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Flyers Can't Meet Reported Ducks Trade Price for Mason McTavish

The Flyers have no chance of acquiring Mason McTavish at this reported cost. (Photo: Gary A. Vazquez, Imagn Images)

Following a new report, it would appear the Philadelphia Flyers don't have much of a chance of landing Mason McTavish in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks at all.

The reason isn't why you might think, either. Surprisingly, the reality is the reported asking price from the Ducks for McTavish starts with a player the Flyers simply do not have and cannot offer.

According to an NHL executive via Jimmy Murphy of RG, the Ducks would at least like a long-term, right-shot future top-pairing defenseman.

 "Unless you’re willing to get creative and knock [GM Pat Verbeek's] socks off with a monster offer, I don’t see him getting traded at this point. A right-shot, top-four and future top-pairing defenseman would be the starting point from what I know," the NHL executive told RG. "I don’t see the [Detroit Red Wings] moving Moritz Seider, so you’re likely talking Axel Sandin-Pellikka."

A cabal of Flyers fans have been holding out hope that Flyers GM Danny Briere has one more big move in him this offseason, particularly for McTavish, but based on the above information, there's no way that will happen.

Ironically, the closest thing the Flyers have to offer that would even remotely compare to a player like Moritz Seider or Axel Sandin-Pellikka is Jamie Drysdale, who was traded by the Ducks to the Flyers already last January.

Philadelphia Flyers Should Avoid This Potential Ducks Trade TargetPhiladelphia Flyers Should Avoid This Potential Ducks Trade TargetThe Philadelphia Flyers are still well positioned to execute a blockbuster trade for a top center this summer, but one popular potential trade target on the Anaheim Ducks isn't worth all the hype.

Prospects like Spencer Gill and Oliver Bonk might make some sense, but neither has the draft pedigree or pro experience that Sandin-Pellikka has.

The 20-year-old Swede has already won the SHL and owns 52 points in 107 regular season games across three seasons in Sweden's top hockey league.

Bonk, on the other hand, will be playing pro for the first time this fall and saw his production drop exponentially with the OHL London Knights this past season.

Plus, Briere and the Flyers already pried forward Trevor Zegras out of Anaheim in an attempt to resolve their issues at center and inject some skill into the top-six.

How many times can these two sides realistically continue to exchange core players and key draft assets?

There is a fit for McTavish in Philadelphia with the Flyers, yes, but it's unlikely the Flyers want to continue to fork over prime assets for more players who may or may not reach their full potential.

Instead, a slow burn towards the finish line of this rebuild is the path of least resistance at this time.

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Mets nearly no-hit by Gavin Williams in 4-1 loss to Guardians

The Mets fell to the Cleveland Guardians by a score of 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon, and have now lost eight of their last nine games.

Here are the takeaways...

-- The story of the day was Guardians starter Gavin Williams, who carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning.

After not recording a hit over the final four innings of Tuesday's loss, the Mets were left searching for answers against Williams, as the right-hander had his fastball sitting in the high-90s and induced plenty of weak contact. While he only struck out six hitters, he kept his pitch count relatively low, though he was up to 111 pitches through eight innings. 

In the ninth, Williams struck out Francisco Lindor swinging to start things off, but Juan Soto ended the no-no, homering to center field on Williams' 117th pitch of the game. Williams issued a walk later in the inning, and his afternoon ended after 8.2 innings and 126 pitches. Hunter Gaddis came in and recorded the final out, and Williams' final line read 8.2 innings, one run, one hit, six strikeouts, and four walks.

-- It seems like in every potential no-hitter situation, there's always one or two stellar defensive plays that keep it going. Lindor, the first batter of the game, lined one right back to Williams which knocked his glove off his hand, but Williams recovered to get the out at first. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Mark Vientos flared a ball to shallow right field and C.J. Kayfus laid out to make the grab, keeping the no-no alive for the time being.

-- David Peterson has been the only Mets starting pitcher to give them any length of late, and while he pitched deep into the game once again, he didn't receive any run support and was tagged for a couple of home runs. The lefty allowed a solo home run to David Fry in the top of the second, and fell victim to the long ball again in the third, when Angel Martinez lined a two-run shot to left.

Gabriel Arias later lined a two-out, RBI triple to right-center to extend the Guardians' lead to 4-0 in the sixth. That was the final frame for Peterson, who went 6.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking two.

-- While it was a game to forget for the offense overall, Brandon Nimmo reached base three times on three walks.

