
If he does not make the NHL out of camp Wahlstrom will make a nice addition to a Baracuda team that lost reigning AHL MVP Andrew Poturalski this off-season.
The 11th overall selection of the Islanders in 2018, Wahlstrom is extremely talented but has struggled to find consistently in the NHL, he should have lots of opportunity with the Sharks organization.
Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.
As time ticks away on the NBA offseason, the Knicks head into training camp with the most expectations the franchise has carried in decades.
But for the team to reach its goal of a championship or at least an NBA Finals appearance, players like Karl-Anthony Towns will have a lot to prove. Let’s look at the three Knicks facing the most questions heading into the new season...
Towns arguably had the best season of his career in 2024-25. He made the All-NBA third team after finishing second in rebounds (12.4) and 12th in points (24.4). And his individual play helped the Knicks succeed, as the team won 51 games during the regular season and advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Towns’ skill set is unique. It’s hard to find big men with the ability to shoot efficiently from nearly every spot on the court. But even after 10 seasons in the NBA, Towns’ fit on a championship-level roster is murky.
When he is the last line of defense, teams mercilessly attack him. In a microcosm of the season, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton incessantly put Towns in pick-and-rolls down the stretch of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and scored or created a good look for his teammates every time.
Can Towns consistently fit as a power forward in jumbo lineups with rim-protecting center Mitchell Robinson? The Knicks' offense held up with both big men on the floor last season, but it’s not the best way to optimize Towns individually, as he can be stuck on the perimeter to preserve spacing.
This season is pivotal for both the Knicks and Towns. The five-time All-Star will turn 30 in November. With a new head coach in Mike Brown, this season will give the Knicks a better understanding of how or if they can build around Towns.
After signing a four-year, $150 million extension in August, Bridges has a chance to bounce back from an uneven first season in New York.
Brown established a pass-first identity with the Kings, and there’s hope he can add some pace and ball movement to New York’s offense.
The largest beneficiary of a more equally distributed offense would be Bridges.
A former leading scorer with the Nets, Bridges has a chance to be a more dynamic perimeter weapon. When Jalen Brunson was sidelined for 15 games late last season, Bridges was more active, averaging 20.5 points and 4.9 assists.
As the Knicks potentially try to have Brunson play without the ball more, it could provide an opportunity for Bridges to be more assertive in the offense and less of a bystander.
This offseason, the Knicks have added guards capable of making plays off the dribble like Jordan Clarkson and Malcolm Brogdon. But New York's title hopes lie with Bridges. They need the wing to step up by being more aggressive.
Will Bridges be more efficient and willing to play through contact? That will define the season.
The X-factor of New York’s entire playoff run was Robinson. After missing all but 17 games during the regular season, the seven-footer was a nuisance for opponents in the postseason -- leading all players in the league in offensive rebound rate.
The Knicks gave up 109.0 points per 100 possessions in Robinson’s 370 playoff minutes, per NBA Stats. In the minutes Robinson sat, New York conceded 113.3 points per 100 possessions.
Robinson could begin this season as a part of New York’s starting lineup. Either way, his impact as a rim protector and offensive rebounder is paramount to New York’s success.
Though it’s clear how impactful Robinson is on both ends of the floor, having him available to play has been difficult. He has missed 139 games in the last three seasons, mainly due to a left ankle injury that required surgery in 2024.
Robinson is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million contract. The Knicks can sign him to an extension now, but given his injury history, it makes sense to see if Robinson is capable of staying healthy throughout the course of an entire season before digging deep into the second apron.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano is set to join the organization this season, GM Brad Treliving says.
The 41-year-old was first spotted around the club again during the summer at Maple Leafs development camp. He spoke in front of the prospects about his NHL career, from being an undrafted defenseman to winning the Norris Trophy in 2019.
Giordano was then seen last weekend behind the bench with the Maple Leafs at the Prospect Showdown in Montreal. During Toronto’s media day on Wednesday, Treliving confirmed that the former defenseman would have a role with the team this season.
“We'll have an announcement there. Mark will be joining the group here primarily on the Marlies side,” Treliving said. “And then some of the other changes and promotions, and we've added some pro scouts and different folks, so we're going to get that out to you. I don't want to break all the news here.”
