Is it October yet? 

Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player. 

Today's player profile is defenseman Adam Wilsby. 

As an NHL Prospect 

Wilsby was drafted by the Nashville Predators 101st overall in the 2020 draft out of Skellefteå AIK in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-highest hockey league. In his draft year, he scored 30 points in 41 games. 

He was one of three defensemen selected in that year's draft which included Luke Prokop (73rd overall) and Luke Reid (166th overall). 

Professional career 

After getting drafted by the Predators, Wilsby spent two more seasons with Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish League. His numbers declined slightly from when he was playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, tallying 18 points in the 2020-21 season and 17 points in the 2021-22 season. 

At the end of the 2021-22 season, he joined the Milwaukee Admirals, playing in three playoff games.

Wilsby was specifically in Milwaukee until last season, when he made his debut with the Predators against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 27. He scored his first NHL point against the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 4.  

Last season he totaled five points in 23 games logging six penalty minutes. 

What role will he play this season 

Wilsby's training camp will be crucial in determining whether the Predators want to keep him in Nashville.

He seemed like he was becoming a regular last season after getting called up in November, but suffered an upper-body injury that ended his season. Wilsby had a plus/minus of three, the best on the roster last year, but really wasn't producing much. 

However, it seemed like the Predators liked what they saw from Wilsby as he spent three months up in Nashville. Coaching staff could have a preset place for him ahead of camp. 

Considering the additions of Nic Hague and Nick Perbix, the only likely openings on the defense are going to be in the third pairing. 

 

The time of year has arrived when Electronic Arts teases the latest installment of its popular hockey video game series. On Thursday, the company dropped a two-minute trailer for NHL ’26 — and, as expected, they slipped in shots of players sporting their new teams’ jerseys.

One of those moments shows Mitch Marner in a fresh Vegas Golden Knights sweater, firing a shot on goal against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner left Toronto this summer after nine seasons with his hometown club, signing an eight-year, $96 million deal following a sign-and-trade to Vegas on June 30.

Some fans were quick to claim that Marner scores in the trailer, but the footage is far from conclusive. The clip cuts right after his shot, showing no crowd or player reaction. He’ll have a real chance to test that storyline when the Golden Knights face the Leafs in a pair of January matchups. Marner is coming off a career-best 102 points in the 2024–25 season, including 27 goals.

The trailer also gave Leafs fans something to cheer about. In one clear clip, star forward William Nylander buries a goal against the Boston Bruins — complete with crowd shots and Nylander’s energetic celebration.

NHL ’26 launches September 12 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Unfortunately, there’s no version planned for the new Nintendo Switch 2, so portable hockey fans will have to wait.

Ranking The NHL’s Best Media Meals While Covering The Maple Leafs Part 4: Top 8 RevealedWelcome the fourth and final installment of the ultimate NHL Media Meal rankings. This is the moment you've all been waiting for. You know which meals are the worst and which ones are right in the middle. But what about the top eight in the NHL? Which places go above and beyond. It's time for the full reveal. Nicolas Roy Ready for Top-Six Role With Maple Leafs Whenever Called UponWhile the Toronto Maple Leafs continue their search for a top-six forward ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season, newly acquired center Nicolas Roy could help fill the gap in the meantime. Two-Time Stanley Cup Winner Kyle Clifford Retires, Joins Maple Leafs In Player Development RoleFormer Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford is calling it a career.

The Chicago Blackhawks had 16 amazing years with Patrick Kane. They made him the number one overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, and he exceeded every expectation placed on him.

His time in Chicago included three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Hart Trophy, and multiple other major NHL Awards. A player this decorated is always going to be considered a legend in their sport. 

For the last couple of seasons, the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings have had the luxury of having Patrick Kane on their roster.

Even being away from Chicago as a player, the city still means a lot to him. So do the fans that cheered him on for so long. 

On Friday, 8/8, Patrick Kane is celebrating the day in town with a few different activities. This is his way of showing his love for Chicago following an abrupt ending where he didn't get to truly say goodbye.

Part of that came with a big announcement from the City of Chicago City Council, as they announced August 8th will be known as "Patrick Kane Day" going forward. 

Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) on XThe city of Chicago has officially declared Aug. 8 (8/8) Patrick Kane Day. #Blackhawks

8/8 represents Patrick Kane's famous sweater number, which he has worn since the beginning of his NHL career. Now, every August 8th will be a reminder of Kane and what he did for Chicago both on and off the ice. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

At the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins quietly acquired defenseman Connor Timmins and forward Connor Dewar from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. While the Penguins have since traded Timmins to the Buffalo Sabres, Dewar remains on Pittsburgh's roster heading into the 2025-26 season.

Dewar will certainly be a player to watch very closely heading into next season. The 26-year-old forward left a solid first impression with the Penguins, as he recorded four goals, three assists, seven points, and 49 hits in 17 games following the trade. This was after he recorded just three assists in 31 games with the Maple Leafs before the move. 

