The St. Louis Blues are here in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Blues’ 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

There may not be a team that has found a way to stay somewhat relevant while retooling better than the St. Louis Blues. Having committed to building toward the future while staying competitive, St. Louis may not have been a true Stanley Cup contender, but they made the playoffs this season and continued to add to their young core, which they are slowly building. 

Blues fans got a glimpse of Jimmy Snuggerud at the end of last year when he joined the team for seven games to cap the season and then played in their first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets, collecting eight points over 14 total games. Snuggerud is a tactician who is excellent at advancing play on and off the puck. He isn't going to be the driver of his line, but the winger is a very strong second fiddle who can support, elevate, and play any role his linemates need of him. He can win puck battles and find teammates in the slot, or he can be an off-puck threat seeking out pockets of space to get his shot off. Snuggerud is a sneaky Calder Trophy pick for this upcoming season. 

With a very solid rookie season in the AHL, where he put up 45 points in 61 games, Dalibor Dvorsky seemed to answer a lot of the questions about his game when it comes to playing at the pro level. He had struggled to play at the pro level in Sweden, which led to his move to the OHL a couple of years ago. Dvorsky was great for Springfield in the AHL, though, showcasing his dual-threat scoring ability and center lane-driven game. Dvorsky is a finisher at heart with a great shot. He had a two-game stint in the NHL last year, and we should see him push to make a much bigger impact this year as a middle-six scoring option who can play on the wing or at center. 

After starting the season in the SHL last year, Otto Stenberg made the jump to the AHL after the World Junior Championship. He had a nice stint, with just over half a point per game in half a season, but there were growing pains as well, particularly with his desire to try and be overly creative or flashy at times. Stenberg was able to pull it off more often than not, but he needs to recognize when the easy play is best. While most think of Stenberg as a shifty, skilled offensive creator, he brings a bit of snarl at times as well. Throwing hits more as he's matured physically and getting involved in some of the after-the-whistle stuff as well. Stenberg could be a really intriguing top-six scorer with underrated jam. 

Since being traded to St. Louis from Vegas, Zach Dean has had a bit of a tough time. Injuries were an absolute killer last season, limiting him to just 11 games and four points as he was in and out of the lineup. Dean is a forward who looks to play at a high pace, generating chances off the rush and attacking downhill at the netminder. His injuries have limited his effectiveness, which is why, at 22, this upcoming season is vital. He’s not the shiny new toy anymore. He needs to start pushing, and if he can return to form, he might be a solid bottom-six guy pretty soon. 

Big, smooth-skating center Adam Jecho took a step offensively last year on a team that was trending down. He plays a sound two-way game, but there are offensive skills that are intriguing enough to make you think he has more in his game. He’s heading into his final WHL season, where he should be taking on a leading role with the Edmonton Oil Kings. If he can turn some of his raw ability into legit production, he could be in line for a seamless jump to the AHL. 

Simon Robertsson’s jump to the AHL to start last season was promising in a lot of ways. He wasn’t blowing the doors off, but he was becoming more comfortable in his AHL surroundings, and he looked like he was slowly getting his feet under him. His season ended in February due to injury. Robertsson will be given every chance to make his mark when healthy, but he will likely need some AHL time to do that before making a run at the NHL. His shooting talent and skating are the highlights, but he has plus tools across the board. He just needs to find a way to be more consistent and stay healthy. 

There were plenty of encouraging signs in Theo Lindstein’s game last season. His point totals may have fallen a bit, but his team graduated from the Allsvenskan to the SHL, and Lindstein looked solid against the top competition in Sweden. The even-keel defender is making the move to the AHL for this upcoming season, and that should give the Blues an idea of what they have in the defender. His mobility and play-reading ability are what make him an excellent defensive player. 

In what was ultimately a return from a major knee injury, Adam Jiricek had a fine season in the OHL last year, but he definitely looked a bit labored at times. His skating wasn’t quite where it had been prior to the injury, and he seemed a bit behind the pace. Thankfully, he’s heading into next season healthy and ready to go. Jiricek is a purposeful defensive player and a talented puck mover with his passing and feet. The injury was a killer, but the talent that Jiricek possesses as a two-way force is still there. 

Logan Mailloux might be the newest player in the system, but he’s likely to be in the NHL this season. His raw physical tools are as good as anyone's. He skates like an NFL running back, gaining speed with every step. Mailloux can outmuscle players in battles and win the puck back when he’s motivated. He loves to get involved offensively and make plays as a passer and a shooter from the back end. There isn’t much Mailloux can’t do, but it’s about actually following through and committing to doing them. His attention to detail and defensive commitment are integral in taking the step into the NHL. 

One of the more interesting balls of clay in the St. Louis system is 6-foot-5 defender, Colin Ralph. He played his freshman season in the NCAA at St. Cloud State, but he’s transferring to Michigan State for next season, where he will play for one of the best teams in the nation. His defensive acumen and penchant for big hits will be a welcome presence on a blueline that could use a strong blueliner. The curiosity with Ralph is whether he can find another level as a puck mover. 

