Monthly Archives: August 2025
Divisional Focus: Red Wings Need To Turn The Tables Against The Senators
Although it was a tough pill to swallow for fans of the Detroit Red Wings, it was the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators who returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season, thanks to a late-season surge that included two crucial victories over Detroit.
Ottawa complied a record of 45-30-7 for a total of 97 points, 11 more points in the standings than Detroit's 86.
Adding insult to injury was the fact that former Red Wings forward David Perron, who played such an important leadership role in the Detroit dressing room, scored in both games for his new team.
David Perron is up to seven goals since March 1st. 😳
— NHL (@NHL) March 28, 2025
What a run he's been on! pic.twitter.com/gbFpjvlgTZ
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While the Senators would ultimately fall short in the opening round of the postseason against the Toronto Maple Leafs, they did manage to make life uncomfortable for them and appear poised to take another step in their rebuilding process this season.
Meanwhile, the Red Wings missed out on claiming a postseason spot for the ninth consecutive season thanks in large part to yet another prolonged losing streak in the month of March.
If the Red Wings are to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, they'll need to improve their fortunes against the Senators, who have had their number over the last few campaigns.
Ottawa has been on a remarkable run of success against the Red Wings in their last 10 matchups, winning eight of them.
Additionally, the core of Ottawa is just getting started. They have a solid foundation led by forwards Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle, while their top-six is rounded out by Dylan Cozens (who was linked to the Red Wings in the weeks leading up to last season's NHL Trade Deadline) and Drake Batherson.
Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot anchor the Ottawa defense, while Linus Ullmark holds down the fort in the crease.
With veterans Perron and Claude Giroux returning for next season, the Senators appear poised to not only build off their success last season but to take another step toward once again becoming a major problem in the Eastern Conference for their opposition.
The Red Wings won't face the Senators until after the calendar has changed to 2026, a matchup on January 5 in Ottawa. This will be followed by matchups on January 18 at Little Caesars Arena, February 26 in Ottawa, and Mach 24 back in Detroit.
All four games will have a valuable two points up for grabs in the standings, points that the Red Wings will need to accumulate to help increase their chances of ending their playoff drought.
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Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Can Sabres Keep Up With First-Rate Dallas Stars?
The Buffalo Sabres have little room for error next season as they attempt to end a 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought -- and that means they need to beat above-average teams. That includes the Dallas Stars, who the Sabres will take on twice this coming year.
The Stars are one of the deepest, most well-balanced teams in the NHL, and while they haven't made a slew of changes after falling in the Western Conference final once again, Dallas is going to be a handful for any opponent, including the Sabres. And as part of THN.com's "Know Your Enemy" series, we're looking at every Buffalo opponent next year. We've been moving through the highly-competitive Central Division, and in today's file, we're breaking down Buffalo's chances against the Stars. Let's get to it:
BUFFALO SABRES VS. DALLAS STARS
NEW STARS PLAYERS: Radek Faksa, C
2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-0, Stars 1-1-0
2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: December 31 at Dallas; April 15 at Buffalo
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Sabres and Stars faced off twice last season, with both games coming by the end of the calendar year 2024. The teams split the series, with Buffalo winning the first game by a 4-2 score, then Dallas winning the second game by the same score. But with the Sabres' struggles, there was no sense these two teams were as good as each franchise was when the Sabres and Stars squared off in the 1998-1999 Stanley Cup final.
Indeed, the Stars have been one of the top franchises in the league in recent years, even if they haven't been able to get back to the Cup final since they won it in '98-99. And of course, the Sabres have been one of the worst organizations in the league for nearly a decade-and-a-half.
This season, though, presents a fresh start opportunity for Buffalo. And unlike last season, when the teams were done with each other early on, the Sabres and Stars won't have their first game until New Year's Eve in Texas. Then, their second showdown comes in mid-April, in the Sabres' final regular-season game of the year.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Does Buffalo Have Any Hope To Beat Powerhouse Colorado Avalanche?The Buffalo Sabres play in the NHL's toughest division in the Atlantic Division -- but the 2025-26 schedule isn't going to do them any favors. THN.com's Sabres site has been publishing a team-by-team look at Buffalo's opponents next year -- and in today's file, we're continuing our look at the Sabres' chances against the Central Division-juggernaut Colorado Avalanche.