Giordano spent part of three seasons with the Maple Leafs, from 2022 to 2024. He was acquired by the club from the Seattle Kraken at the trade deadline and was part of Toronto’s defense core when they eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning from the playoffs in 2023, their first playoff series win since 2004.
'I Like To Bring It All': What To Expect From Dakota Joshua In First Season With Maple LeafsDakota Joshua might not know many players on the Toronto Maple Leafs yet, but he has familiarity with head coach Craig Berube.
The Norris Trophy-winning defenseman hasn’t formally announced his retirement, but has taken on several roles, including appearances on TSN last season. He also coached 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer this summer.
Giordano played parts of 18 seasons in the NHL, tallying 918 points (158 goals, 419 assists) in 1,148 games with the Maple Leafs, Kraken, and Calgary Flames.
He’s not the only former Maple Leaf being officially brought into the organization. Kyle Clifford announced his retirement from professional hockey earlier this summer and confirmed he’d be joining Toronto as a development coach.
"I’m very excited about the next chapter with Toronto in player development," he told The Hockey News earlier this summer.
Matias Maccelli's Motivation Is The 'Highest It Has Ever Been' Ahead Of First Season With Maple LeafsMatias Maccelli is ready to put the summer workouts and informal skates behind him and get into Toronto Maple Leafs training camp.
Clifford had two stints in the Maple Leafs’ organization as a player. He was acquired by the club in 2019, along with Jack Campbell. After one season in Toronto, Clifford joined the St. Louis Blues on a two-year, $2 million contract, before returning to the Maple Leafs in a trade after one season.
Toronto also has former defenseman Jake Muzzin under the umbrella of its development staff.
Latest stories:
Why The Maple Leafs Want To Get Anthony Stolarz's Contract Done In Short Order
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Can you exhale now?
After a significant pair of wins, the Mets are in far better position, both mathematically and spiritually, to avoid an historic collapse and fall from the playoff picture.
But work remains, and one of the most significant projects is identifying a right-handed reliever who can come in from the bullpen to kill mid-inning rallies.
The Mets currently have two trusted righties in the pen -- Edwin Diaz and Tyler Rogers. One is the closer and one is often needed in a setup role.
But what if it’s the fifth, sixth or seventh inning, the opposing team has runners on base, and Carlos Mendoza needs a high-leverage reliever?
Can he call on Reed Garrett? Sometimes yes, sometimes, well …
Ryne Stanek? Same answer but more so.
Ryan Helsley? Eek.
It seems that, to make the playoffs and succeed once there, the Mets will need to get creative in filling this important role. The team has not yet decided on a course of action, but is busy evaluating several options.
On Tuesday, we asked president of baseball operations David Stearns if he would consider his young pitchers (take Nolan McLean out of that mix; he looks more like a Game 1 starter). But what about Brandon Sproat? Jonah Tong?
And for that matter, veterans Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes?
"I wouldn't take any of that off the table right now," Stearns said. "I think we are, with 12 games left in our season, going to do what we need to do to win as many games as possible. And if that means asking pitchers to take on slightly different roles for various turns through our rotation, that's what we're going to do."
Holmes was a late-inning reliever for the Yankees during that team’s World Series run last year. Wouldn’t that make him the most logical choice?
"It's still a transition for him, Stearns said. "I mean, he has the experience from the past, but it's still a transition for him to do that. So I think it's as much of what the matchups say, who we're facing, how the rest of the pitching staff as a group is performing, and then holistically, trying to make the best decisions we possibly can."
That answer provided a subtle reminder that Stearns and his group tend to prefer high-end, swing-and-miss stuff and specific matchups to a factor like Holmes’ bullpen experience.
Sproat and Tong have those qualities, but carry risks of their own. Neither has yet proven himself to be big league ready. Sproat struggled in a brief bullpen experiment in Triple-A, though in a tiny sample size. It’s still possible that the Mets will want him to start postseason games.
Tong has one more chance to prove he belongs in the big leagues this year, period. His stuff bursts with the type of potential that the Mets love, but so far his sequencing and command appear in need of further development. The Mets knew that Tong was the least polished of the three rookie pitchers recently promoted.
