The 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 team has a wide array of potential outcomes and will rely on several “ifs” and “buts” to reach their full potential. Every roster player will be faced with at least one burning question heading into this pivotal year for the Ducks franchise.

Questions Facing Each Anaheim Ducks Forward Heading into the 2025-26 Season

How Much the Ducks are Projected to Improve in 2025-26 Standings

So, let’s ask some of those questions. We broke down the forwards last time, so let’s focus on the defensemen and goaltenders with this one:

Inspiration for this article was borrowed from The Athletic’sKevin Kurtz

Defensemen

Radko Gudas: Which is the real Gudas, the 2023-24 version or the 2024-25 one?

Gudas made an immediate positive impact as a lead-by-example depth defenseman when he signed a three-year contract with the Ducks in the summer of 2023, to such an extent that he earned the title of team captain in 2024. His on-ice play and numbers across the board dropped dramatically in year two with Anaheim. He reportedly elected to forgo knee surgery this offseason, opting instead for physical therapy. Whether fully healthy or not, it may benefit the Ducks captain to assume more of a role as a bottom-pair defenseman in his final year under contract with Anaheim.

Drew Helleson: Can he handle a potential increase in workload?

Helleson gained favor with former head coach Greg Cronin after his final recall to the Ducks in Nov 2024, offering a steady presence and good habits for a young defender. That said, despite relatively sheltered minutes, his underlying numbers were poor, even on a Ducks team with some of the worst 5v5 numbers in the league last year. If Gudas’ game fails to bounce back, Helleson will be counted on to increase his defensive responsibilities at 5v5 and on the penalty kill. It will be interesting to monitor who he’ll be playing beside and if he’s a long-term fit next to either Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, or Olen Zellweger.

Jackson LaCombe: Was last year a mirage?

On a team brimming with young talent, LaCombe was the only player to truly break out in 2024-25. He became the team’s number one defenseman, leading the team in TOI and featuring heavily on both special teams units. This will be a big year for him, as his contract will be expiring with arbitration rights. If he can continue his play or even elevate it further, the Ducks will have found one of the hardest pieces to find when building a Stanley Cup-contending team: an all-situations, minute-eating blueliner who can fill a scoresheet.

Tristan Luneau: How many NHL games will he play this season?

As the depth chart is currently constructed, Luneau can be penciled in on the opening night roster as a 6th/7th defenseman. After earning a spot on the AHL all-rookie team last season with 52 points (9-43=52) in 59 games, he’ll be looking to take the next step in his development toward that of a full-time NHLer. As a bubble player, he’ll need to win minutes from Drew Helleson, Radko Gudas, and Jacob Trouba, while fending off hungry San Diego Gulls defensemen Ian Moore, Tyson Hinds, Noah Warren, and Stian Solberg. Luneau has battled through and overcome several significant injuries in his career, with no signs of his drive or compete levels dropping.

Pavel Mintyukov: How much will he benefit from a new coaching staff?

Last season, Mintyukov was a casualty of a blueline logjam and a coaching staff that favored veterans, forcing him to play a muted, safe brand of hockey if he wanted to earn spots in nightly lineups. With that logjam now seemingly relieved, Mintyukov has the opportunity to play more fearlessly and more akin to his skillset, potentially maximizing his shift-by-shift impact. Joel Quenneville and Ryan McGill will now be tasked with elevating him to the player the Ducks envisioned they were drafting with the tenth-overall pick in 2022.

Jacob Trouba: Is he a long-term piece in Anaheim?

The Ducks traded for Trouba in December, taking on his entire cap hit with a year remaining on his contract. Trouba was an immediate fit in the locker room and filled the leadership void on the Anaheim blueline after the departures of Cam Fowler and Brian Dumoulin. Now comes the question of whether they see him as a fixture for the foreseeable future as the franchise attempts to turn the corner on their rebuild and begin their contending cycle. Early guesses lean yes, and a Frank Vatrano-like extension announcement wouldn’t be surprising (speculation).

Olen Zellweger: Will he be unleashed?

