On July 17, 2025, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov requested a trade, according to a statement published by his agent, Shumi Babaev. 

Babaev posted a statement from Chinakhov on X, which read:

“I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here.”

Yegor Chinakhov:
I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location.
Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here @BlueJacketsNHLpic.twitter.com/DQ1qU2oHFb

— Shumi Babaev Agency (@BabayevShumi) July 17, 2025

The announcement sparked immediate speculation about where Chinakhov might land. Among the potential rumored suitors? The New Jersey Devils.

At 24 years old, Chinakhov brings size [6'1"], speed, and a high hockey IQ. His shot placement and skating ability make him an intriguing addition for any team looking to boost offensive depth, particularly on the right wing.

Of course, New Jersey isn’t the only team being floated. Chinakhov has also been linked to the Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs as possible destinations.

Babaev stated that he is in active communication with Blue Jackets management and emphasized that Chinakhov’s desire to move is mutual and understood:

“I always stand by the player, especially in this case, and I understand that Yegor’s desire to be traded did not come out of nowhere.”

I always stand by the player—especially in this case—and I understand that Yegor’s desire to be traded did not come out of nowhere.

— Shumi Babaev Agency (@BabayevShumi) July 17, 2025

He followed up in a separate post:

“However, we are fully aware that there is an active contract in place, and if Yegor’s request for a trade does not materialize, he will continue to give 120 percent in fulfilling his responsibilities.”

Babaev’s player-first approach has earned him trust amongst players. He currently represents six NHL players, including two on the Colorado Avalanche, one on the Philadelphia Flyers, one on the Pittsburgh Penguins, and notably, Arseni Gritsyuk of the New Jersey Devils.

While the connection doesn’t guarantee anything, it certainly helps to have a familiar relationship between the agent and the front office when a player is exploring trade options.

Chinakhov is entering the second year of a two-year, $4.2 million contract ($2.1 million AAV). That’s a manageable number for a team like the Devils, if they can make the cap work. New Jersey is nearing the salary cap ceiling, with less than $7 million in space remaining, and they still need to sign Luke Hughes.

In the end, Chinakhov to the Devils isn’t out of the realm of possibility, but it’s also far from certain. Cap constraints and other roster needs may push the Devils to look elsewhere. Still, imagining Chinakhov in red and black raises an interesting question: how would he fit in, and could he thrive in New Jersey’s system?

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Michael Pezzetta is already showing love to Toronto Maple Leafs fans.

The 27-year-old was spotted hanging out with kids from the Maple Leafs' hockey school earlier his month. Pezzetta, who grew up in the Toronto, Ontario area, spoke, took photos with the children, and even signed each of their Maple Leafs jerseys.

Pezzetta signed a two-year, $1.625 million contract with Toronto as a free agent when free agency opened up on July 1. The annual average value of his contract is $812,500. He's been with the Montreal Canadiens ever since being drafted by them in the sixth round (160th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft.

In 200 career NHL games with the Canadiens, Pezzetta has 15 goals and 23 assists. He's likely to play a depth role with the Maple Leafs within their bottom six. Pezzetta grew up a Maple Leafs fan, idolizing players such as Mats Sundin and Curtis Joseph, among others.

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"I know my mom's super excited that I get to stay home, it's been a while. And then even all my friends and everybody's like all Leafs fans, just through and through, and they're so excited," Pezzetta said in his first media availability as a Maple Leaf.

"So many people messaged me the last day-and-a-half now, and it's just surreal. Like, to think that it's a possibility I get to put this sweater on, so I'm just really grateful for the opportunity."

Pezzetta, though, isn't the only Maple Leafs player who's visited the kids at Maple Leafs hockey school. Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, and Morgan Rielly, each of whom is spending a lot of time in Toronto this summer, have also stopped by to take photos at the camp.

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The two-week-long event, held by the Maple Leafs' development team, is "a recreational/beginner level camp that welcomes players of all ability levels. Participants will have fun, step outside their comfort zone, learn and improve upon their hockey skills while also continuing to develop their fundamental movement skills," their website reads.

"Our program is designed to provide young athletes with an all-around professional hockey camp experience both on and off the ice. Off-ice programming includes dryland training, special guest seminars and team building activities."

