Mammoth Notes: Cooley, O’Brien, Injury Updates
The Utah Mammoth didn’t make the playoffs in their first season in Salt Lake City, but they did take meaningful steps closer to contention, and perhaps their most important step forward was through the development of 2022 third overall pick Logan Cooley. Today, Utah general manager Bill Armstrong told the media, including The Deseret News’ Brogan Houston, that Cooley’s representation has been “very patient” regarding Cooley’s next contract. He added that there’s no rush to get an extension done.
Cooley, who is repped by Brian & Scott Bartlett of Bartlett Hockey, is in line for a major contract extension after a breakout 2024-25 campaign. The 21-year-old is a dynamic playmaker and ranked second among Utah players in scoring last season with 25 goals and 65 points. Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, who was drafted two spots ahead of Cooley at the 2022 draft, received a $7.6MM AAV on his long-term second contract. Given Cooley will be signing his extension at a later stage than Slafkovsky, and will have more experience on his resume at the time of signing, it stands to reason that Cooley’s next deal will exceed Slafkovsky’s. Given his age and production, Cooley could very well see his next deal exceed Mikhail Sergachev‘s $8.5MM AAV to become the highest-paid player in Utah.
Some other notes from the NHL’s newest franchise:
- Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny told the media today that veteran forward Liam O’Brien is currently dealing with a lower-body injury, and is out on a week-to-week timeline. Injuries limited the 31-year-old bruiser to just 28 games played last season, and he also only managed two points. Although it’s not a contract year for O’Brien – his $1MM AAV deal runs through 2026-27 – he’ll look to get back on the ice in order to re-establish himself as one of the league’s more physically imposing bottom-six players.
- Alongside O’Brien, Tourigny also established who the club’s other injured players are for the start of the team’s training camp. Tourigny named Anson Thornton, Juuso Valimaki, Caleb Desnoyers and Terrell Goldsmith as the remaining injured players. The most relevant name from that list from a roster-building perspective is Valimaki’s, as he is a veteran of 271 career NHL games. With that said, Mammoth fans are likely to pay close attention to the status of Desnoyers, the 2025 fourth-overall pick.
Snapshots: Necas, Maccelli, Blue Jackets Invites
The focal point of the Colorado Avalanche’s return package in the blockbuster trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes was forward Martin Necas, and although he enjoyed a solid start to his tenure in Colorado, his situation is far from settled. The 26-year-old scored 28 points in 30 games in Denver, but his future with the club is cloudy due to the fact that he is set to hit unrestricted free agency after the 2025-26 season. The Denver Post’s Corey Masisiak called Necas’ contract situation “a tricky negotiation for both sides,” and provided some detail as to why.
First and foremost, Masisiak cited Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov‘s contract situation as a factor that could hold up progress – Necas may not want to sign his deal until his camp, led by Eclipse Sports Management’s Michael Deutsch, gets to see what Kaprizov’s deal is valued at. From the Avalanche’s side of the equation, the team needs to find a way to figure out if they can fit Necas’ next contract onto their books, which currently feature Nathan MacKinnon at a $12.6MM cap hit and are set to feature Cale Makar‘s likely record-setting extension in two years’ time. Necas is an extremely talented hockey player and has proven to be a quality fit for the Avalanche, but retaining him, for the reasons Masisiak detailed, could prove challenging.
Some other notes from around the league:
- At the end of 2023-24, it looked as though Matias Maccelli was inching his way to star status as an NHL scorer. The Finnish winger had scored 57 points in his second full season in the NHL, but things went badly wrong in 2024-25. Maccelli’s offense cratered, and he found himself in-and-out of the Utah lineup en route to a final total of just 18 points. Now with the Toronto Maple Leafs thanks to an offseason trade, Maccelli is a candidate to have a real bounce-back year in 2025-26. He told The Hockey News’ Nick Barden today that his level of motivation is “probably the highest it has ever been,” and expressed some hope that he’ll get to play with and learn from some of the Leafs’ “top names.” Toronto has a major scoring void to fill after the departure of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, so Maccelli will have a massive opportunity to get his career back on the right track. If he can show chemistry with one of Toronto’s two star centers, he could quickly find himself back in the strong statistical company he once held.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today, as part of their larger training camp roster announcement, that two of the club’s free agent invites to its now-concluded rookie camp have been extended an invite to full training camp. One if the invites is of 20-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward Nicholas Sima, who team reporter Jeff Svoboda referred to as a “standout” of the team’s prospect games. The other invite is of defender Marcus Kearsey, who captains the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders. While neither player is a real candidate to win an NHL job (they’d need to sign an entry-level contract in order to do so, anyway) these invites give each player the opportunity to further impress Blue Jackets brass.
Evening Notes: Canadiens Additions, Fedotov, Andersson
After three straight last-place Atlantic Division finishes and then a trip to the playoffs in 2024-25, it appears the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild may be over. Or, the rebuild has at least reached a critical new stage, one focused more on acquiring NHL-ready talent that fit the club’s core competitive window. The team made two additions that fit that mold this summer, bringing in star defenseman Noah Dobson and promising second-year forward Zachary Bolduc, and it appears the team may not be done. RG Media’s Marco D’Amico reported today that it was “abundantly clear” in the media availabilities of Canadiens hockey operations leaders Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes that the club is intent on adding even more talent to reinforce its roster during the 2025-26 campaign.
