All posts by NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

From The Archive: NHL Team Valuations, Nashville Predators

Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Nashville Predators general manager David Poile during the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: over 2,000 issues of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here.

(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors).

Dec 26, 2022/vol. 76, issue 08

HERB FRITCH

BY DAVID BOCLAIR

THE CURRENT SEASON marks the start of a notable transition in Nashville. Chairman Herb Fritch has sold a percentage of his majority stake in the franchise to former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. The deal, which the team referred to as a “multi-phased purchase transaction,” will eventually leave Haslam as majority owner. The transition reportedly will be complete ahead of the 2025-26 season.

When the local ownership group bought the team from Craig Leipold in 2007, Fritch took on a 36.7-percent share. He’d later add more shares to become majority owner. In 2019, in a long-planned and peaceful switch, he replaced Tom Cigarran as chairman.

Fritch set out to make this latest move equally easy on all involved. He personally identified “three or four” people he believed had the interest, resources and local ties to take his spot and ensure the club’s long-term success. Eventually, he settled on Haslam, whose personal fortune Forbes placed at $2.6 billion.

Fritch, a season-ticket holder dating all the way back to the Preds’ 1998-99 inaugural season, has kept a low profile throughout his ownership tenure. In fact, he and his wife, Barb, spend the majority of their time at games in their traditional seats rather than the owner’s suite. He has never conducted annual press conferences to offer his thoughts on the state of affairs on the ice. Likewise, while he signed off on coaching changes, he is not the one who spoke publicly about them when they were made.

Fritch made his fortune in the healthcare industry and uses his wealth to indulge his appreciation for wildlife. For more than two decades, he has been licensed to own exotic animals, and his suburban Nashville farm has been home to giraffes, bison, elk, wallabies and some next-level aquariums.

His eventual sale of the Preds will stuff his coffers further. His group bought the franchise for $175 million, and a recent report said the deal with Haslam is based on a current $775-million valuation.

Haslam – whose brother Jimmy owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns – is deeply ingrained in the culture in the state of Tennessee. Bill Haslam served two terms as Tennessee governor – assuming office in 2011 and serving until 2019. His term in the governorship came after he served two terms as mayor of Knoxville, Tenn.

NHL VALUATIONS

$810M

FORBES

$775M

SPORTICO

$800M

ROUSTAN

TOP BUSINESS EXECUTIVE

SEAN HENRY

SEAN HENRY APPLIED TO become the Predators’ CEO in 2009 when the local ownership group sought someone with experience to direct the franchise’s business operations and Bridgestone Arena (then-Sommet Center).

Ultimately, he accepted an offer to be president-COO. He then laid out a plan to make annual improvements and upgrades to the arena. He also reinforced and re-energized the team’s connection to its fan base and increased the club’s focus on community involvement.

On Dec. 1, 2015, he succeeded Jeff Cogen as CEO. Henry has brought a blue-collar, everyman approach to the role – which plays well with the fan base.

More importantly, following the 2018-19 season, Henry’s business plan for the team led to a new 30-year lease with Nashville, which will keep the Predators in Bridgestone Arena until 2049. The deal relieved the city of any financial obligation toward arena maintenance and effectively made the Predators self-sufficient.

GOVERNOR AND ALTERNATE GOVERNORS

HERB FRITCH

ALTERNATE GOVERNORS: Tom Cigarran, Sean Henry, Joey Jacobs, David Poile

TOP HOCKEY EXECUTIVE

DAVID POILE

ALREADY THIS SEASON, DAVID Poile became the first GM in NHL history with 3,000 regular-season games to his credit. A short time later, he became the first to win 1,500 games in that role.

Yet there is no getting around what he has not done. Poile has never won a Stanley Cup. The closest he came was when, in 2017, the Predators lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the Stanley Cup final.

Consistency is the hallmark of Poile’s career. He is a steady hand willing to make big trades, but he also avoids knee-jerk reactions. As the only GM in Predators history, having been hired July 9, 1997, he has had just three coaches head the bench during his tenure. And Poile has made just one in-season coaching change.

All but his last Washington Capitals team (1996-97) reached the playoffs, and Nashville has been to the post-season 15 of the past 18 years. Yet no Stanley Cup.

COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

THE PREDATORS’ MOST substantial community initiative is the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund, which gets players, staff and fans involved to fund research and provides escapes for families dealing with pediatric cancer. Initially, D-man Shea Weber and goalie Pekka Rinne served as the fund’s faces, and “365” was an amalgamation of the numbers they wore in Nashville and a nod to the everyday quest to find a cure.