Senga is such a creature of routine that he might find it difficult to come out of the pen. He is simply trying to salvage his season by working on his mechanics in Triple-A. Mets brass genuinely has no idea if or how it might be able to use Senga this year.
Holmes, for his part, thrived on Tuesday as the first pitcher in a piggyback with Sean Manaea. His next assignment will come this weekend in a similar arrangement, though he might be the one to come out of the bullpen this time.
As for the short relief, mid-inning role that the Mets need, Holmes' sinker does present concerns because it induces contact. The Mets‘ defense is not strong enough to reliably convert contact into outs.
One other option, Triple-A reliever Dylan Ross, is a real possibility to get a tryout this month.
The Hockey News Big Show discusses pressing NHL topics as training camps kick off.
What To Expect From Alex Ovechkin, Training Camps by The Big ShowundefinedHere’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:
01:30: What is Kirill Kaprizov looking for since he reportedly turned down a contract offer from the Minnesota Wild?
05:15: What teams could potentially trade for Kaprizov if the WIld think they can’t re-sign him?
08:20: Is J.T. Miller the right choice as captain of the New York Rangers?
12:00: Will any team sign Carter Hart?
15:00: Which player missing the start of the season is the biggest blow to their team?
18:50: Who will take the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-line right winger role?
21:20: What other players should the Maple Leafs target?
23:40: What is Leafs prospect Easton Cowan’s ceiling?
28:15: What are the expectations for Alex Ovechkin as he turns 40 this season?
31:30: What’s the most intriguing team going into training camp?
34:50: Which captain-less team will name a captain first, and who will it be?
37:20: Which opening-day matchup are you most excited to watch?
38:50: What’s your favorite outdoor venue? What stadium would you like to see host an NHL specialty game?
42:00: What’s your favorite example of a player ending their career by returning to their longtime squad?
43:20: If the NHL changed the playoff format so more teams would make it, would Buffalo make the cut?
Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.
After an offseason that featured a blockbuster trade, the first overall pick, and a few free agent additions, the New York Islanders head into training camp with some unanswered questions.
Michael Ostrower contributed to this story.
While most of the 23-man roster looks locked in, a handful of players are still battling for NHL spots.
Islanders 2025-26 NHL Training Camp Roster Is OutAhead of Thursday, the New York Islanders have released their training camp roster. The list consists of 35 forwards, 18 defensemen, and eight goaltenders:
That said, the line combinations remain a work in progress, and head coach Patrick Roy recently offered some insight into how the top nine forwards might shake out to start camp:
Jonathan Drouin – Bo Horvat – Maxim Shabanov
Anders Lee – Mathew Barzal – Kyle Palmieri
Anthony Duclair – JG Pageau – Simon Holmstrom
Roy’s proposed lines notably put Maxim Shabanov, the 2025 offseason’s top international free agent, on the first line.
Roy’s Plan Is To Start Shabanov On Top Line At Islanders Training CampMonday morning at the New York Islanders Children's Foundation Golf Outing, Islanders' Head Coach Patrick Roy revealed his way-too-early lineup thoughts ahead of training camp.
While the 24-year-old Russian had 67 points (23 goals, 44 assists) in 65 KHL games, finishing top three in the league in both assists and goals, his immediate placement on the top line is a stark contrast to Maxim Tsyplakov.
Tsyplakov was the top international free agent during the 2024 offseason, and while he opened the 2024-25 season on the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, he began training camp in a depth role.
Given that Shabanov stands just 5-foot-9, 167 pounds, and his playstyle is the opposite of Tsyplakov’s, it makes sense why they view him as a top-six forward and not a bottom-six guy.
Roy’s tentative lines provide insight into how training camp will start, but each player still has to earn their spot.
Jonathan Drouin and Bo Horvat will likely stay together to open the season, but Shabanov still has to earn the first-line, right-wing spot, with Palmieri the other suitor for the role.
Whichever of the two gets left off the first line will be a prime candidate to join Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee on the second line.
The third line is set with Anthony Duclair, JG Pageau, and Simon Holmstrom offering Roy a speedy trio capable of stretching the ice and contributing offensively.
While Roy did not comment on the fourth line, it will likely consist of Emil Heineman, Casey Cizikas, and Maxim Tsyplakov, with Kyle MacLean, Marc Gatcomb, and Pierre Engvall fighting to make the 23-man roster.