That could mean a couple of things: first, the Stars and Sabres may be significantly different between that first game and the second tilt. If both teams have positive results during the season, that second game could spell the difference between Buffalo making and missing the playoffs. And it could also mean the difference between the Stars securing home-ice advantage and finishing third or fourth in the Central.
If we're being honest, we have to say we see the Stars as the superior team next year. Dallas' balance of young stars still approaching their prime and veterans intent on a deep playoff run makes the Stars one of the most dangerous squads in the league. But Dallas is exactly the type of team Buffalo needs to conquer if the Sabres are going to rise out of the bottom of the Atlantic Division and carve out a post-season berth for themselves.
The Sabres have to prove to skeptics they're ready to take the next competitive step before anyone actually believes they're capable of doing so. That may sound cynical, but talk to any of Buffalo's long-suffering fans, and you'll see exactly why Sabres fans are so cynical.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Will Blackhawks Stun Buffalo In Their Showdowns Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres' schedule has been out for some time now, and it's always fun to examine the Sabres' opponents by breaking down their showdowns against each of the NHL's 31 other teams.
We're not here to tell you the Stars will walk all over the Sabres next season. Hope springs eternal, and there is a world in which Buffalo grows into an elite team.
But the Sabres have two chances to send a message to the Stars. And if they don't take advantage of those opportunities and they wind up missing out on a playoff berth by one or two standings points, their play against Dallas could prove to be a difference-making factor in their season -- and they could be looking at another year lost.
Keith Tkachuk On Brady's Future In Ottawa: 'I Don't Think He's Going Anywhere'
Ottawa Senators fans love Brady Tkachuk, but his long-term contract is probably rolling along a little too quickly for their liking.
Tkachuk is entering year five of a seven-year deal that pays him $8.2 million per season. When examining the Senators’ current Stanley Cup window of opportunity, some observers tend to track it right alongside Tkachuk’s contract, because of the chance he may decide to follow in his brother's footsteps.
Three years ago, his older brother Matthew forced Calgary to trade him after he let the Flames know he wasn't planning to re-sign there.
So this past season, not surprisingly, the Brady rumours started. The New York Post reported in December that the Rangers had made Brady one of their primary trade targets.
The Senators vehemently denied it, and when owner Michael Andlauer arrived at the NHL’s Board of Governors’ meeting in Florida, he described it as soft tampering. Andlauer also said that Brady and his wife Emma had just had a child and didn’t need something like this in their lives.
The Rangers denied the soft tampering and described the accusation as irresponsible.
And so it began.
It only stands to reason, with Tkachuk being such an impactful player, that this kind of dialogue will continue to float out there over the next three years. But in an interview this week with ESPN and Greg Wyshynski, Brady’s father, Keith, had some thoughts on the matter that Sens fans will surely applaud.
By the way, for you kids out there, you may recognize Keith Tkachuk as the new cover boy for EA Sports' NHL 26 Deluxe Edition.
When Wyshynski asked about those rumblings out of New York last season and people who think Brady might want out, Keith suggested that Brady's situation is different than Matthew's.
“I wouldn’t believe everything you hear," Tkachuk told ESPN.com. "I think after what happened with Matthew in Calgary, everyone just assumes that’s going to happen with Brady [in Ottawa].
"But Brady loves it there. Brady has really cemented himself in the community. They’re a team on the rise. They got a great bunch of young players. They’re core players. The fans and the city itself treat him so well. He wants to be a big part of that moving forward.
"So I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”
That’s not exactly having Brady’s signature on the dotted line of an extension, nor is it something they’re even allowed to do for two more years, but it is some extremely encouraging insight from the head of the Tkachuk family.