Created more than a decade ago – under the name Nashville Predators Pediatric Cancer Research Fund – it has donated more than $3.6 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. This season’s fundraising push kicked off in November as part of the greater Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, which means that number will rise by the end of the 2022-23 season.

The franchise also has been involved with the YWCA of Nashville to create Amend Together, a five-year, $500,000 partnership designed to create educational initiatives and support programs dedicated to ending violence against women and girls. The program seeks to create and foster “healthy masculinity” so that men and boys are part of the solution.

Predators CEO Sean Henry serves as an Amend ambassador, which puts him on the front lines of the effort’s planning, fundraising and outreach.

However, franchise leadership demands that community involvement goes beyond simply raising money and distributing grants through the Nashville Predators Foundation or generating goodwill through players’ initiatives. All staff members get paid for 40 hours (or more) of work annually to be involved in service projects outside of the office. Among them are annual staff outings for playground construction and holiday initiatives, but employees are free to choose their own causes to support with their time and energy.

Maple Leafs' Surplus Of Forward Depth Likely To Result In Trades

The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to embark on Season 1 of the post-Mitch-Marner Era. But while Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving tried valiantly to fill Marner’s spot in the top-six group of forwards, he’s done particularly great work changing up Toronto’s bottom-six forward group. 

Toronto’s high-end players – Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies – need to step up with big seasons next year, but if the Leafs are to improve on getting to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, there’s going to need to be some incredible competition in the Buds’ bottom-two forward lines.

For starters, you can rest assured that new Leafs center Nicolas Roy – acquired in the sign-and-trade deal sending Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights – is going to be a lock to start the season as Toronto’s third-line center. Roy was not acquired to be shunted to the wing on the fourth line. He’s there to play solid two-way hockey and make Toronto a tougher team to play against. 

Meanwhile, on the Maple Leafs’ fourth-line, there’s also a sense that the center role is already taken – in this instance, by veteran Scott Laughton. The former Philadelphia Flyers center took a while to find his stride as a Leaf, but by the time Toronto’s second-round series against the Florida Panthers was over, Laughton was one of the Leafs’ most dogged competitors. And he’s under a great contract situation, accounting for just $1.5-million against the salary cap

So, the real questions about the Leafs next season are essentially the wingers on Toronto’s bottom two lines. You’ve got wingers who probably are going to be in the lineup in Game 1 of the Buds’ 2025-26 regular-season – guys like veteran Bobby McMann and Calle Jarnkrok. Then, you’ve got the Maple Leafs’ most recent acquisition, former Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua. He’s not going to be a healthy scratch anytime soon. 

Finally, you’ve got a trio of forwards, only one of which will be Toronto’s other fourth-line winger. From our perspective, that will be youngster Steven Lorentz, who was an admirable soldier for coach Craig Berube last year. Then, there’s forward David Kampf, who is a natural center but who can slide over to the wing if need be. In addition, former Montreal Canadiens winger Michael Pezzetta joined the team, and he may force Berube’s hand and stick with the NHL club. And the guy more people should be talking about, Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, also intends to make Toronto’s opening-night roster.

From our calculations, there’s no room for Robertson, Pezzetta and Kampf right now – and that’s even if Cowan plays for the American League’s Toronto Marlies next season. And that’s why people are wondering if Kampf, Jarnkrok and Robertson are going to be on the trade block, if they’re not already there. Toronto has some relatively highly-paid veterans, and Treliving needs to peel off at least one or two of them to give himself cap flexibility during the season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a goal scored by Bobby McMann during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

So, between now and training camp, don’t be shocked to see the Maple Leafs make a couple more roster moves. They’re under the cap ceiling right now, with $1.9 million in cap space. But they’ll need to accrue more cap space to be a mover-and-shaker at the trade deadline, and that’s what Berube and Treliving will want as they chart a course without Marner. 

Ultimately, while not having Marner around will hurt, Toronto now has one of the better bottom-six groups of forwards in the league. And the competition for jobs on the third and fourth lines will only help the Maple Leafs improve from the bottom up.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

'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?

It’s been a year since the 23-year-old requested a trade out of Toronto, and after a career year when it comes to goalscoring (15 goals in 69 games), Robertson will still have a difficult time cracking the lineup consistently with all of the Maple Leafs’ moves this summer.

