The Buffalo Sabres desperately need to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. And while the Philadelphia Flyers aren't quite as desperate as the Sabres are to do so, Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere wouldn't object at all if the Flyers surprised people and got into the post-season this coming year.

Could Philadelpha get in the way of Buffalo as both teams likely pursue a wild-card playoff berth next season? That's what we're getting at in this THN.com Sabres site series. Below, you'll see how Buffalo fared against the Flyers last year, what dates the two teams will play against each other in the nex season, and more. Let's get to it.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

NEW FLYERS PLAYERS: Trevor Zegras, C; Christian Dvorak, C; Noah Juulsen, D ; Dennis Gilbert, D; Dan Vladar, G

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-2-0, Flyers 2-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  December 3 at Philadelphia; December 18 at Buffalo; January 14 at Buffalo

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres and Flyers squared off against one another deep into the regular-season last year, with both teams playing their last game of the season against each other. Philadelphia beat Buffalo in a meaningless final game, but there's always been a solid-rivalry energy when the Sabres and Flyers go head-to-head. 

This time around, the Sabres and Flyers will play each other three times within a six-week span starting in early December and lasting until mid-January. And if Buffalo continues being a strong team at home this coming season, they have an excellent opportunity to put some standings space in-between them and the Flyers.

That said, the Flyers make some understandable gambles -- and some curious ones -- in the current off-season. Zegras was no longer a good fit in Anaheim, and the Flyers need some of the scoring power Zegras has been able to bring early in his NHL career. Dvorak was given a one-year, $5.4-million contract at a time where teams value the third-line center position Dvorak is pretty solid at.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Will Buffalo Shock Re-Arranged Rangers Next Year?THN.com's ongoing series on the Buffalo Sabres and their opponents next season continues with this look at the New York Rangers and the considerable changes the Rangers have made thus far this off-season, as well as their record against the Sabres and their schedule head-to-head this coming season.

And given that the Flyers had the league's fifth-worst goals-against average (3.45) last season, getting a veteran goalie -- in this case, former Calgary Flames netminder Dan Vladar, who signed a two-year deal at $3.35-million per season -- was paramount for the Flyers to even hope to be playing meaningful hockey down the stretch.

If there was an X-factor that could be at play in the three games the Flyers and Sabres play next year, it could prove to be new Flyers coach Rick Tocchet. If the Jack Adams Award-winner as the NHL's best bench boss in 2024 with the Vancouver Canucks can drop into that Philadelphia room and instill a sense of confidence in his players, the Flyers can look to fast-track their development and contend for a playoff berth sooner than later.

Still, if we're talking about how the Sabres and Flyers will do against each other, we feel good about Buffalo's chances of winning at least two of the three games they'll play next season. Buffalo's defense is clearly better than Philadelphia's, and the same goes for the Sabres' depth of high-end talent at forward. Buffalo has more upper-tier talent at all positions, so a Sabres sweep wouldn't and shouldn't be out of the question next year.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Are Retooling Islanders A Better Team Than Buffalo?Welcome back to  THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site. In recent days and weeks, we've been focusing on the teams the Sabres will square off against next season. And in today's file, we're turning our attention to a team Buffalo will be taking on in the latest battl(es) of New York (state) -- the New York Islanders.

The big question with this rivalry may be about the two teams' goaltending. Vladar doesn't have to be a superstar to do the job in Philadelphia. He just has to keep the Flyers within a one-or-two-goal distance from their opponent, and let Philly's offence win the game for them. And in Buffalo, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Devon Levi and Alex Lyon are a better trio than Vladar, Ivan Fedotov and Samuel Ersson.

You can see, then, why there are bigger expectations for the Sabres than there are for the Flyers right now. Philadelphia is still in the early stages of a proper rebuild. Buffalo is well beyond the honeymoon stage of their core talent coming up and settling in. So Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will be under enormous pressure to use Buffalo's superior depth to their advantage.

It's difficult to envision both the Flyers and Sabres being playoff teams next season. But it also feels like it will be unlikely that Philadelphia and Buffalo both fail to make the playoffs next year. There's lots to like on both teams, but the Sabres should have an urgency to their game that we doubt the Flyers can match. . 

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Will Devils Remain Formidable Metro Team -- And Will New Jersey Once Again Beat Sabres In Season Series?The Buffalo Sabres are a team that needs to make a playoff appearance this coming season. But in a continuing series, we're examining each of Buffalo's Eastern Conference-rivals that could be in the way of the Sabres making it into the post-season. And in this file, we're examining the rivalry between the Sabres and New Jersey Devils.

And until they both rise to the very top of their respective divisions, the Flyers and Sabres will only be hoping for a Cinderella playoff run.

