The Pittsburgh Penguins have been busy this offseason as they continue their rebuild. They haven’t officially come out and used the word “rebuild” to describe where they are as an organization, but you don’t have to squint too hard to see it. 

They made cheap, low-risk moves to start free agency in early July, just like last year. They brought in defensemen Parker Wotherspoon, Alexander Alexeyev, Phil Kemp, and Caleb Jones, plus forwards Anthony Mantha, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, and Justin Brazeau. The Penguins also opted to re-sign forwards Philip Tomasino and Connor Dewar to one-year contracts after neither received qualifying offers before free agency started. 

Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas has been relatively active on the trade market as well, bringing in defensemen Matt Dumba and Connor Clifton. They are two players who badly needed a change of scenery since they didn’t have good seasons last year. If they can play a bit better, the Penguins will try to flip them at the trade deadline, given they only have one year left on their deals. 

Dubas also acquired goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks after his dominant Calder Cup Playoff run with the Abbotsford Canucks. Silovs helped the baby Canucks win the Calder Cup, finishing the AHL playoffs with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. His efforts led to him being named the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Right now, he’s the favorite to be Tristan Jarry’s backup heading into the season. 

Despite numerous changes, fans are still waiting for a major blockbuster or two. Forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, and defenseman Erik Karlsson have been heavily mentioned in trade talks, but to this point, none of them have been traded. Some fans see that as a bad thing since the calendar is about to flip to August, but it’s not. There is still about a month and a half until the Penguins report to training camp, and as we have seen from Dubas over the last two offseasons, he’s not afraid of making big splashes in August.

Usually, August is the month when everyone in the hockey world goes on vacation to the beach or the cottage, but not Dubas. Last year, he surprised the entire hockey world when he acquired top prospect Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets for Brayden Yager on August 22. The Penguins weren’t one of the reported teams in on him, but they put together the best offer and got the player they wanted. On August 6, 2023, Dubas traded for Erik Karlsson in one of the biggest trades of the summer. 

He’s always looking to make deals, no matter what time of year it is. He holds all of the cards right now with Rust, Rakell, and Karlsson, and while some fans want Dubas to get these deals over with, it’s not that simple. Considering where the Penguins are in their rebuild, they have to get the proper return for these players. They remain good and impactful players, despite all three being over 30. This isn’t a situation where you take what you can get and sell for pennies on the dollar. That wouldn’t help the Penguins in terms of where they want to go as an organization. 

There has also been some talk that by not trading these players, the Penguins would be “blocking their NHL-ready prospects” for this season. That is simply not true. McGroarty and Ville Koivunen are NHL-ready and will likely be in the lineup on October 7 against the New York Rangers, assuming they perform well during training camp and the preseason. They looked the part in their trial run at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Penguins also won’t block forward Filip Hallander from securing a spot since they just signed him to a two-year contract on April 29. They love what he did in the SHL these last two seasons. 

Penguins’ First-Round Pick May Be Diamond In The RoughAt this year’s NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins took the stage three different times in the first round.

As for Brunicke, if he does enough to earn a nine-game trial to start the 2025-26 season, the Penguins probably won’t hesitate to see what he can do at the NHL level. After those nine games, they’d have to decide whether to keep him up for the entire season or send him back to his junior team. 

Everyone is waiting for a big trade because there haven’t been too many of them this summer yet. Many insiders predicted that a lot of action would happen at the draft and in the summer, but they didn’t anticipate that so many teams would retain players who were once on the market. 

The Penguins are playing their cards close to the vest, but it still seems likely that at least one of Karlsson, Rakell, or Rust will get dealt before the season starts. It just might take longer and require more patience than some fans like. 

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Featured Image Credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News

With the Chicago Blackhawks being at the bottom portion of the NHL standings this past season, they traded veteran forward Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes back in January. Seeing the Blackhawks trade Hall was not surprising in the slightest, as he was a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) on a rebuilding Chicago squad. 

The move to the Hurricanes benefited Hall, as he quickly fit into their system and got the opportunity to play for a contender again. He proved to be a solid addition to the Hurricanes' roster, as he had nine goals, nine assists, and 18 points in 31 games with the Metropolitan Division club following the move. This included recording 16 points in his final 19 regular-season games with the Hurricanes.