Other Maple Leafs who've surprised the kids in recent years at the camp are John Tavares, Chris Tanev, Joseph Woll, and former Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe. The organization has even had Toronto Sceptres forward Emma Maltais as a guest at the camp.

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This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Michael Pezzetta Among Maple Leafs Spotted As Guest At Team's Hockey School This Summer

(Top photo of Pezzetta: @leafsdevelopment / Instagram)

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday that they have acquired forward Danil Gushchin from the San Jose Sharks in return for forward Oskar Olausson.

We have acquired Danil Gushchin from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Oskar Olausson.

📰: https://t.co/3FRtzPimZtpic.twitter.com/67mamq9Ujk

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 25, 2025

Gushchin, 23, was drafted by San Jose in the 3rd round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, 76th overall.

He made his NHL debut with the Sharks in the 2022-23 season against the Arizona Coyotes. Since then, he's skated in 18 total NHL games, 12 of which came just last season. He cracked the Sharks' opening night roster, playing in all 9 games in October before being sent down to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). He was called up two more times, once for one game against the Vancouver Canucks in November, then again in April for the last two games of the team's regular season. His only NHL point last season was an assist in a 5-4 OT win against the Utah Mammoth.

The Yekaterinburg, Russia native played 56 regular season games with the Barracuda and totaled 51 points (28g/23a), finishing third on the team in points and second in goals. He earned one point in the form of a goal in four GP in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Gushchin is a smaller forward, coming into Colorado's system at 5'8", 165 lbs. 

He's a great, tenacious back checker who often almost functions as a third defenseman in transition at times. He takes smart routes to the puck on the forecheck, and he's surprisingly physical for someone his size. He sets up really well by faking a shot or a pass first and then separates by accelerating inside his movements.

- EliteProspects 2020 Draft Guide

As mentioned above, the Avalanche received Gushchin in exchange for Sweden native Oskar Olausson, who was drafted by Colorado 28th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. During his three years in the Avalanche system, he appeared in four NHL games. In 61 GP with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this past season, he tallied 26 points (11g/15a).

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With the majority of sought-after players already signed, players are beginning to look at the possibility of joining clubs on professional tryout contract. Usually the hockey version of musical chairs begins in late August or early September with a few weeks to go before training camp opens, but the thin group of free agents may have accelerated players searching for a landing spot. 

According to Mollie Walker of the NY Post, former Buffalo Sabres forward Conor Sheary was the first to agree to a PTO this summer, agreeing to a tryout contract with the NY Rangers. The two-time Stanley Cup winner played 133 games with the Sabres from 2018 to 2020 after playing three seasons in Pittsburgh and winning consecutive championships in 2016 and 2017 under new Rangers coach Mike Sullivan. 

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The Sabres acquired Sheary along with defenseman Matt Hunwick from the Penguins for a conditional draft pick in the summer of 2018, and was traded back to Pittsburgh along with Evan Rodrigues just before the COVID shutdown for Dominik Kahun. The diminutive winger scored in double figures three straight seasons with Washington, but declined the last two years with Tampa Bay. 

Sheary scored four goals in 57 games with the Lightning two years ago, and played most of last season in AHL Syracuse, where he led the Crunch in scoring with 61 points (20 goals, 41 assists) in 59 games.

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

The Buffalo Sabres are facing massive pressure to at least qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years. But there's intense competition for each and every standings point teams can generate,  and the Sabres' don't benefit by playing in the Atlantic Division -- the most competitive division, in our estimation, in the league. And Buffalo is going to have to get a leg up on more than a few Atlantic rival teams, Tampa Bay included if they really intend to claim a Cup anytime soon.

In the  next day, we'll be finishing up this series on the Sabres' chances against Atlantic teams when we focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs. But in his file, we're talking about a team that is probably a playoff team, but that may find itself sliding past the Sabres in the standings -- the Tampa Bay Lightning:

What's the state of the rivalry between the Sabres and Lightning? And what's likely to happen when these two teams two teams square off this year? These are a couple key questions we've addressed below.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

NEW LIGHTNING PLAYERS: Pontus Holmberg, LW

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

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  February 3 at Tampa Bay; February 28 at Tampa Bay; March 8 at Buffalo: April 6 at Buffalo

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Lightning played well against the Sabres in three games last season, staying undefeated in regulation time in all three games. And this will mark the second consecutive season in which the Sabres and Tampa Bay don't play each other until the second half of the regular season. 