D’Amico added that the Canadiens “want to add” and expect the trade market “to pick up mid-season” as teams have more information on whether they’ll be in a position to qualify for the postseason. The Canadiens’ most significant immediate roster need is likely at the center position, specifically in the number-two center role behind captain Nick Suzuki. It was reported today that 2018 third-overall pick Kirby Dach is on track to return for the start of the regular season, but injuries have cost him significant time in each of his three seasons in Montreal, so it is unclear whether he’ll be able to adequately fill the second-line-center role. If he struggles, its possible the Canadiens look to the trade market to add immediate reinforcements to that position, and D’Amico’s reporting today suggests they will.
Some other notes from across the NHL:
- Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell spoke to the media today in advance of the club’s upcoming training camp, and provided some new details the franchise’s thinking related to their recent acquisition of netminder Ivan Fedotov from the Philadelphia Flyers. Per team reporter Jeff Svoboda, Waddell said “I don’t have nightmares too often, but every nightmare I had this summer was about goaltending (depth). I felt like we needed to address it.” It’s not unreasonable that Waddell would be concerned about the club’s goaltending depth – before the trade, the top goalie they had behind Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves was Zachary Sawchenko, who has just seven career NHL games to his name and none since 2021-22. By adding Fedotov, the Blue Jackets get a player who was once one of the top goalies in the KHL, although he has admittedly struggled thusfar in his career in North America.
- Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was one of the most frequently talked-about players in transaction rumors over the course of this past summer, though the defenseman did not ultimately get traded. Today, Andersson addressed the news from the summer, specifically calling reports that he was only willing to sign a long-term deal with the Vegas Golden Knights “fake information.” He added that he would “never handcuff” general manager Craig Conroy in such a fashion. Daniel Austin of The Calgary Sun wrote that “the most likely outcome” of Andersson’s situation (he is a pending UFA) is that the Flames trade the defenseman before the trade deadline, and doing so would likely pave the way for even more ice time for star prospect Zayne Parekh. Parekh is a dynamic offensive defenseman who is set to enter his first NHL campaign, assuming he can earn a job on the club’s season-opening roster.
Islanders Notes: Duclair, Horvat, Barzal, Varlamov
Veteran winger Anthony Duclair was among the centerpiece additions of the New York Islanders’ 2024 offseason, signing a four-year, $3.5MM contract with the team. His first campaign on Long Island fell well short of expectations, though, and today Duclair shared some more detail on what happened in 2024-25 with The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner. Duclair said that he tore his groin “right off the bone” in the fifth game of last season, and was initially given a four-to-six week timeline. But after almost four weeks, Duclair’s injury still had not healed, and according to Duclair, he “ended up playing too early.”
As a result, Duclair said the injury “hindered [him] the rest of the season,” to the point where he says he “basically played on one leg.” Duclair’s box score numbers last season were well below his career standards – his seven goals and 11 points across 44 games is a far cry from the 24 goals, 42 points he managed the year prior. Thankfully for Duclair, he told the media today that he feels he is at 100% health heading into Islanders training camp, and the Islanders will need him in his best form if they’re going to be able to return to the playoffs after falling short in 2024-25.
Some other notes from Long Island:
- Islanders head coach Patrick Roy spoke to the media today, including team reporter Rachel Luscher, and shed some light on how he views his team’s lineup heading into camp. He told the media that his plan is to begin camp with Bo Horvat centering new offseason additions Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov. Roy’s comments are notable due to the fact that Horvat had previously spent significant time centering star Mathew Barzal. Drouin, 30, signed a two-year, $4MM AAV deal in New York and scored 11 goals, 37 points in just 43 games last season. Shabanov, 24, is entering his first pro season in North America and managed 23 goals and 67 points across 65 regular-season games in the KHL.
- With Shabanov and Drouin occupying spots alongside Horvat, that leaves Barzal likely to begin training camp back at his natural position of center. While Roy did emphasize that lineup decisions, especially so early in training camp, remain fluid, Barzal is expected to begin camp centering captain Anders Lee and veteran Kyle Palmieri. Barzal has done some of his best work in the NHL at the center position, including Calder Trophy-winning rookie campaign that saw him score 85 points in 82 games.
- Roy also updated the media of the status of veteran netminder Semyon Varlamov, who remains under contract through 2026-27 at a $2.75MM cap hit. Injury limited Varlamov to just 10 appearances last season, and the Islanders turned to SHL import Marcus Hogberg in his absence. Roy said today that while Varlamov has begun skating, his status for training camp remains to be determined. Should Varlamov be unable to resume his role as the club’s backup, Hogberg will compete with offseason addition David Rittich for the spot behind starter Ilya Sorokin. Although Hogberg has the advantage over Rittich in that he has already spent a year with the Islanders, Rittich is the more NHL-experienced netminder of the two and his $1MM cap hit suggests he should be viewed as the front-runner to win the role entering training camp.
