The Ottawa Senators are next in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Senators’ 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 Senators finally did it. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and gave the rival Toronto Maple Leafs a scare in the Battle of Ontario. 

Although they didn’t take down the Leafs in the first round, they had some enlightening performances from some of their most promising young players. Brady Tkachuk was a bit up-and-down, but he ended up with seven points across the six-game series. Tim Stutzle added five points. Jake Sanderson had moments where he looked like one of the best defensemen in the NHL, playing high-level hockey at both ends of the ice. 

The Senators will look to go further next year. Unfortunately for the Sens, they don’t have much in the pipeline that could be highly effective in the NHL, at least not this season. 

The team’s top prospect, Carter Yakemchuk, didn’t have the best year in the WHL, taking a fairly large step back statistically from 30 goals and 71 points in his draft year to 17 goals and 49 points this past season. He did play 10 fewer games, but that isn’t enough to warrant a 22-point drop-off. It’s hard to be a 30-goal defender, and that’s why there was some concern with the realistic projection of his numbers last year.

That said, Yakemchuk is still quite the prospect. He should have been included in Canada’s world juniors camp last year, and there was talk of him joining the Sens at the end of the season. He still has a big shot, but his mean streak and physicality will get him into the NHL. Yakemchuk could be a very interesting addition to the Sens in another year, but a season in the AHL will likely be good for his development. 

A few of the Sens' more intriguing prospects are also on the back end, with most of them being more defensive-minded than offensive defensemen.

Jorian Donovan had his first full AHL season, and it went well for the defensive-minded blueliner. His game is efficient and simple for the most part. He just tries to snuff out attackers and eliminate the scoring chance. When he gets the puck, he’ll make the most immediate and simple play to get the puck to safety.

When it comes to Gabriel Eliasson, it’s all about adding the physical edge. The hulking 6-foot-7 defenseman is out to eliminate opponents from the ice when he takes his shift. He uses his size to his advantage, crushing players in open ice or along the boards. There isn’t much offense in Eliasson’s game, but he’s a strong physical presence. 

After starting the season in the United States League, Blake Montgomery joined the OHL’s London Knights and helped them win the Memorial Cup. He has an enticing package of tools with a power game to go along with his speed, but this past year was the closest we’ve seen to him putting it all together. There is still room to refine some of the smaller details in his game, but there were plenty of encouraging signs after he arrived in London. He’ll be heading to the University of Wisconsin in the fall, where he can further refine those details. 

When the Sens traded for Xavier Bourgault, there was hope that he could rekindle his game in their system with a fresh set of opportunities. Unfortunately, that bounceback didn’t quite happen, and Bourgault remains a prospect with a frustrating path. His skill and offensive mind are NHL caliber. He understands how to generate offense. He’s just been unable to piece play together consistently enough to produce at the level he is capable of. Turning 23 in October, this might just be the last season in which Bourgault is viewed as a potential NHLer. 

Tyler Boucher will be one of the most interesting case studies to look back on. He was probably drafted a bit too high at 10th overall, but he’s had some tough luck with injuries as well. Last season marked the first time he played over 42 games in a year since his age-16 season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. 

Boucher is a physical forward who loves to engage and impose his will on opponents. He has a great shot as well. We haven’t seen Boucher even get the chance at becoming the fully realized version of himself, and we may never get that chance. This season could be the start of the next chapter for Boucher, though. 

After potentially saving the Senators' season in his 12-game run, Leevi Merilainen is set to be the full-time backup for Ottawa. He showed plenty of potential, and his presence could help make Linus Ullmark the best version of himself. Merilainen has built himself into the Sens' top goalie prospect thanks to his size and technical ability.

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

Leevi Merilainen (G), Ridly Greig (C/W)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 23rd overall - Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA)

Round 3, 93rd overall - Blake Vanek, RW, Stillwater (Minn. H.S.)

Round 4, 97th overall - Lucas Beckman, G, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

Round 5, 149th overall - Dmitri Isayev, LW, Yekaterinburg Jr. (Rus.)

Round 6, 181st overall - Bruno Idzan, LW, Lincoln (USHL)

Round 7, 213th overall - Andrei Trofimov, G, Magnitogorsk Jr (Rus.)

Logan Hensler’s draft stock was interesting to follow. Coming into this past year, he was a potential top-10 pick after a successful run with the NTDP. A slow start at the University of Wisconsin had him sitting outside of the first round on many public lists, but a strong finish ultimately got him drafted in the first round at 23rd overall. 

Hensler is a highly mobile defender who is quite effective moving the puck in transition. Henlser’s defensive game took a step this year as well, using his feet to retrieve dump-ins and evade pressure or cut off attackers looking to go wide, forcing them down into the corner. Hensler finished his freshman season strong, but he will likely play another year or two before turning pro. He immediately becomes one of the Sens’ top prospects. 

When Ottawa took Blake Vanek, the son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek, it was a bit surprising. He put up 22 goals and 53 points at the Minnesota high school level, and he played a handful of games with the NTDP and the USHL’s Chicago Steel. He has great size and an excellent shot, and he flashes some nice puckhandling. He struggles to keep up with the pace of play at times, though, so he likes to slow things down with the puck or come in as the third man, trying to attack high-to-low after teammates have already pushed defenders back. He’s heading to the WHL next season, where he will look to work on some of the details in his game. 

The Senators drafting Lucas Beckman in the fourth round was one of the more intriguing selections of the draft. The QMJHL netminder looked great for Baie-Comeau this past season, and when he joined Canada at the World Men’s Under-18s, he was stellar in a backup role, winning both games he played. Beckman doesn’t try to do too much, relying on his mobility and fluidity in the crease. He stays calm in chaos around the net and just looks to cut down angles. He could be the sneakiest goalie pick of the draft. 

In what was a bit of a shock, the Senators took Russian winger Dmitri Isayev. Ottawa doesn’t regularly draft Russians, and Isayev doesn’t even fit the style Ottawa generally goes for. He’s small and skilled, but he tries hard defensively and has some games where he is constantly stripping pucks from his opponents. He plays with pace and has some creativity, but there are plenty of habits to eliminate to find success in North America, but he could be a very good Russian pro in the next couple of years. Isayev will be a very interesting player to track. 

