In 2003, the NHL had perhaps one of the best drafts in history. The first-round class was just amazing. It was headlined by Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal, and Nathan Horton as the top three, but it also included names like Ryan Suter, Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Mike Richards, and Corey Perry, to name a few.
Picking at 10th overall, the Montreal Canadiens elected to pick Andrei Kostitsyn, while Carter, Brown, Parise, Getzlaf, Burns, Richards, and Perry were still on the board. Of course, hindsight is always 20/20, but just leaving one of those names up there to pick the Belarus native would have been a big mistake.
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The elder of the Kostitsyn brothers went on to play for the Habs for seven seasons before being sent to the Nashville Predators in a trade that netted the Canadiens a conditional 2013 fifth-round pick and a 2013 second-round pick. In total, he played 398 NHL games, accumulating 222 points (210 with the Tricolore), and he left for the KHL at the end of the season, during which he was traded.
In comparison, Burns is still playing and going strong at the ripe old age of 40, having played in 1497 NHL contests with three different teams, racking up 910 points. The same goes for Perry, who’s just appeared in a fifth Stanley Cup Final in six years and who has skated in 1392 NHL games, picking up 935 points along the way and a Cup win with the Anaheim Ducks in the second year of his career. Carter and Richard went on to win the Cup twice with the Kings, along with Brown, while Getzlaf also raised one in Anaheim as Perry’s partner in crime.
And the mistakes didn’t stop in the first round either. In the second round, the Tricolore picked Cory Urquhart, who had never played a single NHL game. The Canadiens grabbed him at 40th overall, five picks before the Boston Bruins selected Patrice Bergeron and nine picks before the Predators added Shea Weber. Later in the round, Montreal selected Maxime Lapierre, who went on to play 614 NHL games.
In the third round, the Canadiens added Ryan O’Byrne (308 NHL games), in the fourth, they picked Corey Locke (nine NHL games) and Danny Stewart (no NHL games). In the sixth round, they added Christopher Heino-Lindberg (no NHL games) and Mark Flood (39 NHL games). In the seventh round, they went for Oskari Korpikari (no NHL games). They selected Jimmy Bonneau in the eighth round (no NHL games) while future stud defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (869 NHL games) was still on the board, and made their best selection in the ninth round when they added Jaroslav Halak (556 NHL games).
Given all the talent left on the board, this is perhaps the worst draft in the Canadiens’ history, but it just goes to show how hard scouting is. A player has reached a certain level by that point, but what his ceiling will be is and remains a projection, and no player is ever the same either. It takes guts and a lot of confidence to become a scout; these individuals have one of the most challenging jobs in hockey, in my opinion.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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The Philadelphia Flyers need to establish a plan in net this summer, but going after New Jersey Devils goalie Jake Allen just doesn't make sense for either side.
Allen, 34, is widely considered to be the best goalie option on the market this summer and, despite his advanced age, can still fill in nicely as a pseudo-starter for a contender in need.
But the Flyers aren't one of those contenders.
On a more talented Devils team that was decimated by injuries this season, Allen was still only 13-16-1 despite his 2.66 GAA, .908 save percentage, and four shutouts. Basically, Allen posted a shutout in a third of his wins.
What will Allen's performance look like behind a Flyers team that experienced several regressions and injuries this past season, and a forward group that still struggles to score even after the addition of star rookie Matvei Michkov?
Some have floated the former Stanley Cup champion goalie as a potential "cheap" option for the Flyers, but if Allen is going to be cheap, why not stay with the Devils? Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers would love a cheap goalie themselves.
The Flyers, so long as they continue to fail to make any meaningful additions to their roster via trade or free agency, are not fooling anyone into thinking they are ready to contend, let alone make the playoffs.
Flyers Mock Draft: Expert Predicts Controversial ScenarioThe 2025 NHL Draft is officially just one week away, and with that comes the final renditions of experts' Philadelphia Flyers mock drafts, complete with some educated guesses and inside scoops.
And, let's be perfectly clear: Allen has one season with a save percentage greater than .908 since 2016-17. It would be deeply unfair to him to make him the savior of a Flyers team that has shuttled goalies in and out of Philadelphia constantly since the departure of Sergei Bobrovsky, and even before then.
The most the Flyers can offer Allen at this stage, at least what many other teams cannot, is a significant amount of money.
But Allen cannot play forever, so signing him to a contract is just a means to spin wheels in hockey purgatory and avoid sliding down the pole for a top draft pick for what would the third year in a row and potentially four.
If the Flyers want to go the route of free agency for goaltending, they would be better suited considering options like Michael DiPietro, an AHL star in need of a chance at the NHL who just turned 26 two weeks ago, or Alex Lyon, a former Flyers goalie and proven backup whose trade value could be rehabbed with a successful stint.
