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Archives for September 2025

Mathew Barzal Ready For Islanders Training Camp

September 15, 2025 at 12:55 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley Leave a Comment

Star New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal will be ready for full involvement in the team’s upcoming training camp, per a recent interview with Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News. He will return after missing 52 games of last season with an upper-body injury early in the year, and a season-ending knee-injury in February. Barzal told Rosner that he’s embraced a strong mindset in the wake of the significant injury. He said:

When you have an injury like the one I did, you can go two ways with it mentally. You can kinda sulk in it, let it kinda own you. And it did early on… but then you flip a switch and you put everything into rehab and getting better. Mentally, it’s just a matter of doing whatever it takes to get back to being the player I was

Barzal performed like New York’s top forward through the mix of injuries last year. He began the season with five points in 10 games, while averaging more than 21 minutes a night, before injury forced him to miss all of November and the first half of December. He returned to scoring quickly once he was back to full health, netting 15 points in 20 games between December 15th and February 1st. But an injury sustained on a blocked shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning proved too much to overcome. What was initially prognosed as a six-week injury turned into a minor surgery that required all summer to recover from. His season ended with six goals and 20 points in 30 games, or an 82-game scoring pace of 55 points.

An injury-riddled season was the last thing Barzal needed after reclaiming the Islanders’ scoring title in the 2023-24 season. He scored 23 goals and 80 points in as many games that year, marking the most Barzal had scored since he posted 85 points in his Calder Trophy-winning season in 2017-18. That performance was, itself, a solid comeback season after Barzal missed 24 games of the 2022-23 season with a separate knee injury. He had scored 51 points in 58 games prior to that injury.

Excitement for Barzal’s return will be a feeling shared by team, fans, and player. The 28-year-old told Rosner that he would be open to playing throughout the lineup, and mentioned that he enjoyed playing on the wing of Bo Horvat. Barzal shared roughly 71 percent of his ice time with Horvat between 2023 and 2025. Together, the two were on-ice for a tremendous 121-to-70 goal differential and 115-to-76 expected goal differential, per NaturalStatTrick. Horvat dropped to a negative goal-differential (83-to-109) in his minutes away from Barzal, likely speaking to the Islanders’ odds of reconnecting the duo next season.

Then again, New York wields a much sharper lineup than when Barzal last played. The squad, commanded by rookie general manager Mathieu Darche, has reeled in multiple new faces – including Jonathan Drouin, Maxim Shabanov, and Emil Heineman. All three forwards offer interesting upside, and wing depth, that could better define Barzal’s long-term role at either center or wing. One of the three will likely join him on the team’s top power-play unit as well. Those changes, plus the excitement of 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer, will bring Barzal to a Islanders lineup with much more upside than the one that he left behind last season.

Injury| New York Islanders| Newsstand Mathew Barzal

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Hall Of Fame Goaltender Ed Giacomin Passes Away At 86

September 15, 2025 at 11:58 am CDT | by Gabriel Foley 8 Comments

Legendary New York Rangers goaltender Ed Giacomin has passed away at the age of 86. He blazed through a highly-successful NHL career from 1965 to 1978, split between 10 years with the Rangers and three years with the Detroit Red Wings. Giacomin was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1987. The Rangers’ retired his jersey number, No. 1, two years later.

Giacomin began his professional career in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) in 1959, and more formally in the early days of the AHL in 1960. He earned the Providence Reds’ starting role in his very first season, and quickly took on a full workload – up to 69 games in the 1963-64 season. After four years of successful play in the minors, Giacomin joined the New York Rangers for the 1965-66 season, and became an NHL standout nearly right away.