The Senators have never shied away from drafting overage players, and this year, it was USHL standout Bruno Idzan. He started the year playing in the Alps Hockey League with Croatian club Sisak, where he was scoring the lights out with 21 goals in 19 games. He moved to the USHL where he continued to score a ton in preparation for his freshman NCAA season at the University of Wisconsin. Idzan has always been able to flash his speed in transition, and he’s become a very good shooter from all over the zone. He is going to need some refinement, so college is a great route for him. 

To cap off their draft, the Senators took a swing on a Russian netminder, which is always a very good bet to take late in the draft. Andrei Trofimov has decent size and plays with a good technical base. His numbers in Russian junior hockey were very good, and he allowed no goals in a relief effort at the VHL level in his pro debut.

Strengths

Arguably, the Senators’ top two prospects are both right-shot defenders, with Yakemchuk and Hensler looking like legitimate NHLers in different roles. Beyond those two, the projects they have at right defense could be quite interesting. 

Hoyt Stanley is a big defender who has had a couple of solid seasons at Cornell in the NCAA. Djibril Toure is a project who brings incredible size at 6-foot-7 and some very solid skating. He isn’t a refined player and spent time in the ECHL this past year, but there is hope that in the long run, he may be a solid bet who can play some NHL minutes. 

Weaknesses

The reality of the Senators’ prospect pool is that aside from Stephen Halliday and Bourgault, both of whom will likely play on the wing in the NHL level if they make it there, the center depth is incredibly poor. 

The Senators have a prospect pool that’s not indicative of a team that has been out of the playoffs for much of the last decade. They haven’t had a ton of success drafting outside of the franchise-altering 2020 class that brought in Stutzle, Sanderson and Greig. This has left the pipeline with little to no high-end talent, and the pivot position is where that’s most obvious. 

Hidden Gem: Stephen Halliday, C

Stephen Halliday led the AHL’s Belleville Senators in scoring in his first full pro season. His mobility and pace have always been the two issues that have led to some doubting his NHL upside, but he excels at slowing the game down. 

He was drafted as an overage prospect, and now that he’s 23, it might be time for him to get an NHL shot to see if he can slow things down and produce at the NHL level as he did at the NCAA and AHL levels. If he can’t, there may not be much of an NHL future, but if he can, he will bring a unique element to the Sens' bottom six and the kind of depth scoring they need moving forward.

Next Man Up: Leevi Merilainen, G

The Senators don’t have a skater who is ready to jump into the NHL roster, but they’ll have Merilainen start the year as their backup. His run from last season likely should have earned him the role then, but with Anton Forsberg locked in as the backup primarily because of his cap hit, it wasn’t quite time for Merilainen to be in the NHL full-time. 

Merilainen can play somewhere between 25 to 30 games or more. That would allow Ullmark to stay fresh for the playoffs when the Sens are hopefully back in it for a second straight year. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Javon Moore, Blake Montgomery, Dmitri Isayev, Lucas Ellinas, Bruno Idzan

C: Stephen Halliday, Xavier Bourgault, Jake Chiasson, Owen Beckner

RW: Tyler Boucher, Blake Vanek, Oskar Pettersson

LD: Jorian Donovan, Gabriel Eliasson, Matthew Andonovski, Filip Nordberg, Tomas Hamara, Theo Wallberg, Eerik Wallenius

RD: Carter Yakemchuk, Logan Hensler, Hoyt Stanley, Djibril Toure

G: Leevi Merilainen, Mads Sogaard, Lucas Beckman, Vladimir Nikitin, Kevin Reidler, Jackson Parsons, Andrei Trofimov

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.

Of the NHL’s remaining free agents, goaltenders are the most intriguing position. 

Three UFA goalies who played at least 20 games last season have yet to sign a new contract: Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and James Reimer.

They’re at different points in their NHL careers, but they have potential of being bargain options in the crease.

Ilya Samsonov

Samsonov may be the most intriguing of the trio. The 28-year-old posted a subpar save percentage of .891 with the Vegas Golden Knights this past season, but he had 0.6 goals saved above expected in 29 appearances, meaning he stopped the scoring chances he was generally supposed to stop. 

Samsonov isn’t all that far removed from his stellar 2022-23 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he had a .919 SP and 2.33 GAA in 42 games. He earned $1.8 million this past season with Vegas, and he likely wouldn’t get more this time. That said, among goalies who played at least 15 games, 28 goalies had a worse goals saved above expected rating, according to moneypuck.com.

Alexandar Georgiev

One of those goaltenders is Georgiev, who put up a minus-17.9 goals saved above expected, which was the second-worst. 

Georgiev split last season between the Colorado Avalanche – where he had an .874 SP and 3.38 GAA in 14 games – and the San Jose Sharks, where he posted a 3.88 GAA and .875 SP in 31 appearances. 

The 29-year-old will certainly have to take a pay cut from the $3.5 million he’s earned in each of the past four seasons, but in the right circumstances, Georgiev could provide some value and support for a younger goalie tandem. While he’s had a goals-against average of more than 3.00 and a sub-.900 save percentage in the last two seasons, he did have a 2.53 GAA and .919 SP in 2022-23, so he has the potential to bounce back.

James Reimer

Reimer put up a .901 SP and 2.90 GAA in 22 appearances with the Buffalo Sabres this past season while earning a very reasonable $1 million for his efforts. Of the three goalies here, Reimer's 8.0 goals saved above expected was the best as well.

Reimer is now 37, but if he doesn’t retire, he can prove he has something left in the tank at somewhere close to the league-minimum salary. He proved that this past season, after all.

At a time when every salary cap dollar counts, Reimer can step in and give a team some reassurance that they effectively have goalie insurance.

It's not out of the ordinary for teams to line up three experienced goalies to get them through next year. 

The Buffalo Sabres have presumptive starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, youngster Devon Levi and veteran newcomer Alex Lyon. 

The Anaheim Ducks have emerging No. 1 Lukas Dostal, veteran Petr Mrazek and bubble goalie Ville Husso. 

And the Utah Mammoth have three experienced goalies in Karel Vejmelka, Connor Ingram (who entered the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program in March) and first-year Mammoth Vitek Vanecek. As you can see, you can never have more than enough quality netminding.

The Edmonton Oilers could have benefited from signing one of these goalies right now if they had more than $226,000 in cap space. Stuart Skinner had an .896 SP this past season, while Pickard had a .900 SP. They had some solid outings in the playoffs but an inconsistent performance overall, and if the Oilers aren’t ready to give Olivier Rodrigue a larger role, having another veteran wouldn’t hurt.