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

Jimmy Snuggerud (RW), Logan Mailloux (D)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 19 overall - Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

Round 5, 147 overall - Mikhail Fyodorov, RW, Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy (Rus)

Round 6, 179 overall - Love Harenstam, G, Skelleftea AIK Jr. (Swe)

Justin Carbonneau was truly one of the most impressive puck handlers in the 2025 NHL draft class, so getting him at the tail end of the top 20 was good value. He has skill to burn, dangling defenders with ease. Carbonneau is often one of the more entertaining players to watch in the offensive zone, using his hands along with a wicked shot and skilled passing to generate scoring chances. Pace is a bit of an issue for Carbonneau, and while he has size, he doesn’t use it constructively all too often. He’s a very intriguing player, and if he can shake the pace and engagement issues that have popped up at times, something typical of QMJHL players, Carbonneau could be a very nice complementary offensive winger. 

The Blues didn’t draft again until 147th overall in round five when they took Russian winger, Mikhail Fyodorov. With some nice finishing ability, you see the draw in Fyodorov’s game, but he has a few issues that arise. He has some issues with moving the puck as a facilitator. He’s also wildly inconsistent as a forechecking presence. He needs to become a more involved overall player, but his finishing is quite an intriguing trait. 

Love Harenstam was the Blues last pick in the draft, and now that Joel Hofer is a full-time NHLer, the Swedish netminder is the new top goalie prospect. He’s been successful at both the Swedish junior level and internationally for the Tre Kronor. Harenstam has decent size at 6-foot-2, but his biggest strength comes from his athleticism and mobility in the crease. He needs to show a bit more technical ability as he matures, but the bet in round six makes a ton of sense, especially for a goalie who was one of the top netminders coming into the season. 

Strengths

This may seem like a cop-out, but outside of the crease, the Blues are fairly strong all over their prospect pool. They may not have any true studs who could be game-breaking talents, but the Blues have at least a couple of solid B-level talents at just about every position, and they have solid depth as well. The left wing is the weakest of the positions despite the presence of Stenberg and Juraj Pekarcik, but with the plethora of centers, there will be at least a few that move to the wing. The strength of the Blues' prospect pool is its depth and diversity. 

Weaknesses

Despite adding Harenstam at the draft, the Blues have a decent hole in net when it comes to their pipeline. When you consider just how good every other position looks, Harenstam and Will Cranley being the prospects in the system don’t instill a ton of confidence. Thankfully, Hofer is a young netminder with promise already in the NHL, but if there is a netminder in next year's draft worth taking in the top two rounds, the Blues might be the team that goes and gets them. If they did, it would fill their one weak point in the pipeline. 

Hidden Gem: Juraj Pekarcik, LW

While Caleb Desnoyers was one of the top draft-eligible prospects this past season, and he wound up going in the top five, some felt that his game was elevated by Pekarcik’s intelligent and calculated play. Pekarcik uses pauses and delays, subtle cuts laterally, and bursts of speed to create some room for himself and manufacture passing lanes. Pekarcik has shown the ability to chip in some goals with well-placed shots and sneaky shiftiness as a shooter. He could profile as a very solid depth scorer who can skate the puck up ice and get it into positive positions. 

Next Man Up: Logan Mailloux, D

Trading for Mailloux was a keen move, identifying a weakness in the pipeline and then trading from an area of strength to fill in a weak point. Mailloux is very unproven at the NHL level. His brief stint with the Montreal Canadiens showcased both the good and the bad in his game. His puck-moving and offensive game showed flashes at times. His defensive game was very much a work in progress, often misreading rushes and then scrambling to make up for his mistakes. He can throw some big hits, but it often comes at the expense of his positioning. Mailloux is going to get his chance to start in the NHL with the Blues, but it may come with some ups and downs. He has all of the physical tools to be a very solid NHL defender, but he will need to make some better decisions away from the puck. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Otto Stenberg, Juraj Pekarcik, Jakub Stancl, Ondrej Kos

C: Dalibor Dvorsky, Zach Dean, Adam Jecho, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Tomas Mrsic, Dylan Peterson

RW: Jimmy Snuggerud, Justin Carbonneau, Simon Robertsson, Mikhail Fyodorov

LD: Theo Lindstein, Colin Ralph, Tyler Tucker, Lukas Fischer, Matthew Mayich, Michael Buchinger, Quinton Burns

RD: Logan Mailloux, Adam Jiricek, William McIsaac

G: Love Harenstam, Will Cranley, Vadim Zherenko

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 Montreal Canadiens' acquisition of Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in June was one of the biggest moves in this year's NHL trade market. However, they have a bit of a logjam on the blueline. 

During an appearance last week on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, Sportsnet's Eric Engels suggested the Canadiens could end up moving a defenseman at some point this season to make room for promising David Reinbacher or Adam Engstrom. 

Engels singled out Mike Matheson, Jayden Struble, and Arber Xhekaj, suggesting one of them might not be with the Canadiens between now and this time next year. 

Matheson seems the most likely trade candidate. The 31-year-old is the oldest member of their defense corps and eligible for UFA status next July. However, Canadiens management could be reluctant to move Matheson, having praised his experience, leadership, and all-around abilities. 

Struble recently signed a two-year contract, but his improved performance and affordable $1.412 million cap hit could make the 23-year-old an enticing trade chip. Xhekaj's size and physical style make him a fan favorite in Montreal, but he was a healthy scratch for several games down the stretch last season. 

Speaking of possible trade candidates. Allan Mitchell of The Athletic recently looked at several Edmonton Oilers players who could be on the move this season. 

One of them is Stuart Skinner. The 26-year-old goaltender carries an affordable $2.6 million cap hit this season and is UFA-eligible next July. 

Skinner's inconsistent play is an area of concern for Oilers management, who acknowledged they would seek ways to upgrade their goaltending. It was assumed they'd like to find someone with starter experience to split the duties and push Skinner to elevate his game. 

