EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers know the importance of goaltending.

Despite reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years, the hunger is stronger than ever to win the ultimate prize. This past year’s run in particular could have had better goaltending.

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That’s why there is speculation of the Oilers being interested in Carter Hart, despite his standing with the league. The Oilers have also been connected to others, such as Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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With Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard guarding the twine in the big leagues, the organization has elected to shake things up elsewhere. Primarily, they brought in Matt Tomkins to be the veteran presence with the Bakersfield Condors. 

The other goalie with the Condors has yet to be determined, because the Oilers did not offer an extension to Olivier Rodrigue. Now, he has agreed to terms with a KHL team.

«Барыс» заключил односторонний контракт с Оливье Родригом, соглашение рассчитано на один сезон до 31 мая 2026 года. pic.twitter.com/3BcYCj8aqV

— ХК «Барыс» (@AstanaBarys) August 14, 2025

Rodrigue and Barys Astana have agreed to a one-year contract.

Rodrigue spent the last three seasons grinding in the AHL full-time. Last year, he had an 18-16-6 record, a 3.12 goals against average (GAA), an .897 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.

The 25-year-old netminder was drafted 62nd overall by the Oilers in 2018. The 6-foot-1 Rodrigue played in two NHL games, collected a 3.10 GAA and a .862 SV%.

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Oilers Goalie Signs In Kazakhstan Canadian goaltender Olivier Rodrigue, 25, has signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana, the Kazakhstan-based KHL club announced on Thursday.

The New Jersey Devils have racked up 1,125 wins in franchise history, placing them 17th in the NHL’s all-time wins list. For a team established in 1982, that’s not a bad spot.

Earlier this month, the NHL shared a chart ranking all 32 teams by total franchise wins. On the surface, it’s fun to see where the Devils land, right in the middle of the pack, but the list doesn’t tell the whole story.

The top spots are dominated by the Original Six: the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks. Naturally, they tower over newer franchises in total wins; they’ve had decades more games to play. That’s why total wins alone are a flawed metric for comparing franchises.

While the Devils may appear “average” on this list, the reality is they’re anything but. Despite recent struggles, making the playoffs just nine times in the past 10 seasons, they remain one of the NHL’s most successful franchises since joining the league.

New Jersey has won three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003), tying them for 11th in Cup wins alongside the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning. That’s ahead of older franchises like the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres, both of whom entered the league in 1970–71 and have never hoisted the Cup. Five other franchises, the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild, are still chasing their first.

This paints a far more accurate picture of the Devils’ place in NHL history. They may not crack the top tier in total franchise wins, but when measuring by championships, resilience, and impact, New Jersey stands tall among the league’s elite.

Detroit AHL coach Brian Lashoff believes Red Wings have tools to fix defensive woes from last season.

The Red Wings enter next season with multiple areas of their game that they would like to improve upon with one of them being their defence. Detroit finished bottom 12 in goals against average last season with no improvement since bringing on a defensive minded coach like Todd McLellan in late December. During that span, the Red Wings were still bottom 13 in goals against average and signaled that a change needed to be made. 

The Hockey News recently caught up with Brian Lashoff, Assistant Head Coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate, who shared compelling insights into the system and scheme adjustments being introduced ahead of next season by the Red Wings coaching staff. According to Lashoff, it's important for a team that struggled in a particular area the previous year to reset and establish a new “standard” for their style of play moving forward.

“You see the structure they're putting in place, the details that they're focusing on, and I think those types of things are going to give them success in the long run,” Lashoff explained “I think the start of the season is going to be the biggest thing and I think that's a great thing about their staff, and is setting a standard right away, and then holding the team to that standard.”

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Lashoff is no stranger to the Red Wings organization, having played 136 NHL games over seven seasons with Detroit, including a notable NHL debut in which he scored his first career goal from the blueline. However, the bulk of his career was spent in the AHL, where he logged 629 games over 14 seasons with the Griffins, serving as team captain in his final years. In 2023, he transitioned from player to coach, joining the Griffins’ coaching staff. While the shift came with its challenges, Lashoff credited the strong support from the staff around him for making the adjustment much smoother.

