Worldwide Sports News

It turns out there won’t be any drama surrounding highly touted right winger Porter Martone at the Philadelphia Flyers’ training camp this fall.

Martone, selected sixth overall in the recent NHL draft, won’t be competing for a Flyers roster spot this year because he committed to Michigan State on Monday.

He has the Flyers’ blessing.

“We are very supportive of the decision made by Porter and excited to see him developing into a Flyer very soon,” GM Danny Briere said on Tuesday night.

“Very soon” means he could sign an entry-level deal with the Flyers before the upcoming NHL season ends.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Martone, 18, spent one year at Michigan State and then joined the Flyers.

At Michigan State, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Martone will be teammates with Flyers prospect Shane Vansaghi – another plus for the Flyers because they could be on the same line and develop some chemistry that might have a carryover effect down the road. 

Vansaghi, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound winger called ‘The Truck,’ was drafted by the Flyers in the second round (48th overall) last month.

In any event, Martone changed plans after the Flyers’ recent development camp, when he said his goal was to play a “full season” in the NHL in 2025-26. He said at the time if Flyers management thinks differently, he would talk with his agent.

He will now bypass the Flyers’ training camp and be at Michigan State.

Flyers assistant GM Brent Flahr, who heads the Flyers’ draft room, loves Martone’s maturity as a player and his ability to make plays but recently said “the pace of his game is going to have to pick up.”

An Ontario native, Martone’s learning curve will progress in the NCAA, where he will play against bigger and stronger competition than he faced in juniors. 

With Brampton in the OHL this past season, Martone had 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) and 74 penalty minutes in 57 games with the Steelheads.

Michigan State won its second consecutive Big Ten championship last season but was eliminated by Cornell in the first round of the NCAA men’s hockey tournament.

The Spartans are loaded with NHL prospects and are expected to be a contender for the national title next season, with Martone in the middle of things.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

When it comes to developing good young Ottawa Senators prospects, it would appear that the University of Wisconsin has become the new North Dakota.

The Fighting Hawks of North Dakota had four future Senators on their 2020–21 club – first-rounders Jake Sanderson and Jacob Bernard-Docker, and second-rounders Shane Pinto and Tyler Kleven. Remarkably, all four made it to the show and became NHL teammates, something that's rarely happened in NHL history, if ever.

Three of the four remain important players in Ottawa, but Bernard-Docker was displaced this year with the arrival of Nick Jensen and the emergence of Nik Matinpalo. After recovering from a leg injury at practice early in the season, JBD couldn't get back into the lineup, and with free agency looming, the Senators dealt him to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Josh Norris–Dylan Cozens trade in March.

"Hello, Wisconsin!"

Now, five years after North Dakota became an Ottawa prospect factory, there will once again be four Senator prospects all playing for the same school. But this foursome will be battling for the University of Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison, the second-biggest rink in the NCAA (15,359).

Logan Hensler, the 23rd overall pick at last month's NHL Draft, and Tyson Dyck, a 7th-rounder from 2022, were Badger teammates last season.

Now they'll be joined by forward Blake Montgomery, a 2024 4th-round pick fresh off a Memorial Cup title with the London Knights, and Croatian forward Bruno Idzan, a sixth-round pick last month.

Idzan joined the USHL's Lincoln Stars in mid-season, but started the year playing against men in the Alps Pro Hockey League. He destroyed it with 21 goals in 19 games, then came to North America and put up 44 points in 36 games in the USHL.

Montgomery returned to play in Lincoln (USHL) for another year last season, but things weren't working out, so he left for London and scored 50 points in 51 games.

Hensler is seen as the best prospect of the bunch and appeared on the Locked On Senators podcast, published on Wednesday. Hensler spoke about his two new incoming teammates and said he was impressed with Montgomery when they faced off in the 2023-24 USHL season.

"A hundred percent," Hensler said. "I remember playing him when he was in Lincoln. Just the speed on him, the hands, it's the hockey sense overall. He's a great player. I'm excited he's on our team and to get to know him. So it's going to be fun."

As for Idzan, he joined the USHL's Lincoln Stars last season right around the time Montgomery left for London. Hensler was surprised Idzan didn't get picked until the sixth round, especially after he recently got to see his game up close for the first time.

"Crazy, yeah. Coming from Croatia, too. We've had some skates this summer. He's legit. So, I'm excited to see what he can do for us this year."

