The New York Islanders know what Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal are capable of when together.

Yes, the 2024-25 season was a lost year for the duo, with Barzal sustaining two long-term injuries that limited him to just 30 games.

But in 2023-24, the duo produced.

Horvat recorded 22 goals and 26 assists at 5-on-5 that season, with Barzal posting 18 goals and 37 assists at 5-on-5, with his overall 80 points the most since his Calder-winning season back in 2017-18.

However, for the 2025-26 season, the Islanders have decided to separate Barzal and Horvat, with Barzal going back to his natural position of center.

While Barzal certainly feels more comfortable down the middle, the loss of Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline left a hole at the No. 2 center position.

While Calum Ritchie, the big-time prospect the Islanders got in return for Nelson, will have a chance to make the team out of training camp, giving him the responsibility of being the second-line center may be too much for the 20-year-old, who only has seven games of NHL experience.

Here's what Darche said when asked by “The Sheet’s” Jeff Marek about Barzal:

"The beauty of it, to me, with Mathew is yes, he's a centerman, but the more players you have that can play different positions, that gives you options," Darche said. "Last year, he had good moments with Bo Horvat, but sometimes they might both be centers, and sometimes during times of the game, times of the year, maybe they play together. So having that flexibility is great."

Darche Dissected: A Deep Dive Into His Interview On ‘The Sheet’New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche had a lot to say to Jeff Marek. Let's break it down.

The Edmonton Oilers are notorious for this method.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both centermen, with head coach Kris Knoblauch usually having them separated at 5-on-5.

However, whenever Edmonton needed to score a goal, those two usually heard their names called.

And more often than not, Edmonton found a way to put the puck in the back of the net.

It's a tremendous luxury to have the ability to do that with two top forwards.

While there's no question that if Barzal's going to play center, he's going to have to perform much better in the faceoff dot — he owns a career 42.3% on faceoffs — he is a righty. Horvat is a lefty, which allows that line to take draws and use whoever is on their strong side, another luxury.

McDavid and Draisaitl are both left-handed.

There will be times during the season, potentially late in games, where the Islanders need a goal or Roy is looking to get the boys buzzing again.

He knows what he has in his former dynamic duo and can put the two together without worrying about how they might play. One part that can't be overlooked here is the defensive play of those two.

Horvat has always been a strong two-way player, and Barzal's game away from the puck grew exponentially when he was on Horvat's wing.

So, Roy could have Horvat and Barzal out on the ice late in games, preserving a lead if he has to — the Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom duo may get tasked with that — and not have to worry about a defensive drop-off.

As of right now, we know that Jonathan Drouin will play on Horvat's left wing, but outside of that, the rest of the lineup — especially who rounds out that “top line” and who Barzal will play with — remains a mystery.

Could Kyle Palmieri flank Horvat? Will Anders Lee and Barzal be reunited long-term like we saw during the Barry Trotz days? Has Holmstrom earned the right to be the starting second-line right winger?

Roy has a ton of options, but Roy also needs results early, one would think.

If he's having a hard time finding suitable linemates to get the best out of Barzal, we may see No. 13 back on Horvat's wing in short order.

Yes, that would put the Islanders in a tough situation since, outside of Barzal, they really don't have an answer for the second-line center spot.

But maybe Ritchie surprises everybody at training camp and shows he can be that guy.

Peel Back The Curtain: Calum Ritchie's Path To Making Islanders Isn't So Far-FetchedWith the New York Islanders having a boatload of centermen, it may seem that Calum Ritchie’s chances of making the big club this fall are slim.

That would change everything because then the Islanders could have Drouin-Horvat-Barzal as a top line without hurting the overall makeup of the lineup.

Training camp opens in mid-September, as we are almost...almost a month away. 

Earlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens re-signed defenseman Jayden Struble to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.4125 million. Getting this deal done with Struble was important for the Canadiens, as he is among their most promising young defensemen.

Struble is coming off a solid season with the Canadiens, as he scored two goals and set new career highs with 11 assists, 13 points, and 124 hits in 56 games. This was after the 6-foot defenseman recorded three goals and 10 points in 56 games with the Canadiens during his rookie season in 2023-24. 