Hall will be remaining with the Hurricanes for a good amount of time, too, as he signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract extension with them back in April. Thus, he will now get the opportunity to continue to play on a top team like the Hurricanes for multiple years, which is good news when noting that he is still looking to win his first Stanley Cup.

Overall, while Hall served as a nice veteran mentor for the Blackhawks during their rebuild, getting traded to the Hurricanes was ultimately the best move for him at this stage of his career. It will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make for the Hurricanes from here. 

Promising Blackhawks Prospect Can't Be Slept OnThe Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of exciting young players on their roster who could become nice pieces for them later down the road. Forward Colton Dach is certainly one of them, as the 22-year-old forward has shown promise early on his professional career.

Photo Credit: © Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

With the 21st overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected forward Sam Poulin. Since then, the 6-foot-2 winger has had trouble cementing himself as a full-time NHL player. Yet, while this is the case, the Blainville, Quebec native still has time to change that. 

When looking at Poulin's 2024-25 season, he should not be given up on just yet. In 57 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2024-25, he recorded new AHL career highs with 19 goals, 24 assists, and 43 points. Seeing Poulin improve his offensive totals in the AHL this past season is encouraging, and it will now be intriguing to see if he can continue to trend in the right direction in 2025-26 because of it. 

Poulin also suited up in a career-high seven games this past season with the Penguins, where he had one assist, 10 hits, and a plus-1 rating. In 13 games over three seasons with Pittsburgh, he has posted two assists and 18 hits. While he has yet to find his scoring touch at the NHL level, it is fair to wonder if this could change next season if he gets more chances on Pittsburgh's roster. 

Overall, Poulin showed promise this past season in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Depending on what moves the Penguins make before the start of the season, the possibility of him landing a spot on their fourth line should not be ruled out. No matter what happens on that front, Poulin is certainly a player to watch in 2025-26.

Former Penguins Defenseman Still A Free AgentWhile most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed, there are still some interesting players who are available for the taking. One of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta, as the 35-year-old blueliner is still looking for his new home.

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The San Jose Sharks defense is in a very unique situation entering the 2025-26 season.

Only a single defenseman, not including prospects who could earn a spot in training camp, is under contract past the 2025-26 season. That player is free agent addition Dmitry Orlov who is signed through the 2026-27 season. He also has a full no-move clause in the first season of his contract, making him almost guaranteed to return after this upcoming season.

After Orlov though, the entirety of the blue line is up in the air following this coming season. In a way, the Sharks will be essentially holding season long tryouts. Whoever performs up to their standards and will be able to help the team over the long-run can be brought back, while the others will be allowed to walk next summer. With defenders like Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni close to fighting for a spot in the NHL as well, this approach allows general manager Mike Grier to be selective moving forward. Now, let’s see which defensemen are most likely to be Sharks beyond this coming season.

Shakir Mukhamadullin is the most obvious extension option, as at 23 years of age, he has just started showing what he can bring to the table at the NHL level. As a former first-round draft pick, his ceiling is seen as very high, and so far, he’s performed as expected. Out of everyone currently listed on the blue line, he’s essentially a lock to return for the 2026-27 season unless something were to go catastrophically wrong with the Russian defenseman this season.

Jack Thompson, on the other hand, is an interesting one. Like Mukhamadullin, he’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season. However, unlike Mukhamadullin, he doesn’t seem to be a lock to make the roster this fall. He’s no longer waiver-exempt, and with how coveted right-handed defensemen are around the league, there’s a very high chance he’ll be claimed if the Sharks attempt to send him to the San Jose Barracuda. If he’s still with the organization next summer, it’s safe to say he’ll be brought back. Ensuring he’ll still be with the Sharks come next summer will be the hard part for Grier, though.

Out of the unrestricted free agents, Timothy Liljegren seems the most likely to get a new contract in the Bay Area. While the Sharks didn’t give much up to get him, Grier saw something he liked from Liljegren last October, and he performed essentially as advertised. He’s a relatively young right-handed defenseman, and it appears we’ve yet to see his best in the NHL. As a result, he’ll likely earn an extension if he’s willing to stick around with a team that’s still a few years from contending.

The Sharks’ only right-handed defensive addition this summer, John Klingberg, is quite a bit older than the Sharks' main core; however, he could play his way into a new deal. At his introductory press conference, the Swedish defenseman gave the impression that he’ll play the best hockey we’ve seen from him in years. If that does end up being the case, then Grier would be wise to bring him back for at least a couple of more seasons until he can add some assets who can hold down the right side of defense for the long-term future.

