Monthly Archives: July 2025
Red Wings' Lucas Raymond Surges To No. 2 in Under-23 Scoring
The Detroit Red Wings appropriately felt slighted by the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery when they somehow fell back multiple spots and ultimately landed the No. 4 pick despite having posted the worst record of any team since the expansion Atlanta Thrashers of 1999-2000. .
The consensus No. 1 overall selection in that season's Draft was forward Alexis Lafreniere, a star with Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The visions that danced in the heads of Red Wings fans everywhere of Lafreniere donning the Winged Wheel were dashed when Detroit not only didn't get the first overall pick, but had to watch the New York Rangers, a playoff team, select him.
The Red Wings then turned to their Plan B and selected forward Lucas Raymond, who was playing in the Swedish Hockey League with Frölunda HC. And by all reasonable measurements, Detroit's rotten Draft Lottery Luck in 2020 turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
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Raymond has become one of the best young players in the NHL after bursting onto the scene as a rookie, along with Moritz Seider, in the 2021-22 season.
He scored 23 goals with 34 assists in his rookie season, and while he experienced a dip in production known as the dreaded "sophomore slump" that multiple players endure, he roared back immediately.
Raymond caught fire in the second half of the 2023-24 season, finishing with 31 goals and 41 assists for a then career-high 72 points. None were bigger than his pair of goals in Detroit's home finale against the Montreal Canadiens to tie the score late in regulation and then give the Red Wings the overtime victory, keeping their postseason hopes alive.
LUCAS RAYMOND, TWICE IS SO NICE! 🚨🚨
— NHL (@NHL) April 16, 2024
After netting the tying goal, Lucas Raymond secures a MASSIVE two points for the @DetroitRedWings with the @Energizer overtime winner to keep them in the #StanleyCup Playoffs Wild Card race! pic.twitter.com/mFWrq5YdnZ
His output in the recently-completed 2024-25 NHL season was even higher, scoring 27 goals with 53 assists to set a new career-high in points with 80.
He was the highest-scoring player in the NHL aged 23 or younger, and he also became the first Swedish-born player aged 23 or younger to reach 80 points since Nicklas Bäckström in 2009-10 with the Washington Capitals.
Additionally, Raymond's 254 career points are 61 higher than the 193 career points for Lafreniere, and are the second-most by any active NHL player aged 23 or younger, behind only Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stützle.
The Red Wings recognized the special talent that they had on their hands when Raymond was extended for eight years last offseason, and he's in Hockeytown for the long haul.
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Rangers set to host Penguins as part of NHL Opening Night tripleheader
It won’t take long for new Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan to face his old team.
The NHL announced on Monday afternoon that the Blueshirts will play host to the Penguins on Oct. 7 at 8:00 p.m. as part of an Opening Night tripleheader.
This will be Sullivan’s first time facing off with Pittsburgh since the 2013-14 season.
The veteran headman spent the past 10 years behind the bench with the club, helping them reach the postseason eight times including a pair of Stanley Cup victories.
He’ll now look to carry that success over to the Big Apple, where the Blueshirts are coming off an extremely disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
This meeting will also be a homecoming for Sullivan’s replacement Dan Muse, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant on Peter Laviolette’s coaching staff.
Florida will host the Blackhawks (5:00 p.m.) and the Kings will host the Av’s (10:30 p.m.) to round out the slate.
The rest of the NHL schedule is set to be released on Wednesday afternoon.
THN Exclusive: Sabres 2025 Future Watch Breakdown
The Buffalo Sabres are a team that's still a ways off from being a true Stanley Cup playoff frontrunner. However, in The Hockey News' 2025 Future Watch edition, writer Bill Hoppe broke down the talent that's in the Sabres' system. Below, you'll find our ranking of Buffalo's top-10 young prospects:
BUFFALO SABRES
GRADE: B+
RANKING: 11TH
By Bill Hoppe
As he rebuilt the Sabres early in his tenure, GM Kevyn Adams refused to take any shortcuts and trade his top prospects for a quick fix. These days, Adams operates differently. The Sabres graduated to a new level in 2022-23, entering win-now mode when they missed the playoffs by one victory. As he illustrated in dealing Matt Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ryan McLeod following last season’s disappointing 12th-place finish in the East, anyone could be in play. The Sabres need immediate help as Adams works to end the NHL-record 13-year playoff drought that hangs over the franchise.
