Worldwide Sports News

The Seattle Kraken used their second-round pick (36th overall) in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to select defenseman Blake Fiddler, a right-handed shot with size and tools coaches dream of.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds, Fiddler has the frame of a true shutdown defenseman, comparable to the likes of Adam Larsson, but the 17-year-old is much more than that. Fiddler knows how to use his body to defend, but he is not reliant on it. 

He's an excellent skater, described as having explosive backwards crossovers and the ability to take the puck from behind his goal line and start transition breakouts. EliteProspects describes him as a player who "skates through his hands." 

"Fiddler’s impact comes through his defensive impact and frequent advantage creation. With explosive backward crossovers, he wins the race to the middle before pivoting and surfing into the stop. Always thinking about body position, he skates through the hands, intercepts opponents with his back, and eliminates off-puck threats. On retrievals, he picks up the puck cleanly, waits for pressure to engage, and places it in a good spot for a teammate to carry it out." -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide.

Fiddler flashed some of his offensive potential and creativity with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL this season, recording 10 goals and 33 points in 64 games. A player of Fiddler's size and position, it's rare to be deemed a two-way defenseman, but Fiddler is just that. 

Despite being considered a strong skater, the American defenseman believes there is more to add to that aspect of his game, and he thinks the Kraken development staff can help him do just that. 

"Everything can get better," said Fiddler when asked about what he can improve on. "I'm going to continue to work out everything. I'm a strong skater for my size, but I want to become elite at that, and that's something that definitely as I get older, I want to be able to do and continue to work at. I also want to use my physicality edge a little more and on a consistent basis. It's there, but I want to do it more consistently." 

"Something I didn't know is how great of a development staff they have, and they've all been super good to me and helping me on the ice and off the ice."

2025 NHL Draft - Kraken Select Blake Fiddler 36th Overall in 2025 NHL DraftBlake Fiddler Brings Size and Skill to Seattle Kraken.

After making four forward selections in the first round in four drafts, many people thought the Kraken would select a defenseman, but they elected to draft center Jake O'Brien. Fiddler was predicted by many to land in the first round, but when he slipped to the second, the Kraken wasted no time trading up, moving the 38th and 57th picks to take what could very well be a steal in Blake Fiddler. 

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

First Look - 2025 Draft Picks at Kraken Development CampSeattle - The Kraken of the future hit the ice today for the first skating day of Development Camp at the Kraken Community Iceplex. While some prospects have been here before in previous years, it was our first chance to see the freshly drafted players wearing the Kraken logo for the first time. Here is a first look at each of the Kraken's 2025 Draft Picks from the sessions today.

Brent Burns signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche as he gears up for a 22nd career NHL season.

The teamannounced the 40-year-old defenseman's signing on Wednesday evening but didn't reveal an average annual value. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports the contract has a $1-million base salary with the potential to earn another $3 million in games-played bonuses. Burns was a UFA after finishing an eight-year contract with an $8-million cap hit.

This past season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Burns recorded six goals and 23 assists for 29 points in 82 games. He can extend the fourth-longest ironman streak in NHL history, which stands at 925 straight games.

In 1,497 career regular-season NHL games, Burns has 261 goals and 649 assists for 910 points. He's  added another 24 goals and 80 points in 135 playoff games, making the Stanley Cup final with the San Jose Sharks in 2015-16.

Burns won the Norris Trophy as the defenseman of the year in 2016-17 after putting up 76 points, and he was the 2014-15 recipient of the NHL Foundation Player Award.

At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Burns has continued to log many minutes of ice time per game, with 20:57 this past season and a career average of 22:22. He ranked second on the Hurricanes in blocked shots, with 98, and he ranks 19th in the NHL in total blocked shots since his first season in 2006-07, with 1,785.

The Avalanche are Burns' fourth NHL team. Before the Hurricanes and 11 seasons with the Sharks, Burns' first seven campaigns came with the Minnesota Wild, which drafted him 20th overall in 2003.

As a right-shot blueliner, Burns could slot behind Cale Makar and Josh Manson the Avalanche's depth chart. On the left side, Colorado has Devon Toews, Samuel Girard and Sam Malinski. They lost Ryan Lindgren in free agency to the Seattle Kraken, and Erik Johnson and Tucker Poolman became UFAs as well.

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.

Entering the current off-season, many hockey observers were intrigued to see the direction the Pittsburgh Penguins would take. 

After all, this team stubbornly refused to go through a full roster rebuild but has also begun making moves that address its long-term future.

Unfortunately for Penguins fans, Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas’ initial roster moves this summer have not inspired confidence. Instead, there’s a sense that, at best, the Penguins will once again be a “mushy middle” team – not good enough to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs and not bad enough to secure draft picks that will be the foundation for the organization in the years ahead.

The time is now for Dubas to move veterans who will command a sizeable return in a trade – high-impact players, such as star defenseman Erik Karlsson and right wingers Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. Karlsson has a full no-movement clause, but there’s reportedly a possibility he’ll waive it to go to a Cup contender.Rakell and Rust, meanwhile, don’t have full no-move clauses.