The longest-tenured Sharks defenseman, Mario Ferraro, seems almost guaranteed to move on at some point over the next twelve months. He’s been in trade rumors for multiple years, and The Fourth Period is reporting that he’s open to a change of scenery. The main question regarding Ferraro would be whether he’s moved at the trade deadline, or if the Sharks opt to walk him to unrestricted free agency. The former seems like the most logical option for a team that is slowly starting to climb out of a rebuild, especially since Ferraro doesn’t have any trade protection in his current contract.

Nick Leddy, who the Sharks claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues this summer, has the advantage of being able to play both sides of defense well, even though he’s left-handed. That flexibility is valuable, but currently, his cap hit is likely even more valuable for the Sharks. He likely won’t be given a big role with the team in teal, and considering he will have a much smaller contract next season, given his recent play, it’s unlikely that he’ll spend more than one season in the Bay Area; however, unlike Ferraro, Leddy will probably finish the season with the Sharks.

Lastly, Vincent Desharnais is a solid depth option for the Sharks; however, it would be surprising if he makes the opening night roster, considering the amount of talent fighting for a spot. I personally left him out of my roster projection, and I think it’s unlikely he gets offered an extension by the Sharks at this point in time.

The Sharks have options, and they’ll have time to sort out all of these decisions. If a player has an incredible 2025-26 season, they can certainly change their future, but it will take quite a turn of events for that to happen. Either way, the defense will be a storyline to watch through training camp up until next summer.

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The Anaheim Ducks have missed the playoffs every year since 2017-18 and in doing so, have drafted in the top ten for seven consecutive seasons and procured one of the NHL’s deepest and most potent prospect pools.

Despite several young players having graduated and become full-time NHLers, such as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger, the Ducks still have an impressive pipeline of potential impact and depth prospects yet to make the jump.

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For this exercise, only players who haven’t lost rookie status are eligible for a ranking, and to be clear, these are my (Patrick Present) subjective rankings.

Honorable Mentions: Yegor Sidorov, Herman Traff, Tarin Smith, Lasse Boelius, Calle Clang

Top Ten:

10. Nathan Gaucher, 21, C, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

9. Ian Moore, 23, RHD, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

8. Sasha Pastujov, 22, W, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

7. Tomas Suchanek, 22, G, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

6. Eric Nilson, 18, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

5. Lucas Pettersson, 19, C, Brynas IF (SHL)

4. Stian Solberg, 19, LHD, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

3. Tristan Luneau, 21, RHD, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

The gap between Tristan Luneau, ranked at three, and Stian Solberg at four is minimal, as both have succeeded at the highest levels below the NHL and, at this point in their development, project as impact players for the Ducks in the future.

The aspects that separated Luneau and gave him the slight edge include his offensive ceiling and game-breaking two-way potential.

Since the time of his draft, when the Ducks selected him in the second round (53rd overall in 2022) out of the QMJHL, Luneau’s skating has improved dramatically. His four-way mobility remains a strength, but he has elongated and added considerable power to his straight-line stride.

Luneau is an alert and cerebral defender who rarely makes mistakes in coverage and displays near-flawless gap control and angling against the rush with the ability to kill plays early, often before the blueline is surrendered at all.

What stands out most in his game at this point, and the areas where he’ll have substantial impacts in the NHL, are puck retrievals and breakouts. He shows advanced decision-making after scanning for F1 pressure and, more often than not, makes the proper choice on whether to absorb or evade said pressure, effectively igniting clean exits and transition offense.

He’s shifty and active at the offensive blueline, always looking for opportunities to activate and create from below the tops of the circles.

“Well, he’s really grown. He didn’t play a lot of hockey last year, and we got to the point where we made the decision to leave him in San Diego,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said after the 2025 trade deadline. “We’re going to let him keep going. There are little details that he needs to keep working on in his game, and he’s doing a fabulous job offensively, which is something he did in junior, and he’s continuing to do it.

“There aren’t many kids since the early 80s that have been able to produce the numbers he has as a rookie. So, we’re excited for him, but we’re just going to slow-develop him for the rest of this year, anyway.”