TOP SABRES PROSPECTS
1. KONSTA HELENIUS
C, 18, 5-11, 189
Rochester (AHL)
42–7–13–20–18
2024 draft, 14th overall
OVERALL: 15
Helenius arrived in Rochester this season as a polished youngster, having spent the past two years in Finland’s Liiga. “An all-around, good two-way center that’s probably benefited from playing with men in Europe because he’s not overwhelmed, and that’s pretty rare,” Adams said. Helenius put up huge numbers for a 17-year-old – 14 goals and 36 points in 51 games – with Jukurit last season. The Sabres want Helenius to play faster as he adapts to a different brand of hockey.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | new NHL | 2026-27
2. NOAH OSTLUND
C, 20, 5-11, 171
Rochester (AHL)
27–5–9–14–12
2022 draft, 16th overall
OVERALL 60
Rochester coach Mike Leone said Ostlund, who’s in his first full season in the AHL, is as talented and detailed as anyone he has coached. In fact, he believes the Swede is perhaps the most responsible player in the defensive zone who has ever played under him. Ostlund possesses a maturity rarely seen in rookies. Still, it hasn’t translated into offense, with just five goals in his first 27 games this season. “If he learns how to finish, he’s going to be a really good player in the NHL,” Leone said.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | No. 2 NHL | 2025-26
3. ANTON WAHLBERG
C, 19, 6-4, 198
Rochester (AHL)
39–8–12–20–0
2023 draft, 39th overall
OVERALL 91
Wahlberg has quickly established himself as an aggressive and physical presence capable of parking himself around the net to score or disrupting plays by forechecking. “He has the ability to play with the top-line guys because he can see the ice and skate,” Leone said. “When he’s driving pucks to the net…he has an ability to protect pucks and extend plays in the O-zone because he doesn’t get hit and pinned a lot.” Leone wants Wahlberg to play with more urgency.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | No. 6 NHL | 2026-27
4. ADAM KLEBER
D, 18, 6-5, 210
Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
25–2–2–4–11
2024 draft, 42nd overall
OVERALL 97
When Adams watched Kleber at this year’s WJC, he noticed the youngster had taken “massive steps” over the last year. “He looks like a guy that is getting better and better with the puck,” Adams said. “He needs to work on his puck skills and work on his feet, but he has a big, long frame, and he handled himself really, really well at the world juniors.” Adams is also impressed with Kleber’s play in his first year at Minnesota-Duluth: “He’s done a really nice job in college as a true freshman.”
FUTURE WATCH 24 | new NHL | 2028-29
5. ISAK ROSEN
RW, 21, 6-0, 180
Rochester (AHL)
45–25–18–43–8
2021 draft, 14th overall
The exploits of Jiri Kulich and other recent first-round picks have overshadowed Rosen, who has morphed into one of the AHL’s top goal-scorers in his third season. “He’s attacking the game and getting to the middle of the rink,” Leone said. “He has the ability to strip guys because he’s tenacious on the puck. He’s not going to overpower you with physicality, but he can get there quick and use his stick.” Leone said Rosen’s wall play – winning battles and advancing pucks – will help him get back to the NHL.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | No. 4 NHL | 2025-26
6. DEVON LEVI
G, 23, 6-0, 192
Rochester (AHL)
16–6–2, 2.36, .911
Trade (Fla), July 24, 2021
After early struggles in Buffalo, the agile Levi has become the Amerks’ backbone.
7. VSEVOLOD KOMAROV
D, 21, 6-4, 208 Rochester (AHL)
45–2–10–12–69
2022 draft, 134th overall
Seeing about 18 minutes a game in AHL. Has offensive skills but also plays physically.
8. MAXIM STRBAK
D, 19, 6-2, 200
Michigan State (Big Ten)
26–1–14–15–16
2023 draft, 45th overall
Adams said the Slovak teen projects to be a hardnosed two-way defender.
