With it now being the middle of August, NHL training camps are not too far away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for an interesting one. After bringing in several new players this off-season, there will be plenty of players fighting for spots on their NHL roster.
One of the most notable battles to watch at training camp this year for the Penguins is for the backup goaltender spot. With the Penguins acquiring Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks, he should compete for the backup role with Joel Blomqvist.
Silovs spent most of this past season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, where he posted a 14-5-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average in 21 games. However, he more notably thrived in the playoffs during Abbotsford's Calder Cup championship run, recording a 16-7 record, a .931 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average. With this fantastic play, he won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
Given how well Silovs played in the AHL with Abbotsford, especially in the playoffs, he undoubtedly will be in the running for the Penguins' backup job. The 24-year-old has limited NHL experience, however, as he has recorded an 8-8-2 record, a 3.13 goals-against average, and a .880 save percentage in 19 career regular-season NHL games. He also appeared in 10 playoff games for Vancouver in 2024, posting a 5-5 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, a .898 save percentage, and one shutout.
Blomqvist, on the other hand, appeared in his first 15 NHL games this past season with Pittsburgh. During them, he had a 4-9-1 record, a 3.81 goals-against average, and a .885 save percentage. Overall, he had some troubles during his first NHL action, but he should compete for the Penguins' backup role at camp.
Blomqvist also played in 18 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2024-25, where he had an 8-7-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.84 goals-against average. This was after he had a 25-12-6 record, a 2.16 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage in 45 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With this, there is no question that he has good upside.
Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see who ends up winning the Penguins' backup goalie role from here.
Penguins Gritty Forward Is Player To WatchAt the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins quietly acquired defenseman Connor Timmins and forward Connor Dewar from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. While the Penguins have since traded Timmins to the Buffalo Sabres, Dewar remains on Pittsburgh's roster heading into the 2025-26 season. By Ella Tsotsos, The Hockey News intern
Tyler Seguin, born in Brampton, Ont. has had many incredible seasons in professional leagues. Seguin was selected second overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins and accomplished a Stanley Cup win in his rookie year.
In his major-junior years, Seguin played for the Plymouth Whalers and became the first member of the team to win the Red Tilson Trophy as an MVP in the OHL. His best season with the Whalers was in the 2009-10 season, in which he had 48 goals and 58 assists and 106 points.
During the 2024-25 season, Seguin suffered a significant injury that required surgery. Seguin returned to play in the season finale in the playoffs with the Dallas Stars.
Last season. Seguin played 20 games and had 21 points, and with his major hip surgery, he was unable to play until the playoffs. After a successful surgery, the 33-year-old Seguin played in one pre-playoff game with the Stars in Nashville. His physical recovery was praised, as there was much work to be done for regaining his mobility and ensuring he would be fit for play, but he managed to average 15:06 minutes of ice time on average for Dallas in the playoffs. His post-season concluded with four goals and four assists in 18 games.
Seguin’s best season with the Stars came in his first season with the team in 2013-14, during which he recorded 37 goals, 47 assists and 84 points in 80 games. Seguin is a six-time All-Star and won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, as stated earlier.
Although, like any hockey player, goals and milestones are in place. He has played 989 games and has 809 points, and Seguin is inches away from having 1000 in both categories. However, a major remaining goal is to win a cup with the Stars.
During his rookie year in 2010-11, Seguin played amongst significant veteran players including Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Tim Thomas, who are players that rookies looked up to for guidance. Learning from veteran players and being under their wing is admired, and for Seguin, this is a role that is now becoming his.
During an interview, Seguin answered the question regarding any advice he had for players in the minors who want to succeed and enjoy the game.
“Just have fun with it, make sacrifices, don’t party too much and enjoy your time, " Seguin said.
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The Chicago Blackhawks have several exciting prospects who will be looking to cement themselves spots on their NHL roster next season. One interesting prospect who fans should not ignore heading into the 2025-26 season is forward Ryan Greene.
Greene, 21, was selected by the Blackhawks with the 57th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, the 6-foot-1 has shown good promise, and this was undoubtedly the case this past season with Boston University. In 40 games with the school in 2024-25, he recorded career highs with 13 goals, 25 assists, and 38 points. This was after he had 31 points in 38 games during his freshman year with BU in 2022-23 and 36 points in 40 games with the school in 2023-24.
After completing his third season with BU in 2024-25, Greene signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks, officially marking the end of his time with the school.
Following signing his entry-level deal, Greene appeared in his first two NHL games with Chicago in 2024-25, where he had zero points, one shot, and three blocks. While he did not get on the scoresheet in his first two NHL games, he showed promise and will certainly be a youngster to watch next season because of it.
Overall, with how well Greene played in college, he is undoubtedly among the Blackhawks' promising prospects. It will be interesting to see how much of a step forward he takes in his development next season from here, but it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future.