Luneau’s already been through two major injuries to this point in his career. Following his first season in the QMJHL, when he was awarded rookie of the year honors in 2021, he had surgery to treat a nagging non-hockey injury, which led to a slow start to his draft year and caused his draft position to slip. He returned to the QMJHL the year after his draft and won the league’s defenseman of the year award in 2023.

He then had his 2023-24 campaign cut short before the 2024 World Junior Championship began due to an infection in his knee that ended his season in early December. Luneau bounced back to make the 2025 AHL All-Rookie team after a 2024-25 season that saw him produce 52 points (9-43=52) in 59 games.

Luneau can be expected to play NHL minutes in 2025-26, and how much will be determined in camp. He could afford to refine some of his puck management skills, as he is still prone to the odd giveaway, looking for an ambitious play.

Verbeek and the Ducks organization are high on Luneau. On the ice, he’s given them every reason to be, and off, he’s shown tremendous resilience to battle through unusual injuries with lengthy recoveries only to come back stronger.

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Ducks Sign Lukas Dostal to Five-Year Extension

Ducks Sign Clang, Myšák to One-Year Deals

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Last month, the New Jersey Devils signed forward Juho Lammikko to a one-year, $800,000 contract for the 2025-26 season. This was after Lammikko spent each of the last three seasons in Switzerland's National League with the ZSC Lions. 

Lammikko had a strong year with ZSC this past campaign, as he had 13 goals, 25 assists, 38 points, and a plus-23 rating in 48 games. Now, he will be looking to make an impact with the Devils after landing this new one-year deal. 

While Lammikko played each of the last three years overseas, he already comes with NHL experience. The 6-foot-2 forward has appeared in 159 career NHL games split between the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks over three seasons, where he has recorded 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points, and 188 hits. His last time in the NHL was during the 202`1-22 campaign, where he had seven goals, 15 points, and 93 hits in 75 contests. 

Although Lammikko is not a big-name signing, he has the potential to be a solid pickup for the Devils. His size and physicality could help his chances of making the Devils' roster, whether he is a fourth-line or 13th forward. He also works on the penalty kill because of his solid defensive play, so he could help the Devils in that area as well. Yet, at a minimum, he should make an impact in the AHL with the Utica Comets if he does not make the Devils' roster.

Overall, there is no harm in the Devils bringing in Lammikko with this one-year contract. It will be intriguing to see how much of an impact he makes for New Jersey from here. 

Devils Made Good Move Trading For Gritty ForwardDuring this past off-season, the New Jersey Devils acquired forward Paul Cotter from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward Alexander Holtz and goaltender Akira Schmid. With the Devils looking to boost their bottom six, they were willing to give up two youngsters in Holtz and Schmid to bring in a proven NHLer like Cotter. 

Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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. 

Mason McTavish would seem to be someone that the Anaheim Ducks would be crazy to part with, but the 22-year-old restricted free agent is looking for a massive payday after a 52-point season in the final year of his entry-level contract. The 2021 third overall pick is what most teams are looking for: a big-bodied, offensively talented center. He made the NHL at 19, and scored 17, 19, and 22 goals in three seasons. Although eligible for an offer sheet, teams are unlikely to go down that road, since the Ducks have the most cap space in the NHL, even after signing veteran Mikael Granlund and trading for veteran winger Chris Kreider, and could match anything.   

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The additions of Kreider and Granlund this summer to go along with three-time Cup winner Joel Quenneville behind the bench, the Ducks look to be ready to make their move into playoff competition, but GM Pat Verbeek may be looking at McTavish as a cautionary tale to other youngsters; like centers Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson, who are coming up for their new deals next summer. 

 

What Would It Cost?

The competition for McTavish would be hot and heavy if he is truly being shopped, and with his success and NHL experience at such a young age, it will likely cost Buffalo a major young piece like Owen Power or a package that would include winger Zach Benson, prospect Konsta Helenius and their 2026 first round pick to pry the big forward away from Anaheim.   

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As the Calgary Flames look to take a step forward in their retooling efforts, don’t be surprised if some fresh faces start making more regular appearances on the blue line. All drafted in 2020, these three defencemen have spent the past few seasons developing within the Flames system—and now, they’re knocking louder than ever on the NHL door.

Here’s a look at three homegrown blueliners Flames fans should keep a close eye on in 2025-26:

Ilya Solovyov – The Next One Up?

