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.

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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.

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

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 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."

'I Know I'm A Better Player Than I Was In Utah': Matias Maccelli Believes He's Ready For Top-Six Role With Maple LeafsMatias Maccelli was attempting to make a putt when his friend began yelling about a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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)

We now have a date to circle on our calendars.

On Monday, the NHL announced its 2025-26 season Opening Night tripleheader.

Featured prominently at the top are your defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

Florida will raise their second Stanley Cup banner on Tuesday, October 7 when they host the

Chicago Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena.

The game is set for an early 5 p.m. puck drop.

Also on the Opening Night docket are the New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at 8 p.m. and the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m.

One thing that immediately raises an eyebrow is regarding the league decision to give its back-to-back champions, and their fans, a non-traditional, arguably inconvenient start time on Opening Night.

We get it, the Penguins and Rangers are going to draw bigger audiences, but that’s going to happen regardless. It’s also a game that features two non-playoff teams from a season ago.

Speaking of teams that didn’t make the playoffs, Chicago actually finished one spot above worst in the NHL last season.

Again, we get it. It’s another big market, Original Six team, but putting them up against the defending Stanley Cup champions on opening night?

Where are the Lightning? Toronto? The Bruins? 

It was Boston who Florida opened last season against, and who Florida has faced twice in the past three postseasons. 

Maybe the league just thinks very highly of Seth Jones and Spencer Knight facing their former teams for the first time.

One thing that will be interesting to see play out on Opening Night will be how the Panthers fans react to Knight’s return to South Florida.

Long after the Trade Deadline deal that swapped Knight and Jones, Panthers fans continued to shout “Knight!” during the National Anthem.

To be fair, as games went deeper into the playoffs, there were a growing number of groaning, booing fans who didn’t seem to agree with the continuation of the “Knight!” chants.

But with Spencer returning for the first time, perhaps we’ll get one final, extremely loud “Knight!” to honor the young goaltender, who will likely be starting in net for the Blackhawks.

The rest of the 2025-26 NHL schedule is expected to come out on Wednesday afternoon.

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Photo caption: Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers players watch from the ice as the team lifts the championship banner before the game against the Boston Bruins at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The National Hockey League released its list of the most recent 50-goal scorers by franchise.

Highlighting each franchise's most recent 50-goal scorer! 🤩

Who stands out the most? pic.twitter.com/FxFwIuNz54

— NHL (@NHL) July 12, 2025

Active players like the Bruins’ David Pastrňák (2022–23), the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (2023–24), and the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (2021–22) made the list. Some franchises, however, featured much older names, such as the Kings’ Luc Robitaille (1992–93), the Canadiens’ Stéphane Richer (1989–90), and the Flyers’ John LeClair (1997–98).

Seven teams were listed as “N/A,” having never had a 50-goal scorer in franchise history.

Which teams didn’t make the list?

The Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Utah Mammoth (no surprise there), Vegas Golden Knights, and, last but not least, the New Jersey Devils.

Out of all the teams that didn’t have a 50-goal scorer, the Vegas Golden Knights are the only other team with a Stanley Cup win besides the Devils. 

That’s right: the New Jersey Devils have won three Stanley Cups, and never had a 50-goal scorer in franchise history.

They’ve had players come close, but none have hit the milestone.

John MacLean had three 40-goal seasons and leads the franchise in most such seasons by a single player. He scored 42 goals in 1988–89, 41 goals in 1989–90, and posted a career-high 45 goals in 1990–91.

Eight other players have recorded one 40-goal season each for the Devils: Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta, Jack Hughes, Claude Lemieux, Alexander Mogilny, Wilf Paiement, Zach Parise, and Pat Verbeek.

Brian Gionta holds the franchise record for most goals in a single season with 48 in 2005–06. He finished that year with 89 points, just two goals shy of the elusive 50-goal mark.

Wilf Paiement scored 41 goals in 1976–77 while playing for the Colorado Rockies, a predecessor to the Devils. Paiement was drafted second overall in 1974 by the Kansas City Scouts, who later became the Rockies, and eventually, the New Jersey Devils.

Paiement played two seasons in Kansas City before the team relocated to Colorado.

It’s worth noting that Alexander Mogilny hit the 50-goal mark before joining New Jersey. In 1995–96, he scored 55 goals and 107 points for the Vancouver Canucks. But his most impressive season came in 1992–93, when he scored an astounding 76 goals and finished with 127 points.

There is hope for a future 50-goal scorer in New Jersey.

Jack Hughes tallied 43 goals in 78 games during the 2022–23 season. However, over the past two years, Hughes has been limited to 62 games due to two shoulder injuries. He underwent surgeries on April 9, 2024, and March 3, 2025.

Could Hughes become the first 50-goal scorer in Devils history? If he stays healthy, it’s possible. And if not him, perhaps someone else will finally remove that “N/A” from New Jersey’s entry on the NHL’s 50-goal list.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images