But, you can’t rule out Calum Ritchie, the Colorado Avalanche’s top prospect, who they sent to the Islanders in the Brock Nelson deal, from making the team. He looks NHL-ready and could win a job, whether that’s at center ice or on the wing.
The Islanders' defense underwent some major changes this offseason with the departure of Noah Dobson and the addition of Matthew Schaefer, but four of the six lineup regulars appear set in Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech, Tony DeAngelo, and Ryan Pulock.
When healthy, all four defenseman have been heavily relied on under Roy, and that is unlikely to change in 2025-26.
From there, Schaefer is the favorite to be the third left-shot defenseman in the lineup, though the Islanders will make him earn it.
His main competitor will be Isaiah George, who greatly developed his game in Bridgeport (AHL) following a 33-game NHL stint in the first half of the 2024-25 season.
Scott Mayfield is expected to be the third right-shot defenseman in the lineup, but Adam Boqvist could give him a run for his money.
Boqvist’s game offers the Islanders a higher offensive ceiling given his skating, agility, and playmaking.
While Mayfield is signed for another five seasons, both Roy and Mathieu Darche have emphasized a desire to add speed to the lineup, and Boqvist offers just that.
In the most probable outcome where Mayfield and Schaefer make the lineup, Boqvist is the favorite to earn the seventh defenseman role since George is waiver-exempt.
Ethan Bear, a right-shot defenseman signed to a one-year, $775,000 deal this offseason, is a close friend of Barzal and is another name to consider during training camp.
The Islanders will also need to sort out which goaltender will back up Ilya Sorokin.
Semyon Varlamov underwent season-ending surgery after trying to work his way back from a lower-body injury sustained last November. We do not know his status for training camp yet.
The last thing we were told is that he was skating.
The Islanders signed veteran backup David Rittich as an insurance option in case Varlamov did not stay at full health.
Depending on New York’s confidence in Varlamov’s health, Rittich could open the season at Sorokin’s backup, or even as a third goaltender on the roster if Darche fears Rittich will be claimed on waivers.
The latter is unlikely, as multiple goaltenders similar to Rittich will be placed on waivers, but anything is on the table after last season’s goalie carousel saw the Islanders use five different netminders.
The Islanders will open training camp on Thursday, September 18th.
Norwalk High School's top 25 tight end Luke Brewer has reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class, meaning he'll be in college next season.
Justin Verlander continues ‘remarkable' stretch in Giants' win over Diamondbacks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 42-year-old’s still got it.
Future Baseball Hall of Famer Justin Verlander continued his nostalgic stretch of pitching excellence and helped snap the Giants’ four-game skid in their 5-1 extra-innings win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
San Francisco’s right-handed starter tossed seven scoreless innings at Chase Field, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 107 pitches. Verlander favored his four-seam fastball and slider, tossing the former 49 times and the latter 28 times.
“Clearly, [I] was feeling up the zone with my slider,” Verlander told reporters postgame. “We had a long game yesterday with a lot of guys throwing in the bullpen, so I didn’t really want to mess around too much and be too out of zone. I wanted to try to get deep in the game … just get on and get out.
“So that was kind of my game plan, to be really aggressive in the zone and try to get deep into the game.”
The Giants used five pitchers in Tuesday’s loss to the Diamondbacks. Verlander knew his team, eyeing the New York Mets and the National League’s third and final wild-card spot, needed him to deliver once again — and the 20-year veteran sure did.
Verlander has been on a tear over his last 11 games. In that span, he has posted a 2.17 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, .211 opposing batting average, 60 strikeouts and a 3-2 record.
The impressive Wednesday showing didn’t result in a win because the Giants couldn’t muster a hit until Verlander’s seventh and final inning. However, San Francisco’s extra-inning rally prevented its starter’s brilliance from going to waste.
Outfielder Jerar Encarnación hit a single off right-handed Diamondbacks reliever John Curtiss to kick off a five-run 11th inning, with second baseman Christian Koss hitting what ultimately was the game-winning two-run double three pitches later.
Right fielder Grant McCray and first baseman Rafael Devers provided extra insurance with key knocks.
