The 2025-26 NHL regular season is now underway. As is often the case, we saw a flurry of extensions before the season started, plus one more early on in the year while there has been some interesting action early on. With that in mind, it’s a good time to once again open up the mailbag.
Our last call for questions yielded enough questions for a pair of mailbags. Topics in the first included one of the early CBA changes regarding paper transactions, getting out the crystal ball when it comes to non-playoff teams, and the Hughes brothers. Meanwhile, included in the second column were thoughts on what’s next for the Flyers, what type of impact Jonathan Toews could have with Winnipeg this season, and why we don’t see a lot of prominent players signing short-term contracts compared to other leagues.
You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter/X or by leaving a comment down below. The mailbag will run this weekend.
Thanks again for putting these together! The last 6 cup winners have had depth in common, running out four lines that grind down opponents. I know bottom sixes are deployed differently (and also are more easily shuffled–though the best bottom sixes have chemistry and identity), but they’re usually a combo of grit and timely tertiary scoring. In your view, who has the most effective 3rd line in the league to start 2025? What’s the worst 3rd line on a supposed contender? Would you say Taylor Hall’s 4th line is the best? Who has the weakest 4th line?
What do you think the biggest surprises have been over the first week or two? Perhaps a positive and a negative
Any rumors of Erik Karlsson to the Wings? Or are the summer rumors dead?
How does the Wild figure out 5 on 5 scoring?
Just play Boldy and Kaprizov the whole game and that should solve the problem since they are having no problem doing it on the power play.
No in all fairness it’s only been 3 games there is absolutely no reason to be concerned yet.
How many times will history be allowed to repeat itself with the Sabres with no real change? I mean more than trading the next Cozens. I know it’s early, but it feels different this year with the losing already becoming an issue.
The 2026 draft is supposed deeper and has more high end talent. Schaefer and Misa were considered the consensus top picks in 2025. If they were coming out this year would they be the 2nd and 3rd picks or would they fall farther down? After those 2 there was a gap in talent, where would the rest of the top 5 fall if they were coming out in 2026?
What are some goaltending changes you expect to see this season?
Who will be the first player to sign a contract with an AAV of $20 million?
Thanks for doing this segment. Truly enjoying it every time.
Though I am not a Sabres fan, over the years I did enjoy watching some of their players. However, I am just baffled by how bad they are doing year after year, and it’s not like they don’t have solid, young players.
So, my question to you is: you are the owner. It’s another bad start to the season. What option would you choose, and would you proceed?
1) Let’s fire the coach and the GM, like we seem to be doing every two years.
2) Shocking trade to shake up the room and the players
3) You decide to embark on a true, tear down, management to players rebuild, a la Montreal Canadiens.
I’d be curious to know which option you would choose, of course, but also if you wouldn’t mind giving me your opinion on the other two options.
Thanks again!
Jesen
It’s looking like Sharks fans are going to have to strap in for another rough season.
We know the Sharks have been building top-shelf assets (Celebrini, Askarov, Misa, Graf, et al), but how long do complete rebuilds like this typically last?
In watching their first 3 games, I am seeing a team that is completely disorganized, with players being consistently out of position – Celebrini making a tremendous play with no one in position to receive a pass, for instance. There’s the cliché of “veterans mentioning The Youth™” but experienced players like Klingberg, Kurashev and Goodrow are consistently playing poorly.
At what point do you know if the plan is working, and when do the stars typically align for a team like this to turn the corner on being successful?
And as a brief addendum – the lack of a net-crashing power forward to kite attention from the opposing D is glaring; is there anyone in the Sharks system that could fill this role eventually? Are there any top prospects for the ’26 draft that could fit this bill?
5-8 years when you do it well. SJS is on schedule. They’ll be in the playoffs in a couple of seasons and competing properly in 2028 or 9.
God how I wish my team were the Sharks. How quickly they come out of the rebuild depends on if Askarov delivers, and what Dickinson’s ceiling is. Celebrini and Misa are an incredible 1-2 punch down the middle. Eklund is good, Mukhamadullin is good. It’s good bones. Just need to keep building around that core. I think they’ll be competitive in 2 or 3 years. Quentin Musty plays net-front hockey, so he might be the power forward you’re looking for–he’s a couple years out though. Barclay Goodrow has been the worst player in hockey for a couple years now, though. His insane 3.6 x 6 goes through the end of next year haha.
Yeah, I’m legitimately confused at how Goodrow hasn’t been bought out yet. The only way that makes sense is a) it’s a verbal promise to be like, “sorry for screwing you over”, or b) they REALLY want to keep those retention slots open.
But in that case, why not bury him in the A and just eat the contract? Like it’s a real head-scratcher for me.
I was reading on here that the Sharks would like to obtain younger D-men. Hawks have a fair amount of younger D-men. Do you see any type of trade in the future and whom would be involved?