At 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, Ilya Solovyov brings a solid frame, a smooth skating stride, and a physical edge that makes him a natural fit on an NHL blue line. After being selected in the seventh round (205th overall) back in 2020, Solovyov has developed steadily through the Wranglers system and got his feet wet in the NHL last season with five appearances. He picked up an assist in those games and showed flashes of the two-way potential that has made him a standout in the AHL.

Last season with the Wranglers, Solovyov turned heads with his poise, offensive instincts, and ability to jump into the rush when the opportunity presents itself. He’s shown he can move the puck and bring some bite defensively, making him a strong candidate to push for a full-time NHL role coming out of training camp.

He’s entering year two on his deal with the Flames worth $1.55 million total. The first year was a two-way contract, but it turns into a one-way deal this season — indicating the organization believes he’s close to sticking around with the big club.

Yan Kuznetsov – Quietly Climbing

If Solovyov is the flashier puck-mover, Yan Kuznetsov is his quieter, steadier counterpart. Drafted in the second round (50th overall) in 2020, Kuznetsov plays a traditional stay-at-home style that’s built on smart positioning, physical strength, and sound decision-making.

He made his NHL debut on January 9, 2024, against the Ottawa Senators, and while it was just a single appearance, it showed that he’s next in line to be trusted in a shutdown role. Last season in the AHL, he posted an impressive plus-21 rating with the Wranglers, alongside 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) in 72 games—showcasing his ability to contribute at both ends of the ice.

The Flames clearly see value in his progression, re-signing Kuznetsov this summer to a two-year contract that goes to a one-way in its second year. That puts him firmly in the mix for more NHL time this season.

Jeremie Poirier – High Risk, High Reward

Few prospects within the Flames’ pipeline bring as much offensive upside from the back end as Jeremie Poirier. Taken in the third round (72nd overall), Poirier is a dynamic skater with a natural flair for jumping into the rush, threading passes, and running the power play. When he’s dialed in, he looks like a future 50-point NHL defender.

Injury slowed him down during his second pro season, but he bounced back strong in 2024-25, putting up 42 points (5 goals, 37 assists) in 71 games. His minus-9 rating highlights the ongoing need for more consistency and defensive discipline—but the raw tools are undeniable.

With rookie Zayne Parekh now in the system, it may have pushed Poirier down the depth chart, but his experience could still make him an intriguing option for some NHL consideration. 

Poirier is signed through 2025-26 on a deal worth $775,000. He’ll be an RFA after that, and this season could be a defining one in determining whether he takes the next step in his NHL journey.

Final Thoughts

The Flames have been patient in developing their young defensive core, and now that patience may start paying off. Solovyov looks ready to push for a full-time roster spot, Kuznetsov continues to prove himself as a reliable depth option, and Poirier brings the kind of offensive firepower that could make him a fan favourite—if he can round out the rest of his game.

All three have taken different paths, but they share a common thread: drafted by the Flames in 2020, developed within the system, and now on the verge of becoming NHL regulars.

Keep an eye on this trio—because chances are, you’ll be seeing a lot more of them in Calgary this season.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

While most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed, there are still some interesting players who are available for the taking. One of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta, as the 35-year-old blueliner is still looking for his new home.

When looking at the remain UFA defensemen on the market, there is no question that Rutta is one of the top ones available. Thus, it would not be surprising in the slightest if he ended up landing with another NHL team before training camp is here. 

Rutta spent this past season with the San Jose Sharks, where he recorded three goals, six assists, nine points, 81 blocks, and a minus-3 rating. This was after he had five goals, 14 assists, and 19 points in 69 contests with the Sharks during the 2023-24 campaign.

Overall, teams looking for help on the right side of their third pairing and penalty kill could consider bringing in Rutta. He is a steady veteran defensive defenseman, and it also does not hurt that he has two Stanley Cup championships on his resume. 

In 56 games during the 2022-23 season with the Penguins, Rutta had three goals, nine points, 71 hits, and a plus-3 rating. His time with the Penguins ended when he was dealt to the Sharks in the deal that sent Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh during the 2023 NHL off-season. 

Penguins Promising Goalie Is Clear Breakout CandidateGoaltender Joel Blomqvist got into his first NHL action this past season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, the young goaltender ran into some trouble adjusting to the NHL level with Pittsburgh, as he had a 4-9-1 record, a 3.81 goals-against average, and a .885 save percentage in 15 appearances.

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