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Cory Schneider Proclaims Igor Shesterkin As The Most Talented Goalie In The NHL

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Between Igor Shesterkin, Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Sergei Bobrovsky, you could really make a case for any of them in terms of the debate for the top goaltender in the NHL.

From a salary perspective, Shesterkin is technically valued as the best goalie, having earned an eight-year, $92 million contract extension from the Rangers last season, making him the highest-paid goalie in the NHL. 

Despite the New York Rangers regressing as a team and Shesterkin’s stats taking a dip, former NHL goalie Cory Schneider believes Shesterkin is still the most dominant netminder in the league. 

" He’s the highest paid goalie by a wide amount and I think rightfully so.. “I think [Igor Shesterkin], for my money, is the most talented goalie in the league,” Schneider said on NHL Network. 

Mike Sullivan has A Lot To Prove With The Rangers Mike Sullivan has A Lot To Prove With The Rangers While Mike Sullivan is an already established NHL coach, he has a lot to prove as he begins this new opportunity with the New York Rangers. 

In the NHL Network’s most recent list ranking the top goalies in the NHL, Shesterkin ranked third behind Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy, but ahead of Bobrovsky.

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Watch Dwight Howard get inducted into Hall of Fame, do a good Stan Van Gundy impression

Dwight Howard is now, officially, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — a well-deserved honor we knew was coming for a long time.

What we didn't know is that Howard does a mean impression of his Orlando Magic coach, Stan Van Gundy.

Howard has long been a lock to make the Hall of Fame. He was the best defender of his generation, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time All-NBA player, and an eight-time All-Star who won an NBA ring in the bubble with the Lakers and averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds a game.

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Time for ‘little brother’ to knock Brisbane off their perch, Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has declared his club will no longer be stomped on or forgotten after beating Fremantle in dramatic fashion to set up a blockbuster Q-Clash semi-final.

The Suns blew a 26-point lead against the Dockers on Saturday night but managed to regain their composure in the dying minutes to seal a famous one-point elimination final win at Optus Stadium.

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Hall of Fame Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden dies of cancer at age 78

NHL: Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens

Oct 16, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Canadiens former goalie Ken Dryden brings the torch before the game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

MONTREAL — Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goaltender who helped the Montreal Canadiens win six Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s, has died after a fight with cancer. He was 78.

The Canadiens announced his death early Saturday, saying Dryden’s family asked for privacy. A team spokesperson said a close friend of Dryden’s appointed by the family contacted the organization, adding that he died peacefully Friday at his home.

“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said. “Behind the mask he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations.”

Dryden backstopped the NHL’s most successful franchise to championships in six of his eight seasons in the league from 1970-71 to ’78-79. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, the Vezina as the best goalie five times and the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 1971, while being a six-time All-Star.

“Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about,” Molson said.

Known for resting his blocker and glove hands on top of his stick in a relaxed manner that became one of hockey’s most recognizable poses, the 6-foot-4 Dryden retired at just 31 in 1979.

“From the moment Ken Dryden joined the Montreal Canadiens as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise and the goaltending position,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Ken’s love for his country was evident both on and off the ice.”

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, Dryden was 258-57-74 with a .922 save percentage, 2.24 goals-against average and 46 shutouts in just over seven seasons and went 80-32 in the playoffs.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media he was “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Hon. Ken Dryden, a Canadian hockey legend and hall of famer, public servant and inspiration.”

“Few Canadians have given more, or stood taller, for our country,” Carney said. “Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada. Rest in peace.”

From Hamilton, Ontario, Dryden played three seasons at Cornell University from 1966-69, leading the Big Red to the 1967 NCAA title and finishing with a career record of 76-4-1.

Dryden entered the NHL in 1971 and spent just six games in the crease before making his NHL postseason debut. He and Montreal upset rival Boston in the first round and beat Chicago in the final.