Toronto added Nicolas Roy via a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for Mitch Marner right before free agency opened. The club also acquired Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua through trade.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts, there’s been chatter about Robertson potentially ending up with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I had a couple of people ask me about the possibility of Nick Robertson in Pittsburgh, just because obviously Kyle Dubas knows him,” said Friedman. 

“They got the arbitration settled on Saturday, $1.825 million. The Maple Leafs have to clear some bodies there, they’ve got a lot of them. I had one Columbus fan ask me if [Yegor] Chinakhov or Robertson made sense. I don’t know, I think Toronto would have to do more to get that done. 

“I definitely think that the Maple Leafs have work to do here, and I don’t know what their timeline is, but nobody expects them not to do things before puck drops, that’s for sure.”

Former Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Reacts To Being Snubbed From Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation CampFormer Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Reacts To Being Snubbed From Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation CampDespite a career-high of 35 goals, Calgary Flames forward and former Toronto Maple Leafs star Nazem Kadri was left off Hockey Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp Roster. The camp is set to take place later in August.

Robertson was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft and has often had challenges securing a full-time lineup spot with Toronto. He dealt with numerous injuries during his first couple of years in pro hockey, however, over time, the forward has put together a string of healthy seasons.

Robertson played 56 games in 2023-24, scoring 27 points (14 goals and 13 assists), before reaching a career-high in games-played this past season, with 22 points in 69 appearances. Although he did play more games in 2024-25, Robertson began this year’s playoffs in the lineup, but fell out of the group after two games in round one against the Ottawa Senators.

Maple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last YearMaple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last YearVictor Johansson got the upper hand on fellow Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ben Danford at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week.

He finished the postseason with three games — two against Ottawa and one against the Florida Panthers in the second round — and two points (one goal and one assist). In 156 career NHL games, Robertson has put together 32 goals and 24 assists for 56 points.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 'Nobody Expects Them Not To Do Things Before Puck Drops': Could Maple Leafs Still Move Nick Robertson After Contract Signing?

(Top photo of Robertson: Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)

Arseny Gritsyuk Eyes NHL Debut with New Jersey Devils

Arseny Gritsyuk signed with the New Jersey Devils at the end of last season and is expected to make his NHL debut this fall. However, in a recent interview with Russian outlet Sports-Express, the 24-year-old forward clarified the timeline of his move and his expectations.

Gritsyuk has spent the last two seasons with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he posted impressive numbers. In 2023–24, he recorded 38 points in 50 games. Last season, he improved to 44 points in 49 games.

SKA announced on social media that both Gritsyuk and teammate Zakhar Bardakov would be leaving the club to head to North America.

In his interview with Sports-Express, Gritsyuk revealed this move was always part of the plan:

"We had it set: two years with SKA, then off to the NHL," he said.

Off the ice, Gritsyuk has also been preparing for the transition, particularly when it comes to the language barrier.

"I took lessons twice weekly before, but I've slacked off lately," he admitted. "Basic talk is fine: I know lots of words. Those small connecting words give me trouble, though."

Gritsyuk officially signed his entry-level contract with the Devils on May 7, 2025.

The following day, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald addressed the media:“He’s going to get an opportunity to show what he can do… He’s highly skilled. He’s going to get an opportunity to play for our team.”

Gritsyuk is expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp. But if he doesn't make the NHL lineup, he made it clear he has a backup plan—and potentially a deadline for how long he’d stay in North America without securing an NHL role.

That might sound concerning, but it’s important context: a demotion to the AHL’s Utica Comets would come with a steep pay cut under his entry-level deal. Still, Gritsyuk is motivated to make the leap this fall and fulfill the NHL dream he’s been building toward for years.


Photo Credit: © George Walker IV-Imagn Images

Islanders Prospect Daniil Prokhorov Trying Out For KHL's Dynamo Moscow

New York Islanders prospect Daniil Prokhorov is attending Dynamo Moscow's training camp on a PTO, per Hockey News Hub

Prokhorov, 18, was drafted in the second round (No. 45) of the 2025 NHL Draft and was in attendance for development camp, where he was a standout, especially in the Blue & White Scrimmage. 

Islanders Select Hard-Hitting Forward Daniil Prokhorov With Their Second-Round SelectionIslanders Select Hard-Hitting Forward Daniil Prokhorov With Their Second-Round SelectionAfter a successful first day at the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders used the 42nd overall pick to select forward Daniil Prokhorov of the MHL.

The 6'5, 209-lb right-winger's PTO with Dynamo lasts until Aug. 29, before the club has to make a decision. 

