Jhon Durán helps Mourinho’s side to 5-2 aggregate win
Rangers advance to face Club Brugge in playoffs
José Mourinho is one round away from taking Fenerbahce back into the Champions League for the first time in 17 years.
The storied head coach’s team surged into the Champions League qualifying playoffs by overturning a two-goal deficit in a 5-2 qualifying round win against Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord.
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According to multiple reports, the months-long legal battle between forward Ryan Johansen and the Philadelphia Flyers is now over.
On Tuesday, it was initially reported by NHL insider Darren Dreger that an arbitrator had ruled in favor of the Flyers in the grievance filed by Johansen in Aug. 2024.
Previously, on Aug. 20, 2024, the Flyers had terminated Johansen's contract, which had one year remaining at a $4 million cap hit, citing a "material breach."
Johansen, 33, played in all 63 regular season games for the Colorado Avalanche last season, scoring 13 goals, 10 assists, and 23 points before being dealt to the Flyers in the Sean Walker trade ahead of the NHL trade deadline on March 6, 2024.
Johansen had played against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 4, just two days prior.
However, the 6-foot-3 forward presented with an injury upon arriving in Philadelphia, which prevented him from being assigned by the Flyers to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as per league rules.
Sources say an arbitrator has ruled in favour of the Philadelphia Flyers in a grievance filed by the NHLPA following the termination of Ryan Johansen’s contract in August, 2024. The Flyers cited a “material breach” as grounds for termination.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 12, 2025
Johansen's injury was a surprise to the Flyers, and the player insisted he wasn't able to perform and fulfill his duties on the ice.
On Aug. 20, 2024, in response to the Flyers terminating Johansen's contract the same day, agent Kurt Overhardt issued a statement on his client's behalf, claiming that Johansen had suffered "a severe hockey injury that requires extensive surgery, which has been scheduled."
Whatever transpired since then clearly did not work in the veteran forward's favor, as evidenced by the latest reports.
One Flyers Prospect Nobody Is Talking About Ahead of 2025-26 SeasonThe Philadelphia Flyers have quite a few roster spots ready to be filled by up-and-coming prospects next season, but there's one prospect who should be talked about much more.
With the saga apparently ending with a Flyers victory, don't expect any cap charges to be lodged against Philadelphia in the 2025-26 season or beyond.
Tylor Megill took a big step towards a potential late-season return on Tuesday.
The big Mets starting pitcher made his first rehab appearance down with Double-A Binghamton, though he wasn’t particularly sharp.
Megill retired the first two batters he faced, then struggled to put the inning away as the next two reached on a walk and single, but he punched out the cleanup hitter to escape without any damage.
He needed 23 pitches to battle his way through the opening frame.
Binghamton’s offense handed Megill a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning, and he picked up two more strikeouts in the second, but ended up being pulled after allowing a pair of singles.
Luis Moreno entered and retired the next batter easily to close his line with no runs allowed on three hits and a walk while striking out four in just 1.2 innings of work.
Megill did mix in his full arsenal as he threw 41 pitches, 27 of which were strikes.
The right-hander has been sidelined since the middle of June due to a right elbow sprain.
He was putting together another inconsistent campaign prior to the injury, pitching to a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts across 14 big league starts.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets utilize Megill when he is ready to return.
Frankie Montas' spot in the rotation is open at the moment with him sliding to the bullpen, but all signs point to the team calling up top prospects Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean to jump into the mix.
Megill has just seven appearances in his career as a reliever.
The Minnesota Wild announced on Monday the signing of defenseman Jack Johnson to a professional try out (PTO).
Johnson, 38, has played 19 seasons in the NHL and if he signs a contract with the Wild it will be his 20th season.
The 6-foot-1 defenseman brings loads of experience and has won the Stanley Cup before. He is a left-shot defender as well.
Minnesota traded left-shot defender Declan Chisholm to the Washington Capitals at the NHL Draft and let Jon Merrill leave for free agency.
Zeev Buium is expected to replace one of them and be an NHL regular this year. We also know that Jonas Brodin had off-season surgery and could miss the start of the season.
In the AHL they have, Carson Lambos, Stevie Leskovar, Matt Kiersted, Ben Gleason and Jack Peart under contract as left-shot defenders.
Lambos, 22, was drafted in the first round of the 2021 draft and has been in the AHL the last two seasons. He recorded five goals and 19 points in 68 games for the Iowa Wild last year and was even called up to the Wild during the regular season.
He did not debut but is considered almost ready to be an NHLer. Wild General Manager Bill Guerin said they need some of their younger guys to step up and make impacts this season and Lambos is one of those guys.
No spot is guaranteed.
On the right-side, the Wild have Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber, Zach Bogosian and David Jiricek. One of either Bogosian or Jiricek could play their off-sides to start the season but the Wild elected not to do that during the regular season when they had injuries.
Guerin has always talked about healthy competition and younger guys pushing for spots that older guys have. Johnson is 16 years older than Lambos and has played in 1,228 NHL games in his career.