“We looked at him and we thought he was coming from another planet,” Hall of Fame teammate Serge Savard said Saturday. “We didn’t see hockey players coming into the dressing room with books under their arms. After practice, he was going to McGill University.”

He was a cornerstone of Canada’s 1972 Summit Series team that beat the Soviet Union, starting in goal in the decisive 6-5 victory in Game 8.

“I feel the history of that tournament, the legacy of that team just as strongly as all Canadian fans do,” Dryden told The Canadian Press in a 2022 interview. “It never goes away. It’s kind of like a good wine, I guess. Actually, the legacy of it grows.”

He also worked at a Toronto law firm while sitting out the 1973-74 NHL season - after previously earning a law degree atMcGill.

After retiring as a player, he went into broadcasting and wrote “The Game,” one of the best known books about the sport, after publishing “Face-off at the Summit” as part of an accomplished career as an author. He was the color analyst alongside Al Michaels for the “Miracle on Ice” when the U.S. beat the Soviet Union and went on to win the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Carey Price, the Canadiens' starter in net for more than a decade, posted on social media: “Thank you Mr. Dryden, for your service not only as a Canadien, but also as a Canadian. You helped me as a young goaltender and I will always be grateful for your thoughtful words of encouragement.”

Dryden served as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997 through 2004 - a stretch accented by trips to the Eastern Conference final in both 1999 and 2002 - before resigning to enter politics. He ran for the federal Liberals in 2004 and was named minister of social development in Prime Minister Paul Martin’s cabinet.

Dryden, who also taught at various universities across Canada, held onto his seat in Toronto’s York Centre riding in 2006 when the Liberals were ousted, and again in 2008, but lost in 2011.

Dryden is survived by wife Lynda and their two children.

Brother Dave Dryden was a longtime NHL and WHA goalie. He died in 2022 at the age of 81.

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Blackhawks Can Still Add Salary Despite Missing Out On Carey Price

The Chicago Blackhawks would have been a perfect match with the Montreal Canadiens to acquire Carey Price's contract.

They could afford the cap hit, and it would keep them above the floor if they shed some veterans ahead of the trade deadline. Price is already retired and a future Hall of Fame goalie. Trading his contract is nothing more than a financial move for the Canadiens. 

On Friday, the San Jose Sharks made that move to acquire Price's contract from Montreal. They sent defenseman Gannon Laroque to Montreal and got a 2026 5th-round pick back. 

San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) on XSan Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) on X🔀 TRADE ALERTCanadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) on XCanadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) on XThe Canadiens acquire defenseman Gannon Laroque from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Carey Price and a fifth-round pick in 2026. News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/hnwKBe7FE0

This wasn't the only salary-addition move that the Blackhawks could make. There are other deals like this out there, including one with the New Jersey Devils. 

New Jersey has been trying to trade Ondrej Palat since the beginning of the off-season. He is still a playable bottom-six forward, which makes this a different scenario than Price, but he is not producing like a $6 million forward. 

Outside of getting some salary added to their books, the Blackhawks would also likely acquire a draft pick or a prospect in exchange for taking on Palat. 

Palat is a former two-time Stanley Cup champion who was always clutch in the playoffs, but his game hasn't been at a high level since signing with New Jersey. 

New Jersey, a team up against the cap ceiling, certainly wants to make this move so that it can extend their young defensive star, Luke Hughes. The Blackhawks are one of the teams that can take on Palat's contract and give him significant playing time.

It's a move worth considering for the Blackhawks before someone else swoops in and does it.

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

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Red Wings Players To Watch In 2025-26: Patrick Kane

The man they call "Showtime" decided that it was time for another repeat performance in the heart of Hockeytown. 

Patrick Kane, a first-ballot future Hall of Fame forward, once again decided to forgo free agency and agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings for what will be his second full campaign with the club he joined in December 2023. 

Both Kane and GM Steve Yzerman expressed mutual interest in another extension, which was finalized on June 30. The new contract includes multiple performance-based bonuses.

