The NHL's 2025-26 season is nearly here, and here at THN.com's Sabres site, we've been examining every one of the Buffalo Sabres' opponents next year. Earlier, we looked at the Atlantic Division's seven teams, followed by the Metropolitan Division's eight teams, and now, we're four teams deep in the highly-competitive Central Division. 

Earlier this week, we analyzed the Central Division's Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars. And in today's file, we're shifting the spotlight onto one of the Central's five playoff teams last year -- the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild do have superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov, star winger Matt Boldy, star defenseman Brock Faber, and stellar goalie Filip Gustavsson as a strong core. And as we'xe explore below, Minnesota is going to be tough for the Sabres to knock off in their two games next season. Let's get to it:

BUFFALO SABRES VS. MINNESOTA WILD

NEW WILD PLAYERS: Vladimir Tarasenko, RW; Nico Sturm, LW; Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW; 

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 0-2-0, Wild 2-0-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  November 29 at Minnesota; January 17 at Buffalo 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The story of the Sabres and Wild last year is a sad story from Buffalo's perspective, as Minnesota shut out the Sabres 1-0 in Game 1 in late November, then lost again to the Wild 4-1 in late March. Needless to say, Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson was dominant against Buffalo, turning aside 59 Sabres shots combined in the Wild's two wins.

With that said, we're still not entirely sold on the blueprint of Minnesota GM Bill Guerin. He's finally free of the hard parts of the Ryan Suter/Zach Parise buyouts, and Guerin has about $9.4-million in salary cap space. But some of that money needs to go to young center Marco Rossi, who is one of the last prominent young NHLers still in need of a contract for next season.

Still, in our opinion, there are significant questions about this Wild team. Part of the team feels really creaky, as eight of 12 Minnesota forwards this year are 30 years or older. And there's a reason why Vladimir Tarasenko was available from the Detroit Red Wings -- his play has taken a step backward, with no guarantee he'll ever reverse that direction.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Can Sabres Keep Up With First-Rate Dallas Stars?The Buffalo Sabres have little room for error next season as they attempt to end a 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought -- and that means they need to beat above-average teams. That includes the Dallas Stars, who the Sabres will take on twice this coming year. 

Similarly, on defense, while Faber and veteran Jonas Brodin are two elite players, there's not nearly the depth filling out the final four spots on 'D' that we'd like to see. Veteran Jared Spurgeon will be 36 years old in November, and youngsters Zeev Buium and David Jiricek are 19 years old and 21 years old respectively. There are too many "what if?s" with this group of blueliners.

But who knows -- maybe Guerin's vision does pan out in terms of a deep Stanley Cup playoff run. Stranger things have happened. However, if it comes to pass the way that skeptics feel about the Wild, Minnesota's lack of improvement may cause the Wild to slip further down the Central Division ranks, out of the playoff picture altogether. And if that happens, Guerin's game plan will be heavily criticised.

All of this is to say that the Wild team Buffalo plays against this coming season is going to be desperate to win wherever and however they can. And given that the Sabres did not play well against Minnesota last year, there needs to be a sense of urgency from Buffalo that pushes them to at least split the series.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Does Buffalo Have Any Hope To Beat Powerhouse Colorado Avalanche?The Buffalo Sabres play in the NHL's toughest division in the Atlantic Division -- but the 2025-26 schedule isn't going to do them any favors. THN.com's Sabres site has been publishing a team-by-team look at Buffalo's opponents next year -- and in today's file, we're continuing our look at the Sabres' chances against the Central Division-juggernaut Colorado Avalanche.

Playing Minnesota twice by late January is a positive for the Sabres. Were their games played after the trade deadline, Guerin may have spent his considerable cap space by adding veteran talent, and Buffalo's playoff dreams may have been in serious trouble. By playing the Wild early, the Sabres can get a jump on a Minnesota team that still may be searching for its identity.

In any case, the Sabres should have every motivation to beat the Wild next year. Another year of losing both games against Minnesota would be a problem for Buffalo management that values each and every standings point available to them. The Sabres need to assert themselves to teams across the league, and doing something like sweeping the Wild this year would send a bold message to Buffalo's opponents.