Indeed, the Flyers cannot afford to have as shocking of a performance in goal as they did last year, which is why Ivan Fedotov has apparently been pegged to start the 2025-26 season in the AHL.
At the same time, there's little value to throwing veteran stopgaps in ahead of younger players, like Aleksei Kolosov and, eventually, Carson Bjarnason, when there is no hope of winning the Stanley Cup and little hope of making the playoffs.
With the $18 million in cap space they have, the Flyers should be thinking bigger than a free agent, such as a potential offer sheet for a player like Lukas Dostal. Anaheim matches any offer sheet for the 25-year-old Dostal nine times out of 10, but the Flyers need to think permanent solution, not temporary.
Something will have to give, either now or a few years down the road.
The word dynasty is starting to be thrown around when discussing the Florida Panthers.
That’s what will happen when you reach three straight Stanley Cup Finals and win the most recent two.
While there are several key reasons you can point to when discussing how and why the Panthers have become the juggernaut they currently are, a very big reason that would be toward the tippy-top of that list would be goaltending.
No matter what kind of style your hockey team plays, good goaltending is going to be required to achieve any kind of greatness.
It’s just science.
Speaking of science, there is also the fact that professional hockey players generally see their skills peak around age 30, with gradual diminishment of said skills as they inch closer to 40.
Those numbers are usually exacerbated when it comes to goalies.
There is, however, the occasional anomaly. The guy who shows up and defies all logic, pushing back against the general way of things.
That man is Sergei Bobrovsky.
Over the past three seasons, while entering what should be the twilight of a very strong career, Bobrovsky has seen his game, and his legacy, reach previously unmatched heights.
The 36-year-old has enjoyed three of his most successful and consistent seasons over the past three years, taking his game to another level during the playoffs and leading the Panthers to three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances.
His play during Florida’s two Stanley Cup-winning campaigns had Bobrovsky among those receiving votes for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
It’s truly remarkable what Bobrovsky has been able to accomplish, seemingly getting strong with each passing year.
“It's not me, it's God,” Bobrovsky said Saturday. “That age category, it's not many people who can play at that level. It's just been a journey for me. I feel like I’m playing my best hockey right now, the last three years or so, and I feel good.”
Over those three years, the Panthers have done we’ll to limit Bobrovsky’s ice time during the regular season.
He’s played in 50, 58 and 54 games in each of the past three seasons, respectively, before acting as Florida’s primary netminder during their Stanley Cup Final runs.
Combined with his legendary work ethic, the efforts to keep Bobrovsky fresh have paid off quite well for Bob and the Panthers.
It’s also given all parties concerned reason to feel confident that the veteran goaltender can maintain his elite level of play for the foreseeable future.
“I'm excited about next season,” Bobrovsky said. “I feel great physically. I feel great mentally. We have a great, great group of guys, and as I said, I'm excited for what's coming next. I'm excited for new challenges. I'm excited to go through them with my teammates, and again, I'm excited to be with the guys again.”
Looking ahead, Bobrovsky has one year remaining on the seven-year, $70 million deal he signed with Florida back in the summer of 2019.
Considering the advanced state of his career combined with Bob’s ability to defy logic and age like a fine wine, it will be interesting to see how he and the Panthers approach his contract situation.
Like many of his teammates, Bobrovsky has seen his life change in many ways after relocating to South Florida.
In addition to becoming a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, Bobrovsky has also become a two-time father over the past several years.
He and his family have established roots, another element that will likely come into consideration at this time next year.
For now, Bobrovsky is trying to stay in the present.
“It's tough to predict for five years right now, and I don't want that,” he said. “I feel like, when you think too much ahead of yourself, you lose the focus on that moment, and I don't want to lose that. I’ve got so many great things right now, and I value them so much. I live in Florida, in an unbelievable city, unbelievable environment. I have my great family (at home), my second great family is here (at the rink). Everything is great here, and I want to take full advantage of this moment and value that moment.”
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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced who would be filling out their coaching staff - in addition to new head coach Dan Muse - for the 2025-26 season.
And they may have struck gold with one of their hires.
Todd Nelson - who was head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears for the past three seasons - was named as one of the assistants on Muse's new staff on Friday. Nelson coached the Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024, and he has a boatload of coaching experience at both the AHL and NHL levels.
Given the phase of their rebuild that the Penguins find themselves in - and their focus on development - Nelson may just be the perfect hire.
Even some former players under Nelson agree. Goaltender Zachary Fucale - who was part of the 2023 Bears' championship team and now plays in the KHL for Chelyabinsk Traktor - gave Nelson a glowing endorsement on socials:
"The best of the best!" Fucale wrote. "Thank you Nelly for everything. Unforgettable moments being part of your team. Absolutely 0 doubts you will have success with @penguins. All the best to you."