Overall, Struble has had a solid start to his NHL career and is cementing himself as a nice part of the Canadiens' blueline because of it. Yet, when noting that he is still only 23 years old and has just 112 career NHL games on his resume, he undoubtedly still has the potential to hit a new level. With this, he is a clear breakout candidate on the Canadiens to watch during the 2025-26 season. 

Struble has certainly shown promise early on in his career, and he should only improve as he continues to gain more experience. If he can get his offense up a bit more and continue to be reliable defensively, it would be massive for a Canadiens team on the rise. It will be intriguing to see if he can put together a breakout year for the Habs from here.

Former Canadiens Defender Still A Free AgentSince we are in August, the majority of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have signed their new contracts. While this is the case, there are still some interesting veteran players looking for their new homes. One of them is former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jon Merrill.

There have only been two players wear the #64 for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unfortunately for Columbus, neither one of them made a significant impact for Columbus. Cleveland is a different story, however. 

Trey Fix-Wolansky 

Many people thought, despite being drafted so late in the draft and his diminutive size —5-foot-7, 180 pounds —he would turn out to be a really good winger in the NHL. So far, he’s yet to be able to show his talent at the NHL level.

Fix-Wolansky played three seasons in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings. In those three seasons, he played 206 games, scored 93 goals, and had 245 points. His production improved year after year, so many thought he could translate that into the pros.

He made his full-season pro debut during the 2019-20 season for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He would play in 43 games, score 12 goals, and end with 26 points. The following season, he suffered a leg injury that required surgery, limiting him to only nine games. But even in those limited games, he would have nine points.

In the 2021-22 season, Fix-Wolansky played in 53 games and had 33 points, but more importantly, on February 8th, 2022, he would make his NHL debut. Fix-Wolansky would score in his debut against the Washington Capitals, taking a pass and sneaking the puck by Phoenix Copley. He finished playing in six games for Columbus that season, netting two points. He had five shots in those six games and had an average time on ice of around six minutes. 

TFW's breakout season in the AHL would be the 2022-23 season. He would score 29 goals and total 71 points in 61 games. He set career highs in goals, assists, points, games played, and power-play goals. Fix-Wolansky played in nine games for the CBJ, scoring only one goal. He did average almost 13 minutes a game, however.

Fix-Wolansky had two very good seasons in 23-24 and 24-25. In each season, he finished with 26 goals and 60 points. Despite having an unreal career for Cleveland the last seven years, Fix-Wolansky never got an extended chance to prove he could be an everyday NHL player, and was not tendered a contract this summer. He went on to sign a deal with the New York Rangers. 

TFW is generally considered the greatest player in Monsters' history. He leads the Monsters franchise with 112 goals, 147 assists, and 259 points. Defenseman Jake Christiansen is the only active player close enough to catch TFW, but he was in Columbus last season, and most likely this season, so Fix-Wolansky's records are safe. 

Tyler Motte

Tyler Motte was the first player to wear #64 for the Blue Jackets, although it wasn't for very long. 

Motte was traded to Columbus by Chicago with Artemi Panarin and NY Islanders' 6th round pick (previously acquired, Columbus selected Jonathan Davidsson) in the 2017 NHL Draft for Brandon Saad, Anton Forsberg, and Columbus' 5th round pick in 2018 NHL Draft, June 23, 2017.

Motte would go to play in 31 games for the Blue Jackets, scoring 3 goals and 5 points, while averaging 9:56 per game of ice time. 

Later that season, Motte was traded the Vancouver by Columbus with Jussi Jokinen for Thomas Vanek, February 26, 2018.

The St. Clair, Michigan native went on to play four more seasons in Vancouver. After playing last season with his home state Detroit Red Wings, Motte currently sits without a contract after playing nine NHL seasons. 

As of right now, no other player is scheduled to wear #64 in the immediate future for the CBJ, but surely someday someone will take that number who will have an impact on the team. 

The Jackets have 64 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena, and fans are getting restless. The CBJ will take on the New Jersey Devils on Monday, October 13th at 7 PM. The Blue Jackets have much higher expectations this season than in previous years. Many expect the CBJ to make the playoffs, something they missed by a single win last season. Can the Blue Jackets overcome their deficiencies and weaknesses to make a playoff push in the weak Metro Division?