Now, Dewar's goal will be to build off his solid finish to the season with the Penguins in 2025-26. If he does, he could emerge as a nice part of the Penguins' bottom six as they continue to retool their roster. The potential for him to chip in some depth offensive production is there, as he also scored 11 goals in 74 games split between the Minnesota Wild and Maple Leafs during the 2023-24 season. 

Nevetheless, it is going to be intriguing to see how much of an impact Dewar can make for the Penguins next season. 

Penguins: Insider Weighs In On Sidney Crosby Trade RumorsWith the Pittsburgh Penguins being far from a playoff-caliber team right now, plenty of hockey fans have speculated about the Metropolitan Division club potentially trading captain Sidney Crosby to give him the chance to play for a contender again. 

The Chicago Blackhawks have several promising young players to keep an eye on during the 2025-26 season, and one of them is defenseman Kevin Korchinski. While the 2022 seventh-overall pick has had some growing pains early on in his career, he still has the potential to become an incredibly important part of Chicago's future and will be looking to take a big step forward in his development next season. 

During this past season with the Blackhawks, Korchinski posted one goal, one assist, and a minus-5 rating in 16 games. This was after he recorded five goals, 10 assists, and 15 points in 76 games with the Blackhawks during his rookie campaign in 2023-24.

Korchinski spent the majority of the 2024-25 campaign in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs, however, where he posted three goals, 27 points, and a minus-17 rating in 56 regular-season games. He also had two goals and four points in seven playoff games for Rockford. 

Overall, Korchinski has yet to have that big breakout season for the Blackhawks, but this certainly has the chance to change in 2025-26. The left-shot blueliner has the tools to blossom into an impactful NHL defenseman, and it is exactly why he was selected so early in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Now, Korchinski's goal heading into next season will be to tap into his high potential more. If he does, he would undoubtedly give the Blackhawks' blueline a serious boost. We will need to wait and see if he can do just that from here. 

Blackhawks Trade Target Expected To Stay PutEarlier 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.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs continue their search for a top-six forward ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season, newly acquired center Nicolas Roy could help fill the gap in the meantime.

Speaking with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Leafs Morning Take, Roy shared that he has already spoken with head coach Craig Berube about expectations for his role. During his time with the Vegas Golden Knights, Roy often stepped into a top-six spot when the team dealt with injuries or needed a replacement.

“I definitely see myself as someone who can play in the top six if needed, and in different roles,” Roy said. “I can handle various situations—power play, penalty kill, big faceoffs. I enjoy that part of the game.”

Toronto acquired Roy in a sign-and-trade deal that sent star forward Mitch Marner to Vegas. Marner agreed to an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights. His departure leaves a huge hole in the Leafs’ top six—last season, he led the team in points with 27 goals and 75 assists for a total of 102 points.

So far, no free agent has emerged as a clear replacement, making a trade seem like the most likely path forward. Still, it’s been a quiet offseason despite Toronto having some salary cap flexibility.

'Nobody Expects Them Not To Do Things Before Puck Drops': Could Maple Leafs Still Move Nick Robertson After Contract Signing?Although the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson settled on a one-year, $1.825 million contract on Saturday, could the young forward still be on his way out?

For now, the Leafs may try to replace Marner’s production by committee. Along with Roy, they’ve added forwards Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua, and re-signed Nick Robertson to a one-year, $1.825 million deal.

Roy recorded 15 goals and 16 assists in 71 games last season. Over his career, he has 10 goals and 22 assists in 79 playoff games and was part of Vegas’s 2023 Stanley Cup win.

'I Think He Really Wore It': Matt Martin Reflects On Mitch Marner's Move To Golden Knights And His Two Seasons With Maple LeafsMatt Martin might be retired, but he remembers playing with Mitch Marner on the Toronto Maple Leafs like it was yesterday. 'I Was Just Being Honest': Ryan Reaves Defends Advising Mitch Marner On Vegas While Still Technically With Maple LeafsWhen Mitch Marner made his first public comments as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, he mentioned speaking with former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Ryan Reaves and Max Pacioretty about their experiences with living arrangements in the city during the final weeks of June. This revelation upset some Maple Leafs fans, who felt Marner had been disengaged for weeks. While perhaps not as infuriated as they were upon discovering Marner spoke to current Vegas Golden Knights players in February while competing for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, fans were still displeased. Why The Maple Leafs Shouldn't Target Jack Roslovic After Other Free Agency MovesThe Toronto Maple Leafs have enough depth players.

The NHL Network is putting together some lists of the top players in the NHL among different positions before the 2025-26 season starts. They just dropped the top-20 wingers in the NHL list.

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy was on the list and ranked 19th.