9. BRODIE ZIEMER
RW, 19, 5-11, 190
Minnesota (Big Ten)
30–11–8–19–21
2024 draft, 71st overall
Ziemer is an intelligent, reliable player who’s a “coach’s dream,” according to Adams.
10. RYAN JOHNSON
D, 23, 6-1, 195
Rochester (AHL)
43–0–7–7–26
2019 draft, 31st overall
Leone said the puck-mover has been perhaps the Amerks’ most consistent player.
21-AND-UNDER NHLERS | ZACH BENSON, LW, 19; JIRI KULICH, C, 20
Once-Promising Flyers Prospect Resurfaces with Wild
After getting let go by the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of free agency, once-promising prospect Elliot Desnoyers has resurfaced, signing a one-year deal with the AHL Iowa Wild, the minor-league affiliates of the Minnesota Wild, on Monday.
On June 30, one day before the start of NHL free agency, the Flyers announced that Desnoyers, Zayde Wisdom, and Jakob Pelletier would all not receive qualifying offers, making them unrestricted free agents free to leave Philadelphia.
Wisdom ultimately returned to the Flyers organization, signing a one-year AHL deal of his own with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Pelletier inked a three-year pact with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 2.
Only two years ago, Desnoyers, 23, seemed on the cusp of making the NHL on a permanent basis. The Flyers' former fifth-round pick scored 23 goals, 21 assists, and 44 points in 65 games in his first professional season with the Phantoms in 2022-23, earning himself a four-game NHL cameo in the process.
But, an unimpressive training camp doomed Desnoyers to another year in the minors, during which he managed just six goals, 16 assists, and 22 points in 63 games.
Where Did These Former Flyers End Up in NHL Free Agency?Between their additions and subtractions, the Philadelphia Flyers have been well-represented in NHL free agency this year.
This past season saw much of the same for the 5-foot-11 forward, as he struggled to the tune of an even worse five goals, 14 assists, and 19 points. All in all, an 11-goal, 41-point output in two seasons after nearly making the NHL.
It's a shame for Desnoyers, but perhaps the new change of scenery will allow him to get his career back on track.
Winners Hockey Agency announced on July 9 via Telegram that Desnoyers had joined their clientele and was ready to continue his playing career in the KHL, but it would appear that the ex-Flyer has elected to stay in North America for the time being.
Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Lauds 'Professional' Aleksei KolosovMark Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nikita Grebenkin down as another player who's publicly shared his support for polarizing goalie Aleksei Kolosov.
Fans may recall that the 23-year-old was once part of the 2021-22 Canada U20 squad that won gold at the World Juniors - a team that featured Flyers teammate Tyson Foerster, Connor Bedard, Sebastian Cossa, Carson Lambos, Ridly Greig, Mason McTavish, Logan Stankoven, Kent Johnson, and Will Cuylle.
Desnoyers isn't the first player of that team to change NHL teams, of course, but he's on the verge of being amongst those lost in the crowd going forward.
Top Five NHL Defense Groups Entering 2025-26
The NHL’s trade and free-agency period has died down, which gives us the opportunity to weigh in on the top teams in the league by position. We’re kicking things off by examining the NHL’s best defense corps.
The criteria for narrowing things down to five teams includes identifying the best blend of the limitation of quality scoring chances against and overall offensive production. If they were very strong in one category and above average in another, that helps. Of course, quality depth on ‘D’ plays a factor as well.
With that said, here are this writer’s picks for the top five defense groups in the NHL, with new-addition players in italics:
1. Colorado Avalanche
Defensemen: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Samuel Girard, Brent Burns, Sam Malinski
Adding Burns to an already-dynamic collection of blueliners gives the Avalanche as deep a group of D-men as there is.
Burns has lost some of the offensive punch he had in recent years, but Colorado doesn’t need him to lead the team in scoring by a blueliner. That’s because the Avs led the NHL in points from defensemen in 2024-25, with 211. Colorado was also 12th in the league with a 2.82 goals-against average and 11th in fewest expected goals-against per 60 minutes, with 2.87, according to naturalstattrick.com.
Superstar Norris Trophy winner Makar and Toews power the Avalanche’s defense group. Manson and Girard form an excellent second pair. Burns and young puck-mover Malinski comprise the third pair. It doesn’t get better than that.