Game MVP

Williams, who came within two outs of recording the first no-hitter in the majors this season.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets are off on Thursday before beginning a three-game series in Milwaukee against the red-hot Brewers on Friday at 8:10 p.m. on SNY. 

Kodai Senga is scheduled to face Brandon Woodruff.

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Yankees' Aaron Judge 'felt good' after throwing for first time since returning from elbow injury

Aaron Judge, already back in the Yankees lineup as a DH, took a big step in his return to the outfield ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers. 

Judge threw from about 60 feet while playing catch with Giancarlo Stanton on the outfield grass and came out feeling positive about his progress from the flexor strain in his right arm.

“Felt good to get out there. We’ll see what I can do tomorrow,” Judge said, via Newsday. “You’ve got a flexor strain. Like a hammy, the first time you run on a hammy, it’s going to be sore. But I didn’t feel like I did when I hurt it.”

The slugger went hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts in his first game back from the 10-day IL on Tuesday -- his first action since sustaining the injury on July 22 in Toronto. 

When asked if the soreness would be something he will have to manage for the remainder of the season, Judge said he anticipates it will eventually subside.

“I think for a little bit, and then eventually it will get better and we’ll be good to go and forget about it in a couple of weeks,” Judge said. “We’ll see. I’ve never had this. 

“Would be easier if I had a quad or a hammy or oblique, I could kind of give you a better estimate of what we’ve got.”

In that regard, Judge equated the injury to “any muscle injury” when it comes down to playing despite any lingering pain.  

“You pull a hammy, you have to be smart,” he said. “You just can’t blow it out. We’ll be smart with it.”

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Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Joined By Brother And Father On Deluxe Edition Of EA Sports NHL 26

EA Sports NHL 26 Deluxe Cover

On Monday, Florida Panthers superstar winger Matthew Tkachuk was announced as the EA Sports NHL 26 cover athlete, becoming the first Panther to grace the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck on NHL 97.

Following the announcement, EA Sports revealed that a full preview of the game was to come out today, on Wednesday, Aug. 6. gameplay of the game, which is set to release on Sept. 13, was shown, but it was also revealed the deluxe version of the game would feature a cover of Tkachuk, alongside his brother Brady and his father Keith. 

Brady is the captain of the Ottawa Senators, a division foe of the Panthers. The brothers have been wreaking havoc in the NHL and joined forces on Team USA's 4 Nations Face-Off roster. The 25-year-old Brady scored 29 goals and 55 points last season, but has a career high of 37 goals and 83 points. 

Keith, the father of Matthew and Brady, never won a Stanley Cup, but if his sons want to catch him in all-time goals and points, they'll have a lot of work to do. Keith played 18 seasons in the NHL, scoring 538 goals and 1065 points in 1201 games. Currently, Matthew is trailing his father by 298 goals and 429 points, while playing 559 fewer games. 

Last year's edition of the game featured the Hughes brothers, portraying Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and New Jersey Devils stars Jack and Luke Hughes. While still following the theme, EA Sports came up with a clever switch in their marketing.

Matthew Tkachuk featured on cover of NHL 26, first Panthers player selected since John VanbiesbrouckMatthew Tkachuk featured on cover of NHL 26, first Panthers player selected since John VanbiesbrouckIt’s been a long time since a Florida Panthers player graced the cover of a major NHL video game.
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Hurricanes Have High Expectations For Alexander Nikishin Ahead Of Upcoming Rookie Season

James Guillory-Imagn Images

One of the most intriguing prospects for the Carolina Hurricanes is defenseman Alexander Nikishin. 

The 2020 third-round pick played multiple seasons in the KHL and served as the captain for SKA Saint Petersburg for two seasons. 

Nikishin signed his entry-level contract with the Hurricanes in April and played in four games through the team’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final. 

Now, Nikishin is entering the 2025-26 season with high expectations.

“To be able to have the game slow down as quick as it did for him [in the playoffs] is really something that attributes to just how high of a prospect he can be," Hurricanes assistant general manager Darren Yorke said via NHL.com. "The way he wants to play is exactly how the Carolina Hurricanes play. It really fits with his ability to get up in the play and be aggressive.”

The Hurricanes Have Reportedly Spent Time ‘Investigating’ The Possibility Of Trading For Erik KarlssonThe Hurricanes Have Reportedly Spent Time ‘Investigating’ The Possibility Of Trading For Erik KarlssonCould the Carolina Hurricanes be looking to trade for defenseman Erik Karlsson from the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Barring anything unforeseen, the 23-year-old defenseman should make the Hurricanes’ opening-night roster out of training camp and serve a crucial role moving forward.