After all, considering the past exits of Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, and Jason Spezza, local hockey fans would like nothing better than to finally see a beloved captain go wire to wire as an Ottawa Senator.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
This article originally appeared on The Hockey News website: Keith Tkachuk On Brady's Future In Ottawa: 'I Don't Think He's Going Anywhere'
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NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-08-09 11:47:23
Canucks Officially Make 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs In 5–4 Overtime Win: Five Years Ago Today
Five years ago today, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Minnesota Wild 5–4 in overtime to officially clinch their spot in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This marked the first time since 2015 that the team had made the postseason. Prior to their series-clinching victory, Vancouver lost Game 1 by a 3–0 score, but later took Games 2 and 3 to push the Wild to the brink of elimination.
One of the most memorable moments from this playoff run actually came before the match itself. In a video posted to the Canucks’ social channels, forward J.T. Miller was seen reading the night’s starting lineup, injecting energy into every name. The room was very clearly fired up after his lineup read, with this setting the tone for a back-and-forth game that would eventually end in Vancouver’s favour.
Game 4 started off negatively for the Canucks, as the Wild scored a power play goal less than three minutes into the first period. The lead was quickly erased by a tally from Tanner Pearson a little over halfway through the frame, though Eric Staal gave Minnesota the lead again less than a minute later. The score at the end of the first period was 2–1 for Minnesota, with both teams taking a combined five penalties throughout the frame.
Offence flew during the second period. Joel Eriksson Ek brought the lead up to 3–1 for the Wild five minutes in, but Brandon Sutter cut this back to 3–2 two minutes after. Quinn Hughes scored his first career NHL playoff goal, evening the score up 3–3 on the power play. While it looked as though the teams would be leaving the second period tied at three goals each, Nico Sturm found the back of the net with less than a minute to go to give Minnesota the lead once more.
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While Vancouver still had the series lead, a loss in Game 4 would send the series to a sudden-death Game 5. Trailing by only a goal, the Canucks stormed into the third period and got their equalizer from none other than Bo Horvat. The former captain would later score eight more goals in the postseason to grab the league lead for at least a series after Vancouver’s elimination.
Overtime was on the horizon for the Canucks. Many expected a long sequence of extra periods. However, it only took 11 seconds, and an unlikely hero, for Vancouver to take the final lead and officially punch their ticket to the playoffs. A shot from the blueline taken by grizzled veteran Chris Tanev flew past Minnesota goaltender Alex Stalock, ending overtime and sending the entire Canucks team off the bench and onto the ice in celebration. Even the occasionally stoic head coach Travis Green was seen raising his arms in excitement.
With the win, the Canucks moved on to the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, matching up against the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues. While this proved to be a daunting task, their efforts in this series were driven by a healthy locker room culture and a persistent drive against adversity.
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NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No.11 Detroit Red Wings
The Hockey News’ summer splash series continues as we go team-by-team and evaluate the off-seasons of every NHL franchise. In these exclusive rankings, we’ve debated and discussed each team’s additions, departures, hirings and firings.
And in the final rankings, we’ve slotted in each of the league’s 32 teams into one of three categories – teams that have improved this summer, teams that have regressed, and teams that essentially stayed the same.
We’re heading into the home stretch of these rankings, but we’re still in a tier where the teams we’re currently focused on have more or less stayed the same. That will change soon enough, as we eventually move into discussing teams that have improved the most. But right now, we’re at position No. 11 – the Detroit Red Wings. Let’s look at how the Red Wings’ off-season has unfolded, and where they project to be headed next season:
Additions
John Gibson (G), Mason Appleton (RW), James van Riemsdyk (LW), Jacob Bernard-Docker (D)
The Breakdown: Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman came into the off-season with a boatload of salary cap space, but even after adding the above four veterans, the Wings still have approximately $12-million in cap space. In a sense, it’s like Yzerman couldn’t convince any player of consequence to come to the Motor City, and while salary cap flexibility is always a good thing, Detroit’s lineup as currently constituted doesn’t match up with the Red Wings’ Atlantic Division rivals.
Now, the reason why Detroit is relatively high in our summer splash rankings is that their biggest move was the trade acquisition of former Anaheim Ducks star goalie John Gibson, who has been in trade rumors for years before Anaheim shipped him to the Red Wings. Gibson’s arrival turns what had been a weakness into a strength, as Gibson and fellow veteran Cam Talbot are a promising goalie tandem.