Similar to Mintyukov, Zellweger’s offensive impact was dulled as he struggled to receive consistent starts in the nightly lineup for the Ducks last season. Atypical of what general manager Pat Verbeek has proven to prefer in his blueliners, Zellweger was already seemingly behind the eight-ball. But now that the path is clearer for him and a new, reportedly player-friendly head coach is calling the shots, he’ll have to seize every bit of runway given to him this season. He possesses an electrifying skillset, has produced at every level below the NHL, and has put in the work to round out his two-way game. For Zellweger, this will be as close to a make-or-break year as we’ll see.

Goaltenders

Lukas Dostal: Is he elite?

A big new contract and the departure of John Gibson this summer gives Dostal sole possession of the Ducks’ crease. He can already be considered “above average” and is one of the most talented young goaltenders in the NHL, with low volatility in his nightly performance. His workload is now projected to become more predictable and increase to 55-60 games, typical of a modern NHL starter. Dostal carried the entire team for stretches of last season, and with the growth from the roster in front of him, along with an improved coaching staff, a path to consideration among the NHL’s elite goalies has emerged. It will be up to him to take it.

Petr Mrazek: Will the connection to his Czech countryman elevate both players?

Mrazek came over in the Gibson deal with the Detroit Red Wings with the intention of him becoming the short-term backup behind Dostal. He backed up Dostal at the 2024 World Championship, in which their Czechia team won the gold medal, and the Ducks are relying on the duo’s familiarity to assist and smooth Dostal’s transition into a full-time starter. After starting his career with several quality seasons with the Red Wings and Hurricanes, Mrazek has been relatively up-and-down since. He’ll look to provide some stability and regain some consistency in 2025-26.

Ville Husso: Insurance or long-term backup?

Husso was brought in ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, mainly as an AHL option for the Gulls, who could (and would) provide veteran depth should injuries occur at the NHL level. He signed a relatively sizable two-year, $2.2 million AAV contract this summer to remain in the Ducks organization, making him potentially waiver-proof, as that would be a hefty gamble of a claim from an opposing team. Mrazek seems like a one-year plan, and the Ducks have a multitude of young goaltenders in the pipeline. Husso and Mrazek could serve as insurance for each other should one falter, but that also gives them each the motivation to seize the backup role.

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Winnipeg 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. 

For Winnipeg Jets fans, they don't have to look too far when it comes to goaltending as they've had the league's best goaltender with Connor Hellebuyck and the top ranked defense for two straight seasons. Goaltending is low on the Jets list of worries heading into next season and with their superstar netminder signed on for six more years, it likely won't be something to think about for quite some time.

However, fans can have added insurance with their already loaded backend in the fact that the Jets have several goaltenders in their prospect pipeline that are just starting their pro development journey. Once prepared, there's going to be more than one option for the starting job once Hellebuyck is done. One of these prospects is 21-year-old Domenic DiVincentiis, who is coming off his first pro season with the Manitoba Moose and did quite well. 

After posting a decent 13-12-3 record with a 2.84 goals against average and a .906 save percentage, DiVincentiis continues to rise up the prospect rankings for the Jets, ranking behind recent AHL add Isaac Poulter and Jets prospect Thomas Milic for Winnipeg’s third goalie position, according to EliteProspects. 

More Winnipeg Jets: What Would It Take For The Winnipeg Jets To Land Oilers' Connor McDavid

The trend may be going in the direction of DiVincentiis as if an injury occurs, Poulter and Milic both put up worse numbers last season, meaning he could get the first call-up and make his NHL debut. In an exclusive interview with The Hockey News, DiVincentiis tells us that he believes he can make it to the NHL this season and that it’s his main goal for the season. 

"I think being able to get the opportunity to make my NHL debut would be pretty special,” DiVincentiis explained “I think it's in reasonable play, and being able to do that would be, you know, such a such an honor for myself and for my family, and that would be one goal for me, Another goal would be making the all-star game for the AHL, being there for a full season, and ultimately winning a Calder Cup."

The Bolton, Ontario native noted he’s looking to achieve his goals by working extra hard during the off-season while getting in sessions with NHL talent to get up to speed and be able to adapt to the quickness of the game when hopefully being called upon this season. He also noted later on that the ECHL and AHL have done a good job preparing him for the subtle increases in jumps for each skill level and that it’s helped him be successful so far. 