“It’s huge,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said of the win. “I mean, [we] certainly didn’t feel good there for a while … Being able to push through in the end — I mean, [there have been] times this year that’s when we’ve done our best work, late in the game off relievers; happened today, but it all started with JV again.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t get him a win. … To be pitching this well late in the season with as much under his belt, it’s pretty remarkable.”
Verlander didn’t get the victory, but the Giants and their five hits did.
San Francisco, now 76-76, trails New York (78-73) by 2.5 games for the NL’s third and final wild-card spot. The Cincinnati Reds (76-76 with the tiebreaker) and Diamondbacks (77-76) still are in the way of the Giants’ postseason hopes, too.
The Giants entered Wednesday losers of four straight and seven of their last 10. But Verlander’s electricity bought San Francisco more time — against the Diamondbacks and for the rest of the 2025 MLB season.
“He’s pitching with a lot of confidence, knowing that we need him,” Melvin said. “And guys like that step up when you need them.”
Foster was fired Sunday after UCLA lost at home to New Mexico to fall to 0-3.
The NHL season is almost here. Training camp kicks off this week around the league with preseason games to follow. With training camp comes several questions for the Ducks, five of which hold higher priority than others.
Out of all the burning questions, this one is the biggest for the Ducks. McTavish, a restricted free agent (RFA) is still currently unsigned with training camp a day away from commencing.
With Trevor Zegras now in Philadelphia, the pathway to No. 2 center behind Leo Carlsson is McTavish’s for the taking. This summer, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek identified McTavish as a long-term piece for the organization, saying that they are fortunate to have both Carlsson and McTavish.
While that may be true, Verbeek may be in danger of repeating the same sequence from a few years ago, when contract disputes with Zegras and Jamie Drysdale dragged into training camp and both players subsequently missed time due to injuries. Both players are now no longer part of the organization, plying their trade together in Philadelphia.
Anaheim has short-term options for the second line center spot as long as McTavish remains unsigned. Free agency addition Mikael Granlund is capable of filling that role, like he did for the past couple of years in San Jose. Ryan Strome has done the same in years past, though his production is closer to that of a third line center than a true No. 2.
There’s no question though that the longer this contract dispute drags out, the more detrimental it could become. With Joel Quenneville (and almost an entirely new coaching staff) taking charge, being present for the start of camp to learn new systems and knock the rust off is essential.
McTavish is an important part of the forward corps, but with or without him, there are still plenty of moving parts that need to be settled.
The trio of Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn may get an early look to see if they can continue the production that they had during the second half of last season.
With McTavish absent for the time being, Granlund may jump up into the no. 2 center position and be flanked by Troy Terry and fellow offseason addition Chris Kreider.
Questions Facing Each Anaheim Ducks Forward Heading into the 2025-26 SeasonThe 2025-26 season is now around the corner after a long offseason. The Anaheim Ducks have lofty goals and one major piece of business left on the table to take care of: Mason McTavish's contract extension.
The non-presence of McTavish opens up an opportunity (for the time being) for one of Anaheim’s young forwards to make a good impression and push for a roster spot. 2024 third overall pick Beckett Sennecke has been the talk of the town in Ducks land, with his options this season split between returning to the OHL or playing in the NHL.
Other youngsters like Nikita Nesterenko, Sam Colangelo and Tim Washe will be competing for bottom-6 spots. Nesterenko and Colangelo could make the full-time jump to the NHL this season after splitting time between the top tier and the AHL last season.
Anaheim’s defense is chock-full of youth, with Radko Gudas (35) and Jacob Trouba (31) the only elder statesmen on the backend. Jackson LaCombe (24) will look to build on his breakout sophomore campaign while fellow left-handers Pavel Mintyukov (21) and Olen Zellweger (22) should benefit from playing more regularly. That leaves one spot on the right side for likely a trio of players in Drew Helleson, Tristan Luneau and Ian Moore.
Helleson, 24, took on a bigger role upon being recalled last November and solidified himself as part of the bottom pair by the end of the season. Known more for his defensive prowess than offensive ability, he signed a two-year extension this offseason.
