Frank Nazar has arrived for the Chicago Blackhawks and will be in the second line center role for the foreseeable future. He broke into the NHL last season after dominating the AHL and isn't going to look back. The Blackhawks' future down the middle looks good with Connor Bedard, Nazar, and Anton Frondell, but either Bedard or Frondell are going to be the one moving over to the wing in the top-6.
Only six players drafted in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft haven't played a game in the NHL and a scattered number of players past the first round have. Amongst the top performers from the draft already is Nazar, despite being the Blackhawks' second first-round pick that year behind Kevin Korchinski.
Nazar is the eighth-highest point producer from the 2022 draft, even though the point totals aren't all that high yet. He has 27 points in the NHL, and that's pretty good for one partial season, whereas others have two to three full seasons under their belts already.
Ahead of Nazar is Juraj Slafkovsky (111), Logan Cooley (109), Lane Hutson (68), Shane Wright (51), Pavel Mintyukov (47), Cutter Gauthier (45), and Marco Kasper (37) with Matthew Poitras (26) and Jiri Kulich (24) right behind Nazar.
Some of these players have a head start on Nazar and will likely have better linemates to play with next season, but things could change pretty quickly for the Blackhawks who will continue to look to add big names in the coming years. It's almost impossible to say who will have the longest career or who will even have the most success from a close 2022 draft, but that's the fun of watching.
Nazar is just kicking off his career and can hang with almost anyone from the draft. 2025-26 will be a telling season with a number of these players already having roles in the NHL.
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Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk had a treat for Senators fans on Wednesday afternoon. He posted on social media the new cover of EA Sports’ NHL 26 Deluxe Edition, which features the NHL-playing members of the Tkachuk family.
The cover shows Brady and his father, Keith Tkachuk, flanking his brother, Matthew, who has won the last two Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers.
A lifetime of hockey together, now a cover we’ll never forget.
— brady tkachuk (@BradyTkachuk71) August 6, 2025
Pre-order #NHL26 to get 7-day early access and check my game: https://t.co/GnVcHVFYOopic.twitter.com/aACQXZ5t86
Brady’s caption on Twitter read: “A lifetime of hockey together, now a cover we'll never forget. Pre-order 26 to get 7-day early access and check my game.”
The link directs users to EA Sports’ website, where they can watch the official 2-minute reveal trailer, which prominently features the Tkachuks in real and virtual form.
The Tkachuks' popularity went to another level in the past few months with both Brady and Matthew playing so well at the 4 Nations Face-off in February, along with Matthew's second Cup win in as many years.
“Growing up, Matthew and I dreamed of playing just like our dad,” Brady said in an EA Sports press release on Wednesday. “Even now, his influence on how we play and prepare remains huge. It’s an honour to be featured on the cover, and having him standing alongside us makes the whole thing even better.”
Matthew agreed.
“My dad, Brady and I are all unique and play the way we want to. Sharing the cover of NHL 26 is an extension of that,” Matthew said. “I’ve always tried to bring my own style to the ice, and seeing that captured in NHL 26 makes it feel like it is really me out there.”
“I always told the boys to play hard, be smart, and never lose their personality out there,” Ketih said. “What you see now is two players with totally unique styles, and I’m proud to be sharing the cover with them.”
From the EA Sports Press Release:
Electronic Arts Inc. today unveils EA SPORTS™ NHL® 26, launching September 12, 2025, on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S with a new level of on-ice authenticity and superstar quality.
Back-to-back Stanley Cup champion, Matthew Tkachuk, graces the cover of the deluxe edition alongside his brother, Brady, and their father, Keith, in a dream lineup uniting hockey’s present and past. With real-world NHL EDGE positional data (NHL Puck and Player Tracking) powering gameplay, in partnership with the NHL, and a reimagined Be A Pro mode that immerses players in the stakes and emotions of playing at the highest level, NHL 26 delivers an immersive and intense experience for hockey fans around the world.
This year’s cover athletes challenge traditional notions of NHL superstardom. Matthew Tkachuk, known for his relentless physicality and skill, has captivated fans with a signature style that breaks the conventional playbook. Bringing together two generations of Tkachuks, the cover highlights a family that’s carved its own path with individuality, edge, and an unyielding drive to win.