Prokhorov has played the last two seasons for St. Petersburg Dynamo Jr, in the MHL, a third-tier league in Russia, two behind the KHL. Making the KHL will be a challenge, as he'd have to jump two leagues to secure a spot.

In 2024-25, Prokhorov recorded 27 points (20 goals, seven assists) in 43 games.

If Prokhorov does not make the KHL squad, he does have options. 

He can return to the MHL for a third season, as the age cut-off is 20. He could play for a VHL team, which is like the AHL version of the KHL, signing a two-way deal with a KHL squad.

But Prohkorov can also decide to come to North America, since he was selected 42nd overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Sarnia Sting.

Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi elected to come over to North America for the 2024-25 season, playing for the London Knights in an effort to get acclimated to the game on this side of the pond and the way of life. He did win the Memorial Cup. 

Prokhorov's goal is to make Dynamo Moscow, and if he does, that will be huge for his development to become a potential NHL player for the Islanders in the near future. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Canadiens: On The Season Sweep Of The Sabres

If the Montreal Canadiens struggled against the Boston Bruins last season, the same cannot be said about the Buffalo Sabres. The Habs faced the Sabres four times last season and swept the season series with three regulation wins and an overtime one. In the four games, Montreal outscored Buffalo 21-11.

The Initial game between the two teams was an entertaining one. Twice, the Canadiens took the lead, but the Sabres pushed back before taking the lead in the second frame. Captain Nick Suzuki took matters into his own hands and scored a pair of goals to tie the game back before giving the Habs the lead once again. Buffalo came out strong in the third, scoring two quick goals to take a 5-4 lead, but Montreal rallied, scoring three goals in the last 10 minutes to win 7-5. This was an important game for the young Canadiens, one in which they learned it wasn’t over until the final buzzer and they had the talent to fight blow for blow on the scoreboard.

Canadiens: Hutson Left Off The Team USA Orientation Camp Invite List
Canadiens: Montembeault In Great Position To Make Team Canada
Canadiens Prospect Dominating At Summer Showcase

The Canadiens' most dominating performance against their divisional rival came in the second meeting of the season when they scored a 6-1 win on the back of Patrik Laine’s hat trick, with the three goals coming on the power play. While Buffalo’s lack of discipline was costly, since the Habs scored three goals on six opportunities, the Habs' discipline wasn’t much better since they served five penalties, but their penalty kill was flawless.

March saw the two teams battle it out in a home-and-away series, and the Canadiens won both matches, even though they needed overtime to seal the deal in the final meeting of the season. Mike Matheson scored the overtime winner just 1:21 into the extra frame.

The Sabres have undergone significant changes since those four wins; however, the question remains whether these changes were for the better. It’s hard to give a positive answer to that question. Two of their best scorers against the Canadiens, Dylan Cozens (4 points) and J.J. Peterka (5 points), have been traded away.

Cozens was traded to the Ottawa Senators in return for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. The latter signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent this offseason. Meanwhile, Peterka was sent to the Utah Mammoth for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring. Doan is a former second-round pick with NHL bloodlines, but he remains an unproven commodity in the NHL, having played only 62 games and accumulated 28 points. As for Norris, he is a solid addition who has 239 NHL games and 158 points to his name.

Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs in 14 years, and it appears to be tough for them to retain their biggest names. They did manage to sign Bowen Byran to a two-year deal and Ryan McLeod to a four-year pact and did bring in veteran netminder Alex Lyon, but that won’t be enough to turn the team’s fortune around.

Unless Kevyn Adams and co. make other moves, it will be another tough season in the state of New York for Sabres fans. If Devon Levi lives up to his potential and has a breakout year, the Sabres may show some signs of progress, but otherwise, we could be in for more of the same from the Sabres. As things stand, they shouldn’t even be part of the playoff race conversation, and, on paper at least, the much-improved Canadiens should dominate the match-up this upcoming season.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images


Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

One-Time Former Red Wings Forward Earns Swiss MVP Award

While the National Hockey League career of former Detroit Red Wings forward Austin Czarnik may not have been anything record-breaking, he's proving to be one of the most valuable players of his new club in Switzerland.

Czarnik, who played in 63 combined games for the Red Wings from the 2022-23 through 2023-24 NHL seasons, was recently named the regular season MVP in the Swiss National League, the country's top professional league.

Suiting up for SC Bern, Czarnik tallied 20 goals and 36 assists in 49 games played, good for first overall on his team and first overall among all players in the NL.