The best of the best! Thank you Nelly for everything. Unforgettable moments being part of your team. Absolutely 0 doubts you will have success with @penguins. All the best to you 🙏🏼 https://t.co/SleRD8SdIx
— Zach Fucale (@Fucale31) June 20, 2025
Although Nelson was wildly successful as head coach of the Bears, the AHL accolades don't stop there. He also won a Calder Cup as an assistant coach for the Chicago Wolves in 2008 and as head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2017, which makes him one of only six coaches in AHL history to win three times as a head coach. He is also only one of three people in AHL history to win the Calder Cup as an assistant coach, a head coach, and a player.
Nelson also has a bit of experience at the NHL level, too. He was an assistant with now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers before they moved to Winnipeg, he was the interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers after Dallas Eakins was fired in 2014-15, and he had another assistant gig with the Dallas Stars from 2018-22.
And his playing career? Ironically, he was selected by none other than the Penguins as a defenseman in the fourth round (79th overall) of the 1989 NHL Draft. He only appeared in one NHL game with Pittsburgh on Nov. 23, 1991 in a 2-2 tie against the New York Islanders. He also later appeared in a few games for the Washington Capitals later on.
Penguins Name Full Coaching Staff For 2025-26 SeasonBack on Jun. 4, the Pittsburgh Penguins hired Dan Muse as the 23rd coach in franchise history.
The history with the Penguins' organization is there. But, more importantly, the developmental angle is there. Nelson has personal experience in the arena of fighting tooth and nail for NHL playing time, and he has spent a great deal of time working with developing young players and maximizing their potential.
And this - in addition to that track record of success - is something that drew him to Muse when he was filling out his staff.
“With over two decades of coaching experience, Todd brings a championship pedigree and a winning history that speaks for itself,” Muse said. “He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, most recently in Hershey, and his leadership qualities and wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset to our team as we continue to build a culture of excellence.”
Over the next several seasons, the Penguins hope to build back up that culture of excellence that they became so renowned for. And - given his track record - Nelson could be a big part of helping them get there.
Former Penguin Set To Join Coaching Staff For 2025-26 SeasonA few weeks after it was announced that Dan Muse would become the 23rd head coach in Pittsburgh Penguins franchise history, it appears that a former Penguin will be joining his coaching staff as well.
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Feature image credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
Brad Marchand is one of the top pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who can hit the market on July 1. Both the Florida Panthers and Marchand have expressed interest in getting a new contract done. However, with Panthers stars Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad also needing new deals, there is certainly a possibility that No. 63 could end up becoming a UFA at the start of next month.
After the playoff run Marchand just had, he would be a very popular target if he became available on the free-agent market. The 37-year-old winger has proven that he is still a star and that he can still step up big time in games that matter most.
Due to this, in his most recent 32 Thoughts column, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned several potential suitors for Marchand if the Panthers are unable to re-sign him by July 1. These teams include the Utah Mammoth, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Capitals.
The Mammoth making a push for Marchand would be understandable, as they could use a star winger like him as they look to take that next step and become a playoff team. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs, Kings, Devils, and Capitals also make sense as possible suitors, as they each are playoff-caliber teams with high expectations for next year. Thus, bringing in a clutch playoff performer like Marchand would be huge for them.
Nevertheless, it is going to be intriguing to see what happens between Marchand and the Panthers this off-season. If Florida is unable to keep him around, it's clear that the future Hall of Famer will have plenty of other options to consider.
Brad Marchand Has Big Message For Panthers GM Bill ZitoBrad Marchand is one of the Florida Panthers' top pending unrestricted free agents (UFA) with the summer here. The star winger has undoubtedly increased his value after his marvelous playoff run, as he recorded 10 goals, 20 points, and a plus-17 rating in 23 games. With this, he was one of the major reasons why the Panthers were able to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Photo Credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The NHL's 2025 off-season is here, and teams are going to be jockeying for trades and free agents in the coming days and weeks. And in this ongoing THN.com Buffalo Sabres site series, we've been examining potential trade partners for the Sabres.