“Being on the ice, tried to get on the ice two to three times a week, every week, whether that was with my goalie coach and then I had a session or two with a couple of the NHL guys from my gym that I would hop on the ice there with them,” DiVincentiis said “You got to be comfortable being uncomfortable and I think for me going down there to the ECHL put me in a position to make sure that I take initiative on things to be a professional hockey player and I think they did a great job at that and putting me in that position to better myself and get some more pro games under my belt because at the end of the day, that's how you're going to make your jump from from the AHL to the NHL, is trying to get as many pro games under your belt, making sure that you're prepared for that next jump."

between the pipes 🥅

DOMENIC DIVINCENTIIS pic.twitter.com/YwnfpW9E13

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 15, 2023

More Winnipeg Jets: Winnipeg's Newest Top Prospect Eyes Redemption After Devastating NCAA Finals

With 48 pro starts under his belt so far, DiVincentiis is starting to get acclimated with the style and pace of play while some of the other notable names around him have seen more roadblocks. Milic, DiVincentiis’ goalie partner with the Manitoba Moose and Norfolk Admirals, was at one point the top goalie prospect in the organization and one of the most notable prospects at the position in the sport after debuting in the AHL with a stellar 19-9-2 record, a 2.72 GAA and a .900 save percentage. The 22-year-old BC native saw hardships in his sophomore season however, as he finished with a 5-12-4 record, a 3.44 GAA and a .877 save percentage with the Moose. 

DiVincentiis noted the slump as relatively normal as “the hockey world is not always uphill and there's going to be bumps along the way” and he reaffirmed that Milic is still a “phenomenal goaltender” and he’s looking forward to their tandem hopefully being back together next season. When talking about the down season, DiVincentiis reflected on his everyday mindset that he picked up during his time in the OHL with the North Bay Battalion as his head coach Ryan Oulahen and the rest of the coaching staff instilled the motto of improving one per cent every day. He explains how his willingness to stay on for extra skates with other players on the team can help the team play better as a unit and that a better overall team is what can help him stay as consistent as he does. 

“I try to do the extra, and I try to stay on the ice extra, and compete and make sure that, I'm getting myself and the players better, so that we go out there and we win games together, because it's a team sport,” DiVincentiis stated “So my numbers and my stats were a result of both myself and the team and I thought they always did an incredible job in front of me throughout the season, allowing me to finish the season off strong with a shutout and the numbers I had.”

The journey of DiVincentiis and the other goalie prospects in the system can give Winnipeg fans hope as they want to stay as competitive as possible for as long as possible and having a stable goaltender is one of the biggest contributors to that. Once Hellebuyck and backup Eric Comrie see their time in a meaningful role with the franchise, the Jets will be ready with more young blood waiting in the wings. This transition to the new guard could come sooner than later as prospects like DiVincentiis already have the NHL on their mind in the near future.

Year 2 loading…⏱️ pic.twitter.com/Zvh6K1Sb5z

— Domenic Divincentiis (@Domenic5050) September 6, 2025

More Winnipeg Jets: Divisional Focus: Jets Set Sights on Holding Off Surging Blues

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 34 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #34. 

Let's take a look.

Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre - 2001-2004 - Drafted in 1997 by the St. Louis Blues.

Grand-Pierre was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. He would spend three-plus seasons in Columbus, playing in 209 games. The "Hyphenator," as he is affectionately known, is now the studio analyst for FanDuel Sports during CBJ games. 

He retired after the 2012-13 season, having spent the final five years of his career in Europe. 

Dan LaCosta - 2008 - Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2004 NHL Draft. 

LaCosta played in four games from 2007 to 2009. He spent the majority of his time playing for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch. He also played for the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL. 

He retired in 2014 after playing a single season in England for the Cardiff Devils. He was also the goaltending coach for Cardiff. 

Wade Dubielewicz - 2009 - He was undrafted out of Invermere, British Columbia.

The Blue Jackets claimed Dubielwicz off waivers from the New York Islanders in 2009. He played in three games for Columbus. He signed with the Minnesota Wild in the summer of 2009 after his time with Columbus.

He retired in 2011 after playing a single season in the DEL. He went on to become a goaltending coach and GM for the Columbia Valley Rockies.

Dane Byers - 2012 - Drafted in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers. 

On November 11, 2010, Byers was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he was then assigned to the Springfield Falcons. He played a total of 8 games for Columbus.