For Hensler, the expectation for the "WisconSens" is pretty simple, but it certainly won't be easy.

"I think the expectation is always a national championship, right? But I think this year the Big Ten is going to be pretty tough. So I think we'll fit in nicely with that. I'm just excited to see how the CHL players fit in and just how the Big Ten grows. So it's going to be pretty cool."

Select University of Wisconsin hockey games are expected to be streamed again this season on TSN+, and some games will also be shown on the Big Ten's streaming service B1G+ along with the NCAA website. We pass that along for Senators fans who like to keep an eye on prospects for the future – a future that keeps looking better by the day.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

More Sens Headlines:
Former Ottawa Senator Returns To NHL After Three-Year KHL Stint
Sens Captain Brady Tkachuk Celebrates Hard at Brother Matthew's Wedding
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Senators Re-Sign 2021 First-Round Pick To One-Year Deal
An Early Glance At The Senators’ 2026 Free Agent Class
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

Former Jets defenceman Nathan Beaulieu announced his retirement after only being 32 years old.

Former Winnipeg Jets defenceman Nathan Beaulieu has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey, bringing an end to an 11-year NHL career that saw him play for four teams and make a lasting impression as a reliable, stay-at-home defenseman.

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XCongratulations on a great career, and all the best in your retirement Beau!

The 32-year-old from Strathroy, Ontario, was drafted 17th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2011 and made his NHL debut during the 2012–13 season. Over the course of his career, Beaulieu skated in 471 regular season games and recorded 12 goals and 86 assists for a total of 98 points. He also added five assists in 21 playoff appearances.

Beaulieu spent time with the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks. His most productive season came in 2016–17 with Montreal when he registered 28 points in 74 games. 

But for Jets fans, Beaulieu’s name will always be tied to his gritty, physical play and steady defensive presence during his four seasons in Winnipeg. Acquired in a trade from Buffalo in 2019, Beaulieu played 124 games with the Jets and was often leaned on for his defensive play and penalty killing. He scored five points in 18 games during his first run with Winnipeg and remained a dependable depth option through the 2021–22 season.

After leaving the NHL, Beaulieu extended his professional career with stints in Switzerland and the KHL before deciding to hang up his skates. While he never became the offensive threat once projected of a first-round pick, Beaulieu carved out a long and respectable NHL career defined by toughness, work ethic and quiet consistency. His retirement marks the close of a steady, team-first chapter in modern NHL blue line history.

Could Winnipeg Target Florida's Niko Mikkola?Florida's loaded cap space make back-to-back champion Niko Mikkola a possible cap causality next summer

Defenseman and Calder Cup champion Max Lajoie has signed with the KHL's Avangard Omsk, the team announced Tuesday.

Lajoie recorded four goals and 34 assists in 70 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds last season, leading the team in assists

The 27-year-old scored the Calder Cup winning goal and led the playoffs in goals by defensemen with the Chicago Wolves in 2022. He represented the Central Division at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game while serving as captain of the Wolves. 

Originally a fifth round selection of the Ottawa Senators in 2016, Lajoie has 34 goals and 194 points in 378 career AHL games with the Firebirds, Belleville Senators, Chicago Wolves, and Toronto Marlies. 

In 77 NHL games with the Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs he had seven goals and 16 points. 

A talented puck mover and smooth skater, Lajoie was one of the top remaining unsigned free agent defensemen and joins a growing wave of AHLers who have signed in the KHL this summer. 

Captain coast-to-coast 😮‍💨@max_lajoiepic.twitter.com/5LuACMzKo5

— Chicago Wolves (@Chicago_Wolves) April 12, 2023

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.   

Photo Credit: © Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has been seen skating in Vegas Golden Knights gear for the first time since signing with the club.

The 28-year-old was on the ice in Muskoka, Ontario, this week with Muskoka Hockey, wearing all white gear, which included Golden Knights pants and gloves. Marner joined Vegas in a sign-and-trade with the Maple Leafs, where the forward inked an eight-year, $96 million deal, before being moved to the Golden Knights for Nicolas Roy.

Marner's contract will see him earn $12 million annually, $1.1 million more than his last contract with Toronto (a six-year deal with an AAV of $10.903 million) signed in September 2019. The Maple Leafs' fourth overall pick in 2015 scored 741 points (221 goals and 520 assists) in 657 games with the club.

