Golden Knights Trade Up To Select Mateo Norbert With 85th Overall Pick

The Vegas Golden Knights traded up for the second time on Saturday, grabbing Pittsburgh's pick in the 85th overall slot in exchange for the picks 91 and 154.

With the 85th pick, the Knights selected Mateo Nobert from Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League.

"It's super exciting and all the sacrifices we made when we were younger, my parents' sacrifices, it's going to be a special moment when we get to the draft," Norbert said in a video on QMJHL's YouTube page.

Nobert, a playmaking forward with a high hockey IQ, brings a vast arsenal to the organization. He raised his stock for the draft with a productive season that saw him finish with the team's third-highest 67 points in 57 games last season.

"My strongest asset is my hockey IQ," Norbert also said. "I use it to my advantage to make plays on the ice in the D zone and the O zone."

His awareness is another one of his strongest attributes, as he sees the ice well and has a strong feel for each of his linemates and their whereabouts, making him a dual offensive threat.

He has a knack for sending precise passes and tends to shift the defense with his crafty movement that creates spaces and passing lanes. With additional space, Nobert's creativity comes to light.

The team still has two other picks, at No. 186 (sixth round) and No. 187 (sixth round).


Minnesota Wild Trade Defenseman Declan Chisholm To Washington

Oct 26, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm (47) controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Wild announced on Saturday a trade with the Washington Capitals. The Wild have traded defenseman Declan Chisholm to the Capitals along with the 180th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for defenseman Chase Priskie and the 123rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Chisholm, 25, is a pending restricted free agent. He recorded two goals and 12 points in 66 games for the Wild during the 2024-25 season. 

Priskie, 29, is an unrestricted free agent. He recorded 12 goals, 23 assists, and 35 points in 61 games for the Hersey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2024-25 season. 

Other Wild News

Minnesota Wild Select Defenseman Theodor Hallquisth At Pick No. 52 In 2025 NHL DraftMinnesota Wild Select Defenseman Theodor Hallquisth At Pick No. 52 In 2025 NHL DraftAfter a quiet first day for the Minnesota Wild with no picks in the first round, the Wild have made their first pick from the 2025 NHL Draft. With pick No. 52, the Wild selected defenseman Theodor Hallquisth from Orebro of the Swedish Junior League. Minnesota Wild Trade Freddy Gaudreau To Seattle For A Draft PickMinnesota Wild Trade Freddy Gaudreau To Seattle For A Draft PickST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild have traded center Freddy Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a fourth round draft pick. 

2025 NHL Draft: Maple Leafs Select Frontenacs Forward Tyler Hopkins With 86th Pick In NHL Draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Kingston Frontenacs Tyler Hopkins with the 86th pick in the NHL draft.

Hopkins, a center with OHL Kingston, scored 20 goals and 51 points in 67 games this season, the seventh-most points on the team. NHL Central Scouting projected the 6-foot-1, 181-pound forward to go 52nd overall in the 2025 Draft.

Hopkins played with Team Canada at the 2025 Under-18 World Junior Championships and won a gold medal. The 18-year-old tallied one assist in the tournament with Canada through six games, while also capturing gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup one year earlier.

"I'm a fast two-way forward that takes care of his defensive zone that can still create offense," Hopkins described himself in his 2025 draft profile via the OHL. "I think that if I can start to develop more of a scoring threat to myself and not so much as a passer, I think that that can propel me to that next level."

Hopkins hails from Campbellville, Ontario, and is entering his third season with Kingston. In 126 games with the Frontenacs over two seasons, Hopkins has put up 26 goals and 38 assists for 64 points.

2025 NHL Draft: Maple Leafs Use 64th Pick to Select Norwegian Tinus Luc Koblar2025 NHL Draft: Maple Leafs Use 64th Pick to Select Norwegian Tinus Luc KoblarAfter a bit of a wait, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Norwegian forward Tinus Luc Koblar with the 64th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3 center currently plays for Leksands in the Swedish under-20 league.

"A low and stable skating posture, combined with physical abilities, enables Hopkins to win battles for possession. He cuts through hands, seals the puck away, and escapes with it," via Elite Prospects' 2025 Draft Guide. "These tools also form the foundation of Hopkins’ offensive game. Constantly in movement, he distributes the puck effectively, hitting teammates as they get open across the ice, sometimes with deception. And he takes his opportunities to fire on the net."

More to come...

(Top photo: Ontario Hockey League / YouTube)

Rangers Select Two Defensemen In Third Round of 2025 NHL Draft

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers had two picks in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft, selecting defensemen Sean Barnhill and Artyom Gonchar.

With the 70th overall pick, the Rangers selected Barnhill. 

Barnhill was born and raised in Arizona as he spent most of his youth years playing hockey in the Valley. 

The 18-year-old has spent the past two seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League. 

This past season, Barnhill recorded four goals, eight assists, and 12 points for the Fighting Saints.

“Sean obviously took some big steps throughout the season,” Saints general manager Trevor Edwards said. “Early on, he was a developing player who still struggled a little bit with his own confidence when things didn’t go maybe according to plan. But, as the season went on, he really took off and became more comfortable with the pace of the game. By the end of the season, he was playing top-four minutes for us.”

Barnhill's 6-foot-5, 214-pound frame stands out about him. For his size, Barnhill is also a strong skater with impressive defensive tendencies. 

“With a deep, balanced stance and quick feet, Barnhill denies rushes and then jumps up into the play,” via Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Draft Guide. “He matches the footwork of smaller, high-skill attackers with ease, and he rarely overextends. The skating appears most in his rush defence, where he makes some high-level stops with his feet moving after taking away the middle.”

Next season, Barnhill is expected to play at Northeastern University.