Goaltending seems to be the topic du jour just about every day in the CBJ universe, and this is something that probably won't go away unless Elvis and Jet Greaves both have outstanding seasons. All signs are pointing to that happening, and fans can't wait until the 25-26 season gets underway. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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An Early Look At The Blue Jackets' 2025-26 Projected Opening Night RosterWe've officially entered the last month of the calendar that doesn't have NHL games in it. We are only a bit over a month away from the start of 2025 NHL training camp and then preseason. Because of that, I thought it would be fun to take an early look at what the Columbus Blue Jackets' projected opening night lineup could look like. Former Monsters Forward Rumored To Be Signing In KHLFormer Monsters forward Rocco Grimaldi is rumored to be joining SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. One Of Cam Atkinson's Team Records Is In Kirill Marchenko's SightsFormer CBJ legend Cam Atkinson is at the top of many stat categories for the Jackets. After all, he did play 627 games before the trade to Philadelphia. 

The Philadelphia Flyers have quite a few roster spots ready to be filled by up-and-coming prospects next season, but there's one prospect who should be talked about much more.

By now, we all know about Alex Bump and the praise he's consistently received from the Flyers, and an opportunity for Nikita Grebenkin in the wake of Tyson Foerster's offseason injury.

But, what about the defense? What about Oliver Bonk?

It's always harder to shelter a young defenseman at the NHL level than a young forward, but Oliver Bonk is uniquely equipped to handle the challenge.

The 20-year-old is going to be turning pro this fall, but long Memorial Cup campaigns have prevented him from getting any tastes of AHL action to this point.

But, Bonk's strong points have always lied in his hockey IQ and understanding of how to play his position effectively. He's not the biggest, fastest, or most skilled defenseman, but knows what he needs to do on the ice and why.

Veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen isn't expected to be ready to play for the Flyers by the start of the season, which means opportunity for players like Bonk, Emil Andrae, and Helge Grans.

All it takes is an impressive training camp to crack the door open, and The Athletic prospects expert Scott Wheeler thinks Bonk is ready for the challenge.

Bonk’s smarts are his game’s defining quality but he has also defended at one of the highest levels in junior hockey over the last couple of years, has an impressive feel for coverage and timing and escapes pressure well despite having average feet," Wheeler said of Bonk in his July prospect rankings.

"He just looks like he’s going to be a solid two-way defenseman who can influence play and potentially help out on both special teams, even if he’s not a natural power-play quarterback or your prototypical penalty killer. He projects as a No. 3-5 defenseman. . . I expect him to play in the NHL in 2025-26, if not full-time, then at least to start."

Flyers' Spencer Gill Will Be Way Better Than You ThinkSpencer Gill is one Philadelphia Flyers prospect who doesn't draw nearly as much fanfare as he should, and that's not his fault.

Further supporting the possibility of Bonk playing in the NHL soon, Wheeler notably ranked Bonk (45th overall) ahead of fellow defensemen Kevin Korchinski (62nd), Scott Morrow (67th), Maveric Lamoureux (80th), and Seamus Casey (85th).

The common denominator for all of those players? Each has played NHL games already.

So, not only does Bonk have the pedigree that supports an early NHL debut, but similar players have already done the same.

Whether the Flyers give him a real opportunity to make remains to be seen, but the roster spot is there for the taking.

Oliver Bonk has a legitimate chance to make the Flyers outright to start the 2025-26 season.

Florida Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov is becoming the face of hockey in his native Finland.

Winning back-to-back Stanley Cups and Selke Trophies certainly helps his cause, as does becoming the first Finnish-born captain to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup in the history of the NHL.

On Saturday, Barkov utilized his special day with the Stanley Cup to share it fans, friends and family in his hometown of Tampere, Finland.

“I think pretty much the first thing you think about when people say ‘Finland’ is ice hockey,” Barkov said. “Everyone loves hockey here, everyone is watching hockey and follows hockey. It’s great, it’s like a lifestyle here, just like Canada.”

To no surprise considering his love for tennis and paddleball, Barkov brought the Cup to PadelOne Arena for some time with fans.

“I’ve been here a couple times, watching paddle tournaments,” Barkov said. “It’s one of my favorite sports that I play.”

He said that compared to last year, this summer’s Stanley Cup day felt a bit more laid back, which was by design.

“Last year was kind of hectic, so this year I’m trying to do it in a more relaxed way,” he said.