He posted an 8-19-7 record and .883 save percentage in his NHL rookie season – his only negative record in a Rangers jersey. New York offered him a brief stint as the starter from November to January of his first year, a role that Giacomin would take over fully in the 1966-67 campaign. He led the league with 68 starts that season, and earned an All-Star bid on the back of a 30-27-11 record and .917 save percentage. Those marks, complimented by an incredible nine shutouts, earned Giacomin a second-place finish in Hart Memorial Trophy voting in 1967. He was only beat out by Stan Mikita, but still became the first goalie to rank in the top-three of Hart voting since Terry Sawchuk finished third in 1963, and Jacques Plante won the award in 1962.

A near-MVP finish cemented Giacomin as a pillar of the Rangers lineup. He rivaled 70 games a season through 1970. He posted wins in at least half of his games and a save percentage north of .910 in every year. Those numbers held high even as his starts began to dwindle entering his 30s. Giacomin posted a 27-10-7 record, .922 save percentage, and eight shutouts in the 1970-71 season – enough to win the Vezina Trophy alongside batterymate Gilles Villemure. His role would continue to dwindle through 1975.

New York opted to place him on waivers ahead of the 1975-76 season. The Red Wings, looking for a backup to fellow Hall Of Fame goaltender Jim Rutherford, placed a claim. With that, Giacomin wrapped up his career with three seasons in a menial role in Detroit.

Giacomin retired in 1978. He concluded with a 290-209-96 record and .902 save percentage through 610 games, and 13 seasons, in the NHL. Despite multiple years of Hart Trophy votes, and five years of All-Star bids, Giacomin’s Vezina win marked the only hardware of his career. He did, however, leave behind a lasting legacy on the scoresheet – boasting the second-most shutouts (54) and third-most wins (290) of any goalie between 1960 and 1980. His only rivals in the  record books were Tony Esposito and Bernie Parent. Chants of “Eddie, Eddie, Eddie” rang loud through the early days of hockey at Madison Square Garden. His brazen athleticism and steady focus were the calling cards of a career later enshrined by the NHL.

Giacomin continued to fill roles in the hockey world after retirement. He served as the New York Islanders’ broadcaster for the 1978-79 season, and spent multiple years as an assistant coach and goalie coach for both the Rangers and Red Wings. He was only the second player to have his number retired by the Rangers.

AHL| Detroit Red Wings| Hall of Fame| Hockey Hall Of Fame| NHL| New York Rangers Ed Giacomin

8 comments

Canadiens Expect Kirby Dach To Be Ready For Start Of Season

September 15, 2025 at 8:21 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 4 Comments

The Canadiens are banking on having center Kirby Dach available for their opening night lineup after he underwent surgery on his right knee in February, EVP of hockey operations Jeff Gorton told Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels adds he’s recovered enough to participate in training camp when it starts later this week, although it’s unclear if that’s in a contact capacity.

By all indications, the 24-year-old’s recovery from a second major surgery on his right knee in as many years has been as smooth as can be hoped. He was on the ice late last month for an informal skate in full gear, although that didn’t subject him to the pace and veracity of a formal camp session. Still, being back on the ice at around the five-month mark should be a good omen.

Montreal hopes a healthy Dach is also an improved one. He’s now entering his fourth season with the Habs after they acquired the 2019 third overall pick from the Blackhawks at the 2022 draft. He still hasn’t reached the heights and promise he offered during his first year north of the border, when he managed a 14-24–38 scoring line and averaged a hearty 18:30 per game despite injuries limiting him to 58 appearances.

In the last two years, his right knee issues have limited him to 59 games, scoring only 10 goals and 24 points with a -27 rating. He produced at a 54-point clip per 82 games back in 2022-23 but has only scored at a 33-point pace since. He also had some of the worst defensive impacts on the team last year before his season ended prematurely. Despite receiving the most sheltered even-strength minutes of his career by a wide margin, starting over 63% of his shifts in the offensive zone, Montreal controlled only 44.8% of shot attempts and 46.0% of expected goals with him on the ice. Posting below team-average possession numbers with that degree of sheltering is a rather significant red flag.