The Hockey Show is back with a new episode, and this week we’re welcoming a three-time Stanley Cup champion!

Joining hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork on this week’s show is former New Jersey Devils great and current team analyst Ken Daneyko.

At the moment, Daneyko is coaching in the summer 3ICE league which is taking place in South Florida at the Baptist Health IcePlex, which is the Florida Panthers new practice facility.

The former Cup winner discussed what it was like building a champion with the Devils, comparing that team with the current Florida Panthers and how they play the game and how he milked every single minute out of his 24 hours with the Cup after the Devils’ three wins.

Roy and Dave also ranked NHL logo changes, they got into the latest with the Florida Panthers and their Stanley Cup summer and looked at how some of the team’s contracts are being viewed.

This week’s wins and fails included the ageless Jaromir Jagr, an insane ending to a roller hockey championship game and some jarring axe throwing by a well-known NHL mascot.

You can check out the full episode below:

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The Detroit Red Wings have been active so far in the 2025 offseason with respect to player movement. 

Not only did they trade Vladimir Tarasenko and his $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild, but they also signed a multitude of free agents, including forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton along with defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ian Mitchell. 

Jonatan Berggren and Albert Johansson, both of whom were restricted free agents, agreed to new contracts. 

Additionally, they shored up the crease by acquiring veteran goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Petr Mrazek. 

However, Red Wings fans are still hoping that GM Steve Yzerman is lying in wait to soon pounce and make what could be considered a major splash of an acquisition. 

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There are few executives in professional sports today who keep their cards closer to the vest than Yzerman, though he did say he was open to making a major move during his end-of-season press conference. 

Unfortunately, opportunities to acquire some of the more notable names in free agency didn't present themselves.

Mitch Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights in a major sign-and-trade, while the Florida Panthers somehow managed to re-sign Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand before they hit the open market. 

Reports surfaced that former Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, wasn't interested in even discussing a contract with Detroit. Goal scoring forward Brock Boeser re-signed with the Vancouver Canucks, while former New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller was traded to the Hurricanes and subsequently signed an eight-year extension. 

For Yzerman, he said there wasn't much he could do in this situation and that it wasn't exactly a surprise that they weren't able to so much as sit down with some of the more notable names. 

"We were were certainly open to it," Yzerman said. "The guys that we were hoping to talk to all signed before free agency with their clubs, or got traded. In the case of Mitch Marner, we didn't even get an opportunity to talk to these guys. There's not much you can do about that.

"Going into free agency, I think we all recognize that it was going to be difficult all around the league. There weren’t as many as what we would all consider high-end free agents available this year. So it wasn't really a shock to us that we weren't able to get anything done with any of the bigger name guys."

That being said, there is still plenty of time between now and the start of Training Camp in mid-September for a trade. 

Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who has ties to Michigan and scored 35 goals this past season, remains a talked-about name in trade rumors. Additionally, goal scoring forwards Bryan Rust (Pontiac, MI native) and Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins have been linked to the Red Wings as potential acquisitions. 

On the back end, Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Jack Roslovic, who played last season for the Hurricanes, are possibilities for Yzerman to consider. 

While Yzerman expressed hope that the players currently on Detroit's roster take another step in the upcoming campaign, there still remains the potential of a major pickup via the trade market. 

The opportunity is still there, and Yzerman could choose to make that leap at any moment. 

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Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy is a player to keep an eye on. The right-shot blueliner is entering the final season of his contract, so he certainly stands out as a potential trade chip for the rebuilding Blackhawks. This is especially so when NHL teams are often willing to pay more for big, right-shot defenseman.

Due to this, let’s look at three teams who could target Murphy if he is made available by the Blackhawks. 

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings could make a lot of sense as a landing spot for Murphy, as it is clear that the right side of their defense could use improvement. If the Red Wings acquired Murphy, he could slot nicely on their second pairing with Simon Edvinsson and would also be a clear option for their penalty kill.

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars’ biggest weakness currently is the right side of their defense. Because of this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they made a push to acquire Murphy, whether that is this summer or during the season. If the Stars acquired him, he would provide them with a clear upgrade over Ilya Lyubushkin in their top four. Therefore, there could be a good match here.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes could also be an intriguing landing spot for Murphy. When looking at their roster, it is fair to argue that they could use another experienced blueliner on their right side. If the Hurricanes acquired Murphy, he could be a good fit on their bottom pairing with offensive defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. 

Ex-Blackhawks Defenseman Among Top Free Agents LeftWith it now being August, many of this year's notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are still some UFAs with plenty of experience who have yet to get signed.

Photo Credit: © Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

Detroit Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren was given the opportunity to reach a new career-high in NHL games played in the 2024-25 NHL season, skating in 75 out of 82 games. 