He's fifth all-time on the franchise's points list (741 points in 657 games), fourth in assists (520), and fifth in the team's all-time playoff points (63 points in 70 postseason games).

"Leaving isn't easy. This city is where I grew up, where I fell in love with hockey, and where I've had the incredible honour of living out my childhood dream. Wearing the Maple Leaf on my chest wasn't just about playing for a team, it was about representing my home," Marner said in an Instagram post to Maple Leafs fans after joining Vegas.

'I Was Just Being Honest': Ryan Reaves Defends Advising Mitch Marner On Vegas While Still Technically With Maple LeafsWhen Mitch Marner made his first public comments as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, he mentioned speaking with former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Ryan Reaves and Max Pacioretty about their experiences with living arrangements in the city during the final weeks of June. This revelation upset some Maple Leafs fans, who felt Marner had been disengaged for weeks. While perhaps not as infuriated as they were upon discovering Marner spoke to current Vegas Golden Knights players in February while competing for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, fans were still displeased.

"When I was drafted, all I wanted was to help bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. That was always the goal, and came up short. I know how much this team means to this city, and I know the expectations that come with wearing this jersey. I gave everything I had, but in the end, it wasn't enough. That's hard to admit, because I wanted it so badly, for all of us."

In acquiring Roy, the Maple Leafs are getting a serviceable third-line center who'll add depth to Toronto's lineup. The 28-year-old, who's entering the fourth season of a five-year deal with an AAV of $3 million, scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 71 games with Vegas last season.

The Amos, Quebec-born forward has 32 points (10 goals and 22 assists) in 79 career playoff games with the Golden Knights. He also won the Stanley Cup with the club during the 2022-23 season, scoring three goals and eight assists in that span.

'Looking Forward To Playing A Long Time Here Like (Phil) Kessel': Why Dakota Joshua Will Wear No. 81 With Maple Leafs This SeasonWhen Dakota Joshua puts on a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey for the first time, he'll be wearing a number that many fans are familiar with.

Marner will face his former team for the first time in Vegas at T-Mobile Arena on January 15 before returning home to Toronto to go up against the Maple Leafs on January 23.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner Spotted Skating In Golden Knights Gear In Muskoka

(Top photo of Marner: @muskokahockey / Instagram)

When you look back at the history of Slovak hockey, elite goaltenders have been few and far between. There used to be a common joke: Slovakia had A-level forwards, B-level defensemen, and C-level goalies.

One notable exception during the Czechoslovak era was Vladimír Dzurilla. At the 1976 Canada Cup, he stole the show and stunned the North American audience by shutting down a roster of Canadian stars. Due to the Iron Curtain, he never got a chance in the NHL, but he was on their radar. Dzurilla collected medals at World Championships and Olympics, and to this day, many consider him the greatest Slovak goalie ever.

Breaking into the NHL wasn’t easy for Slovak netminders. Ján Lašák and Rastislav Staňa only had brief stints despite success in international play. Peter Budaj was the first to stick, carving out a solid career with the Colorado Avalanche and eventually backing up Jonathan Quick with the Los Angeles Kings. He ended with 368 NHL games and is now a respected goalie coach with the Anaheim Ducks.

But the biggest breakthrough came from the smallest guy.

Jaroslav Halák, listed at under six feet tall, was passed over repeatedly at the 2003 NHL Draft despite backstopping Slovakia to a surprise silver at the U-18 World Championship. NHL teams doubted his size. The Montreal Canadiens took a flyer on him in the ninth round and it paid off.

Fittingly, Halak learned of his selection while in line at a McDonald’s.

“They told me I could go in the second or third round,” Halák recalled. “I watched the first five rounds, didn’t hear my name, so I turned it off. Then I went to McDonald’s with some friends for ice cream before in-line hockey game. While I was in line, an unknown number from the U.S. called. It was my agent. He told me Montreal took me in the ninth round. I said thank you, hung up, and went back to my friends.”

From a young age, Halák was obsessed with goalie gear. What he called “knight’s armor.”

“I’ve wanted to be a goalie since I was three or four. Most kids dream of scoring goals, but I always wanted to stop them. I loved the equipment the pads, the mask, it was like a different world to me.”