 

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

Czarnik is moving on from SC Bern, having signed a contract with Lausanne HC for the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season. 

During his time with the Red Wings organization, he also saw ample time in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins, tallying a total of 24 goals with 41 assists in 81 total games. 

Originally from Washington Township, Michigan (about a 40 minute drive from downtown Detroit), Czarnik played for the Detroit Compuware minor ice hockey team and first began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins in 2015, with whom he signed an entry-level contract after missing out on being drafted. 

He would also see time in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, New York Islanders and Seattle Kraken before joining the Red Wings organization head of the 2022-23 NHL season. 

He managed three goals with two assists with Detroit in the 2022-23 campaign, and would play in 34 games the following season but managed a single assist. 

If Czarnik's career in the NHL is indeed concluded, he finished it by having scored 18 goals with 33 assists in 205 games. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 16, Ottawa Senators

We’re now at the halfway point of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series with the Ottawa Senators at No. 17.

In these summer splash rankings, we’re looking at every team’s roster additions, departures, hirings and firings to see who improved, got worse and stayed largely the same.

The Senators didn’t make any massive moves this off-season, but they did take care of business by re-signing star center Claude Giroux to a one-year contract at the bargain rate of $2 million. That gives team president Steve Staios a lot more cap space to use, even if he is strategically holding on to his $4.29 million in cap space

This is a Sens team on the rise, and they helped their depth to a notable degree while still having some cap flexibility. Can’t say that Staios is doing a bad job, that’s for sure.

Additions

Lars Eller (C), Arthur Kaliyev, (LW) Jordan Spence, (D)

The Breakdown: The Senators went out of the playoffs in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, but Sens management is obviously devoted to this core. Staios didn’t make a ton of additions, with greybeard Eller, reclamation project Kaliyev and blueliner Spence being the extent of the newcomers next season.

The Sens probably don’t want you to focus on this off-season, even if they are a slightly-improved squad that almost assuredly will challenge not only for a playoff berth, but to win some series. They want you to focus on Ottawa’s terrific group of young players.

Meanwhile, of the three newcomers, we’re most intrigued by the addition of Spence, a 24-year-old who averaged 16:47 of ice time with the Los Angeles Kings last season. Spence will likely start on Ottawa’s third defense pairing, but we think he’s going to make some notable strides on his way to eventually being in the Sens’ top-four collection of defensemen. 

Departures

Adam Gaudette (RW), Cole Reinhardt (LW), Travis Hamonic (D), Dennis Gilbert (D)

The Breakdown: Of all the departures, the one that hurts the most is the loss of Gaudette, who rode a career-best season – with 19 goals in 81 games – all the way to a $2-million contract with the San Jose Sharks. But it’s not as if the Senators desperately needed his offense, even at a time when the Sens averaged only 2.95 goals per game – which ranked 19th overall last season.

The Senators need their big guns to take a step forward if Ottawa is to be a playoff team to reckon with. Acquiring Spence, Kaliyev and Eller will help make the Sens a deeper team, but they need Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens to step up and ease the pressure on the rest of the team. 

And while the Sens may have wanted Gaudette back at a less-expensive price, Ottawa can use its cap flexibility to acquire talent either sometime before the season begins, or before the next trade deadline day arrives. Staios is in an enviable position, but Senators fans are still watching every move he makes in an effort to hold management accountable. If Staios swings for the fences, Sens supporters really need a home run.

The Bottom Line

The Senators have an above-average group, a hungry group and a determined group. 

And coach Travis Green has to do whatever it takes to instill enough confidence and enough team structure to elevate the games of his best young players. 

Another issue for the Senators is that the Atlantic Division they play in is the most competitive division in the game. And that always spells high drama as Ottawa tries as hard as it can to push past playoff regulars in Toronto, Florida and Tampa Bay and establish a new level of competitiveness they believe Sens youngsters can handle.

To be sure, there’s no reason why this Senators team can’t take that next competitive step. Staios will probably always be looking for experience to add to his young core, but with solid goaltending from Linus Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen and the continued development of some of their younger players, the Sens are almost certainly going to be a playoff contender and a team to keep your eyes on.

Ottawa Senators players celebrate after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game 5 of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

Staios still has another swing at the plate this year with the cap space he has at the moment. But it says here the Senators should hang onto their cap space as long as possible, because once the season begins, you want to have talent insurance, and that’s what cap space is there for. The injury bug can lay waste to your year, but having nearly $5-million in cap space assures Staios that he can react to any situation that arises during the year. 

