After a start to the NHL’s 2025 free agency period saw the Toronto Maple Leafs trade away star right winger Mitch Marner, Leafs GM Brad Treliving hinted at more moves to come from his team. 

“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said after Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday. “That’s really where our focus is.”

We’re taking Treliving at his word, and we don’t expect him to make any more notable moves in free agency. So, trades are going to be the route the Maple Leafs make to fill that need, and one trade in particular makes a lot of sense for Toronto, is acquiring veteran center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in return for defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Now, before we go any further, let’s be clear – both Kadri and Rielly would have to sign off on this deal to make it happen. Each of them has a no-trade clause, and in Rielly’s case in particular, Flames GM Craig Conroy would have to sell Rielly on coming to Calgary – at least, in the short term.

Why is that? Well, because the smart thing Conroy could do would be flipping Rielly to a playoff-bound team in need of an experienced blueliner who can contribute on offense and eat up 20 minutes a night. That’s probably not the Flames right now, especially after they do what many think they’ll do by trading veteran blueliner Rasmus Andersson. But if Rielly agreed to be moved to Calgary for the time being, with the knowledge that he can direct Conroy as to where to flip him, the deal definitely makes sense for both sides.

Certainly, the money involved in a Kadri/Rielly trade is almost a perfect match. Kadri is signed at $7-million per season for the next four years, while Rielly is signed at $7.5- million per season for the next five years. If the Flames are taking on that extra year of Rielly’s salary, Treliving may have to add another asset to make a deal work for the Flames – something like a second-round draft pick, which the Maple Leafs have in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

But if that deal goes down, the Leafs change their DNA and add a second-line center, probably moving freshly re-signed pivot John Tavares to the wing. And all of a sudden, the Leafs would have a plethora of centers – Auston Matthews, Kadri, Tavares, new Leaf Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton and David Kampf. That’s more than Toronto needs down the middle, but at that point, Treliving could trade or buy out Kampf, freeing up more money to spend on wingers, or perhaps, on a depth defenseman.

It won’t be easy for the Leafs to turn a position of need into a position of strength, but one trade – albeit a big trade – could do the trick for them in that regard. A reunion with Kadri surely would be welcomed by the former Leaf, and his growth as a competitor and his Cup championship pedigree from his time with the Colorado Avalanche would only help the Buds become a significantly harder team to play against.

Saying goodbye to Rielly – a cornerstone component in Toronto and a terrific human being – would be tough for the Leafs. But the time to act and move on from Rielly is now, and if the Leafs and Calgary can work together on finding him a better work situation, Rielly would be erring if he didn’t accept a trade and get a new lease on life on the ice, the same way Marner has. 

If Treliving is able to pull off this deal, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. The fit on Toronto’s end is just about perfect, and the Leafs’ desire to change their makeup would be fulfilled by bringing Kadri back to a place he still considers home.

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Multiple high-profile players have been on the move during this off-season, and with these moves, there is the possibility of seeing new partnerships and dynamic duos come into fruition. 

Several teams across the NHL have two players who share undeniable chemistry with each other. A great example of that is with the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who always complement each other on the ice with their elite abilities.

Here are three pairs of players who have never played together before, but could dominate once they get a chance to share the ice.

Mitch Marner And Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights were the winners of the Mitch Marner sweepstakes before he was able to officially enter free agency. GM Kelly McCrimmon acquired the right winger from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.

Marner is one of the league’s best playmakers. He finished the season as the fifth-best scorer in the league with 102 points. Marner ranked three spots above new teammate Jack Eichel, who scored 94 points last year.

Marner and Eichel are similar in a lot of ways in how they play the game. They’re premier playmakers who recorded a combined 141 assists, 74 of those being primary helpers. In addition to their offensive skill, they take pride in the other side of the ice as they both finished top 10 in Selke Trophy voting.

Noah Dobson And Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens made a huge splash in acquiring 25-year-old Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The defenseman was traded to the Habs for left winger Emil Heineman, as well as two first-round picks from the 2025 draft.

Dobson is coming off a down year with the Islanders, but is more than capable of taking over a game from the blueline. Two seasons ago, he recorded a 70-point campaign that saw him receive a top-10 ranking for the Norris Trophy.

There is a prime opportunity for Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis to pair Dobson with reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The two D-men complement each other with their contrast in size and could be a successful pairing for years to come.

Trevor Zegras And Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers

Trevor Zegras’ time with the Anaheim Ducks has come to an end after five seasons with the club. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick in the 2025 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. 

Zegras is known for his creativity, soft hands with the puck and his playmaking ability. New Flyers coach Rick Tocchet hinted at pairing Zegras and his playmaking with right winger Matvei Michkov when he spoke to The Athletic following the trade.

“We’d be idiots not to explore it and talk about it, and try to manifest it where it can work,” Tocchet said after Philadelphia acquired Zegras. 

The 24-year-old has played left wing and center with the Ducks, but because of his size, there’s a risk putting Zegras in the middle. “I definitely think it’s our obligation to see if he can play centre,” Tocchet said. “He really wants to give it a shot.”

Michkov and Zegras have shown they are confident in how skilled they are, attempting multiple ‘Michigan’ moves between them in their short careers. It could be breathtaking to see what they could potentially do together if they shared a line.

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After the first four days of the NHL’s free-agent frenzy, most of the available talent is now off the market. But for the right price, there are still decent-enough players looking for work. What players of note are left? That’s the focus of this column. 

Here are our picks for the top players remaining as UFAs, listed on their most recent teams:

1. Ilya Samsonov, G, Vegas Golden Knights

We have Samsonov at the top of our list not because we believe he’ll get the most money out of all the players we’ve listed here, but rather, because the goaltending market is not at all deep, guaranteeing Samsonov will get a solid shot at earning playing time somewhere. 

The 28-year-old’s numbers last year with Vegas – including a 2.82 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage – aren’t going to knock anyone’s socks off, and his next salary won’t be much more than the $1.8 million he made as a Golden Knight last year. But if he’s part of a tandem where his playing time is somewhat limited to 40 games or fewer, Samsonov could prove to be a smart investment.

2. Jack Roslovic, C, Carolina Hurricanes

Roslovic has bounced around the league in recent years, playing on the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Hurricanes since 2022-23. But Roslovic tied his personal best in goals this past season, with 22 markers to his credit. 

Any team seeking offense could do much worse than signing Roslovic, who earned only $2.8 million in 2024-25 and may aim to get back to the $4-million per season he was making in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He’s still relatively young at 28 years old, and Roslovic’s soft hands and nose for the net are valuable skills he’s looking to parlay into a multi-year deal.

3. Matt Grzelcyk, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

Just about all defensemen of consequence are off the board, leaving Grzelcyk as the best available option. The 31-year-old had a career year on offense with the Penguins last season, posting 39 assists and 40 points. 

Any team seeking help on offense should be taking a long look at Grzelcyk, who earned only $2.75-million last season and is likely aiming for a two or three-year contract with a slightly higher annual payday. But after suffering through misery in Pittsburgh last season, Grzelcyk may choose to sacrifice some money to play on a team that’s a virtual lock to make the playoffs in 2025-26.

4. Victor Olofsson, LW, Vegas Golden Knights

Only three years ago, Olofsson was earning $4.75 million and generating 28 goals in a single season for the Buffalo Sabres. But he had a down season for Buffalo in 2023-24, and accepted a pay cut to only $1.075-million with the Golden Knights last season. 

OIofsson’s role in Vegas was smaller than it was in Buffalo, but he still managed to post 15 goals and 29 points while averaging only 14:30 of ice time in 56 games in 2024-25. Teams in need of depth on the wing should be in the race to sign Olofsson, but like Grzelcyk, he may also prioritize playing on a Cup contender.

5. Max Pacioretty, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 36-year-old Pacioretty once again had difficulty staying healthy last season, appearing in only 37 games and potting five goals and 13 points in that span. But Pacioretty roared back in a major way in the playoffs, posting three goals and eight points in 11 post-season games. 

Pacioretty earned $873,770 with Toronto last season, and while he may get a slight raise into the $1-million-per-year range, his priority could be playing close to his Michigan home, and that means he may be choosing between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings to sign what could be his final NHL contract. Retirement could also be an option for Pacioretty, but if he does play, his professionalism and evolution into a physical forward will be very valuable to a team looking for help on its third or fourth line.

6. Joel Kiviranta, LW, Colorado Avalanche

The 29-year-old Kiviranta was playing on a league-minimum contract in Colorado for the past two seasons, but in 2024-25, he had a breakout year of sorts, with 16 goals and 23 points in 79 games with the Avs. Kiviranta averaged only 12:31 of ice time in Denver last season – a modest career-best for the Finn – but as a plugger on an above-average squad, he could flirt with the 20-goal plateau and wind up being a terrific gamble for a team. 

The Avalanche have the money to bring Kiviranta back, but a lack of agreement at this point may signify they want to move in a different direction. Sooner or later, though, one team or another will bring in Kiviranta as a depth addition. 

7. Robby Fabbri, C, Anaheim Ducks

Staying healthy has been a serious challenge for the 29-year-old Fabbri, who has yet to play a full 82-game season in his nine NHL seasons. And last year, Fabbri appeared in only 44 games with the Ducks, posting just eight goals and 16 points. But the year prior, as a member of the Red Wings, Fabbri matched his career-high of 18 goals, and he did it in only 68 games. 

Fabbri earned $4 million in 2024-25, so his next contract is likely to include a significant pay cut. But if he can stay in the lineup, Fabbri has the finishing skills to get close to the 20-goal mark once again.

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The NHL off-season gives us the perfect opportunity to examine each team’s prospect pools, continuing now with the Boston Bruins.

In this series, Tony Ferrari will dig into each NHL team’s strengths and weaknesses, a quick overview of the latest draft class, where each team's positional depth chart stands and who could be next in line for an NHL opportunity.

A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises.

Initial Thoughts

After over a decade of being one of the NHL’s most dangerous contenders, the Boston Bruins are beginning to look toward the future. Whether you call it a retool or a rebuild, the Bruins sent key players out the door at the trade deadline, and they seem to have their eyes on the draft and the world of prospects. They acquired Marat Khusnutdinov, Will Zellers and Fraser Minten at the deadline, which started stocking up their cupboard. 

Khusnutdinov is an incredibly smart, tactical forward who can play both center and on the wing. His speed and transition ability are quite impressive, and although he wasn’t able to break through offensively in a limited role both pre and post-trade, he has some really intriguing dual-threat ability. He will stay in the lineup because of his 200-foot game, but his skill and transition game will help him find a nice role in the middle six. 

Zellers is an incredibly skilled puck handler who could have one of the most entertaining highlight reels of any prospect. His offensive tools allow him to get into excellent scoring position, and his shot has come a long way over the last couple of years. His scoring comes from dangling a defender and getting his shot off quickly and accurately. He’s not really a typical Bruins-style player, but there is a lot to like in terms of betting on upside and skill. 

Minten is much more of a Bruins pick, being an intense, intelligent player who can play with some jam. His shot is good, and he plays a simple, north-south game that won’t wow anyone. Minten’s entire game is based around his ability to read the ice and make the right play. He isn’t flashy, but he’s effective. 

Fabian Lysell played a dozen NHL games last season, and despite not really finding the scoresheet too often, the impact he had on the Bruins after the trade deadline was impressive. His speed and transition ability were immediately evident. Lysell will have to win a spot on the roster in training camp, but the pure talent is as high as almost anyone in the pipeline outside of James Hagens, who was just drafted seventh overall. Lysell has had some growing pains because when you figuratively go 110 miles per hour every time you’re on the ice, you can have some issues. If Lysell can slow down a bit at times and play a bit more tactically, he could be a stud for the Bruins. 

The blueline is a bit bare for the Bruins. Jackson Edwards brings a really interesting physical edge, and maybe there is something there as a bottom-pair guy. 

Loke Johansson is a big, defensive-minded blueliner who is mobile, but he’s not really much of a difference-maker. Kristian Kostadinski could be an interesting defender if he can refine his defensive game at Boston College with his physical edge.

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

Fraser Minten (C), Matthew Poitras (RW), Marat Khusnutdinov (C/LW), Fabian Lysell (RW/LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 7th overall - James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)

Round 2, 51st overall - Will Moore, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 2, 61st overall - Liam Pettersson, D, Vaxjo Jr. (Swe.)

Round 3, 79th overall - Cooper Simpson, L, Shakopee (Minn. H.S.)

Round 4, 100th overall - Vashek Blanar, D, Troja-Ljungby Jr. (Swe)

Round 5, 133rd overall - Cole Chandler, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL)

Round 6, 165th overall - Kirill Yemelyanov, C, Loko Yaroslavl Jr. (Rus.)

When the Bruins decided to trade key pieces at the trade deadline, it signalled that the 2025 NHL draft would be the beginning of a new era for the Bruins. Although they didn’t quite reach the bottom of the standings, they were selecting in the top 10 with their own pick for the first time in a long time.

Despite the best efforts from teams like the New York Islanders to trade up and try to get ahead of the Bruins, it didn’t happen, and they chose the center from Boston College, James Hagens. 

The fit is about as perfect as it could be. The Bruins need a new centerpiece for the future, and Hagens has the potential to be that. Coming into the year, Hagens was the top prospect for this year’s draft class, but strong seasons from a few others and a year that wasn’t quite on par with recent college draft eligibles Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini resulted in Hagens dropping down the board.

Hagens is a supremely skilled playmaker with incredible creativity. His skating is agile and swift. He moves with a shiftiness that can give defenders fits. It’s given him the ability to open up passing lanes and create small advantages for himself all over the ice. Hagens is no slouch as a goal-scorer either, using his speed to attack the slot, and he has a wicked snap shot that can pick corners. He even seemed to add some level of physicality to his game despite his undersized frame. Hagens has a real chance of being the face of the Bruins one day. 

In the second round, the Bruins selected a future teammate of Hagens at Boston College, Will Moore. The NTDP center is a play connector who always looks to move the puck in a positive direction. He’s a strong passer who works give-and-gos at a high level and shows excellent touch on passes all over the ice. Moore brings a physical edge as well. He lacks the top-end gear of a high-end producer, but he brings a steadiness you need in the middle six. 

Swedish defender Liam Pettersson’s game is raw, but the upside is incredibly intriguing. His skating and passing in transition allow him to get the play moving up ice. Pettersson is a shifty puck handler who can evade pressure and fire off passes to outlets. His defensive game will need lots of improvement, but with the tools and a bit of physical maturity, he could be really intriguing. 

Cooper Simpson was one of the most intriguing high school players in the draft because of his wicked shot, high-end skating and versatile puckhandling. As with most high schoolers, there are some concerns with how he will translate at the pro level, as he doesn’t bring much in the way of a physical game and can falter under physical pressure. Simpson excels in space and loves to attack downhill, which should bode well for him as he advances to higher pace environments. He needs to work on his defensive game, but Simpson is a scorer, so that’s what the Bruins hope to have found. 

The Bruins' selection of Vashek Blanar was a bit unexpected, but after watching some additional tape on him, it looks like the Bruins are betting on size and potential. He shows flashes of play creation from the back end and is very close to pulling plays off at the offensive blueline, even if he comes up a bit short at times. Defensively, he uses his length well and closes quickly most of the time. There are times you’d like to see him get a bit more intense, but there is a solid foundation of tools and size to work with. 

Cole Chandler is a typical Bruins-style, underappreciated player. He does a lot of the little things well and plays a high-energy, detail-oriented game. Chandler looks to initiate contact in puck races and tries to gain the little advantages. He isn’t the most skilled, the fastest, or even the strongest player, but he does so many of the right things. He could end up being a player who finds a nice role in the bottom-six down the road. 

A late-round swing on Kirill Yemelyanov might be a sneaky good pick for the Bruins as they add a center who plays a sound 200-foot game. He isn’t the most skilled or fleetest of foot, but he has enough there to be a legitimate prospect. Yemelyanov shows some really smart passing and seems to understand how to move the puck with short, simple passes to get it into excellent positions up ice. 

Strengths

Despite a number of weak points, the Bruins have done a good job of finding players who fill their depth chart down the middle. Players like Letourneau and Gasseau have been centers quite often in their careers to this point, but likely project as wingers at the next level. Even with that, they added Hagens and Moore to a group that already features Locmelis and Minten, both of whom could play NHL games this season. 

Weaknesses

The Bruins have been a very good team for a very long time, and although they’ve committed to at least a retool, they lack prospects in a major way. 

The pipeline has quite a few weaknesses, including a complete lack of U-23 talent in net. That’s somewhat excusable, though, considering that Boston has its goalie of the future in Jeremy Swayman already on the big club. 

What is increasingly concerning is their lack of defense prospects, specifically on the right side. Wanner is the only notable right-handed defender in the system. Their left side is almost as bad. The Bruins need to infuse their prospect pool with some defense prospects because they have no one who projects as more than a depth player.

Hidden Gem: Dans Locmelis, C/W

One of the best examples of a player with a bunch of average to slightly above average tools with the ability to become more than the sum of his parts, Locmelis is going to be an interesting player for the Bruins in the beginning years of their rebuild. 

After a solid season at UMass in the NCAA, Locmelis jumped into the AHL and put up 12 points in just six games. His playoff didn’t go quite as well with just one point across four contests, but there is a ton of promise as a depth scorer. Locmelis has been one of the most impactful performers for the Latvian national team at all levels, from U-18 to the men’s squad. He is continuously improving on that stage, so finding a role in the Bruins system looks like a decent bet. 

Next Man Up: Fraser Minten, C

The Bruins added Minten at the deadline last season, getting him in the deal that sent Brandon Carlo to Toronto. Minten is an intelligent, steady center who has a very good shot and a stout 200-foot game. He lacks the dynamism and upside of a true top-six center, but he brings everything you could want in a third-line center. His motor never quits, he takes excellent routes around the ice, and he isn’t a guy who is going to chase for offense. Minten was a very solid get for the Bruins, and he’s a player that they were able to almost immediately put into their lineup, signifying the beginning of a new era of Boston hockey. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Cooper Simpson, Will Zellers, Cole Spicer, Brett Harrison, Andre Gasseau, Christopher Pelosi

C: James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Dans Locmelis, Will Moore, Cole Chandler, Kirill Yemelyanov

RW: Fabian Lysell, Dean Letourneau, Ryan Walsh

LD: Jackson Edward, Loke Johansson, Kristian Kostadinski, Frederic Brunet, Elliott Groenewold

RD: Max Wanner

G: Philip Svedeback

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.

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By Ryan Kennedy, Editor in Chief

No matter what Maddox Schultz does, big hockey names tend to be connected.

The Regina Pats took Schultz with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WHL draft; the last time the Pats picked first, they took Connor Bedard in 2020. When Schultz ripped the U-18 Telus Cup for 20 points in seven games this spring, he tallied the second-most points ever in the tournament by an underager; Sidney Crosby is the only underage player to have scored more. When Schultz watches the NHL, he cheers for the Edmonton Oilers, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And when the 15-year-old center is studying players to emulate, he leans on two of the best 200-foot pivots ever. “Two guys that really stood out for me were Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron,” he said. “They were really good on faceoffs. Even Brayden Point and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins now. They can play an all-around good game and also produce at the highest level.”

So yes, there’s plenty to get excited about when it comes to Schultz, who will be eligible to play up to 34 games in the WHL next season while spending the rest of the year with the U-18 Regina Pat Canadians, the same squad with whom he won the Telus Cup. Oh, and he scored the tournament-winning goal in OT at that event, too.

It hasn’t been that long since Bedard was the big ticket in Regina, but what’s cool about Schultz landing with the Pats is that he’s from the city and got to watch Bedard weave his magic for the club. “I was probably 12 years old and playing on the Regina Pat Blues,” Schultz said. “Our team went all the time. Seeing what he did made me try harder. It was pretty cool to grow up watching him, and, obviously, he’s an unbelievable player doing his thing in the NHL now.”

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🏒 Top 💯 prospects
🥅 In-depth scouting reports
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Getting drafted by his hometown team also affords Schultz the opportunity to live at home with his family, a luxury rarely afforded in high-level hockey. “To be drafted by the Pats was a dream come true,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier. My parents are really excited. And I am, too, being able to stay at home with them and my sister and my dog. I’m playing in the rink I grew up watching hockey in.”

Regina will gladly welcome a player of Schultz’s talent, even if he’s only eligible to play half the season next year. The Pat with the most points in 2024-25 was Julien Maze, who managed just 44 points in 64 games overall – and only 25 points in 43 games after coming over from Everett. Meanwhile, Schultz had 43 goals and 93 points in 44 games for the Pat Canadians despite being the youngest player on the team – three years younger than some of his mates.

Schultz knows the WHL will offer stronger and tougher competition, so he’s working on being harder in the faceoff circle. Otherwise, he’s happy to contribute any way he can to win games for his new team. “I’m a 200-foot player with offense, but I can also be relied on in the defensive zone,” he said. “I can put the puck in the back of the net and be a leader. I like to stand up for my teammates and be there for them.”

This article appeared in our 2025 Draft Preview issue. Our cover story focuses on the Erie Otters' star defenseman and top draft prospect Matthew Schaefer, who has excelled despite the personal losses of his past. We also include features on other top prospects, including Michael Misa and more. In addition, we give our list of the top-100 prospects heading into the 2025 NHL draft.

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.

As roster activity slows down following the start of the NHL’s free-agent frenzy, it’s becoming clearer what Stanley Cup contenders have done (and in some cases, haven’t done). 

In this list, we’ll be breaking down a handful of Cup contenders that either improved, got worse or stayed the same after the start of NHL free agency.

Carolina Hurricanes

Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Improved

Why? The Hurricanes’ defense corps took a hit with the departures of veteran blueliners Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov. But Carolina GM Eric Tulsky addressed that area with the acquisition of former New York Rangers D-man K’Andre Miller and 31-year-old Mike Reilly. 

The Hurricanes will be depend on youngster Alexander Nikishin to prove himself as a regular defenseman, but Carolina is an improved group overall with the addition of left winger Nikolaj Ehlers. The former Winnipeg Jets veteran can slot in on the top line along with star center Sebastian Aho and right winger Seth Jarvis, which would be one of the NHL’s very best first lines. At the very least, he will be an effective top-six player for the long term with a strong balance of goals and assists. 

Carolina may still address its goaltending tandem, but in early July, this Hurricanes team looks deep, skilled and determined to push deeper into the post-season than it’s done in recent memory.

Colorado Avalanche

Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Improved

Why? The Avalanche are in the ultra-competitive Central Division, and GM Chris MacFarland proved last season he’s ready, willing and able to take big swings when it comes to changing up his roster. This summer, the Avs have already made tough decisions, including letting veteran left winger Jonathan Drouin leave via free agency and trading Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets to free cap space.

However, the Avalanche did double down on veteran center Brock Nelson as their second-line pivot, and they got an incredible bargain when greybeard defenseman Brent Burns signed a one-year, $1-million contract. The addition of Burns means that, once again, Colorado’s defense corps is going to be one of the best in the game.

The Avs still have about $4.12 million in cap space. They’ve got outstanding players at the high end of their pay scale and sturdy secondary components to fill out the roster. We dare say Colorado will push higher in the Central next season.

Dallas Stars

Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Stayed the same

Why? The Stars came into the off-season knowing they’d have to shed some talent to fit under the cap ceiling. They did that by trading left winger Mason Marchment to Seattle, but otherwise, they’ve been able to stay at least as competitive as last year’s team. That’s partially because captain Jamie Benn agreed to a one-year, $1-million contract with performance bonuses that could turn into one of the league’s better bargains.

That said, we don’t see the Stars as an improved team. Yes, they brought back veteran center Radek Faksa for a second tour of duty with the team, but Dallas is still slightly over the cap ceiling, so GM Jim Nill will have to move some money around by the time the season begins. Still, there’s a lot to like about this Stars team. We believe they’ll still perform about as well as they did last year.

Edmonton Oilers

Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Got worse

Why? The Oilers did find a way to fit in star defenseman Evan Bouchard’s new contract with their cap structure, but it came at the expense of veteran winger Evander Kane, who was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. And Edmonton’s cap limitations also meant that valuable veterans Corey Perry and Connor Brown departed for Los Angeles and New Jersey, respectively.

Oilers GM Stan Bowman ostensibly replaced the offense lost with Perry and Brown moving on by signing former Washington Capitals winger Andrew Mangiapane. But other than re-signing secondary pieces Kasperi Kapanen and Trent Frederic, Edmonton has more or less been slowly picked away at by its cap constraints. 

We still think the Oilers will compete for top spot in the Pacific Division, but if they go far in the playoffs again, it could be with a roster that currently looks worse on paper.

Florida Panthers

Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Stayed the same

Why? When you’re coming off back-to-back Cup championships, it’s basically impossible to improve on that performance. So we say that, with all due respect to Panthers GM Bill Zito and the brilliant job he’s done by retaining free agents Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, Florida basically stayed the same. That’s a very good thing.

The Panthers did lose some depth on defense with the departure of veteran Nate Schmidt, and given that Florida is now $2.95 million over the cap ceiling, Zito will have to make more cost-cutting moves in the days and weeks ahead. But when they’re getting their first full season with Marchand and defenseman Seth Jones, that should frighten every team in the NHL.

Vegas Golden Knights

Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Improved

Why? The Golden Knights landed the biggest fish in the UFA market this summer with the trade for and signing of former Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner. To do so, they had to part ways with defenseman Nicolas Hague and center Nic Roy, but when you’ve added the instant offense that Marner will bring, it’s clear to just about everyone that Vegas is already a better team than the one that won the Pacific last season.

Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon is one of the savviest managers in the game, and he’s put together a lineup for 2025-26 that is clearly capable of going on a deep post-season run. 

Marner has something to prove, as do the other Vegas players who weren’t around for the franchise’s first Cup victory. So, much of the roster is hungry and determined to push deep into the playoffs. That’s why we believe the Golden Knights are better now than they were at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

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The Edmonton Oilers locked in one of their most important young stars on Monday by signing defenseman Evan Bouchard to a four-year extension worth $10.5 million annually.

It’s full price for an elite offensive defenseman, and it’s fair to ask whether Bouchard hurt the Oilers’ future cap flexibility, simply made a smart business decision in today’s NHL or both.

Speaking with the media, Oilers GM Stan Bowman said an eight-year contract – something many insiders and fans believed was the obvious move – was never a realistic option. Bouchard’s camp made it clear early in negotiations that a long-term commitment didn’t make sense for them.

“Getting him signed was critical,” Bowman said. “I guess in the negotiations, an eight-year term was never really in the cards… It’s really a function of the salary cap and where that’s going. We certainly know over the next three years, that’s going up considerably.”

Bowman said the asking price for an eight-year deal was so high that it “wouldn’t really make sense for anybody.” 

While the Oilers were open to locking Bouchard up long-term, they were forced to shift gears, settling on a shorter-term deal that pays the 25-year-old top dollar now but also sets him up to cash in again when the cap is even higher.

In the short term, Bouchard’s $10.5-million cap hit will eat up a substantial portion of Edmonton’s salary space, potentially limiting the team’s ability to round out the roster. Add that cap hit to Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million, Darnell Nurse’s $9.25 million and Connor McDavid’s $12.5 million, and four players are eating up over 48 percent of the cap.

The Oilers now only have just under $176,000 in cap space with Andrew Mangiapane, Curtis Lazar and David Tomasek replacing Evander Kane, Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown, Corey Perry and Jeff Skinner.

With the club in win-now mode, every dollar counts in achieving Cup-winning depth. Bouchard not taking a slight haircut on a four-year deal could ultimately hamper the Oilers’ chances of capturing the Stanley Cup.

At the same time, it’s hard to fault Bouchard for betting on himself. 

With the salary cap set to climb, locking into an eight-year deal now could have left millions on the table. By taking a shorter contract, he keeps his options open and ensures he can negotiate another lucrative deal when the financial landscape is even more favorable. 

Bouchard is arguably worth every penny of this deal. He’s been the high-scoring defenseman in the NHL for three straight playoffs. He had the most points by a D-man through the first two rounds of a single post-season in NHL history in 24, with 20 in 12 games, and he had the second-most points per game of any blueliner playing at least 15 games in the playoffs in 2024-25, trailing only Bobby Orr. 

Defensemen are also getting paid good money this off-season. Noah Dobson just got a $9.5-million cap hit on an eight-year deal, and Ivan Provorov got an $8.5-million cap hit. Bouchard went one step further with his cap hit while potentially getting another raise in 2029.

In the end, this could be a case of Bouchard putting himself ahead of the team, but it’s a savvy decision for him in an evolving NHL market, and the Oilers got their star defenseman signed. That’s good news for keeping their Stanley Cup window wide open.

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Undersized forward L.J. Mooney, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft, is certainly turning a lot of heads at the Montreal Canadiensdevelopment camp this week.

The cousin of Utah Mammoth star Logan Cooley stands only 5-foot-7, but he makes really smart plays and doesn't seem to be afraid of getting physical, either.

So with that in mind, and in honor of July 4, watch today's video for a list of the the top 10 U.S.-born players who were taken in the fourth round of the NHL draft.

Promo image credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

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.

The NHL off-season is in full swing, giving us the perfect opportunity to look at each team’s prospect pools. The Anaheim Ducks are up first. 

In this prospect pool overview series, a player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for these exercises. In this series, Tony Ferrari will dig into each team’s strengths and weaknesses, a quick overview of their latest draft class, where each team's positional depth chart stands and who could be next in line for an NHL chance.

Initial Thoughts

The Ducks are on the rise, building with an emphasis on skill and pugnacity over pure skill and finesse. That’s not to say that they don’t possess skilled players, because they certainly do.

Olen Zellweger is one of their most promising blueliners, and he stands just 5-foot-10. He is just one of two players who come in under six-feet that are projected to be on the roster come October. The trade of Trevor Zegras just further cemented the Ducks' philosophy of building with hard, heavy skill.

One player who brings the size that they love while bringing a level of finesse and pure skill is last year’s third overall pick, Beckett Sennecke. The 6-foot-4 right winger has the ability to absolutely dance defenders with the puck on his stick en route to the net. He draws pressure and makes plays out of it. He doesn’t have much to prove at the OHL level, even though he has one more year of eligibility, so there’s a possibility we see him in the NHL to start the season.

After starting this past season in the ECHL, Sasha Pastujov earned his way back onto the AHL roster, and he produced at over a point per game in 43 games with 17 goals and 28 assists. Pastujov is a tactician who slows the game down and tries to play within the pockets of space. He is going to have to find a way to increase his pace if he wants to play at the NHL level but his offensive tools are NHL caliber.

Roger McQueen, drafted 10th overall in the 2025 NHL draft, immediately becomes one of the Ducks’ top prospects. The shooting talent and puckhandling that comes in a 6-foot-6 frame is insane to think about. He isn’t the fleetest of foot, but with his length and reach, McQueen can weave his way through the neutral zone and find his spot in the offensive zone.

On the back end, the Ducks have some really nice prospects to go along with Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, who are already on the NHL roster. 

Tristan Luneau has developed and grown so much since being drafted. Healthy once again after a tough year the season before, Luneau played most of the year in the AHL and put up 52 points in 59 games. He should get a longer look with the big club in the fall. The question will be whether he has the room to flourish, as Mintyukov and Zellweger have the offensive capability to run the power play. 

Stian Solberg joined the San Diego Gulls at the tail end of this past season and looked quite good in the AHL. His physicality has always been the calling card, but Solberg has become more confident with the puck. He’s coming off a fantastic World Championship for Norway, and he could parlay that into a fantastic first full North American season. 

Rounding out the top names still in the pipeline, Tarin Smith plays a very solid two-way game. He was more comfortable dictating play and driving into the zone with the puck, which allowed him to use his solid shot more often. Defensively, he was reading play more effectively and using his mobility and size to kill play. He will likely be in the WHL for another year, but he should make his AHL debut after his season in Everett ends.

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

Leo Carlsson (C), Mason McTavish (C), Cutter Gauthier (LW), Beckett Sennecke (RW), Olen Zellweger (D), Pavel Mintyukov (D), Tristan Luneau (D)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 10th overall - Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)

Round 2, 45th overall - Eric Nilson, C, Djurgarden Jr. (Swe.)

Round 2, 60th overall - Lasse Boelius, D, Assat Jr. (Fin.)

Round 3, 72nd overall - Noah Read, C, London (OHL)

Round 4, 101st overall - Drew Schock, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 4, 104th overall - Elijah Neuenschwander, G, Fribourg Jr. (Sui.)

Round 5, 136th overall - Alexis Mathieu, D, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

Round 5, 159th overall - Emile Guite, LW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Round 6, 168th overall - Anthony Allain-Samake, D, Sioux City (USHL)

Round 7, 200th overall - Brady Turko, RW, Brandon (WHL)

One of the biggest questions heading into the 2025 NHL draft was where McQueen would land after playing in just 20 games because of a back injury. His puck skill and shooting talent are undoubtedly impressive. He must improve his pace and skating, and the injury is a major concern. Big, physical players who have back injuries this early in their careers are always scary. The upside is almost as massive as McQueen is, but so is the risk. 

Anaheim’s pick of Eric Nilson in the second round was one of my personal favorites at the draft. Nilson is a highly intelligent center who connects play and drives the puck positively. He plays an excellent two-way game as well, reading and cutting off play in his own zone as well as almost anyone in the draft. Nilson must bulk up and fill out his frame, but the skill, 200-foot prowess and playmaking are all evident when you watch the Swede play. 

Lasse Boelius was one of the more underrated defenders in the draft. He has decent size and high-level mobility. The base of his game comes from his skating, where he can win puck races and escape forecheckers in his own end. He shadows well, and as his reads improve, his defensive game should round out. Offensively, Boelius is more of a facilitator than a playmaker, but he isn’t a dead zone as some defenders are. His growth and development will be one of the more interesting storylines to follow among the Ducks’ draft class. 

The Ducks are banking on Noah Read to explode this upcoming season with an expanded role after playing on a loaded London squad that won the Memorial Cup. He’s a high-energy player who brings a bit of physicality. He has a good release, and the hope is he can show it off more now that London will need him to step up. 

The Ducks drafted the USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s top-scoring defender this past season, Drew Schock. Despite it being a down year for the program, Schock showed some impressive flashes of puck-moving ability on the breakout and at the offensive blueline. He must refine his defensive game and leverage his skating a bit better, but Schock is a solid project pick in the fourth round. 

Big Swiss goaltender Elijah Neuenschwander split this past season between the junior and second-level men’s leagues in Switzerland. He has excellent size, and he moves fairly well. He must refine some technical aspects, but he has the building blocks of a potential NHL netminder. Anaheim has a fairly good track record of developing netminders, so Neuenschwander could be the next in line. 

Drafting Alexis Mathieu is a bet on a mean streak that can be reined in when needed. He won’t be mistaken for a puck-mover, but his defensive game is what the Ducks hope he can build on. Mathieu’s tendency to try to put his opponents through the boards is what clearly attracted Anaheim here. Improved reads and tracking will be a necessity.

A disappointing season in the QMJHL saw Emile Guite’s point totals cut nearly in half from 57 as a rookie to just 30 this past year. Guite is a very good spot-up shooter who can find his pockets and unleash his shot, but this past year, he just didn’t have the help around him to get him the puck consistently, and he was asked to play a bigger role than his skill set would allow. Anaheim is hoping to see a return to form, and a fifth-round bet isn’t a bad time to take a risk. 

Anthony Allain-Samake is one of the youngest players in the draft, and his toolset is raw but incredibly promising. He’s got a good frame that he will need to fill out, and his mobility is quite impressive, which gives him an incredibly solid base to build from. He shows flashes of high-end play at both ends of the ice, and his upside is as high as any mid-late round pick in this draft. Allain-Samake might have been the Ducks' best value pick of the draft.

The Ducks went young with another late pick, selecting Brady Turko from the Wheat Kings in the WHL. After playing U-18 AAA hockey, he made the jump to the WHL and put up 26 points in a depth role this past season. Turko has some skill and some nice off-puck habits, and there is ample room for growth. 

Strengths

Anaheim’s prospect pipeline has quickly become one of the best in the NHL. They have depth all over and a good variety of skill sets in nearly every position. 

Their defenders range from big, physical presences to skilled puck-movers. The forward group has depth down the middle with size and skill. They have wingers who bring playmaking ability and others with great goal-scoring habits. They even have a few interesting goalies in the system. 

The strength of Anaheim’s system is that it has depth throughout with players who can play up and down the lineup. 

Weaknesses

Although this is just the first installment of our summer NHL prospect pool overview series, the Ducks will be one of the few teams deemed to have no true major weakness in their pipeline. 

You could nitpick and point out the left wing is a bit weak with no surefire studs, but with their depth of centers in the pipeline and on the roster, there will likely be a couple of them who move to the wing. The Ducks are building a very solid foundation of high-quality talent. Developing them and ensuring they are in a position to succeed is the next step. 

Hidden Gem: Herman Traff, RW

The Ducks acquired Traff in a trade with the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Brian Dumoulin at this past trade deadline. Traff is exactly the type of intense, physical forward the Ducks seem to want in their bottom six. 

Traff played most of this past season at the top men’s level in Sweden, and his offensive game was limited there, but he showed he was much more capable of using his offensive tools at the second level. The 19-year-old has plenty of runway, and he shows power-forward flashes and excellent off-puck instincts at both ends of the ice. Traff could play an important role on the third line in a couple of years.

Next Man Up: Beckett Sennecke, RW

We could have gone with Luneau here, and he may very well be an NHL player when the season opens. But with the addition of Jacob Trouba and a fairly strong defense group, it may be difficult for Luneau to gain a steady footing unless he unseats a player like Drew Helleson. As for Sennecke, there is a possibility the Ducks' top prospect joins the NHL club to start the season. 

His OHL numbers have been fantastic, putting up 86 points in 56 regular-season games, followed by 32 in 28 playoff games. Sennecke’s Oshawa Generals may take a slight step back from contender status, and the Ducks could use an infusion of the skill and pace that Sennecke brings. 

Although the Ducks just signed Mikael Granlund, they could still look to add a top-six right winger. Alex Killorn is aging and hasn’t hit the 40-point mark in a few years, while Troy Terry seems destined for a third-line role or even a possible trade. Sennecke could bring the skill element the Ducks sorely need after trading Zegras. Even if he heads back to junior after a quick nine-game stint, don’t be surprised to see Sennecke on the NHL roster to open the season. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Sasha Pastujov, Alexandre Blais, Lucas Pettersson, Nico Myatovic, Emile Guite

C: Roger McQueen, Eric Nilson, Nathan Gaucher, Noah Reed, Jan Mysak

RW: Beckett Sennecke, Herman Traff, Yegor Sidorov, Austin Burnevik, Brady Turko

LD: Stian Solberg, Tarin Smith, Anthony Allain-Samake, Tyson Hinds, Darels Uljanskis

RD: Tristan Luneau, Noah Warren, Ian Moore 

G: Tomas Suchanek, Elijah Neuenshwander, Damian Clara

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.

The Wraparound has some more rapid-fire looks at NHL free agency, international and women’s hockey news and more.

Where Does Marner Fit In The Golden Knights' Lineup? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here’s what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Willie Ramirez discussed in this episode:

1:15: Do the Winnipeg Jets have the weapons to replace Nikolaj Ehlers?

3:36: Which NHL teams must look at next steps after missing out on Ehlers?

7:00: Where does Mitch Marner fit in the Vegas Golden Knights’ forward lineup?  

11:50: Will the Washington Capitals insert more rising prospects into the lineup next season after losing players in free agency? 

14:04: What do you think about what the Capitals have or haven’t done so far in the off-season?

16:30: The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner wants Hockey Canada to push for a fighting ban across all junior leagues. Agree or disagree? 

22:10: Reacting to women's hockey in North America hitting record numbers: is this growth a result of the PWHL’s visibility?

24:18: Can these rising numbers be attributed to something other than the PWHL? 

28:00: The NHL, NHLPA and IIHF reach an official agreement for NHL player participation in the 2026 Olympics. Does the USA now have an edge, thanks to the 4 Nations experience and the IIHF World Championship victory (its first since 1933)?

29:46: What will this rivalry between the USA and Canada look like at the Olympics next year? 

32:30: The Anaheim Ducks signed Mikael Granlund to three-year, $21-million contract. They had the cap space to do it, but is this an overpay for a middle-six center?

34:16: How is Granlund going to impact the Ducks roster, and what kind of noise will the team make this year? 

Watch the full episode here. 

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Promo image credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images