Ducks’ Young Blue Line Could Be Their X-Factor in 2025-26The Ducks have a lot to be excited about when it comes to this season and beyond. Despite the departure of fan favorite Trevor Zegras via trade, they added a couple of veterans with plenty of playoff experience in Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund. They also revamped their coaching staff, giving Greg Cronin, Rich Clune and Brent Thompson the boot in favor of Joel Quenneville, Jay Woodcroft, Ryan McGill and Andrew Brewer.
Luneau, 21, had a terrific season in the AHL this past year, putting up 52 points in 59 games. A knee infection cut his 2023-24 season short and the beginning of his 2024-25 season in the NHL showed that he was not yet ready to make the jump. But with another pro season under his belt, Luneau has the opportunity to make the NHL roster out of camp once again. This time, it’s possible he may stick around.
Moore, 23, joined late last season, signing his entry-level contract (ELC) following the end of his collegiate career at Harvard. He played a few games in the AHL before coming up to the Ducks, but didn’t look too out of place in the three games that he played on. Moore was on the Ducks’ rookie faceoff roster, but did not play in either of the two games, perhaps a strong endorsement that Ducks brass already know what Moore can do.
There’s no question that Anaheim is gunning for a playoff spot this season. It’s why Verbeek bid adieu to Cronin, Brent Thompson and Rich Clune this summer and brought in Quenneville, Jay Woodcroft, Ryan McGill and Andrew Brewer.
Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Quenneville HiringFollowing the news conference to announce Joel Quenneville being named the 12th Ducks head coach in franchise history, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek spoke to local media. Below is a full transcript of the media scrum (Questions and answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity):
Quenneville’s systems should benefit the young blueliners offensively while also helping create a much more cohesive unit defensively. A league-worst power play (11.76%) will get new life breathed into it by Woodcroft while McGill looks to repair a penalty kill that been near the bottom of the league for the past few seasons.
A team with stronger systems and better special teams should help take a load off of Lukáš Dostál and whoever his backup will be, whether it’s Petr Mrázek or Ville Husso.
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This prospect list was originally published in the The Hockey News' annual yearbook
With rookie camp in the books and the big boys set to take the ice for training camp on Thursday, here is a look at the Vegas Golden Knights' top prospects.
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Trevor Connelly
Pos LW Age 19
2024-25 Providence (HE)
Makes quick reads, distributes well and dashes around the ice. Will benefit from reps at AHL level.
Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28
2. Matyas Sapovaliv
Pos C Age 21
2024-25 Henderson (AHL)
Meager point total masks great work done defensively. He’s adept at matchup game.
Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28
3. Raphael Lavoie
Pos C Age 25
2024-25 Henderson (AHL)
No doubting his offense, but he needs to develop reliability away from puck to reach next level.
Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27
4. Jakob Ihs Wozniak
Pos C Age 18
2024-25 Lulea Jr. (Swe.)
Broke scoring record for 17-year-old in Swedish junior. Consistency key to him reaching potential.
Expected NHL Arrival ’29-30
5. Lukas Cormier
Pos D Age 23
2024-25 Henderson (AHL)
Skilled puck-mover and potential power-play quarterback missed majority of 2024-25 with injury.
Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27
6. Pavel Moysevich
Pos G Age 21
2024-25 St. Petersburg (KHL)
Fought for starts with SKA last season. Regular playing time will help big, athletic keeper develop.
Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29
7. Arttu Karki
Pos D Age 20
2024-25 Assat (Fin.)
Returned to Finland to play pro. Does everything well but nothing spectacularly. A project prospect.
Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29
8. Mathieu Cataford
Pos C Age 20
2024-25 Rimouski (QMJHL)
CHL’s scholastic player of the year showcases on-ice smarts with his knack for reading play.
Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28
9. Akira Schmid
Pos G Age 25
2024-25 Henderson (AHL)
Consistency in the AHL was a challenge, but his performance behind an NHL defense was great.
Expected NHL Arrival ’25-26
10. Mateo Nobert
Pos C Age 18
2024-25 Blainville-Bois. (QMJHL)
Pass-first playmaker with good vision drives play. He will have to adjust to pace at next level.
Expected NHL Arrival ’30-31
Be sure to visit The Hockey News store for up-to-date news around the league.
As NHL training camps open across the NHL, there are unfinished contract business, lineup projections, rookies looking to earn a spot and pending signings and trades.