Otherwise, while former Winnipeg Jets winger Mason Appleton isn’t a terrible player, he’s not a needle-mover, either. And greybeard winger James van Riemsdyk and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker are strictly depth acquisitions. The big prize for Yzerman was Gibson, who now comes into Detroit knowing full well the pressure is on him to prove the Wings were smart to acquire him.
Departures
Vladimir Tarasenko (RW), Alex Lyon (G), Jeff Petry (D), Craig Smith (C), Tyler Motte (C)
The Breakdown: The Red Wings’ most high-profile departure is Vladimir Tarasenko, who was dealt to the Minnesota Wild after one year in Detroit, where he produced only 11 goals and 33 points in 80 games. The 33-year-old’s 2025-26 salary of $4.75 million was a price Yzerman no longer wished to pay, and the addition of Appleton essentially replaces Tarasenko on Detroit’s third line.
Otherwise, the name-brand departures for the Wings are goalie Alex Lyon, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres, and veteran D-man Jeff Petry, who signed with the Florida Panthers. But to say the Red Wings will miss any of the players who’ve left them this summer is an overstatement.
Indeed, this Wings team wasn’t nearly good enough to be a Stanley Cup playoff team last year, so roster turnover was going to be unavoidable. But the changes Yzerman has made outside of his goalie tandem are only going to make the Red Wings slightly better.
The Bottom Line
Let’s be clear – the Red Wings are where they are in our summer splash rankings primarily because of the Gibson move. Goaltending had been an issue in Detroit for a long time, and Yzerman finally found the big fish in net that he and Wings fans have been aching for.
However, when you look at the big picture in the Atlantic, the Red Wings are still going to face a hellacious battle just to land a wild card playoff berth, let alone contend for a top-three spot in the division. Yzerman didn’t do much to address his team’s defense corps, and at forward, Yzerman is still banking on a group of young players rising and justifying Yzerman’s belief in them.
The Wings are still in the mid-tier of our summer splash ranks because, even with Gibson in town, they’re not quite a top-10 team in terms of summer improvements. Yes, they’re technically better, and that’s why they’re not 15th or 20th in these ratings. But looking at Detroit as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference is a major-league stretch.
By season's end, it would surprise no one if the Red Wings were on the outside of the playoff picture looking in for the 10th consecutive season. Gibson will have to steal a lot of games just to keep them fighting for a playoff spot, and of course, that’s not guaranteed. And if the Wings falter yet again, Yzerman’s job security will be in jeopardy.
Summer Splash Rankings
11. Detroit Red Wings
13. St. Louis Blues
16. Ottawa Senators
17. Boston Bruins
18. Edmonton Oilers
19. Minnesota Wild
20. Seattle Kraken
27. Dallas Stars
28. Calgary Flames
30. Winnipeg Jets
32. Buffalo Sabres
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Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Pavel Zacha
The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed earlier this month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks.
Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha, after a pair of 21-goal campaigns and signing a four-year contract extension, dipped last year to 14 goals. The 28-year-old was a sixth-overall pick of the Devils in 2015 and played his first six seasons in New Jersey and two years under Lindy Ruff before being dealt to Beantown for Erik Haula in 2022.
Part of Zacha’s success in Boston has been playing on a line with countryman David Pastrnak, but the Bruins appear to be undergoing a transition after dealing veterans like Brandon Carlo, Brad Marchand, and Charlie Coyle at last year’s deadline. Although GM Don Sweeney has made efforts to remain competitive with the signings of Tanner Jeannot, re-signing former Sabre Henri Jokiharju, and trading for Viktor Arvidsson, many believe that the glory days in Boston are over with and the reset may continue with moving players like Zacha out.
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What Would It Cost?
The Bruins are weak up the middle after the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, along with the underwhelming performance of Elias Lindholm, which is one of the reasons why they have played Zacha up the middle. If Boston falls out of playoff competition early, Sweeney will probably try to continue the reset. They would likely want a young center like Konsta Helenius in a Zacha deal, but the Sabres probably would balk at that and instead prefer to give up Noah Ostlund.