However, Dubas has stubbornly held onto those players so far. He’s instead made low-impact trades, including acquiring third-pair defenseman Connor Clifton from Buffalo in return for depth blueliner Conor Timmins.

In free agency, Dubas has held onto the bulk of Pittsburgh’s cap space – now about $14.9 million – and spent on B-grade players, including wingers Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. He dealt goalie Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks, further muddying the Penguins’ situation in net. Veteran Tristan Jarry was a candidate for a contract buyout but stayed, and youngster Joel Blomqvist will likely be thrown to the wolves behind a defense corps that is hardly a shutdown unit. 

Consequently, the Penguins lack quality depth in important positions and the type of players who can help them contend for a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.

It’s true Dubas still has time to effect major change. But if the status quo stays, the Pens will likely miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season – something that is truly hard to fathom for a team with Hockey Hall of Fame-bound icons in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. But with every day that passes without notable change, the Penguins appear destined to disappoint a fan base that not so long ago was accustomed to championship glory.

Dubas is also working with a first-year coach in Dan Muse, who has to be a teacher to Pittsburgh’s youngsters while also pushing to produce acceptable performances from the veterans. Muse’s balancing act carries with it a real danger that there could be more failure on the horizon, and the pressure felt by Dubas and Pens brass could easily trickle down into the roster, causing everyone to squeeze their sticks a little too hard.

It all adds up to a situation in Pittsburgh that’s far from ideal. The Penguins are being pulled in two different directions – toward playoff contention on one end and toward a bigger rebuild on the other end – and the mixed-message reality of the organization is likely to lead to further letdowns.

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.

The Buffalo Sabres' first day of the NHL's free-agent frenzy saw Sabres GM Kevyn Adams take some low-risk, decent-return gambles in signing mid-tier veterans like winger Justin Danforth and defenseman Zac Jones. But another Sabres signing could prove to be extremely important as the season goes on -- and that's the signing of experienced goalie Alex Lyon.

For the 32-year-old Lyon, his new contract was about stability, and the Sabres provided him with that, signing him to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.5 million. Lyon has spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, and in that time, he's posted a save percentage of sligly less than .900 -- a satisfactory-enough number at a time when NHL offenses can be overwhelming, and one that came playing behind the Wings' sub-par defense corps.

Now, before we go much further, let's be clear -- Lyon is obviously the third goaltender on the Sabres' depth chart. He's not going into camp being the ideal starter for this Buffalo team. 

That said, ostensible starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen didn't have a particularly great year in 2024-25, posting a bloated 3.20 goals-against average and an .887 SP in 55 games.  By the end of the season, Luukkonen had lost his starter's job in favor of greybeard journeyman James Reimer. Now, Luukkonen's contract status -- the 26-year-old is entering Year 2 of a five-year contract that pays him $4.75-million per season -- necessitates he be given a chance to win the No. 1 job back. But there's no assurance Luukkonen is going to return to the form he showed in 2023-24, when he posted a .910 SP in 54 games.

So, if Luukkonen can't get the job done, Lyon is still not Plan B.  That would be up-and-comer Devon Levi. The 23-year-old Levi did not have great success in limited NHL action last year, posting an .872 SP in nine games. However, Levi had much more positivity in the American League, putting up a .919 SP in 42 games. If Levi -- currently an RFA -- is intending on bumping up his pay grade, making the jump to the NHL on a permanent basis provides him all the motivation in the world.

After Sabres' Latest Trade, Don't Expect Much From New Buffalo DefensemanThe Buffalo Sabres made a trade Saturday, but it wasn't the trade many were expecting, as star defenseman Bowen Byram remained a Sabre, at least, for the time being. However, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reshaped his defense corps by sending rugged blueliner Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall pick in this year's draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for D-man Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Isaac Beliveau. 

All of which is to say that, if Lyon is called into action on a regular basis, things for Buffalo probably haven't gone very well. Either or both of Luukkonen and Levi could be hurt or under-performing. But by the same token, if Lyon can come through in the clutch when called upon, he's going to look like a terrific financial bargain, and one of Adams' best signings in his history running the team.

Goaltending insurance is something every NHL team is investing in. At a time when it feels like the health of every player in the league is just one bad collision or bounce away from being compromised, you need as much talent as you can get. So while Lyon may not be occupying much of the spotlight when next season begins, there's a road ahead in which the Sabres turn to him as a last line of resort, with their season possibly hanging in the balance.

Sabres Deals Addressed Needs, But Were Budget-ConsciousThe Buffalo Sabres made a pair of trades before and during the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles which were as much about changing the makeup of the roster as they were about trimming the budget of the club in advance of the beginning of free agency on July 1. 

We still believe Adams should be on the hot seat for the roster decisions he's made. If all he does is what he's done thus far, we don't envision the Sabres as a playoff team. But if Adams makes more changes by the time next season begins, Buffalo could challenge for a wild card berth in the Eastern Conference.