“From the start, I've felt like things have gone well, I've been given responsibility right off the bat, I think that's been huge for me to kind of learn and learn from Dan Watson and Steph Julian, two guys that I really respect who have had success as coaches,” Lashoff claimed “I've learned a ton from them, they helped me get my feet wet and get going right away my first year, and then last year continue to roll through things being a coach.”

Lashoff has played with several of the Red Wings current blueliners during his time with the Griffins like Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and more meaning he can truly speak to the talent of the players after seeing it every day. He firmly believes with the new adjustments and some of the younger defencemen taking a step forward that their blueline can make a step forward this season despite making no significant changes. 

“I think defensively, it's a team that I think has the potential to be a strength of them, So we're excited to see everything kind of get to work in September,” Lashoff said. 

"Super Excited" Jacob Bernard-Docker Can't Wait To Begin With Red Wings It was an active offseason for Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who not only traded the disappointing Vladimir Tarasenko and his $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild but also signed several new players. 

Detroit’s most intriguing addition on the blue line is former first-round pick Jacob Bernard-Docker, a bit of a lottery ticket with untapped potential. However, the most impactful move on the back end is undoubtedly the blockbuster trade for All-Star goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson immediately becomes the Red Wings’ best goaltender in over a decade, and with a new defensive system being tailored to support him, there’s real potential for the team to rally around him and take a meaningful step forward defensively.

Having the full summer to evaluate what worked and what didn’t will be a major asset for head coach Todd McLellan, who has a strong track record of transforming defensive play. In San Jose, he helped elevate the Sharks to a top six defence in the NHL, and in Los Angeles, he led the Kings to a top nine ranking. Replicating that kind of improvement in Detroit is well within reach. The only real question is how much the defensive metrics will climb and whether they’ll rise high enough to justify Lashoff’s belief that defence could become a true strength of this team.

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Former New Jersey Devil Ken Daneyko has taken on a new role this summer, coaching the 3ICE NJ/NY team.

3ICE is an annual three-on-three summer tournament where current and future NHL players showcase their skills. Known to fans as “Mr. Devil,” Daneyko returned to the ice this season behind the bench for NJ/NY.

His squad has advanced to the Final Four, which will be played this week in Florida. Heading into the week, they hold the No. 2 spot in the league and are set to face No. 3 Tennessee on August 14. Tennessee is coached by another former NHL player, John LeClair.

Daneyko’s roster features forwards Jack Combs, Gordie Green, Alex Kile, Zachary Solow, and Brayden Watts; defenseman Will MacKinnon; and goaltender Evan Cowley.

In addition to his coaching duties, Daneyko continues to serve as the Devils’ color commentator on MSGSN, never straying far from the building where his number hangs in the rafters.

A legend in New Jersey, Daneyko was drafted 18th overall by the Devils and holds several franchise records, including games played (1,283) and penalty minutes (2,516). He was the second player in franchise history to have his jersey retired and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion (1995, 2000, 2003).

Still living in New Jersey, Daneyko now has his sights set on the Patrick Cup Championship with his 3ICE team. But the Devils remain close to his heart, especially when facing former teammates.

In a recent matchup, his team fell 4-1 to 3ICE Buffalo, led by former Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid, who made 10 saves. Kinkaid, who played eight seasons with New Jersey after going undrafted, has since spent time in the AHL and ECHL but, according to Daneyko, may be capable of an NHL return.

“I saw how incredible he was with us in New Jersey over the years, especially in 2018 when he got us into the playoffs,” Daneyko told NHL.com. “He looks like he still has it. He showed that against us.”

While the Devils aren’t in the market for a goaltender this season, starter Jacob Markstrom and backup Jake Allen have solidified the crease; other NHL teams struggling between the pipes may want to consider Kinkaid.

“Kinkaid was the difference,” Daneyko said. “He was incredible.”

Jets announce 13 games where they'll be wearing their third "Heritage" jerseys in 2025-26 season.

The Winnipeg Jets have unveiled the official schedule for when they will don their popular Heritage Jerseys during the 2025–26 NHL season, offering fans 13 opportunities to see the team pay tribute to its storied past.

Your friend's dog's owner's favourite jersey schedule just dropped 🤩 pic.twitter.com/JinVsViZvY

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) August 14, 2025

The Heritage Jersey, a fan-favorite third uniform inspired by the franchise's rich history and classic look, will make its first appearance of the season in a back-to-back home stand, beginning October 23 against the Seattle Kraken and continuing the next night, October 24, versus the Calgary Flames.

