Seattle Kraken forward Carson Rehkopf is gearing up for his first season of professional hockey in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and the 20-year-old could follow a similar path to a fellow Kraken prospect.

Jani Nyman made the jump from professional hockey in Finland to North America, dominating and achieving several milestones, which included a call-up and an extended stint in the NHL. With the Firebirds, the 21-year-old scored 28 goals and 44 points in 58 games, leading the team in goals and ranking second in points. He earned a nod to the All-Star game and was among the best rookies in the AHL.

In his stint in the NHL, Nyman notched three goals and six points in 12 games, proving he was more than ready to play in the NHL. 

Part of Nyman's success was attributed to his size and NHL-ready frame. Listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Nyman was never pushed around or looked out of place, something Rehkopf could do this year.

Rehkopf has torn the OHL apart in the last two seasons, scoring 42 goals and 86 points in 57 games this past season. The year prior, Rehkopf recorded 52 goals and 95 points in 60 games. The Barrie, Ont. native is ready for his next challenge, and it'll come by way of the AHL.

If Rehkopf hopes to follow in the footsteps of Nyman, it'll start with a strong training camp and pre-season. Nyman was one of the standout performers in the pre-season last year and carried the momentum into the OHL season. 

The 6-foot-2, 201-pound left-handed forward also has an NHL-ready frame and play style. Rehkopf uses his speed to force defenders onto their heels in transition. The threat of his shot creates play-making opportunities, and his passing abilities open up space for him to showcase his shot. He also possesses tremendous offensive instincts, which help him find open areas near the front of the net.

The Firebirds enter the 2025-26 season with one of the youngest forward groups in the AHL. Due to the youth of the roster, Rehkopf will have plenty of opportunities to take on a larger role and possibly earn a call-up to the NHL following the trade deadline, like Nyman did.

Trio Of Kraken Prospects Invited To Team Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase RosterThree Seattle Kraken prospects, Berkly Catton, Jake O'Brien and Ollie Josephson, have been invited to Team Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase roster.

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Nabokov For Kiprusoff - Sept. 7, 2009 - Vol. 63, Iss. 03 – Adam Proteau

THE NHL’S INCREASINGLY RECEDING summer break is just about over. With a couple of notable exceptions – a solution for Dany Heatley in Ottawa and some type of significant move from San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson – teams have remodeled their roster as much as they’re prepared to before the regular season’s first dozen games reveal their strengths and deficiencies.

Some of those teams will be rewarded for their confidence early in the campaign; others will feel significant pushback from the hockey gods and stumble hard out of the gate.

Unfortunately, thanks to the implication of parity brought on by the salary cap era, a bad start for certain franchises (for example, five of the Original Six teams or the rebuilding Islanders) will resonate in a far more negative manner than it would for, say, the Detroit Red Wings.

But if it gets more difficult to make trades each year of the collective bargaining agreement, what caliber of in-season roster reshaping can be done anymore?

It depends what you think of the term “lateral move.”

For instance, let’s say the Calgary Flames and Sharks stink up October with no more than a few wins apiece. Like coach Alain Vigneault in Vancouver and goalie Ray Emery in Philadelphia, neither team can afford a slow start.

Calgary has added a new elite defenseman in Jay Bouwmeester and a new coach in Brent Sutter, while the local hot seat hosts the haunches of Brent’s other brother Darryl, the team’s GM.

The Sharks have underachieved to an extent that cries out for some substantive change, yet we’ve only seen alterations via natural attrition (Jeremy Roenick’s retirement) and unnatural attrition (eg. the non-tendering of qualifying contracts to restricted free agents Marcel Goc, Lukas Kaspar and Tomas Plihal).

Of course, there’s no way either Wilson or Sutter moves Joe Thornton or Dion Phaneuf during such a skid, because they know other GMs can smell blood in the water and would go skimpy on the trade offers.

Which brings us back to the lateral move. Picture a Sharks-Flames deal like this one:

To San Jose from Calgary: A 32-year-old goalie with 204 career regular season wins, 25 playoff wins, a career .912 regular season save percentage and career 2.46 regular season goals-against average;

AN EX-NHL GM SAYS IT’S A POTENTIAL DEAL THAT PASSES THE SMELL TEST

3 AHL Rookies Who Could Be Difference Makers for the San Jose BarracudaThe San Jose Sharks have an abundance of prospects who will be battling for spots in the NHL and the American Hockey League this coming season.