And while the Sens landed roughly in the middle of the pack of our summer splash, we’re firm believers that Ottawa can make some noise this year. They’re low in our rankings because they didn’t do much to improve, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to disappoint their fans next season. To the contrary – this could be the Senators’ best year in recent memory.

Summer Splash Rankings

16. Ottawa Senators

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Brent Burns Reveals Why He Didn't Retire

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns will embark on a new opportunity at 40 years old. 

After playing three seasons for the Hurricanes, Burns signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche. 

Burns still has a desire to play hockey, as retirement is not currently on his mind. 

"I just love it. I love coming to the rink every day and working. It really is the best," Burns said after signing with the Avalanche. "There's a lot of different reasons ... obviously, the biggest one for me is there's still something to chase. I'm still super motivated for that and there's one big goal still."

While Burns is no longer the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman he once was, he has adapted and knows the kind of role he needs to play.

“The game's changed. I feel like every year, it's a little different," Burns said. "You play with different people; you pick up different things. You're always adapting, on and off the ice. That's part of what I enjoy, just trying to figure that stuff out and always trying to get better and keep playing.” 

Don Waddell Claims Adam Fox Committed To Future With Hurricanes Before Backing Out Don Waddell Claims Adam Fox Committed To Future With Hurricanes Before Backing Out There was a time when Adam Fox committed to a future with the Carolina Hurricanes, believe it or not. 

Burns played 246 games for the Hurricanes, recording 34 goals, 99 assists, and 133 points while averaging 21:53 minutes.

Canucks Begin Bubble Playoff Run: Five Years Ago Today

Five years ago today, the Vancouver Canucks embarked on their first playoff (plus play-in) run in five years. Granted, this playoff series took place without the help of home-ice advantage and with extensive COVID-19 procedures in place — but it was still a playoff series nonetheless. Let’s take a look back at the 2020 Bubble Playoffs and how the Canucks performed during them. 

The Bubble Playoffs were the first taste of playoff action that the majority of the Canucks’ young core had been exposed to at the time. Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat had only played in six postseason games back in 2015. Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, and Thatcher Demko had no playoff experience. Prior to this run, J.T. Miller had 61 playoff games under his belt, while veterans and career Canucks (at the time) Chris Tanev and Alex Edler had 16 and 65 respectively (both of which included games played during the 2011 Stanley Cup run). 

Because of the league-wide shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, no NHL teams were able to finish their regular season. As a result, the league introduced a play-in tournament that allowed teams to clinch their spot in the playoffs by beating another competitor in a best-of-five series. The top-four teams in each conference were automatically guaranteed a playoff spot, though they still had to take part in a round-robin tournament that would later determine playoff seeding. Vancouver finished their season seventh in the Western Conference with 78 points in 69 games, placing them in the play-in group. To officially qualify for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they had to beat the Minnesota Wild in five games. 

Vancouver got off to a poor start to their bubble playoff run, surrendering two power play goals to the Wild in what ultimately resulted in a 3–0 loss. Micheal Ferland and Marcus Foligno kicked the series off with a fight a little over a minute into the game. A little over a minute later, Edler took a tripping penalty that sent the Wild onto the power play, where Kevin Fiala captialized on the opportunity. The Canucks took two more penalties before the end of the first period, one on Tyler Myers for cross-checking, and one on the bench for too many men.  

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Vancouver Canucks Podcast Rundown: Hockey, Actually, Episode 3

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Center Elias Pettersson

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Season Series Preview: St. Louis Blues

The Canucks’ second penalty didn’t come until halfway through the second period, when Tanner Pearson slashed Carson Soucy, sending Minnesota on the power play once again. This time, it was Jared Spurgeon who scored for the Wild. Spurgeon also got an empty-net goal near the end of the game to seal the deal for Minnesota, who left the game with a 1–0 lead in the series. By the end of the game, Vancouver had taken six penalties as well as Ferland’s fighting major and a game misconduct for Antoine Roussel. 

This game’s result was not encouraging for Canucks fans. Minnesota goaltender Alex Stalock had stopped all 28 of Vancouver’s shots on net, with Horvat and Tyler Toffoli being held to none. The Canucks were not alone in their misery, however, as both the Nashville Predators and the Toronto Maple Leafs also lost their series-opening games on the same day. 

Aug 2, 2020; Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA; Marcus Foligno #17 of the Minnesota Wild fights with Micheal Ferland #79 of the Vancouver Canucks in Game One of the Western Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 02, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Vinnick via Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Hockey News