The Jets will also sport the alternate threads on October 26 when they host the league’s newest franchise, the Utah Mammoth, marking a historic first meeting between the two clubs while wearing a jersey that honors Winnipeg’s deep hockey roots.

The Heritage Jerseys, known for their clean design and nods to the original WHA-era Jets, continue to be a symbol of pride for the team and its supporters. Limited merchandise related to the Heritage games will be available in the Jets Gear store and online.

Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 Heritage Jersey Schedule:

• October 23 vs Seattle Kraken
• October 24 vs Calgary Flames
• October 26 vs Utah Mammoth
• December 9 vs Dallas Stars
• December 11 vs Boston Bruins
• December 13 vs Washington Capitals
• December 15 vs Ottawa Senators

• January 22 vs Florida Panthers
• January 24 vs Detroit Red Wings

• March 12 vs New York Rangers
• March 14 vs Colorado Avalanche
• March 15 vs St. Louis Blues
• March 17 vs Nashville Predators

Tickets for Heritage games and the full 2025–26 schedule are available now at winnipegjets.com.

The last year has been a rough one for Nashville Predators fans, but they aren't the most miserable fanbase in the NHL, according to ESPN. 

On Wednesday, ESPN released its Sports Misery Index, which calculates how miserable you are, on a scale from 0-100, based on the teams that you support. Fans can choose how they feel about their teams on a scale of Elated (19-0), Pleasant (39-29), Meh (59-40), Failing (79-60) and Woeful (100-80).

According to ESPN, the ratings were determined using a combination of regular-season wins, postseason success and expected win data in the form of preseason over-unders. 

The Predators fell right in the middle of the NHL's rankings at 17th, with a 76 misery rating. The Montreal Canadiens were ranked 16th, and the New York Rangers were ranked 18th. 

While the Predators didn't make the playoffs in their first five seasons in the NHL, they've made the playoffs in 16 out of their last 21 seasons. However, only six of those times have they advanced past the first round.

In their existence, they've won a Presidents' Trophy, two division titles, and made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. The same cannot be said for the top five most miserable teams ranked in the NHL over the last 15 years. 

The Anaheim Ducks (5th) have won five Pacific Division titles in the last 15 years, but have not made the playoffs since 2018 and haven't made the Stanley Cup Final since 2007.

Ottawa (4th) hasn't won a divisional title in the last 15 years, has made the playoffs just six times in the previous 15 years and hasn't been to the Stanley Cup Final since 2007. Similar to the Ducks, the Senators' last Presidents' Trophy was also in 2003. 

The Detroit Red Wings (3rd) had massive success through the 90s, 2000s and early 2010s, but have since fizzled off. They have one divisional title in the last 15 years and have not made the playoffs since 2016. 

The most miserable runner-up in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets, have never won any sort of hardware in their 25 years of existence. They've only made the playoffs six times and won just two of those series. The Blue Jackets' last postseason appearance was 2020. 

Finally, at the top, with a 97 misery ranking, which is tied for third as the most miserable team in ESPN's Sports Misery Index, is the Buffalo Sabres.

In addition to not having made the playoffs since 2011, they have not won their division since 2010, a Presidents' Trophy since 2007, and haven't been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1999.

While Predator fans were unhappy with last season's result, things could be a lot worse, according to these rankings. 

The Seattle Kraken announced on Wednesday the hiring of two members for its Hockey Operations staff. Former Minnesota Wild forward Zac Dalpe was one of them.

Dalpe, 35, just retired from hockey after the 2024-25 season concluded. He played 168 games in the NHL and recorded 16 goals and 32 points. He played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers.

His main experience came in the American Hockey League (AHL) where he played in 574 games with five different AHL teams. He was the captain for the Charlotte Checkers the last four seasons.

The 6-foot-2 forward started his career in the Hurricanes organization and five years later he spent two seasons with the Wild. He was an assistant captain of the Iowa Wild during the 2015-16 season.

In his two seasons in the Wild organization Dalpe recorded five goals, and one assist in 20 AHL games. He recorded two goals, four points and eight hits in 11 NHL hames for the Wild.

He recorded 220 goals, 172 assists and 392 points in 574 career AHL games across 16 years.

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