To Calgary from San Jose: A 34-year-old goalie with 249 career regular season wins, 32 playoff wins, a career .911 regular season save percentage and a career 2.38 regular season GAA.

That’s right: Miikka Kiprusoff to San Jose, Evgeni Nabokov to Calgary.

Yeah, Kiprusoff’s contract term (he’s signed at an average of more than $5.8 million per year through 2013-14) differs greatly from Nabokov’s (he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after earning $5.375 million this season), but trading two virtually identical players would be a notable deck-shuffling that minimizes the potential downside associated with moving big-money players.

Besides, the Sharks have all kinds of cap flexibility after this season. More importantly, they’d be repatriating Kiprusoff back into the organization that drafted him in 1995.

The Flames, meanwhile, would have Nabokov in a contract year and cap relief if he didn’t pan out. They’d also be bringing in a familiar face – at least, familiar to Darryl Sutter, who coached Nabokov in San Jose for the first two-and-a-half seasons of the goalie’s career.

According to one former NHL GM (who spoke on condition his name not be used), it’s a potential deal that passes the smell test.

“It does make sense,” the former GM said of a Nabokov-for-Kiprusoff swap. “From the Flames’ perspective, I think they’d love to pass on Kiprusoff and get out of that contract.

“Beyond that, it makes sense age-wise, salary-wise, and you have two (GMs) comfortable enough with one another to make that deal. One of the really interesting things is that Nabokov is one of the very best puckhandling goaltenders in the league. I start to wonder if Brent (Sutter), after having been around Martin Brodeur in New Jersey last year, might think that’s an element they need.”

Regardless of whether the elements come together for that particular trade to become reality, there’s no doubt the bar for NHL blockbusters has been re-set by the league’s newfound financial prudence – and that bar hasn’t been heightened.

It’s as if the league and its teams are doing what everybody else is doing in this uncertain economy: sticking with what they know, keeping risks to a minimum, getting value-for-value as much as possible.

That’s why, for the foreseeable future, lateral moves may be the only ones that get made.

68 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 68We’re just 68 days away from the San Jose Sharks kicking off their season against the Vegas Golden Knights at the SAP Center. From The Archive: Michael Misa vs. James Hagens The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. From The Archive: The Joes' Last Stand? The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. From The Archive: Stay-At-Home SharkThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

The Chicago Blackhawks have several exciting young players in their system. One of them is undoubtedly Frank Nazar, as the 2022 first-round pick has the tools to emerge as a legitimate top-six forward as he continues to gain more experience at the NHL level.

Nazar certainly showed plenty of promise this past season, as he had success at both the NHL and AHL levels. In 53 games with the Blackhawks on the year, the 21-year-old forward recorded 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points. He also thrived while with the Rockford IceHogs, posting 11 goals, 13 assists, and 24 points in 21 games. 

Nazar only got better with the Blackhawks as the campaign rolled on, too, as he tapped into his offensive potential in a noticeable way. In his final eight appearances of the season with the Blackhawks, he recorded five goals and nine points. This included ending the year on a three-game goal streak, so he undoubtedly impressed. 

Now, after having such a strong finish to his solid rookie season with the Blackhawks, there is no question that Nazar is a big-time breakout candidate heading into 2025-26. The potential for him to emerge as a significant part of the Blackhawks' roster is there, and it would not be shocking in the slightest if we see his offensive production skyrocket next season. It will be fascinating to see what kind of year he has with the Blackhawks from here. 

Blackhawks Intriguing Prospect Is Goalie To WatchThe Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of intriguing prospects in their system. One of them is goaltender Drew Commesso, as many feel that the 23-year-old netminder could become a nice part of the Blackhawks' future.

  Photo Credit: © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images  

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the best deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games.

40. Linus Sjodin – Center (Rogle BK – SHL)

Sjodin was the last of Buffalo’s 11 selections at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, drafted in the seventh round (211th overall) out of the Rogle BK system in the SHL. The 6’0”, 167 lb. forward was eligible to be drafted in 2021, but went undrafted and was picked by Buffalo as a 19-year-old after splitting time between the junior level andthe parent SHL club for the two years before being chosen. and played full time the last two seasons.

The Angelholm, SWE native played for his country at the 2022 World Juniors, but in four full SHL seasons has not been a big offensive producer, with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 204 games. Sjodin had two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 15 playoff games, as Rogle went to the final before losing to Skelleftea in five games in 2024.