Indeed, four games in two months near the end of the year should make for some compelling hockey. If things go well for the Sabres, they can challenge for fourth place in the Atlantic. And if things don't go well for the Lightning, they could slip out of their second-place finish last season and finish in fourth spot for the second time in three years. That may be all the regression needed by a team to allow the Sabres to vault over them and into a post-season position.

We're certainly not suggesting Tampa Bay will completely collapse next season. There's too much talent there to not be a playoff team. But again, only two years ago, the Bolts finished in fourth spot in the Atlantic with a 45-29-8 record; Tampa Bay climbed two standings spots the following season -- last season -- but they posted only two additional wins in 2024-25. And they haven't done much of anything in terms of trades or free-agency to improve their attack to begin next season.

Know. Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Ottawa Senators Could Be Standing In Way Between Buffalo, PlayoffsThe Buffalo Sabres happen to play in the NHL's most competitive division, the Atlantic Division, Every one of the Atlantic's eight teams have designs on being a playoff team next season -- and as part of this continuing THN.com series, we're analyzing each of the Sabres' seven divisional rivals to see what chance Buffalo has against each of them.

As that reality settles in, you can see why the margin for error in this Atlantic Division is about as thin as it gets, and that if the Lightning aren't careful -- or if the injury bug tears into Tampa Bay's lineup in a major way -- the Bolts could find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

The teams get a fourth game against each other next season, and that final game will come when the Sabres play their fifth-to-last game of the regular season. And both of the two teams' final two games against one another will take place in Buffalo, within about one month of each other near season's end, so we're looking at a few possibilities for that final game:

Possibility Number One: The Sabres Have Vaulted Over Tampa Bay

This possibility would see Buffalo fans rocking and rolling through the arena, and Tampa Bay in a place it's rarely been -- behind the Sabres in the standings. Buffalo would need to be nearly perfect to be much better than the Lightning. So we're not saying it's a probability. But a possibility? Sure.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Will The New-Look Montreal Canadiens Edge Out Buffalo For A Playoff Spot?The Buffalo Sabres are desperate to be a playoff team next season -- but they're in the NHL's toughest division -- the Atlantic Division. And their games against Atlantic teams will be crucial to help decided whether or not they'll be a playoff team next year. As such, we're analyzing Buffalo's chances against each Atlantic team in a THN.com series; We started alphabetically with the Boston Bruins, then turned our attention to the Detroit Red Wings, followed by the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers.

Possibility Number Two: The Sabres And Lightning Are Both Good, And Still One Of Them Aren't In The Playoffs

This possibility would also provide tons of drama. Both fan bases would have meaningful hockey to enjoy down the stretch, and they'd be raising the bar for Atlantic teams as other Atlantic teams make their own push for post-season action.

Possibility Number Three: The Lightning Are Well Ahead Of Buffalo, And The Sabres Are Basically Out Of It

Let's not focus too much on this possibility. But suffice to say, Western New York hockey fans are going to be irate if the playoff drought reaches 15 years. And that goes double if the Sabres don't even come close to challenging for a playoff berth. The potential for it getting really ugly is considerable for the Sabres, but if they can take three of four against the Lightning, suddenly they could conceivably be a team that rises higher in the standings.

The two teams won't see one another until February, but let's never forget the NHL trade deadline's impact on the standings: teams like the Bolts and Sabres could look considerably different between their games prior to the deadline and the games they play after the deadline.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Edition: Does Buffalo Have Any Hope Of Beating The Defending Stanley Cup-Champion Panthers?The Buffalo Sabres are under massive pressure to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years. To do so, they're going to have to make the most of their games with their Atlantic Division rivals. And in this continuing THN.com series, we're analyzing Buffalo's chances against each of their seven Atlantic rivals.

The Lightning have a chance to contend for top spot in the Atlantic, but if the hockey gods aren't kind to them, that could spell the difference between missing and making the playoffs. And Tampa Bay wouldn't be the first team to crumble under the weight of expectation. There's a way this all lines up in a row in the Sabres' favor to rise as high as third in the Atlantic, but it's going to take just about every element clicking at the right time. And a team like Tampa Bay will have to fall off to open up that spot in the division.

And if that doesn't happen for Buffalo, we're most likely going to see the Lightning finishing ahead of them, in the regular-season and playoffs, as is usually the case.