Mitchell pointed out that Skinner has 50 playoff games and two Stanley Cup Finals under his belt. Any significant improvement in his performance this season could silence his critics and reduce the need to add another netminder. However, Mitchell also thinks he could be a key piece in any move for a goalie upgrade.

We’re in the thick of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series – our rankings of the off-seasons of each NHL team, moving in reverse from the 32nd-place Buffalo Sabres to the No. 1 spot. And today’s team is No. 14 in the series – the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Looking at every team’s lineup additions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable, we’ve come up with a consensus on where teams are in the moves they’ve made this summer. Some teams have clearly improved, some teams have made a slight improvement or have been radio silent when it comes to trades and signings. And some teams have regressed. 

The Penguins are a good example of a team that’s made some extensive changes – particularly, regarding their defense and goaltending – and we’ve judged Pittsburgh to be slightly better than they were at the end of another disappointing season. As we’ll explore below, they’re a team that’s gotten slightly better, but that doesn’t mean you should start planning to see the Pens in the playoffs next year. They changed things up with trades and signings, but we’re not sure they’re even going to be in the mix for post-season hockey.

Additions

Arturs Silvovs (G), Anthony Mantha, LW; Justin Brazeau, RW; Matt Dumba, D; Connor Clifton, D; Parker Wotherspoon, D; Alexander Alexeyev, D

The Breakdown: When you’re fortunate enough to employ superstar Sidney Crosby, star forward Evgeni Malkin, and defensemen Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, you have fewer needs than many teams. Thus, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas went out and made seven additions to bolster his team, but we don’t expect all six of the above players to be needle-movers for Pittsburgh. 

The one big question mark that could propel the Pens into the playoffs is new goalie and former Vancouver Canuck Silovs. The Penguins desperately need better goaltending than they had last year, and if Silovs can provide it, that will be a huge advantage for Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, Mantha is a reclamation project who has hit the 20-goal mark just once since 2018-19. Brazeau is known for his physical play, but he’s not going to body-check the Penguins into the victory column. Dumba was a salary dump by the Dallas Stars, and Clifton and Wotherspoon were acquired to fill out the last defense pairing. 

All of this is to say that, weighed against the players they parted ways with, the Bruins have indeed slightly improved. But there’s still a long road ahead for some of these players, and Pittsburgh’s defense corps in particular was the focus of Dubas & Co. as he worked his way through the off-season. In sum, we’d say this is a “nothing to write home about, but technically speaking, they did improve” team.

Departures

Alex Nedeljkovic (G), Matt Grzelcyk, (D), Conor Timmins, (D), P.O. Joseph (D), Matt Nieto (LW)

The Breakdown: In some ways, this category is a plus for the Penguins. They didn’t move heaven and earth to trade Karlsson – but that may still happen – and after getting rid of five fringe players, they didn’t take too big a hit. The most visible loss is Nedeljkovic, who had some stretches of good play last season, but he didn’t do it consistently.

So, the primary loss for Pittsburgh is Grzelcyk – a decent-enough blueliner who somehow still is without a contract as of early August – and after that, you’re talking about a regular healthy scratch in Timmins, and two players (Joseph and Nieto) who combined to produce six points last year. Six. These players may be strong positive influences in the dressing room, but if we’re talking purely about how they slot in on paper, you can see why the Penguins weren’t notably better, but they still had a better off-season than half of the league.

Indeed, the focus of the Pens should be about the future, and sometimes, doing that means you have to strip things down. Dubas hasn’t bought into that concept at this point, but if the Penguins stall and start to spiral, there will be a strong push to trade veterans Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. And it’s getting close to high time that Dubas makes more substantial moves than he’s done this off-season.

The Bottom Line

The Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past three seasons, and they haven’t won a playoff round in seven years. And that’s with some of the top talent in the world on their team. That’s a stunning reality that should sober up Pens management and get them advocating a push to be out of the Mushy Middle of the league – not good enough for playoff action, and not bad enough to land a top prospect at the beginning of the draft.

So, when we have them relatively in the middle of the pack this summer in these ratings, don’t take it to mean we see the Penguins storming out and securing a playoff berth. They should be viewed with skepticism until they prove themselves worthy of fan and management confidence. And if things go sideways and they’re near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference standings, you better believe there will be a PR nightmare until Dubas shows he’s going ahead fully focused on the future and starts making blockbuster moves.

Otherwise, it all feels like the Penguins are running to stand still. They’ve got too many third-and-fourth-line talent and too many question marks on defense and in net. They were active this summer, but the bottom line is that we don’t see their additions/departures column as having moved them much at all in our summer splash rankings. Yes, they didn’t regress, but a slight progress isn’t much to write home about. And time will tell whether these moves were precursors to blockbuster deals during the year.

Summer Splash Rankings

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

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Florida Panthers superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk has been revealed as EA Sports’ NHL 26 cover athlete, becoming the first Panther to grace the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck on NHL 97.

Tkachuk is as popular a hockey player as you’ll find nowadays. The two-time Stanley Cup winner totals 258,000 Instagram followers and 71,900 followers on X, but that’s just the start of his popularity.

While dealing with an injury following the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, The Pat McAfee Show and the Up and Adams Show, highlighting his personality and natural charisma in front of the camera. 

EA Sports' selection of the 27-year-old to be the cover athlete of NHL 26 seems to be a no-brainer, as his play on the ice backs up his media attention. 

