The NHL’s trade and free-agency period has died down, which gives us the opportunity to weigh in on the top teams in the league by position. We’re kicking things off by examining the NHL’s best defense corps. 

The criteria for narrowing things down to five teams includes identifying the best blend of the limitation of quality scoring chances against and overall offensive production. If they were very strong in one category and above average in another, that helps. Of course, quality depth on ‘D’ plays a factor as well.

With that said, here are this writer’s picks for the top five defense groups in the NHL, with new-addition players in italics:

1. Colorado Avalanche

Defensemen: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Samuel Girard, Brent Burns, Sam Malinski

Adding Burns to an already-dynamic collection of blueliners gives the Avalanche as deep a group of D-men as there is. 

Burns has lost some of the offensive punch he had in recent years, but Colorado doesn’t need him to lead the team in scoring by a blueliner. That’s because the Avs led the NHL in points from defensemen in 2024-25, with 211. Colorado was also 12th in the league with a 2.82 goals-against average and 11th in fewest expected goals-against per 60 minutes, with 2.87, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Superstar Norris Trophy winner Makar and Toews power the Avalanche’s defense group. Manson and Girard form an excellent second pair. Burns and young puck-mover Malinski comprise the third pair. It doesn’t get better than that.

2. Florida Panthers

Defensemen: Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones, Nikko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, Jeff Petry

The back-to-back defending Cup champions had an embarrassment of riches on the back end. Re-signing Ekblad was a massive move, and having him and Jones on the right side is a heckuva one-two punch. Replacing veteran Nate Schmidt with the experienced Petry shouldn’t hurt the depth, either.

Regardless of how their final pair shapes up, Florida’s top four of Ekblad, Jones, Forsling and Mikkola are mobile puck-movers who limit opponent chances to the outside. They averaged the seventh-fewest high-danger chances against, the fourth-fewest expected goals against and the fifth-fewest shots against. While they were only 23rd in the NHL in points by defensemen, they were 13th in goals by defensemen and easily outchanced their opponents.

Their defensive acumen when the games matter most is the reason why they’re one of our top six defense corps.

3. Washington Capitals

Defensemen: John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy, Rasmus Sandin, Martin Fehervary, Trevor van Riemsdyk

The Capitals made some strategic improvements to their back end in the past couple seasons, acquiring Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators and signing Roy in free agency last summer. They also got Sandin from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023. But Washington has built a terrific defense corps, which finished fourth place in points by defensemen last year, with 200.

The Capitals’ 2.79 goals-against average also finished ninth in the NHL, while their shots against and high-danger chances against were above average. They’re clearly stronger offensively than defensively as a group, but their main pairings this past season outchanced their opponents when on the ice. And given that four Caps D-men – Chychrun, Roy, Sandin and Fehervary – are signed for at least the next four seasons, Washington’s defense corps will likely stay a top-level force for the foreseeable future.

4. Carolina Hurricanes

Defensemen: Jaccob Slavin, K’Andre Miller, Sean Walker, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jalen Chatfield, Alexander Nikishin

The Hurricanes had one of the best groups of blueliners last season, but they lost veterans Brent Burns to Colorado and Dmitry Orlov to San Jose this summer. Still, this group remains elite because Carolina GM Eric Tulsky acquired Miller via trade with the New York Rangers. 

The Canes were 13th in the NHL in points from defensemen, with 171. But it’s their skill at preventing goals that’s why they’re an elite group of D-men. Jaccob Slavin is among the NHL’s best defensive defensemen, after all. Carolina finished 10th in the league in goals-against average (2.80), and the Hurricanes’ defense made life much easier on their goaltenders by limiting quality scoring chances for the opposition. They allowest the fewest shots per game in the NHL, with 24.9.

Of defense pairs that logged at least 500 minutes this past season, the Gostisbehere and Walker pair had the highest expected goals percentage, at 59.6 percent, according to moneypuck.com. The Slavin-Burns pair was fourth, at 57.4 percent.

5. New Jersey Devils

Defensemen: Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, Simon Nemec, Brenden Dillon

The Devils were snakebit by the injury bug last season, which limited star D-man Hamilton to only 64 games. However, when everyone’s healthy, New Jersey’s defense has the skill at both ends of the ice that’s the envy of many, if not most teams.

The Devils were 20th in the league in points by defensemen (161), but Hamilton led the NHL with 40 points among defensemen who played 65 games or fewer. Youngsters Hughes and Nemec are only 21 and still developing, and Siegenthaler and Pesce are 28 and 30 years old, respectively. Only Hamilton (32 years old) and Dillon (34) are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, so this group should only improve. The team was also above average in limiting high-danger chances.

