According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Edmonton Oilers are off the hook for whatever it was the NHL was looking into regarding Evander Kane and the team's use of LTIR last season. 

Russo writes, "Bill Daly says the book has been closed on the NHL's examination of the Oilers for Evander Kane's LTIR situation last regular season/playoffs."

Bill Daly says the book has been closed on the NHL's examination of the Oilers for Evander Kane's LTIR situation last regular season/playoffs

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 9, 2025

Back in June,  NHL insider Frank Seravalli (then of Daily Faceoff) reported it was unclear what is motivating the extra time and resources being put into the investigation, but the NHL was looking at the Oilers and how they managed Kane's LTIR situation.

Insider Projects Nice Season For Oilers' New Wildcard Forward

Kane, who missed the 2024-25 regular season due to two surgeries—one for abdominal and groin issues in September and another in January to remove a knee growth—returned in Game 2 of the Oilers’ first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings. The NHL reviewed whether Edmonton violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement by activating Kane in the postseason, when the salary cap does not apply.

While the Oilers provided all the requested medical documentation, the league could have still issued retroactive penalties. No team has been punished for LTIR usage under the cap era, though debate over playoff cap rules continues and there will be changes made to the way teams can use LTIR in the future. 

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Kane was traded this summer to the Vancouver Canucks in a cap-clearing deal. 

It's unclear if the Oilers were ever worried about the investigation, but it's no longer an issue for the organization. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

In The Hockey News' Money & Power 2022 issue, publisher and owner W. Graeme Roustan wrote about how Ken Dryden's advice changed how he viewed the 75th season of the publication.

Dryden, who passed away on Sept. 5 at 78, spoke with Roustan on a one-hour call ahead of The Hockey News' 75th anniversary. Here is that story.

---

Ken Dryden was a hero of mine growing up in Montreal in the 1970s, not only because he was a towering figure on the ice but because he was the example my father had set that education was as important as playing hockey.

I started out as a goalie but soon moved up to center because I learned quickly that scoring goals was way more fun than being scored on. I was always the tallest kid on my teams growing up, and I was always told that I would make it to the NHL just as 100,000 other kids are told the same thing each year. It was not too long after watching Dryden play in the 1972 Summit Series that I knew that I didn’t want to travel on buses for the next five years knowing the odds were not in my favor to play in the NHL. What I did know was that I had the fire in my belly for hockey, which only grew with time.

In the January 2021 Money & Power issue, my Last Word column was titled “An Amazing Life in Hockey,” and I went through some of the hundreds of great hockey experiences that have made the quality of my life so much better.

As soon as that issue was published, I started thinking about the 75th season of The Hockey News, which commenced on Oct. 1, 2021. Knowing that Dryden was born on Aug. 8, 1947, and that he had been interviewed dozens of times over the years by The Hockey News, I thought I would reach out to him through a mutual friend to see if I could get his thoughts on the upcoming 75th season and anniversary of The Hockey News. I thought that since he was also born in 1947, as was The Hockey News, that would be a cool angle for a story. Not surprisingly, he agreed.

What started out with me asking him some questions on his past 70-plus years and the game of hockey, he turned the tables on me and asked me the question: what is it you are trying to do? Stumbling along, I said, “Celebrate the past 75 years of The Hockey News.” After a long pause he said he would like to tell me a story.

He said that during his lifetime he has been a father, husband, politician, lawyer, author, director, speaker, teacher, business executive, sports media commentator and NHL goalie for nine years, which is a relatively small amount of time since he’s now in his early 70s. He has given hundreds of speeches over the years, and in the early years of giving speeches, he would take the stage where he wanted to talk about what he was doing then, like talking about his latest book or on the politics of the day, but at the end of his speeches, the crowd only politely clapped, which was noticeably different after having received an ovation when he first entered the room.

He soon realized that no matter what group he was speaking to, they really wanted to hear something about the nine-year period when he was a goalie in the NHL, and that all the way to the event, they were getting excited to see the goalie Ken Dryden first. That is how they primarily identified with him, and although that was the past that they wanted to hear about, he realized that he must address it before he could talk about the future, which is where he wanted to focus on. Once he opened with, “Hi, I am Ken Dryden, and I used to be a goalie in the NHL,” which always drew a roar, he could move on to the present and the future, which was what he was truly interested in.

He then offered to me the greatest advice I have received from anyone since I acquired The Hockey News four years ago.