Thank you to the ones who believed, and the ones who didn't.

The full #NHL26 reveal hits August 6th:https://t.co/Iq8zn3ltK5pic.twitter.com/07c0GGxUqH

— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) August 4, 2025

Tkachuk dealt with a major injury this season, forcing him to dress in just 52 games. He returned for the start of the post-season but was still nursing the injury. Despite the injury hampering his abilities, Tkachuk poured in eight goals and 23 points in 23 games. Unfortunately for the former sixth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, the injury issues will carry into the 2025-26 season, as he’s expected to miss several months while rehabbing from corrective surgery after suffering an adductor injury and a hernia.

Tkachuk joins a list consisting of the Hughes brothers, Cale Makar, Trevor Zegras, Sarah Nurse, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and former Panthers teammate Vladimir Tarasenko as recent players to appear on the cover.

A full preview for the game is set to come out on Wednesday, and the game itself is reportedly set for a Sept. 13 release.

 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 Atlantic Division teams. 

Boston Bruins: Matthew Poitras

It was a surprise when Matthew Poitras made the 2023-24 Bruins out of camp, but a mid-season shoulder injury derailed his campaign. Then, amid this season’s rocky results, Boston bumped him back to the AHL to aid his development. He fared well in Providence, posting 17 goals and 41 points in 40 games with the baby B’s, earning his way back to The Show by season’s end. The 21-year-old is primed for a middle-six NHL role in 2025-26. His playmaking and two-way game could see him help rejuvenate the big club.

Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich

If the increase in ice time Jiri Kulich saw post-trade deadline is any indication, the Sabres view him as a top-six center. That alone should result in a sharp rise in production for the 21-year-old, who was among Buffalo’s most effective five-a-side scorers this year. Per 60 minutes, he ranked third on the team in goals and seventh in points. A gifted goal-scorer with a heavy shot, Kulich will be challenging for opposing defensemen to contain. A 20-goal season is the baseline expectation for him next year.

Detroit Red Wings: Marco Kasper

The patient approach Detroit takes with prospects has paid dividends, and the development system has another success story after the rookie season Marco Kasper just had. The 21-year-old made a seamless leap to life in the NHL, with his 19 goals (fourth) and 37 points (seventh) placing him top 10 in freshman scoring. If not handed the second-line center job, Kasper will at least have a chance to earn it. His blend of speed, smarts and two-way play will make him a key cog as Detroit seeks to return to the post-season.

Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich

Mackie Samoskevich grew into his role in the bottom six as 2024-25 went on, but the greatest indicator that the 22-year-old is ready to take on a larger role is how he fared down the stretch. Given a top-six role – he played 17-plus minutes in eight of Florida’s final 26 games – Samoskevich turned in eight goals and 15 points. That accounted for half of his ’24-25 output. He was bumped from the playoff lineup, primarily by the incoming Brad Marchand, but Samoskevich is in position to take a middle-six spot next season.

Montreal Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle

Despite scoring goals at a career-best pace last season, the likelihood of Kaiden Guhle, 23, becoming a 40-point player is slim. Even regular 30-point years could be a stretch. But becoming a big, physical shutdown defenseman who 31 other clubs would love to get their hands on? That’s becoming a reality. Perhaps as early as next season, Guhle could become the perfect partner for Lane Hutson. That would give the Canadiens a dynamic defensive duo who can play against any foe in any situation.

Ottawa Senators: Ridly Greig

Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson lead the Senators’ revival, but the heart-and-soul style of Ridly Greig has quickly made him a fan favorite and a thorn in opponents’ sides. Greig, 22, has already proven valuable in all situations, but age and experience stand to help him grow into a more consistent offensive contributor. Greig now has two 13-goal campaigns, and he had a career-high 34 points in 2024-25. The next step is flirting with 20 goals and 40 points. Both are realistic goals in 2025-26.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Gage Goncalves

Have the Tampa Bay Lightning unearthed another gem in Gage Goncalves? The 2020 second-rounder had spent the past three seasons as a key contributor for the Syracuse Crunch and even led the AHL squad in scoring in 2023-24, but he stepped into the Lightning lineup in 2024-25 and clung to a steady bottom-six role. Even more promising for Goncalves, 24, was the post-season. His four points tied him for second in Bolts scoring, and he played his way into top-six minutes.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson

Cap constraints and roster reshuffling will provide chances for youngsters to step into larger roles in Toronto, and Nick Robertson is among those who should benefit most. The 23-year-old has been saddled with bottom-six minutes and limited special-teams time over the past two seasons, but his natural goal-scoring acumen makes him a prime candidate for elevation to the second power-play unit. Robertson ranked fourth on the Leafs in goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time this 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.

The Seattle Kraken are here in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Kraken’s 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 Seattle Kraken are a young franchise, but they’ve quickly built up a very solid prospect pool, with a focus on center depth and players who play a strong transition game. Some players don’t fit that bill perfectly, but they seem to have a type. 

Berkly Catton is among the more interesting players in the pipeline, looking like a player that could be a potential game breaker with his speed and evasiveness combined with his elite playmaking touch. Catton has surpassed the 100-point mark in each of the last two seasons, scoring at a 1.8 point per game clip over that time. He is in the awkward position of being just too young for the AHL, being a January 2006 birthday, while also having proven everything he could have at the WHL level. The NHL is an option, but that would be a big jump. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him stick out of training camp and eventually be sent back to junior before the World Junior Championship, where he could lead Team Canada. 

Leaping into pro hockey this season will be Carson Rehkopf, a winger who plays a tactical game and gets into shooting positions with ease. Whether he is attacking off the rush or hunting down pockets of space away from the puck, Rehkopf might be the most natural finisher in the Seattle pipeline. He’s grown into much more than a triggerman over the last couple of years though, developing a passing game that utilizes delays and quick cuts to change angles and open lanes. Rehkopf could be a player who makes an instant impact in the AHL and finds himself in NHL games by season’s end. 

The development of Clarke Caswell over the last few years has been interesting. He’s a strong transition forward who can weave his way up ice with speed, generating lateral quickness from crossovers. He also possesses some of the most impressive play connecting ability in the pipeline, consistently looking to make quick decisions or smart little bumper passes. He can make plays from all over the zone, going low-to-high or finding a late man in the zone for a scoring chance. Caswell is a very smart player all over the ice, and there could be a steady and tactical middle-six forward in the NHL one day. 

Jagger Firkus is a jitterbug who is an electric offensive presence with an absolute whippy shot and some incredibly creative passing. Firkus is a crafty player, and there were some growing pains in his first AHL season, but he could be in line for a breakout season. His puck handling makes him slippery, cutting laterally or shifting his weight to give himself a small shooting window or passing lane. There aren’t many more entertaining players to watch in the AHL. 

After three steady years of improvement at the SHL level, Danish forward Oscar Fisker Molgaard joined the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds to end last season and looked like he fit right in. Fisker Molgaard is a player who focuses on the details, ensuring he’s doing the little things and finding success because of it. He’s a very fluid skater who gets around the ice with ease, using his mobility to impact the game defensively, aided by excellent reads on the backcheck. He should be a player who finds plenty of success as a third-line center one day, using the intelligence and poise that he plays with to pick apart opponents tactically. 

Former OHLers David Goyette and Eduard Sale had some ups and downs in their first full AHL season. Goyette is an elite passer who sees the ice as well as anyone. Sale is a player who skates into space and fires passes through traffic on the move. Both of them struggled to deal with the physicality a bit, with Goyette in particular taking some time to adjust. Both Sale and Goyette are immensely talented players, and they will need to take a step this season in the AHL. 

It was a bit surprising to see Ty Nelson step into the AHL and have such an immediate impact. He’s always been a very engaged and driven player, but there was always concern about whether he would be able to continue that at the pro level, given his size. Nelson will throw his weight around, and he has a massive shot. In a lot of ways, Nelson plays a bit bigger than he actually is. When he’s engaged, he is a cerebral player. He will have to continue finding ways to prove his size isn’t an issue, but he’s built like a truck and loves to get involved in all aspects of the game. 

Last year was a bit tough for Caden Price. In his final junior season, he was traded, which isn’t an uncommon occurrence, but he really struggled to find his footing after the trade. Price is a mobile defender who is at his best when he’s not trying to do too much at either end of the ice. He’s a capable defender who uses his feet and his frame to cut play off and turn it around, but sometimes he can get into chase mode and loses his positioning. Offensively, he’s a very crafty passer who can activate on the backside and become a shooting threat, but his reads aren’t always on point. Heading into his first AHL season, he will need to refine things on the decision-making front. 

Lukas Dragicevic is a defender who loves attacking up ice, leading the rush and is developing a killer instinct. This past season, he elevated his offensive game even further, looking to push the pace when he had the puck on his stick. Dragicevic is a great straight-line mover, but he isn’t the most laterally capable skater, particularly at speed. That aspect usually shows up in his defensive coverage. He’s turning pro this fall, and it will be interesting to see what kind of role they give him out of the gate in the AHL. He has the offensive tools to be a rush-attacking blueliner and a potential power play quarterback, but his defensive game could limit his ice time if he doesn’t clean up his footwork a bit. 

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

Shane Wright (C), Matty Beniers (C) 

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 8th overall - Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

Round 2, 36th overall - Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL)

Round 3, 68th overall - Will Reynolds, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

Round 5, 134th overall - Maxim Agafonov, D, Ufa Tolpar (Rus)

Round 7, 205th overall - Karl Annborn, D, HV71 Jr. (Swe)

Round 7, 218th overall - Loke Krantz, LW, Linkoping HC Jr. (Swe)

The Seattle Kraken love to draft centers, and they continued with that trend in the first round, taking Jake O’Brien out of the OHL. Part of the reason O’Brien was such an intriguing prospect who was constantly on the rise in the first half of the year was his physical gifts and the runway that he has in terms of filling out. He’s a tall, skinny kid who has already shown the elements of being a near-elite playmaker. If O’Brien can add some muscle over the next couple of years, he could very easily find himself to be a dominant blend of skill and power. 

O’Brien is one of the premier playmakers in the 2025 draft class. His vision and play-reading ability with the puck on his stick is impressive, understanding where defenders are leaning and how they are trying to structure themselves to exploit where the lanes are. He is a good shooter as well, and adding some muscle will give him a bit more of a power option. O’Brien’s top ten selection is a bet on skill and potential. 

In the second round, the Kraken took advantage of the slight fall for Blake Fiddler, adding the defensive blueliner to their pipeline. Fiddler’s not your typical stay-at-home blueliner. His game offers much more versatility. He’s not an offensive wiz by any means, but he’s more than capable of providing his partner with an outlet or taking the breakout into his own hands as a passer or skater. There are some tools that Fiddler possesses that he could use to attack offensively, but instead, he opts to be the safety blanket who is a reliable option. He has more puck skill than he leads on. 

They doubled down on defensive defensemen in round three, taking Will Reynolds out of the QMJHL. His physicality and mobility allow him to shut plays down quickly. He gaps up and closes space as attackers receive passes in the neutral zone, finishes his checks, and doesn’t mess around when the puck is on his stick. He knows what he is, and that’s not an offensive dynamo. He’s a shutdown defender, and he plays a reserved game with the puck, making the simple play. 

Seattle went back to the blueline again in round five, taking Russian defender Maxim Agafonov. He’s an interesting player because there are moments that make him look like a very capable two-way defender. He has the mobility and physical play to be a solid play killer, and his flashes of puck carrying ability are intriguing, but the wild inconsistencies and complete lack of motor at times really make him a tough projection. The Kraken drafted him for his potential because of his size, skating, and the fact that he’s right-handed.

The Kraken drafted do-it-all defenseman Karl Annborn with their first of two seventh round picks. Annborn is an interesting prospect because he’s been on the scene for a while now, consistently finding his way onto international teams and consistently playing above his age group on his club team. While he’s always held his head above water and looked solid, he’s never been a player who stood out. Whether he ends up becoming a solid pro in Sweden or a low-end guy in North America, there’s some confidence in Annborn being a long-time pro. 

Capping of the Kraken’s draft was Loke Krantz, a big forward from Sweden with a heavy shot and a physical edge. He isn’t the most skilled player, and he certainly doesn’t blow by opposing players, but he shows some good puck protection, and he excels at finding good positioning around the net. He’s a simple player in several ways, but NHL teams love his archetype on the fourth line. 

Strengths

The sheer amount of legitimate center depth that the Kraken prospect pool possesses is unreal. They have two higher-end center prospects in Catton and O’Brien, both of whom could be top-six options. Fisker-Molgaard is a two-way force who plays a detailed game. Goyette has been an offensive force everywhere he has been, so there is faith he will figure it out after a trying season in the AHL as a rookie. Ollie Josephson is a transition machine who just gets pucks up ice and makes smart plays with it. Ryan Winterton, Tucker Robertson and Nathan Villeneuve are all at least potential surprise prospects who could wind up in the NHL. Some of these guys will move to the wing, especially with the NHL club already having U23 players Wright and Beniers down the middle, but that’s okay because they’ll need wingers as well, and the added versatility will be nice. 

Weaknesses

The Kraken have a very good prospect pool and even their netminders are solid, but none of them have truly stood out as of yet. Nikke Kokko is steady, and he’s been good internationally for Finland, but he’s not really a goalie you can look at to be the guy. Kim Saarinen and Visa Vedenpaa are decent projects, but they have a long way to go to become potential NHL options. The Kraken have been lucky enough to find Joey Daccord at the NHL level for the time being, but they’ll need someone in the crease to step up and fill in behind him eventually and right now, they don’t have a guy that projects. 

Hidden Gem: Ollie Josephson, C

Although he lacks the flash of the Kraken’s top prospects, Ollie Josephson is one of the steadiest center prospects around from a defensive point of view. He leverages his high-end mobility and quick thinking to consistently put himself between the puck and the next best option. When he’s defending on the puck or the back check, he’s a hound who gets into the pocket of the puck carrier and pickpockets them. He’s a focused defensive player who always looks for the opportunity to turn the play around and attack up ice. Josephson is heading into his final junior season next year, and you hope to see him get a bit of a boost offensively just to prove that he’s able to keep up. If he can take that step offensively, something he has all of the tools to do, he should transition to the AHL the following year with ease. 

Next Man Up: Jani Nyman, RW

At the tail end of last season, Jani Nyman made the jump to the NHL, and he looked better than expected. He showed himself to be a solid complementary forward, making quick one-touch passes or smart play connecting plays to advance the puck. Nyman is at his best when he’s an off-puck finisher who can find a pocket and get his shot off as soon as he collects the pass. Nyman brought some solid secondary scoring in his dozen-game call-up. 

If he can show himself to be capable of that in camp, he should be one of the newest additions to the team to start the season. There aren’t many other prospects that might be ready to jump into the NHL outside of the odd chance that Catton, Rehkopf or Firkus jump up into the NHL, but all of them look like they are at least a year away at this point. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Carson Rehkopf, Clarke Caswell, Julius Miettinen, Justin Janicke

C: Berkly Catton, Jake O’Brien, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Ollie Josephson, David Goyette, Ryan Winterton, Nathan Villenueve, Tucker Robertson

RW: Jagger Firkus, Eduard Sale, Jani Nyman, Andrei Loshko, Loke Krantz

LD: Ryker Evans, Caden Price, Jakub Fibigir, Karl Annborn, Tyson Jugnaugh, Will Reynolds

RD: Blake Fiddler, Lukas Dragicevic, Ty Nelson, Maxim Agafonov, Kaden Hammell, Alexis Bernier, Ville Ottavainen 

G: Nikke Kokko, Kim Saarinen, Visa Vedenpaa, Semyon Vyazovoi

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.

Sitting amid the NHL off-season dog days, there has been little activity in the trade market. Meanwhile, the arbitration period ended predictably with all 13 players agreeing to new contracts with their respective teams before their scheduled hearings. 

Nevertheless, the rumor mill keeps churning despite the lack of trade activity and the dearth of offer sheets to restricted free agents. 

Most of the attention is on the Pittsburgh Penguins. While management isn't openly saying they're rebuilding, it's clear that is what they're doing this summer as they attempt to move out aging veterans for younger talent. 

Most of the attention is focused on defenseman Erik Karlsson and wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. The 35-year-old Karlsson is signed through 2026-27 with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his $11.5 million average annual value. Rakell and Rust are in their early 30s with cap hits at or just above $5 million annually through 2027-28. 

Sportsnet's Sonny Sachdeva recently suggested the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators as destinations for Karlsson. That depends on his willingness to waive his no-movement clause, and if the Penguins agree to retain $3 million of their share of his AAV. 

Sachdeva also listed the Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Buffalo Sabres as landing spots for Rakell or Rust.

Cap retention is a must for the Leafs, Avalanche, and Kings, while the Sabres could be on Rakell's nine-team no-trade list. Rust could be a good fit with the Red Wings given his Michigan roots. 

Turning to Calgary, Flames center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Rasmus Andersson remain the topic of media conjecture. 

Kadri is under contract until 2028-29 with an AAV of $7 million and a full no-movement clause. Andersson carries a more affordable $4.55-million AAV with a six-team no-trade list, and is UFA-eligible next July.  

Sportnet's Ryan Dixon recently noted Kadri's value to the retooling Flames, indicating they're in no hurry to move him. However, he continues to surface in trade rumors this summer. 

Dixon suggested the Montreal Canadiens,New Jersey Devils, Hurricanes, Avalanche, and Maple Leafs as possible destinations if Kadri is moved. Cap space would be an issue for the Avalanche, Devils, and Leafs, while the Canadiens aren't likely to part with young assets for a 34-year-old center. 

The Hurricanes have the cap room and are willing to make bold moves. Kadri could be a good fit, but his age raises concerns about the length of his contract. 

As for Andersson, Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun considers it a matter of time until the 28-year-old defenseman is moved. Still, Flames GM Craig Conroy has no problem with him being on the roster to begin this season. 

Andersson is more likely to be moved than Kadri this season, but the Flames could wait until the March trade deadline to maximize his value.

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We’ve passed the halfway point of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series – our rankings of the off-season of every NHL team. In these files, we’re examining each team’s lineup additions, departures, hirings and firings, and judging which teams improved, which teams got worse, and which teams stayed the same. And in this particular file, we’re focused on the team that came in 15th overall in our rankings – the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche made a slew of roster changes last season, and while Colorado did lose their first-round series against Dallas, there’s still many things you have to like about where they are as a team today. Of course, there’s superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, there’s also a goalie tandem that was one of the NHL’s better duos, and the Avs have depth throughout the roster.

As you’ll see below, the Avalanche didn’t make a lot of noise this summer. But the reality is that Colorado GM Chris MacFarland made all the moves he needed to last season. When you deal with a salary cap conundrum by trading an elite winger in Mikko Rantanen for an above-average forward in Martin Necas, you’ve set the table for many more solid seasons. 

But before we take a bigger look at the Avs as a team, let’s look at the few additions MacFarland made to his roster.

Additions

Brent Burns (D)

The Breakdown: The Avalanche had one of the deeper defense corps in the league last season, with Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Samuel Girard and Sam Malinski forming an elite back end. But MacFarland raised the bar for Colorado’s blueliners by signing veteran star and former Carolina Hurricanes D-man Brent Burns to a one-year, $1-million contract.

At 40 years old, Burns is the oldest player in the league. And while his offensive numbers have dropped steadily in recent years, Burns’ snarl and size makes him a valuable, experienced hand. Something tells us Burns had a number of teams vying for him this summer, so getting him at an incredible discount is a huge win for the Avalanche.

So, if you’re saying “that’s it?” to this Avs acquisition, you’re underestimating Burns and the Avs’ all-around depth. But with Burns anchoring Colorado’s third defense pairing, you’re sealing off any real weakness in the Avalanche’s defense. And when you take into account the Avalanche’s depth at forward, it’s clear this is a team that didn’t have to make many additions to still be one of the Western Conference’s very best teams.

Departures

Charlie Coyle (C), Jonathan Drouin (LW), Joel Kiviranta (LW), Ryan Lindgren (D), Erik Johnson (D)

The Breakdown: Yes, the Avs allowed a handful of veteran contributors to leave via free-agency – most notably, center Coyle, who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, winger Drouin, who signed with the New York Islanders, and defenseman Lindgren, who joined the Seattle Kraken – but you have to look at Colorado’s team through MacFarland’s eyes. And that means looking at a lineup that gets a huge boost with the return to action of captain Gabriel Landeskog, which is like making a major trade with nothing but cap space to pay for it.

Meanwhile, the Avalanche’s few moves have freed up approximately $3.34 million in cap space, and you’d better believe MacFarland is going to use every penny of it as he goes to the trade market at some point this year. If MacFarland’s moves last season are any indication, he’s not a GM afraid to make tough moves and swing for the fences in doing so. If you’re an Avs fan, you have to be happy with his job performance thus far.

The Bottom Line

The Avalanche play in arguably the NHL’s toughest division in the Central Division. With tough teams like the Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues all around them, the Avs have to be at their best if they hope to secure home-ice advantage as a top-two seed next season. 

That said, we’re still feeling very good about Colorado’s chances to do great things next year. MacKinnon is very much a beast still in his prime, and the same goes for Makar. MacFarland may have a cap problem when Necas’ contract expires at the end of the coming season, but we expect MacFarland will deal with it, either at the trade deadline or well before it. Necas’ contract demands may push him out of Colorado’s cap framework, but even then, we’d expect MacFarland will move Necas and get back important parts in return. 

Otherwise, this Avalanche team is the perfect example of not needing to make a boatload of trades to be ranked above-average in our summer splash ranks. Colorado did what they needed to do last season, and they’ve now been given the opportunity to settle in as a larger group and press forward past some of the league’s best organizations. 

The Avs are slick, speedy and skilled to a depth that’s the envy of many teams. And if and when Colorado does go on another deep playoff run, no one will say they didn’t see it coming.

Summer Splash Rankings

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

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Shortly after the Abbotsford Canucks began celebrating their Calder Cup championship, a few of the players got to work. Their goalie was busy doing interviews – because he was the biggest reason they won the thing – so he didn’t see his teammates surreptitiously cutting the netting off the Canucks’ goal at Bojangles Coliseum. (Greatest arena name ever, by the way.)

By the time Arturs Silovs was finishing up his on-ice interview, his teammates had managed to remove the mesh from the iron and draped it over his shoulders. It was symbolic in a couple of ways. First, it reminded all who watched the Canucks’ playoff run that Silovs was so simpatico with his net that almost nothing got by him. Second, it was the affirmation that, as the Canucks knew all along, the net indisputably belonged to their 24-year-old Latvian goalie, who seems to have a penchant for playing out of his mind in big games.

Silovs started each of the Canucks’ 24 games during the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs, winning 16 while putting up a .931 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average. He was also named playoff MVP. But that’s not the half of it. In the final series, the Canucks were outshot 229 to 147 by the Charlotte Checkers, an average of 13.7 shots per game over the six games. In Game 1 of the series, Silovs faced 54 shots. That’s not including the one that went past him when teammate Ty Mueller won a defensive-zone draw in overtime and pulled it directly into the Abbotsford net while Silovs was turning around after taking a drink of water. It was later ruled that Silovs was not set for the play, and the goal was called back before Danila Klimovich scored on the power play in double overtime.

More symbolism. It seemed the only time opponents could figure Silovs out was when he wasn’t ready. But when he was, his play was remarkable. Silovs posted a .934 SP in the final series. One of the key reasons the Canucks won the Calder Cup was that they never lost two straight games. They lost eight times in the playoffs, and in the games after a loss, Silovs went 8-0, tossed up two shutouts and recorded a .948 SP. “Arty’s play in those games was unbelievable,” said Canucks rookie coach Manny Malhotra.

And because of that, Silovs found himself at the top of the mountain, just months after struggling through a disastrous start to the NHL season. He entered the year having created high expectations for himself after getting the Vancouver Canucks to Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs in 2024. In 2023, all he did was lead Latvia, the little engine that could, to a bronze medal at the World Championship. For his efforts, Silovs was named the top goalie and MVP of the tournament. And when he was asked what the Calder Cup win means to him, he spoke like someone who doesn’t expect to be competing for it ever again. “You’re finishing a part of your career with a milestone,” Silovs said. “Not everyone can say they won a Calder Cup, right? I think it’s really special…and I think it’s going to help a lot in the future.”

Yeah, about that. Things are going to get interesting in Vancouver’s crease. The brilliant-but-injury-riddled Thatcher Demko has one year left on his current deal at $5 million, but while trade rumors were swirling, it appeared a contract extension was in the works. The Canucks signed 30-year-old Kevin Lankinen to a five-year, $22.5-million extension that kicks in next season. You’d have to wonder whether they would have done that if they’d known what Silovs was going to accomplish in Abbotsford. For his part, Silovs has one year left on a deal that will pay him $800,000 – whether he plays in the NHL or the minors – before he becomes an RFA with arbitration rights. But what makes all of this so intriguing is that in order to be sent to the minors in 2025-26, Silovs would have to go on waivers. That means the Canucks, if they stay status quo in net, would either have to go with a cumbersome three-goalie setup or risk losing Silovs for nothing. Hence, the Demko rumors that began circulating during the off-season.

This was no ordinary Stanley Cup run, this was a Rat Race! 🐀

Introducing the brand new 2025 CHAMPIONS Issue @FlaPanthers

Now available at: https://t.co/smKk3NQdgQpic.twitter.com/xHu9pde38l

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 27, 2025

We do know that Silovs can play. His body of work in the AHL, internationally and, at times, in the NHL has proven he’s ready to be a full-time NHL goalie. The fact that Latvia chose to name him among the first six players for their 2026 Olympic team is a testament to the faith they have in him to deliver on the world stage. And while he has had his peaks and valleys, he’s not unlike a lot of young goalies who take a few years – and in many cases, a few organizations – to find their places in the hockey world. Silovs is young for a goalie, but he’s also got a cross-section of experience and success that suggests he deserves a sustained shot at proving he can stay in the NHL.

Silovs was brilliant at times for the big club during the 2024 post-season. But when the NHL crease was his to start the regular season, he struggled – and he struggled mightily. He gave up five or more goals in three of his nine starts, and his only two wins of the season came against the Chicago Blackhawks, and we’re not even sure if those even count these days.

Brighter days are ahead, one would presume, for both Silovs and other Canucks prospects who made a push in the playoffs. For the short term, Silovs was intent on living in the moment and enjoying the accomplishment. “It’s so special,” he said. “Basically, I grew up with this team. We started with nearly everyone at the same time. We had some ups and downs, and to manage to win with the same guys is unbelievable.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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