That’s not exactly the type of player a team with playoff aspirations wants centering their second line, particularly with a rookie Ivan Demidov likely to start the year on his flank. Nonetheless, their lack of offseason activity at forward hasn’t left them with many other options. It’ll be some combination of him, trade pickup Zachary Bolduc, and Alex Newhook – all promising young players with spotty or non-existent track records at center – competing for that 2C slot. Might bottom-six staple Jake Evans get a look at an expanded role coming off a career-high 36 points?

Montreal Canadiens Kirby Dach

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Which Defensemen Should The Red Wings Target?

September 15, 2025 at 7:51 am CDT | by Josh Cybulski 25 Comments

The Detroit Red Wings haven’t reached the playoffs in nearly ten years and are at a pivotal point after a season of highs and lows last year. They remained relatively quiet this summer, but they did address some goaltending concerns by adding John Gibson. While he is expected to bring more stability in goal, Detroit still needs to strengthen other areas, especially defensively, where its core could benefit from an upgrade.

Ideally, the Red Wings would have already acquired a right-shot defenseman capable of playing in their top four and logging significant minutes while generating offense from the back end. Detroit already has Moritz Seider on the right side, but adding a veteran with some playoff experience could help their inexperienced star while adding a bit of leadership to a team that hasn’t experienced regular-season success in years. Detroit needs to balance veteran stability with the potential of its young players without blocking any of their development pathways. This challenging balancing act will affect all of the Red Wings’ future decisions and may have already influenced them this summer, as Detroit stayed relatively quiet.

Detroit did add a right-shot defender this summer by signing Jacob Bernard-Docker to a one-year deal worth $875K. Bernard-Docker was a first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators (chosen 26th overall in 2018), but he hasn’t yet proven himself as a regular NHL player. He isn’t the answer to Detroit’s top four concerns on the right side, and if he is put there, the team’s defense could run into serious problems next season. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using a player with Bernard-Docker’s skill set, but he isn’t what Detroit needs for their top two pairings.

The same can be said for another right-shot defender Detroit signed this summer, Travis Hamonic. At 35 years old, he didn’t look like an NHL defenseman last season and was a drag on anyone he paired with. Still, his signing shows Detroit’s desperation to add depth on their right side, which might be a futile effort at this point, considering they have a lot of below-replacement-level talent in the pipeline.

Unfortunately for them, an impact right-shot defender is one of the most complex player types to acquire in today’s NHL. Each year, teams overpay for righties – a pertinent case study being someone like Matt Dumba, who earned $7.5MM last summer on a two-year deal only to be traded away this summer with a sweetener.

Detroit has nearly $12MM in cap space available for the upcoming season, per PuckPedia. They also possess almost a full slate of draft picks for the next three seasons, except for their 2027 second-rounder, along with a top-five prospect pool, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. They could easily target a player like Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, who is a realistic option and would provide the Red Wings with a smooth puck mover that could add a dynamic element to their defense.

Such a move involves significant risk, chiefly concerning Andersson’s contract situation. The 28-year-old has one year remaining on his deal and might be interested in exploring free agency. The Red Wings would likely want to negotiate an extension before completing a trade, which also carries risks given that Andersson is coming off a trying 2024-25 campaign in his own end and may not even want to entertain a long-term commitment to a team that’s not a surefire contender. While Andersson won’t suddenly turn Detroit into a Stanley Cup challenger, he could support their efforts to return to the playoffs.

If the Wings wanted to scout emerging talents, they could consider Brandt Clarke of the Los Angeles Kings or Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres. It’s challenging to see Buffalo trading Byram within their division, but stranger things have happened. The perception of Byram is much more favorable than his on-ice impact. In other words, he has all the qualities you’d want in a top-four defenseman, but his actual results don’t match that. Byram has found it challenging to drive play independently, and given his market value, acquiring him might not be the best move for the Red Wings. Byram signed a two-year extension this summer at $6.5MM per season and will likely demand a higher price on a long-term deal, considering how he is perceived league-wide.