He also made sure to leave time for a trip to the sauna, and some home cooking from his momma.

You can check out footage of Barkov's day with the Stanley Cup in the video below:

It’s been several days now that the Stanley Cup has been in Finland.

First, it was with Cats defenseman Niko Mikkola, in and around his hometown of Kiiminki.

Mikkola’s day included visits to a children’s hospital, a couple of his former schools and his former youth rink Jäälihalli.

The following day, Florida Assistant Coach Tuomo Ruutu got to do something pretty cool with the Cup in Helsinki.

Photos posted on X by Phil Pritchard, the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Keeper of the Cup, showed Ruutu posing with the cup on the field of Olympic Stadium.

He even kicked a soccer ball around the pitch at the home of Finland’s national team.

Coach Ruutu and his family spend some time at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki...he brought a long his silver friend as well. #stanleycup@FlaPanthers@HockeyHallFame@NHLpic.twitter.com/L04FitVjtg

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 8, 2025

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Photo caption: Florida Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov shares the Stanley Cup with fans at PadelOne Arena in Nokia, Finland. (Source: Florida Panthers)

Jonathan Bailey of The Hockey News has reported that the Philadelphia Flyers could be a potential landing spot for New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws. The Devils, however, should consider their history before shopping Daws to other teams. 

Should Flyers Consider Trade for Unheralded Devils Goalie Prospect?The Philadelphia Flyers may have temporarily patched up their goalie issues for now, but even GM Danny Briere admitted that won't always be the case.

Daws, 24, has played in the NHL in previous seasons when the Devils’ starters were unavailable due to injury. New Jersey currently has Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen locked in as its goaltending tandem for the upcoming season.

Markstrom, 35, is entering the final year of his six-year, $36 million contract. He joined the Devils last season, appearing in 49 games with a .900 save percentage.

Allen, also 35, re-signed with New Jersey on July 1 to a five-year, $9 million contract after initially being expected to test free agency. He had been linked to teams with goaltending needs, including the Flyers, before returning to the Devils.

With Markstrom and Allen set as the top two goaltenders, Daws remains the organization’s third option in net. Drafted 84th overall in 2020, he has primarily played for the AHL’s Utica Comets but has appeared in 52 NHL games, recording 22 wins and a .898 save percentage.

Daws has stepped in at the NHL level during multiple seasons, 2021-22, 2023-24, and 2024-25,  including six games last season.

Both of the Devils’ current NHL goaltenders are 35 and have dealt with injuries in the past, factors that may influence whether the team decides to retain Daws or explore trade options before his contract expires.

While it may be appealing to the Devils to trade Daws this season before his contract expires, it would not be smart given the team's history. 

Daws has been ready whenever the Devils need him. He has shown up, done what needs to get done, and helped the team when called upon. 

The Flyers, along with other teams are looking for goaltenders. 

The Devils shouldn’t consider trading Daws to another team; what they should consider is making him a more permanent member of the roster moving forward. 

Nico Daws’ Future: Trade Bait or Asset?Nico Daws is currently in an interesting position as the third-string goaltender for the New Jersey Devils. Opinion: Nico Daws Is a Part of the Devils' FutureThe year was 2021. It was October, and both of the New Jersey Devils’ goaltenders were out with injuries. In need of an emergency starter, the team turned to 21-year-old Nico Daws, the 84th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Two goaltenders in the 3ICE Summer Tournament are eyeing potential futures with the New Jersey Devils organization.

Jeremy Brodeur and Keith Kinkaid both took the ice in Florida for the three-on-three tournament, which is held annually during the NHL offseason as an opportunity for current, former, and aspiring players to compete in a fast-paced, friendly format.

The event is now heading into its final four round, featuring No. 4 Minnesota, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 2 NJ/NY, and No. 1 Buffalo.

Leading the Buffalo team in net is former Devil Keith Kinkaid.

Kinkaid joined New Jersey in 2012-13 as an undrafted free agent and went on to play six seasons with the team, appearing in 41 games across the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. In total, he spent 10 seasons in the NHL, playing primarily with American Hockey League affiliates, and is now looking to return to the league. His strong showing in the tournament could draw interest from teams, especially with the current NHL goaltending market thin and several clubs in need.