2. Florida Panthers
Defensemen: Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones, Nikko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, Jeff Petry
The back-to-back defending Cup champions had an embarrassment of riches on the back end. Re-signing Ekblad was a massive move, and having him and Jones on the right side is a heckuva one-two punch. Replacing veteran Nate Schmidt with the experienced Petry shouldn’t hurt the depth, either.
Regardless of how their final pair shapes up, Florida’s top four of Ekblad, Jones, Forsling and Mikkola are mobile puck-movers who limit opponent chances to the outside. They averaged the seventh-fewest high-danger chances against, the fourth-fewest expected goals against and the fifth-fewest shots against. While they were only 23rd in the NHL in points by defensemen, they were 13th in goals by defensemen and easily outchanced their opponents.
Their defensive acumen when the games matter most is the reason why they’re one of our top six defense corps.
3. Washington Capitals
Defensemen: John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy, Rasmus Sandin, Martin Fehervary, Trevor van Riemsdyk
The Capitals made some strategic improvements to their back end in the past couple seasons, acquiring Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators and signing Roy in free agency last summer. They also got Sandin from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023. But Washington has built a terrific defense corps, which finished fourth place in points by defensemen last year, with 200.
The Capitals’ 2.79 goals-against average also finished ninth in the NHL, while their shots against and high-danger chances against were above average. They’re clearly stronger offensively than defensively as a group, but their main pairings this past season outchanced their opponents when on the ice. And given that four Caps D-men – Chychrun, Roy, Sandin and Fehervary – are signed for at least the next four seasons, Washington’s defense corps will likely stay a top-level force for the foreseeable future.
4. Carolina Hurricanes
Defensemen: Jaccob Slavin, K’Andre Miller, Sean Walker, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jalen Chatfield, Alexander Nikishin
The Hurricanes had one of the best groups of blueliners last season, but they lost veterans Brent Burns to Colorado and Dmitry Orlov to San Jose this summer. Still, this group remains elite because Carolina GM Eric Tulsky acquired Miller via trade with the New York Rangers.
The Canes were 13th in the NHL in points from defensemen, with 171. But it’s their skill at preventing goals that’s why they’re an elite group of D-men. Jaccob Slavin is among the NHL’s best defensive defensemen, after all. Carolina finished 10th in the league in goals-against average (2.80), and the Hurricanes’ defense made life much easier on their goaltenders by limiting quality scoring chances for the opposition. They allowest the fewest shots per game in the NHL, with 24.9.
Of defense pairs that logged at least 500 minutes this past season, the Gostisbehere and Walker pair had the highest expected goals percentage, at 59.6 percent, according to moneypuck.com. The Slavin-Burns pair was fourth, at 57.4 percent.
5. New Jersey Devils
Defensemen: Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, Simon Nemec, Brenden Dillon
The Devils were snakebit by the injury bug last season, which limited star D-man Hamilton to only 64 games. However, when everyone’s healthy, New Jersey’s defense has the skill at both ends of the ice that’s the envy of many, if not most teams.
The Devils were 20th in the league in points by defensemen (161), but Hamilton led the NHL with 40 points among defensemen who played 65 games or fewer. Youngsters Hughes and Nemec are only 21 and still developing, and Siegenthaler and Pesce are 28 and 30 years old, respectively. Only Hamilton (32 years old) and Dillon (34) are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, so this group should only improve. The team was also above average in limiting high-danger chances.
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Ex-Canadiens Goalie Could Shine With New Team
Back on June 30, the Montreal Canadiens traded goaltender Cayden Primeau to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick. The trade was understandable, as Primeau fell down the Canadiens' depth chart and was placed on waivers by them in December. Furthermore, Jakub Dobes ended up playing very well after being called up to the Canadiens' roster, so it was time for Montreal to move on from Primeau.
In 11 appearances with the Canadiens during the 2024-25 season, Primeau had a 2-3-1 record, a .836 save percentage, and a 4.70 goals-against average. Overall, it was a rough year at the NHL level for the 2017 seventh-round pick.