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Tkachuk Family Announced As NHL 26 Deluxe Edition Cover Athletes

Matthew, Brady, and Keith Tkachuk will grace the deluxe edition cover of NHL 26. 

A five-time All-Star and 1997 Maurice Richard Trophy winner, Keith Tkachuk will appear on the cover in a St. Louis Blues jersey. He played 543 regular season games for the Blues over parts of nine seasons and currently serves as the team's Director of Recruitment. 

The last Blues player to be on the cover was Vladimir Tarasenko in NHL 17.

A four-time All-Star and captain of the Ottawa Senators, Brady Tkachuk becomes the first Senators player to appear on the cover of an EA NHL game. Craig Anderson was available as a custom cover on NHL 14, and Jason Spezza was on the cover of NHL 2K8.

Matthew Tkachuk was announced at the standard edition cover athlete on Aug. 4.

The father-son trio have combined for 969 career goals.  

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.  

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL

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People close to Luka Doncic say 'he’s moved on' from shocking trade out of Dallas

The story of Luka Doncic signing a max three-year extension with the Lakers could not be told without discussing the shocking trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers in the first place.

What was clear from listening to Doncic at his press conference after the signing was that he was looking forward, not back. That's what his manager, Lara Beth Seager, told Dan Woike of The Athletic.

"He's moved on," she told The Athletic...

"He's only looking forward. And he's here. He wants to get the best players here. He wants to win, and he knows it starts with him. And I think that's what he proved this offseason. 'OK, everyone wants to say or people think that they know me or I'm not a leader or I'm this way, or I'm that way, I don't care. They can think and say whatever they want. I'm gonna show them who I am."

Nothing helps someone move on like $165 million. That new contract helps.

Seager compared Doncic's situation with the Lakers like a marriage, one that may have ups and downs but is built on trust and loyalty. That echoed what Doncic himself said during his press conference.

"I was kind of thinking, obviously not at the moment when I got traded, but later on when I started playing, I wanted to be here," Doncic said. "Like I said, this is an amazing organization. We have a trust in each other, so honestly, I decided pretty quick."

That commitment to the Lakers and the future may be most evident in his post-trade revenge body and newfound commitment to conditioning.

"I would just say, it was like a fresh start for me," Doncic said. "Obviously, I was on my way of doing it [already], but it was just kind of a fresh start. I had a little more time to get my mind on basketball, just doing other things. So, I would just say, like, a fresh start for me."

Doncic has moved on, and the lottery luck leading to Cooper Flagg landing in Dallas has helped that organization and its fan base move on. That's healthy for everyone involved.

It doesn't mean that a Lakers vs. Mavericks Christmas Day game wouldn't be a real showcase for the league. Sports fans aren't going to move on quite as quickly.

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Blackhawks: How Does Nazar Compare to the Top Performers of 2022 Draft?

Frank Nazar has arrived for the Chicago Blackhawks and will be in the second line center role for the foreseeable future. He broke into the NHL last season after dominating the AHL and isn't going to look back. The Blackhawks' future down the middle looks good with Connor Bedard, Nazar, and Anton Frondell, but either Bedard or Frondell are going to be the one moving over to the wing in the top-6.

Only six players drafted in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft haven't played a game in the NHL and a scattered number of players past the first round have. Amongst the top performers from the draft already is Nazar, despite being the Blackhawks' second first-round pick that year behind Kevin Korchinski.

Nazar is the eighth-highest point producer from the 2022 draft, even though the point totals aren't all that high yet. He has 27 points in the NHL, and that's pretty good for one partial season, whereas others have two to three full seasons under their belts already.

Ahead of Nazar is Juraj Slafkovsky (111), Logan Cooley (109), Lane Hutson (68), Shane Wright (51), Pavel Mintyukov (47), Cutter Gauthier (45), and Marco Kasper (37) with Matthew Poitras (26) and Jiri Kulich (24) right behind Nazar.

Some of these players have a head start on Nazar and will likely have better linemates to play with next season, but things could change pretty quickly for the Blackhawks who will continue to look to add big names in the coming years. It's almost impossible to say who will have the longest career or who will even have the most success from a close 2022 draft, but that's the fun of watching.

