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The Philadelphia Flyers can consider themselves somewhat lucky that prospect defenseman Helge Grans went unclaimed on waivers Tuesday, but where do the two sides go from here?

Grans, 23, is still under contract through next season after inking a two-year, $1.58 million contract extension this offseason.

At the same time, though, he was considered a shoo-in for the Flyers' roster this year in the wake of Rasmus Ristolainen's injury, only to get cut before players like Noah Juulsen, Adam Ginning, Emil Andrae, Dennis Gilbert, and Egor Zamula.

That's particularly prudent, as Ginning had an awful training camp last year and played in only one NHL game, whereas Grans played in his first six NHL games for the Flyers.

Now, the tables have turned, with Ginning putting himself in the driver's seat for a roster spot and Grans enduring the disastrous training camp. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet prefers to have a lefty and a righty on each defense pair, which underscores how bad Grans was to get to this point.

The 6-foot-3 Swede was such an attractive prospect heading into his draft year due to his rare combination of size and skating ability, but despite that size and skating ability, Grans was uncharacteristically and regularly beaten to the net with speed in the preseason.

Now that he can start the season in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Grans will have an opportunity to impress Flyers brass and begin auditioning for another opportunity as soon as possible.

Injured Flyers Prospect Missing Out on Big OpportunityIn what is shaping up to be a race to the bottom in the battle for a roster spot on defense, injured Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk is, unfortunately, missing out on a big opportunity.

Clearly, the moment was too big for Grans after an offseason full of hype and promise, but the opportunity isn't completely gone.

In addition to being under contract for two seasons, the Flyers just simply can't count on Ristolainen surviving the rigors of a long and arduous regular season any longer.

On top of that, the battle on defense for a roster spot has been so unflattering so far that anyone who makes the team can falter and open a place in the lineup in the blink of an eye.

The Flyers were probably wise to cut Grans from their roster before other teams had the opportunity to make their final cuts and the league-wide waivers carousel begins around the NHL.

The 23-year-old would have been far more likely to get claimed at the end of the preseason, though it's also possible that teams saw Grans's performance in the preseason and decided that if he can't make the lowly Flyers, he won't be able to help them, either.

Regardless, the Flyers have no reason to rush the process along. For Grans, it's now time to roll with the punches, learn from this experience, and return to the Flyers in the future as a better player.

A new batch of players are on NHL waivers as roster cutdowns continue.

The Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets placed a total of 22 players on the wire.

For each player, the rest of the NHL has 24 hours to submit a claim for them. Otherwise, they'll be eligible for the AHL.

Here are the players on NHL waivers until Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. ET, according to PuckPedia.

• Carolina: Gavin Bayreuther, Noel Gunler, Tyson Jost, Josiah Slavin, Ryan Suzuki
• Calgary: Clark Bishop, Dryden Hunt, Yan Kuznetsov, Sam Morton
• Edmonton: Matt Tomkins
• NY Islanders: Matthew Highmore, Marcus Hogberg
• NY Rangers: Brendan Brisson, Connor Mackey
• Philadelphia: Anthony Richard
• San Jose: Shane Bowers, Jimmy Huntington, Samuel Laberge, Oskar Olausson, Jakub Skarek
• Winnipeg: Tyrel Bauer, Isaak Phillips

Jost, 27, has played 495 career NHL games, including 39 last season with the Hurricanes. The center and left winger had four goals and nine points, adding nine points in 14 AHL games with the Chicago Wolves. This pre-season, he put up an assist in four games.

Morton, 26, has only played one NHL game while Hunt has appeared in 235. But Morton competed for Calgary's fourth-line center role, scoring once in four pre-season games. Flames coach Ryan Huska praised Morton for going hard into battles, finishing checks and playing with a bit of positive recklessness.

Tomkins, 31, started six NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023-24, winning three of them. With the Syracuse Crunch, he received the Harry 'Hap' Holmes Memorial Award in 2024-25 for being the goaltender on the AHL team that allowed the fewest goals against. This pre-season, Tomkins recorded a 3.41 goals-against average and .828 save percentage in 87:57 minutes played for Edmonton.

Hogberg, a 30-year-old goaltender, played in 15 games for the Islanders last season, putting up a 2-6-3 record, 3.38 GAA and .878 SP. He stopped 27 of 30 shots across two games this pre-season.

Brisson, 23, spent most of last season in the AHL, recording 25 points in 61 games. The Rangers acquired the 2020 first-round pick from the Vegas Golden Knights in March. The left winger was a minus-2 in two games this pre-season.