On February 28, 2011. Byers and former CBJ original Rusty Klesla were dealt to the Arizona Coyotes. On July 11, 2011, however, he signed back with the CBJ for one season. He left for Europe in 2015 and retired in 2019. 

Nick Drazenovic - 2013 - Drafted in the 5th round of the 2005 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues. 

Drazenovic signed with the CBJ in 2011 and played a total of 8 games with Columbus. He spent his entire first year with Columbus playing for Springfield. The following year, he played 62 games for the Falcons as well. 

He left for Pittsburgh in 2013 and would retire in 2016. 

Dana Tyrell - 2015 - Drafted in the second round of the 2007 NHL Draft by Tampa Bay.

On March 5, 2014, Tyrell was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal that sent Jonathan Marchessault to the Lightning. Yes, that Marchessault, the one who got away.

Tyrell played a total of 3 games in his Columbus career before suddenly taking a hiatus and not playing for two years. In 2017, he would retire officially after playing four games in the ECHL. 

Josh Anderson - 2016-2017 - Drafted by Columbus in the 4th round of the 2012 Draft.

Anderson played for the Jackets from 2012 to 2020. Playing in 267 games, he had 115 points. He also helped the Cleveland Monsters win the 2016 Calder Cup. On October 6, 2020, he was traded to the Canadiens for Max Domi. 

 "The Andy Man" wore #53 when he first started playing games in Columbus. Anderson played a total of 267 games for the Blue Jackets spread over six seasons. He scored 65 goals and totaled 115 points during his time with Columbus. 

The 2018-19 season saw Anderson set career highs in goals, assists, and points. Unfortunately for him, he was never able to replicate that in Columbus. The following year, he tore his shoulder in December and had to have season-ending surgery, which wasn't decided until March. 

There were rumors floating around that Anderson was upset about the injury and how it was handled by Jackets' management, so he wanted out of Columbus. On October 6, 2020, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Max Domi and 3rd third-round pick in the 2020 draft, ending his career in Columbus. 

Since the trade, Anderson has played in 349 games for the Habs. He has scored 81 goals and totaled 135 points over five seasons. His highest goal total in Montreal is 21, and his highest assist total is 13. His highest points total is 32, which he's done twice. 

Cole Sillinger - 2022-2023 - Drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Silinger wore #34 for two years before switching to #4 before the 23-24 season. It's hard to believe that Cole Sillinger is going into his 5th NHL Season already. 

After scoring 31 points as a rookie, his second season was anything but good. Totaling just 11 points, he only played in 64 games and was demoted to AHL Cleveland. His third season was definitely a bounce-back year for young Sillinger. He would score 13 goals and total 32 points. 

Last season, even though his point total was just one better than the career-high 32 he hit the year before, it was considered a breakout year for Cole. He had 11 goals, which was 5 off of his career-high of 16, but he had 22 assists, which set a new career-high. He also set a career-high by playing 16:55 a game. He is the kind of player that Dean Evason loves. 

Sillinger is going into the final year of a two-year deal he signed a couple of years back, and then he will be an RFA. He will be looking to have another good year so that he can get a long-term deal. How many points will he get in 25-26?

He will more than likely be asked to play the wing as well as center if needed. Should he be willing to play anywhere, he could be an extremely valuable player for the Blue Jackets. 

Let us know what you think below.

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More from THN Columbus

FROM THE THN YEARBOOK: Blue Jackets Predicted To Finish 6th In The Metropolitan DivisionThe hockey season is around the corner, and that means The Hockey News has put out one of its most special and most coveted issues of the year. It's THN Yearbook season. Former Blue Jackets Forward Signs PTO With HurricanesAccording to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kevin Labanc has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Carolina Hurricanes. Blue Jackets Prospect To Miss Time Due To Shoulder SurgeryThe Athletic's Aaron Portzline has reported that CBJ defensive prospect Luca Marrelli, will miss the first two months of the season. Marrelli apparently had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum suffered last season. 

The Flames’ future looks bright. 

General Manager Craig Conroy set out this summer to solidify the franchise’s foundation. By securing his starting goaltender, keeping two of his brightest young forwards, and welcoming a defensive phenom with superstar potential, Conroy gave Flames fans a reason to be excited about the next five years and beyond.

Here’s a look at the four signings shaping Calgary’s future:

1. Dustin Wolf – The Backbone in Goal

The Flames wasted no time locking up their long-term answer in net. On September 9th, Dustin Wolf signed a seven-year, $52.5 million contract carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $7.5 million.

Wolf, 24, cemented himself as a cornerstone during the 2024–25 season, appearing in 53 games and finishing with a 29-16-8 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average. His 29 wins not only led all rookie goaltenders but ranked 11th among NHL netminders. With his new deal, Wolf is set to be the backbone of Calgary’s future.

READ:  Why Dustin Wolf Will Win the Vézina - Sooner Than You Think 

2. Connor Zary – A Two-Way Star in the Making

While it’s not the longest commitment, Calgary secured forward Connor Zary to a three-year bridge deal worth $11.325 million, giving him an AAV of $3.775 million.

At 23, Zary is still scratching the surface of his potential. Last season he recorded 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games before being sidelined with a lower-body injury. Over 117 career NHL games, he’s tallied 27 goals and 61 points, showcasing his ability to contribute consistently while playing a strong two-way game. His versatility at both centre and wing adds even more value to his deal.

3. Matt Coronato – A Budding Offensive Leader

The Flames made a long-term commitment to Matt Coronato in May, signing him to a seven-year, $45.5 million extension, carrying an AAV of $6.5 million.

Coronato, 21, earned the investment with an impressive sophomore season, finishing third on the team in both goals (24) and points (47). The 2021 first-round pick has proven he can score in every situation—on the power play, at even strength, and in clutch late-game moments. His blend of skill and work ethic - with an elite shot - makes him a key building block for Calgary’s top six.

READ:Firing On All Cylinders -  Flames’ Matt Coronato Emerging As Core Piece

4. Zayne Parekh – The Defensive Phenom

The most recent addition to the core, Zayne Parekh, signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Flames on July 5, 2024, after being selected ninth overall in the ‘24 NHL Draft.

Parekh enters camp with enormous hype after a historic OHL career with the Saginaw Spirit. He produced back-to-back 30-goal seasons from the blue line, including 107 points in 61 games last year. His dominance earned him the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenceman and the CHL Defenceman of the Year award. If he impresses in camp, he could push for NHL minutes right away.

Drafted. Developed. Ready.

What makes these moves even more encouraging is that each player—Wolf, Zary, Coronato, and Parekh—was drafted and developed by the Flames organization. Each has spent time with the Wranglers, and have bought into the culture Conroy and head coach Ryan Huska are building.

With goaltending secured, dynamic scoring under contract, and a franchise-calibre defenceman waiting in the wings, the Flames have addressed three of hockey’s most difficult boxes to check. The summer of 2025 wasn’t just busy for Calgary… it was transformative.

Follow Bryan Wilson on X.

Quinn Hughes' future with the Vancouver Canucks has been murky since team president Jim Rutherford floated the notion of the defenseman one day joining brothers Jack and Luke with the New Jersey Devils.

Hughes, 25, is two years away from UFA eligibility, prompting speculation suggesting the Canucks might have to consider trading their captain if unable to sign him to a contract extension next summer.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now noted the ongoing conjecture linking Hughes to the Devils, but doesn't believe a trade will happen anytime soon.

Nichols cited Hughes' Sept. 5 interview with Sportsnet's Iain McIntyre, where he stated he wasn't looking beyond this season. “Who knows what we can do and who knows how I'll be feeling this time next year? It's still a year away,” he said.

Trading Hughes this season would signal a rebuild by the Canucks. However, their moves this summer (including re-signing Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland) suggest they're hoping to rebound after missing the 2025 playoffs. If it goes well, it could convince Hughes that his long-term future is in Vancouver.

Canadiens Trade Carey Price's Contract To Sharks: Recapping Goalie's Time In MontrealThe Montreal Canadiens traded Carey Price and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, the Canadiens were expected to shop Carey Price's contract after paying the permanently sidelined goaltender his $5.5-million signing bonus last Monday. On Friday, they bundled his contract with a 2026 fifth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in return for minor-league defenseman Gannon Laroque.

Shipping out the entirety of Price's cap hit makes the Canadiens cap-compliant this season, putting them under the $95.5 million salary cap by $4.568 million.

Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now indicated the Canadiens have the cap flexibility to make a trade to improve their roster this season. They could accrue over $20 million if they wait until the March 6 trade deadline.

RG.Org's Marco D'Amico believes the Canadiens won't take that long. He cited sources claiming they could make moves before training camp or toward American Thanksgiving (Nov. 27).

It's no secret that the Canadiens seek a second-line center. They were linked to Marco Rossi before he re-signed with the Minnesota Wild last month. Speculation persists that they're among the teams interested in Mason McTavish, but it's expected that the Anaheim Ducks will re-sign the 22-year-old RFA.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the 2025-26 season with several young players to watch. One interesting Blackhawks player who fans should keep an eye on this season is forward Landon Slaggert. 

Slaggert appeared in 33 NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he posted two goals, six points, and 25 hits. He also recorded 10 goals and 25 points in 39 games down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs.

Overall, Slaggert has shown signs of promise early on in his career, even if he has had some growing pains like all young players do. The potential for him to become a solid bottom-six forward, at a minimum, is certainly there.

Slaggert also demonstrated at the collegiate level that he has some offensive potential. This was especially the case during his senior season with Notre Dame during the 2023-24 campaign, as he set career his collegiate career highs with 20 goals and 31 points in 36 games. 

Overall, now that Slaggert has completed his first full professional season split between the NHL and AHL, it will be fascinating to see if he can hit a new level with Chicago in 2025-26. If Slaggert takes that next step in his development, it would be great news for a Blackhawks club looking to become more competitive. 

Former Blackhawks Prospect Joins New TeamFormer Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jalen Luypen is no longer on the free-agent market, as he has signed a one-year contract with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. 

At the team's annual charity golf tournament on Monday, Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios held court with the media and was asked, among other things, about winger Alex Formenton. TSN's Clare Hanna brought up the fact that Formenton had signed to play in Switzerland again, that his rights still belonged to Ottawa and asked Staios if he had spoken to the player or if he had any thoughts.

"I have no comment on that. In fact, it's a league matter, and the player is ineligible to play," Staios said. THN Ottawa's Graeme Nichols followed up, asking if Formenton became eligible, would there be interest? "I won't comment on it," Staios said.

The fact that the Senators retained Formenton’s NHL rights seemed like a moot point up until very recently. Leading up to the World Junior trial, it had been announced, although not formally filed with the league, that Formenton was walking away from a professional hockey career to pursue a career in construction.

He hadn’t played anywhere in the 2024-25 campaign and had only played a total of 46 games with Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss-A league in the two previous seasons.

However, in light of his acquittal, Formenton has now re-upped with Ambri-Piotta for 3.5 months for the coming season – a timeline which seems to suggest he hasn't given up on his dream of returning to the NHL.

Former Ottawa Senators Winger Alex Formenton Returns To Pro HockeyAfter being acquitted of sexual assault in the high-profile criminal case involving five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team in August, Alex Formenton has signed a three and a half month contract with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss League.

Now, the Senators are faced with three options that they may not have anticipated. Here's a synopsis of the options and their pros and cons, assuming the NHL’s post-acquittal investigation leads to their eligibility being reinstated.

1) Walk Away

This option makes the least sense. Even if they don’t want him back in the fold, simply walking away and letting him become a free agent would be poor asset management.

The one thing the Senators have is time, and Staios and company would be wise to use it.

Formenton needs to be on an NHL contract by December 1st to be eligible to play this season. They can use this time to scout and evaluate him to see if he's missed his window or if he can get back to where he was in 2021-22, which was a player with a lot of upside and elite speed. He's also a player who's cap-friendly and would likely sign for the league minimum. This time can be used to determine if he's still an asset or not.

2) Trade

The Senators won’t be the only team scouting Formenton in Switzerland. Surely, at least one other of the 31 NHL markets would see value in bringing him in if he still has the skills.

The return wouldn’t be huge, but maybe the Senators could get back a second-round pick, which is what Formenton was in 2017. Elite skating forwards who bring a physical element, kill penalties and score 18 goals in the NHL don’t grow on trees.

There is a buyer out there for Formenton if he can get back to his past NHL level of play.