Nazar is just kicking off his career and can hang with almost anyone from the draft. 2025-26 will be a telling season with a number of these players already having roles in the NHL.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game day coverage, player features, and more.

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Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk Featured On NHL 26 Cover

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk had a treat for Senators fans on Wednesday afternoon. He posted on social media the new cover of EA Sports’ NHL 26 Deluxe Edition, which features the NHL-playing members of the Tkachuk family.

The cover shows Brady and his father, Keith Tkachuk, flanking his brother, Matthew, who has won the last two Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers.

Brady’s caption on Twitter read: “A lifetime of hockey together, now a cover we'll never forget. Pre-order 26 to get 7-day early access and check my game.”

The link directs users to EA Sports’ website, where they can watch the official 2-minute reveal trailer, which prominently features the Tkachuks in real and virtual form.

The Tkachuks' popularity went to another level in the past few months with both Brady and Matthew playing so well at the 4 Nations Face-off in February, along with Matthew's second Cup win in as many years.

“Growing up, Matthew and I dreamed of playing just like our dad,” Brady said in an EA Sports press release on Wednesday. “Even now, his influence on how we play and prepare remains huge. It’s an honour to be featured on the cover, and having him standing alongside us makes the whole thing even better.”

Matthew agreed.

“My dad, Brady and I are all unique and play the way we want to. Sharing the cover of NHL 26 is an extension of that,” Matthew said. “I’ve always tried to bring my own style to the ice, and seeing that captured in NHL 26 makes it feel like it is really me out there.”

“I always told the boys to play hard, be smart, and never lose their personality out there,” Ketih said. “What you see now is two players with totally unique styles, and I’m proud to be sharing the cover with them.”

From the EA Sports Press Release:

Electronic Arts Inc. today unveils EA SPORTS™ NHL® 26, launching September 12, 2025, on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S with a new level of on-ice authenticity and superstar quality.

Back-to-back Stanley Cup champion, Matthew Tkachuk, graces the cover of the deluxe edition alongside his brother, Brady, and their father, Keith, in a dream lineup uniting hockey’s present and past. With real-world NHL EDGE positional data (NHL Puck and Player Tracking) powering gameplay, in partnership with the NHL, and a reimagined Be A Pro mode that immerses players in the stakes and emotions of playing at the highest level, NHL 26 delivers an immersive and intense experience for hockey fans around the world.

This year’s cover athletes challenge traditional notions of NHL superstardom. Matthew Tkachuk, known for his relentless physicality and skill, has captivated fans with a signature style that breaks the conventional playbook. Bringing together two generations of Tkachuks, the cover highlights a family that’s carved its own path with individuality, edge, and an unyielding drive to win.

The Deluxe Edition launches on September 5, with the worldwide release following on September 12.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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EA SPORTS NHL 26 To Release Sept. 12

EA SPORTS NHL 26 will officially release worldwide on Sept. 12, 2025.

This is nearly one month earlier than NHL 25 which released on Oct. 4 and is the first NHL title to receive a September release date since NHL 20.  Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will be able to play one week early on Sept. 5. 

The reveal trailer is available on EA SPORTS' YouTube, and more information on how to pre-order on the EA website. 

Per EA, those who pre-order the deluxe edition receive: 

  • 7-day early access (starting September 5)
  • 4600 NHL Points
  • HUT Starter Choice Pack (83 OVR)
  • HUT NHL Player Pack
  • HUT Icon Choice Pack (86 OVR)
  • HUT Heroes Choice Pack (84 OVR)
  • Matthew Tkachuk 99 OVR item* (available immediately in NHL 25 with digital pre-order)
  • World of Chel Vanity Set
  • World of Chel Battle Pass XP Boost (x2)

Those who pre-order the standard edition receive: 

  • HUT NHL Player Pack
  • World of Chel Battle Pass XP Boost (x2)
  • Matthew Tkachuk 99 OVR item (available immediately in NHL 25 with digital pre-order)

EA Play members receive 10 hours of early access beginning Sept. 5. 

We will breakdown what is new in the trailer later today. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.  

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL

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Rick Carlisle on building a team in modern NBA: 'The NBA game has now become a play hard league'

Part of the discussion about Luka Doncic’s extension with the Los Angeles Lakers — after LeBron James opted into his contract — was about the Lakers' potential to have max cap space as soon as next summer. That allows them to retool the roster around Luka Doncic, which sparked some speculation about the Lakers chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo or other stars to slot in where LeBron stands now, building a classic multi-star title team. Multiple superstars has always been the Lakers' ideal.