The Deluxe Edition launches on September 5, with the worldwide release following on September 12.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
EA SPORTS NHL 26 will officially release worldwide on Sept. 12, 2025.
This is nearly one month earlier than NHL 25 which released on Oct. 4 and is the first NHL title to receive a September release date since NHL 20. Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will be able to play one week early on Sept. 5.
The reveal trailer is available on EA SPORTS' YouTube, and more information on how to pre-order on the EA website.
Per EA, those who pre-order the deluxe edition receive:
Those who pre-order the standard edition receive:
EA Play members receive 10 hours of early access beginning Sept. 5.
We will breakdown what is new in the trailer later today.
For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.
Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL
By Jared Clinton, features writer
New seasons provide new opportunities, which create avenues for players to break out. The 2025-26 season will be no different, and in this article, The Hockey News take a look at the strongest candidates to make a name for themselves or ascend into stardom on the Central Division teams.
The state of the Blackhawks roster is such that Spencer Knight is unlikely to find himself in Vezina Trophy talks. In fact, his stats might even appear subpar. But his time as a Florida Panther provided insight into the stopper Knight can become. He offered glimpses into his upside, too, upon landing in the Windy City, including a spectacular 41-save performance in his Hawks debut. With the starting reins for the first time in his career, if the 24-year-old gives Chicago the chance to win each might, he’ll have worked wonders.
Jack Drury wasn’t the centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen swap with the Carolina Hurricanes - that was Martin Necas - but it’s no surprise Colorado wanted the 25-year-old in the deal. Though his offensive numbers leave something to be desired, with Drury maxing out at eight goals and 27 points in 2023-24, he has an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time on either side of the puck. It’s only a matter of time before goals begin falling for him, particularly with an Avs team that’s more dynamic.
Miro Heiskanen’s injury provided a chance, and Lian Bichsel ran with it. The 21-year-old was a staple of the Stars’ blueline down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the 6-foot-7, 230-pounder made his case to start next season in Dallas. His four goals and nine points per game set offensive expectations a bit high, as he profiles as a shutdown rearguard. The Stars need to clear up cap space, and they can be confident doing so on the back end, given Bichsel is primed to assume middle-pairing minutes next season.
Don’t let the meager two-goal, five-point NHL output fool you. Liam Ohgren has the offensive chops. Take his 19-goal, 37-point performance in the AHL as evidence. That performance gave Ohgren, 21, the third-best points per game among rookies to play at least half the season. Chances are Ohgren will begin the year assuming bottom-six duty with a dash of PP time, but his gifts will see him pushing for a large role by season’s end. He won’t be a top producer yet, but he’s a safe bet to be a great depth contributor.
One way or another, Zachary L’Heureux will make his presence felt in Nashville next season. The 22-year-old scored, crashed and banged his way onto the Predators’ 2024-25 roster on the heels of a 19-goal, 48-point AHL campaign the year prior. He brought the same high-energy style to the big club, leading all Preds forwards with 198 hits. He plays on a razor’s edge, but he’s more than a heat-seeking forechecking missile: he chipped in 15 points and finished eighth in per-60 scoring at five-a-side for Nashville.
If you were to plot Jake Neighbours’ progression through the first three seasons of his career, it would follow a steady upward arc. And there’s no reason to believe the 23-year-old is going to be resting on his laurels. Neighbours posted a new career-best last season with 46 points and further established himself as a central figure in the new-look Blues offense. Only three St. Louis forwards saw the ice more in the post-season, which indicated Neighbours is a big part of coach Jim Montgomery’s plans moving forward.
When Utah demoted Josh Doan to the AHL after he’d started the season in the NHL, Doan’s confidence could’ve been shattered. But the 23-year-old put his head down and turned in a near-point-per-game performance with the Tucson Roadrunners, forcing Utah’s hand and proving himself once called back to the big club. His six goals and 17 points in the final 42 games are a promising sign, too. Doan won’t be pencilled into the top six, but he can flirt with the 40-point plateau from the third line next season.