He said, “Graeme, it’s fine to talk to your readers about the past 75 years of The Hockey News and some of the memorable moments because that’s what they expect, but spend more time talking about the future of The Hockey News and what the next 75 years will be like. There are only these few opportunities like a 25th-, 50th-, 75th- and 100th-year anniversary that provide the perfect platform to talk about the future. Don’t miss this once-in-your-lifetime opportunity.”

Dryden challenged me to focus less on the past and more on the future of The Hockey News, which was completely the opposite of the way I was heading into the conversation with him. I was actually going to ask him to chronicle his past experiences being interviewed in The Hockey News, and during a one-hour call he had completely turned me around and set me off in a better direction. Needless to say that this only reaffirmed my already overall attitude of looking forward in life and only learning with an occasional reminiscing of the past.

After that call in February 2021, I immediately began upgrading The Hockey News print magazine, starting with Vol. 75, Issue 1, which was the Ultimate Fantasy Pool Guide in August followed by Issue 2, the Yearbook, to this, Issue 9 and beyond. I added more and diverse contributors that cover a wider variety of hockey topics on more platforms. I find myself even more now constantly talking with subscribers, readers, employees, contributors, sponsors, NHL executives, owners and players about the current state and future of The Hockey News.

Ken Dryden was a hero of mine as a kid in 1972 as I cheered for him and my hometown team as they won all those Stanley Cups. I could have never imagined as a kid back then that in 2021 the bigger-than-life Dryden would spend some of his time impressing upon me the valuable life lesson we all should embrace that while it is important to acknowledge the past, it is far more important to look to the future.

Thank you, Ken, for the fond memories that I still have from 50 years ago and for your guidance for The Hockey News as it begins its next 75 years.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor could be on a rival team next season.

The 27-year-old has reportedly signed a professional tryout with the Florida Panthers, according to Sports 1440’s Jason Gregor. Drafted in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Gregor has played six seasons in the NHL.

Gregor split last season with the Ottawa Senators and Sharks, playing a total of 52 games and scoring seven points (four goals and three assists). He was traded from Ottawa—along with Zack Ostapchuk and a 2025 second-round pick—to San Jose for Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

The Beaumont, Alberta-born forward joined the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout ahead of the 2023-24 season. After a strong training camp, Gregor inked a one-year, $775,000 contract on Oct. 10, 2023.

Gregor would go on to play within Toronto’s bottom six that year, scoring six goals and six assists in 63 games. He played two of the seven games against the Boston Bruins during the playoffs, but didn’t register a point.

After the season concluded, Gregor was a restricted free agent. Toronto, however, didn’t qualify him, and he became a free agent, ultimately signing a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Senators on July 1, 2024.

Gregor enters the mix in Florida following the club’s second-straight Stanley Cup win. The Panthers eliminated the Maple Leafs in seven games during the second round. They won eight of their next 11 games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers before hoisting the trophy again.

If Gregor earns a contract from the Panthers out of training camp, he’ll bring a ton of speed and versatility to the team’s bottom six. And given Florida’s track record of players improving in their organization, this could turn out to be a great move for the club, which is looking to three-peat as Stanley Cup Champions.

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The Florida Panthers have reportedly signed Noah Gregor to a professional try-out, according to Jason Gregor.

The 27-year-old is a speedy fourth-line winger with defensive upside. Throughout his career, he's been utilized on the penalty kill and as a checking forward. 

Gregor spent the 2024-25 season with the Ottawa Senators and the San Jose Sharks after the Senators sent Gregor to the Sharks in a package which helped them acquire Fabian Zetterlund. In 52 games, Gregor notched four goals and seven points. 

Prior to signing with the Senators, Gregor played 63 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring six goals and 12 points in the regular season before dressing for two post-season games. The six-foot, 190-pound left-handed winger started his career with the Sharks after they selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft.

He made his NHL debut in the 2019-20 season and recorded a career-high 23 points in the 2021-22 season. Each of his first three seasons with the Sharks witnessed him spend time in the AHL, but since 2022, Gregor has been a full-time NHL player, spending some time as a healthy scratch. 

The Panthers' three fourth-line spots are the story to watch in training camp and pre-season. Currently, Jesper Boqvist, Luke Kunin, Jonah Gadjovich, A.J. Greer and Tomas Nosek are competing for those spots, and now Gregor can be added to that list. 

Gregor, if signed, following his PTO, may not receive much game action to start the season, but he could be a great addition to the lineup when the Panthers face injuries or when Tkachuk returns and players are moved to free up cap space. 

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.

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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. 

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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

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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

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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.

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