The Wild also signed Kiersted who has played in 39 career NHL games over the last four seasons.
So, there will be some competition during training camp and there is nothing wrong with that. If Johnson is good and fits well with the Wild, then they can sign him to a contract. If not, there is no harm with the PTO.
- Wild Sign Jack Johnson To A PTO.
- Revisiting 2024-25 Bold Predictions.
- Wild's Marco Rossi Having A Big Offseason, Up 14 Pounds.
The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for a while now, and THN.com's Sabres site has been dutifully analyzing each Sabres opponent next year in our "Know Your Enemy" series. We're nearing the end of the series, as we get set to start breaking down Buffalo's Pacific Division rivals on Wednesday.
But for now, we're wrapping things up in the Central Division by looking at the Winnipeg Jets, who were the best regular-season team in the NHL last year. The Jets have made some notable additions, including star center Jonathan Toews and wingers Tanner Pearson and Gustav Nyquist. But will that be enough to give Winnipeg the edge over the Sabres in their two games this season? Read this column to find out our answer to that question.
And once you've finished checking out that column, be sure to sign up as a member of the Sabres community on THN.com. Your opinion counts, and we want to hear it.
There is no question that forward Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the Montreal Canadiens' core pieces moving forward. The 2022 first-overall pick has already emerged as a key forward in their lineup, and this certainly remained the case during the 2024-25 season.
Slafkovsky had another solid year for the Canadiens, as he scored 18 goals and set new career highs with 33 assists, 51 points, and 194 hits in 79 games. This was after the 6-foot-3 winger scored 20 goals and posted 50 points in 82 games with the Canadiens during the 2023-24 season.
Overall, Slafkovsky is continuing to demonstrate good upside with the Canadiens. With this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if we see Slafkovsky hit a brand new level next season for the Original Six club.
Slafkovsky is still just 21 years old, so he undoubtedly still has time to improve his all-around game even further. Keep in mind, this past season was only his third NHL campaign, so he is still developing his game as he continues to adjust to the NHL level.
With Slafkovsky being one of the Canadiens' most important young players, they are also only going to continue to give him plenty of opportunities to succeed. When looking at their roster, he should begin the season on their first line and power play. Thus, the potential for him to hit a new level offensively will be there in 2025-26.
Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of campaign Slafkovsky can put together for the Canadiens next season from here.
Canadiens Defenseman Named As Top Breakout CandidateThe Montreal Canadiens are one of the NHL's most exciting teams right now, as they are on the rise and have several promising young players on their roster. After making the playoffs in 2024-25 and following that up with a busy off-season, their goal will be to take another notable step in the right direction this upcoming campaign. 
The Buffalo Sabres are facing a massive amount of pressure to end their 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought next season. But if they're to do so, they're going to need to win the majority of series they play against every NHL team. And that includes taking on top-tier teams like the Central Division-champion Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets were the NHL's best regular-season team last year, and Winnipeg won their first playoff round before falling to the Dallas Stars in Round 2. But how will the Jets do against the Sabres next season? Read on below, and you'll find out THN.com's best guess to answer that question as we continue our "Know Your Enemy" series.
NEW JETS PLAYERS: Jonathan Toews, C; Gustav Nyquist, LW; Tanner Pearson, LW; Cole Koepke, LW
2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-0-1, Jets 1-1-0
2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: December 1 at Buffalo; December 5 at Winnipeg
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Jets made a significant number of additions this summer -- most notably, signing former Chicago Blackhawks superstar center Jonathan Toews. Granted, Toews is now 37 years old and hasn't played hockey since 2022-23, but if he can come in and give Winnipeg solid minutes as their second-line center, the Jets are going to be extremely difficult to beat for any team, the Sabres included.
That said, Winnipeg showed they weren't a perfect team in the second round against Dallas, and it was easy to see why. For one thing, star goalie Connor Hellebuyck posted sub-par playoff statistics for the third straight season, posting an .866 save percentage last spring. And the Jets' special teams were also a significant letdown.
Thus, Buffalo needs to be pushing the envelope in Winnipeg's defensive zone -- and the Sabres also need to strike the Jets repeatedly in the span of four days at the start of December. Playing Winnipeg twice in that span -- with another game against the Philadelphia Flyers in-between those two games -- is going to be rather taxing on the Sabres. But the way they respond will help dictate where Buffalo winds up in the Atlantic Division standings next season.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Will Mammoth Maul Buffalo As Utah Seeks First Playoff Appearance?The NHL's off-season rolls on, and every day brings with it more hockey talk. And in this ongoing THN.com series, we here at the Sabres site are focusing on the Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 regular-season schedule -- and specifically, Sabres opponents who could get in the way of Buffalo's Stanley Cup playoff aspirations.
Certainly, splitting their two games last season -- with the Sabres avoiding losing in regulation-time in their one overtime loss to the Jets -- has to make Buffalo feel confident they can hang with Winnipeg. But in addition to Toews, the Jets have also added veterans in greybeard winger Gustav Nyquist and depth scorer Tanner Pearson. And although losing departed winger Nikolaj Ehlers on the free-agent market will hurt the Jets' offensive potency, replacing his offense with the contributions of Toews, Nyquist and Pearson will soften the blow.
Getting their games with Winnipeg out of the way early next year is probably in Buffalo's best interest. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff currently has $3.9-million in salary cap space to improve his roster with, but it's not likely that he spends to the cap ceiling until later in the season, when he can address issues that arise during the year.
The good news for the Sabres in this rivalry is that it's not probable that they see Hellebuyck in both regular-season games. Instead, Buffalo may get backup netminder Eric Comrie for one of the games, and Comrie's individual numbers -- including a .914 SP and 2.39 goals-against average -- make him a bit more human than Hellebuyck looks to be, at least, in the regular-season.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Are Boosted Blues Bound To Beat Buffalo?The Buffalo Sabres are facing enormous pressure to end their 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought next season, and it's not hyperbole to say that the Sabres can't afford so much as a single off-night if they're going to be a playoff team. Every game really counts, and Buffalo needs to beat many above-average squads if they're going to earn a playoff berth in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division.
In any case, beating the Jets twice may be too much of an ask for Buffalo, as is the case for any other team. But doing what the Sabres did last year against Winnipeg -- winning one game, and getting the "loser point" in the other game -- is not asking too much of Buffalo. The Jets are a very good team that looks to have improved this summer, but the Sabres also are a different team, and one that should be coming out of the gate with a sense of urgency that may not be there for Winnipeg early on.
If the Sabres are able to hang with the Jets in their two games next season, it could be an indication Buffalo is going to silence their doubters and play post-season hockey after a stretch of failure that has stunned even the Sabres' most fervent supporters. Buffalo has a chance to send a blunt message to Winnipeg by beating them more than once, and doing so could prove to be the difference between the Sabres making or missing the playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson is hungry for a season to be happy about.
After a 2024-25 season that was a disappointment for everyone connected to the Canucks, Pettersson has come out of the gates swinging and making it clear he’s intent on putting in a far better performance next season. He’s more than capable of reaching that goal for the Canucks.
Pettersson recently told Peter Ekholm on NHL.com he’s put on muscle and is looking for revenge following last season’s underwhelming results, including his 15-goal, 45-point showing in 64 games.
"I know what I'm capable of," Pettersson told Ekholm last Wednesday in Sweden. "Actually, I haven't thought about it, but for myself, it's revenge. I'm not happy with last season."
The 26-year-old was embroiled in a feud with now-former Canucks star center J.T. Miller, and he dealt with two injuries in the past year.
Pettersson’s drop in production is part of why Vancouver missed out on Stanley Cup playoff action. But if Pettersson is ready to reverse last season’s regression, the expectations for him in 2025-26 should thrill Canucks fans.
It’s still fair to hold Pettersson to the standard he set in his peak seasons thus far, most notably, his 39-goal, 102-point performance in the 2022-23 campaign. Even a slight dip to the 34-goal, 89-point effort he got in 2023-24 would greatly help Vancouver’s playoff hopes next year, and it isn’t unreasonable to ask him to get there.
After all, Pettersson is an elite force when he takes advantage of his hard shot.
He consistently ranks near the top of the NHL in the number of shots that go between 70 and 100 miles per hour, and he can not only score a bunch of goals in high-danger areas but at mid-range as well, according to NHL Edge.
His 109 shots last season were far fewer than the 207 and 257 he had in the two previous campaigns, and it’s clear that improving his strength and recovering from his injuries should help him increase his shooting again.
Pettersson’s hunger to have an excellent season could rub off on his teammates as well.
To that end, Pettersson spoke specifically about one of the Canucks’ most notable off-season moves – the trade acquisition of former Edmonton Oilers right winger Evander Kane.
The rugged game Kane plays may not directly affect Pettersson if the two new teammates don’t play on the same line next year, but if Kane can produce a decent amount of goals, the pressure on Pettersson will subside. And that should lead to a better all-around showing from Pettersson.
"I was very happy when I saw that trade," Pettersson said. "It's a player that we need, a player who plays with grit and still can score goals."
But let’s focus on Pettersson specifically. Perhaps skeptics are right, and Pettersson’s play of late is more indicative of who he’s going to be in the long run. That would be crushing for the Canucks, who are set to pay Pettersson $11.6 million for the next seven seasons.
But with his fresh start next year, Pettersson has no excuses about showing who he really is. He’s going to be key to Team Sweden’s chances at the 2026 Olympic Games, and he’s got a new head coach in Adam Foote to form a new partnership with in Vancouver. Many people are pushing their chips behind him, and he knows it.
NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 7, Vancouver CanucksThe Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings enter the homestretch with the Vancouver Canucks in seventh place.
Pettersson is going to be front and center as the Canucks try to get back into the playoffs. He has a terrific opportunity to get the revenge he wants, because if he doesn’t get it, Vancouver may miss out on the post-season for the second consecutive season, and the spotlight on him would be somehow brighter than it already is.
But that’s a way off. For now, there’s still reason to believe Pettersson can answer the bell and have a bounce-back year for Vancouver. The Canucks are betting on him, and the way he responds could change the face and direction of the franchise.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
What we learned as Giants' hopes of chasing Padres down fade with lifeless loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — As the season started to collapse on the last homestand, the Giants at least could lean on one fact. They had seven games left against a San Diego Padres team they were hoping to chase down.
Their destiny was in their own hands, but it now looks like the Padres might instead put the final nail in the coffin. They have dominated the first two games of this stretch of seven meetings in 10 days, getting a 5-1 win Tuesday after a similar performance Monday.
The Giants are two games under .500 for the first time all year. They’re now nine games behind the Padres, who are a game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race.
The long first inning Monday included a strange run on both sides. Robbie Ray got two quick outs, but Tyler Fitzgerald slipped on a popup to right, letting it fall for a two-out bloop. After a double put two in scoring position, Ray stumbled on the mound and got called for a balk that brought a run home.
The Giants countered in the bottom of the inning after two-time Gold Glove Award winner Manny Machado couldn’t handle a line drive hit right at him. That put two on for Wilmer Flores, who hit a swinging bunt that died in front of Machado, tying the game.
From there, it was all Padres.
The Giants scored one run for the second consecutive game and have totaled just four over their last four games, failing to reward the 145,000 fans who have come through the gates at Oracle Park. They have dropped 12 of 13 at home and fell under .500 in home games, which seemed impossible to accomplish earlier this year when it seemed they were walking someone off every other night.
Ray became just the 10th big leaguer to throw at least 113 pitches in a game this season and the first Giant. It was his highest count since he came back from Tommy John surgery and the fifth-highest of his career. Ray had thrown 110-plus pitches just one other time since turning 30.
The Giants have pushed Ray and Logan Webb hard in recent weeks, in part because they traded away two of their best relievers. This was Ray’s fourth consecutive start of at least 100 pitches, and he hasn’t seemed to wear down at all. The Padres put four runs on his line, but three of them came in the first couple of innings, with Jose Iglesias doing most of the damage with a two-run homer that hit the top of the wall and bounced over.
Before Saturday, Fitzgerald had never played a game in right field at any level. The Giants got him some experience in center and left the previous two seasons, but the need right now is in right, where they have been going with left-handed hitters Drew Gilbert and Grant McCray. Desperate for offense and a better matchup against Cortes, they recalled Fitzgerald, who started in right field for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday and Sunday.
It was a somewhat windy night, and Fitzgerald misjudged the popup in the first. He looked much more comfortable after that and resembled a seasoned right fielder in the fifth when Manny Machado smashed one to the track. Fitzgerald got a good jump and easily got into position to make the catch.
Fitzgerald was hitless in two at-bats, flying out twice. He said before the game that he feels more comfortable than he did in his last big league stint, but he’s still searching for his 2024 power swing.
It’s tough to get a long hitting streak going when you’re not an everyday player. Sometimes you’ll get just one shot to swing the bat, and that was the case for Dominic Smith on Tuesday.
Smith pinch-hit for Fitzgerald with two on and one out in the sixth and bounced a single to right, extending his streak to 15 games, the longest of his career and longest active streak in the big leagues. He then was replaced by Gilbert, a pinch-runner. It was the third time that Smith has extended his streak as a pinch-hitter, which had not been done by a Giant since 1936.
The streak is the longest by a Giant since Donovan Solano reached 17 games in 2020. It didn’t lead to any runs, though. Patrick Bailey and Heliot Ramos followed with popups, stranding all three runners.
The Ottawa Senators have seen a lot of players come and go during their rebuild.
Some of them have not only turned the page on their Ottawa days, they've probably closed the book completely on the NHL. 12 ex-Senators have moved to new teams in Europe this summer — either arriving from North America through free agency, or via trades and transfers.
From once-promising prospects to organizational depth guys, these former Senators are looking to revive or extend their careers in leagues ranging from Switzerland to Slovakia, and Russia to Germany.
Here’s a breakdown of who’s gone where:
Goalies
Chris Driedger
A third-round pick by Ottawa in 2012 (76th overall), Driedger never found his footing in the nation's capital, playing just one game in each of three consecutive seasons. He later found brief success with the Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken. This summer, he signed with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL.
Dylan Ferguson
Ferguson played only two NHL games for the Senators during the chaotic 2022–23 season, when the team used seven different goalies. He’s now signed with HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga.
Defensemen
Erik Brännström
Still just 25 years old, Brännström was once seen as the crown jewel of the Mark Stone trade. He never met those expectations in Ottawa and wasn’t re-signed last summer. He’ll look to reset his career with Lausanne HC in the Swiss National League.
Max Lajoie
A 2016 fifth-rounder, Lajoie got a strong early look in 2018, right after the rebuild began, appearing in 56 NHL games for the Sens that season. However, over the next six seasons, he totalled just 21 NHL games. This year, he’ll try his luck with Avangard Omsk in the KHL.
Dillon Heatherington
The former captain of the Belleville Senators (AHL), Heatherington logged 165 AHL games and 12 NHL games with Ottawa. He’s moving to the DEL in Germany, signing with Red Bull Munich.
Philip Roos
A steady contributor for Belleville (68 games last season), Roos never cracked the NHL lineup in Ottawa. He previously played 21 games for Chicago before joining the Sens organization. Roos has now signed with Färjestad BK in Sweden.
Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk Adds To His Father's Comments About The FutureAfter a season where wild rumours began to swirl around Brady Tkachuk’s future in Ottawa, both Tkachuk and his father, Keith, set the record straight this week.
Forwards
Chris Tierney
The most experienced name on this list, Tierney played four full seasons in Ottawa and has logged 649 NHL games. After bouncing between Florida, Montreal, and New Jersey, he spent last season with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL. He’s heading to Switzerland to join HC Ambrì-Piotta, the same club Alex Formenton played two seasons for.
Jayce Hawryluk
Hawryluk had 7 points in 11 games for Ottawa so he was here for a good time, not a long time. In recent seasons, he's toured Europe, playing in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland. He’ll return to Slovakia to play for HKM Zvolen this fall.
Dominik Kubalík
Acquired in the Alex DeBrincat trade, Kubalík posted just 15 points in 74 games for Ottawa. However, he rediscovered his scoring touch last year with 49 points in 52 games for HC Ambrì-Piotta. This season, he’ll play for EV Zug in Switzerland.
Egor Sokolov
A fan-favourite in Belleville, Sokolov appeared in only 13 NHL games over five years. After being traded to Arizona and playing in AHL Tucson last season, he returned to Russia this summer and signed with CSKA Moscow. After thinking for a couple of days that he'd found a place where he belongs, they promptly traded him to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
Jack Rodewald
A KHL regular over the past three seasons, Rodewald has suited up for Kunlun Red Star, Traktor Chelyabinsk, and Admiral Vladivostok. He posted 29 points last season and will remain in Russia now with Salavat Yulayev Ufa.
André Petersson
A 2008 fourth-round pick who played just one NHL game for Ottawa, Petersson has been playing in Europe since 2015. After three years back home in Sweden, he’s now heading to the SCL Tigers in Switzerland.
While none of these players were ever what you'd describe as elite players in Ottawa's organization, it's great to see this group getting fresh starts and continuing to forge out a career in the game they love. We should all be so lucky.
Read the full list of former NHL players on the move in Europe at The Hockey News' International site.
By Steve Warne
@SteveWarneMedia
The Hockey News - Ottawa
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Next NHL Expansion Fee May Be 40 Times More Than The Ottawa Senators Paid
The Senators' 2025-26 Lineup Is Probably Already Set
Mark Stone Jokes That It Wasn't Always Easy Playing On Brady Tkachuk's Line
Matt Grzelcyk is arguably the NHL’s best UFA defenseman still available for the taking.
It would be shocking if the Charlestown, Mass., native remained unsigned when the 2025-26 NHL season begins.
Grzelcyk quietly put together the best offensive season of his career in 2024-25. Although he scored just one goal, he set new career highs with 39 assists and 40 points in 82 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. With numbers like these, he could be a solid addition for a team that is looking for more offense from the point.
Grzelcyk could generate interest because he is also a proven NHL defenseman with plenty of experience. This includes the playoffs, as he played in 66 post-season games during his eight-year stint with the Boston Bruins.
Let’s go over three NHL teams that could make sense as landing spots for Grzelcyk.
The Colorado Avalanche have already added to their defense this off-season after losing Ryan Lindgren in free agency. They signed Brent Burns to a one-year contract back in July to play a depth role on the right side. His projected defense partner, Sam Malinkski, also shoots right, so Colorado could use another left-shot option for the third pair.
If the Avalanche signed Grzelcyk to a short-term deal, he could fit very nicely on their bottom pairing with either Burns, Malinski or Josh Manson. If the Avalanche use him as a seventh defenseman, he could come into the lineup over shutdown D-man Keaton Middleton when they need an extra bit of offensive punch. He also has experience playing in a more significant role, averaging 20:37 in ice time last season, so he would give the Avalanche another player who could move up the lineup when injuries arise.
The Avalanche currently have a bit over $2 million of cap space to work with, so they could afford to bring in Grzelcyk if he is open to taking a bit of a pay cut from the $2.75 million he earned previously. With it being this late into the summer, it is certainly fair to wonder if he would be willing to do that to play for a contender like the Avalanche.
The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of promising young defensemen on their roster, such as Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov and Kevin Korchinski. That said, they could benefit by adding another veteran blueliner to help mentor their youngsters while moving the needle on the ice. Signing Grzelcyk would provide them with just that, the way 35-year-old TJ Brodie couldn’t quite accomplish as one of Chicago’s veteran blueliners last season.
Grzelcyk could fit on the second pairing and power play if signed. However, even if Grzelcyk served as a mentor in a bottom-pairing role, he still would give Chicago’s blueline a needed boost. If the Blackhawks trade 32-year-old pending UFA Connor Murphy during the season, their next-oldest D-man would be Alex Vlasic, who’s 24.
The Blackhawks could easily afford to sign Grzelcyk, too, as they have over $18 million of cap space to work with. They could be an intriguing team to watch for the veteran defenseman.
Three Potential NHL Landing Spots For UFA Jack RoslovicJack Roslovic is arguably the NHL’s best UFA still looking for his next contract.
The Calgary Flames could also make sense as a suitor for Grzelcyk, especially if they trade Rasmus Andersson and move the right-handed MacKenzie Weegar to the right side full-time.
Calgary scored the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL last season, and they ranked 20th in the percentage of points coming from defensemen, at 24.3 percent. The Flames’ blueliners also combined for only 107 assists, which ranked 26th in the NHL. Grzelcyk seems like an easy choice to improve those numbers.
If the Flames signed Grzelcyk, he could at least be a nice upgrade over Jake Bean on their third pairing. However, depending on who ends up making the Flames’ opening night roster, Grzelcyk could also be a potential fit on their second pairing and power play if signed.
While the Flames still have to re-sign restricted free agent (RFA) Connor Zary, they have over $15 million in cap space. They could easily afford to bring in Grzelcyk if they wish.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
Plenty of former Vancouver Canucks have carved out successful careers around the world after leaving the organization. Whether playing for some of the best teams in Europe or excelling in non-traditional hockey markets, these one-time Canucks continue to apply their trade outside of North America. Today, we look at forward Tyler Graovac, who spent the 2024-25 season with the Kunlun Red Star in the KHL.
Graovac joined Vancouver ahead of the 2019-20 season. He signed as a free agent after spending time with the Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild. Graovac made his Canucks debut on November 14, 2019, against the Dallas Stars, while scoring his first goal with Vancouver on November 21, 2019, against the Nashville Predators.
During his two seasons with the Canucks, Graovac played 22 NHL games, recording five goals and six points. He also spent time in the AHL with the Utica Comets and Manitoba Moose. Up until this point in his career, Graovac has played 84 games at the NHL level and 340 in the AHL.
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After the 2020-21 season, Graovac signed in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk. He has also played for Hockey Club Vityaz Moscow Region, Admiral Vladivostok and eventually, Kunlun Red Star. Last season with the Red Star, Graovac led his team with 36 points in 67 games.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
A former New Jersey Devils forward is taking his talents overseas.
SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL have announced that they have signed former Devils forward Joseph Blandisi to a two-year contract.
Blandisi spent each of the last five seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL), spending time with the Laval Rocket and then the Toronto Marlies. In 58 games this past season with the Marlies, he posted 15 goals, 35 points, 82 penalty minutes, and a plus-7 rating.
Blandisi kicked off his NHL career with the Devils during the 2015-16 season. In 41 games with the Metropolitan Division club that campaign, he set NHL career highs with five goals, 12 assists, 17 points, and 39 hits. He then followed that up by recording three goals and nine points in 27 games for the Devils during the 2016-17 season.
Blandisi's time with the Devils organization ended during the 2017-18 season, as he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. In 68 games as a Devil over two seasons, Blandisi recorded eight goals, 18 assists, and 26 points.
Following his time with the Devils, Blandisi played for the Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins. His final NHL season was in 2019-20 season with Pittsburgh, where he posted two goals and five points in 21 games.
Devils Defenseman Named Top Breakout CandidateThe New Jersey Devils will certainly be an interesting team to watch during the 2025-26 season. After getting back into the playoffs this past spring, the Devils will now look to take another step forward and cement themselves as true contenders. Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided some updates prior to Tuesday’s game against the Twins…
As SNY's Andy Martino reported Monday, the Yankees still don't have an exact date for Judge’s return to the outfield, but Boone said it’s possible he could be back out there during this weekend’s series with the Cardinals.
“Throwing program is going well, he seems to be improving each time, so we’ll see,” he said.
Judge hasn’t played the field since July 25 due to a flexor strain in his elbow.
He was able to be activated from the IL this week, but has been limited to DH duties.
With that being the case, the team has been forced to run the oft-injured Giancarlo Stanton out in right field for the first time since 2023.
Stanton has moved around pretty well in his first few opportunities out there, and now Boone is turning to him in back-to-back games for the first time to keep both big bats in the lineup.
“I was tempted to do it Sunday after the Saturday game,” the skipper said. “He ended up getting a few innings at the end, but he’s responded well to it physically and we want to keep his bat in there too.”