With Adam Lowry sidelined, the Jets need to add a middler-six center, and that will have the knock-on effect of requiring cost-effective options to fill out the roster. That should allow Nikita Chibirkov to slot into a bottom-six role. The 22-year-old looked like he belonged in his five prior NHL games, and the ability to play a scrappier game will earn him chances ahead of fellow rookie Brad Lambert. There’s serious upside as well, as Chibirkov has netted 24 goals and 65 points in 100 AHL games over the past two seasons.
This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.
You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.
The Vancouver Canucks have signed former New York Rangers forward Vitali Kravtsov to a one-year, two-way contract.
In 2018, the Rangers drafted Kravtsov with the ninth overall pick in the first round.
Despite investing high draft capital to select Kravtsov, he failed to live up to expectations as he played just 64 games in three seasons for the Rangers, recording six goals, six assists, and 12 points.
The Rangers traded Kravtsov to the Canucks in 2023, where he played 16 games before leaving the NHL to join the KHL.
After two seasons in the KHL, the 25-year-old forward is making a return to North America with the hopes of reviving his NHL career.
“Vitali had a strong season in the KHL and was an impact player for his team,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “In his two seasons in Russia, he has worked hard on his game, and we look forward to seeing where Vitali is at when he comes to training camp in Penticton.”
Adam Edström Has A Chance To Build On Success After Signing Contract ExtensionAdam Edström holds immense value for the New York Rangers.
We will have to see if Kravtsov could still unleash his full potential that the Rangers once believed in.
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.
Big winger Patrik Laine is not the player that some imagined when he was selected second overall at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo nine years ago, but the big Finn can do one thing that the Sabres may be looking for at some point next season, and that is goal scoring. The 27-year-old has scored 20 or more goals seven times, but the reason he is currently on his third club is that he is an offense-first forward who has never shown any sort of proficiency in playing defense.
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Montreal received a second-round pick along with Laine last August from Columbus to take the winger’s full $8.7 million cap hit. Last season, after a preseason injury kept him out until December, he still managed 20 goals in 52 games. He also had the third-worst plus/minus on the club (-14) and scored 75% of his goals on the power play.
What Would It Cost?
There has been some chatter that the Canadiens are looking to clear out Laine’s cap hit in the final year of his deal to make room if they can acquire a second-line center to play behind Nick Suzuki, but if they cannot find that elusive pivot, the only way moving his deal out makes sense would be closer to the trade deadline if the Habs are not in the playoff race. The expectation is that Montreal will continue their upward trajectory after making the post-season and losing to Washington in the first round, but if they are not if the mix, the likely cost to a team looking for goals like Buffalo is a second-round pick or a prospect capable of playing in the NHL like Isak Rosen.
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Earlier this summer, The Fourth Period reported that the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the teams linked to Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues. Given the Blackhawks' need for more skilled forwards, it is understandable that the Blackhawks have been connected to a two-time Stanley Cup winner like Rodrigues.
Yet, during the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman made it clear that he believes that Rodrigues will end up staying put with the Panthers, rather than being traded to free up cap space.
"I think that a number of fans have wondered if Florida will have to trade someone like Evan Rodrigues off their roster to make things work. I don't believe that's going to be happening," Friedman said. "First of all, they consider Rodrigues an important player, but secondly, I think we're going to find out at some point here that (Matthew) Tkachuk will miss the start of the season."
Rodrigues certainly would have had the potential to be a nice addition to the Blackhawks' roster, as he is an impactful and versatile forward with plenty of playoff experience. In 82 games this past season with the Panthers, he recorded 15 goals and 32 points in 82 games. He then followed that up with two goals, 13 assists, 15 points, and a plus-3 rating in 21 playoff games during the Panthers' Stanley Cup championship run this spring.
Overall, the idea of a Rodrigues addition for the Blackhawks would have been nice, but it appears that Chicago will need to explore other options if they hope to add to their forward group before the season is here.
NHL News: Former Blackhawks Goalie RetiresA former Chicago Blackhawks goalie is hanging up the skates, as Anton Khudobin has retired from professional hockey.
Photo Credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images