3) Sign

There appears to be some support for this in the online community. A good number of Sens fans appear to believe that since the player was found not guilty on all charges, he should be welcomed back. 

Justice Maria Caroccia, in her judgment, did more than pronounce Formenton and his co-accused not guilty. It sounded like she accepted Formenton’s counsel’s version of the events as the truth, and described the Crown's evidence as not credible or reliable.

So a good portion of Sens Nation will be tracking Formenton’s progress in Switzerland and his HockeyDB page over the next three months out of sheer curiosity. They will also be casting a watchful eye on Gary Bettman and Bill Daly for news of their investigation to see if clemency will be granted.

By Pat Maguire
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Ottawa Senators: Ranking The Six Best At Each Position

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed goaltender Dustin Wolf to a seven-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million.

Wolf, 24, emerged as a cornerstone for the Flames during the 2024–25 season, appearing in 53 games and recording a 29-16-8 record alongside a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average. His 29 victories not only led all rookie netminders but also ranked him 11th overall among NHL goaltenders.

The Gilroy, California native capped off his breakout campaign by finishing second in Calder Memorial Trophy voting, underscoring his rapid rise as one of the league’s brightest young stars.

A seventh-round pick by Calgary in the 2019 NHL Draft (214th overall), Wolf has quickly built a decorated resume. Before establishing himself with the Flames, he captured back-to-back AHL Goaltender of the Year awards (2022, 2023) and earned the Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP in 2023.

With this extension, the Flames secure their goaltending future as the team continues to build toward long-term success.

Former Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jalen Luypen is no longer on the free-agent market, as he has signed a one-year contract with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. 

Luypen became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 after the Blackhawks elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. Now, after spending over two months as a UFA, he has found his new home with the Stingrays. 

Luypen spent the majority of this past season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs. In 56 games with the AHL squad, he recorded eight goals and 14 points. He also played in five ECHL games with the Indy Fuel, posting one goal and three points. 

In 110 games over two seasons with the IceHogs, Luypen posted 12 goals, 22 assists, and 34 points. He never appeared in an NHL game during his time with the Blackhawks. 

Luypen was selected by the Blackhawks with the 216th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. 

Blackhawks Have Big Decision To Make With DefenderChicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy has been an important part of the team's roster for a long time now. The right-shot blueliner is entering his ninth season with the Blackhawks in 2025-26, where he will once again be one of their veteran leaders. 

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A minor NHL trade went down on Sept. 4 between the Seattle Kraken and the Philadelphia Flyers. The two players involved in the deal have a history with each other from their time in the OHL, which includes winning an OHL Championship with the Peterborough Petes in 2023. 

It was a one-for-one swap between prospects Tucker Robertson — traded to Philadelphia — and Jon-Randall Avon — traded to Seattle. 

TRADE ALERT: We’ve acquired forward Tucker Robertson from Seattle in exchange for forward Jon-Randall Avon. https://t.co/qqLjli342H

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 4, 2025

Both players have gotten off to slow starts to their professional playing careers. Additionally, both are entering the last year of their entry-level contracts, and a change of scenery may be exactly what they need to break through at the AHL level and earn another contract. 

Robertson, 22, was taken 123rd overall in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Kraken. He played three seasons in the OHL, with the Covid-19 pandemic taking away his 2020-21 season. He played for the Petes during his entire tenure in the league, recording 189 points (65 goals, 104 assists) in 191 games. 

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During the 2022-23 season, when Peterborough were crowned champs, Robertson led the team in goals (36) and points (90) during the regular season. He finished second on the team in scoring during the playoffs with 22 (9 goals, 13 assists) in 23 games. 

Through his first two professional seasons, the Toronto, Ontario, native has 77 AHL games under his belt, registering 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists). 

Avon, 22, went through the 2022 NHL Draft without hearing his name called. However, shortly after attending Philadelphia’s rookie development camp, immediately after the draft, the Flyers signed the speedy forward to an entry-level contract. 

Avon came into the league as a top prospect. His hometown Peterborough Petes drafted him 11th overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, and just like Robertson, he spent his entire tenure in the OHL with the Petes. 

Robertson had the better OHL career than his former teammate Avon, who recorded 139 points (62 goals, 77 assists) in 179 games. However, Avon has had slightly more success in the AHL, playing two full seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 125 games. 

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