Blackhawks Have Intriguing Trade Target To ConsiderWhile the Chicago Blackhawks are still in the middle of a rebuild, it would be understandable if they looked to add another skilled forward before the 2025-26 campaign is here. This is especially so if it is a player who can help them beyond this upcoming season. It was fascinating last season to watch the Montreal Canadiens take on the Philadelphia Flyers, not only because the three duels were close contests, but because, against all odds, Daniel Briere and co. had managed to get Matvei Michkov to cross the Atlantic faster than anyone expected.
The two sides were well matched last year; they both scored 11 goals in the season series, but the Canadiens came out on top with two one-goal lead wins. Two of the games were played in Philadelphia, and the teams split the honours of those two, while the Habs won the only game in Montreal.
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The first matchup took place in the last week of October, in Pennsylvania, and was a short 4-3 win for the Canadiens. It was one of Cayden Primeau’s good games, with the netminder making 23 saves on 26 shots, while Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher led the charge for the Habs with two points each. Both teams’ best rookies were kept off the score sheet as Montreal managed to contain Michkov, and Philadelphia did the same with Lane Hutson.
The second duel took place five months later, toward the end of March, and the result was different. The former Broad Street Bullies signed a 6-4 win in which Michkov shone brightly, scoring two goals and an assist. He missed a golden hat-trick opportunity in an empty net, and frustrated by the miss, he tried to storm to the dressing room at the buzzer, but the Flyers' leadership stopped him in his tracks and made him salute the crowd after his two-goal performance. Meanwhile, Hutson recorded two assists in the loss while Jakub Dobes struggled and surrendered six goals on 30 shots.
The final duel was on the last Saturday night home game of the season, and the Canadiens managed to rock the building with a 3-2 win. It was Samuel Montembeault’s only game against the Flyers, and he made 21 saves on 23 shots for a .913 save percentage.
If the Canadiens want to build on the success they enjoyed last season, they need to find a way to dominate teams that are lower than they are in the standings; they cannot afford to play down to the opposition. The Flyers finished the season dead last in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points and missed the playoffs. These are the kind of teams the young Canadiens need to learn to take advantage of.
The Flyers' most significant offseason move was the acquisition of Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks. The center had been rumoured to be on the market for a couple of seasons now, and it only cost Briere former Canadiens Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick at the 2025 draft, and a fourth-round pick at the 2026 draft.
On the free agency market, they signed former Hab blueliner Noah Juulsen and center Christian Dvorak to a six-year deal with a $4.45 M AAV. They also tried to improve in front of the net by adding Dan Vladar, who had spent the last four seasons with the Calgary Flames. The 27-year-old was stuck between star rookie Dustin Wolf in Alberta and will be hoping to play a bigger role with the Flyers. The situation in the net has been a constant issue in Philadelphia. Goalies Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov both struggled against the Canadiens this past season, and some new blood will surely help.
When the Flyers take on the Habs this upcoming season, it won’t be a battle of the star rookies between Michkov and Hutson anymore, a battle that the Canadiens’ defenseman won since he was the Calder Trophy winner. Still, it will be the battle of the two young Russians. Michkov will surely want to show Montreal that they should have grabbed him in 2023 rather than waiting for Ivan Demidov in 2024.
There will be plenty of expectations for the youngster in Canadiens’ land this season, but those expectations will more than likely take center stage when Philadelphia comes to town. Michkov had a great rookie season with 63 points, despite playing for John Tortorella. This year, playing for Rick Tocchet, he should be on a longer leash. As for Demidov, he will surely benefit from Martin St-Louis’ tutelage. The coach has always been supportive of his players and seems to do exceptionally well with young players.
The duel of the season will take place on November 4, at the Bell Center, and while that’s a Tuesday night, there’s little doubt that the building will be sold out.
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Undrafted Swedish Defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson Invited to Detroit Red Wings Training Camp
Despite being passed over in the 2025 NHL Draft, Swedish defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson will get a valuable opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the NHL.
Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) on XCarl-Otto Magnusson invited to Detroit camp according to agent Randy Edmonds. #LGRWThe 18-year-old has been invited to the Detroit Red Wings’ training camp ahead of the 2025–26 season, according to an announcement by his agent, Randy Edmonds, on Instagram.
Magnusson stands approximately 6 feet 6.7 inches and weighs 223 pounds, giving him the kind of size that’s hard to ignore on the blue line.
Though the Red Wings cannot sign him to a contract this season due to his undrafted and junior status, the camp invite allows the towering defenseman to gain valuable experience in an NHL setting.
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Magnusson recently made the move from Frölunda HC in Sweden to North America, joining the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats. Moncton selected him in the second round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Last season, he dressed for three games with Frölunda’s SHL team, logging ice time in one.
Internationally, Magnusson has featured for Sweden’s national junior team, most recently at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis. He went scoreless over five games in the tournament. He’s also been named to the Junior Crowns’ (Juniorkronorna) squad for the team's U.S. tour ahead of the upcoming season.
The Red Wings’ camp could mark an important step for Magnusson as he begins his North American hockey journey and looks to catch the eye of NHL scouts for future drafts.
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