The New Jersey Devils’ 2019 129th overall pick is finally heading to Newark.

Arseni Gritsyuk, born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, has spent the past two seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League with SKA St. Petersburg, where he tallied 44 points in 49 games.

He signed an entry-level contract with the Devils in May, and SKA officially announced he would be leaving Russia to join New Jersey in North America for the upcoming season.

Arseny Gritsyuk Eyes NHL Debut with New Jersey DevilsArseny Gritsyuk signed with the New Jersey Devils at the end of last season and is expected to make his NHL debut this fall. However, in a recent interview with Russian outlet Sports-Express, the 24-year-old forward clarified the timeline of his move and his expectations.

Gritsyuk is expected to attend Devils training camp this fall, competing for a spot in the lineup. Projected to have a big impact on the Devils’ top six, he brings speed, skill, and scoring touch. In St. Petersburg, he ranked among the top five in points, goals, and assists, and he could provide the offensive spark needed for a deeper playoff push.

Of course, his success will depend on how quickly he adjusts to the North American game. If he doesn’t crack the NHL roster, he’ll suit up for the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.

In a recent interview with Russian outlet Sports-Express, Gritsyuk shared his plan if he ends up in the minors:

“If things don’t work out, I can go back,” he said. “I’ll try the AHL… but not for long. Two, maybe three months at most.”

It’s a bold statement from a player who has yet to set foot in Newark, but it’s understandable when you consider the financials.

Gritsyuk’s one-year deal is worth $925,000 at the NHL level, but if he plays in the AHL, his salary drops to $70,000, a staggering $855,000 difference.

The pay gap between the two leagues is massive, and Gritsyuk has made it clear his goal is to play in the NHL. By putting a timeline on his stay in the AHL, though, he’s essentially drawing a line before his first game in North America.

Fans shouldn’t be too concerned. Gritsyuk is expected to make the Devils roster and contribute immediately. But on the off chance he starts the season in Utica, we now know he doesn’t plan to stay there long.

A return to the KHL would be a significant loss for New Jersey, especially after projecting him as a key piece in their lineup. Still, his contract leaves the door open, and Gritsyuk has made it clear he’ll walk through it if things don’t go as planned.

Photo Credit: © George Walker IV-Imagn Images

Montreal Canadiens star Nick Suzuki was undoubtedly a major reason why the Habs got into the playoffs this past spring. He simply thrived for the Canadiens in 2024-25, as he scored 30 goals and led the team with an impressive 89 points in 82 games. With this, it was the best year of the Canadiens captain's career so far. 

With Suzuki having such a strong offensive season in 2024-25, he is now inching closer to a new notable milestone. The 2017 first-round pick is only 25 points away from recording the 400th point of his NHL career. When noting that he is only 455 games into his NHL career, it is certainly impressive that he is already close to recording career point No. 400.

Assuming Suzuki stays healthy next season, he should be able to record his 400th career NHL point fairly early on into the 2025-26 campaign. This is especially so when noting that he has really hit a new level offensively over the last few seasons, as he has recorded 166 points in 164 games over his last two seasons alone.

Nevertheless, it is going to be fascinating to see what kind of season Suzuki can have after his career year, but he certainly should get his 400th career NHL point. 

Canadiens Star Missing From NHL Top Winger's ListMontreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield had his best NHL season so far during the 2024-25 campaign. In 82 games with the Habs on the year, the 2019 first-round pick set new career highs with 37 goals, 33 assists, and 70 points. With numbers like these, he played a role in the Canadiens getting into the playoffs this spring. 

John Tortorella may not be the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers anymore, but in his short time coaching rookies Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko, the polarizing bench boss left his mark.

Michkov, in particular, butted heads with Tortorella often. Sometimes the 20-year-old Russian was reduced to a healthy scratch by Tortorella, and other times, he would get benched and verbally clash with Tortorella on the bench.

In the end, though, the Flyers’ star rookie was better for it. In a recent interview with ЛЕД | NHL on YouTube, Michkov shared further insights into his experiences with the fiery head coach, including an interesting note on making his NHL debut for Tortorella alongside fellow youngster Jett Luchanko.