Berggren, who scored 15 goals in the 67 games he played in during the 2022-23 NHL campaign, managed just 12 goals with 12 assists this past season. While his future in Detroit appeared somewhat cloudy, he affixed his signature to a one-year contract extension in June.

Berggren knows that the upcoming 2025-26 season could be a make-or-break campaign for him that will go a long way in determining his future NHL path, as he recently explained to the Red Wings' official website. 

“Last year was a good year for me,” Berggren said. “I feel like I got more opportunity after Todd [McLellan] became head coach, and I think I played better. This one-year deal is a prove-it-deal for me. I want to show what I can do.”

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After his first real NHL experience in 2022-23, Berggren would then spend the majority of the following season in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He scored at just over a point-per-game pace, racking up 24 goals with 32 assists for 56 points in the 53 games he played. 

Berggren also expressed appreciation for the security that his new one-year contract affords him with the Red Wings heading into the upcoming campaign.

BERGGREN OUT OF THE BOX AND THE WINGS WIN IT WITH 35 SECONDS LEFT 😱 pic.twitter.com/uyx9D7R4Eq

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 3, 2025

“It felt like I was part of the team,” Berggren said. “It’s hard when you’re going up and down between the AHL and NHL, so I got that confidence being there for a full year and I’m going to build off that.”

The good news for the Red Wings is that Berggren, who has often gone by the affectionate nickname "Jonny Burgers", believes he's in a much better position physically than he was two seasons ago.

“Especially last summer, I feel like that was really good and then at Training Camp, everything felt good,” Berggren said. “I took another step last year, but I feel like I’m starting at a higher level this year maybe than where I was two years ago. I want to do the same thing this summer because I feel like that’s going to give me a good result this year.”

Berggren, who got a chance near the end of last season to play on Detroit's top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, expressed optimism for the Red Wings beginning the new season with Todd McLellan as head caoch.

“I feel like we played really good hockey when Todd came in,” Berggren said. “Now that we’re going to start with him, it’s going to be good to have a full camp with the new systems rather than how we had to learn during the middle of the season. That’s going to be huge.”

The countdown is now approximately a month and a half until Berggren and the rest of his Red Wings teammates gather in Traverse City for Training Camp, which will be followed by their first exhibition matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks on September 23. 

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The New Jersey Devils and the NHL have announced that international fans can now stream every NHL game, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final, on DAZN, as part of a new multi-year partnership.

The deal covers over 200 countries and territories outside of North America, making it easier than ever for fans around the world to follow their favorite teams and players.

DAZN is a British-based sports streaming platform, owned by Access Industries and headquartered in London. Originally founded as Perform Group in 2007, it rebranded as DAZN in 2015. The platform broadcasts a wide range of live and on-demand sports, with a core focus on combat sports like boxing and MMA, available without pay-per-view fees. DAZN is accessible by subscription across various devices.

As part of this agreement, NHL.TV will be integrated into the DAZN platform. This means fans outside the U.S., Canada, and the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) will now be able to watch NHL games through NHL.TV on DAZN.

For the New Jersey Devils, this partnership is especially significant. The franchise has developed a strong and growing international fanbase, one that stretches far beyond the Prudential Center in Newark.

During last season’s NHL Global Series, the Devils traveled to Prague, Czechia, where they opened their season with a win against the Buffalo Sabres. But beyond the victory, the trip highlighted the team's global reach. According to NHL.com, fans came from across the world, including Scotland, Spain, and even Australia,  to cheer for the Devils.

One fan, Mikaela Mackie from Melbourne, told NHL.com, “We all know each other from Twitter. It’s fantastic to connect with other people and have that common interest. It makes it easy to start that conversation and get along.” 

That common interest, of course, is the New Jersey Devils.

The team’s global appeal is also fueled by its international roster. One standout example is Ondřej Palát, Devils winger and alternate captain, who hails from Frýdek-Místek, Czechia. Palát has a strong fan following in his home country, and thanks to this DAZN partnership, his supporters can now stream all 82 regular-season games, plus the playoffs, with ease.

Globally, nearly 30% of NHL players were born outside North America. Reaching that international audience has become a core part of the league’s long-term strategy.

Steve McArdle, NHL Chief Operating Officer, explained to NHL.com:

“Media distribution is at the core of our global strategy, and we are thrilled to partner with DAZN to continue to expand our global reach and engage with our fast-growing international fan base. Our shared commitment to innovation, gold-standard technology, and providing an exceptional content delivery service will allow us to deliver NHL content to hockey fans around the world on the platforms they prefer.”

This new partnership not only benefits Devils fans abroad, it also supports the NHL’s broader mission to grow the game globally, making hockey more accessible to the next generation of fans, no matter where they live.

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images