We began the series with a look at the Utah Mammoth, followed by the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings. And in this file, we're going to break down the potential trade fit with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Let's get straight to it:
TEAM: Pittsburgh Penguins
CAP SPACE: $22.9 million
FREE AGENTS: Matt Nieto, LW; Connor Dewar, C (RFA); Phillip Tomasino, RW (RFA); Vasily Ponomarev, LW (RFA); Matt Grzelcyk, D; Pierre-Oliver Joseph, D (RFA); Conor Timmins, D (RFA)
NEEDS: Help on offense, but especially, on defense; depth at left wing; change in goaltending tandem
SABRES FIT? The Penguins have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL in the past three seasons, failing to make the playoffs in each year despite a veteran-laden lineup that includes icons Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson. Astonishingly, Pittsburgh has gotten progressively worse each year, going from a 40-win season in 2022-23 to 38 wins in 2023-24 to 34 wins this past season. It's inexcusable for a team with this many experienced hands to come up so short, but that's where the Pens are at today.
Consequently, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has a gigantic problem on his hands -- namely, how to balance the needs of the now with the long-term future of the franchise, Dubas is under extreme pressure to steer the Pens into the post-season in 2025-26, but to do that, he'll have to change Pittsburgh's lineup considerably.
That starts with goaltending, as longtime starter Tristan Jarry was an absolute disaster last year, posting a 3.12 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage. Jarry was waived by the Penguins last season, but with three years left on his contract at $5.375 million per year, nobody will be taking him off the Pens' hands. Jarry is a key candidate to have his contract bought out, but if that doesn't happen, Dubas could bury him in the American League.
Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Los Angeles KingsTHN's Sabres site is continuing a new series in which we examine potential trade partners for Buffalo. We've kicked off the series by looking at teams including the the Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers.and New Jersey Devils.
If that's the case, would Pittsburgh be intrigued by Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen? The Finnish netminder's play fell off in a big way last season, with his GAA ballooning from 2.57 in 2023-24 to to 3.20 in 2024-25, and his save percentage falling from .910 to .887. Luukkonen is signed through the 2028-29 campgain at a relatively reasonable average annual salary of $4.75 million -- essentially, in the same range as Jarry's pay slot. And Luukkonen doesn't have any no-trade or no-move protection until 2026-27.
What would the Sabres want in return for Luukkonen? Well, let's start by talking about Penguins winger Bryan Rust. The 33-year-old is a proven offense-producer, and last season, he set new career-highs in goals (31) and points (65) in only 71 games. Rust would give a terrific jolt to Buffalo's offense, and Rust doesn't have any no-trade or no-move protection on a contract that pays him $5.125 million to shoot down a deal to the Sabres.
That said, if Luukkonen isn't a target for Dubas, there are other options on the Sabres who could be moved in a trade for Rust -- namely, veteran winger Alex Tuch, or young RFA winger J.J. Peterka. Both of those Sabres wingers might benefit from a change in scenery, and getting dealt to the Penguins as they aim for the playoffs once again could turn out to be just what Tuch or Peterka may be looking for.
Sabres Potential Trade Partner: New Jersey DevilsThe NHL's off-season has arrived, and here at the Sabres team website on THN.com. we're in the midst of a series of columns examining which teams Buffalo could make a notable trade with.
Another potential fit for Buffalo is Pens winger Rickard Rakell. The 32-year-old does have a modified no-trade clause allowing him to veto a trade to one of five teams of his choosing, but for all we know, the Sabres may not be one of those five teams.
Rakell's salary of $5 million runs for the next three seasons, so Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams could rest assured he had a cost-controlled asset in Rakell for the foreseeable future. Rakell posted career-bests in goals (35) and points (70) last year, and he'd be a welcome addition to a Sabres squad that needs all the firepower it can get.
Sabres Potential Trade Partner: New York RangersThe NHL's off-season has arrived, and we're turning our attention in this THN.com series to potential trade partners for the Sabres.
As you can see, there are multiple avenues Adams and Dubas can go down to consummate a major trade between Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Both teams are desperate to make the playoffs, but both teams can't afford to run it back with the status quo. The pressure is squarely on Adams and Dubas to get something done in terms of changing their respective rosters, and both teams have pieces that aren't essential to their core.
And that means a trade that shakes up the Sabres and Penguins would ultimately be beneficial to each team's competitive bottom line.
Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles later this month, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.
The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.
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Defenseman Jackson Smith has been ranked in the top 10 of many mock drafts, and based on some of the projections that have the Sabres selecting top blueline prospects Radim Mrtka or Kashawn Aitcheson, the offensively gifted Smith could be in the mix as well. The 18-year-old broke out in his second full season with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, more than doubling his production with 54 points (11 goals, 43 assists). With the rules change allowing players to shift to the NCAA, Smith is one player taking advantage and is heading to Penn State, the alma mater of Sabres owner Terry Pegula.
According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, Smith has shown flashes offense and physicality to get scouts excited about his potential. He has good size and strength and will improve once he adds more consistency to his game and projects as a top-pairing ‘D’ at the NHL level. He logged big minutes in all situations in Tri-City and finished tied for second in ice time among draft-eligible CHL defensemen this season.
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