Whether Samsonov, Georgiev and Reimer get to play NHL hockey next season, or whether they ply their trade overseas is yet to be determined.

Another option for those three goalies would be earning their keep on a professional tryout this fall – Edmonton could be a fit in that case. Alternatively, they can be patient and wait for an injury or disappointing performance from a goalie to open up a roster opportunity for them. At this stage, beggars can’t be choosers, so if Georgiev, Samsonov and Reimer get a solid employment offer, they should take it.

In any case, it will be compelling viewing to see how the rest of the NHL’s goalie market shakes out. Teams that are satisfied with their netminding today might not be satisfied tomorrow, and teams that are healthy in net today might not be healthy between the pipes tomorrow. Things can change in an instant for NHL goalies, and we’ll be watching closely to see where every netminder of note eventually lands.

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It's late July, and The Wraparound is still breaking down NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.

Which NHL Players Have Lots To Prove This Season? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Which NHL team has the longest competitive window?

5:00: Should the Vegas Golden Knights be concerned about their goaltending?

8:15: Can the Chicago Blackhawks eventually win with Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom as their goaltenders?

11:02: Will any remaining UFA goaltenders be signed before training camp?

14:53: Do the Buffalo Sabres need significant changes to their defensive group?

17:55: Which players have the most to prove this season?

21:43: Did the Seattle Kraken get closer to playoff contention after their off-season moves?

24:18: Grading the Minnesota Wild’s off-season

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

Promo photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers are at bat in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Rangers’ 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

Last season was a rollercoaster for the Rangers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a fun coaster like at the local fair; it was a Final Destination movie. 

Almost nothing went right as soon as the season began, and if we’re being honest, it started in the summer last year when they were trying to move key veterans who were ultimately moved out at a later time. 

The team is in a weird spot. The Rangers haven’t committed to rebuilding or retooling because they have some pricey veterans on the roster, but they have made some moves that suggest they want to at least get younger. 

Since opening night last season, they’ve traded out trusted veterans and lineup staples, such as former captain Jacob Trouba, Ranger great Chris Kreider and even a young defender with promise, K’Andre Miller. 

The Kreider and Miller deals brought the Rangers two very solid prospects to add to their system: Scott Morrow and Carey Terrance.

Morrow is one of the top prospects in the Rangers' system after being acquired this summer. The former Shattuck St. Mary’s defender is a cerebral player, using his incredible puckhandling and slick passing to move the puck all over the ice. Morrow has the brain to run a power play or generate offense at even strength. His skating is good, but he doesn’t have the explosiveness you’d like. He’s fairly fluid in his movement, but he isn’t a powerful skater. Morrow could jump into the lineup at some point this season.

Terrance is a hard-working energy center who loves to fire pucks on net. He might have a limited ceiling, but he is a smart player who will do what a coach asks of him. His defensive game is solid, mostly thanks to his work ethic, which could keep him at center at the pro level. He’ll have the chance to prove he can bring a bit more offense with some better players when he gets to the AHL this fall.

After a 22-game stint with the Rangers this past year, Brennan Othmann will look to compete for a spot in the lineup immediately this season. The 22-year-old has been a very good AHLer for a couple of seasons, but he hasn’t made an impact yet in the NHL. Othmann is a crafty goal-scorer who brings some edge to the game. He likes getting under the skin of opponents as well. If he can keep up with the speed of the NHL game, he could be a very solid middle-six forward for the Rangers as soon as this season. 

Undersized forward Brett Berard is a fun story. He played in 35 NHL games last year, and although he’s no longer a rookie, he hasn’t established himself in the NHL yet. Berard is a worker who gets to the middle and consistently tries to stay involved in the play. He’s a high-paced winger who loves to push the puck up ice and use his teammates well. He could be a very solid depth scorer at the NHL level.

Slovak forward Adam Sykora is a fun player to watch because he consistently pushes the pace of play and tries to create. Defensively, Sykora is always putting in 110 percent effort, throwing hits and looking to play through the attacker's hands to dislodge the puck. When he has the puck, he’s passing it off in transition and immediately looking to present an option for a return pass. He wants to drive the puck into the high-danger areas and create chances. He could be in line for a big bump in his AHL production this season. 

The Rangers drafted EJ Emery last year as a bet on a player who loves to be physical and play defensive hockey with an athletic package that should allow him to develop his puck skills. While he showed some of that physicality and defensive play at the University of North Dakota this past season, he struggled with the puck. His one assist in 31 games was underwhelming, to say the least. Emery is still a very raw player, so time will tell whether he can develop his game with the puck. 

In his second year with Boston College, Drew Fortescue took a step as a complete player, but that came with an acceptance that he can be a bit more reserved offensively. He has good tools and makes decent decisions, but Fortescue must figure out what he’ll be at the next level. As of right now, he’s a work in progress.

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

Gabe Perreault (RW/LW), Scott Morrow (D), Brennan Othmann (LW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 43rd overall - Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)

Round 3, 70th overall - Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque (USHL)

Round 3, 89th overall - Artem Gonchar, D, Magnitogorsk Jr. (Rus.)

Round 4, 111th overall - Mikkel Eriksen, C, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)

Round 5, 139th overall - Zeb Lindgren, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Swe.)

Round 6, 166th overall - Samuel Jung, RW, Karpat (Fin.)

Round 6, 171st overall - Evan Passmore, D, Barrie (OHL)

Round 7, 203rd overall - Felix Farhammar, D, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)

Although they didn’t pick in the first round, the Rangers still landed Malcolm Spence. 

Spence was thought to be a potential top-10 pick coming into the year. A bit of an underwhelming year and some questions about just how high his upside is caused him to fall out of the first round. 

Spence plays a very pro-style game. He can play a physical game, especially on the forecheck and backcheck. He commits to putting in an effort on the defensive side of the puck as well. Spence has shown some creativity and skill as a playmaker, and he has a very good shot, but he should use it more.

Sean Barnhill’s game isn’t complicated or flashy. He’s a big defender and a smooth skater who plays a smart defensive game, building on his mobility and finishing plays with his massive frame when needed. Barnhill has room to grow offensively because he shows off the tools he’s working with and the odd flash of skill. If he ever develops an offensive edge, he could be a massive steal. If not, he has the floor of a solid defender. 

The nephew of longtime NHLer Sergei Gonchar, Artem Gonchar, plays a solid two-way game with excellent puck-moving and evasive skating. That said, he is very thin at six-foot and 157 pounds, and he lacks a physical edge to his game. Gonchar must fill out his frame because he does have some puck skills, but he can’t take full advantage of his tools without getting a bit stronger.

Mikkel Eriksen’s birth date was just two days away from being a 2026 NHL draft prospect, so he has plenty of runway for development. His puck skill and fluidity stand out. He is constantly looking to alter defenders' paths or draw their attention one way before cutting back. Eriksen has to round things out in his game, but there is plenty to like about his potential. 

The rise of Zeb Lindgren from a relative unknown to a legitimate NHL draft prospect was fun to watch. Lindgren leaves fans and observers entertained, happy with his overall play and also feeling like there was more to give. Lindgren has some really solid passing ability, deceptively quick skating and problem-solving. There are times when things can get hectic in his game, but he has a nice package to bet on. 

Drafted as an overage player, Samuel Jung is a good shooter who doesn’t bring a ton else to his game. He’s a fine north-south attacker, but he doesn’t have the pull-away speed to really break things open. This is a bet on a player who improved his overall tools year-over-year, but it might not be enough.

The Rangers kept things simple by taking Evan Passmore, a big defender who can move fairly well and can close down space. He loves to pin attackers to the wall and take the puck off of them, but he won’t do anything too crazy with it once he gets it. As a good pokechecker with a long wingspan, Passmore could wind up being a very steady bottom-pair guy one day. 

With their final pick of the 2025 NHL draft, the Rangers snagged Felix Farhammar, a two-way defender who is a bit unrefined, but he has some nice elements at both ends of the ice. He can throw some hits and shadow defenders, or he can make a breakout pass and join the rush. Farhammar could wind up being good value if they let him take his time and develop, hopefully in more than a couple of Swedish League games this season. 

Strengths

The left wing is one of the stronger position groups for the Rangers as it features a couple of good prospects and some depth. 

The right side of the defense has some good players at the top end, but it lacks depth. The left side of the blueline has depth but lacks the high-end player. 

With Perreault likely starting on the left wing, he’s the head of the left wing in the prospect pipeline, but he’s far from alone. 

When Spence fell to them in the draft, the Rangers were ecstatic because they were getting a first-round talent in the second round. Othmann might play games this season, and there is a world in which he brings some of the same elements that Will Cuylle brought the last couple of years. Berard and Sykora are a bit undersized, but they bring a ton of talent and work their tails off as well. Even Kalle Vaisanen is an intriguing depth option at 22 years old. 

Weaknesses

Once Perreault jumps into the NHL, the right wing will be fairly vacant. 

Brisson was acquired at the trade deadline from Vegas. He was a former first-rounder, but he’s struggled to break into the NHL. He has some promise as a finisher, but at 23 years old, it’s time for him to prove himself. 

Beyond Brisson, the Rangers don’t have much in the way of upside picks. Jaroslav Chmelar is a fine prospect, as is Brody Lamb. Neither has the kind of path or upside to be an impact player at the pro level. There will be centers that end up on the wing, so maybe the weak point is a bit muted because of that. Unfortunately, the centers aren’t nearly a strong enough group as they could have easily secured the spot here as the weak point of the pipeline. As of now, the right side up front looks tough.

Hidden Gem: Carey Terrance, C

Terrance’s offensive skill isn’t upper-echelon, and he has had some ups and downs to finish his junior career, but he could fit right into the bottom six in the NHL. 

Terrance has some speed and physicality. He never stops moving his feet, and he might produce a bit more offense once he’s surrounded by players with more playmaking ability. Terrance is a very good finisher when playing with a true creator. He has some very good defensive qualities, quick reads and consistent pressuring of attackers on the backcheck and even in his own zone. He’s unlikely to become a star, but he could be a very solid piece of the puzzle for the Rangers in a year or two, as he is making the jump to the AHL this upcoming season.

Next Man Up: Gabe Perreault, RW/LW

It’s been a dominant run over the last few years for Perreault. 

He solidified himself as one of the most dominant offensive players in the history of the USA National Team Development Program, putting up a record 132 points in his U-18 year. That season was capped off with a gold medal at the World Men’s Under-18 Championship.. 

Perreault then put up more than 100 points in just two years at Boston College. He helped BC to a Hockey East championship, and he was a second-team All-American in each season. The past couple of winters, he stepped away from BC to join Team USA at the World Junior Championship, and he won back-to-back gold medals. 

Perreault’s winning ways aren’t just a circumstance of being in the right place at the right time. Perreault has often been one of the catalysts to that success. Now, he will jump into the Rangers’ lineup after a brief stint to end last season. 

The Rangers are hoping to have Perreault use his play-connecting ability to bring some depth scoring to the lineup and elevate some of the middle six players' offensive ceilings. He’s played on the left and right wings, so he should be capable of doing either. If he ends up playing higher in the lineup and the Rangers bounce back, he could be in the Calder Trophy conversation. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Malcolm Spence, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora, Brett Berard, Kalle Vaisanen, Ty Henricks

C: Carey Terrance, Raoul Boilard, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Mikkel Eriksen

RW: Gabe Perreault, Jaroslav Chmelar, Brendan Brisson, Brody Lamb

LD: Drew Fortescue, Zeb Lindgren, Artem Gonchar, Jackson Dorrington, Rasmus Larsson

RD: Scott Morrow, EJ Emery, Sean Barnhill

G: Hugo Ollas, Dylan Garand, Talyn Boyko

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 Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings continue to unfold with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 21st spot.

This series analyzes each NHL team’s off-season, ranking the teams that improved, stayed the same or got worse. We’re focusing on every organization’s additions and departures through free agency and trades, as well as coach and management hirings and firings.

We’re in the group of teams that have more or less stayed the same this off-season. You’ll find the teams that finished below the Blue Jackets at the bottom of this column. But first, our attention is squarely on the Jackets.

Additions

Charlie Coyle (C), Miles Wood (LW), Brendan Gaunce (C), Dysin Mayo (D)

The Breakdown: The Blue Jackets had the same number of wins as the Montreal Canadiens, but the Habs lost two more games in overtime instead of regulation and clinched the second wild-card spot. 

But Jackets GM Don Waddell used a good deal of his salary cap space this summer on a pair of veteran forwards – former Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle and former New Jersey Devils and Avalanche winger Wood – to add depth and experience to his group.

An additional positive for Waddell is the re-signing of veteran defenseman Ivan Provorov to a seven-year contract extension worth $8.5 million per year. The 28-year-old Provorov could’ve received at least that much money from another team, so his decision to stay in Columbus was an endorsement of sorts for the Blue Jackets as an organization. He wasn’t an addition, but the Blue Jackets did a good job not to see Provorov become a departure.

Another de facto addition for the Jackets this coming year will be one full season of goaltender Jet Greaves. The 24-year-old looked terrific in 11 NHL appearances last season, posting a .938 save percentage and 1.91 goals-against average. He’s going to push starter Elvis Merzlikins for the No. 1 job in net for Columbus, and that can only be a good thing. 

Departures

James van Riemsdyk (LW), Justin Danforth (RW), Sean Kuraly (LW), Kevin Labanc (RW), Jack Johnson (D), Jordan Harris (D), Daniil Tarasov (G)

The Breakdown: Most, if not all, of the Blue Jackets’ departures were depth players. Van Riemsdyk had 36 points in 71 games this past season, while Danforth had 21. Kuraly and Labanc combined for 29 points.

Depth defensemen Johnson and Harris averaged fewer than 13 minutes of ice time. Goaltender Tarasov had a 3.54 GAA and .881 SP.

Columbus won’t miss the playoffs just because any of the seven departed players left a competitive crater that can’t be filled. Waddell must believe the team filled in any gaps through internal promotions, trades and free-agent signings.

The Bottom Line

While there was a considerable exodus out of Columbus this off-season, the Blue Jackets are likely to be on the rise because management believes in their core of youngsters. That belief may prove to be ill-founded, but there’s no guarantee of its success or failure either way. 

The Jackets are where they are in our NHL summer splash rankings because they didn’t get considerably better or worse. They’re about the same, so they’re in the middle pack.

That said, if the Blue Jackets’ defense can improve from conceding the eighth-most goals in the NHL this past year, we believe Columbus’ offense – fuelled by youngsters Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov and Norris Trophy front-runner Zach Werenski – should be enough to push this team into the post-season after a five-year playoff drought.

Also of note: Waddell still has about $16.3 million in salary cap space, leaving him primed to be a mover and shaker on the trade front during the season. With Columbus’ defense corps on the rise, the Jackets could look for help at forward or in net. But for the moment, at least, this Blue Jackets team has the promise of youth along with a bedrock of veterans to keep the team in the playoff hunt all season long. Waddell’s refusal to make a slew of additions is essentially a vote of confidence in his core talent.

Summer Splash Rankings

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

Evgeny Kuznetsov’s longtime teammate recently discussed the possibility of the center returning to the NHL.

After posting 12 goals and 37 points in 39 games with St. Petersburg this past KHL season, Kuznetsov is reportedly looking to return to the NHL.

The 33-year-old played 11 NHL seasons for the Washington Capitals, putting up 32 points in 24 playoff games when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018. In 2023-24, the Capitals traded Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes for a third-round pick at the NHL trade deadline, and he recorded seven points in 20 games and six points in 10 playoff games after the move.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin told Russian-language publication Gazeta.ru that Kuznetsov is sensible and can make the right choice to prove himself in the NHL again or in the KHL. But Ovechkin said he’s not Washington’s GM, and whether Kuznetsov can return to the Capitals is not the question for him to answer.

With August almost here, Kuznetsov remains a UFA, but this could change before NHL training camps begin in mid-September. His past success could ultimately lead to an NHL club giving him another opportunity, especially when considering he is one of the top UFAs left based on his potential. While he only had 24 points in 63 games in 2023-24, he had 55 points in 2022-23 and 78 points in 2021-22.

Here are three teams that could make sense as potential landing spots for Kuznetsov if he doesn't return to Washington. 

Vancouver Canucks 

After trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers during the 2024-25 season and losing Pius Suter in free agency to the St. Louis Blues this summer, the Vancouver Canucks could use another center. They’ve gone from having Miller and Elias Pettersson as a one-two punch down the middle to Pettersson and Filip Chytil, who came to the Canucks in the Miller trade and had 26 points in 56 games this past season while dealing with injury issues.

If the Canucks signed Kuznetsov, he would create some competition for the Canucks’ second-line center spot with Chytil. Even if he slotted in as Vancouver’s third-line center, he would still improve their depth down the middle. The third line of Dakota Joshua, Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland that thrived at times in 2023-24 was separated for most of this past season, and Joshua is now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so adding Kuznetsov shouldn’t disrupt the bottom six’s chemistry, either. Blueger can stay in an effective depth role, while Vancouver can ease 22-year-old Aatu Raty into a full-time NHL role.

The Canucks have $3.27 million in salary cap space, but Kuznetsov’s agent said he’s not an $8-million player anymore and could be a steal for cap-strapped teams. If signed to a cheap, one-year deal, Kuznetsov could be a solid low-risk, high-reward addition for the Canucks.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche could be an interesting landing spot for Kuznetsov. After trading Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets this off-season, it would not be particularly surprising if they were open to adding another option to consider for their third-line center spot.

With Brock Nelson as the second-line center, Jack Drury is third in the depth chart, and he had nine points in 33 games with the Avalanche after they acquired him from the Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade. Drury is better at taking faceoffs than Kuznetsov, but the latter can provide more secondary scoring for the Avalanche, which lost Jonathan Drouin in free agency after he averaged 0.76 points per game in two seasons in Colorado.

The Avalanche are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, and Kuznetsov’s past playoff success should appeal to them. They have about $3.35 million in cap space, so the center would have to take a prove-it, bargain deal to play for them, but it could be worth it for the team and player.

Five Potential Destinations For Max Pacioretty in 2025-26With the bulk of the sought-after unrestricted free agents signed in the first three weeks of July, teams appear to be accelerating the invitation of players on professional tryouts, as the New York Rangers did with two-time Stanley Cup winner Conor Sheary earlier this week. One of the more successful camp invites last September was veteran forward Max Pacioretty. 

Boston Bruins 

The retooling Boston Bruins brought in wingers Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, Mikey Eyssimont and center Sean Kuraly as part of their off-season moves. That said, they could use help at the center position.

Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, Casey Mittelstadt and Morgan Geekie are options at center in the top two lines. Zacha played most of the season as the center for Geekie and David Pastrnak, but he and Lindholm each recorded 47 points this past season, while Mittelstadt had only six points in 18 games after being acquired at the trade deadline.

Kuznetsov should entice the Bruins, especially since there are not many other notable free agents left who can play center.

While Kuznetsov would not be a true answer for the Bruins’ first-line center problem, he would offer them another intriguing playmaker to work with in their middle six and on their power play. If he bounces back from his last NHL season, Kuznetsov may even get opportunities to set up Pastrnak for goals on the first line. 

The Bruins have about $2.08 million in cap space, so Kuznetsov would have to take less money, even if he could play a larger role there. If he wants to just take this next season to prove himself back in the NHL, he’d be a solid addition to a Bruins club that could use more skill and offense.

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By Jared Clinton, features writer

Playing an eternal second fiddle in the franchise record books is a fate suffered by most players who suit up for the Edmonton Oilers. Such is life when skating in the seismic shadow of Wayne Gretzky.

Take Connor McDavid’s Conn Smythe-winning 42-point performance in the 2024 post-season, for instance. For this generation, it stands as the most remarkable feat of post-season output. But, statistically, it doesn’t match The Great One and his NHL record 47-point post-season in 1985.

But McDavid isn’t the only player whose modern spring heroics are eclipsed by a superstar from bygone days. Evgeni Malkin, too, understands the futility of chasing his particular franchise’s lore.

‘Geno’ has seen his highest highs fall short of those authored by Mario Lemieux. To wit, Malkin’s 36-point playoff in 2009 was then the seventh-best all-time and made him the first player in the post-lockout era to break 35 points in one post-season. Yet, like McDavid, you won’t find Malkin on our Countdown of best offensive playoff performances by franchise, as it fell well short of Lemieux’s mondo 44-point effort in 1991.

Somewhat surprisingly, though, our Countdown isn’t dominated by stars from yesteryear. Nearly half of NHL outfits have seen franchise-best playoff marks set in the past 20 years.

1. Edmonton Oilers

Wayne Gretzky (47 PTS, 1984-85)

In the most dominant playoff ever, Gretzky had more four-plus-point games (six) than games with one point or fewer.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

Mario Lemieux (44 PTS, 1990-91)

He missed Game 3 of the final, but Lemieux had goals in his last 10 appearances, guiding Pens to their first Cup.

3. Los Angeles Kings

Wayne Gretzky (40 PTS, 1992-93)

No. 99 dashed the Cup hopes of three Canadian clubs before Montreal exacted revenge for its compatriots in the final.

4. New York Islanders

Mike Bossy (35 PTS, 1980-81)

Bryan Trottier had three consecutive 29-point playoffs. But Bossy’s 17-goal, 35-point output hasn’t been matched.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Doug Gilmour (35 PTS, 1992-93)

Despite falling short of the final, Gilmour had a playoff-best 25 assists and finished 15 points clear of any teammate.

6. Colorado Avalanche

Joe Sakic (34 PTS, 1995-96)

His 18-goal, 34-point marks in 1996 are bests, but Sakic also led 2001 Cup-winning Avs in goals and points.

7. New York Rangers

Brian Leetch (34 PTS, 1993-94)

At the time, Leetch’s 11 goals made him only second ‘D’ with single-playoff double-digit tally total in NHL history.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning

Nikita Kucherov (34 PTS, 2019-20)

Does a healthy Brayden Point usurp Kucherov? Point finished one point back in two fewer games during ’20 Cup run.

9. Boston Bruins

Rick Middleton (33 PTS, 1982-83)

Middleton posted 100 career playoff points. His 1983 performance accounts for nearly one-third of that production.

10. Washington Capitals

Evgeny Kuznetsov (32 PTS, 2017-18)

Kuznetsov led all Caps scorers by five points and had playoff-topping output, but he lost Smythe to Alex Ovechkin.

11. Calgary Flames

Al Macinnis (31 PTS, 1988-89)

Four of MacInnis’ seven goals were winners for champion Flames, including deciders in Games 4 and 5 of final.

12. Vancouver Canucks

Pavel Bure (31 PTS, 1993-94)

Bure didn’t get a chance at an encore, really. He played only 15 playoff games across his final nine NHL seasons.

13. Philadelphia Flyers

Daniel Briere (30 PTS, 2009-10)

Briere leads a class of bridesmaids, as Philly’s top four single-playoff offensive performers each lost in the Cup final.

14. San Jose Sharks

Logan Couture (30 PTS, 2015-16)

Couture deserves credit for his post-season production. He led the 2016, 2018 and 2019 Sharks outfits in scoring.

15. Chicago Blackhawks

Denis Savard (29 PTS, 1984-85)

He was stopped by the Gretzky-led Oilers, but Savard was exceptional in 1985, scoring nearly two points per game.

16. Dallas Stars

Steve Payne (29 PTS, 1980-81)

Only three players in NHL history have more goals in one playoff than Payne, who stunned with 17 tallies in 1981.

17. Carolina Hurricanes

Eric Staal (28 PTS, 2005-06)

Staal’s sophomore season was his best. He paced Canes to Cup, led playoff scoring and finished fourth in Hart race.

18. Detroit Red Wings

Henrik Zetterberg (27 PTS, 2007-08)

Zetterberg put a point on his Conn Smythe-winning total with the game-winner that handed Wings the ’08 Cup.

19. Montreal Canadiens

Frank Mahovlich (27 PTS, 1970-71)

Forget passing ‘The Big M.’ No Canadien in past three decades cracks the top 15 on Habs’ single-year scoring list.

20. Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel (26 PTS, 2022-23)

Small sample, but Eichel has plenty of competition. Five Knights have scored 20-plus points in one playoff campaign.

21. Florida Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk (24 PTS, 2022-23)

In 2023, Tkachuk tied then-record for OT goals in one playoff (three), including winner that saved Cats in Round 1.

22. New Jersey Devils

Patrik Elias (23 PTS, 2000-01)

Only fitting that Devils’ all-time leading scorer, Elias, has the franchise’s best single-season post-season output.

23. St. Louis Blues

Ryan O’Reilly (23 PTS, 2018-19)

Jordan Binnington’s emergence grabbed headlines, but Blues don’t win 2019 Cup without 200-foot dynamo O’Reilly.

24. Ottawa Senators

Daniel Alfredsson (22 PTS, 2006-07)

Alfredsson’s 14 goals during 2007 playoffs are most by any player 34 or older in one post-season in league history.

25. Buffalo Sabres

Gilbert Perreault (21 PTS, 1979-80)

The first truly great Sabre, Perreault pairs a franchise-leading point total with unmatched single-playoff heroics.

26. Winnipeg Jets

Blake Wheeler (21 PTS, 2017-18)

Wheeler is one of seven forwards in NHL history to notch 20-plus points in one playoff with three or fewer goals.

27. Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Getzlaf (20 PTS, 2014-15)

Getzlaf held or tied for scoring lead in nine of 11 post-seasons with Ducks, including 17 points in 2007 Cup run.

28. Minnesota Wild

Marian Gaborik (17 PTS, 2002-03)

In his – and Minnesota’s – first post-season, Gaborik powered the Cinderella Wild to the Western Conference final.

29. Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg (16 PTS, 2017-18)

Forsberg hit 16 points in consecutive playoffs. In 2017, he did so in 22 games. In 2018, he reached the total in 13 games.

30. Seattle Kraken

Yanni Gourde (13 PTS, 2022-23)

Of Gourde’s 13 points, none was bigger than the OT-winner that gave Seattle a Game 1 victory in the second round.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets

Artemi Panarin (11 PTS, 2018-19)

Panarin helped power the biggest playoff upset ever, as the Jackets swept the Lightning in the opening round.

32. Utah Mammoth

N/A

Utah left Jets/Coyotes history behind in the move. Apologies to Dale Hawerchuk and his 13-point 1987 playoff.

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.

THN’s Summer Splash series is in full swing. And in this part of the series, we’re analyzing Team No. 22 in our rankings of each NHL team’s off-season – the Washington Capitals.

In this team-by-team series, we’re breaking down each NHL team’s off-season, putting the spotlight on the teams that got the worst to those that had the best off-season, and the ones that finished in between those two extremes. To put the rankings together, we’re focusing on every franchise’s additions and departures, including trades, free-agent acquisitions, departures and, where applicable, front-office hirings and firings.

We’re currently at the point in the rankings where we’re discussing teams that have basically stayed the same this summer. And while you’ll see the teams that finished below the Capitals at the bottom of this column, right now, our focus is on the Caps.

Additions

Justin Sourdif (RW), Declan Chisholm (D) 

The Breakdown: The Capitals were the Eastern Conference’s top regular-season team last season, and only the Winnipeg Jets were a better regular-season team last year. So you can understand why Washington GM Chris Patrick didn’t want to tinker too much with a lineup that performed so well.

Indeed, with the Capitals’ only additions being depth players Sourdif (formerly of the Florida Panthers) and Chisholm (formerly of the Minnesota Wild), Washington has more or less decided to run it back with the same group. Re-signing winger Anthony Beauviller this summer bolstered Washington’s depth. And the Caps still have approximately $4.12 milion in salary cap space, so Patrick can eventually augment his core talent with a veteran hand or two. But right now, Capitals brass are essentially telling the team, “We like what you’ve done – now do it again.”

Departures

Andrew Mangiapane (LW), Lars Eller (C), Taylor Raddysh (RW), Alexander Alexeyev (D)

The Breakdown: Just as there were few additions of note this summer for Washington, there have been few departures as well. The Capitals did lose some veteran know-how with the loss of left winger Mangiapane (who signed with the Edmonton Oilers) and center Eller (who signed with the Ottawa Senators). But Mangiapane only had 14 goals and 28 points last year, while Eller only had six goals and 15 points for the Caps last season. Their loss isn’t going to be felt that much, if at all, at the Capitals’ opponent’s end of the ice.

As noted above, the Caps’ current cap room will sooner or later allow Patrick to bring aboard a talent that can make up for the loss of Mangiapane’s and Eller’s offense. But Patrick has found a way to bring back most of the talent that did so well for Washington. And that has to be considered a win for the Capitals.

The Bottom Line

All things considered, the Capitals finished near the mid-tier of our Summer Splash rankings because they stayed the same as the group that finished the season last year. It’s true Washington wanted a longer Stanley Cup playoff run than only getting to the second round as they did last season, so it would’ve been understandable if Caps brass decided to make more notable additions. But patience can be a virtue under the right circumstances, and the Capitals’ cap space will allow the team to address any issues that arise once the 2025-26 season begins.

In the grand scheme of things, the Capitals should be and will be favored to be at or near the top of the Metropolitan Division next season. But for the purposes of our Summer Splash rankings, they’re a middle-of-the-pack team that has embraced the status quo. And unless something notable changes between now and the start of the year, Washington has chosen to stick with the talent that brought them so much success last season.

Summer Splash Rankings

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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Only four players who don't wear visors remain under an NHL contract.

Two years ago, TheHockeyNews.com examined the eight players who were still playing NHL games without the visor on their helmets. Half of those players either retired or didn't play in the NHL in 2024-25.

The NHL introduced the mandatory visor rule in 2013-14. All players who appeared in fewer than 25 NHL games before that season must wear a visor "properly affixed to their helmet."

Of all the league's active players, 101 of them played games before the 2013-14 season. Of that group, 83 played at least 25 games. In fact, Alex Ovechkin had already played 601 games by that point. Corey Perry, Brent Burns, Anze Kopitar and Shea Weber, who hasn't played since 2021 due to injury but is under contract for one more season, each passed 500 games as well.

That said, all those longtime NHLers wear visors. Let's take a fresh look at the four active visor-less players before seeing who dropped off the list since April 2023.

Ryan O'Reilly, C, Nashville Predators

O'Reilly, 34, played 265 regular-season NHL games and recorded 45 goals and 82 assists for 127 points before the visor rule came into effect.

The 6-foot-1 center from Clinton, Ont., is currently an alternate captain on the Nashville Predators. He has two years left on his contract at a $4.5-million cap hit, and he's still bringing some scoring power and two-way play to the lineup. He followed up his 69-point campaign in 2023-24 with 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in 79 games in 2024-25. His 746 faceoff wins were the 11th-most in the NHL, good for a 55.7 win percentage.

O'Reilly is also 48 games away from 1,200 in his NHL career.

Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

Benn, 36, has been the Dallas Stars' captain for as long as the visor rule's been in effect. Before 2013-14, he had 82 goals and 111 assists for 193 points in 263 games.