With Rice swinging a hot bat and Austin Wells struggling mightily, Boone decided to turn to the lefty slugger at catcher for the second consecutive game on Tuesday.
It’s not just his offense that’s caught the team’s eye; they’ve also liked what they’ve seen defensively despite his limited big-league experience at the position.
“He’s done a really good job,” Boone said. “He hasn’t done it a lot at this level, so there’s still some things to learn, but we’ve been really pleased with how well he’s handled it. Him now from two months ago is a lot different -- he’s gaining confidence and just playing really well.”
Boone hasn’t spoken with Wells about his playing time, but he does expect him to play a big role for this team down the stretch.
Wells is slashing a lowly .130/.186/.204 over his last 16 games.
After sitting out the last two, he is expected to be back behind the plate for Wednesday’s series finale.
“We all get consumed with the now and what’s happening,” he said. “This is just a couple of days in the long stretch of the season, part of it is, we have other guys who are really pushing for more playing time. But Austin is going to be fine and will continue to play a big part for us.”
The Yanks could have a bit of a bullpen crunch real soon.
Loáisiga appears to be closing in on a return after throwing a side session Tuesday.
“He should be in play anytime starting soon because he wasn’t down long,” Boone said. “We’ll decide if we want to get him live, in a game, and how long it’ll be, but he should be pretty close to coming back.”
Loáisiga has been sidelined for about a week with mid-back tightness.
Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough are also close to being back with the club.
NBA free agency is not entirely wrapped up for 2025. There are a few name players still available — Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon, although Amir Coffey may be the best of them — and some restricted free agents still looking for the best deal possible, such as Jonathan Kuminga and Josh Giddey (among others).
That said, it's time to gaze into the future — what about next summer, the free agent class of 2026?
It's not setting up to be the deepest class (free agency is not how star players generally switch teams in the apron era), and who is in this group could certainly change between now and next July, but here are the names to look ahead to in free agency a year from now.
Agent Rich Paul's not-so-subtle statement when LeBron James picked up his option to play with the Lakers this season put the NBA trade rumor mill into high gear, but the reality of the marketplace was always that he would play this season out in Los Angeles.
Next season? That's when things get interesting. What might happen depends in large part on how LeBron feels and how this season plays out in Los Angeles — is he still healthy and playing at a high enough level to have contenders willing to make a bold move to land him? Does he stay in L.A. with his family? LeBron isn't going to finish out his career just anywhere, but if he wants to go to the Knicks or return to the Cavaliers, is he willing to sign on at a very steep discount to make that possible? Could a sign-and-trade be worked out that would also benefit the Lakers?
There are far more questions than answers right now, but that's not going to stop the storylines — LeBron James' free agency will be a big story during this season and could be the story of the summer of 2026.
These are players who, as of now, could be free agents but likely will not be next summer.
Kevin Durant: Durant is entering the final year of his contract, but he and the Houston Rockets are expected to work out a two-year extension (the longest he can sign because of the over-38 rule). The question becomes, how much of a haircut on his salary is KD willing to take to help out Houston? The conventional wisdom was always that he would take a little less to be on a team he wanted to be part of, but how much less? What is his market now as an elite but aging scorer, one who is still one of the biggest draws in the league? Whatever the number, the expectation is that a deal will get done and KD will stay in Houston beyond just this season.
Trae Young (player option): The Hawks want to kick Young extension talks down the road, likely to next summer, but neither side is looking to part ways. Eventually, an extension, maybe a shorter one (two years?), will be reached, but until then, the possibility of Young opting out of his $48.9 million and becoming a free agent is on the table (and something the Hawks want to avoid).
John Collins: This may be the most interesting of this group. Collins moves to the Clippers this season, joining a veteran team — Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac — that could highlight his skill set and make him even more valuable. Collins averaged 19 points and 8.2 rebounds a game last season when healthy, shooting 39.9% from beyond the arc. There are a lot of teams that could use a stretch four like him and there will be demand if he has a strong season.
Dyson Daniels: The Hawks' Most Improved Player and All-Defensive wing is headed to restricted free agency next summer if he does not sign an extension before this season starts. Reportedly, both Daniels and Atlanta want to get a deal done, so an extension likely will come together. But if the Hawks low-ball him, Daniels could choose restricted free agency next year and other teams would have interest in trying to poach him.
Kristaps Porzingis: His future with the Hawks — and how much demand there will be for him around the league — will rest on how healthy he looks this season and how he meshes with Trae Young. That said, 7-foot rim protectors who can shoot the 3 always have a market and there will be teams calling KP next summer.
Norman Powell: He was traded to Miami for the final year of his contract, making $20.5 million. He is coming off a season where he made a leap (in year 10!) and averaged 21.8 points a game while shooting 41.8% from beyond the arc. At age 32, the Clippers were hesitant to give Powell the longer extension that he wanted, which helped lead to the trade, but is Miami going to feel any differently (Miami is also trying to keep its books clean to make a big swing at a superstar down the line)? While the Heat and Powell may work out an extension, his hitting free agency seems a very real possibility.