Clarke presents an interesting option, especially if he is to be acquired to bolster the top four. The 22-year-old was drafted eighth overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and had a solid offensive season last year, with five goals and 28 assists in 78 games. While those stats are respectable for a player logging just over 16 minutes per night, they don’t tell the whole story. Clarke was a healthy scratch a few times last season and was heavily sheltered by the Kings. There’s no doubt about Clarke’s offensive talent, but his defensive play is definitely a concern. If Detroit were to acquire him and pair him with Simon Edvinsson, it could greatly benefit Clarke. However, that would mean pairing Ben Chiarot with Seider on the top pairing, which should be avoided. Putting Chiarot and Clarke together would likely be disastrous, exposing the challenges Detroit faces with its defensive core.

And then there’s Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who is very much available but would need to waive his no-move clause to be traded anywhere. Karlsson has been linked to the Red Wings recently, but it’s hard to gauge if he would want to move to the Motor City. However, he would bring offense to Detroit’s defense and could help ignite the attack.

But, with acquiring Karlsson, Detroit would face similar issues with Chiarot or Edvinsson. Bringing in Karlsson would make headlines, but it wouldn’t elevate Detroit into the top tier of NHL teams. Karlsson remains a household name and has a certain cachet, but he isn’t the three-time Norris Trophy winner he once was and is unlikely to revert to that peak of performance. He would improve Detroit’s scoring, potentially moving its offense towards the middle of the league. Still, the cost and the defensive issues caused by Karlsson’s aggressive style might outweigh the benefits, especially on a team with no high-end shutdown talent.

Finally, if Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman wants to focus on a defensive player, he could consider Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old offers little offensively, never surpassing 20 points in a season, but he plays a solid defensive game and could help stabilize a second pairing. Murphy isn’t going to generate plays, but he can handle tough matchups, block shots, and is generally effective in his own zone. His skill set might not be exactly what the Red Wings need on their backend, but they could do worse than him on the trade market.

None of these moves guarantees a win for Detroit, and each one involves considerable risk, but so does every trade. After missing the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons and having a cautious summer, Detroit may need to take a bold step to move forward. Of course, GM Steve Yzerman must weigh the cost of trading prospects or draft picks against the immediate benefits of boosting his defense. Whatever Yzerman decides, his next moves could shape the team’s future for years. He has options, but none are particularly ideal.

Photo by Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Red Wings| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Evening Notes: Evangelista, Canadiens Rookies, Cootes

September 14, 2025 at 8:30 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley 4 Comments

Negotiations between winger Luke Evangelista and the Nashville Predators have begun to stall per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, who reports that yearly salary is what’s created the wedge. Evangelista is one of the top unsigned restricted free agents after players like Connor Zary and Marco Rossi both found new deals. The 23-year-old Evangelista posted an impressive 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games last season. It was a suitable encore to the 16 goals and 39 points he posted in 80 games of the 2023-24 season.

A pair of successful scoring seasons would surely make the player’s camp confident in earning a hardy salary. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger recently signed a two-year, $4.5MM contract extension, while New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer recently signed a three-year, $12MM contract. Those could be the boundaries for a short-term, bridge contract for Evangelista, who has certainly proved he can stick in Nashville’s top nine. Should contract talks continue to stall, the Predators could opt for a one-year, sub-$1MM contract and kick negotiations back to next summer.

Other notes from around the league:

  • The Montreal Canadiens have assigned a group of rookies back to their respective leagues after rookie camp came to a close. In turn, Montreal assigned defensemen Carlos Handel to the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, Andrew MacNiel to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, and Bryce Pickford to the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. Goaltenders Arseny Radkov and Mikus Vecvanags will return to Russia and Latvia, respectively. The team has also returned a handful of rookie camp invites. All of the moves come as expected, though it rings as exciting news for fans of Medicine Hat and Halifax, as their top defenders return for another season.
  • Top Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes was absent from the team’s final rookie camp scrimmage on Sunday, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. Drance later added that Cootes was held out for precautionary reasons and will still attend training camp next week. That will keep the reigning 15th overall pick on track to take his first crack at breaking into the NHL. Cootes had a strong season with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds last year. He dominated the middle of the ice with quick plays all year long, working up to 63 points and 60 games in total. Cootes seems most likely set for a return to Seattle next season, though a strong training camp could earn him the chance at sticking in the pros for nine games.

2025 NHL Draft| Injury| Montreal Canadiens| NHL| Nashville Predators| OHL| Players| QMJHL| Vancouver Canucks| WHL Braeden Cootes| Bryce Pickford| Luke Evangelista| Marco Rossi| Mikus Vecvanags

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Blue Jackets Will Re-Invite A Few Rookies To Training Camp

September 14, 2025 at 6:57 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley 7 Comments

The good times will keep on rolling for a select few prospects invited to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ rookie camp. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic relays that the team is planning to invite three to five non-roster, rookie camp invitees back to their training camp when it begins this week. The team’s hockey operations department will make decisions on who those few players will be on the bus ride home from the Buffalo Sabres’ Prospects Challenge.

Columbus’ rookie camp roster contained 10 invitees who weren’t previously drafted by the team. The list is led by high-impact collegiate prospects, including Wisconsin Badgers forward Rylan Mosley and Denver Pioneers defenseman Boston Buckberger. Mosley scored at a point-per-game pace through 37 games last season, while offering the prerequisite two-way, physical play required in a Mike Hastings lineup. Buckberger was equally as impactful for his squad, netting 30 points in 41 games while serving as the downhill punch behind the Pioneers’ star defenders. Both players could reasonably carve out low-grade, pro roles as soon as next season. Columbus also invited Michigan forward Joshua Eernisse, Michigan Tech forward Isaac Gordon, and Union forward Tom Richter, who achieved varying levels of college success last season.

The Blue Jackets also invited former scout’s favorite Pano Fimis, who went unselected through eligibility in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 drafts. Fimis was a focal point of the Erie Otters’ offense over the last two seasons, and managed encouraging results – including 32 goals and 86 points in 68 games this season. But he could never prove dynamic enough away from the puck to wow NHL scouts. His rookie camp showings couldn’t be categorized as disappointing, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Columbus gauge the 21-year-old’s AHL-readiness after scoring 253 points in 245 games and five seasons in the OHL. Fimis was the second-overall pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection Draft and is currently committed to attend the University of Notre Dame next season.

AHL| Columbus Blue Jackets| NHL| Players| Prospects| Rookies Boston Buckberger| Isaac Gordon| Joshua Eernisse| Pano Fimis| Rylan Mosley| Tom Richter

7 comments

Snapshots: Kraken, Johnson, Dumais

September 14, 2025 at 4:30 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 3 Comments

The Seattle Kraken endured another disappointing campaign in 2024-25, going 35-41-6 and finishing seventh in the Pacific Division. The middling season cost head coach Dan Bylsma his job after just one season at the helm of the club, and the team also did some shuffling at the top of their hockey operations hierarchy, promoting Ron Francis to the position of president of hockey operations and Jason Botterill to the position of general manager. On Friday, Botterill spoke to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun about the state of the franchise heading into his first season as GM.

Botterill told LeBrun that he believes the “organization in the next year or two has to take that step to be, I’m not going to say a team that vies for the Stanley Cup, but a team that certainly competes for a playoff spot and is going to be in that mix in a constant way.” He also said he was eager to see new coach Lane Lambert implement his defensive philosophies to help the team shore up its back-end. The Kraken surrendered the ninth-most goals against per game in the NHL last season. While it remains to be seen whether the Kraken will be able to build themselves up to true Stanley Cup contention the way the Vegas Golden Knights were able to early in their franchise’s existence, there is a clear the mandate in Seattle is to take an urgently-needed step forward in 2025-26.