Halak fought his way through Montreal’s system, eventually going toe-to-toe with the highly touted Carey Price. In 2010, Halák cemented his place in Habs lore with a magical playoff run. Splitting starts with Price, the Slovak stole the headlines and series against Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals, knocking out two Cup favorites with jaw-dropping performances.

Montreal’s Cinderella run ended in the conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, but Halák had already made his mark. The Canadiens chose to build around Price, trading Halák to the St. Louis Blues, where he formed a formidable tandem with Brian Elliott. Together, they captured the William M. Jennings Trophy, both as ninth-round picks.

Few sub-six-foot goalies have had Halák’s impact in the modern NHL after 2000s. His technique made him appear bigger than he actually was.

“He looks way taller than he is because he plays nearly upright, which no one else in the NHL does,” said Ján Lašák, Slovakia’s national team longtime goalie coach. “Most goalies crouch and stay low. Halák plays tall and challenges the shot. It’s unique.”

Halák didn’t have a personal goalie coach until he was 16. His development took off when he started working with Roland Melanson, who taught him to hold his stance longer and maximize his size in net. “There weren’t many goalie coaches back then,” he said. “The first one who really taught me to hold my stance and stay up as long as possible to look bigger was Roland Melanson. He worked with me during camps run by my agent, that was even before I got drafted by the Montreal Canadiens,“ Halák recalled.

Predicting Slovakia's 2026 Olympic roster By winning their group at the final round of qualifying this past weekend, the Slovaks have qualified for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

He spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Blues, never replicating his 2010 playoff magic, then had brief stops with the Buffalo Sabres and Washington before landing with the New York Islanders, where he had arguably the best stretch of his career.

In 2014–15, Halák became a fan favorite at Nassau Coliseum, setting a franchise record with 11 straight wins, earning an All-Star nod, and finishing the season with 38 victories, still an Isles single-season record. He led the Islanders to the playoffs, narrowly losing a seven-game series to Washington.

He also faced his toughest challenge there. Despite leading Team Europe to the final at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, playing lights-out for a roster cobbled together from Slovakia, Germany, and Switzerland, Halák found himself demoted in Brooklyn. Thomas Greiss took over the No. 1 job, Jean-François Bérubé was in the mix, and Halák was sent to the AHL at 31.

“That didn’t break me, it motivated me,” Halák said. “I wanted to prove I still belonged in the NHL.” And he did. Halák bounced back to reclaim the Isles’ crease the next season, then joined the Boston Bruins, where he formed a steady tandem with Tuukka Rask.

Ironically, his brilliant NHL career never translated to international medals, much like his compatriot Marián Hossa. Halak came closest at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, where Slovakia led Finland 3–1 in the bronze medal game after two periods, but fell apart in the third and lost 5–3.

“I still think about that game,” Halák admitted. “We took bad penalties, gave up a fluky goal — (Kimmo) Timonen just flung it from the blue line and it deflected in. That was the turning point. Like trying to stop an avalanche.”

Halák’s other great chance came in Boston’s run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in Game 7 to St. Louis, his former team. “You picture yourself lifting the Cup… and then it slips away,” he said.

He later had stints with the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, where he wrapped up his NHL career in 2022–23. He played just 25 games that year, but won seven straight starts a club record for a backup.

Halak finished with 295 career wins, five short of the 300 milestone that haunted him for two years. “I’ve come to terms with it,” he said. “Would’ve been nice to hit 300, but I’m proud of 295. It was a good career.”

He made one final push in the Carolina Hurricanes’ training camp in 2023, but refused an AHL assignment. That’s when he knew it was over.

Still, the numbers speak for themselves: 581 games, 295 wins, 53 shutouts, two Jennings Trophies. No Slovak goalie has come close.

Jaroslav Halák didn’t just overcome the odds, he redefined them. He’s remained humble throughout his career. Even today, if you ask him whether he’s the best goalie in Slovak hockey history, he just smiles and says: “I’ll let others decide that. I’m proud of what I achieved and the name I made for myself in the NHL. For an underestimated kid from (the Bratislava neighborhood of) Petržalka, I’d say that’s pretty good.”

Photo © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images.

Jaroslav Halák Officially Retires: “I’ll Never Wear The Pads Again” He hasn’t played a competitive hockey game in more than two years, but Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halák never officially ended his career … until now.