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Catching Up On The Remaining RFAs; Who Might Sign An Offer Sheet, Who Might Be Traded?
NHL training camps begin in a little over a month, and while teams and players are gearing up, important business still needs to be handled by several teams.
Many of the teams with business left to deal with are clubs with RFAs without contracts. In the past, we've seen RFAs sign contracts just before training camp, during training camp and even on the eve of opening night. In other cases, like the infamous William Nylander and Toronto Maple Leafs holdout, we've seen players wait until the season has begun to sign a contract.
No team wants this to happen, and players especially don't want it to happen, but at the end of the day, the NHL is a business, and the players and organization will do what they believe is best.
There are a plethora of RFAs at the moment without a contract, and recently, news on many of these players' extensions is radio silent.
Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Luke Hughes feels like the least likely of any of the remaining RFAs to get traded, yet no deal between the club and player has formulated. Jack Hughes signed his eight-year, $8 million contract well before his entry-level contract ended, and although the situation is different for his brother, it's quite surprising that he signed.
In his first 155 games, the 21-year-old has scored 17 goals and 93 points, while making improvements defensively and averaging over 21 minutes of ice time. Hughes, alongside Simon Nemec, project to be the catalysts of the Devils' blueline for the foreseeable future. According to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, Hughes isn't interested in a bridge deal, and he has discussed a long-term deal with the Devils, a contract the Devils are reportedly interested in. As of now, the only factor separating the two teams is the dollar amount.
Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks
It's quite odd that the Ducks are willing to part ways with Mason McTavish, who is just 22 years old with 229 games of NHL experience under his belt. The former third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft scored a career-high 22 goals and 52 points in 79 games this season, continuing to round out his game on the defensive side of the puck.
McTavish slots in perfectly in their top six, complementing Leo Carlsson, the Ducks' other young center. Cutter Gauthier looks to have transitioned into a winger in the NHL, and their top prospect, Beckett Sennecke, is also a winger. Outside of Roger McQueen, viewed as a project, there are no other young Ducks center's who play at the level McTavish does.
Either way, the Ducks' 6-foot-1, 219-pound center has garnered interest from a multitude of teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, among many others.
Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild
Like McTavish, Marco Rossi's name repeatedly percolating in trade rumors is shocking. The 23-year-old scored 24 goals and 60 points this season, showcasing strong chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov and Matty Boldy when paired. Although he's a bit undersized, Rossi is a smart two-way player who could be sheltered against physical matchups with Joel Eriksson-Ek playing up the middle for the Wild as well.
In an article by Laola,Rossi said he has already added 14 pounds to his frame. If the Wild aren't interested in keeping a young center with a strong work ethic, several teams are willing to take on that 'burden'.
Outside of these three big names, Luke Evangelista, Ryker Evans and Connor Zary remain without contracts, all of whom have been steady contributors to their teams.
Evangelista looks to be a solid middle-six forward with a career-high of 16 goals and 39 points. Evans took a noticeable jump in his first full season with the Seattle Kraken, but after signing Ryan Lindgren to a four-year contract, his role in the top four looks non-existent. Zary is an immensely skilled winger whose season was shortened by a pair of major injuries. The 23-year-old possesses silky hands and could become a 20-goal and 50-60-point scorer in the NHL if he can stay healthy.
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Sabres Prospect Profile – Ashton Schultz
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the best deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games.
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#36 - Ashton Schultz - Center (Chicago - USHL)
The Sabres continued their practice of selecting players with longer development windows, since they do not have to sign them within two years, as they do under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement with players selected out of the CHL. In the sixth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Buffalo selected center Auston Schultz.
The Victoria, MN native is a product of the vaunted Minnesota high school system and played 11 games in the USHL in 2023-24 before playing a full season for the Chicago Steel, where he scored 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games. The 18-year-old is slated to play at the University of North Dakota this fall. The 5’11”, 181 lb. center is described by Elite Prospects as “an intelligent two-way center with impressive details. Skill comes and goes, but he could fill a bottom-six role with added intensity and playmaking.”
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo