NHL training camps begin in a little over a month, and while teams and players are gearing up, important business still needs to be handled by several teams.

Many of the teams with business left to deal with are clubs with RFAs without contracts. In the past, we've seen RFAs sign contracts just before training camp, during training camp and even on the eve of opening night. In other cases, like the infamous William Nylander and Toronto Maple Leafs holdout, we've seen players wait until the season has begun to sign a contract. 

No team wants this to happen, and players especially don't want it to happen, but at the end of the day, the NHL is a business, and the players and organization will do what they believe is best. 

There are a plethora of RFAs at the moment without a contract, and recently, news on many of these players' extensions is radio silent. 

Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils

Luke Hughes feels like the least likely of any of the remaining RFAs to get traded, yet no deal between the club and player has formulated. Jack Hughes signed his eight-year, $8 million contract well before his entry-level contract ended, and although the situation is different for his brother, it's quite surprising that he signed. 

In his first 155 games, the 21-year-old has scored 17 goals and 93 points, while making improvements defensively and averaging over 21 minutes of ice time. Hughes, alongside Simon Nemec, project to be the catalysts of the Devils' blueline for the foreseeable future. According to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, Hughes isn't interested in a bridge deal, and he has discussed a long-term deal with the Devils, a contract the Devils are reportedly interested in. As of now, the only factor separating the two teams is the dollar amount. 

Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks

It's quite odd that the Ducks are willing to part ways with Mason McTavish, who is just 22 years old with 229 games of NHL experience under his belt. The former third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft scored a career-high 22 goals and 52 points in 79 games this season, continuing to round out his game on the defensive side of the puck.

McTavish slots in perfectly in their top six, complementing Leo Carlsson, the Ducks' other young center. Cutter Gauthier looks to have transitioned into a winger in the NHL, and their top prospect, Beckett Sennecke, is also a winger. Outside of Roger McQueen, viewed as a project, there are no other young Ducks center's who play at the level McTavish does.

Either way, the Ducks' 6-foot-1, 219-pound center has garnered interest from a multitude of teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, among many others. 

Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild

Like McTavish, Marco Rossi's name repeatedly percolating in trade rumors is shocking. The 23-year-old scored 24 goals and 60 points this season, showcasing strong chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov and Matty Boldy when paired. Although he's a bit undersized, Rossi is a smart two-way player who could be sheltered against physical matchups with Joel Eriksson-Ek playing up the middle for the Wild as well. 

In an article by Laola,Rossi said he has already added 14 pounds to his frame. If the Wild aren't interested in keeping a young center with a strong work ethic, several teams are willing to take on that 'burden'.

Outside of these three big names, Luke Evangelista, Ryker Evans and Connor Zary remain without contracts, all of whom have been steady contributors to their teams. 

Evangelista looks to be a solid middle-six forward with a career-high of 16 goals and 39 points. Evans took a noticeable jump in his first full season with the Seattle Kraken, but after signing Ryan Lindgren to a four-year contract, his role in the top four looks non-existent. Zary is an immensely skilled winger whose season was shortened by a pair of major injuries. The 23-year-old possesses silky hands and could become a 20-goal and 50-60-point scorer in the NHL if he can stay healthy. 

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.

By Brian Costello, features writer

New seasons provide new opportunities, which create avenues for players to break out. The 2025-26 season will be no different, and in this article, The Hockey News take a look at the strongest candidates to make a name for themselves or ascend into stardom on the Pacific Division teams.

Anaheim Ducks: Cutter Gauthier

It’s understandable when a 20-year-old stumbles a bit out of the starting gate. That happened to Cutter Gauthier this season. Picked fifth overall (by Philadelphia) in 2022, Gauthier didn’t score a goal until his 16th game last season and didn’t get an assist until his sixth. But as the season wore on, Gauthier ramped things up. He had five goals and 18 points in his first 41 games, then 15 goals and 26 points in the next 41. Next season? Prorate his second half, and you get 30 goals and 52 points. That’s a breakout.

Calgary Flames: Connor Zary

Connor Zary didn’t have the breakout season many expected of him in 2024-25. The expectation was he’d continue to blossom from an impressive rookie season in 2023-24 and almost certainly establish himself as a 20-goal, 50-point top-six regular. But a pair of debilitating injuries knocked the 23-year-old out of the lineup for 28 games and hindered his growth. The Flames are committed to his development and will deploy him on the power play and near the top of the lineup. He will likely top 50 points. 

Edmonton Oilers: Vasily Podkolzin

The Oilers have such a veteran lineup that it’s often the younger players who draw the short straw when games become clutch. Such is the case with 24-year-old Vasily Podkolzin. The 10th pick overall in 2019 (by Vancouver) has more than 200 NHL games under his belt and had a decent first season with the Oilers, generating 24 points and averaging 13:13 of ice time per game. That dropped to around 11 minutes in the playoffs, but as Edmonton’s roster turns over, Podkolzin will get more plum assignments. 

Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke

If defenseman Brandt Clakre can have the type of breakout season that he had to start 2024-25, the Kings would be ecstatic. The eighth-overall pick in 2021 won a starting job in the top four after Drew Doughty got injured in the pre-season. Clarke, now 22, put up 12 points (five on the power play) in his first 13 games and looked to have immediately earned his stripes. But after hitting a rough patch in November, Clarke settled back into a third-pairing role even through the playoffs. He will bounce back. 

San Jose Sharks: Yaroslav Askarov

The Sharks picked up their goalie of the future last summer when they acquired 2020 first-rounder Yaroslav Askarov from Nashville. One of the five stoppers to see time in the Sharks crease this season, Askarov won four of 12 starts but spent most of the season in the AHL refining his game and posting a .923 save percentage. Make no mistake, the 23-year-old Russian will be a full-time Shark this season and start anywhere from 30 to 50 games depending upon which veteran San Jose signs as a summer free agent. 

Seattle Kraken: Matty Beniers

Is it possible for the same player to have two breakout seasons a few years apart? We’ll soon find out if our instincts about Matty Beniers prove correct. The second-overall pick in 2021 truly did have a breakout campaign as a 20-year-old rookie in 2022-23, scoring 24 goals and 57 points and winning the Calder Trophy. After back-to-back disappointing seasons of just 37 and 43 points, there’s hope Beniers can recapture his freshman form and lead the Kraken offensively. Could be that 60 points are in his future.

Vancouver Canucks: Filip Chytil

After arriving from the New York Rangers in the January trade that sent J.T. Miller to Broadway, Filip Chytil scored in his first game with the Canucks. In his next 14 games before going down with a concussion that ended his season, Chytil scored just one more goal but showed plenty of offensive promise centering the third line. The No.21 pick in the 2017 draft is still just 25 and will be given every opportunity to push the boundaries of his 22 goals and 45 points, which were career-highs from 2022-23.

Vegas Golden Knights: Keegan Kolesar

Keegan Kolesar and Nicolas Roy were two big reasons why Vegas had the league’s best fourth line last season. The dynamic duo combined for 27 goals and 61 points playing with depth wingers such as Tanner Pearson, Alexander Holtz, Victor Olofsson and Cole Schwindt. Kolesar is a strong candidate to move up the lineup due to Vegas’ long list of pending UFAs this summer. Kolesar is aggressive, assertive in the corners and has a strong shot. 

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are here in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Maple Leafs’ 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 few exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering a new era. The ‘Core Four’ has become the ‘Core Two’ with Mitch Marner now in Vegas and John Tavares signing an extension worth under $5 million. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are the only two players on the roster making over $7.75 million. This has allowed them to fill out other parts of their roster and build a team around their stars. They may not be as flashy, but there is a real chance that they may have more substance to their game. 

That’s not to say they’re a better team, though, because losing a 100-point player is devastating in most situations. It also means that they are heading into the regular season with cap space for the first time in a while. The Leafs could be looking to integrate some of their youth to help take some of the offensive load on after Marner’s departure, not that any one player in their system is poised to take on even half of what Marner was responsible for from the powerplay to the penalty kill, as well as the even strength production. 

Easton Cowan represents the Leafs' best hope for a top six impact player, and we could see him get a shot at some point this upcoming season. Cowan is a smart, motivated forward who is constantly both outthinking and outworking his opponents. Cowan’s creativity as a playmaker is notable as well, using his speed and skill to draw defenders in and then pass through their vacated space to find a teammate. He had become one of the most dangerous offensive players in the OHL over the last two seasons, and he led the London Knights to consecutive OHL titles and a Memorial Cup in his time in London. He’s likely to start the year in the AHL, but he could be getting into NHL games this season. 

At nearly a point per game in his first WHL season last year, Miroslav Holinka continues to show that he could be one of the Leafs' better late-round picks. His skill continues to mature, utilizing it in constructive ways to attack offensively. He never seems to be looking to deke and dangle, but he has the skill to do so when faced with pressure or closing defenders. Holinka impressed with his efficient defensive game as well. If he can continue growing offensively and mature physically, Holinka has a real chance of being a steady, shifty middle-six forward for the Leafs one day. 

It was a bit surprising to see how smoothly Jacob Quillan transitioned into his first full AHL season last year. He’s a heavy, straightforward center who finds success when crashing and banging around the crease. He’s committed to playing a sound two-way game, but he will need to continue to get quicker and more decisive with the puck through the neutral zone if he wants to find the same success at the NHL level. The former Quinnipiac standout has the chance to be a solid bottom-six performer down the road. 

Although not truly a prospect, 24-year-old Henry Thrun was acquired by the Leafs in a deal that helped them free up some cap space by sending veteran enforcer Ryan Reaves to San Jose. Thrun might be looked at as the team’s seventh defenseman. He could be a player who works into the lineup from time to time when they want a change of pace. Thrun is a decent enough puck mover when he keeps it simple, and he’s a good defensive skater. 

The upcoming season will be the real test for Noah Chadwick, who has become a very productive WHL defenseman over the last couple of years. His vision and passing ability were impressive. He wants to keep possession of the puck, opting to stay patient and hold onto the puck for an extra beat if it means he can make a pass instead of dumping the puck out. While all of this has worked at the WHL level, his skating will be the make-or-break trait. He has size, defensive intellect and offensive creativity; he just lacks the mobility to pull it all together. 

If you want a simple, effective, physical defender who can just kill play and move the puck to his teammates, Ben Danford is your guy. He skates well, defends intelligently, and understands his role. Danford isn’t going to be an offensive stalwart, but he is a capable puck mover who can hit targets on the breakout with crisp passes and good decisions. 

Watching Victor Johansson develop over the last couple of years has been interesting. He is a skilled puck mover on the back end who excels as a skater and a passer. The biggest question has always been his physical development, drafted as a player under 150 pounds just over a year ago. He looks set to play in the SHL primarily next season, and that will provide yet another test for the 19-year-old blueliner. If he looks good at the pro level in Sweden next year, a jump to the AHL the following year might be in order. 

Speaking of the AHL, William Villeneuve was the Marlies' top scoring defender last season, nearly doubling the point totals of the next highest scoring blueliner. He looked great at the AHL level, finding teammates in the offensive zone with good, hard passes. He’s not really a player who initiates offense himself, rather adding on and continuing to move the puck when it gets to him. If he wants to find an NHL role, he will need to find a bit more fluidity and quickness on his feet. 

Toronto has one of the more underrated goalie tandems in the league with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, but having a goalie or two in the pipeline is important. Artur Akhtyamov is their top prospect in the crease. The 6-foot-2 netminder made his North American debut last season and started incredibly strong, but his game levelled off a bit toward the end of the season. Akhtyamov is a very good puck tracker who can play a bit aggressively in net. He closes down the angle quickly, looks to make himself look bigger than he is and get ahead of the play. He had a strong first season and will need to continue down this path next season to establish himself as the surefire third option if injuries occur at the NHL level. 

U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season

Matthew Knies (LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 64 overall - Tinus Luc Koblar, C, Leksands Jr. (Swe)

Round 3, 86 overall - Tyler Hopkins, C, Kingston (OHL)

Round 5, 137 overall - Will Belle, RW, U.S. National Development Team (USHL)

Round 5, 153 overall - Harry Nansi, C/RW, Owen Sound (OHL)

Round 6, 185 overall - Rylan Fellinger, D, Flint (OHL)

Round 7, 217 overall - Matthew Hlacar, LW, Kitchener (OHL)

The Leafs' first pick came at the tail end of round two, where they chose Tinus Luc Koblar, an interesting swing on physical tools and projection. He’s a big, strong center who embraced his physical gifts more as the season wore on, throwing his weight around and using his frame to protect the puck. The 6-foot-3 center is a crafty forechecker, using his mobility and play reading to take excellent routes to the puck and strip defenders with ease if he wasn’t first on the puck. 

His passing game is where you can best gauge his intellect, finding outlets and hitting teammates in stride all over the ice to advance the puck into a more advantageous position for his team. Koblar didn’t produce at a high level in Swedish junior hockey this year, but he consistently impacted the game and made intelligent plays. As a late July birthday, Koblar is on the younger side of the draft class, so he has ample runway to continue developing his skills. 

The Leafs took Tyler Hopkins at 86th overall, looking to add some speed and versatility to their pipeline. Hopkins has the tools to be a potential bottom-six two-way forward who plays with pace and gives his team some relentless forechecking. Hopkins hasn’t quite put it all together consistently just yet. His feet are always moving, he’s always trying to do something, and that works great at the junior level. He needs to develop a bit more methodical play to his game and work off what is happening on the ice, rather than trying to just force things at times. 

William Belle falling into the fifth round wasn’t expected coming into the season, but on an NTDP team with underwhelming talent in general, his numbers weren’t anything to write home about. Belle is a power forward who likes to impose himself on defenders on the forecheck. He needs to work on his offensive tools and generate a bit more off of his excellent forechecking. His defensive game and physicality will only get him so far. Skill development while playing for Notre Dame in the NCAA will be key. 

Toronto added Harry Nansi in the fifth round as well, giving them another big, physical forward, but with Nansi, there might be room for significant growth. He was so often asked to be ‘The Guy’ in Owen Sound this last season, and he did his best to embrace it. He used his speed and power, stayed engaged on nearly every shift, and made some incredible passes at times. Nansi isn’t a driver, though, and if he had a center that could truly help him, Nansi could flourish. The most intriguing part of this unfinished product is that he is one of the youngest players in the 2025 draft class, just six days away from being eligible for next year’s draft, so the runway is especially long with Nansi. 

When the Leafs took blueliner Ryan Fellinger, it was a bet on a big kid getting a bit faster and developing a bit of puck skill. He’s a raw, defensively focused player who can cut off play in the neutral zone, and he brings a bit of a physical edge. It’s not a fun or flashy pick, but Fellinger could be a bottom-pair defender. 

Finishing off their draft, Toronto selected Matthew Hlacar from the Kitchener Rangers. His calling card is his physicality. The 19-year-old wouldn’t have been drafted otherwise. He’s scored some greasy goals around the net and shows some decent enough passing, but he’s not an offensive player. If he can find a way into an NHL lineup, it’s going to be because of his physical play. There’s a lot to work on before getting there, though. 

Strengths

Although there aren’t any high-end centers, the depth they have down the middle at forward is the area that stands out as the most well-stocked. Their top pick of the 2025 draft is a big, sturdy center who has plenty of room for growth and untapped potential. Holinka is a versatile center who might end up on the wing, but his profile could seamlessly fit down the middle if he can stay committed to sound two-way hockey. Hopkins has some bottom-six versatility and speed. Quillan has emerged quickly as a potential NHL option. There is also Cowan, who could play center, but he’s likely a winger at the next level. The Leafs don’t have a true top-six center option in the pipeline, but they have a few guys who could be useful bottom-six pieces. 

Weaknesses

The Maple Leafs completely lack star power in their prospect pool aside from Cowan, who may ultimately be just a very good player and not a star. They have done a decent job of drafting, looking for physically gifted players with some upside as well as lower-floor bets on depth pieces, but they haven’t unearthed a star quite yet. Matthew Knies was a second-round pick in 2021, and he’s become a second-tier star, but the prospect pool doesn’t even look to have that level of player at the moment. Cowan is very good, and he might ultimately play a second-line role, but that’s kind of his ceiling. The Leafs could use a star prospect or two to help extend their window in the Matthews and Nylander eras. 

Hidden Gem: Luke Haymes, LW/C

Having just turned 22 this summer, there is still plenty of runway for college free agent signing, Luke Haymes. He attended development camp with the Leafs last summer as an undrafted and unsigned player, and he left a mark on the organization because a year later, he was back in development camp, having played nine AHL games where he racked up six points. Haymes is a two-way forward who had a very solid three-year college career at Dartmouth. He’s a guy who finds success around the net and battling along the wall, working cycles and wearing his opponents down with a heavy possession game. He plays like a pro, which is why his jump into the AHL was seamless last year. He needs a year or two before a real NHL shot is realistic, but don’t be shocked to see the Leafs call him up late in the year to see what he looks like against NHL competition. 

Next Man Up: Easton Cowan, LW/Henry Thrun, D

The answer Leafs fans probably want is Easton Cowan, and I think there is a legitimate chance that he plays NHL games this season. The Leafs will need an additional offensive spark, and he’s pushed for a roster spot in camp before. Now that the AHL is an option, that is likely the best place for him, but if he comes in and shows that he’s one of the best forwards in the organization, why not give him a shot? 

The realistic answer is Thrun, who has 100 games under his belt already at the NHL level over a few seasons with San Jose, but those can largely be thrown out of the window as the Sharks were not an NHL-caliber club on most of those nights. Thrun is a solid defensive blueliner who has some really nice passing ability. He’s never going to be a stud, but he could be a more offensively gifted option on the bottom pair on nights you want to give someone a break or need a different look. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Easton Cowan, Luke Haymes, Sam McCue, Alexander Plesovskikh

C: Tinus Luc Koblar, Miroslav Holinka, Tyler Hopkins, Jacob Quillan, Ryan Tverberg, Hudson Malinoski

RW: Harry Nansi, William Belle, Nicholas Moldenhauer, Borya Valis

LD: Henry Thrun, Noah Chadwick, Victor Johansson, Cade Webber

RD: Ben Danford, William Villeneuve, Ryan Fellinger, Topi Niemela

G: Arturs Akhtyamov, Dennis Hildeby, Vyacheslav Peksa, Tomofei Obvintsev

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

The Hockey News’ summer splash series – our exclusive rankings of the off-seasons of each NHL team – continues with the 12th spot going to the New Jersey Devils. We’ve been moving in reverse from the 32nd-place Buffalo Sabres to the No. 1 spot, and we’re looking at every team’s roster additions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable.

After considerable debate and discussion, THN.com has ranked teams that fall into one of three categories this summer. The first category is teams that have improved. The second category is teams that have more or less remained the same. And the final category is teams that have regressed. 

The Devils have been a playoff team for two of the past three seasons, but there’s a prevailing sense about this team that they’re not living up to expectations. In two playoff appearances in the past three seasons, New Jersey has been eliminated by the superior Carolina Hurricanes with relative ease, so Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald was frank and true when he said he wouldn’t be bringing back the same group next season.

With that in mind, let’s look at New Jersey’s changes and why they’re nearly a top-10 team in terms of their off-season development. 

Additions

Connor Brown (RW), Evgenii Dadonov (LW), Juho Lammikko (LW), Thomas Bordeleau (LW), Arseniy Gritsyuk (LW)   

The Breakdown: The Devils didn’t make widespread changes this summer, really only dealing with their bottom-six group of forwards and players who may be in the press box to start the year. Brown is coming off a terrific post-season with the Edmonton Oilers, while Dadonov very quietly had a 20-goal, 40-point season with the Dallas Stars. Fitzgerald got Brown and Dadonov for a combined salary cap hit of $4-million. That’s some nifty work by the Devils GM.

Meanwhile, while he’s not an addition per se, goaltender Jake Allen chose to return to New Jersey this summer at a team-friendly salary of $1.8-million. Allen worked well with starter Jacob Markstrom last season, and he almost certainly could’ve received more money to go elsewhere. 

So Allen’s decision to stay in New Jersey is an endorsement of what this team is capable of. And a deeper, more skilled Devils group in front of the goalies will make life easier for Markstrom and Allen.

Departures

Erik Haula (LW), Tomas Tatar (LW), Curtis Lazar (C), Daniel Sprong (LW), Nathan Bastian (RW), Justin Dowling (C), Brian Dumoulin (D), Nolan Foote (D)

The Breakdown: There’s been a fairly big exodus from New Jersey’s roster this summer, but it’s basically been a stream of fringe players (Erik Haula, Curtis Lazar, Daniel Sprong) and veterans who left for Europe (Tatar). 

The most high-profile departure is probably Dumoulin, a trade-deadline acquisition who never really fit in as part of the Devils’ defense corps. But New Jersey has one of the deepest, strongest groups of blueliners in the league, so they’ll be able to absorb the slight blow from Dumoulin’s departure with relative ease. 

Something to keep an eye on: Fittzgerald still has $6.1 million in cap space to use between now and the next NHL trade deadline. So nobody should be shocked to see the Devils as movers-and-shakers at the deadline and during the year.

The Bottom Line

Essentially, Fitzgerald has changed up New Jersey’s wingers this summer, bringing in new blood in Brown and Dadonov in particular and bidding farewell to veterans including Haula and Tatar. That’s a trade-off that almost certainly will make the Devils at least a little bit better. And that’s why they’re ranked as highly as they are in the summer splash list.

Don’t get it twisted – we’re still not sure New Jersey has what it takes to finish higher in the Metropolitan Division standings and/or go on a deeper playoff run next season. But the Devils’ core – brothers Jack and Luke Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier – is coming back with considerably more pressure to improve on their past few years.

The Devils are indeed improved, if only slightly so. But Fitzgerald has effected change in the team’s secondary players, and time will tell whether that was the right choice. And if things go sideways for New Jersey, there will be a larger reckoning at this time next year.

Summer Splash Rankings

12. New Jersey Devils

13. St. Louis Blues

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Colorado Avalanche

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.

By Jared Clinton, features writer

New seasons provide new opportunities, which create avenues for players to break out. The 2025-26 season will be no different, and in this article, The Hockey News take a look at the strongest candidates to make a name for themselves or ascend into stardom on the Central Division teams.

Chicago Blackhawks: Spencer Knight

The state of the Blackhawks roster is such that Spencer Knight is unlikely to find himself in Vezina Trophy talks. In fact, his stats might even appear subpar. But his time as a Florida Panther provided insight into the stopper Knight can become. He offered glimpses into his upside, too, upon landing in the Windy City, including a spectacular 41-save performance in his Hawks debut. With the starting reins for the first time in his career, if the 24-year-old gives Chicago the chance to win each might, he’ll have worked wonders. 

Colorado Avalanche: Jack Drury

Jack Drury wasn’t the centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen swap with the Carolina Hurricanes - that was Martin Necas - but it’s no surprise Colorado wanted the 25-year-old in the deal. Though his offensive numbers leave something to be desired, with Drury maxing out at eight goals and 27 points in 2023-24, he has an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time on either side of the puck. It’s only a matter of time before goals begin falling for him, particularly with an Avs team that’s more dynamic. 

Dallas Stars: Lian Bichsel

Miro Heiskanen’s injury provided a chance, and Lian Bichsel ran with it. The 21-year-old was a staple of the Stars’ blueline down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the 6-foot-7, 230-pounder made his case to start next season in Dallas. His four goals and nine points per game set offensive expectations a bit high, as he profiles as a shutdown rearguard. The Stars need to clear up cap space, and they can be confident doing so on the back end, given Bichsel is primed to assume middle-pairing minutes next season. 

Minnesota Wild: Liam Ohgren

Don’t let the meager two-goal, five-point NHL output fool you. Liam Ohgren has the offensive chops. Take his 19-goal, 37-point performance in the AHL as evidence. That performance gave Ohgren, 21, the third-best points per game among rookies to play at least half the season. Chances are Ohgren will begin the year assuming bottom-six duty with a dash of PP time, but his gifts will see him pushing for a large role by season’s end. He won’t be a top producer yet, but he’s a safe bet to be a great depth contributor.

Nashville Predators: Zachary L’Heureux

One way or another, Zachary L’Heureux will make his presence felt in Nashville next season. The 22-year-old scored, crashed and banged his way onto the Predators’ 2024-25 roster on the heels of a 19-goal, 48-point AHL campaign the year prior. He brought the same high-energy style to the big club, leading all Preds forwards with 198 hits. He plays on a razor’s edge, but he’s more than a heat-seeking forechecking missile: he chipped in 15 points and finished eighth in per-60 scoring at five-a-side for Nashville.

St. Louis Blues: Jake Neighbours

If you were to plot Jake Neighbours’ progression through the first three seasons of his career, it would follow a steady upward arc. And there’s no reason to believe the 23-year-old is going to be resting on his laurels. Neighbours posted a new career-best last season with 46 points and further established himself as a central figure in the new-look Blues offense. Only three St. Louis forwards saw the ice more in the post-season, which indicated Neighbours is a big part of coach Jim Montgomery’s plans moving forward. 

Utah Mammoth: Josh Doan (Now with the Buffalo Sabres)

When Utah demoted Josh Doan to the AHL after he’d started the season in the NHL, Doan’s confidence could’ve been shattered. But the 23-year-old put his head down and turned in a near-point-per-game performance with the Tucson Roadrunners, forcing Utah’s hand and proving himself once called back to the big club. His six goals and 17 points in the final 42 games are a promising sign, too. Doan won’t be pencilled into the top six, but he can flirt with the 40-point plateau from the third line next season.

Winniepg Jets: Nikita Chibrikov

With Adam Lowry sidelined, the Jets need to add a middler-six center, and that will have the knock-on effect of requiring cost-effective options to fill out the roster. That should allow Nikita Chibirkov to slot into a bottom-six role. The 22-year-old looked like he belonged in his five prior NHL games, and the ability to play a scrappier game will earn him chances ahead of fellow rookie Brad Lambert. There’s serious upside as well, as Chibirkov has netted 24 goals and 65 points in 100 AHL games over the past two seasons. 

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are here in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Bolts’ 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 few exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

Let’s get this out of the way right off the hop. The Tampa Bay Lightning barely have a prospect pool. The quality of the top talent in the pipeline is middling at best, and the depth is unfortunately as thin as any prospect pool in the NHL. They have always been a team that has leveraged draft picks and prospects to improve their current NHL roster, so the depleted pipeline isn’t shocking. They’ve also been a team that is good at developing role players from mid-lower lineup roles. Their pipeline has a few players who could fill those roles. 

One of the biggest hits to the prospect pool wasn’t the graduation of a prospect; it was the requested trade of Hobey Baker winner, Isaac Howard. There seemed to be some growing tension between the team and the player, which led to a fractured relationship. Howard was eventually traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Sam O’Reilly. While it may be a bit of a step down, the Lightning did well to get something for a player that would have just waited it out and allowed their rights to expire. 

O’Reilly is a two-way forward who brings a blend of playmaking and a physical edge. He gets involved defensively on every shift, using his strength to knock attackers off the puck and win small area battles. He is a play connector with the puck on his stick, looking to advance play like a game of chess. There isn’t as much flash or flair in his game, but O’Reilly looks like a solid bet to be a bottom-six center. He may not have the offensive upside and dynamism that exists on some level in Howard’s game, but he could be a building block for the Lightning’s depth. 

One of the most interesting players in the pipeline, Dylan Duke, could be exactly the kind of depth player that Tampa loves to develop. He understands the game so well and plays with an effort level that makes up for a fairly average toolset. Duke isn’t afraid to get to the net or go to the dirty areas to advance play and create offense from hard spots. His dawg mentality is exactly what Tampa loves in their bottom six. 

Drafted in the early second round in 2023, Ethan Gauthier was a player that the Lightning had hoped could be a middle-six scorer at some point. He does a good job of facilitating play in all three zones, making good decisions, and playing a simple game. He is a good finisher from both in tight and from the slot, allowing him to be a shooter from all over the zone. Making the jump to the AHL this season, Gauthier is going to need to make sure he can keep up with the pace of the game at the pro level. 

In an interesting turn of events, Maxim Groshev transitioned from playing forward to defense last season. It was an adjustment, and there were plenty of ups and downs. It begs the question of whether he has a realistic shot at an NHL future, as switching positions at 23 is usually not a good sign. If he can make it to the NHL, he could be a great story. 

The Lightning also have a few big defenders in Roman Schmidt and Jan Golicic, who are shutdown blueliners, relying on their physicality and length to kill plays. They both have concerns with the puck on their stick, which limits their upside, but they have the potential to be good depth pieces. 

U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season

Conor Geekie (RW/C)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 56 overall - Ethan Czata, C, Niagara (OHL)

Round 4, 108 overall - Benjamin Rautiainen, C, Tappara (Finland)

Round 4, 127 overall - Aiden Foster, C, Prince George (WHL)

Round 5, 151 overall - Everett Baldwin, D, St. George's School (R.I. H.S.)

Round 7, 193 overall - Caleb Heil, G, Madison (USHL)

Round 7, 206 overall - Roman Luttsev, C, Yaroslavl Loko Jr. (Rus)

Round 7, 212 overall - Grant Spada, D, Guelph (OHL)

Round 7, 215 overall - Marco Mignosa, RW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

The Lightning came away with eight new prospects from the 2025 draft, but it wasn’t a game-changing draft by any means. With just one pick inside the top 100, Ethan Czata at 56th overall, there are some interesting swings but no surefire prospects. 

Czata is a positional center who plays a simple, effective game that could translate to a bottom-six piece. There isn’t much flash in his game, but he works hard and plays with an edge. He is solid defensively, hunting down puck carriers and consistently getting in on them physically. Czata will need to get a bit quicker as a skater and play at a higher pace as well, but he has the tools to be a meat-and-potatoes kind of depth forward. 

In the fourth round, Tampa chose Benjamin Rautiainen, an overage winger who put up 33 points in 50 games at the Liiga level. The 20-year-old forward has a shiftiness to his game, showcasing some nice skill and passing ability. He doesn’t have much depth to his game beyond some nice tools in the offensive zone, which means he will need to work on rounding things out defensively so that he has a shot at NHL games. With a smaller runway, it’s going to be tough. 

With their final pick inside the top 150, Tampa chose Aiden Foster. It’s an interesting pick because the upside is low and his offensive tools just don’t really reach the level of NHL projection, but he brings a heavy-hitting game. Foster can throw some big hits and recover the puck, but struggles once he gets it. If he keeps it simple, he could be a solid fourth-line piece. 

Tampa took a chance on a high school defender in Everett Baldwin. A dynamic skater who was always beating opposing high school teams with his mobility and skill. He has a lot of work to do in rounding out his defensive game and playing a more mature on-puck game, but there is a very intriguing raw toolset to work with when taking a long-term view of what Baldwin could be. 

With their first of four picks in the final round of the draft, Tampa added 19-year-old netminder Caleb Heil. He’s been a solid USHL goalie for a couple of years now, but he certainly hasn’t been a guy who is regularly stealing games. With decent size and good athletic tools, it’s not a bad swing for a team that needs some goalies in the pipeline. 

The Lightning kept up the theme of drafting overager players by taking Roman Luttsev in the seventh round. He’s a heavy shooter and a physical center who put up some points in the Russian junior ranks this year, but he is going to need to commit to playing a more well-rounded game, or he’s destined to play AHL or KHL hockey. He’s a low upside swing on a depth checking line player. 

At 6-foot-5, Grant Spada is one of the more promising picks that the Lightning made. His defensive game is physical but he is quick to make decisions away from the puck and close down on opponents. He’s a simple puck handler who almost always defers the puck to a teammate, but he is a capable defensive presence. 

Capping off the 2025 class with another 20-year-old, Tampa took Marco Mignosa in the seventh round. He put up 85 points in the OHL last year, taking advantage of his physical maturity and experience in the league. He’s not really a player who I thought would be drafted, but the Lightning may look at this as a way to gain a player’s rights when they wanted to sign him as an undrafted free agent anyway. Mignosa has some good two-way habits, but there is a big gap between his play and even an AHL level of play. 

Strengths

The reality of the situation with the Lightning’s pipeline is that they don’t have a strength. There isn’t even really a top prospect after they traded Howard to the Oilers. So while Tampa Bay doesn’t have an area of strength positionally in their prospect system, what they do have is a proven track record of development. Even if there haven’t been many stars recently, they have produced some solid NHLers from players who were almost afterthoughts in the system. They have developed a strong culture in Syracuse on the AHL club, and that’s helped them at least patch some roster holes in recent years. This may not be the most encouraging strength, but it’s an important element to a pipeline. 

Weaknesses

In what might be the worst prospect pool in hockey, the weaknesses are plenty. No prospect looks like a surefire NHLer in the system, and there isn’t really an area with plentiful depth. The weakness in Tampa’s pipeline is the pipeline as a whole. This is becoming more and more of a concern as the back-to-back Stanley Cups are becoming further and further away. The Lightning have stayed elite or close to it since their Cup runs, and bringing in Geekie last summer was big in terms of adding quality youth to the lineup, but they may need to find ways to add more young depth via trade because the pipeline isn’t going to provide them with a high-end impact player. 

Hidden Gem: Jack Finley, C/W

Tampa has always found players who fit into various roles in their lineup, and Finley could be the next bottom-six forward with size and defensive intelligence. He had a solid year in the AHL, showing a bit more offensively while still maintaining his sound two-way play. At 6-foot-6, Finley brings length and size to the lineup that allow him to engulf opposing attackers. There isn’t a clear spot on the NHL roster right now, but if injuries arise and Tampa wants a safe, defensive presence at the bottom of the lineup, the 22-year-old Finley could be the call-up. 

Next Man Up: Dylan Duke, LW

The Lightning lineup is loaded with NHL vets, and it won’t be easy for anyone to break in. Geekie even had some ups and downs last year, and he was a high-end prospect. This year, if there is any player who might be able to make the jump, it’s Dylan Duke. The former Michigan Wolverine was stellar in his rookie AHL season, putting up 20 goals and 40 points in 62 games and earning a cup of coffee in the NHL. Duke is a player who has always made a bigger impact than his physical tools would suggest. His effort level is off the charts, and he is a savvy player who finds small advantages through little push-offs in front of the net or sneaking under defenders along the wall to strip the puck out of the pile. Duke is a smart player who understands his limitations and then works through them. He could be a sneaky solid third liner for the Lightning this season if the opportunity presents itself. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Dylan Duke, Joe Connor, Noah Steen, Jack Harvey

C: Sam O’Reilly, Jack Finley, Ethan Czata, Joona Saarelainen, Roman Luttsev, Gabriel Szturc

RW: Ethan Gauthier, Hagen Burrows, Marco Mignosa, Niko Huuhtanen

LD: Jan Golicic, Grant Spada, Maxim Groshev

RD: Everett Baldwin, Max Crozier, Dylan Gill, Simon Lundmark, Roman Schmidt

G: Hugo Alnefelt, Harrison Meneghin, Caleb Heil

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

Whenever the Colorado Avalanche are tight for cap space, Samuel Girard tends to surface as a cost-cutting trade candidate. The last time was in June after the Avalanche re-signed center Brock Nelson to a three-year contract. 

Girard is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5 million. The 27-year-old defenseman also carries a nine-team no-trade list. 

Corey Masisak of The Denver Postnoted Girard's frequent appearances as a trade candidate. However, he felt it wouldn't be easy for the Avalanche to replace him, citing his role on their second pairing and his team-friendly contract. 

Nevertheless, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now believes he could be shopped at some point. He noted the Avalanche's failed attempt to retain trade-deadline acquisition Ryan Lindgren, their addition of Brent Burns, and the decline in Girard's playing time during the 2025 playoffs. 

Deen doesn't see the Avalanche paying Girard $5 million annually to be a third-pairing blueliner. He thinks they could see a lesser role for him compared to previous years. 

The Avalanche currently has over $3.3 million in cap space for 2025-26 with 22 active roster players under contract. They're in no hurry to shed salary, but that could change if they see an opportunity to improve their roster elsewhere. 

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs avoided arbitration with Nick Robertson, as the two sides agreed to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $1.85 million. 

However, there's speculation suggesting Robertson could be traded. Chris Johnston of The Athletic observed the Maple Leafs are carrying 14 forwards, suggesting they could move out David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, or Robertson before the start of the season. 

The Hockey News' Nick Barden cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reporting the Leafs are among several teams with interest in free-agent forward Jack Roslovic. Friedman claimed they're still trying to move some money around, potentially to add the 28-year-old Roslovic. 

Johnston claimed the Leafs were reluctant to peddle the 23-year-old Robertson in the past because of his youth and scoring ability. Their preference could be shopping Kampf or Jarnkrok, but Robertson could generate more interest.

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.

We’re well into The Hockey News’ summer splash series – our exclusive rankings of the off-seasons of each NHL team. We’ve been moving in reverse from the 32nd-place Buffalo Sabres to the No. 1 spot. And our latest team is No. 13 in the series – the St. Louis Blues.

For the entirety of this series, we’re examining each team’s lineup additions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable. After careful consideration, we’ve reached a consensus regarding where teams are ranked in terms of the moves they’ve made this summer. Some teams have improved, and some teams have made a slight improvement or regression in one way or another. And finally, some teams have obviously regressed. 

The Blues had a solid regular season last year before blowing a late lead against the Winnipeg Jets and being eliminated in the first round. But St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong has never been shy when it comes to making big moves, and once again this summer, he’s made a few changes. 

That said, the Blues are closer to the middle of the field in these rankings because they’re not considerably better or worse than they were at the end of last season. And they’re still going to have a tough go of it making the Stanley Cup playoffs in the seriously competitive Central Division. 

Additions

Pius Suter (C), Nick Bjugstad (C), Logan Mailloux (D)

The Breakdown: The Blues came on strong late last season, after nearly digging a hole they couldn’t climb out of. Armstrong did his best to beef up his defense corps with the in-season acquisition of veteran Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks. And that was enough to push St. Louis into a playoff berth. But this summer, they made a savvy signing at center with former Vancouver Canuck Suter, then signing journeyman Bjugstad and trading for former Montreal Canadiens blueliner Mailloux.

Those are all relative fringe players. The core of the Blues is still veteran center Robert Thomas, star winger Jordan Kyrou, and captain Brayden Schenn, and unless they come through with dependably solid seasons, the likes of Suter, Bjugstad and Mailloux aren’t going to put the team on their back.

Individually, Suter is a decent-enough center, Bjugstad is a fourth-liner, and Mailloux has the potential to grow into a top-four D-man. But right now, Armstrong is showing his core he believes in them. And that means making only peripheral changes.

Departures

Zach Bolduc (RW), Torey Krug (D), Radek Faksa (C), Ryan Suter (D)

The Breakdown: We’re including Krug in this list of departures because he’s essentially been diagnosed with a career-ending injury. This is why there’s room for Mailloux – the Blues will put Krug on Long-Term-Injured-Reserve, and be able to spend a good deal of cap space to improve during the season.

Losing Bolduc hurts the most, as he scored 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games last season. But you have to give something to get something, and that Mailloux deal cost St. Louis a promising young player.

Faksa was a consistent defensive presence up front, but he’s more or less replaced by Bjugstad. And Suter is likely retiring after a stellar NHL career. But as a group of four departees, they’re all minor bumps in the road for a Blues team that expects to be a playoff team once again this coming year.

The Bottom Line

The Blues’ collapse against Winnipeg was stunning, and it would’ve been easy for Armstrong to tear it all down and start anew with a different core of players. Instead, he’s doubled down by only adding a few talents that aren’t elite – at least, not yet.

For the purposes of our summer splash rankings, we put St. Louis near the middle of the pack because, while they’re not demonstrably worse, they’re also not significantly better than they were last year. That may change if Armstrong uses his cap space to add talent. But as it stands, the Blues haven’t changed all that much.

And in the Central Division, not improving all that much could lead to a division-rival team like the Utah Mammoth vaulting past the Blues and keeping them out of the playoff picture. The pressure on St. Louis is considerable, and the way they begin the year could lead to major moves from a GM who wants his team to be Cup contenders in the long term.

Summer Splash Rankings

13. St. Louis Blues

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Colorado Avalanche

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.

On Aug. 4, Matthew Schaefer threw out the first pitch at Citi Field, prior to a game between the New York Mets and the Cleveland Guardians. The joy of throwing out the first pitch was likely overshadowed by the feeling of signing his first NHL contract.

The New York Islanders took to X to announce the signing of the 2025 first overall pick, agreeing on a three-year, $975,000 contract, according to PuckPedia. 

Although it’s always felt likely that Schaefer would sign his ELC, there were rumors that the 17-year-old could spend a season in college, joining any of the prestigious NCAA teams that would have been over the moon to bring him into their program. Signing his ELC means that the ship has sailed, but there is a small possibility that he returns to the Erie Otters in the OHL for another season, but that seems incredibly unlikely. At the very least, he’ll be given his 10-game trial before the first year of his ELC burns. 

The most probable situation for Schaefer is that he plays sheltered third-pairing minutes on the Islanders to start the season and slowly earns more ice time. The Islanders can also loan him to Team Canada at the world juniors if they feel he is struggling and a confidence booster is needed. 

Another player in an almost identical situation is the San Jose Sharks' 2025 second overall pick, Michael Misa. He, too, has been heavily linked to the NCAA, and the longer he goes without a contract, the more significance the situation holds. 

One slight difference between Misa and Schaefer is that Schaefer can return to the OHL knowing he has things to prove. Schaefer played just 17 games last season while dealing with an injury, and although he looked dominant, scoring seven goals and 22 points, it wasn’t at the level at which Misa dominated.

There wasn’t really a player who could hold a candle to Misa in the OHL, scoring 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games, taking home OHL MVP honors and finishing with the most points, 10 more than the next closest player. 

Misa, like Schaefer, has all the makings of what the modern-day player in their position looks like. Misa is a transition monster, has a quick release, which opens up play-making opportunities and has some of the best hands in the 2025 draft class. His understanding of how to protect the puck around the boards and how to bait defenders into opening up space for him is NHL-ready. Defensively, he hounds down pucks and plays smart, positional hockey.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 184 pounds, the 18-year-old could benefit from a college season where he adds more muscle and weight to his frame, as well as playing in a tournament like the World Junior Championship.

Alternatively, the Sharks won’t be competing for a playoff spot next season, which is sometimes a suitable situation for young players. Like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith did in their rookie campaigns, Misa can fail and learn from his mistakes in the NHL without the consequences of the NHL standings. He could skate as the organization's No.2 center with veteran Alexander Wennberg skating on the third line behind him to provide veteran leadership. 

Misa is the remaining top-three pick to have not signed his ELC, after Schaefer did, and Anton Frondell signed his with the Chicago Blackhawks on July. 15. Ultimately, the Sharks and Misa should avoid comparisons to Schaefer and the Islanders' situation and do what they believe is best for his development.

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.

New seasons provide new opportunities, which create avenues for players to break out. The 2025-26 season will be no different, and in this article, The Hockey News take a look at the strongest candidates to make a name for themselves or ascend into stardom on the Metro Division teams. 

Carolina Hurricanes: Jackson Blake

At just 21, right winger Jackson Blake has already shown an affinity for coming up in the clutch, and the fact he elevated his game during the playoffs for the Canes is a great sign. The son of former NHLer Jason Blake is coming off a solid rookie season and could easily take on more responsibility next year. He is a tenacious winger who plays bigger than his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. True, the Canes are deep up front, and Blake will likely stay in the bottom six, but don’t be surprised if he cracks the 20-goal mark. 

Columbus Blue Jackets: Jet Greaves

Goaltending was Columbus’ downfall in 2024-25, but Jet Greaves was stellar in 11 NHL games. Greaves is undersized but makes up for it with his athleticism and aggressiveness in the crease. He won a weekly first-star honor in April, thanks to a stretch in which he went 3-0-0 with a .968 save percentage. Despite playing just 11 games, Greaves finished in the top 15 in goals saved above expected. No other Jackets goalie ranked in the top 75. Greaves, 24, has his teammates’ trust and is ready for a bigger role. 

New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec

While the playoffs were a letdown for the Devils, they did at least get a signature double-OT goal from blueliner Simon Nemec against Carolina. It’s been an up-and-down existence for Nemec since New Jersey picked him second overall in 2022, as he played fewer NHL games this year than he did as a rookie, when he had 19 points in 2023-24. But defensemen take time to develop, and if Nemec, 21, can use that late confidence booster to build momentum, the Devils will have another ace in their back end.

New York Islanders: Isaiah George

With a new GM in Mathieu Darche, the Islanders will be interesting to watch this summer. New York has the No.1 pick in the draft, but will that player (Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer) go straight to the NHL? Either way, the Isles need a pick-me-up, and blueliner Isaiah George fits the bill. George is an excellent skater with 33 games worth of NHL reps under his belt from last season, which he split between Long Island and the AHL. He has a solid frame and comes from a great OHL London program - both big pluses.

New York Rangers: Will Cuylle

The Rangers need more players like Will Cuylle. The young power forward is big, skilled and nasty - so foes always know when he’s on the ice. New York needs the next generation to step up after the club experienced a cultural crisis this season (missing the playoffs entirely despite having a contention-worthy lineup). Cuylle is already well on his way, coming off his first 20-goal season and doubling his production from 2023-24. Given his trajectory, a 60-point campaign in 2025-25 would not be a shock.

Philadelphia Flyers: Tyson Foerster

With a great shot and a big frame, Tyson Foerster brings a lot of appeal on the right wing. Heading into his third full NHL season, he’ll be one to watch under new coach Rick Tocchet. Foerster is coming off a 25-goal season and has made incremental offensive gains year over year. Based on his skill set, it’s fair to expect 30 goals from the 2020 first-rounder - perhaps more. Whether in the OHL or AHL, Foerster has proven adept at adjusting to better competition, and so far, he’s done the same in the NHL.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Rutger McGroarty

He’ll never be popular in Winnipeg, but Rutger McGroarty has a chance to be a rarity in Pittsburgh: an impact player who was taken in the first round of a recent draft (even if the Pens didn’t draft him). Acquired from the Jets in 2024, McGroarty is a stout, two-way winger with leadership qualities. He got a taste of the NHL this year but saw most of his action in the AHL, putting up solid numbers with the Baby Pens and seeing what the pros are really like. Now, it’s time to push for a regular job on the big squad. 

Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard

Rookie Ryan Leonard didn’t play every playoff game for the Capitals, but that was very much by design. Still, the former Boston College standout and two-time WJC gold medallist (once as Team USA’s captain) showed he’s ready to make an impact in Washington. He’ll be one to watch in the Calder Trophy race thanks to his tenacious, high-energy game that blends skill and physicality. On a Caps team turning over to a new generation, the 20-year-old right winger will play a big role in his first full season.

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.