Other notes from across the NHL:

  • Defenseman Erik Johnson, 37, is currently deciding between three different PTO offers in advance of the start of training camps, reports Guerilla Sports’ Jesse Montano. Montano added that none of those three offers are from the Avalanche, the team Johnson not only finished 2024-25 as a member of, but also has spent most of his 1023-game NHL career with. The veteran blueliner has settled into more of a reserve role as he’s progressed into his late thirties, though he could still have something to offer NHL teams in need of a defensive specialist with some leadership qualities. At the very least, he’ll get the chance to compete for a role in an NHL camp and most likely play in some preseason games.
  • Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Jordan Dumais took part in warmups before the team’s prospect tournament game in Buffalo today, but was ultimately held out of the lineup for the contest. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reports that Dumais’ absence relates to a “slight tweak” he felt in his lower-body, and that the club elected to hold him out of the game for entirely precautionary reasons. While his absence is entirely precautionary, this development is notable because persistent injury issues caused Dumais to miss a large chunk of time in each of the last two seasons. Dumais is not considered a likely contender for the Blue Jackets’ season-opening roster, but could position himself for a call-up opportunity down the line if he can remain healthy and put together a strong preaseason and training camp.

Columbus Blue Jackets| Jason Botterill| Seattle| Seattle Kraken| Snapshots Erik Johnson| Jordan Dumais

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Metro Notes: Fedotov, Heineman, Bonk

September 14, 2025 at 3:30 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu Leave a Comment

The Philadelphia Flyers sent netminder Ivan Fedotov to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier today, and it was initially believed that the Blue Jackets had acquired Fedotov with the intention of providing additional veteran competition for their two incumbent NHL goalies: Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reported today that the club did not, in fact, have that reasoning in mind. Per Portzline, the acquisition of Fedotov “should not be seen as a challenge to Greaves/Merzlikins,” and that Fedotov was acquired to support their AHL squad.

Portzline added the caveat saying “Plans can change, sure” but at this moment in time, the Blue Jackets plan on sending Fedotov to their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, when (or if) he clears waivers. At this point, assuming he does not have a brilliant training camp and preseason to upset one of Greaves/Merzlikins and take an NHL spot, it appears unlikely Fedotov would be claimed on waivers. The veteran netminder carries a hefty $3.725MM cap hit and has struggled to the tune of an .874 save percentage across his 29 career NHL games. So, with the dust settled from this morning’s deal, it appears the Blue Jackets have acquired the goalie they’ll pair with 27-year-old Zachary Sawchenko in Cleveland.

In other notes from the Metropolitan Division:

  • The centerpiece of the New York Islanders’ trade of star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens this summer was undoubtedly the two first-round picks the team acquired. But alongside those picks, the Islanders also added young winger Emil Heineman, who had a sneaky-good rookie campaign in Montreal before an injury suffered via a car accident stifled his momentum. Heineman had 10 goals and 17 points in 37 games before the injury, and he spoke to The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner about his expectations for his first campaign on Long Island. Heineman told Rosner that his experience last year allowed him to learn “how to play in the NHL” and “how to stay in the league,” and added that he’s excited to bring his “200-foot game” to head coach Patrick Roy’s lineup. The 23-year-old is a 2020 second-round pick and will play on a $1.1MM AAV contract that runs through the 2026-27 campaign.
  • As Philadelphia Flyers 2023 first-rounder Oliver Bonk is one of the team’s better prospects, recently ranked third in the team’s system by EliteProspects. As he enters his first professional season, the Flyers are setting clear expectations for Bonk related to what he’ll need to do in order to earn an NHL job. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported yesterday that the Flyers’ key focus with Bonk’s development is “maturity,” which Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong defined as “growing up as a person, but also as a player.” Armstrong added that Bonk will likely face “a little bit of an adjustment” related to the pace of the professional game, echoing a comment from former coach John Tortorella, who said at last year’s camp that Bonk has a “bright future” but also “plays too slow.” While it is clear the organization as well as outside evaluators are big believers in Bonk’s game, it would be no surprise to see the 20-year-old start off his pro career with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms rather than in the NHL, to help ease his adjustment to the professional game.