In other words, there’s some front-page drama and other burning questions this week.
Here are five key storylines to watch as teams prepare for the 2025–26 season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs face one of the most intriguing positional questions early in camp: who will take over Marner’s right-wing spot alongside Auston Matthews?
One of the game’s top stars was moved this off-season in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. That leaves a hole in the Leafs' roster that they’ve arguably not filled. Toronto added several depth pieces, but there are questions as to how effective they’ll be.
Trade acquisitions Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua could try to earn that spot. Other options include moving William Nylander away from John Tavares to play with Matthews and Matthew Knies, or they could promote Max Domi, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann.
NHL Rumor Roundup: Kaprizov's Contract Talks Spark Trade Rumors While Zacha Chatter ContinuesLast week's report of Kirill Kaprizov
rejecting an eight-year, $128-million contract offer from the
Minnesota Wild garnered plenty of headlines.
Few assumed that just weeks before the season, two of the NHL’s biggest stars haven’t signed contract extensions.
The Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild likely figured getting extensions done for their top superstars wouldn’t be overly complicated. Things have taken an odd turn in both negotiations.
Connor McDavid is taking his time in Edmonton, which is making Oilers fans nervous. He said he wants to win in Edmonton, but he’s talking with those close to him and keeping all options open, including the term and teams.
While the original expectation was that this wouldn’t drag into camp or the start of the season, it’s looking more and more like that’s exactly what will happen.
Meanwhile, things between the Minnesota Wild and Kirill Kaprizov took a turn last week when he reportedly turned down $128 million on an eight-year extension. Several insiders have weighed in. Among them, Frank Seravalli of Bleacher Report cautioned fans not to pump the brakes.
“I have zero indication at all that Kirill Kaprizov has even thought about playing anywhere other than the Minnesota Wild,” Seravalli said.
Camp is always a proving ground for young talent. Expect intense competition for roster spots, especially among rookies and players pushing for full-time roles.
Michael Misa, the No. 2 overall pick by the San Jose Sharks, is one to watch as he tries to add more talent to an already young and hungry roster. Instead of going the NCAA route, he signed an entry-level contract, which means he’ll either be in the NHL or OHL, where he had 134 points in 65 games last season.
The Boston Bruins acquired Fraser Minten last season, and he’s ready for a bigger and more consistent role in the NHL. He could contribute on the penalty kill, power play and bottom six while trying to increase his offense.
Montreal Canadiens right winger Ivan Demidov looks to be the NHL’s rising star this season. He will confuse opponents with his game-breaking ability.
In Edmonton, the Oilers need rookies Matt Savoie and Ike Howard to excel in the NHL right away this season. One of them should earn a role in the Oilers’ top six as well. If they can’t produce and grab an important role, Edmonton’s chances of getting back to the Stanley Cup final go down.
Two big-name NHL RFAs still haven’t signed with their respective teams: Mason McTavish and Luke Hughes.
The story in Anaheim is that McTavish and the Ducks can’t get on the same page about cap hit and term. There’s been trade speculation, although the Ducks don’t want to entertain that idea. If another team signs McTavish to an offer sheet, the Ducks have enough cap space to match it.
Meanwhile, Luke Hughes is reportedly trying to time his contract to end when Jack Hughes’ does, which would be a five-year deal. The Devils reportedly want either a longer term or a bridge deal.
Both players are expected to play major roles in their respective organizations once deals are finalized, but this can’t keep dragging on. The idea that either can or should miss time to begin the season feels like a non-starter.
NHL Confirms It Will Reinstate Players Acquitted In Hockey Canada Sexual Assault TrialThe five players from Hockey Canada's 2018 world junior team who were found not guilty of sexual assault this summer will eventually be allowed to return to the NHL.
The five players found not guilty of sexual assault in July – Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote – have been cleared to return to the NHL in December. Each can sign contracts as early as Oct. 15. But the NHL said while the players were acquitted, the events that transpired were “deeply troubling and unacceptable.”
The question becomes: who gets the first look by NHL franchises?
There will be tough decisions coming from NHL clubs that must weigh the pros and cons of signing one of those players.
Hart, who was a starting goaltender with the Philadelphia Flyers before taking a leave of absence for the trial, has already told the team he won’t be returning. The Oilers don’t plan on signing him, either.