While the Red Wings’ 2024–25 season ended in disappointment as they fell short of securing what would have been their first Stanley Cup Playoff berth since 2016, Kane expressed optimism in the club's coaching staff and believes it will go a long way in achieving that goal next season. 

"I’m still optimistic about the group and I think we’re closer than we were at the end of last year," Kane explained during his season-ending media session. "It’s such a fine line. We were on a pretty good pace from when Todd [McLellan] came in.

"I think that will huge going into next season, the confidence in the coaching staff."

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Since joining the Red Wings, Kane has become an integral part of their offensive attack as well as the power-play.

He put any concerns about his durability following a risky hip-resurfacing surgical procedure during the 2023 offseason to rest by tallying 20 goals and 27 assists in the 50 games he skated in, a near point-per-game scoring pace. 

While his start to the 2024-25 NHL season was slow, he immediately began regaining his form following the coaching change from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan this past December and finished with 21 goals and 38 assists.

Kane especially thrived playing alongside rookie center Marco Kasper as well as his former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat on Detroit's second line, a unit that will likely remain in place for the start of the upcoming campaign. 

Red Wings Players To Watch In 2025-26: Marco Kasper Red Wings Players To Watch In 2025-26: Marco Kasper When Steve Yzerman returned to the Detroit Red Wings in April 2019 to take over the role of general manager, he didn’t have much to work with in terms of enticing prospects, but since then he has built one of the most highly regarded prospect pools in the NHL. 

Arguably Detroit's best stickhandler since Pavel Datsyuk, Kane remains as creative on the ice as ever and would love nothing more than to be part of the solution to bring postseason hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time in the venue's history. 

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Lauri Markkanen, Finland upset Nikola Jokic, Serbia knocking powerhouse out of EuroBasket

Serbia was the pre-tournament betting favorite to win EuroBasket, and with good reason. Led by the best player on the planet in Nikola Jokic, Serbia was the bronze medal winner at the Paris Olympics a year ago (and pushed the USA hard in the medal round), and it was the silver medalists at the last FIBA World Cup. It felt like their turn.

Serbia is out at EuroBasket in the round of 16, eliminated by Lauri Markkanen and Finland.

Miro Little, who plays his college ball for UC Santa Barbara, had 13 points for Finland in the win, as did Elias Valtonen, who had a clutch 3-pointer over Jokic late. Jokic did his part for Serbia, scoring 33 points with eight rebounds in the game, but Serbia missed the steady hand of Bogdan Bogdanovic (out with a hamstring injury).

In other EuroBasket action Saturday:

• Turkiye got 24 points and 16 rebounds from Rockets' big man Alperen Sengun, and with that held off Sweden 85-79 to advance to the quarterfinals.

• In a Balkan showdown, Lithuania beat Latvia despite 34 points and 19 rebounds from Kristaps Porzingis. Hawks fans should be optimistic about Porzingis' performance in this tournament, and it's not just the points.

• Germany pulled away in the second half and handled Portugal to pick up the 85-58 win. Franz Wagner led a deep and balanced German side with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Celtics center Neemias Queta, about to be thrust into a larger role with the team, looked ready for the part with his play for Portugal at EuroBasket, including having 18 points and 11 rebounds in this game.

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Mets Notes: Reed Garrett nearing activation from IL; Jose Siri getting closer to return

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared updates on a handful of injured players before Saturday night's game against the Reds. Here's what he said...

Garrett back this weekend?

Reed Garrett is first eligible to be activated off the 15-day injured list on Sunday, and Mendoza said there's "a chance" the veteran right-hander is back in the bullpen mix then. The move will obviously depend on how the Mets utilize their relievers against the Reds on Saturday.

Garrett, who's been sidelined with right elbow inflammation since Aug. 25, made his first rehab appearance on Thursday for Double-A Binghamton. He served as the opener, striking out two and allowing one hit across one inning of work. He threw 15 pitches, 11 for strikes.