While things did not go well for Primeau this past season with the Canadiens, the potential for him to turn things around and break out with the Hurricanes should not be ruled out. With Primeau being just 25 years old, it could still be possible for him to prove that he can be a legitimate NHL goaltender. This is especially so when noting that he has now gotten a much-needed fresh start.
Primeau also simply dominated after being sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season. In 26 games with the Laval Rocket, he had a 21-2-2 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 1.26 goals-against average. Those are excellent numbers, so it makes sense that a team that needs more goalie depth, like the Hurricanes, are taking a shot on him.
Furthermore, before struggling this past season while with the Canadiens, Primeau performed well for them in 2023-24. In 23 games with Montreal that campaign, he had a .910 save percentage and a 2.99 goals-against average. Perhaps he could get back to this form on a team with a strong defensive group like the Hurricanes.
When looking at the Hurricanes' roster, Primeau should serve as a call-up option for them. However, with the Michigan native still being young and getting a much-needed change of scenery, he very well could improve his game as a member of the Hurricanes. It will be intriguing to see if he does just that from here.
Ex-Canadiens Goalie Signed NHL's Most Unique Off-Season DealHeading into July 1, former Montreal Canadien Jake Allen was the clear top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) goalie who could hit the market. Due to this, there was expected to be a ton of interest in the 34-year-old, and he was in a position to land a high average annual value (AAV) had he tested the market.
Photo Credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Wraparound: Should Kaprizov Test NHL Free Agency In 2026?
It's time to discuss more NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.
Should Kaprizov Test NHL Free Agency In 2026? by The WraparoundundefinedHere's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Kelsey Surmacz discussed in today's episode:
0:00: Breaking down the NHL's decision to return to the decentralized draft format
6:30: How will the NHL's upcoming changes to emergency backup goalies impact the game?
12:10: Could Arturs Silovs be the goaltender of the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins?
18:00: Will Jeff Skinner be able to have a resurgence with the San Jose Sharks?
23:00: Could Kirill Kaprizov test free agency next summer?
29:40: Which team needs Gavin McKenna the most at the 2026 NHL draft?See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
The Party Lives On: Celebrating Artūrs Šilovs’ Time With The Canucks
Winning the first Bronze medal in Latvian hockey history. Taking a superpowered Edmonton Oilers team to seven games in the Division Finals. Backstopping his team to their first Calder Cup in franchise history. Making five shutouts in 24 playoff games, three of which came in series-clinchers. While Artūrs Šilovs’ journey with the Vancouver Canucks has seemingly ended as of his trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins, there is no shortage of the impact his clutchness has had on the Canucks organization.
Let’s take it back to 2019, a season when Vancouver fans had both Jacob Markström and Thatcher Demko within their ranks, but saw a gem in the sixth round of the draft and decided to take him. Šilovs went 156th overall to Vancouver, entering the Canucks organization alongside fellow 2019 draftees such as Vasily Podkolzin and Nils Höglander. By this time, Šilovs had already proved himself as capable at an international level. Despite Latvia not making it far in the 2019 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship, Šilovs still held his own against stacked teams like Sweden and Canada. He faced 140 shots in four games, letting in 13 goals from this amount.
After being drafted, Šilovs made his way to the OHL, where he spent a season with the Barrie Colts. In 36 games with Barrie, he registered a 16–13–4 record, a 3.87 GAA, and a SV% of .891. The season after, however, after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down virtually all sports leagues, Šilovs’ spot in team lineups got scattered. In 2020–21, he played one game with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, as well as two games with HS Riga and four games with HK Modo in Latvia.
The 2021–22 season was more consistent for Šilovs, who joined the Canucks organization semi- full-time as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks. He played in 10 of Abbotsford’s games this season, saving 221 of 249 shots faced in this span of time and registering his first AHL shutout with 26 saves in his second match of the season. In this season, Šilovs also played for the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL, registering a .920 SV% and 2.37 GAA in 10 games.
In international play, Šilovs shone. He played in four of Latvia’s games in the 2022 IIHF World Championship, serving as a backup to Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Even so, Šilovs managed to show his skills, making his first start of the tournament against Austria in a narrow 4–3 victory. He finished the tournament with 80 saves made on 84 shots against, putting up a 1.22 GAA and .952 SV%.