Anfernee Simons: Simons was traded to a Celtics team that liked his ability to score, averaging 19.3 points and 4.8 assists per game last season. He can get a bucket from anywhere on the court, and Boston needs that next to Jaylen Brown. However, the Celtics are not done dealing and may try to move Simons at the deadline, and even if they don't, he may not be in their long-term plans once Jayson Tatum returns. How this season goes for Simons will determine where his salary goes from the $27 million he is making this season, but he very well could be a free agent.
Coby White: White signed a three-year, $36 million contract coming off shoulder surgery, a deal he has completely outplayed. He is expecting to get paid next summer, reportedly he is looking for something in the $30+ million a year range, and even if the final number falls short of that, expect a big pay increase for the young guard. The Bulls might try to lock him up, depending on what happens with restricted free agent Josh Giddey, but one way or another, White is going to get paid.
Khris Middleton: How much does the former All-Star and Olympian still have in the tank? The Wizards are holding on to the veteran forward and will be looking to trade him during the season, but if a deal doesn't come together, look for a midseason buyout. All of that points to him being a free agent next summer, right before his age 35 season. He's going to have to show he's got enough left to get a contender to pick him up.
CJ McCollum: I feel like I could just copy and paste a lot of what was written above about Middleton: McCollum is on the Wizards, and they will be looking to trade him all season long, if not, they could buy him out. How much does McCollum have left in the tank entering his age 34 season? When healthy last season he averaged 21.1 points and 4.1 assists a game, do that again and there will be some free agent interest in him.
Austin Reaves: Reaves will be a free agent. There is zero chance he is picking up his $14.9 million player option, even if he plans to stay with the Lakers. Reaves reportedly wants to be paid in the Tyler Herro range of $30 million a year (and Herro is a good comp in a lot of ways). If Reaves shows this season that he can be a high-level scorer next to Luka Doncic and can step up his game in the playoffs, the Lakers gladly will pay that much to keep him (and Reaves will want to stay). However, if he struggles again in the playoffs, the Lakers — who will have a lot of cap space — may question whether that is the best way to spend their money.
James Harden: This summer, Harden signed a two-year contract with the Clippers that gives him a $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season, and the smart bet is he will pick that up. The Clippers are working to keep their books clean for the summer of 2027 (not so coincidentally, when Giannis Antetokounmpo might be a free agent) and are not likely to offer the aging Harden (35) another extension. Is there a $40+ million market for Harden beyond the Clippers? If not, he'll grab the bag on the table.
Draymond Green: Still the anchor of the Warriors' defense, Green has a $27.7 million player option for 2026-27. Golden State is still all-in on trying to win another ring with Stephen Curry, and with that, it's tough to see Green walking away (or being traded). But it's hanging out there, and it's something to watch. There would be teams interested in his defense and leadership.
Zach LaVine: LaVine's future is heavily dependent on where he is playing after next February's trade deadline — Sacramento is open to trading the wing who averaged 23.3 points a game last season. LaVine has a $48.9 million player option, if he's traded his new team may want to work out an extension. If not, does LaVine grab that bag, or possibly go into free agency next summer, open to taking a little haircut off that number per year for the sake of getting three or four years of security? There are more questions than answers with LaVine at this point. Things will be a lot clearer after the trade deadline.
Bradley Beal: Beal has a player option at the taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.6 million for the 2026-27 season. The Clippers plan to keep their books wide open for the summer of 2027 and to remain flexible; they are not going to offer an extension that gives Beal a big raise. What Beal does next summer will depend on how this season goes. Does he want to stay with the Clippers at this number, or will he have stayed healthy and played his way into a raise? He can hit the free agent market if he wants.
Fred VanVleet: VanVleet signed a two-year, $50 million contract this summer to stay with the Rockets, and with that has a $25 million player option for 2026-27. He very likely picks that up, but he could choose free agency if he wishes.
Lu Dort & Isaiah Hartenstein: We're lumping these two together because they're part of the same equation in Oklahoma City: At what point do quality role players such as Dort and Hartenstein get let go because the team is headed deep into the luxury tax? The Thunder are projected to be about $24 million over the second apron in 2026-27 (when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren all will be making more than $40 million a season). The stockpile of draft picks the Thunder have gives them the ammunition to make moves (or draft players) to step into the roles of guys such as Hartenstein and Dort. At some point, the Thunder will likely trim salaries around their stars. Does this start with Hartenstein ($28.5 million team option) and/or Dort ($18.2 million) next summer?
Brook Lopez: The Clippers will likely pick up the $9.2 million team option for Lopez a year from now. However, depending on how this season goes, it is possible that Los Angeles does not bring back the floor-spacing veteran center.
Bogdan Bogdanovic: The veteran guard has a $16 million team option for next season. If the Clippers don't trade him, they likely pick up the option, especially if the plan is to head into next season with a roster similar to this year's. If he is traded, it could be to a team looking to make him a free agent to save money.