The 6-foot-3 left winger from Victoria, B.C., re-signed with the Stars on a one-year contract with a $1-million cap hit and $3 million worth of performance bonuses – $500,000 each at 20, 30, 50 and 60 games played, $500,000 for winning the third round and another $500,000 for winning the Stanley Cup while playing in at least half of his team's playoff games. 

After recording 78 points in 2022-23 and 60 points in 2023-24, Benn put up 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points in 80 games this past season while winning 56 percent of his faceoffs, going 296-for-529. He's eight games away from 1,200 in his career, one goal away from 400 and 44 points away from 1,000.

Zach Bogosian, D, Minnesota Wild

Bogosian, 35, played 297 games before mandatory visors became grandfathered in, recording 34 goals and 69 assists for 103 points.

Bogosian played 81 games in 2024-25, which ties a career high set initially with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009-10, his sophomore season. He had four goals and 12 assists for 16 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2024-25. He averaged 15:48 of ice time and had 80 blocked shots and 81 hits.

The 6-foot-3 blueliner from Massena, N.Y., has one season left on a two-year contract worth $1.25 million annually.

Ryan Reaves, RW, San Jose Sharks

Reaves, 38, played 131 games and recorded nine goals, five assists, 14 points and 281 penalty minutes before 2013-14. His 29 major penalties are the most among the NHL's active players who played before the visor rule took effect.

The 6-foot-2 right winger from Winnipeg still has the most major penalties among active players to date, with 93. He's arguably the most feared fighter in the NHL, with Georges Laraque, Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet each ranking him as the league's top active fighter in 2023.

After recording two assists in 35 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs put Reaves through waivers in March and traded him to the San Jose Sharks on July 10. He has one season left on a three-year contract with a $1.35-million cap hit.

Who Else Was In The Final Eight?

Jordie Benn, Zack Kassian, Milan Lucic and Matt Martin were among the final eight visor-less NHL players in 2022-23.

Jordie Benn, 38, is now a development coach and amateur scout on the Stars, recently working with the team's prospect pipeline at development camp. He retired from professional hockey in September 2024.

Martin, 36, retired on June 24 after playing 987 regular-season games and recording 3,936 hits, the second-most in the NHL since 2005-06 when the stat was first tracked. The New York Islanders hired him as a special assistant to GM Mathieu Darche.

Kassian, 34, retired from the NHL in October 2023 and played eight games in Czechia in 2023-24. He spent the 2024-25 season as a pro scout with the Edmonton Oilers.

Lucic, 37, last played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins in October 2023. He took a leave of absence from the Bruins after being arrested on a domestic violence charge, but the case was later dismissed. His partner, Brittany Lucic, posted a photo of her and Milan Lucic smiling to Instagram on July 22, with the caption saying, "healing is real... and it's exactly what this world needs more of."

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You might not have noticed, which is odd considering the subject in question is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman, but Tyler Kleven was all over the place during the Ottawa Senators’ too-short-but-still-inspiring 2025 playoff run. His shot-pass from the point was tipped to tie the score in Game 2, his poised breakout led to another tying goal in Game 3, and his sense to jump up into the play and gain the zone led to the Senators’ overtime goal in Game 4.

And it should have come as no surprise to anyone who watched Kleven closely during his first full NHL season. The 23-year-old from Fargo, N.D., improved and had more of an impact as the season went on, and it’s a trajectory both he and the Senators count on continuing after Kleven signed a two-year deal in June that carries a cap hit of $1.6 million.

Considering the fact Kleven played only 53 games in the minors – all of which came in 2023-24 – he hasn’t exactly been a slow burn. The Senators have brought him along at a good pace, both at the AHL and NHL levels. But with almost 100 big-league contests and one playoff round now to his credit, Kleven feels at home as a third-pair defenseman with the potential to move up to the second pair down the road. “I felt like I definitely took some steps this season,” Kleven said. “In the playoffs, I got to play in different scenarios a little more than I did at the start of the year.”

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

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There is a sense Kleven hasn’t even come close to reaching his potential as an NHL blueliner yet. As is the case with all young players, he spent most of the season gaining the trust of the coaching staff and making low-risk plays that would not lead to mistakes. But he gained confidence as the season progressed, and that was evident in Game 3 of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Senators trailing 2-1, without a single third-period shot and from a defensive-zone faceoff, Kleven gathered up the puck and tried to move it up ice, but the pass was deflected by Max Domi. Kleven then calmly gathered the puck back up and skated a few strides before making a pass that helped set up Brady Tkachuk’s tying goal.

"With the caliber of player you're playing against, it's hard to go out and have an ESPN highlight-reel hit every night."

Both the Senators and Kleven are confident he has more in his arsenal. He had almost no ice time on special teams in the regular season or the playoffs, and there’s certainly an element to his game that lends itself to him being an effective penalty-killer. Even though he registered a respectable 105 hits this season, his college game suggests he’s a much more physically robust player. And while he can shoot it a ton, getting the puck on net has been an issue. He registered 78 shots on goal, but he also took another 75 that were blocked. “With the caliber of player you’re playing against, it’s hard to go out and have an ESPN highlight-reel hit every night,” Kleven said. “It just doesn’t happen like that. You wait for your moment, and once that moment comes, you take advantage of it. I thought there were times during the season that I showed I was a physical player, and in the playoffs, I was way more physical.”

Kleven spent much of the first half of the season playing alongside veteran Travis Hamonic on the third pair, then teamed with Nikolas Matinpalo once the latter was called up just after Christmas. Coincidentally, that was when Kleven’s game started to take off. That familiarity helped Kleven, who played much of last season with Matinpalo on the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Belleville.

With Nick Jensen expected to be out for some of next season after undergoing off-season hip surgery, there might be a chance for Kleven to move up in the lineup, depending on what the Senators do in terms of trades or signings over the summer.

One thing working in Kleven’s favor is that, even though he shoots left, he’s comfortable playing the right side as well. In fact, with the Senators’ system, he often ends up there as the play develops. And because he has such a long reach and stick, he’s adept at breaking up plays in the defensive zone. “On the right side, if they ever need someone to help out there, I got more looks toward the end of the season,” Kleven said. “My last 20 games, I got more looks there. In the offensive zone, I get to use my one-timer more, and I didn’t get to use that a ton. It takes a little time to learn, but I certainly don’t mind playing the right side.”

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.