Rick Carlisle is questioning that old-school thinking and if that's the best way to build a contender in the modern NBA.

In a fantastic interview/conversation with Caitlin Cooper of “Basketball She Wrote” (a journalist every basketball fan should follow), Carlisle talked about how the Pacers were built and won, and that serving as a model for other teams (an echo of things he said during the Finals).

"The NBA game has now become a play hard league. It's not just being top heavy with stars. Roster construction is changing... It's become more important to have more good players than be top heavy with two or three great players that get all the touches."

These past NBA Finals were a testament to that. Oklahoma City boasts MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while Indiana features an All-NBA, Olympian player in Tyrese Haliburton. However, in both cases, these were teams deep with good role players who played hard nightly and fit the teams' systems and styles — neither team rolled out a player the other team could just instantly target in their top eight. This wasn't SGA and Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren covering up for the players below them, OKC rolled out quality players in Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, and on and on down the line.

The key to those rosters was not the high ceilings of the stars but the high floor of the top eight — Indiana reached the Finals on the strength of that idea. The Pacers didn't just have Haliburton, Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam, there were quality players in Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin and Ben Sheppard. There was quality depth Carlisle could trust in a way that was not happening with the New York Knicks, for example.

A year prior it was the same thing, the Celtics had stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but that roster also was eight deep with players Joe Mazzulla could lean into: Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and on down the line. Two years ago, it was an MVP in Nikola Jokic in Denver but surrounded by depth in guys such as Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, Christian Braun and more.

During the NBA Finals, Carlisle owned the idea that none of this works without the right star at the top — a team needs a transcendent star or two. However, beyond that, it becomes about depth more than stockpiling stars. It's not how strong the stars at the top are, but how weak is the weakest link in the chain? And come the playoffs, can opponents pull the chain apart by focusing on that weak link?

Fans are understandably weary of talk of the NBA and its tax aprons, but those are changing how teams are built now. Carlisle has seen the future, as have the Pacers, and they were in the Finals because of it. Expect other innovative teams to try to follow this model.

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Ready To Break Out: Central Division

By Jared Clinton, features writer

New seasons provide new opportunities, which create avenues for players to break out. The 2025-26 season will be no different, and in this article, The Hockey News take a look at the strongest candidates to make a name for themselves or ascend into stardom on the Central Division teams.

Chicago Blackhawks: Spencer Knight

The state of the Blackhawks roster is such that Spencer Knight is unlikely to find himself in Vezina Trophy talks. In fact, his stats might even appear subpar. But his time as a Florida Panther provided insight into the stopper Knight can become. He offered glimpses into his upside, too, upon landing in the Windy City, including a spectacular 41-save performance in his Hawks debut. With the starting reins for the first time in his career, if the 24-year-old gives Chicago the chance to win each might, he’ll have worked wonders. 

Colorado Avalanche: Jack Drury

Jack Drury wasn’t the centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen swap with the Carolina Hurricanes - that was Martin Necas - but it’s no surprise Colorado wanted the 25-year-old in the deal. Though his offensive numbers leave something to be desired, with Drury maxing out at eight goals and 27 points in 2023-24, he has an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time on either side of the puck. It’s only a matter of time before goals begin falling for him, particularly with an Avs team that’s more dynamic. 

Lian Bichsel (Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images)

Dallas Stars: Lian Bichsel

Miro Heiskanen’s injury provided a chance, and Lian Bichsel ran with it. The 21-year-old was a staple of the Stars’ blueline down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the 6-foot-7, 230-pounder made his case to start next season in Dallas. His four goals and nine points per game set offensive expectations a bit high, as he profiles as a shutdown rearguard. The Stars need to clear up cap space, and they can be confident doing so on the back end, given Bichsel is primed to assume middle-pairing minutes next season. 

Minnesota Wild: Liam Ohgren

Don’t let the meager two-goal, five-point NHL output fool you. Liam Ohgren has the offensive chops. Take his 19-goal, 37-point performance in the AHL as evidence. That performance gave Ohgren, 21, the third-best points per game among rookies to play at least half the season. Chances are Ohgren will begin the year assuming bottom-six duty with a dash of PP time, but his gifts will see him pushing for a large role by season’s end. He won’t be a top producer yet, but he’s a safe bet to be a great depth contributor.