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It may be hard to believe, but the Detroit Red Wings are not only in the midst of the second longest Stanley Cup Playoff drought in the National Hockey League today, but in their team history.
The Red Wings are celebrating their centennial season in 2025-26, marking a century of history. Yet in that time, they had never endured a playoff drought as long as their current one.
Overseeing the team through this process is beloved former team captain Steve Yzerman, one of the three greatest players in franchise history, who once helped lift the Red Wings out of the infamous “Dead Wings” era during his playing career and redefine what excellence in the NHL meant.
Because of his track record in the same role with the Tampa Bay Lightning, many fans expected Detroit’s rebuilding process to be further along by now.
As one of the most calculated executives in professional sports, Yzerman is well aware of the growing frustration among the playoff-hungry Red Wings fan base.
"Well, we're trying to improve every year. Ultimately, the goal here is to build a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup," Yzerman explained Wednesday in a virtual press conference on the eve of Training Camp. "You can't compete for the Stanley Cup, obviously, until you makethe playoffs, but our goal, again, is to be a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup. So again, these rebuilds take time. How much time? I can't really predict, everyone's is different."
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Yzerman referenced the Draft Lottery, a source of bitter frustration for the Red Wings organization as a whole, as no other team has dropped more spots in the Lottery than they have over the last several seasons. In fact, the Red Wings haven’t held a top-three pick since 1990, which came just after Yzerman’s seventh season as a player.
"Where you finish, what happens in the lottery, who's available in the draft in a particular year, those things are somewhat out of our control," he said. "We'll try to run and we're going to continue to try and run a good program. We're going to continue to try and improve each season, with the goal of becoming a playoff team and a team that eventually competes for a Stanley Cup."
"So I understand the frustration, or maybe the lack of or I don't want to say patience, because I think everybody's been pretty patient, but the sense of urgency within the fan base and in our local media, I understand it, but ultimately, you know, you guys heard it when Kenny Holland was here."
"Like you want to go into a rebuild. It takes time."
There's no question that Yzerman inherited an extremely challenging situation from former GM Ken Holland when he returned to take over the GM duties in April 2019. Since then, Yzerman has built one of the more intriguing prospect pools in all of the NHL.
One of the most positive elements of Yzerman's drafting has been the selections of both Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, both of whom are now considered foundational cornerstones to build around.
Other Yzerman selections like Simon Edvinsson and Marco Kasper have now become regulars in the lineup.
The Red Wings have also been on the cusp of the postseason in each of the last two seasons, but a lull in the month of March in both years ultimately spelled doom for their chances of playoff hockey.
Yzerman knows full well that patience is beginning to wear thing with passing season of not advancing to the postseason is growing, but he's clearly sticking firm to his plan of drafting and developing talent, and is steering clear of hasty and spontaneous style moves of shedding future assets for a quick fix solution.
Red Wings’ Latest Top Prospect Turning Heads with Immediate ImpactDetroit's most recent second round pick in Eddie Genborg is making an immidate mark on the SHL just two games into the season.
"I'm trying to build a team that competes for a Stanley Cup and can win a Stanley Cup," he said. "So, you know, again, I'm going to do what I what I think is right in, you know, with each Draft, with each free agency period, with each trade deadline, with the goal of trying to improve our team."
He also made it clear that Red Wings ownership, led by Chris Ilitch - the son of the late Mike Ilitch, who drafted Yzerman in 1983 - has endorsed his patient approach of drafting and developing.
"Chris and I have spoken and going back to when he hired me, that is going to take a long time, and we're going to be patient and and we're going to be, you know, allow our young players to develop," he said. "We're going to rely heavily on the draft that, and hopefully, over time, these young players that we draft turn into NHL players. So how many years it's supposed to take? I don't know. Is it four? Is it five? Is it 10? Ultimately, it's ownership's decision when they feel that they're not happy with the direction of the club or the plan, that that's their decision."
"But Chris and I have spoken about it, and he's understood the process and where we're at."
The Red Wings are scheduled to begin Training Camp on Thursday, Sept. 18.
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Anderson was stretchered off the field in the second half after he was injured attempting to make a tackle.