The 2022–23 season was a big one for Šilovs, who increased his playing time in the AHL, played in his first NHL game, and made history for the country of Latvia. He played in 44 games for the AHL Canucks this season, posting a record of 26–12–5 and recording four shutouts. His first NHL start came in February of 2023, in a home game against the New York Rangers. Despite the loss, Šilovs faced 27 shots and stopped 22. He only got busier after that, as he faced 30 or more shots in three of his remaining four games with the Canucks in 2023. His first NHL win came in his second NHL game, as he made 35 stops on 37 shots to win Vancouver a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
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After Vancouver’s season ended, Šilovs rejoined Abbotsford for a Calder Cup run, in which he played in two games. While Spencer Martin started the majority of the AHL Canucks’ games, Šilovs managed to split his own record with a win against the Bakersfield Condors and a loss against the Calgary Wranglers.
Upon Abbotsford’s exit from the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, Šilovs joined Team Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship hosted by Finland and his home country. In a surprise run, in which Šilovs played in all 10 of his team’s games, Latvia secured their first Bronze medal in history with a shocking 4–3 overtime victory against Team USA in the Bronze-medal game. Šilovs was easily one of the best goaltenders of this tournament, as he faced 280 shots throughout and saved 258 of them. He finished with a record of 7–2 and had one shutout against Kazakhstan.
This Bronze medal win only marked the beginning of Šilovs’ clutch moments for the Canucks. He once again shared games with Vancouver and Abbotsford in the 2023–24 season, playing in four for Vancouver and 34 for Abbotsford. Of course, many remember the 2023–24 season as the one in which Šilovs held the Canucks in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs after injuries to goaltenders Demko and Casey DeSmith. He kicked off his NHL postseason career with a 27-save win against the Nashville Predators, later making a 28-save shutout in Game 6 of Vancouver’s first-round series to help the team advance to the Division Finals. He came up with multiple clutch saves in the team’s seven-game series against the Oilers, including a 42-save win in Game 3, but ultimately, Edmonton got the best of them.
Abbotsford Canucks Artūrs Šilovs Continues To Shine When The Games Matter MostOver the past three years, an interesting trend has emerged when it comes to Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Artūrs Šilovs. As soon as late April hits, the Latvia goalie kicks his game into high gear and helps guide his team on an exciting run. Whether it is at the NHL, AHL or International level, Šilovs is showing that he has a clutch gene once the post-season begins.
Nearly a year after his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, Šilovs was once-again tasked with helping a Canucks team win in the postseason. This time, it was Abbotsford who required his help. The AHL Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup victory was a masterclass in showcasing Šilovs’ even tempo and ability to shine during high-pressure moments. The Latvian goaltender started all 24 of Abbotsford’s playoff games and finished the team’s run with a 2.01 GAA and .931 SV%. Šilovs looked calm and controlled in the net during all situations — something that burned brightly in his three series-clinching shutouts against the Tucson Roadrunners, Coachella Valley Firebirds, and Colorado Eagles. For his poise in net and unbelievable play during this run, Šilovs was named MVP of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.
While Šilovs will now start a new journey with the Penguins, his time with the Canucks was certainly memorable. With Pittsburgh, he will now have the opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level — something that may not have happened as soon with Vancouver given how crowded the goaltending department currently is. Regardless of where Šilovs finds success, his feats are certainly worth a party.
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.
Henry Thrun Says This Is The Skill He's Most Excited To Bring To The Maple Leafs
Henry Thrun was immersed in the movie 'Top Gun' when his phone lit up with a call from San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier. The Toronto Maple Leafs had just acquired the defenseman for Ryan Reaves.
"It was definitely surprising, but as soon as he told me where I was traded, it was definitely a nice way to for that phone call to wrap up," Thrun said on Monday afternoon over Zoom.
"Knowing I was going to a city like Toronto and just knowing the history and the success that the team has had over the past couple years, with the end goal still in sight, and there's more to push for. But it definitely was pretty exciting to know where I was going to end up."
Thrun grew up in Southborough, Massachusetts, less than an hour outside of Boston. Knowing the history of the Boston Bruins and Maple Leafs, the 24-year-old's smile grew larger when he revealed he was a Bruins fan as a child.
"As much as I hate to say it, I was a Bruins fan growing up," Thrun grinned. "Having that market nearby and just being a big fan of the sport, it was hard not to cheer for them."
'It's Definitely A Topic To Talk About': Flames Star Nazem Kadri Responds To Maple Leafs RumorsThere is no doubt that many Toronto Maple Leafs fans miss having a forward like Nazem Kadri around. The Calgary Flames center has been at the center of rampant speculation as Toronto looks to add another top-six forward, and while a reunion might be a perfect fit, there doesn’t appear to be anything on the front burner in terms of an actual deal.
As a defenseman, his favorite player was Bruins legend Zdeno Chara.
"He's a guy that I've been fortunate enough to meet and actually skate with (during a summer skate several years ago)," the young defenseman said, "and just someone that's a first-class human, first-class player. He was a guy that I was always a fan of growing up."
Funny enough, Thrun's first NHL goal came against the Maple Leafs. It's comical to think that, as a Bruins fan growing up, he got the upper hand on Toronto as soon as he entered the league. And it's a goal that Thrun remembers quite well, of course.
It was on Jan. 9, 2024, that Toronto was leading 4-0 in the second period when Simon Benoit hooked Anthony Duclair. San Jose's power play coach told Thrun that he'd be going out for the man advantage. Mikael Granlund threw a pass in front, and the defenseman deflected it past Martin Jones to make it 4-1.
'The Honor Of A Lifetime': Matt Murray Reflects On Maple Leafs Tenure After Signing With Seattle KrakenMatt Murray will forever remember playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Although the Sharks ended up falling 7-1 that night in Toronto, it's a moment Thrun won't ever forget. "It's a pretty exciting moment scoring your first NHL goal, especially being in a city like Toronto," he said.
Thrun turned pro after three seasons at Harvard University, where the defenseman put up 84 points (17 goals and 67 assists) in 99 games. It was four years after he was drafted in the fourth round (101st overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in 2019.
Throughout parts of three seasons with the Sharks, Thrun scored 25 points (five goals and 20 assists), but never managed to break out offensively like he did throughout his junior and college years.
While the defenseman received lots of opportunities, averaging 18:44 of ice time throughout his short NHL career, having to be on the defending side for most of the time suppressed any opportunity to showcase what has made him a strong player in the past.
'Couldn't Ask For Anything Better': How Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Jake Muzzin Is Helping Develop The Next Crop Of Toronto DefendersAs Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford finishes a battle drill at the organization's development camp, he receives a stick-tap from Jake Muzzin.
Thrun's excited to work for that opportunity now with Toronto, a team that's been knocking at the door for some time.
"I think for me, an aspect of my game that hasn't really shined yet in terms of at the NHL level would be my ability to move the puck. That was sort of my calling card in junior and college," he said.
"I think playing in San Jose, I was very fortunate to get a chance to break in there and play a bunch of games, and play a lot of minutes. But, at times, I think it's a little challenging to be put in positions to move the puck and get involved, and obviously there's a lot of defending, which I was able to get some experience with that.
"But, for me, I'd say I'm excited to be a two-way defenseman. I think I'm reliable in most situations on the ice. I think that's one of my best assets is being versatile and being able to be used in special teams and up and down throughout a lineup, so for me, there's a lot that I want to still be able to show and prove."
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Timothy Liljegren arrived in San Jose in early November after being acquired by the Sharks from Toronto on Halloween night. Thrun and Liljegren got to know each other quite a bit while with the Sharks, with Thrun adding that they "basically lived in the same building."
Liljegren shared a lot with Thrun about what it was like playing in Toronto, from the organization to the fans, and the entire city. Little did Thrun know that he'd be traded to the mecca of hockey several months later. Nevertheless, he's excited about the new opportunity at hand.
"I got to hear a little bit about Toronto, just how passionate the fans are and how first-class of an organization it is, so it's something that I've only heard good things, and I'm excited to see it all first-hand and experience it."
(Top photo of Thrun: Robert Edwards / Imagn Images)