“Right now, I just want to keep playing,” Kinkaid told NHL.com. “We’ll see what happens. This is a great opportunity to show I still have it. My body is holding up very well… Any opportunity is fine with me.”

Kinkaid isn’t the only player in the tournament with ties to the Devils.

Jeremy Brodeur, son of Devils legend Martin Brodeur, also competed. The Brodeur name is synonymous with New Jersey hockey. Martin leads the NHL in both games played and shutouts and now serves as the Devils’ executive vice president of hockey operations.

Jeremy has spent the past decade playing in the AHL, ECHL, and international leagues. Most recently, he split time last season between the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, and their ECHL affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder. In Utica, he appeared in five games, and with Adirondack, he played 24 games, posting a .905 save percentage.

Brodeur suited up for the Buffalo 3ICE squad, and while his team was eliminated, the 28-year-old left a strong impression.

“I definitely get a couple more eyeballs on me when they see my last name,” Brodeur told NHL.com. “But I’m just trying to do my thing—work on my game and improve every day.”

Both goaltenders are looking to make a push for a Devils roster spot, though openings are unlikely with Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen currently locked in.

The Devils’ presence at the tournament didn’t stop there. The NY/NJ 3ICE team was coached by Ken Daneyko, former Devils broadcaster and three-time Stanley Cup champion.

From the bench to the crease, the organization was well represented at the 3ICE Tournament, with former, current, and hopeful Devils all sharing the ice.

Image Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Brett Hull, who joined the team ahead of the legendary Stanley Cup-winning 2001-02 NHL season, turns 61 years old today. 

His place in the Hockey Hall of Fame upon his retirement in 2005 was assured, as he was a first-ballot inductee after scoring 741 goals as well as being named a three-time first-team NHL All-Star and a two-time Olympian.

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Hull, who won the Stanley Cup twice (1999, 2002), is regarded as arguably the greatest NHL player from the United States (Hull was born in Canada but played for the United States internationally throughout his entire career). 

While other players (like future Red Wings Mike Modano and Patrick Kane) could legitimately stake their claim to that title, do Hull's career accomplishments stand out from theirs? 

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There really isn't a whole lot in recent NHL history that could top the summer of 2001 for the Detroit Red Wings, which ultimately set the stage for what would be the 10th Stanley Cup in franchise history. 

Following their shocking loss in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Red Wings decided to re-tool rather than rebuild, and they signaled that they weren't going anywhere when they acquired Dominik Hasek from the Buffalo Sabres. 

One day later, the Red Wings snagged Luc Robitaille, who had just helped the Kings beat them in the postseason. Right away, the Red Wings were once again the prohibitive favorites to be the last NHL team standing the following June.

Just when it appeared that the Red Wings were set with the roster as it was, an opportunity arose to acquire yet another future Hall of Famer - Brett Hull, who turns 61 years old today. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The Red Wings made Hull's signing possible by asking players like Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahn, Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Chelios to defer some of their salary to accommodate Hull on the books, a request they all immediately replied in the affirmative. 

While many expected Hull to play on a line with Yzerman or Shanahan or perhaps Sergei Fedorov or Igor Larionov, he was instead assigned to play with a young and shy Russian rookie who didn't speak English yet by the name of Pavel Datsyuk.

Years later, Hull would describe Datsyuk as "the sickest player I've ever seen". 

“Going out to dinner, it’s Yzerman, Shanahan, Fedorov, Larionov… this is a Hall of Fame table,” Hull explained looking back on the legendary 2001-02 Red Wings roster. “And lo and behold, this kid shows up at training camp. Pavel Datsyuk. They put me with him.“He doesn’t speak English, but he is the sickest player I’ve ever seen in my life." 

Datsyuk’s creativity and agility thrilled hockey fans in Detroit for more than a decade, ultimately earning him a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame and making him the 10th Hall of Famer from the Red Wings’ 2001–02 team. 

Datsyuk played with Hull and fellow youngster Boyd Devereaux, forming what Hull famously referred to as the "Two Kids and a Goat" line. The following season, Devereaux was replaced on the line by another highly-touted rookie, future Red Wings team captain Henrik Zetterberg. 

After playing against Detroit for years with the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars, Hull proved to be the final piece of the puzzle that resulted in the Stanley Cup being skated on Joe Louis Arena ice on June 13, 2002. 

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