The 2025 season has produced mixed results for the 32-year-old, but he owns a respectable 3.61 ERA with three saves in 54 appearances.

Hey Siri, how much longer?

Jose Siri's return to the fold isn't as imminent as Garrett's, but the veteran outfielder is making decent strides in his months-long recovery from a fractured tibia.

Mendoza said Siri is "getting close" and noted he played nine innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. It happened to be a productive afternoon for Siri, as he smacked a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

The Mets want to keep building up his game volume, with a sensible mix of day and night starts. Mendoza didn't reveal when Siri could be back, but he's slated to play five innings for Syracuse on Sunday.

Progress for Megill and Taylor

Tylor Megill felt good after a Friday bullpen session and will make at least one more rehab start for Syracuse on Sunday, according to Mendoza.

The right-hander has been sidelined since mid-June due to an elbow strain, and he's completed five rehab outings between Double-A and Triple-A. He last pitched on Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks with five punchouts across four-plus frames. 

Before landing on the injured list, Megill had pitched to a 3.95 ERA with 89 strikeouts over 68.1 innings (14 starts).

Tyrone Taylor landed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with right hamstring tightness, but the veteran outfielder is already starting to run again. Mendoza said he moved around 85-percent speed during a Citi Field workout on Friday, and a rehab assignment is possible.

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Former Ottawa Senators Winger Alex Formenton Returns To Pro Hockey

After being acquitted of sexual assault in the high-profile criminal case involving five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team in August, Alex Formenton has signed a three and a half month contract with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss League.

Formenton's NHL rights still belong to the Ottawa Senators. The organization qualified him as a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, just as news became public that Hockey Canada had reached a $3.5 million settlement on behalf of the defendants.

The left winger has not appeared in a professional game in North America since the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, but he played parts of two seasons in Switzerland with the aforementioned HC Ambri-Piotta.

In 22 games during the 2022-23 season, Formenton recorded 10 goals and three assists. The following season, he tallied 10 goals and 16 points in 24 games.

The winger did not play at all during the 2023-24 season. When his lawyer filed documentation as part of the London criminal trial, he reported that he retired from hockey while living in Barrie, Ontario. Formenton pivoted to being a full-time construction worker while receiving training in the "operation of heavy equipment as well as the administration aspects of his new trade."

Formenton may have stepped away from the game as the trial played out, but he never filed formal paperwork with the NHL. Now, he will attempt to resume his professional hockey career.

Signing in Europe with an organization and city that he is already familiar with makes sense.

By signing for three and a half months, Formenton is affording himself time to shake off the rust and audition for the Senators or other NHL organizations who may be interested in bringing the speedy winger into the fold. When Formenton last played, he ranked in the 99th percentile in skating speed (24.21 mph) and speed bursts over 20 mph (298) according to the NHL Edge data.

Alex Formenton's NHL Rights Still Belong To The Ottawa Senators – What Are Their Options?Alex Formenton's NHL Rights Still Belong To The Ottawa Senators – What Are Their Options?Senators general manager Steve Staios appeared on the Coming In Hot Podcast on Tuesday, where no questions were posed regarding Alex Formenton out of respect for the organization's policy, which defers to the NHL and its own investigation into the London sexual assault case.

Today's news will afford him a place to play while the NHL completes its investigation into the case and the judge's findings.

At the conclusion of the criminal trial, the NHL released the following statement:

"The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing, and the behaviour at issue was unacceptable. We will be reviewing and considering the judge's findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the league."

It was always naive to believe that Formenton was stepping away from the game completely before the court case's verdict was rendered. Still, restricted free agents have to sign by December 1st to play for the remainder of the season and be eligible for the NHL playoffs.

Whether that happens with the Senators remains to be seen, but today's news is just verification that Formenton and his camp have ambitions of eventually returning to the NHL. 

By Graeme Nichols
This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa

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