The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that, after the success of their Prospects Showdown last September, they would be holding a revamped edition this September. Last time around, it only featured the Habs and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but this time, four teams will participate.

In addition to the Canadiens and the Leafs, the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators will also participate in the two-day event. It’s scheduled to take place on September 13 and 14. On Saturday afternoon, Toronto and Ottawa will play, followed by the Canadiens' game against the Jets at 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, the Habs and Leafs will face off at 3:00 p.m., and the evening game, featuring the Senators and Jets, will kick off at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets will range from $10 to $25 for lower bowl seating. An early access sale will take place from June 30th, when coupons will be distributed in participating IGA locations on the Island, as well as on the North and South shores.

Proceeds of the event will be donated to the Montreal Canadiens Alumni Centennial Emergency Fund and La Tablee des Chefs. While it’s impossible to know who will be playing in these games, the Habs are using Ivan Demidov as the face of the event, so it’s safe to assume that the young Russian will be there. Jacob Fowler and Oliver Kapanen should also be there, according to the Canadiens’ article on the event.

If you're desperate for your hockey fix, hang in there - there’s about two and a half months to go.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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ST. PAUL, Minn - This is the first year that the Minnesota Wild will enter the Draft without a first round pick since 2017. Obviously things can happen and the Wild could trade for a first round pick before the draft or during it, but as of four hours before the draft, the Wild don't have a first rounder. 

It is the first year since 2017 that they don't. Minnesota traded its first round pick that year to the Arizona Coyotes in a trade for forward Martin Hanzel and Ryan White. 

The Coyotes drafted defenseman Pierre-Oliver Joseph with the pick. He has 194 career games in five NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins and a half of a season with the St. Louis Blues. 

Minnesota made six picks in the 2017 draft. Ivan Lodnia was the Wild's first pick that year and it was in the third round. Mason Shaw was the next in the fourth round. Bryce Misley was their other fourth round pick. Jacob Golden was taken in the fifth round, Andrei Svetlakov was taken in the sixth round and Nick Swaney was taken in the seventh. 

Swaney and Shaw were the only two to ever play for the Wild. Swaney played one NHL game and just signed in the ICEHL. Shaw is a free agent. He spent the 2024-25 season with the Winnipeg Jets AHL team. 

The following season was new General Manager Paul Fenton's first draft with the Wild. He drafted defenseman Filip Johansson with the 24th pick in the 2018 Draft. Johansson has played zero NHL games and did not play a single game in the Wild's organization. He plays in Sweden now.

In five drafts as the General Manager for the Wild, Bill Guerin has taken seven first round picks. The Wild have had a first round pick in every year that Guerin has been the General Manager other than this year.

Minnesota traded its first round pick in a deal for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek in November of the 2024-25 season. Guerin's first round picks include Marco Rossi, Jesper Wallstedt, Carson Lambos, Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, Charlie Stramel, and Zeev Buium. 

Again, anything can happen. The Wild could make a trade for a first round pick before the draft is over. But as of now, this will be the first time in eight years that they don't have a first round pick. 

Other Wild News

Wild Add Another Draft Pick For 2025 NHL DraftST. PAUL, Minn - Following a trade on Thursday, the Minnesota Wild added another pick for the 2025 NHL Draft which takes place today. 

Minnesota Wild Trade Freddy Gaudreau To Seattle For A Draft PickST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild have

Minnesota Wild Trade Forward Brendan Gaunce To ColumbusST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild made a trade on Thursday morning and followed it up with another trade. 

There is a lot of uncertainty in the top ten of the 2025 NHL Draft. No player has stuck out so much in his draft year that he has to be selected first overall. There isn’t a consensus on what the order should be, as there is in most years. 

However, there is a handful of high-end prospects who can make an impact in the NHL and possibly become a star if they are developed properly. That’s where the excitement stems from. 

The Chicago Blackhawks want Michael Misa. Although he isn’t seen as a superstar top forward at this time, his draft year production turned heads. With the New York Islanders almost certainly taking Matthew Schaefer first overall, the San Jose Sharks begin the intrigue. 

Despite reports that they are interested in guys like Anton Frondell and Porter Martone, there is a chance that this is a smoke screen for them to take Misa anyway. 

What will Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks do if that is the case? They will certainly take a forward, but which one? Anton Frondell might be the guy to consider. 

Of all the top forwards projected to go in the top ten, Frondell is the closest to being a true center who can play the 200-foot game. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are seen as centers by the organization, but they'd like to add a more established two-way player to create a three-headed monster down the middle. Frondell could be that guy. 

NHL (@NHL) on XIf you're looking for skill, look no further than Anton Frondell 👀 Catch the 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft on June 27 and 28. (🎥: IG/quickturnhockey)

Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) on XTwo minutes of Anton Frondell's (#2025NHLDraft) best offensive moments from this season. Blistering one-timers from the half wall, angle-changing releases from mid-range, strong off-puck instincts around the slot, creative finishing solutions from close range.

Frondell is a high-motor kid who gives an incredibly competitive effort on every shift. He models his game after Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, who has been a three-time Selke Trophy winner in addition to being a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion. That is the type of attitude you want from an 18-year-old being drafted. 

Coming off a strong year in Sweden, Frondell is the number one-ranked international prospect coming into the 2025 NHL Draft. He is almost certainly going to go in the top-five, but will he be the one that the Blackhawks end up taking 3rd overall? What happens in front of them will dictate that. 

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