On Tuesday, NHL.com published its top 10 ranking of under-25 forwards, and Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield made the list. The Habs sniper landed in fifth place behind Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild, and Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars.

This is pretty good going for the 24-year-old who was the ninth forward picked in the 2019 draft class. The right winger finished last season with 37 goals and 33 assists, touching the 70-point mark for the first time in his career and setting a career-high in goals.

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What’s even more impressive is the fact that if coach Martin St-Louis didn’t give his favorite spot on the power play to Patrik Laine when the big Finn returned from injury, he most probably would have broken the 40-goal mark. Furthermore, there’s no reason to believe that the diminutive forward has reached his ceiling yet; he may be small, but he’s thinking big.

On top of setting a career-high in points, the right winger also improved his overall game, becoming a real nuisance on the forecheck with his active stick, thus improving his defensive game on top of his offensive one.

When the puck drops on the upcoming season, there’s no doubt that Caufield will still be riding shotgun on captain Nick Suzuki’s line, and if Juraj Slafkovsky can keep building on how he ended the season last year, the line could and should be even more efficient. Having him finish his checks in the corners and behind the net before retrieving it creates a lot of scoring chances for his linemates.

Could we see him reach the 40-goal mark this season? If I were the betting type, I’d put my money on yes for that one. The arrival of Noah Dobson and Ivan Demidov will give more options to the Canadiens’ bench boss, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Patrik Laine remained on the second man-advantage unit, given his performance at even strength.

More options mean more accountability, and Caufield should benefit from that, seeing as he plays a complete game now. As the coach likes to say, he’s not just someone playing hockey; he’s a hockey player, and until he feels the same way about Laine, he shouldn’t put him ahead of Caufield.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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Just over two months before NHL training camps begin, 22-year-old Anaheim Ducks RFA forward Mason McTavish still needs a new contract for this fall. And if he’s being honest, he’s probably tired of the Ducks sinking to the bottom of the Pacific every year.

He’s also dealing with Pat Verbeek, the Ducks’ GM with a rep for grinding just as hard in negotiations as he did as a star buzzsaw NHL player in the 1980s and ’90s. 

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That’s fertile summer soil for the growth of NHL media speculation, and Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli is among those who’ve floated out McTavish’s name as a player to watch this summer.

The idea of McTavish somehow ending up in Ottawa and centering a top line for the hometown team is undeniably appealing. As Sens fans might say over a pint at the Cheshire Cat Pub, “He’s a good Carp lad.” McTavish also has high-end skill and that classic rural Ottawa strength and size.

But his ties to the Sens go deeper than residency. McTavish also helped Steve Staios’ Hamilton Bulldogs win an OHL title just three years ago. And it’s clear that — like Don Cherry and his Bull Terriers — Staios has a soft spot for his Bulldogs. Staios and Michael Andlauer have brought in the likes of former Bulldogs GM Matt Turek, handing him the reins of their AHL club. Staios has also acquired former Hamilton stars Arthur Kaliyev and Jan Jeník.

So the McTavish-to-Ottawa fantasy feels like it writes itself.

But even with all those feel-good connections, there are far more compelling reasons why McTavish won’t be moved at all, let alone end up in Ottawa.

Let’s start with the basics: Despite all the talk, the Anaheim Ducks probably aren’t trading him.

With the summer trade of Trevor Zegras, Anaheim loses some depth at centre. Zegras had been bumped to the wing to clear the way for Leo Carlsson and McTavish, but Verbeek wouldn’t let potential centre ice depth walk out the door if McTavish was about to depart as well.

The 6-foot-1, 219-pound McTavish is coming off his best NHL season yet with 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games. That total led the Ducks in goals and was second in team scoring behind only Troy Terry.

More impressive than the raw stats is the upward trend in almost every area. These are the kinds of players teams like the Ducks use as pillars for the rebuild.

As for McTavish's view on things, there has been the standard jibber-jabber out there that he might be unhappy in Anaheim. Sure, he’s probably tired of losing, but the Ducks did some good things in the off-season, and how upset could he really be with a top nine that might look like this?

Cutter Gauthier-Leo Carlsson-Troy Terry
Chris Kreider-Mason McTavish-Mikael Granlund
Frank Vatrano-Ryan Strome-Alex Killorn

The Ducks are expected to re-sign McTavish, and while negotiations might take a while, he’s still under club control until 2029.

But for argument's sake, let’s say McTavish did want out, to the point where he'd sign an offer sheet somewhere.

Any remotely reasonable offer would be matched by the Ducks. Anything ludicrous (north of $9.1 million) would cost Ottawa at least two first-rounders, a second, and a third — and they don’t even have their own first-round pick next year. On top of that, if you want overkill, the Senators would have to move out important players to make the cap work. An offer sheet isn’t just a dead end; it’s a non-starter.

So, that leaves a trade. And yes, “never say never” always applies to trades. In theory, anything is possible.

But the asking price would be so, so steep – steep enough to make Sens fans recoil in horror. Ridly Greig and a second-round pick aren’t getting it done, especially with 31 other teams knocking on Verbeek's door.

Verbeek is smart. He’s chosen McTavish as a foundational piece, but isn’t going to overpay until he has to. If Ottawa wants in on that, the conversation would start with someone like Shane Pinto and possibly another core piece on the NHL roster. And even then, Anaheim might ask for a first-rounder Ottawa doesn’t have. 