Sjödin’s “playmaking abilities are considered one of his absolute strengths, but his struggles of driving the play were due mainly to his average speed.” The Hockey Prospect Black Book said in 2021. He has high-level hockey IQ, but "his lack of speed and quickness are what holds him back from being a high-profile prospect.”

Barring a remarkable turnaround, the Sabres are likely to allow Sjodin’s rights to expire next June, as they did with a pair of their 2021 draft picks earlier this summer.

On Jul. 31, Pittsburgh Penguins' veteran forward Evgeni Malkin turned the ripe age of 39.

Entering his 20th NHL season, Malkin has proven to be one of the NHL's all-time greats. The future Hall-of-Famer has registered 514 goals and 1,346 in 1,213 career NHL games, and he has graced Pittsburgh and the league with unforgettable moments and dominance over the years.

There's no doubt that Malkin is not only one of the greatest NHLers of all time, but also one of the very best Russian-born players of all-time. There is a lot of conjecture concerning where exactly Malkin falls within those ranks, as there are many other names who occupy that space as well - including the guy who just broke Wayne Gretzky's goal record this season.

So where does Malkin fall within the all-time great Russian-born player ranks?

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It's hard to argue who's at the top

I mean, look: When you're digging into the point-per-game numbers and into all-around play, Malkin might have a case here.

But it's hard to argue against having the NHL's greatest goal-scorer of all time at the top of the list.

Alexander Ovechkin was drafted first overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft - one spot ahead of Malkin, who was selected next by the Penguins - and without the lockout in 2004-05, we might be talking more about Ovechkin's and Malkin's careers mirroring each other than about Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby being the biggest marquee matchup in the league for almost two decades. Because of the lockout, Ovechkin and Crosby ended up debuting in the same season in 2005-06, while Malkin debuted one season later.

It's Been Two Decades Of Sidney Crosby. For Pittsburgh, That's Not Enough.On July 22, 2005, a singular lottery ball changed the course of the Pittsburgh Penguins' franchise - and the course of hockey - forever.

In any case, Ovechkin - like Crosby and Malkin - has far exceeded the expectations bestowed upon him at the start of his NHL career. He has scored an all-time best 897 goals while racking up 1,623 points in 1,491 games, and - astoundingly - put up 44 goals in just 65 games last season at age 39.

Malkin may not quite measure up to Ovechkin on the all-time great Russian-born players list, even if 500-plus goals is an impressive accomplishment itself. However, he makes a very compelling case for second on the list.

---

Malkin is probably no. 2... at least, for now

There is quite the crowded field of players behind Ovechkin at the no. 1 spot along with Malkin, including household names such as Sergei Fedorov, Pavel Datsyuk, Alexander Mogilny, Pavel Bure, Alexei Kovalev, and Ilya Kovalchuk. Each respective player is an all-time great in their own right to some extent, and they were all very productive NHL players.

However - like Ovechkin at no. 1 - it's difficult to put anyone else but Malkin in the no. 2 spot. Not only is the three-time Stanley Cup champion second all-time in points by a Russian-born player behind only Ovechkin, he's also staged to enter the top-25 all-time in scoring by the end of next season, assuming he's healthy. Injuries have riddled Malkin's career as much as they have Crosby's, and the fact that the league is faster than ever - and Malkin's footspeed is noticeably slow nowadays - probably lend to the argument that he doesn't have a whole lot left in the tank beyond his current contract, which is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season.

In any case - whether this is, indeed, Malkin's last NHL season or not - Malkin pretty safely holds that no. 2 position. That is, for now.

Don’t Count Malkin Out: Why 2025-26 Could Be a Comeback YearPittsburgh Penguins legendary forward Evgeni Malkin is going into his age-39 season in 2025-26 after seeing his production dip a little bit this past season. 

There is one current player who may just surpass Malkin on the list by the time he calls it a career, and that is Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov, 32, currently has 357 goals and 994 points in 803 games, and he has five seasons of 100 or more points - including successive seasons of 113, 144, and 121 points in the last three seasons. He also has two Stanley Cup championships under his belt, and he doesn't appear to be slowing down in terms of production.

Of course, it will be interesting to see how Kucherov ages out. Malkin's numbers began to dip after the 2022-23 season, when he registered his most recent point-per-game season with 83 points. Kucherov's style tends to lend itself to longevity a bit more than Malkin's, but things can become unpredictable as players age.