Columbus Blue Jackets| New York Islanders| Philadelphia Flyers Emil Heineman| Ivan Fedotov| Oliver Bonk

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Capitals’ Mitch Love Placed On Leave

September 14, 2025 at 2:02 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 9 Comments

The Washington Capitals have announced that assistant coach Mitch Love has been placed on “team-imposed leave” pending the results of an investigation conducted by the NHL. The Capitals added that they would refrain from commenting further on the situation until the league’s investigation is complete.

The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported that the NHL “began to investigate” the matter earlier in the offseason, “around the time” Love was interviewing with other NHL clubs about available head coaching roles. Love was a reported contender for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ head coaching job, but the Capitals’ longtime rival ultimately elected to hire Dan Muse from the New York Rangers.

Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post provided additional context on the situation. Citing a person in the league familiar with the matter, Johnson reports that the league’s investigation began during this past summer, “when the NHL received a letter that contained allegations relating to Love’s personal conduct.” She added that both the league and a team that was at the time considering Love for its head coaching vacancy received the letter.

Johnson also reports that the NHL has not shared details on the situation with the Capitals “beyond the existence of the allegations and the subsequent investigation.” Love was also not present for the team’s development camp in July, and Johnson reports that he was instead “engaged in interviews with NHL personnel as part of the investigation.”

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported that the letter that prompted the investigation details “a situation that predates his tenure with the Capitals,” while The Athletic’s Josh Yohe added that “NHL teams were aware of this possibility in April and May,” and that he believes it is a “good reason why” Love was not hired as a head coach anywhere despite being in the mix for so many of the vacancies.

NHL| Washington Capitals Mitch Love

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2025 Summer Synopsis Series

September 14, 2025 at 12:50 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

PHR’s annual Summer Synopsis series breaks down what each of the NHL’s 32 teams accomplished – or didn’t accomplish – over the summer. This landing page will contain links to all 32 of our posts for easy reference and to track when your favorite team’s post is online. This can be found by navigating to the “Pro Hockey Rumors Features” sidebar on our desktop site or under the Flame menu on our mobile page.

Metropolitan Division

  • Carolina Hurricanes
  • Columbus Blue Jackets
  • New Jersey Devils
  • New York Islanders
  • New York Rangers
  • Philadelphia Flyers
  • Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Washington Capitals

Atlantic Division

  • Boston Bruins
  • Buffalo Sabres
  • Detroit Red Wings
  • Florida Panthers
  • Montreal Canadiens
  • Ottawa Senators
  • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Toronto Maple Leafs

Central Division

  • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Colorado Avalanche
  • Dallas Stars
  • Minnesota Wild
  • Nashville Predators
  • St. Louis Blues
  • Utah Mammoth
  • Winnipeg Jets

Pacific Division

  • Anaheim Ducks
  • Calgary Flames
  • Edmonton Oilers
  • Los Angeles Kings
  • San Jose Sharks
  • Seattle Kraken
  • Vancouver Canucks
  • Vegas Golden Knights

Pro Hockey Rumors Originals| Summer Synopsis 2025

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    Top Stories

    2025 NHL Training Camp Rosters

    Flames Sign Mikael Backlund To Two-Year Extension

    Mammoth Intend To Waive Connor Ingram

    Maple Leafs To Hire Mark Giordano

    Blackhawks Sign Matt Grzelcyk To PTO

    Rangers Name J.T. Miller Captain

    Canadiens Discussing Extension For Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton

    Mathew Barzal Ready For Islanders Training Camp

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