Nashville Predators: Zachary L’Heureux

One way or another, Zachary L’Heureux will make his presence felt in Nashville next season. The 22-year-old scored, crashed and banged his way onto the Predators’ 2024-25 roster on the heels of a 19-goal, 48-point AHL campaign the year prior. He brought the same high-energy style to the big club, leading all Preds forwards with 198 hits. He plays on a razor’s edge, but he’s more than a heat-seeking forechecking missile: he chipped in 15 points and finished eighth in per-60 scoring at five-a-side for Nashville.

Jake Neighbours (Caean Couto-Imagn Images)

St. Louis Blues: Jake Neighbours

If you were to plot Jake Neighbours’ progression through the first three seasons of his career, it would follow a steady upward arc. And there’s no reason to believe the 23-year-old is going to be resting on his laurels. Neighbours posted a new career-best last season with 46 points and further established himself as a central figure in the new-look Blues offense. Only three St. Louis forwards saw the ice more in the post-season, which indicated Neighbours is a big part of coach Jim Montgomery’s plans moving forward. 

Utah Mammoth: Josh Doan (Now with the Buffalo Sabres)

When Utah demoted Josh Doan to the AHL after he’d started the season in the NHL, Doan’s confidence could’ve been shattered. But the 23-year-old put his head down and turned in a near-point-per-game performance with the Tucson Roadrunners, forcing Utah’s hand and proving himself once called back to the big club. His six goals and 17 points in the final 42 games are a promising sign, too. Doan won’t be pencilled into the top six, but he can flirt with the 40-point plateau from the third line next season.

Winniepg Jets: Nikita Chibrikov

With Adam Lowry sidelined, the Jets need to add a middler-six center, and that will have the knock-on effect of requiring cost-effective options to fill out the roster. That should allow Nikita Chibirkov to slot into a bottom-six role. The 22-year-old looked like he belonged in his five prior NHL games, and the ability to play a scrappier game will earn him chances ahead of fellow rookie Brad Lambert. There’s serious upside as well, as Chibirkov has netted 24 goals and 65 points in 100 AHL games over the past two seasons. 

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

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Rangers' 2018 First-Round Pick Makes Return To NHL With Canucks In Hopes Of Reviving Career

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks have signed former New York Rangers forward Vitali Kravtsov to a one-year, two-way contract.

In 2018, the Rangers drafted Kravtsov with the ninth overall pick in the first round.

Despite investing high draft capital to select Kravtsov, he failed to live up to expectations as he played just 64 games in three seasons for the Rangers, recording six goals, six assists, and 12 points. 

The Rangers traded Kravtsov to the Canucks in 2023, where he played 16 games before leaving the NHL to join the KHL. 

After two seasons in the KHL, the 25-year-old forward is making a return to North America with the hopes of reviving his NHL career. 

“Vitali had a strong season in the KHL and was an impact player for his team,”  Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “In his two seasons in Russia, he has worked hard on his game, and we look forward to seeing where Vitali is at when he comes to training camp in Penticton.”

Adam Edström Has A Chance To Build On Success After Signing Contract ExtensionAdam Edström Has A Chance To Build On Success After Signing Contract ExtensionAdam Edström holds immense value for the New York Rangers. 

We will have to see if Kravtsov could still unleash his full potential that the Rangers once believed in.

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Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Patrik Laine

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed earlier this month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

Big winger Patrik Laine is not the player that some imagined when he was selected second overall at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo nine years ago, but the big Finn can do one thing that the Sabres may be looking for at some point next season, and that is goal scoring. The 27-year-old has scored 20 or more goals seven times, but the reason he is currently on his third club is that he is an offense-first forward who has never shown any sort of proficiency in playing defense.  

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Montreal received a second-round pick along with Laine last August from Columbus to take the winger’s full $8.7 million cap hit. Last season, after a preseason injury kept him out until December, he still managed 20 goals in 52 games. He also had the third-worst plus/minus on the club (-14) and scored 75% of his goals on the power play.    

What Would It Cost?

There has been some chatter that the Canadiens are looking to clear out Laine’s cap hit in the final year of his deal to make room if they can acquire a second-line center to play behind Nick Suzuki, but if they cannot find that elusive pivot, the only way moving his deal out makes sense would be closer to the trade deadline if the Habs are not in the playoff race. The expectation is that Montreal will continue their upward trajectory after making the post-season and losing to Washington in the first round, but if they are not if the mix, the likely cost to a team looking for goals like Buffalo is a second-round pick or a prospect capable of playing in the NHL like Isak Rosen.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo