Monthly Archives: August 2025

Hockey News

Sens Rewind: Ottawa Senators Bountiful 2020 NHL Draft – Projection Versus Reality

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Predicting what NHL teams might do at the NHL Draft every year is a tricky bit of business, and you can go at it from one of two angles. You can try and rank things based on where you believe players will be selected in the draft.  Or you can also rank things based on the level of impact you believe the player will one day have in the NHL. 

There's definitely some degree of overlap in the two projection styles, but it's unbelievably difficult to know for sure if a player who thrives at the pace and competition of the amateur level will be able to do the same against the bigger, stronger, faster pace of the NHL.

As we look back on The Hockey News' 2020 NHL Draft Preview Issue, published right before the greatest draft in Sens history, it sheds some light on just how hard these predictions are.

For example, everybody's number one that year was Alexis Lafreniere, but five years later, no one would rank him in that spot again in a re-draft. THN's 100 projections that year included six future Senators and one that didn't make the top 100 but was still drafted early in the second round.

  • Tim Stutzle prediction: 3rd overall (picked 3rd overall) Correct
  • Jake Sanderson prediction: 11th overall (picked 5th overall) 6 picks earlier
  • Tyler Kleven prediction: 33rd overall (picked 44th overall) 11 picks earlier
  • Ridly Greig prediction: 45th overall (picked 28th overall) 17 picks earlier
  • Egor Sokolov prediction: 71st overall (picked 61st overall) 10 picks earlier
  • Roby Jarventie prediction: Not in top 100 (picked 33rd overall)
  • Donovan Sebrango prediction: 87th overall (picked 63rd overall - DET) 24 picks later

The die isn't fully cast on the 2020 Draft class, but it's getting there, and it's always interesting to look back at how people felt about certain players. Some players proved everyone right, while others proved everyone wrong.

The Hockey News Archive
May 11, 2020/vol. 73, issue 06

Prospect Rankings

Games were cancelled, but the show must go on. So we look ahead to a draft featuring elite-level talent and depth. Oh, and watch out for the Germans!

WHILE THE SEASON didn't end the way anyone predicted, scouts and GMs will still have to select their future – and by all accounts, it’s a great draft class.

Alexis Lafreniere went post-to-post as the No. 1-rated prospect, and the Rimouski Oceanic phenom only strengthened his grip on the top spot as the campaign went on. Quinton Byfield is a good bet to go No. 2 thanks to his incredible upside, but what happens next will be fascinating.

Tim Stutzle could become the highest-drafted German since Leon Draisaitl went third in 2014, but don’t count out Lucas Raymond or even Jamie Drysdale. No matter what happens, it’s going to be a celebratory draft for German hockey. Stutzle, J.J. Peterka and Lukas Reichel make up the nation’s best class ever.

In the following pages, you will find our ranking of the top 100 players in the 2020 draft class. The top 62 prospects get full reports, written by senior writers Ryan Kennedy and Ken Campbell, featuring quotes from NHL scouts, while we provide snapshot descriptions of the remaining hopefuls. From Alexis Lafreniere to Alex Laferriere, we’ve got you covered.

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This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 

More Sens Headlines:

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Should Batherson Have Been Considered For Team Canada's Orientation Camp?
Five Ottawa Senators Who Wouldn't Look Out Of Place On The Ring of Honour
Mark Stone Jokes That It Wasn't Always Easy Playing On Brady Tkachuk's Line
2018 World Junior Trial Ends: Former Senator Alex Formenton Found Not Guilty
Croatia's NHL Trailblazer: Sens Prospect Bruno Idžan Takes NHL Road Less Travelled

Hockey News, The Hockey News

NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No.14, Pittsburgh Penguins

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We’re in the thick of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series – our rankings of the off-seasons of each NHL team, moving in reverse from the 32nd-place Buffalo Sabres to the No. 1 spot. And today’s team is No. 14 in the series – the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Looking at every team’s lineup additions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable, we’ve come up with a consensus on where teams are in the moves they’ve made this summer. Some teams have clearly improved, some teams have made a slight improvement or have been radio silent when it comes to trades and signings. And some teams have regressed. 

The Penguins are a good example of a team that’s made some extensive changes – particularly, regarding their defense and goaltending – and we’ve judged Pittsburgh to be slightly better than they were at the end of another disappointing season. As we’ll explore below, they’re a team that’s gotten slightly better, but that doesn’t mean you should start planning to see the Pens in the playoffs next year. They changed things up with trades and signings, but we’re not sure they’re even going to be in the mix for post-season hockey.

Additions

Arturs Silvovs (G), Anthony Mantha, LW; Justin Brazeau, RW; Matt Dumba, D; Connor Clifton, D; Parker Wotherspoon, D; Alexander Alexeyev, D

The Breakdown: When you’re fortunate enough to employ superstar Sidney Crosby, star forward Evgeni Malkin, and defensemen Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, you have fewer needs than many teams. Thus, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas went out and made seven additions to bolster his team, but we don’t expect all six of the above players to be needle-movers for Pittsburgh. 

The one big question mark that could propel the Pens into the playoffs is new goalie and former Vancouver Canuck Silovs. The Penguins desperately need better goaltending than they had last year, and if Silovs can provide it, that will be a huge advantage for Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, Mantha is a reclamation project who has hit the 20-goal mark just once since 2018-19. Brazeau is known for his physical play, but he’s not going to body-check the Penguins into the victory column. Dumba was a salary dump by the Dallas Stars, and Clifton and Wotherspoon were acquired to fill out the last defense pairing. 

All of this is to say that, weighed against the players they parted ways with, the Bruins have indeed slightly improved. But there’s still a long road ahead for some of these players, and Pittsburgh’s defense corps in particular was the focus of Dubas & Co. as he worked his way through the off-season. In sum, we’d say this is a “nothing to write home about, but technically speaking, they did improve” team.

Bryan Rust. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

Departures

Alex Nedeljkovic (G), Matt Grzelcyk, (D), Conor Timmins, (D), P.O. Joseph (D), Matt Nieto (LW)

The Breakdown: In some ways, this category is a plus for the Penguins. They didn’t move heaven and earth to trade Karlsson – but that may still happen – and after getting rid of five fringe players, they didn’t take too big a hit. The most visible loss is Nedeljkovic, who had some stretches of good play last season, but he didn’t do it consistently.

So, the primary loss for Pittsburgh is Grzelcyk – a decent-enough blueliner who somehow still is without a contract as of early August – and after that, you’re talking about a regular healthy scratch in Timmins, and two players (Joseph and Nieto) who combined to produce six points last year. Six. These players may be strong positive influences in the dressing room, but if we’re talking purely about how they slot in on paper, you can see why the Penguins weren’t notably better, but they still had a better off-season than half of the league.

Indeed, the focus of the Pens should be about the future, and sometimes, doing that means you have to strip things down. Dubas hasn’t bought into that concept at this point, but if the Penguins stall and start to spiral, there will be a strong push to trade veterans Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. And it’s getting close to high time that Dubas makes more substantial moves than he’s done this off-season.

The Bottom Line

The Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past three seasons, and they haven’t won a playoff round in seven years. And that’s with some of the top talent in the world on their team. That’s a stunning reality that should sober up Pens management and get them advocating a push to be out of the Mushy Middle of the league – not good enough for playoff action, and not bad enough to land a top prospect at the beginning of the draft.

So, when we have them relatively in the middle of the pack this summer in these ratings, don’t take it to mean we see the Penguins storming out and securing a playoff berth. They should be viewed with skepticism until they prove themselves worthy of fan and management confidence. And if things go sideways and they’re near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference standings, you better believe there will be a PR nightmare until Dubas shows he’s going ahead fully focused on the future and starts making blockbuster moves.

Otherwise, it all feels like the Penguins are running to stand still. They’ve got too many third-and-fourth-line talent and too many question marks on defense and in net. They were active this summer, but the bottom line is that we don’t see their additions/departures column as having moved them much at all in our summer splash rankings. Yes, they didn’t regress, but a slight progress isn’t much to write home about. And time will tell whether these moves were precursors to blockbuster deals during the year.

Summer Splash Rankings

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Colorado Avalanche

16. Ottawa Senators

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Gaming, Hockey News

Florida Panthers Forward Matthew Tkachuk Named NHL 26 Cover Athlete

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Matthew Tkachuk of the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers has been announced as the cover athlete for the standard edition of NHL 26. 

The NHL 26 revel trailer will go live on EA SPORTS NHL's YouTube channel at 12pm EST Aug. 6.

This marks a return to a one-man cover star after the Hughes brothers graced the cover of NHL 25. 

Tkachuk finished tied for the team lead in scoring in both the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has 88 goals and 254 points in 211 regular season games and 69 points in 67 playoff games in three seasons with the Panthers. 

Florida have made the Stanley Cup Finals all three years Tkachuk has been on the team. 

He is the first Florida Panther to be on the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck in NHL 97. Olli Jokinen appeared on several editions of NHL 2005 is Europe.  

Given Tkachuk's recent success, his personality, and popularity in the sport this is a good choice for the cover. 

NHL 26 is expected to release in early September. 

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL 

Hockey News, The Hockey News

Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk Revealed As EA Sports NHL 26 Cover Athlete

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Florida Panthers superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk has been revealed as EA Sports’ NHL 26 cover athlete, becoming the first Panther to grace the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck on NHL 97.

Tkachuk is as popular a hockey player as you’ll find nowadays. The two-time Stanley Cup winner totals 258,000 Instagram followers and 71,900 followers on X, but that’s just the start of his popularity.

While dealing with an injury following the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, The Pat McAfee Show and the Up and Adams Show, highlighting his personality and natural charisma in front of the camera. 

EA Sports' selection of the 27-year-old to be the cover athlete of NHL 26 seems to be a no-brainer, as his play on the ice backs up his media attention. 

Tkachuk dealt with a major injury this season, forcing him to dress in just 52 games. He returned for the start of the post-season but was still nursing the injury. Despite the injury hampering his abilities, Tkachuk poured in eight goals and 23 points in 23 games. Unfortunately for the former sixth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, the injury issues will carry into the 2025-26 season, as he’s expected to miss several months while rehabbing from corrective surgery after suffering an adductor injury and a hernia.

Matthew Tkachuk (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Tkachuk joins a list consisting of the Hughes brothers, Cale Makar, Trevor Zegras, Sarah Nurse, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and former Panthers teammate Vladimir Tarasenko as recent players to appear on the cover.

A full preview for the game is set to come out on Wednesday, and the game itself is reportedly set for a Sept. 13 release.

 Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Hockey News, Sports Betting

From The Archive: Hockey Betting Is Growing Rapidly

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The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

Also, go to thn.com/free to subscribe.

Former Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateFormer Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateSportsbooks reveal head-to-head prop bet between former teammates in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Hockey Betting Is Growing Rapidly - Nov. 2 1990 - Vol. 44, Issue 07 - Stan Fischler

Though the NHL may officially object, hockey betting continues to grow. Evidence is abundant in the continent’s betting capital, Las Vegas, where casinos now regularly post NHL odds. And the second annual, 250-page book, Betting Hockey 90-91, has been published by the city’s foremost ice oddsmaker, Bobby Bryde. Bryde lists the Flames as 3-1 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, followed by Boston and Edmonton at 5-1. Quebec is the longshot at 100-1. Kirk Brooks, director of Vegas’ Imperial Palace sports book, also lists the Flames at 3-1 and Edmonton at 5-1. But Brooks places Boston and Buffalo in a tie for the next spot at 7-1 and Quebec at 200-1…Flyers’ leader Rick Tocchet is one of many NHLers who are concerned about a walkout next season. “We don’t want a strike,” says Tocchet. “Nobody wants a strike but we have to use the word ‘prepare.’ 

Right now we have things we’re looking at but this much is certain; it’s going to be an interesting summer for (NHLPA director) Bob Goodenow.”…The Flyers are understandably worried about Ron Hextall suffering yet another groin injury and the effect it may have on his future. “I felt good coming into camp this year,” the goalie insists. “I worked out all summer with Pat Croce (Flyers’ physical therapist) and didn’t even consider injuries-.”…Washington’s substantial early game attendance at home indicates that the blemish of last spring’s ‘sexpose’ has been effectively neutralized. Insiders say a summer-long advertising campaign by marketing head Lew Strudler saved the club from an image disaster.

RISKY BUSINESS

The latest issue of Financial World magazine describes the NHL’s 1990s expansion plans as “a risky strategy that could backfire on president John Ziegler.” FW asserts that what makes “the NHL’s scheme truly agamble”, is the $50 million franchise price. “How do you justify investing $50 million, when each club’s media revenues are so small,” asks Mike Megna of Minneapolis-based American Appraisals. “It’s unrealistic. Hockey isn’t like other sports that have a network TV contract. It is primarily a local market revenue generator. 

Ranger fans will be shocked on Nov. 7 when arch-foe Denis Potvin strides to center ice before the Sabres game for a Rangers’ presentation. The hook is that Potvin has become frontman for the Alka-Seltzer plus-minus award (formerly the Emery Edge) and gives the prizes in arenas across the league. Crowd control that night might be a problem, but Madison Square Garden’ has embarked on a program to curb the negative behavior of rowdy fans. During the summer, MSG enforced its policy by cancelling the subscriptions of 25 Ranger season ticket-holders. “We’re drawing the line in the use of language that is no longer acceptable,” says MSG’s communications director Bobby Goldwater. But based on early games this season, there has been no significant change for the better.

NHL Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights Lead the PackNHL Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights Lead the PackSportsbooks release betting odds for NHL divisional races for 2025-26 season. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The feeling among many Penguins is that Mario Lemieux will not be available until the New Year, at the earliest. The sombre air in the Penguins’ organization is echoed by teammates who say, all we can do now is hope and pray. Speculation is Pittsburgh management is looking to the future without Mario in its plans…One of the better comeback stories belongs to Brennan Maley, who signed a one-year contract with Tom McVie’s AHL club (Utica) after being out of competitive hockey for four years. 