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It's time to discuss more NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.

Should Kaprizov Test NHL Free Agency In 2026? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Kelsey Surmacz discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Breaking down the NHL's decision to return to the decentralized draft format

6:30: How will the NHL's upcoming changes to emergency backup goalies impact the game?

12:10: Could Arturs Silovs be the goaltender of the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

18:00: Will Jeff Skinner be able to have a resurgence with the San Jose Sharks?

23:00: Could Kirill Kaprizov test free agency next summer?

29:40: Which team needs Gavin McKenna the most at the 2026 NHL draft?See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Promo image credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks added to the NHL’s goalie moves this off-season.

In Vancouver, the duo of star Thatcher Demko and understudy Kevin Lankinen meant the Canucks felt comfortable trading Arturs Silovs to the Penguins. At the beginning of the month, Pittsburgh’s rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, added Dan Vladar to help address the team having the worst save percentage in the NHL this past season.

With that said, there are other goalie tandems that have significant questions about them. Here are three teams’ netminding pictures and what’s so intriguing about them.

1. Will Newcomer Silovs Thrive In Pittsburgh – And Take Pressure Off Jarry And Blomquist?

On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired youngster Arturs Silovs from the Canucks in exchange for AHL winger Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in 2027. 

The move comes at a time when the Penguins’ goaltending has been anything but dependable. The 24-year-old Silovs came off a career season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, where he powered the team to the Calder Cup championship as playoff MVP.

Unfortunately for Silovs, he’ll play behind a Pens squad whose defense has been porous, and it could get worse if Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas trades away star Erik Karlsson. But if Silovs can come in and provide some above-average netminding, he’ll take the heat off veteran Tristan Jarry, whose past season was so rough at times that he cleared waivers and played 12 games in the AHL. Jarry’s contract has three years left at a $5.375-million cap hit per season, so unless he rebounds, he may become one of the NHL’s most highly paid backups if things work out well with Silovs. 

There will also be competition from 23-year-old goalie Joel Blomqvist, who played 15 NHL games and put up an. 885 save percentage and 3.81 goals-against average this past season. But as it stands, Silovs will have every opportunity to win the starter’s job and secure a major pay raise when he becomes an RFA next summer. 

Time will tell if he’s the long-term solution in net for the Pens, but Silovs’ acquisition should inspire some confidence that things will get better between the pipes in Pittsburgh.

2. Who Will Get More Playing Time In Toronto – Stolarz Or Woll?

The Maple Leafs had a terrific duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll this past season. Stolarz posted a .926 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in 34 games, and Woll put up a .909 SP and 2.73 GAA in 42 appearances.

Leafs coach Craig Berube will likely lean on Woll and Stolarz equally in 2025-26. The only reason Stolarz didn’t play more often last season was due to injury. So long as he and Woll stay healthy, there’s no reason to expect either one will get significantly more playing time than the other. Being a 1A-1B tandem this past season worked.

If there is any added motivation, it’ll be for Stolarz, who is coming into a contract season. Toronto GM Brad Treliving has more than enough cap space in the years ahead to re-sign Stolarz, but at a time when the goalie market isn’t deep at all, it may make more sense for Stolarz to be patient and go to market next summer. Regardless, there may be no more equally balanced tandem in the league than the one in Leafs Land. Toronto’s players can be confident with either goalie in net.

3. Will The Oilers Really Run It Back With Skinner And Pickard?

The Edmonton Oilers made it to two Stanley Cup finals with the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. That’s the positive view, at least.

The pessimistic view is that they’ve lost two Cup finals with Skinner and Pickard, who each had a sub-.900 save percentage in the playoffs. In the regular season, Skinner had a .896 SP and 2.81 GAA, while Pickard had a .900 SP and 2.71 GAA. 

If any team had the impetus to change up their netminding situation, it’s Edmonton. 

However, instead of trading for a veteran, such as former Anaheim Ducks veteran and new Detroit Red Wings starter John Gibson, the Oilers stood pat with Skinner and Pickard so far. That may drive Edmonton fans to ruin if the Oilers stick with the same duo for a third straight season and once again are not able to get to the promised land.

The Oilers are basically capped out at the moment, and that may be what’s behind their decision not to make a change in goal. But we’ve got a hunch Edmonton GM Stan Bowman will let patience be a virtue and revisit the issue during the regular season. At that point, injuries and other trades may free up valuable cap space, and some teams may be more willing to make a trade for a goalie by then. But there are no other viable goaltending options on the free-agent front, and unless Bowman has some sort of trick up his sleeve, the Oilers will start the year with the same duo in net.