Richard, 28, played 15 games for the Flyers last season, recording six points. The center and left winger scored a goal in two pre-season contests.

Olausson, 22, was selected 28th overall in the 2021 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche. They traded the right winger to the Sharks this past July in exchange for Danil Gushchin. Olausson has yet to record an NHL point after four career games, and he was a minus-1 in one pre-season match.

Phillips, 24, has played 56 career NHL games, including three last season, when he scored once. The defenseman was a minus-2 and took two shots in two pre-season games.

All 22 players placed on waivers on Sept. 29 cleared, including Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Kevin Gravel and Jiri Patera.

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The New York Islanders have placed goaltender Marcus Hogberg on waivers, which means that David Rittich has won the opportunity to start the season as Ilya Sorokin's backup.

#Isles have placed G Marcus Hogberg & F Matthew Highmore on waivers.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 30, 2025

The writing was on the wall, which had been the case ever since the 33-year-old Czech backstop put pen to paper on his contract this summer. His one-year, $1 million deal was never intended for Bridgeport. 

For Marcus Hogberg, he looked solid in his two preseason appearances, posting a 3.56 GAA with a .900 SV%, allowing three goals on 27 shots. 

His numbers were actually better than Rittich's, who recorded a 3.58 GAA and an .855 SV% in his three appearances, allowing eight goals on 47 shots.  

The biggest difference is the two's Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAA), if you believe in that sort of thing. In essence, it's which goals should have been stopped based on the quality and quantity of the shots. 

Rittich had a -0.56 GSAA, which means he stopped fewer shots than the numbers thought he should. Hogberg played to a 1.06 GSAA, which means that he stopped one more goal than the model expected. 

That mixed with how Rittich's 2024-25 season went, tying a career-low with an .886 SV% and a 2.84 GAA, could have people questioning why he won the backup job. 

It comes down to Roy's trust in the goaltender. 

In Monday night's 3-2 preseason loss to the New York Rangers, Rittich had a rough start, allowing two of the first three goals to go in -- two goals he'd want back. 

"I don't feel bad," Rittich said about how he's played this preseason. "It's just some sort of things. It's better when that happens in the preseason than in the regular season. So I hope I got rid of those unlucky bounces and bad reads by me. I just hope it's gonna get better."

When asked about Rittich's performance, Roy had this to say: 

"He said something that he had a couple of bad reads. But I will say this, he's a great pro, so I have no worry about him," Roy said. "I think he has the quality to be able to evaluate himself very well. And if he says that he had a couple of bad reads, I'm on his side. So I mean, I know that he's a great competitor. He's going to do everything to help the team, and I have a lot of trust in him."

Trust is the keyword, as it played a part in the Islanders needing to go out and get another goaltender this summer, despite Hogberg being under contract (with one year remaining at $775,000). 

When Semyon Varlamov went down in November, it took Roy a little bit before deciding that he trusted Hogberg with NHL minutes, with the veteran returning to the NHL following three seasons back home in Sweden. 

Once he got his shot, Hogberg played well. But after an upper-body injury before the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, he struggled.

Over his final eight starts of the season, he went 0-5-3, with a 5.00 GAA and an .821 SV%. That led to the Islanders going out and bringing in some competition, knowing that Varlamov would not be ready for the start of the season. 

However, if Hogberg plays well in Bridgeport and Rittich struggles, there's a chance that Hogberg could get NHL time. 

The key question here is whether Hogberg makes it through waivers, and what the Islanders do if he doesn't. 

Unless they are hopeful that another goaltender hits waivers -- maybe Boston Bruins Michael DiPietro or a Buffalo Sabres' Alex Lyon or Russian Alexandar Georgiev -- Darche may need to look at making a cheap deal because Bridgeport will need a veteran to pair with Tristan Lennox. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Max Pacioretty has called it a career.

The University of Michigan announced on Tuesday that Pacioretty, an alum, will join the hockey program as a Special Assistant to Head Coach Brandon Naurato. For the 17-year NHL veteran, this move to Ann Arbor is the natural endpoint for a career consistently plagued by brutal Achilles injuries."

NHL Veteran Max Pacioretty Joins Michigan Hockey Staff

Read >> https://t.co/oc2xbmgdel#GoBlue〽️ pic.twitter.com/oz4Z8yJG7p

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) September 30, 2025

"After 17 seasons in the NHL, I'm excited to begin this next chapter with Michigan Hockey," Pacioretty said in a statement. "I'm so thankful for the teammates, coaches and fans who have been a part of my journey. Hockey has given me so much, and now I have the opportunity to help develop the next generation of players. Michigan has a tradition of producing elite talent, and I can't wait to share what I've learned to help these guys grow on and off the ice. Just as important, this next step allows me to be closer to my family and spend more time with my kids. I'm going to be coaching my four boys in youth hockey and that's something I'll really cherish as a dad."

Pacioretty joined the Toronto Maple Leafs last season on a professional tryout before signing a one-year contract with bonuses that paid him $1.5 million. The acquisition for Toronto and his brief tenure was a low-cost, high-reward bet that paid off in some aspects. 

Why the Maple Leafs Signed Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz to Contracts Following Their Professional TryoutsThe Maple Leafs also signed defenseman Cade Webber to a two-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26.

Limited by the effects of twice suffering a torn Achilles tendon—a brutal injury that cost him the latter part of his career—he tallied a modest five goals and eight assists in 37 regular-season games with the Leafs. However, his value materialized in the postseason.

After Pacioretty was a healthy scratch for Toronto’s first two postseason games, he went on to score three goals and add five assists for eight points in just 11 games, finishing fourth in scoring behind William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. Pacioretty's goal in Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators was crucial in helping Toronto advance to the second round, after the opponents erased a Toronto 2-0 lead.

After Toronto's playoff exit against the Florida Panthers, Pacioretty was reflective, citing the personal sacrifice his family had made while he played in Toronto. His family remained in Michigan as the player played in Toronto last year.  The opportunity to return to his alma mater as an assistant to the Wolverines program fits the personal needs of the player. He retires with 389 goals and 399 assists for 788 points across 939 games with the Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and Leafs.

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Brady Tkachuk is one of the most unique players in the NHL.

His blend of skill and physicality is unmatched, making him the preeminent power forward in the NHL. Since the beginning of the 2018-19 season, when the young left winger entered the NHL, there has been only one player during this span who has recorded 30-plus goals and 240-plus hits in a season.

It is Brady Tkachuk, and he has done it three times.

As meaningful as his individual accomplishments have been, Tkachuk has married that ruggedness on the ice by exhibiting a natural and comfortable disposition off it. Being around NHL locker rooms from a very young age assuredly helped him develop and prepare for a potential NHL future, but Tkachuk's charm and candour have helped transform him from being just another hockey player. They have endeared him to this community and hockey market, making him one of the most popular players in Ottawa Senators history.

Tkachuk's 2024-25 season made him one of the most marketable figures in the sport, and Amazon's Prime Video was there to capture it all as part of their second season of 'Faceoff: Inside the NHL'.

The storylines involving Brady were compelling.

The Ottawa Senators had missed the postseason for seven consecutive seasons, while Brady's brother Matthew had just won his first Stanley Cup in Florida. Brady and his wife, Emma, welcomed their first child, Ryder, into the world. Balancing family life and his philanthropic work while trying to push the Senators towards a postseason berth added layers of compelling stories before even considering Tkachuk's starring role playing for the United States in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off.

And Amazon had access to it all, inviting fans and media to watch an early screening of Brady's episode at Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne this past Wednesday.

The captain of the Ottawa Senators held court with the assembled media before the showing.

"I'm an open book to begin with," Brady stated while explaining what fans can take away from his episode. "To see the ins and outs at the rink and the stuff that people normally wouldn't see. Our team camaraderie, too. It shows our group and the city well.

"I'm excited for everybody to see a part of my life. It was an awesome experience, and I'm really looking forward to everybody seeing it."

Having the cameras constantly be around was a process that Tkachuk admitted he had to get used to.

"They did a great job of not being invasive or in your face," Brady said appreciatively. "Even in the room, you almost forget that they're there.

"They do such a good job of respecting your space, but capturing those moments that not everybody wants to (have seen). Those raw, emotional moments when not everything's all sunshine and rainbows. There are emotional moments, and I think they did a great job of capturing those."

Marketing and growing the game is an obligation Tkachuk recognizes and wants to help with.

"Growing up, I was always watching (HBO's) Road to Winter Classic," Brady acknowledged. "Seeing the behind-the-scenes (footage), I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.

"Now, being able to have this opportunity to do that for myself, and have the next generation of future fans and kids now look up to me and see not just a hockey player, but see how I treat my family. Family is so important to me. To have an opportunity to showcase yourself, and people and fans can be a part of it, to get to know that side of (me). That's a super cool opportunity."

Brady believes that fans will really enjoy the 4 Nations Face-Off footage, but feels that Amazon accurately portrayed the team's push for the postseason.

"At the time we started, we were right outside of a playoff spot," the captain recalled. "When I had this opportunity, it was just going to be meant to be. (Amazon was) going to capture this drought being over, and we're going to make the playoffs.

"To capture that ride and the highs and lows of that stressful time of the year (was important). It was the perfect opportunity to show the hunger, the drive, and what it took to get to the playoffs. It's going to be really cool for the city and the fans to see the behind-the-scenes of what it took to get there."

The episode even delved into the Senators' early-season struggles and the unfounded trade rumours that began emanating out of the United States. For a smaller market like Ottawa, the episode was a notable opportunity to showcase itself to a much bigger audience.

"(Amazon) did a great job (portraying Ottawa)," Brady said when asked about whether the series would help put this city at the forefront. "It shows us going to Icelynd with its skating trails and something fun that the city has to offer.

"For me, it's an honour to be able to represent this city and what it's all about. The passion and the care that everybody has in this city (comes through). I'm excited for everyone to be a part of this episode and for the future things to come.

Tkachuk's is the first of the six-episode docuseries that will launch on Friday, October 3rd. All six episodes will premiere exclusively on Prime Video.

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Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract is an NHL history-maker – at least, for now.

The 28-year-old signed an eight-year, $136-million contract extension on Sept. 30 with the Minnesota Wild, which selected him 135th overall in the 2015 NHL draft.

The left winger’s contract not only carries the highest cap hit in NHL history but the highest total value as well.

The biggest question, of course, is whether Kaprizov will hold those records when his contract kicks in for the 2026-27 season. Three-time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid is also in the final year of his deal but has not yet agreed to a new contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

For now, Kaprizov leads this list of the largest contracts in NHL history in terms of total value.

Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota: $136 Million, 8 Years, $17-Million Cap Hit

Kaprizov agreed to this historic contract just weeks after reportedly turning down a $128-million offer, which would have set the record anyway.

Although he was selected in the same draft as McDavid, Kaprizov’s appeared in fewer than half of McDavid’s games, since he played five seasons in the KHL before moving to North America.

But he’s still put up 386 points in 319 games, with a career-high 108 points in 2021-22. He’s won the Calder Trophy and has been in the Hart Trophy conversation nearly every year.

While he leads the NHL in total contract value, Kaprizov is still $39 million short of the top 100 list for largest sports contracts in team sports.

Alex Ovechkin, Washington: $124 Million, 13 Years, $9,538,462 Cap Hit

Ovechkin’s record stood for more than 17 years.

He signed his mega-deal with the Capitals in January 2008, just weeks after 2026 NHL draft prospect Gavin McKenna was born.

In 2013, the NHL and NHLPA’s new collective bargaining agreement decreased the maximum contract term to eight years for players re-signing with their team. In September 2026, that maximum term will become seven years.

Ovechkin ended up winning his first of three Hart Trophies in 2007-08. He also won the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy for the first of nine times and the Art Ross Trophy.

Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton: $112 Million, 8 Years, $14-Million Cap Hit

Draisaitl’s new contract kicks in for the 2025-26 season. The maximum term limited his total value, but his cap hit was the highest in NHL history for just over a year until Kaprizov’s announcement.

The Oilers center had already won the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award before signing his contract extension in September 2024. Last season, he won the Rocket Richard Trophy after putting up 52 goals. That’s not even his career high – he scored 55 times in 2021-22.

His career-high 128 points are 20 more than Kaprizov’s best, although the latter has only played more than 75 games in a season once – Draisaitl’s done so six times.

Shea Weber, Nashville: $110 Million, 14 Years, $7,857,143 Cap Hit

The Nashville Predators were faced with a massive decision in the summer of 2012 when their captain was at risk of leaving as an RFA.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed Weber to an offer sheet, giving the smaller-market Predators one week to either match it or let him walk.

"Our ownership has provided us with the necessary resources to build a Stanley Cup-winning team," then-GM David Poile said at the time of the offer sheet.

Nashville decided to match it, but after five years, they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for fellow defenseman P.K. Subban.

Weber last played in 2020-21, when the Habs lost in the Stanley Cup final. Since then, his contract has been moved to the Vegas Golden Knights, Arizona Coyotes, Utah Mammoth and Chicago Blackhawks. The 2025-26 campaign is the final year of the contract.

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh: $104.4 Million, 12 Years, $8.7-Million Cap Hit

Crosby had won the Stanley Cup, Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy, Rocket Richard Trophy and Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award before he signed this 12-year deal in June 2012.

Although Ovechkin agreed to a larger cap hit and total value four years earlier, Crosby arguably took a discount to help the Penguins build the best team possible. They eventually won the Stanley Cup twice more before Ovechkin got his first NHL championship ring.

Even when Crosby’s deal expired after the 2024-25 season, he signed a two-year contract extension for the same $8.7-million cap hit. Talk about loyalty.

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado: $100.80 Million, 8 Years, $12.6-Million Cap Hit

MacKinnon briefly had the highest cap hit in the NHL when he signed the deal on Sept. 20, 2022. Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews surpassed it in August 2023 with a $13.25-million cap hit on a four-year deal.

The Colorado Avalanche center had already won the Calder Trophy and Lady Byng Trophy before agreeing to the contract extension. He ended up winning the Stanley Cup later that season and added a Hart Trophy victory in 2023-24.

Connor McDavid, Edmonton: $100 Million, 8 Years, $12.5-Million Cap Hit

McDavid is already in the top 10 for largest NHL contracts, but he will almost certainly climb this list when he likely signs a new deal sometime in the next year.

He’s accomplished more than Kaprizov, which would justify a larger contract than the Wild winger, but he wants to win the Stanley Cup multiple times, which may mean taking less to ensure there’s enough talent and depth to be competitive.

When he signed his current contract in July 2017, he had just won his first of five Art Trophies, first of three Hart Trophies and first of four Ted Lindsay Awards in 2016-17.

McDavid’s 1.52 points per game are the fourth-most in NHL history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (1.92), Mario Lemieux (1.88) and Newsy Lalonde (1.69 in 99 career games).

Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey: $100 Million, 15 Years, $6,666,666 Cap Hit

Kovalchuk’s enormous deal with the New Jersey Devils in 2010 came after a larger contract was disallowed.

The NHL rejected a 17-year, $102-million deal that would have paid Kovalchuk $95 million in Years 1 to 10 and $7 million in the final seven years. Keep in mind that Kovalchuk was 27 at the time and would have been 44 when the contract expired. The NHL argued the front-loaded deal violated the collective bargaining agreement, and an arbitrator ruled in favor of the league.

The NHL even fined New Jersey $3 million and forced the team to forfeit a first-round pick and third-round pick.

After all that, Kovalchuk retired from the NHL three years into the adjusted 15-year, $100-million contract, so his contract was terminated. He played in the KHL for seven seasons before returning to the NHL to play for the Los Angeles Kings, Canadiens and Capitals. He played his last NHL season in 2019-20 and last KHL season in 2023-24.

If the 17-year contract was allowed, it still would have had two seasons left.

Ryan Suter And Zach Parise, Minnesota: $98 Million, 13 Years, $7,538,462 Cap Hit

Parise and Suter round out the top 10 with identical contracts they signed with the Wild on July 4, 2012.

Parise recorded at least 60 points in five seasons by that point, including a career-high 94 points in 2008-09. He was part of the Devils’ run to the Stanley Cup final in 2011-12, recording 15 points in 24 games.

Suter, meanwhile, was a very reliable defender for the Predators over seven seasons, averaging 22:37 of ice time during that span. He had five 30-point campaigns, including 46 in 2011-12.

The defenseman ended up setting a career-high 51 points in 2015-16 and 2017-18 in Minnesota. His average ice time of 29:25 in 2013-14 is the highest in NHL history since 1997-98, when tracking for that stat began.

Parise, meanwhile, only notched a high of 62 points during his time with them. And from 2012-13 to 2020-21, the Wild only won two playoff rounds.

Minnesota bought out the contracts of both players before the 2021-22 season. The team will pay buyout cap hits through 2028-29.

Mikko Rantanen, Dallas: $96 Million, 8 Years, $12-Million Cap Hit

Rantanen and Mitch Marner were briefly tied for 10th place before Kaprizov re-signed.

Rantanen signed his eight-year contract extension with the Dallas Stars amid a surprising campaign. After playing parts of 10 seasons with the Avalanche and winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, Colorado decided not to continue contract negotiations with Rantanen and traded the star to the Carolina Hurricanes in January 2025.

The 28-year-old right winger played only 13 games with Carolina, recording six points. With the Hurricanes failing to sign Rantanen to a new deal, they moved him at the NHL trade deadline to the Stars, which immediately announced an extension.

Rantanen faced his former longtime team in the first round of the playoffs, eliminating the Avalanche in Game 7 with a hat trick.

Mitch Marner, Toronto/Vegas: $96 Million, 8 Years, $12-Million Cap Hit

Marner, 28, was about to be the top UFA of the free-agent market this past summer.

The day before he actually became one, reports surfaced that the Toronto Maple Leafs moved him to the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade. The teams announced the deal on the morning of July 1.

Marner put up 741 points in 657 games with the Maple Leafs, as well as 63 points in 70 playoff games. He was named to the NHL’s first all-star team in 2021 and 2022.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The 2025-26 NHL regular season is now one week away, and roster outlooks league-wide are becoming clearer.

With Mason McTavish signed and under contract for the next six seasons, the Anaheim Ducks now have a full top-nine forward group, with some likely combination of Jansen Harkins (when healthy), Ross Johnston, Ryan Poehling, Nikita Nesterenko, and Sam Colangelo making up the fourth line and healthy scratches.

The Ducks' goalie room is also full, with Petr Mrazek as the likely backup to Lukas Dostal, and Ville Husso potentially behind Mrazek.

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 Victory over the Sharks

Mason McTavish on His New Contract

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Drew Helleson Breakout Key to Unlocking Blueline

The outlook of the Ducks’ blueline is all but set, as it’s relatively clear who the starting six defensemen will be on opening night, barring injury. However, the one question that remains is who will fill the role of the 7th defenseman.

Following the last round of roster cuts on Sunday, the Ducks kept ten defensemen on their training camp roster: Jackson LaCombe, Radko Gudas, Olen Zellweger, Jacob Trouba, Pavel Mintyukov, Drew Helleson, Stian Solberg, Tristan Luneau, Tyson Hinds, and Ian Moore.

Of those ten names, the first six are assumed to have their opening night spots locked up. One of the latter four names will likely serve as the 7th defenseman, and another can be added if the team decides to start the season with 13 forwards and eight defensemen.

Working under the assumption that the Ducks open the season with the standard 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders, they’ll have to make a tough decision on who that 7th defenseman will be.

After Tuesday’s 3-2 preseason win over the San Jose Sharks, the Ducks may have a “leader in the clubhouse.”

In Tuesday’s win, Tyson Hinds (22) logged 16:41 TOI, killed penalties for 3:11, and notched a dazzling assist on Frank Vatrano’s game-winning goal, joining a rush, cutting back, and firing a dart to Vatrano on the far post.

“We like what we’re seeing,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said following the game. “I think he does some good things, I think he’s steady on the back end. He’s got some size to him; he’s got play recognition to a different level that we saw there.

“His goal the other night was pretty special as well. I think he’s helped himself in a lot of people’s eyes and minds. We’ll see how it all plays out, but certainly he’s been good.”

Hinds has a goal and two assists in three preseason games during this exhibition season and has translated his energetic defensive prowess while displaying subtle offensive details that have aided in clean breakouts and regroups for the Ducks.

“I'm just trying to prove my game, prove that I have a spot on the team,” Hinds said during his post-game scrum. “Just prove that I can play in the NHL. That’s what I want to do, and that's the goal.”

Luneau and Solberg are the two most high-profile defensemen in the Ducks' pipeline. Luneau notched nearly a point per game in his rookie AHL season, scoring 52 points (9-43=52) in 59 games. Solberg plays an easily translated brand of hockey and has been playing against grown men in Europe (and in North America at the end of 2024-25) for the past four seasons.

However, it seems Luneau and Solberg may be better suited to play consistent top minutes in the AHL rather than having to spend extended time in the press box, serving as a healthy scratch.

Similarly, Moore can be considered part of that group needing consistent minutes at a lower level due to being in the early stages of his professional career. Moore has only played 12 games of professional hockey (nine with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL and three with the Ducks in the NHL) following a post-draft year in the USHL and four in the NCAA.

A former third-round pick, Hinds (76th overall in 2021), has now played two full seasons in the AHL with the Gulls and has notched 28 points (6-22-28) in 142 games, spent 84 minutes in the penalty box, has regularly killed penalties, and assumed a heavy defensive role for the club.

He seems poised and ready to take the next step in his journey to regular NHL minutes, and that may come in the form of serving as the Anaheim Ducks’ 7th defenseman for at least the early parts of the 2025-26 season, playing however sporadically, and logging predictable, reliable minutes as the team looks to make a push for the 2026 NHL playoffs.

Ducks Sign Mason McTavish to Six-Year Extension

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on McTavish Extension

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Lukas Dostal an Underrated Benefactor of New Coaching Staff