Kid brother of New Jersey’s David Maley, Brennan spent four years at Omaha’s Creighton University where he pitched for the varsity baseball team and tied a record for most appearances with 24. “I feel like I have a new lease on life,” says Brennan. “I know I’m a longshot but I always wondered if I could play hockey at this level…Scouting for the Edmonton Oilers, Hall of Fame defenseman Harry Howell says the difference between contemporary back-liners and his ilk is that “today’s defensemen feel they have to be offensive. In my day it was defense first. Goals were a bonus. But that all changed with the advent of Bobby Orr of the Bruins.” So, who are 1990-91’s best defensive defensemen in Howell’s mind? “Kevin Lowe, Rod Langway, Mike Ramsey, Brad Marsh and Scott Stevens. Ramsey is the best of them all. Marsh isn’t pretty but he’s very effective and knows how to get in the way.”

ON THE MOVE?

North Stars’ defenseman Peter Taglianetti is one Minnesotan who’s not anxious to move to San Jose next season. “I thought I was secure in Winnipeg,” says Taglianetti. “But I moved to Bloomington and got settled. Maybe the weather is nicer in California but I wonder about the hockey atmosphere. Most of the players on the North Stars feel the club was mismanaged before and they’re wondering if it’s going to happen again.” 

Teammate Dave Gagner says he’s not concerned about moving to California. “What’s more on our mind is the low turnout of fans in Minnesota,” says Gagner. “It’s very disappointing but I don’t know one guy on the team who doesn’t like being in the Twin Cities. When I played for the Rangers, everyone left New York for the summer. In Minnesota, the players all stay.”

…Mats Sundin has been winning raves since becoming a Nordique, but the best statement comes from Whalers’ defenseman Ulf Samuelsson who says, “He reminds me a lot of Lemieux.”

Isaac Howard Offers Serious Value in NHL Rookie Props on Loaded Oilers LineIsaac Howard Offers Serious Value in NHL Rookie Props on Loaded Oilers LineRookie winger Isaac Howard could be the value play bettors are searching for if he sticks on Edmonton’s top line with Connor McDavid.
Hockey News, International

Nine-Year NHL Veteran Signs Two-Year Deal In Switzerland

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American forward Jimmy Vesey, 32, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Monday.

It’s an interesting move for Vesey, who has played exclusively in the NHL over the past nine seasons. This is his first contract to play in Europe.

“I’m thrilled to be coming to Geneva and starting a new chapter in my career,” said Vesey. “I’ve heard nothing but praise, not only about Switzerland, but also about the city and the organization. It’s great to be part of such a strong team, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve this season and beyond. Our goal is to get back to the top of the league, and I can’t wait to get started.”

“We are very pleased with to have Jimmy on board,” said club sports manager Marc Gautschi. “Thanks to his excellent hockey IQ and his very reliable two-way game, he can be used in all situations and at key moments. In addition, with his immense experience, he will be an important leader in the locker room. We expect him to regain his offensive performance in our league with his passing skills, and his direct and powerful game.”

Born in Boston, Vesey was drafted out of the Eastern Junior Hockey League in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. However, he never signed with Nashville, instead spending the next four years at Harvard University and then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 2016.

American Ex-NHLer Wins Swiss National League MVPAmerican Ex-NHLer Wins Swiss National League MVPThe Swiss Ice Hockey Federation held its annual awards ceremony for the 2024-25 hockey season on Thursday night in Solothurn.

Since 2016, Vesey has played 626 regular-season games in the NHL with the Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, recording 194 points and 144 penalty minutes.

It was with the Rangers that he played the majority of his NHL games in two separate tours of duty and notched his five most productive seasons, peaking at 35 points in 2018-19. It’s also with the Rangers that he played all 31 of his playoff games, recording nine points.

In 2024-25, he was limited to 43 games split between the Rangers and Avalanche, netting five goals and two assists.

Markus Granlund signs with Swiss club Genève-ServetteMarkus Granlund signs with Swiss club Genève-ServetteFinnish forward Markus Granlund has signed a contract to play with Swiss club Genève-Servette, the reigning club champion of Europe.

Internationally, Vesey won a gold medal for the USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia and also won a bronze at the 2015 senior men’s World Championship in Czechia.

Vesey joins a Genève-Servette team that won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 and won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

In addition to Vesey, Genève-Servette has under contract for 2025-26 former NHLers Jesse Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Josh Jooris, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Taylor Beck and Tim Berni, whose NHL rights are still retained by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Photo © Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in SwitzerlandCONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Tuesday.