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The Dallas Stars kick off a new week of our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Stars’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with some exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

The Stars put on a masterclass of how to usher in a new era while their older core ages. They’ve drafted and developed high-end talent, such as Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, Jake Oettinger and Roope Hintz, and they’ve bolstered that group by bringing in Mikko Rantanen. 

Wyatt Johnston highlights the Stars' young core. He’s a high-level center who has scored over 30 goals in each of the past two seasons. Heading into his age-22 season, Johnston is poised to eclipse the point-per-game mark. 

Thomas Harley is an emerging defender who played well in the spotlight when he joined Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. His mobility and length defensively, along with his puckhandling and passing offensively and in transition, allow him to impact the game at every level. He and Johnston are the centerpieces of the next generation, but they aren’t prospects anymore, so let's dive into the pipeline that will help bolster the Stars' winning ways. 

The back end has solid players on their way through the system.

Lian Bichsel technically isn’t a rookie anymore, having played 38 NHL games this past season, but he still feels like one. The heavy-hitting blueliner has developed into a solid defensive player who uses his skating and size to impede offense for the opposing team. His puckhandling and passing are simple but steady, never looking to play above his head.

Aram Minnetian is one of the most promising players on their way through the system. He’s been a solid part of the Boston College blueline, using his skating and intelligent, timely play to ensure he puts his team in excellent positions. With a bigger role next season, he should be a key piece to a very good BC squad.

Tristan Bertucci jumps to the AHL after a solid OHL career. Despite not winning the league title, Bertucci finished his OHL career with 18 points in 16 playoff games, which was an offensive level he’s never reached before. While that isn’t expected at the next level, he’s known for his defensive game and physicality. He moves well, and that’s allowed him to showcase some transition ability as well. Bertucci is the kind of defender who flies under the radar at the next level, but they can be undoubtedly valuable.

On offense, Emil Hemming is one of the more promising forwards in the Stars’ system. Although he didn’t have the best season in the OHL, he has a great shot and plays the game with urgency. He gets involved in the forecheck and engages physically when needed. He isn’t the most refined attacker, but he exhibits some solid habits that could translate to the second or third line. 

Ayrton Martino broke out in the NCAA as a senior, jumping from 27 points to 51. His speed makes him such an attractive prospect. He was finally able to show off his shooting talent at the college level. Martino has some rounding out to do, which will be addressed at the AHL level.

Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season

Lian Bichsel (D), Wyatt Johnston (C)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 3, 94th overall - Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver (WHL)

Round 4, 126th overall - Brandon Gorzynski, C/LW, Calgary (WHL)

Round 5, 146th overall - Atte Joki, C, Lukko Jr. (Fin.)

Round 5, 158th overall - Mans Goos, G, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 190th overall - Dawson Sharkey, RW, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

Round 7, 222nd overall - Charlie Paquette, RW, Guelph (OHL)

The Stars are known for taking swings at the draft, and they did exactly that with Cameron Schmidt. He was widely ranked as a first-round pick, but his size and lack of defensive commitment were major issues because he could get pushed around a bit, and he wasn’t always committed to playing in his own zone. With that said, his shot was as good as anyone in the draft, and he was a flash of lightning on the ice, flying around and bursting up ice with speed. He also has a bit of a nasty side, getting into it after the whistle and showing he has the fight in him that smaller players need. He must incorporate that into his game between the whistles a bit more.

To mitigate some of the risk from Schmidt, they went the safe route and drafted Gorzynski. He plays like your prototypical third-liner. Gorzynski looks to pressure opposing players with speed and effort, closing down the space they have to make plays and force mistakes. He doesn’t have the high-level skill to dictate play, but he has enough to advance play to teammates with the puck and find pockets to finish when given the chance. 

In the fifth round, the Stars had two picks. The first of which was Atte Joki, a Finnish center who has displayed some really solid two-way ability and a crafty scoring touch at times. He’s likely destined for bottom-six duties at the pro level, but there is a level of intrigue that comes from his intelligent off-puck offensive play. Joki will need some time to develop, but the Stars have a knack for drafting solid Finns.

Mans Goos is a Swedish netminder with some hype back home. He’s got great size, and he cuts down the angle really well, taking away any light behind him in 1-on-1 situations. Goos must improve his lateral quickness, but he is a solid bet as a netminder with some solid pedigree.

When the Stars picked Dawson Sharkey, it felt like a swing on an energetic forward who plays with some physical intensity. He showed a decent touch around the net, finishing pucks in tight and even showing off a decent shot off the rush. Sharkey has a few tools but isn’t always able to put them together. Grabbing a player like this late is a bet on tools, which is better than drafting strictly for size, as some teams do.

With their final pick, the Stars drafted Charlie Paquette, who scored 70 points in 68 games as a 19-year-old OHLer and an overage draft eligible. He throws some hits, gets shots off from good spots and tries to get involved all over the offensive zone. He’s a good net-front presence as well. He strikes me as someone who will be a very good junior player and even a solid AHLer, but he has too much to put together, including passing and defensive play, to really challenge for an NHL job. 

Strengths

The Stars’ pipeline has some promising defensemen. Bichsel is ready to roll in the NHL now, but with Minnetian and Bertucci on the way and some other nice swings in the pipeline, the Stars found ways to add a plethora of defensemen to the system.

Christian Kyrou is an offensive defenseman with a couple of years of experience in the AHL, having shown flashes of the skill and passing that made him a lethal OHL defender. Niilopekka Muhonen has an interesting blend of mobility and physicality. He had a solid season in which he helped the Medicine Hat Tigers capture a WHL title. The Stars have nice bets throughout their blueline. 

Weaknesses

The Stars are weak down the middle in the prospect pipeline. Drafting Joki helps, but there aren’t any solid centers who could be much more than a fourth-line pivot. With that said, the Stars have Johnston and Bourque, who can play center at the NHL level. Dallas must replenish and continue to bring in centers to ensure long-term success.

Hidden Gem: Antonio Stranges, LW

Antonio Stranges is one of the most curious cases in hockey. His pure skill and creativity are incredible. Stranges has often been called a pre-game or practice all-star. Stranges has some of the most unorthodox but entertaining skating of any prospect in the last half-decade. His ability to deke, dangle or pull off tricks outside of the game was incredibly fun for people to watch. Last season, Stranges began to put the skill and mobility together at the AHL level. Whether he can continue to grow and eventually prove his skill at the NHL level will be the biggest question.

Next Man Up: Lian Bichsel, D

The Stars have missed the presence of Chris Tanev since he left in free agency. Tanev was a stout defensive force who helped keep the blueline steady in his limited days with the Stars. They are hoping that Bichsel can help fill that void after a season in which the Stars tried to patch the hole with unreliable veterans. Bichsel can lay the boom, and he can skate to shadow opposing players. Bichsel is young, but he might be the missing piece on the blueline. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Ayrton Martino, Antonio Stranges, Brandon Gorzynski, Justin Ertel

C: Angus MacDonell, Atte Joki, Francesco Arcuri

RW: Emil Hemming, Cameron Schmidt, Charlie Paquette, Matthew Seminoff

LD: Lian Bichsel, Tristan Bertucci, Niilopekka Muhonen

RD: Aram Minnetian, Gavin White, Christian Kyrou, Connor Punnett

G: Maxim Mayorov, Mans Goos, Arno Tiefensee, Remi Poirier, Ben Kraws

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

It was reported last week that several clubs, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, were believed to have an interest in Erik Karlsson. 

The 35-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman has been the frequent subject of trade speculation stretching back to last season. 

The Penguins' acquisition of Matt Dumba from the Dallas Stars last Thursday has some observers wondering if the move foreshadows a possible Karlsson trade. 

Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review believes the acquisition of the right-shot Dumba indicates that Karlsson's exit is pending. He also thinks Dumba can be flipped at next year's trade deadline for a draft pick.

The Hockey News’ Kelsey Surmacz also suggested Dumba's addition could set the stage for Karlsson's departure. She noted a lot would have to happen for that to fall into place, including the blueliner waiving his no-movement clause and the Penguins retaining part of their $10-million share of his $11.5 million average annual value. 

TSN's Chris Johnston claimed that Karlsson is willing to waive his no-move clause but only for a few teams. Surmacz wondered if the Carolina Hurricanes or the Maple Leafs would be interested, or if a reunion was possible between Karlsson and the Ottawa Senators. 

It's been rumored that Karlsson would prefer to join a team that provides him with a shot at winning the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes would be the best bet in that regard. The Leafs are a strong regular-season club, but they've only won two playoff series in the last eight years. 

Karlsson maintains a home in the Ottawa area, and the Senators are a young team on the rise. However, they're currently not in a position to help him scratch that Stanley Cup itch.

Turning to the New York Islanders, we noted some recent speculation suggesting they may have had some trade conversations regarding Ilya Sorokin. Stefen Rosner provided a strong rebuttal as to why they wouldn't move their 29-year-old franchise goaltender. 

Sorokin's agent, Dan Milstein, wasted no time swatting down the trade conjecture. On Thursday, he reminded everyone that his client has a full no-movement clause. Milstein stated that Sorokin “has never been part of any trade discussions – not at any point.”

Sorokin also weighed in on the issue, telling RG.Org's Sergey Demidov he was surprised how seriously some people took the rumors, despite knowing about his no-trade protection. 

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The Vancouver Canucks have cleared up some room in their goaltender department by trading Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, the Canucks receive Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft.

With this trade, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin clears up a logjam in their goaltending depth. They have Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen under contract for at least the next four seasons. In addition, Lankinen has a full no-move clause for the next two years, and Demko has one for three years beginning after next season.

Vancouver drafted Silovs in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. Since then, the Latvian goaltender has played 19 regular-season contests. In that span, he registered an 8-8-2 record across parts of three NHL campaigns.

Silovs has been a force for the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, playing 109 games for them over the last four years. Furthermore, the 24-year-old won a Calder Cup with Abbotsford last season, recording a 2.01 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage in 24 post-season appearances.

“We would like (to) thank Arturs for everything he has done for the hockey club, including helping Abbotsford win the Calder Cup,” Allvin said in a statement. “We wanted to give him an opportunity elsewhere as we feel we are very well positioned in goal at the NHL, AHL and developmental level.”

Silovs made a name for himself in the 2023-24 playoffs, where he stepped up to be the Canucks’ No. 1 goaltender. He helped Vancouver close out the Nashville Predators in the first round, including a shutout in Game 6’s series-clinching win.

Now, Silovs will likely be battling with netminder Joel Blomqvist to earn some NHL starts for the Penguins next season. In addition to Blomqvist and Silovs, Tristan Jarry will be looking to bounce back between the pipes after a relatively disappointing season last year. 

Silovs is entering the final year of a two-year contract carrying a $850,000 cap hit. He is a pending RFA who is eligible for salary arbitration at the end of the 2025-26 season.

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The NHL draft took place a couple of weeks ago, and GMs across the league made big decisions by selecting players they believe will help their respective teams in the future.

However, plenty of players don’t get selected and go undrafted, and despite not getting drafted by an NHL team, their hockey career certainly isn’t over. Some pan out to be NHL all-stars, award winners and Stanley Cup champions.

Here’s a short list of some of the best active undrafted players in the NHL today.

Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers

Sergei Bobrovsky is arguably the best, if not one of the best, goaltenders in the NHL right now. He’s coming off a second-straight Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers. Those two Cups put Bobrovsky on a path to potentially get into the Hockey Hall of Fame with him already owning two Vezina Trophies from 2013 and 2017.

After two incredible seasons in the KHL playing for his hometown Novokuznetsk, Bobrovsky signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in May 2010. 

The Russian netminder was a force right out of the gate. In his NHL debut, he led the Flyers to a win against their state rivals Pittsburgh Penguins. He recorded a .935 save percentage and allowed just two goals in a 3-2 win.

Fast forward 15 years later and Bobrovsky has the most career wins recorded by a Russian goalie in NHL history. In addition, he’s 10th on the all-time list for wins with a chance to climb the list next season in the final year of his contract. Matching last year’s 33 wins would take him up to sixth, surpassing Henrik Lundqvist’s 459 wins. 

Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers

One of the premier offensive talents in the NHL, Artemi Panarin, entered the league as a 24-year-old rookie. He signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in April 2015 and took off from there.

Panarin is one of the few players to win the Calder Trophy as an undrafted player. He scored 30 goals and 77 points in his first campaign, including a debut goal against the New York Rangers, the team he currently plays for.

Following two years in Chicago, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he would play another two seasons. After that, he signed a big ticket deal with the Rangers, inking a seven-year, $11.6-million per-season contract on July 1, 2019. 

With that contract, Panarin became the second-highest paid player in the NHL at the time by average annual value, only behind Connor McDavid. The 33-year-old proved his worth, recording four 90-point seasons in his six years in Manhattan, including a 120-point campaign in 2023-24.

Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals

Logan Thompson has played in several different leagues and divisions in his journey to becoming an NHL goaltender. 

Starting in the WHL, he played parts of four seasons for the Brandon Wheat Kings, and during those four years, he played 22 games for the Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL. After his junior hockey career, Thompson played one season for Brock University in U Sports.

Since then, he has played 40 ECHL games and 50 AHL games before he became an NHL regular in 2021-22 with the Vegas Golden Knights. Eventually, he was traded to the Washington Capitals in June 2024.

Last season, Thompson stamped his name on the list of top goaltenders in the NHL. In 43 regular-season appearances, he recorded a 2.49 goals-against average and a .910 SP. 

During that campaign, he registered an incredible streak where he went unbeaten in regulation for 16 straight games. This run came shortly after he wasn’t listed on Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Now, he’s one of the top goalies in the league and is within reach of representing Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics. 

Honorable Mentions

Chris Tanev, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

Neal Pionk, D, Winnipeg Jets

Jonathan Marchessault, C, Nashville Predators

Mats Zuccarello, RW, Minnesota Wild

Did the 2024-25 Florida Panthers start a trend en route to their second-straight Stanley Cup?

Time will tell, but the Panthers were an NHL anomaly – a hard-checking team that was both talented and tough, a rare combination for a champion.

Since the days when the Philadelphia Flyers were known as the Broad Street Bullies in the 1970s, few teams have led the league in penalty minutes and won the Stanley Cup.

Going back 50-plus years, there have been only five teams that won the Cup after leading the league in penalty minutes during the regular season.

Those five teams: This year’s Panthers, the 2020-21 Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks and the Flyers in 1973-74 and 1974-75. The Panthers, who were 10th in the NHL with 21 fights this season, didn’t get into nearly as many scraps as those Flyers teams, but they didplay with an aggressive, hell-bent style.

All five of the aforementioned teams did more than flex their muscles and play with a physical edge. Much more. They all had several standouts to complement their chippy players.

Let’s take a look:

1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers

The physical members of the Broad Street Bullies – Dave (Hammer) Schultz, Bob (Hound) Kelly, Andre (Moose) Dupont and Don (Big Bird) Saleski – received most of the publicity, but the Flyers oozed with talent. Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Rick MacLeish and Ross Lonsberry each had 30-plus goals, Bernie Parent was the league’s best goalie (1.89 goals-against average, .932 save percentage), and the defense was superb, especially at clearing bodies in front of the net.

The defense was anchored by Barry Ashbee (plus-53), Dupont (plus-34), Jimmy Watson (plus-33), Ed Van Impe (plus-31), Joe Watson (plus-28) and Tom Bladon (plus-25). The Flyers had seven players with more than 100 penalty minutes, led by Schultz (348 minutes) and Dupont (216).

1974-75 Philadelphia Flyers  

The Flyers were in the middle of a span in which they led the league in penalty minutes a staggering 11 straight times. But they also topped the NHL in fewest goals allowed and used the same formula as the previous season to win another Cup.

Brawn, plus talent, equaled sensational results. In addition, the Flyers added hard-shooting right winger Reggie Leach, and he responded with a team-leading 45 goals. Schultz topped the NHL with 472 penalty minutes, and most of the players, like this year’s Panthers, played with an edge and an unparalleled intensity.

2006-07 Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim started the year at +1200 to win the Cup, but they overcame the odds with hard-nosed play, timely scoring, and excellent goaltending and defense. Though the Ducks’ league-leading 1,457 penalty minutes paled in comparison to the Flyers’ total in 1974-75 (1,955), they played with a physical nature that was keyed by Shane O’Brien, George Parros, Travis Moen, Sean O’Donnell, Chris Pronger, Brad May, Shawn Thornton and the Niedermayer brothers, Scott and Rob.

Pronger (plus-27), playing in his first season in Anaheim, anchored the defense, ageless Teemu Selanne scored a team-leading 48 goals, and goalies Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2.26 GAA, .918 SP) and Ilya Bryzgalov (2.47 GAA, .907 SP) were terrific. The Ducks also had a strong penalty kill, which was needed because Anaheim was shorthanded 121 times in 21 playoff games that year, killing 86.8 percent of the infractions.

2020-21 Tampa Bay Lightning

In a regular season shortened to 56 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampa Bay won the Cup after a regular season in which it led the NHL with a modest 597 penalty minutes. Pat Maroon (60 minutes), Barclay Goodrow (52) and Luke Schenn (51) were the penalty leaders for the Bolts, who won the Cup more on scoring and goaltending than their physical play.

Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.21 GAA, .925 SP) was brilliant in net, and five players scored at least 15 goals, led by Brayden Point (23), Steven Stamkos (17) and Yanni Gourde (17). Nikita Kucherov, who missed the regular season after undergoing hip surgery, had a league-best 32 points in 23 playoff games.  In the Finals, the Lightning outscored the Canadiens, 17-8, as they coasted in five games.

2024-25 Florida Panthers

The Sunshine Bullies topped the NHL with 853 penalty minutes in the regular season, then led the league, by far, with 370 penalty minutes in the playoffs. A punishing, physical style was part of the Panthers’ trademark, and the team became even chippier after it acquired Brad Marchand in March, sending Boston a conditional second-round selection in the 2027 draft.

In short, the Panthers were hard to play against. They won board battles, outmuscled opponents for pucks, and flourished with their physical style of play. The Panthers were also second in the NHL in penalty minutes in 2023-24, a year in which they won their first Cup.

A.J. Greer, Sam Bennett and Niko Mikkola were the Cats’ penalty-minute leaders in the regular season, but most of the team played with an edge and gave opponents little time or space on the ice. Sam Reinhart (39 goals, 81 points), Aleksander Barkov (20 goals, 71 points), Matthew Tkachuk (22 goals), Carter Verhaeghe (20 goals) Bennett (25 goals) and Marchand (10 goals in 23 playoff games) led the offense.

Meanwhile, the D got strong performances from Gustav Forsling, Dmitry Kulikov, Mikkola, Aaron Ekblad and Nate Schmidt. And, as with all the teams on this list, the goaltending was top-notch. Sergei Bobrovsky, a future Hall of Famer, had a 2.44 GAA and .905 save percentage in the regular season, then was even better in the playoffs (2.20 GAA, .914 SP).

It all added up to another Cup, and it will be interesting to see if other teams try to copy their formula.

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Earlier this week, projected 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna committed to Penn State University. He is undoubtedly a massive pickup for the school, as he dominated the Western Hockey League (WHL) over the last few seasons. This past campaign with the Medicine Hat Tigers was his best, though, as he had 41 goals and 129 points in 56 regular-season games and 38 points in 16 playoff games. 

With how wonderfully McKenna has played at the junior level, many believe he will be a superstar at the NHL level. Because of this, next year’s draft lottery should have just as much hype as it did during Connor Bedard’s draft year in 2023. 

Because of this, let’s look at five teams who could have a real shot of winning next year’s draft lottery and selecting McKenna. 

Pittsburgh Penguins 

Could the Pittsburgh Penguins get their next face of the franchise in McKenna next year? It certainly should not be ruled out. They finished last season with a 34-36-12 record and did not address their major roster needs this off-season.

The Penguins are rebuilding and currently sport one of the weakest rosters in the NHL. Players like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson are also among the league’s top trade candidates, so there is a possibility that the Penguins could get worse before the season is here. 

The Penguins also desperately need a young star talent like McKenna, especially with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the later stages of their careers. It will be interesting to see if they end up being the lucky club that lands him. 

San Jose Sharks 

The San Jose Sharks finished at the very bottom of the NHL standings for the second year in a row this past campaign. Thus, they stand out as a potential landing spot for McKenna. 

The Sharks made some nice moves this off-season, bringing in Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Alex Nedeljkovic, Adam Gaudette and Philipp Kurashev. With this and the club having several young players on the rise, it would not be particularly surprising if the Sharks are a bit more competitive next season. However, they likely still have more work to do before they significantly climb up the NHL standings. 

If the Sharks won the draft lottery and picked McKenna, he would only make their excellent prospect pool even better. A trio of McKenna, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith would be incredible for a Sharks team on the rise to build around. 

Chicago Blackhawks

After bringing in several new players in free agency last year, the Chicago Blackhawks elected not to be big spenders this time around. The Blackhawks will instead be looking for their talented young players to take big steps forward in 2025-26.

While it is completely understandable that the Blackhawks have had a quiet off-season, it also seems likely that they will once again be in the bottom portion of the NHL standings in 2025-26. With this, they certainly stand out as a potential landing spot for McKenna at next year’s draft. 

McKenna landing in Chicago would also make for a fun story, as he is a cousin-by-marriage to Bedard. However, more importantly, McKenna would give Bedard another elite talent to work with as the Blackhawks look to take that next step. 

Philadelphia Flyers 

The Philadelphia Flyers have made some interesting additions this off-season, as they have brought in Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar. While they have added to their group, they still have work to do before they compete for a playoff spot and could be a lottery team next year.

While they signed a solid backup in Vladar, goaltending is still the biggest question mark on the Flyers’ roster right now. They do not have a proven starting goaltender, and this could make them near the bottom of the NHL standings again next season. 

There is no question that adding McKenna would be significant for the Flyers, as he would provide them with another top youngster to build their core around. Could you imagine the Flyers having McKenna and Matvei Michkov on their roster? That duo would make some real magic together.

Seattle Kraken 

The Seattle Kraken brought in some new players this summer, including Mason Marchment, Ryan Lindgren and Frederick Gaudreau. While adding to their depth was certainly important for the Kraken, it is hard to predict that these moves will be enough for the Kraken to move up in the standings next season. 

When looking at the Kraken’s roster, it is clear that they still do not have a game-changing forward that all playoff teams need. However, winning next year’s draft lottery and picking McKenna would help change things on that front. There might not be a team out there that needs a player like McKenna more than Seattle right now. 

Honorable Mentions

Two other teams who could have a real shot at getting McKenna are the Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators. Both of these teams performed below expectations last season and are wild cards heading into 2025-26. 

The possibility of a bounce-back season for the Bruins is there, especially if Jeremy Swayman regains his elite form, and top defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm stay healthy. However, after trading away several former core players at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, there are certainly questions surrounding the Original Six club. 

As for the Predators, they will need players like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos to heat back up offensively if they hope to improve next season. They will also need Juuse Saros to regain his elite form, as the Predators are not an easy team to beat when the star goalie is on his A-game. Yet, if things go south for Nashville again, they could be the team that gets McKenna.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins weaponized their salary cap space this week. 

On Thursday, the Penguins acquired veteran defenseman Matt Dumba and a second-round draft pick in 2028 from the Dallas Stars in exchange for depth blueliner Vladislav Kolyachonok. 

The reality of the Stars’ cap situation necessitated this deal, as Dallas was over the cap with Dumba’s $3.75-million cap hit. But after dumping Dumba’s last year of his contract onto Pittsburgh, the Stars have $1.95 million in cap space – enough to eventually add another depth veteran or accrue space ahead of a bigger acquisition during the season.

On Pittsburgh’s end, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas still has about $13 million in cap space after acquiring Dumba. In theory, at least, the Penguins had a roster spot open for a defenseman after veteran Matt Grzelcyk hit the UFA market this summer. 

Dumba’s best days are behind him, as he posted only nine assists and 10 points in 63 regular-season games, and in the playoffs, Dumba was a healthy scratch.

Clearly, there was no future in Dallas for Dumba, just one year after signing a two-year contract last summer. Dubas recognized that fact and stepped in to offer cap relief at the cost of a second-rounder – not an insignificant pick by any means.

Given where the Penguins are in their competitive cycle, they could afford to take on Dumba’s contract and give their amateur scouts an additional swing at the plate three years from now. By that point, the Stars may have fallen in the standings, setting up the second-round pick to be relatively high.

Those are exactly the type of deals that other teams like the Penguins can make. 

For instance, the Chicago Blackhawks retained $2.5 million of defenseman Seth Jones’ contract in each of the next five seasons when they sent him to the Florida Panthers around the trade deadline. That deal might not have happened otherwise, and they got Spencer Knight and a first-round pick as a result. 

Chicago also traded Joe Veleno to the Seattle Kraken for Andre Burakovsky. His $5.5-million cap hit was more than double Veleno’s cap hit, but he scored 37 points this past season, compared to Veleno’s 17.

The Anaheim Ducks used some of their space to eat goaltender Petr Mrazek’s $4.25-million cap hit when sending John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings. That sweetened the pot in getting a deal done and giving the Ducks a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2026.

The Ducks could still weaponize their cap space in case other NHL teams have bloated contracts they want to clear. Anaheim still has about $28.9 million in cap space. Their Pacific Division rival, the San Jose Sharks, have $20.5 million in space after signing Jeff Skinner on Friday and trading for Ryan Reaves on Thursday. Their lineup has started to come into focus, but nothing should stop them from getting more assets by eating a contract as well.

This is how the NHL’s food chain operates in the cap era: different teams are at different points in their competitive trajectories, and not every team needs to spend to the cap ceiling – or anywhere close to it, for that matter. Teams like the Penguins, Ducks, Blackhawks and Sharks can justify absorbing bad contracts when it results in them being able to stockpile picks and prospects to address their long-term needs. 

Even as the cap ceiling rises this season and in the foreseeable future, there will always be NHL teams needing to clear space and other squads looking to capitalize on that. It’s the way the system pushes teams, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.

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