As of now, though, there's Ovi, and then there's Geno. And that doesn't figure to change for at least another handful of years, if ever.

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Feature image credit: Credit: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images

Image Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Kings recently re-signed pending RFA forward Alex Laferriere to a new three-year contract worth $4.1 million annually. After a strong 2024-25 campaign, this new deal looks to be a steal, and the Kings still have some money left over heading into next season.

Last season, he scored 19 goals and added 23 assists for 42 points through 77 games, which comes out to a 0.55 points-per-game average. In six playoff games as well, he had three assists.

At 23 years old, there is still a ton of potential for Laferriere to grow and continue to increase his offensive production. His defensive game is decent, but he could use some work finishing. However, there is a ton of room for growth, making this a steal for the Kings.

He has a shot-first mentality and plays well in his middle-six role with the Kings, and if he continues to find a way to improve the little parts of his game, this deal could be one of the best-looking contracts for the Kings.

He has all the tools to become a star in the NHL, but time will tell if he's able to improve the small parts of his game and find a way to reach his potential.

There is some risk associated with a bridge deal like this, for sure, but being able to keep him around at a great price as they continue to try and remain in championship contention, they can revisit a potential long-term deal when the current deal runs out.

Laferriere could be given a larger role next season, and if that's the case, he could become a top-six forward with the Kings and find a way to get to the 65-point plateau, if not more.

Kings' Emerging Core of the Future Taking ShapeEL SEGUNDO, CA – The Los Angeles Kings of old were defined by stalwart veterans and Cup-winning experience. The team had homegrown their championship centerpieces in the form of Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, and Jonathan Quick, carving out a golden era in Kings hockey. Under their vigil, they delivered championships while forging an identity of defensive grit and clutch goaltending.  Drew Doughty Among Olympic Camp Invites as Veteran Pushes for One More Shot at GoldTwelve years after helping Canada claim gold in Sochi, Drew Doughty is back in the Olympic bunch.  Kings Offseason Torn Apart In Bleacher Report ArticleThe Los Angeles Kings have had an interesting offseason, and while many fans around the league have questioned what they've done, it seems as though analysts and pundits alike also don't believe in what they've decided to do this summer.

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A Golden Jets Success - Oct. 17 2011 - Vol. 65, Issue 06 - Jason Key

The Winnipeg Jets are already a success, with an asterisk. Season tickets sold out in hours, merchandise is hotter than Teemu Selanne’s rookie campaign and rich broadcast deals have been consummated.

It’s a made-in-Canada success story, an intense love affair guaranteed to last at least three, four, five years, and one our Winnipeg correspondent Tim Campbell lays out in our cover story, beginning on pg. 26. The question is, what happens when the honeymoon ends? When the joy of the new wears off, how do the Jets sustain the substantial momentum they’ve built up?

Two Jets, Three Manitobans Invited to Canadian Olympic Team CampTwo members of the Winnipeg Jets have earned invites to the Canadian National Team 2026 Winter Olympic Games camp. 

To be sure, there are already pitfalls of which to be wary. For starters, the Jets will very likely qualify for revenue sharing at the end of this season – something the club is certainly counting on. In order to get a piece of that pie in years beyond, they’ll need to meet certain criteria – pending, of course, the shape of the next collective bargaining agreement.

Then there’s the economy, a situation over which the franchise has zero control. Sure, the Loonie is strong today, but there are fears of another economic downturn and also recent reports Canada could be among the first countries to experience a double-dip recession. When the previous Jets flew south to Phoenix in 1996, one of the biggest contributing factors was the 73-cent Canadian dollar. While the current CBA may provide some protection against a repeat scenario, the Jets aren’t completely immune from small-market-Canada syndrome.

The most important factor will be their on-ice success. Winnipeg inherits a franchise that has never won a playoff game and the previous NHL inhabitants in Manitoba didn’t fare much better. From 1979 through ’96, the original Jets failed to win so much as a division title and were victorious in just two playoff rounds. It’s possible this year’s crew will reverse fortunes and surprise us, but don’t count on it. In The Hockey News Yearbook, we’ve slotted the Jets 13th in the Eastern Conference. On the bright side, in our 2011 Future Watch ranking of NHL-drafted prospects, the former Thrashers ranked seventh of 30.