“John Tortorella came into the locker room before the first match - that’s when I made my debut, and Jett Luchanko, we debuted together,” Michkov began. “He came into the locker room and said, ‘Let’s go. These are our two young players, and today, we will play for them, fight with them, support them, always help them. Here, we play for each other.’ He told us not to worry, and we just went out on the ice and did what we knew how to do and didn’t invent anything.”

Michkov ultimately finished his NHL debut against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 11 with four shots on goal, a blocked shot, and a missed shootout attempt, but recorded his first NHL point - an assist - against the Calgary Flames one night later on Oct. 12.

Overall, the 5-foot-10 winger played 71 games under Tortorella last season, scoring 20 goals, 31 assists, and 51 points; Tortorella was fired by the Flyers shortly before the end of the season on March 27.

“We have a great relationship, even despite what happened there. It all happened during the game,” Michkov added. “I understand, and he understands, that everything is based on emotions, and in some moments, he couldn’t control his emotions, I couldn’t control mine, and we told each other face to face.

“We got off the ice, went into the locker room, he would call me over and say ‘Damn, come on, excuse me, you’re really wrong there,’ and I tell him ‘Well, you’re sorry, that’s it, there.’ That’s it. Let’s go out, we don’t show anything as a team, all together, amicably. We have one goal: to win. And we go out on the ice and do the same job and sail in the same boat.”

Communication, too, could be an issue due to the language barrier, but the two still spoke often and maintained that relationship away from the rink.

“Often he called, but he called not only to talk about something personal or something else,” added Michkov. “He just called to explain something to me, some tactics, strategy. Because this is my first season, and I came without knowing English, and, at some points, it was hard for me. But he understood it.”

Michkov has taken multiple opportunities to publicly praise Tortorella, his first NHL coach, even after he was dismissed by the Flyers, and this was no different.

The two are more similar in personality than most think, and through that, they formed a bond that will last them through their professional careers and perhaps beyond.

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Welcome back to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s Coaches as Players series. Last time, we looked at Canucks skills and skating coach Jason Krog’s NHL career with the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Canucks. Today, let’s recap assistant coach Scott Young’s career with the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Québec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, the Ducks, St. Louis Blues, and Dallas Stars. 

Young was a former first-round pick, taken 11th overall by the Whalers in the 1986 NHL Draft. While he had spent time as a defenceman before joining the NHL, according to Elite Prospects, Young played his entire NHL career as a forward. He spent two seasons with Boston College of the NCAA before joining the Whalers, putting up 31 goals and 34 assists in 71 games. He also played for Team USA at the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship for three consecutive seasons and was named captain in his final stint. 

The 1987–88 season was Young’s first in the NHL, during which he played a total of seven games. He made his NHL debut on March 2, 1988, against the Chicago Blackhawks. For the reast of the season, he played with Team USA’s National Team alongside players such as Tony Granato, Craig Janney, and Mike Richter. He finished his 56-game stint with 11 goals and 47 assists. He joined the Whalers for a postseason run, scoring his first NHL goal in Game 2 of a four-game series loss to the Montréal Canadiens.

In 1988–89, Young saw an increase in playing time with the Whalers, finishing the regular season with 76 games played. He potted his first NHL assist in the season opening game against the Nordiques and went on a seven-game point streak (nine points) only a couple of games later. Young followed this up with a nine-game point streak in November that saw him score two goals and 11 assists. By the end of the season, he recorded 19 goals, 40 assists, and 13 multi-point games, with two of these being three-point efforts. He also represented the USA at the World Championship, putting up seven assists in 10 games. In yet another first-round playoff loss to the Canadiens, Young put up two goals. 

The 1989–90 season was Young’s last full season as a member of the Whalers. This year, he scored 24 goals and 60 assists in 80 games, continuing his run of offensive skill and multi-point matches (including three three-point games). In this postseason, the Whalers made it to seven games, but were still eliminated in the first round — this time by the Boston Bruins. 

Young’s career with the Whalers came to an end in 1990–91, as the forward was traded to the Penguins in exchange for Rob Brown. Prior to this move, Young played 34 more games with Hartford, scoring six goals and nine assists. He played the remainder of the season with the Penguins, putting together an 11-goal, 16-assist campaign in 43 games, and joining the team for 17 games of their first of two consecutive Stanley Cup wins. 

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The 1991–92 season saw Young head to Italy to play with HC Bolzano, as well as at the Olympics for Team USA. He didn’t see any NHL time this year due to the 1992 NHL strike, and was later traded to Québec in exchange for Bryan Fogarty. He made his return to the league in the 1992–93 season, putting up 30 goals and 30 assists in 82 games, as well as four goals and one assist in six playoff games. However, it wasn’t long until Young left the NHL yet again, as two years after the strike in 1992 came the 1994 NHL lockout. During this time, he played with the Frankfurt Lions and EV Landshut of the DEL. 

By Young’s next NHL season, the Nordiques had made the move to relocate, now going by the Avalanche based out of Colorado. Individually speaking, Young had yet another solid season offensively, scoring 21 goals and 39 assists in 81 games. He put up three goals and 12 assists in 22 postseason games, helping the Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He followed this up with an 18-goal, 19-assist season and a Conference Final loss for Colorado. 

Before the start of the 1997–98 season, Young was traded yet again, this time to the Ducks. He only spent one season with Anaheim, scoring 13 goals and 20 assists in 73 games. Things changed when he joined the Blues, who he signed with in free agency in 1998. In his first season with St. Louis, he scored 24 goals and 28 assists in 75 regular season games, as well as four goals and seven assists in 13 playoff games. His most offensively prolific NHL season came when he was a member of St. Louis, as he posted a career-high of 40 goals and also added 33 assists in 81 games during the 2000–01 season. The Blues made the playoffs in every season of Young’s first stint with them, but were unable to advance past the Conference Finals. 

In 2002, Young signed with the Stars in free agency, marking the end of a four-year stretch with St. Louis. He spent two seasons with Dallas, scoring 23 goals and 19 assists in 2002–03 and eight goals and eight assists in 2003–04. He left the league for the third time in his career in 2004–05 due to the lockout, playing in three games for the Memphis RiverKings of the CHL. After the NHL resumed operations in 2005, he signed another contract with the Blues, returning for one more season before departing from the NHL for good. 

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Each off-season, anticipation builds over potential European standouts making the move to the NHL. 

In recent years, we've seen players like Maxim Tsyplakov, Andrei Kuzmenko, Ilya Mikheyev, and Nikita Gusev sign with NHL clubs and have various levels of impact. No European signing has had the impact Artemi Panarin has had, scoring 302 goals and 870 points in 752 games since signing with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015.

The NHL has also seen players head in the opposite direction, leaving the NHL to pursue a career in Europe. The most common case for those players is that they were struggling to maintain a job in the NHL and were looking for a change of scenery in hopes of rejuvenating their careers. 

This off-season has witnessed several players make the long-awaited jump to North America, but three players stand out and could have the greatest impacts on their teams.

Maxim Shabanov, New York Islanders

Shabanov was the most sought-after European free agent of the off-season, garnering interest from several teams. The 24-year-old took his time before making his decision, ultimately joining Tsyplakov on the New York Islanders.

Listed at just 5-foot-8, 156 pounds, Shabanov is on the smaller side of NHL players, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for it in skill. Shabanov recorded 23 goals and 67 points in 65 KHL games last season, serving as the driving force of Chelyabinsk, which lost in the Gagarin Cup finals. 

Shabanov is almost certainly a lock to make the Islanders' opening night lineup, and he could very well compete for a spot in the top six. The Islanders' forward group, especially on the wing, doesn't blow you away with skilled players, which gives Shabanov some runway to push for a larger role.  

Vitali Kravtsov, Vancouver Canucks

Kravtsov and Shabanov were teammates on Chelyabinsk, finishing first and second in points. Kravtsov led the team in goals, scoring 27, while pouring in 58 points in 66 games. The 25-year-old is a former ninth overall pick of the New York Rangers, but his first stint away from home was disappointing.

Plenty of hype had surrounded Kravtsov before he signed his entry-level contract with the Rangers, and the expectations proved to be too high. He wasn't interested in playing in the AHL, which resulted in loans back to the KHL when he couldn't maintain a spot in the NHL. After four seasons, the Rangers dealt him to the Canucks, where he'll be making his return.

His first stint in the NHL witnessed him notch six goals and 12 points in 64 games. Now, a bit older, more mature and carrying more confidence, Kravtsov will have the opportunity to fight for a roster spot out of training camp and play on a roster filled with talented players. 

David Tomasek, Edmonton Oilers

Tomasek, a Czech-born right-handed shooter, dominated the Swedish league last season, scoring 24 goals and 57 points in 47 games. He led the SHL in assists and points, and the year prior led the league in goals. The 29-year-old is a journeyman, previously playing in Finland, Czechia and the OHL during his junior hockey career. 

Tomasek was never drafted into the NHL, but his balance as an offensive threat could be a tool the Oilers utilize. At the moment, Tomasek is likely on the outside looking in when thinking of projections for the Oilers roster, despite signing $1.2 million contract. 

Tomasek becomes a UFA following the conclusion of the contract, which means the Oilers, at some point during the 2025-26 season, will give him an extended look on the roster. His 6-foot-2 and 190-pound frame should allow him to play anywhere in the lineup. The tricky part for coach Kris Knoblauch is finding where he is best suited. 

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The Philadelphia Flyers may have temporarily patched up their goalie issues for now, but even GM Danny Briere admitted that won't always be the case.

Assuming the Flyers are rolling with Dan Vladar and Sam Ersson as their tandem in the 2025-26 season, Ivan Fedotov will join prospect Carson Bjarnason and, perhaps, Aleksei Kolosov in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Of the five, though, Vladar and Bjarnason are the only ones signed beyond this season, and Bjarnason is still a teenager.

Given how the last year has gone, it's safe to assume neither Fedotov nor Kolosov have futures in the NHL with Philadelphia, so there's room for opporunity here.

One goalie in need of an opportunity of his own is Nico Daws, who plays up the turnpike for the Metropolitan Division rival New Jersey Devils.

But, why would the Flyers want a third goalie? And why would the Devils trade away a 24-year-old prospect?

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Briere has already said what we're all thinking: the Flyers are, more than likely, going to make use of a third goaltender at some point this season, whether it be due to injury or a dip in performance.

Vladar, 27, has never started 30 games in an NHL season before. While Ersson has, he's had to grapple with injuries and a workload he hasn't yet proven capable of handling.

And, if Briere and the Flyers are out on Fedotov and Kolosov, why give them the NHL reps?

This is where an option like Daws makes some sense.

The Devils are already set in goal for the foreseeable future after re-signing Jake Allen, Jacob Markstrom's backup, this summer.

Daws, a former third-round pick, is no longer waivers-exempt, meaning the Devils will likely lose him for free if he doesn't make the NHL roster or get traded before the season starts.

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The Munich-born netminder already has 52 games of NHL experience, posting a 22-23-1 record, a 2.98 GAA, a .898 save percentage, and one shutout while making 47 starts.

Daws saw his most extensive NHL stints come in the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, when the Devils struggled badly with injuries, health, and level of play at the goalie position.

When the Devils are good, though? It's a different story, albeit in a small sample size.

Last season, when Markstrom went down with a knee injury, Daws filled in behind Allen, playing in six games and starting four.

Across those games, the Devils goalie prospect went 3-1-0 with a jaw-dropping 1.60 GAA and a .939 save percentage while earning his first NHL shutout with a 29-save outing against the Nashville Predators on Feb. 23.

And, who can forget when Daws made 45 saves in a 6-3 takedown of the Flyers in the Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium just over a year ago? As an aside, those 45 saves are an outdoor game record.

Aside from Ersson, the Flyers lack options for an immediate, long-term solution at the goalie position. Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin are still a few years away, while it's unlikely Vladar is a late bloomer waiting to suddenly become an NHL starter.

And, if things don't work out with Daws, he's only under contract for one more year. It's better the Flyers have lots of arrows in the quiver than to have no options to try at all.

For the Flyers, players in their mid 20s are within the ideal age range to be targeting at this time, and the Devils may be forced to give up Daws one way or another.