Minnesota Wild's Matt Boldy Ranked As Top-20 Winger In NHLThe NHL Network is putting together some lists of the top players in the NHL among different positions before the 2025-26 season starts. They just dropped the top-20 wingers in the NHL list. 

Kirill Kaprizov ranked third on the list. Only Nikita Kucherov and David Pastrnak rank higher than Kaprizov. Pastrnak had 43 goals, 63 assists and 106 points in 82 games last year. Kucherov had 37 goals, 84 assists and 121 points in 78 games.

Kaprizov, 28, recorded 25 goals, 31 assists and 56 points in 41 games for the Wild last year. He recorded five goals and nine points in six playoff games as well.

Sine 2021, Kaprizov ranks fifth amongst NHL wingers in goals with 158. William Nylander has 159 in 327 games played, Mikko Rantanen has 165 goals in 319 games played, Alex Ovechkin has 167 goals in 294 games played and Pastrnak has 191 goals in 318. 

Kapriov has 158 in just 264 games played in that span. If you scale it to goals per game (G/GP), Kaprizov and Pastrnak are tied at 0.60 for first in the NHL since 2021. 

Since Kaprizov broke into the league during the 2020-21 season he has scored 0.58 goals per game. That puts him tied with Pastrnak for the most among wingers and the third most of any NHL player. Only Leon Draisaitl and Auston Matthews have a higher G/GP.

Draisaitl has played 368 games, Matthews with 347 games played and Pastrnak with 366 games played.

I don't think people truly realize how incredible Kaprizov's numbers have been. He continues to cement himself as the greatest Wild player ever and one of the best players in the whole NHL.

Other Wild News

Wild's Marco Rossi Continues To Have A Big Offseason, Up 14 PoundsMinnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi is known for his work ethic. He has already had a big offseason by training with Hall of Fame center Joe Thornton.Son Of Former Minnesota Wild Forward Commits To University Of MinnesotaLong-time NHL forward Matt Cullen's son just announced his commitment to playing hockey for the University of Minnesota. Wyatt is one of three Cullen brothers, all who play hockey. 

During a virtual Q&A with selected season ticket members, New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche stated that he didn't have any plans to bring in any players on a PTO. 

Two notes from Mathieu Darche’s chat with STH’s earlier:

1. Doesn’t plan on bringing in any PTOs for training camp

2. Implored to him amateur staff that he didn’t just want skill guys for the draft, wanted competitors (called out Eklund, Aitcheson, Prohkorov)#Isles

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) August 7, 2025

So, if the Islanders aren't going to bring in any players on PTOs, then we have the list of players who will be battling out this fall at training camp.

PTO stands for Professional Tryout, which is when a franchise brings in a player, usually a veteran, on a trial period.

We saw this happen with the Islanders last season when Matt Martin, now a special assistant to Darche, came to camp on a PTO. Due to injuries, Martin was then signed to a one-year deal.

Darche Isn’t Lou — And That’s The Point, Especially When It Comes To Coaching PhilosophyOn Wednesday, New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche joined Jeff Marek on Daily Faceoff's "The Sheet".

Here's the Islanders' depth chart when it comes to NHL options for 2025-26:

C: Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Calum Ritchie (waiver exempt), Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas, Kyle MacLean

LW: Jonathan Drouin, Anders Lee, Anthony Duclair, Emil Heineman, Pierre Engvall

RW: Kyle Palmieri, Simon Holmstrom, Maxim Shabanov (waiver exempt), Maxim Tsyplakov, Marc Gatcomb

LD: Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech, Matthew Schaefer, Isaiah George (waiver exempt)

RD: Tony DeAngelo, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, Adam Boqvist, Ethan Bear

G: Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov (IR), David Rittich

I*f Varlamov isn't ready, Rittich will serve as the backup.

We listed 27 players, with NHL rosters maxing out at 23, which means four players from this list will not be making the club this fall.

As of right now, the extra forwards are MacLean, Engvall, and Gatcomb.

If Ritchie wins a job—whether that's as a starting center (which would be tough unless the Islanders decide to keep Barzal on Horvat's wing or move a player like Cizikas to the wing, a place he played a lot last season)—that could push MacLean out of the NHL picture.

MacLean, who is entering the second season of a three-year deal worth $775,000 annually, will need to have a big camp after struggling in 2024-25.

It doesn't make much sense for Ritchie to make the team as an extra, since the club could send him down to Bridgeport and let him develop under Rocky Thompson, serving as the first call-up if there's an injury to the forward group.

So, if Ritchie starts in Bridgeport, that could mean MacLean still has a spot.

With the way Gatcomb played last season, he is kind of a perfect extra forward to have on this roster and will be gunning for a fourth-line gig. He signed a one-year deal worth $900,000 as an RFA.

Engvall is one of the more intriguing players entering training camp. He no question had a strong finish to the season, but his inconsistencies make him a tough player to rely on. Yes, he has five seasons left on his deal at $3 million annually, but that cap hit didn't stop the Islanders from waiving him following last year's camp and again during the season, before ultimately recalling him.

If in Bridgeport, the Islanders can bury $1.15 million of the $3 million, leaving Engvall on the books at $1.85 million.

When it comes to the extra defenseman, it seems like Schaefer and George will be battling out for the final left-side spot. 

That doesn't mean if Schaefer makes the team out of camp, there's no value in him being an extra—we saw the Islanders go that route with Noah Dobson. If George doesn't make the team, he will be playing top minutes in Bridgeport.

On the right side, Boqvist is likely making the team, whether that's as the bottom-pairing right-side defenseman or as the club's seventh defenseman. Boqvist, who signed a one-year extension, will have to beat out Scott Mayfield for the bottom-pairing gig, something he did last season following the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Bear, who signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000, is trying to prove that he is an NHL-quality defenseman and will be gunning for a role.

So, to sum up the roster spot battles, it's the following:

Defense: Schaefer vs. George & Boqvist vs. Bear (any could serve as the extra defenseman if they don't win a starting spot)

Forwards: Engvall vs. Gatcomb, Ritchie vs. MacLean

Goaltenders: Varlamov vs. injury

When it comes to the actual starting lineup, there's more competition.

The only thing known at this time about the lineup is that Drouin will be playing with Horvat. We can project the starting lineup, but there are countless configurations that head coach Patrick Roy will need to figure out:

Drouin - Horvat - Palmieri

Lee - Barzal - Holmstrom

Duclair - Pageau - Shabanov

Heineman - Cizikas - Tsyplakov

Romanov - DeAngelo

Pelech - Pulock

Schaefer - Mayfield

Sorokin

Rittich

This will be an enormous camp for Duclair, who is under contract for three more seasons at $3.5 million. He walked away from the team with eight games to go after trying to get back to his game following an early-season groin injury.

If he can show that his strides are back to where they need to be, he's certainly an option to play with Barzal, which was the thought when he was signed to his deal last July.

For Shabanov, this will be his first taste of the NHL game, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him begin his career in the bottom six before working his way up, if he earns more playing time.

Maxim Tsyplakov, who signed a two-year extension worth $2.25 million annually, went through the growing pains of the NHL this past year and should have more of an understanding of how he has to play to be most effective on the ice.

Shabanov coming over, along with Drouin, certainly pushes Tsyplakov down the forward depth chart. But given Tsyplakov's hockey IQ, physicality, and ability to dish the puck and score, he could be a player who sees time in the middle six.

Simon Holmstrom, who signed a two-year extension worth $3.625 million annually, proved last season that he has the potential to be a true top-six forward after a few seasons of being a third-line shutdown forward.

He probably isn't a top-line winger, so Barzal's wing certainly makes a ton of sense.

If the Islanders have Lee, their captain, in a bottom-six role this season, that's a good sign, as it would mean that Drouin and Duclair are both providing the offense needed for their respective potential roles.

Whether it's for the final roster spots or starting minutes, training camp this fall will be a competitive one. So, buckle up, as we are about a month and a half away.

New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer is working hard this summer to crack the big squad this fall. 

Former NHLer Mark Giordano is his trainer and has been working alongside Islanders veteran defenseman Adam Pelech as well as Islanders forward Bo Horvat. 

Potential No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer On Islanders Bo Horvat, Adam Pelech & Mathieu DarcheLOS ANGELES -- Matthew Schaefer is not a member of the New York Islanders organization just yet, but all signs are pointing to that with the 2025 NHL Draft just a day away. 

There could be another Islanders player who joins Schaefer, and that's Casey Cizikas.

"I talked to Bo Horvat quite a bit. I was gonna train with him. And Pelech comes back to my gym," Schaefer said. "Cizikas may come back.

"I've talked to a lot of guys, and I can't wait to start working with them."

Jumping from the OHL to the NHL will be a gigantic step for Schaefer.

While he's a confident kid with a tremendous amount of hockey skill, Schaefer will need a support system in place to help him overcome obstacles that come his way.

The fact that he's trained this summer with not only NHLers but future teammates will go a long way toward Schaefer feeling comfortable in the room as quickly as possible.

While Pelech and Schaefer will not be a pair given that they both play the left side, there could be times during a game when Schaefer and Pelech are on the ice together. So, it's good for Schaefer to learn Pelech's tendencies and vice versa.

Building chemistry with forwards is ultra important, especially given the two-way style Schaefer plays.

Mathew Barzal made a comment about how he quickly built chemistry with defenseman Mike Reilly when it came to breakout passes.

So, for Schaefer, he's building chemistry with Horvat and, hopefully, Cizikas before it's time to head back to Long Island for training camp.