With the 89th overall pick, the Rangers selected Gonchar. The Russian native is actually the nephew of former NHL player Sergei Gonchar.

Rangers Select Forward Malcolm Spence In Second Round With 43rd Pick Rangers Select Forward Malcolm Spence In Second Round With 43rd Pick The New York Rangers have selected left winger Malcolm Spence with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

The 18-year-old played for the Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk of the MHL in Russia this past season where he recorded seven goals, 18 assists, and 25 points in 50 games. 

He stands at 6-foot-0, 156 pounds.

“Gonchar is a quick and agile two way defenseman,” via Neutral Zone. “He rushed the puck up ice with confidence and joined the play deep into the offensive zone on multiple occasions. He was tasked with minutes on the first powerplay unit and snapped the puck around with intention.”

Artyom will remain in the MHL next season.

Nashville Predators select defenseman Jacob Rombach, goalie Jack Ivankovic in 2nd round of NHL Draft

The Nashville Predators opened the second day of the NHL Draft with two second-round selections at 35th and 58th overall. 

Lincoln Stars defenseman Jacob Rombach was selected with the 35th pick, and Brampton Steelheads goalie Jack Ivankovic was picked with the 58th overall pick. 

Nashville received the 58th and 122nd overall picks in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for the 55th overall pick. 

The Predators continue to scout size and strength as Rombach has a 6-foot-7-inch, 209-pound build. The Blaine, Minnesota native scored 18 points in 57 games and logged 57 penalty minutes with the Stars in the USHL this past season. 

He is committed to play at the University of Minnesota this fall. 

While Rombach still has some room to develop, his size and use of his frame are promising.

The Predators picked up their first goalie of this draft in Ivankovic. In his second season in the OHL, Ivankovic posted a 25-12-5 regular season record with a goals-against average of 3.05 and a save percentage of .903. 

He won the F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy in his first season, which is awarded to the OHL rookie goalie with the best goals against average. Ivankovic had a 2.72 goals against average. 

His numbers did inflate in the playoffs as he had a 4.87 goals against average and a .877 save percentage in five games played. 

Ivankovic is committed to playing at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2026 and will likely spend the coming season with Brampton. 

At 5-foot, 11-inches and 178 pounds, Ivankovic is slightly smaller than most NHL goalies, but has a lot of time to grow physically and on the ice. Having a good goalie ready to go is a huge advantage. 

Nashville had three first round picks on Friday. 

The selected Soo Greyhounds center Brady Martin with the fifth overall pick, Kitchener Rangers defenseman Cameron Reid with the 21st overall pick and Madison Capitols forward Ryker Lee with the 26th overall pick. 

Detroit Red Wings Snag A Starting Goaltender, Acquiring John Gibson From The Anaheim Ducks

During the midst of the second round of the NHL draft, goaltender John Gibson was traded from the Anaheim Ducks to the Detroit Red Wings. In return, the Ducks received goaltender Petr Mrazek, along with a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

It seemed that Gibson’s name had been in trade rumors for several years, but that comes to an end with this transaction. The Ducks aren’t retaining any salary from Gibson in this trade, meaning the Red Wings will take on the netminder’s $6.4-million cap hit with two years remaining on his contract.

Gibson, 31, had his fair share of injuries last season, making 28 starts for the Ducks. That is the lowest amount of starts he has had in a season since the 2014-15 NHL season.

In those 28 starts and 29 appearances, Gibson recorded a 2.77 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage, ending the season with an 11-11-2 record.

Gibson stamped his name in the Ducks organization as one of the best goaltenders in the franchise, as he holds the title for most games played by a goalie with 506 and was just two wins shy of equalling Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s 206, the most in franchise history.

The Pittsburgh native has 26 games of playoff experience and will be looking to help the Red Wings get back to the post-season for the first time since 2016.

John Gibson (Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images)

GM Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings have needed a true starting goaltender for several years. For the past five seasons, Ville Husso made the most appearances between the pipes for Detroit, posting a 36-32-11 record with a 3.26 GAA and a .892 SP during his two and a half seasons with the Red Wings before he was traded to the Ducks this past February.

As for Anaheim, they’re getting an experienced goalie in Mrazek. The Ducks will be his sixth team he’s suited up for in his 13-year career.

Last season, the 33-year-old suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Red Wings, totalling 38 starts between both clubs. He put up a 3.35 GAA, a .891 SP and a 12-21-2 record. Mrazek will likely be the backup goaltender for the promising 25-year-old Lukas Dostal in Anaheim.

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Blues Goalie Joel Hofer Signs Two-Year, $6.8 Million Extension

St. Louis Blues goalie Joel Hofer has signed a two-year, $6.8 million extension. ( Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS -- Doug Armstrong made it known Joel Hofer isn't going anywhere.

The St. Louis Blues general manager wasn't kidding.

The Blues announced on Saturday that the goalie has signed a two-year contract extension for $6.8 million ($3.4 million average annual value).

 Armstrong said on Monday in his pre-draft availability that, "you're not going to get him," when asked if he was worried about offer sheets being thrown at the 24-year-old, who could have become a restricted free agent on Tuesday.

Hofer, who just finished up a two-year contract that paid him $775,000 annually, played in 31 regular-season games for the Blues last season and posted a 16-8-3 record along with a .904 save percentage, one shutout, and a career-best 2.64 goals-against average.

Overall, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native has played in 69 regular-season games with the Blues and has a 35-22-5 record.  His .909 save percentage and 2.65 GAA across the past two seasons rank 8th and 12th, respectively in the NHL among goaltenders with a minimum of 60 games played).

Hofer was originally drafted by the Blues in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft.  

Now Armstrong doesn't have to worry about the following:

"He'll get a qualifying offer. He'll take us to arbitration, we'll take him to arbitration," Armstrong said. "We're not concerned about offer sheets or anything like that."