And if things go a particular way -- and if Lyon comes through in a pinch -- we might look back on the signing of a third goaltender as the move that saved the Sabres' year.

It's never too early to be thinking about the future. Right? 

Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz said he had two things in mind when thinking about the Predators' future: getting bigger and getting younger. 

"We've got some great prospects on the way, but I felt two things: we wanted to get bigger and we want to get younger," Trotz said. 

The Predators' current defensive corps averages 6 feet 2 inches and 200 pounds. The 2025 draft class averages 6 feet and 181 pounds. In addition, the Predators' defense had an average age of 28 years. 

Looking for size and youth, the Predators may have at least one pick lined up for the 2026 draft in 7-foot, 273-pound Moldovan defenseman Alexander Karmanov. 

The 17-year-old was selected by the Brantford Bulldogs, 172nd overall in the third round of the CHL's Import Draft, an entry draft held for CHL prospects that are not from Canada or the United States.

 

Karmanov is also committed to Penn State for the 2027-28 season. He spent the past year with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 16U AAA team in Pennsylvania, competing between the Atlantic Youth Hockey League and 16U AAA tournaments. 

Between both, he played 35 games and scored 33 points and had 60 penalty minutes. According to Brantford's X/Twitter account, he is "the largest hockey player on the planet." 

If he were to break into the NHL, he'd be the tallest player to ever play, surpassing Zdeno Chara's record height by three inches. 

Depending on Karmanov's arrival at Penn State, he could be teammates with 2023 Nashville Predators draft pick Aiden Fink, who would be a senior by the start of the 2027-28 season.

Defenseman Mac Gadowsky, who is attending the Predators' development camp by invitation and stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, would also be his teammate, as Gadowsky recently transferred to Penn State.  

When drafting taller players, skating is usually the primary focus. That appears to be the most significant focus for Karmanov when watching his highlights. He's a big body, but doesn't move fast. 

Skating at an NHL pace can be a challenge for larger players, but Nashville has found ways to develop them and maintain a reputation as one of the largest teams in the NHL. 

Trotz wants size and Karmanov has the potential to be the biggest to ever play the game. 

In a shocking twist only 30 minutes into the 2025 NHL Free Agency period, Brock Boeser signed a seven-year, $7.25M AAV contract with the Vancouver Canucks. His signing came after a tumultuous season of uncertainty regarding his fate. Many thought he would be traded at the Trade Deadline, while signs leading up to free agency implied that he would be moving on from the team. With his signing, Boeser will extend his streak as the Canucks’ longest-tenured active skater.  

The Canucks came into the 2015 NHL Draft with the 23rd selection in the first round. While some players were obvious selections (Connor McDavid), realistically, the talent pool provided by this draft class meant that nearly any pick would be profitable. At the time, only three of twelve prospect draft rankings had Boeser going higher than 23rd overall. The general consensus seemed to be that he would not be picked higher than 25th. With that being said, it wasn’t shocking when former Canucks General Manager Jim Benning decided to select Boeser 23rd overall. 

Boeser’s addition to Vancouver’s prospect pool was a bright sign, as some of the only other names in the Canucks’ ranks were Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann, and Hunter Shinkaruk — with only one of these three still playing in the NHL. He was given the expectation of 30-goal scorer in the NHL early on and nearly broke this milestone in his first full season. 

On March 25, 2017, Boeser signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canucks, making his NHL debut the same day against his hometown Minnesota Wild. In the same game, he scored his first NHL goal. By the end of his first nine games in 2017, he scored four goals on 25 shots and added one assist. For an early campaign, Boeser’s four goals left fans very optimistic about the upcoming season. 

Boeser’s first full season with the Canucks was one to remember. It seemed as though he was shot out of a cannon to start the season, as he scored two goals and three assists in his first four games. It only took him 10 games to get his first hat trick of the season, and the first of his NHL career, which he scored against Matt Murray and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Within the first 10 games of his rookie season, Boeser had five goals and eight assists. 

“The most natural goal scorer I’ve ever played with,” former Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said of Boeser back in 2017. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Vancouver Canucks' Pius Suter Signs With The St. Louis Blues

Vancouver Canucks Sign Pierre-Olivier Joseph To A One-Year Contract

"At The End Of The Day, I Think My Heart Was Still In Vancouver": Brock Boeser Speaks On Signing A Seven-Year Extension With The Canucks

An array of goal-scoring streaks, impressive play, and a Rookie of the Month title in November earned Boeser a nod to the 2018 NHL All-Star Game. There, he won the accuracy shooting event, beating out players such as Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand, and Steven Stamkos, and took home the award for MVP of the game. 

Despite playing at a near 40-goal pace in his rookie season, injuries sidelined Boeser for 20 of the team’s games. He finished the year with 29 goals and 26 assists in 62 games played, putting him fifth in points among all rookies that season. Boeser finished second in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy to Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders. 

The start of Boeser’s career in Vancouver was certainly memorable, and with his re-signing, he’ll add even more goals on top of the 204 he has already scored as a member of the Canucks. 

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, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.