Still, the Jets face significant challenges and it will be several years until we know if we can remove that asterisk from their success label. For what it’s worth, an asterisk on the team pages in the NHL Guide and Record Book also denotes a franchise that has relocated. Just sayin’. 

Longtime Member of the Manitoba Moose Heads Overseas for 2025-26The Manitoba Moose will be without longtime forward CJ Suess for the 2025-26 season. 

As part of their quest to save money and get younger, the Edmonton Oilers parted ways with several forwards this offseason. Key among them were Connor Brown, Corey Perry, and Evander Kane. An interesting question popped up on social media: if the team could have kept just one, who should it have been?

Each player brought something unique to the Oilers’ recent Stanley Cup Final runs. While all three forwards got several votes in the comments section of the post, one theme seemed obvious when looking at the responses that came with an explanation.

The answer depends on what you value most—production, potential, or presence.

Evander Kane: The Difference-Maker

A polarizing player ever since he entered the NHL, Evander Kane seemed to receive the most votes. That's because of how of a difference-maker he is/was when healthy. A unicorn in today's NHL, Kane at 100 percent is a true power forward who plays with bite and scores in bunches. He's the kind of player you hate to play against, but don't mind on your team -- unless you're the Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, or Buffalo Sabres. 

He had six goals and six assists in last season's playoffs. He had four and four in the season prior. Both were down years. As was 2022-23. But, in 2021-22, when he played his first postseason hockey with the Oilers, his 13 goals in 15 games led the NHL. The San Jose Sharks had cast him off, but the Oilers took a shot on him. It paid off as he quickly reminded everyone of his value, especially when it mattered most.

He may never reach those levels again, but he'll be motivated as a part of the Vancouver Canucks and in the last year of his current contract. Many expect Kane to hit the 25+ goal mark, and for $5.25 million, that kind of production and edge is hard to replace.

Corey Perry: The Savvy Vet

Corey Perry, despite being 40, was a travel-tested warrior. His leadership in both the regular season and playoffs will be missed. He scored clutch goals and filled in nicely for an injured Zach Hyman as part of the Oilers, but his bad luck in the Stanley Cup Final is the stuff of legend. His willingness to get under opponents’ skin was invaluable. The pesky Kings will embrace what he brings. 

Oilers fans and even outsiders agree his “heart and soul” impact won’t be easy to replace. But the concern is repeatability. Can Perry really post another near-20-goal season? He signed for more money than the Oilers were willing to pay. Now with the Kings, he is bit pricey for someone whose best days are clearly behind him.

Related: Oilers Would Be Wise to Bet Early on Vasily Podkolzin

Related: Four Oilers Invited to Team Canada’s 2025 Olympic Orientation Camp

Connor Brown: The Two-Way Energy Guy

Connor Brown might be the most well-rounded of the three players listed. Still relatively young, he took some time to get going when he arrived in Edmonton, but once he did, became a very useful two-way forward. In the 2023-24 playoffs, he took significant steps and was quite impactful after recovering from injury.

His speed, versatility, penalty killing prowess, and overall attitude on the ice and in the locker room will be missed. Some fans in the comments section argued his skill set is replaceable, which may be true. And, but he’s arguably the best bet for long-term contribution. At $3 million for four years, he’s no longer an inexpensive option. If he scores more, he'll be worth what the New Jersey Devils are paying him. If he doesn't, that contract may wind up looking like a mistake.

So Who Is The Best Pick to Return?

Again, what you value most in a player might determine who you select here. If you're going after productivity at a low price point, it might be Perry. That said, he won't offer much beyond this season, assuming he can repeat what he did in 2024-25. If you want physicality and intimidation, it's Evander Kane. Health is a concern. Two-way play, energy, and penalty killing? It's Connor Brown all day long.

Oilers Potential New Lines For Next YearEDMONTON – A new day, a new season.

For the Oilers, who are trying to get over the hump and win a Stanley Cup with this core, Kane offers the biggest potential impact. He's the most expensive of the three players, but he can be a game-breaker when motivated and healthy.

The upside of Kane in a contract year is too tempting to ignore. The feeling is he'll do well in Vancouver if he can stay on the ice. That includes avoiding injury and silly penalties or suspensions that take him out of the action. He'll be a physical presence for them, and likely get close to 20 goals.

Then again, the Oilers are going to have to play against him a few times this season since they traded him within the division. That might tell us something about how concerned they are that he'll be a problem for them.

Who would you have kept, especially if salary wasn't a factor?

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