Acquiring McTavish is an intriguing notion. He’s from here, plays the way this city loves, and already has ties to the people running the show. But the Ducks know exactly what they have. They’re not eager to give him up, but if they do, the Senators aren’t in a position right now to pay the price.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa

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The Florida Panthers have re-signed defenseman Tobias Bjornfot to a one-year, two-way deal.

The contract will pay the 24-year-old left-handed defenseman at league minimum in the NHL ($775,000) and $450,000 in the AHL. Bjornfot spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, scoring three goals and 15 points in 50 games.

Bjornfot did find himself receiving some NHL action, skating in 14 games with the Panthers, but failing to record a point while averaging 13:06 of ice time. 

Bjornfot was a first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft to the Los Angeles Kings, but has been unable to maintain a role on an NHL team. He played 70 NHL games in 2021-22 with the Kings, but since then, he hasn't eclipsed 14. 

The Upplands Vasby, Swe native has played for three teams in his NHL career. He was claimed off waivers by the Vegas Golden Knights from the Kings, and after playing two games with the Golden Knights, the Panthers snatched him off waivers in the same season. 

Bjornfot plays a reliable game on the blue line, both a capable skater and puck mover despite not possessing any traits that stand out. He has a solid 6-foot, 200-pound frame, which allows him to deal with heavy forwards. 

Bjornfot will likely serve as one of the first defensive call-ups from the AHL again this season. 

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On Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have signed defenseman Louis Crevier to a contract extension. 

Crevier is getting a one-way contract with a cap hit of $900,000 for two years. It is a contract that he earned by taking big strides in 2024-25. There is a lot of room to grow in his game, but he surprised many people with his play. 

The 24-year-old had career highs in games played (32), goals (3), and points (4), while recording 70 hits. Those 70 hits were, despite only playing in 32 games, second on the team by a defenseman and seventh overall. 

Crevier now has experience in the AHL playoffs and the NHL regular season and is ready to move into his next chapter of development. For being a 7th-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, he has come a long way.

With all of the young talent that Chicago has acquired on the blue line, he will have some internal competition in 2025-26. This contract means he will be given a fair shot to earn playing time. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The New Jersey Devils’ 2025–26 schedule was released yesterday, and the road ahead is anything but easy.

The Devils are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the most back-to-back games in the league this season - 15 in total. That’s a significant hurdle for a team looking to rebound and make a deep playoff push.

Rivalries Take a Back Seat…Until March

Perhaps the most surprising detail? The Devils won’t face their cross-river rivals, the New York Rangers, until March 8, 2026, a full five months into the season. And they’ll only get one home game against the Rangers all year.

All three matchups are crammed into March:

• 3/7 vs. Rangers
• 3/18 @ Rangers
• 3/31 @ Rangers

The Devils’ newest play-by-play broadcaster, Don La Greca, who previously covered the Rangers, will have plenty of time to prepare for those emotional matchups.

The rivalry shortage doesn’t stop there: New Jersey will only play the Philadelphia Flyers three times this season.

The Brutal Back-to-Back List

Here’s a look at the Devils’ 15 back-to-back series:

• Oct. 21 @ Toronto / Oct. 22 vs. Minnesota
• Nov. 1 @ Los Angeles / Nov. 2 @ Anaheim
• Nov. 28 @ Buffalo / Nov. 29 vs. Philadelphia
• Dec. 5 vs. Vegas / Dec. 6 @ Boston
• Dec. 13 vs. Anaheim / Dec. 14 vs. Vancouver
• Dec. 30 @ Toronto / Dec. 31 @ Columbus
• Jan. 3 vs. Utah / Jan. 4 vs. Carolina
• Jan. 11 @ Winnipeg / Jan. 12 @ Minnesota
• Jan. 19 @ Calgary / Jan. 20 @ Edmonton
• Feb. 25 vs. Buffalo / Feb. 26 @ Pittsburgh
• Mar. 3 vs. Florida / Mar. 4 vs. Toronto
• Mar. 7 vs. Rangers / Mar. 8 vs. Detroit
• Mar. 28 @ Carolina / Mar. 29 vs. Chicago
• Apr. 4 vs. Montreal / Apr. 5 @ Montreal
• Apr. 11 @ Detroit / Apr. 12 vs. Ottawa

Last season, the Devils went 3-9 in the second game of back-to-backs. If they want a winning record this year, they’ll need to improve dramatically in those situations.

Seven of these sets involve splitting games between home and road, and the most grueling turnaround comes in April, playing in Detroit on April 11 before flying back to Newark for Ottawa the very next night.

A Tough Start to the Season

The Devils won’t make their home-ice debut until October 16, eight days into the season. Before that, they’ll open with a brutal road stretch against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Columbus Blue Jackets, before hosting the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for their home opener.

Last season, the Devils fared well against these opponents:

• 2-2-0 vs. Hurricanes
• 2-0-1 vs. Lightning
• 2-1-0 vs. Blue Jackets
• 2-0-1 vs. Panthers

Still, those are playoff-caliber teams that will test the Devils early.

Conclusion 

The New Jersey Devils face a tough schedule, but with strength, grit, and consistency, they can position themselves for a deep postseason run. One thing is certain: the road to the playoffs won’t be easy, but it will be exciting.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images