Snapshots: Kraken, Johnson, Dumais
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.
Metro Notes: Fedotov, Heineman, Bonk
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.
Capitals’ Mitch Love Placed On Leave
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.
Injury Notes: Power, Molendyk, Walton
If there was any concern that the knee injury Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power suffered late last season would impact his readiness for 2025-26, those fears can be put to rest. According to Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic, Power “should be ready to go” for Sabres training camp and has been in Buffalo skating with teammates ahead of training camp. Fairburn added that Power “seemed to avoid the worst-case scenario” in terms of his injury, and Fairburn added that the injury should not be cause to lower expectations for Power’s upcoming season.
The upcoming season is a crucial one of the 2021 first-overall pick, as it is the second year of his massive eight-year, $8.35MM AAV contract extension. The 22-year-old blueliner offers rare offensive ability for a defenseman his size, and he set career-highs in 2024-25 by scoring seven goals and 40 points. But Power at times has been a lightning rod for criticism in Buffalo for his lack of physicality (something made all the more noticeable due to the fact that he stands six-foot-six, 226-pounds) and the fact that his steady personal improvement has not resulted in a major reversal of on-ice fortunes for the Sabres franchise as a whole. So, it is good news for both Power and the Sabres that his late-season injury does not look as though it will impact his ability to perform in 2025-26.
Other injury updates from across the league:
- Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk was the subject of an injury scare Thursday after taking a hit during one of the team’s rookie tournament practices in Tampa. At the time, The Tennessean’s Alex Daugherty reported that Molendyk’s absence from the rest of practice appeared precautionary, and today Daugherty confirmed that Molendyk indeed avoided major damage. Daugherty said today that Molendyk’s injury “isn’t serious,” and that while he may not return to the ice in Tampa, “he will be fine” for the team’s main training camp next week. The 2023 first-round pick is set to begin his pro career and was recently ranked by EliteProspects as the club’s fourth-best prospect.
- Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton will not return to the team’s rookie contest tonight in Montreal, according to team reporter Jamie Thomas. Per his report, an upper-body injury is to blame. While it’s entirely possible that Walton was taken out of the game for largely precautionary reasons in order to protect his health in advance of the team’s full training camp, that is not clear at this time. Walton, 19, is a 2024 sixth-rounder whose stock as a prospect skyrocketed after a breakout 2024-25 campaign, one in which he scored 38 goals and 92 points for the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs. The 6’6 center is a long-shot to make the Jets out of training camp and any potential injury would only hurt his chances to make an impression in camp.
Snapshots: Tuch, Fleming, Walman
The Buffalo Sabres are looking to end their 14-year playoff drought this season, and if they’re going to do so, it’ll be in large part due to the contributions of Upstate New York native Alex Tuch. The 29-year-old winger has been stellar for the Sabres since arriving from Vegas as part of the Jack Eichel trade, and after scoring 36 goals and 67 points last season, the power forward is in line for a significant raise from his current $4.75MM AAV. A pending unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, Tuch’s contract situation will be one of the key storylines to watch for the Sabres this season.
As of right now, nothing appears imminent, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Pagnotta reports that the Sabres “want to lock [Tuch] up” by signing him to a new contract, but “haven’t gotten to that point yet.” With the trade of J.J. Peterka to the Utah Mammoth this past summer, Tuch’s contributions will be even more important to the Sabres immediate and long-term future. The only major bump in pay for next year on the Sabres’ books, at this point, is the increase of Jeff Skinner‘s buyout cap hit from $4.4MM to $6.4MM, so it appears the Sabres will have the financial flexibility to afford a new deal for Tuch – whether he re-signs will likely come down to the preferences of the player.
In other news from across the NHL:
- Vegas Golden Knights prospect Joe Fleming is changing positions. SinBin Vegas’ Ken Boehlke reports that the plan for Fleming moving forward is for him to play forward, not defense. The 22-year-old manned the blueline for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights last season, and played in the 2024 ECHL All-Star game as a defenseman. Silver Knights coach Ryan Craig told the media that they envision the physical Fleming to be a “force below the hash marks” as a forward, and Fleming told the media that he is “excited” for the chance to play in his new position. Fleming is entering the final season of his entry-level contract and carries a league-minimum $775k NHL cap hit alongside an $82.5k AHL salary.
- The Edmonton Oilers made one of the better mid-season additions of the 2024-25 campaign when they traded for then-San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman. Walman’s success in Edmonton on their run to a second consecutive Stanley Cup Final could mean the organization is interested in signing the player to an extension, as he is currently slated to hit unrestricted free agency at the end of 2025-26. Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported today that Walman’s agent, Wade Arnott of Newport Sports Management, was in Edmonton yesterday for in-person talks related to an extension for his client. Walman’s current contract carries a $3.4MM AAV, but after a 40-point season, it is likely he will receive a strong bump in pay on his next deal. AFP Analytics currently projects Walman to receive a $6.5MM AAV on a projected five-year contract term on the open market.
Former NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow Passes Away At Age 72
Bob Goodenow, the leader of the NHLPA from 1992 to 2005, has passed away at the age of 72, according to an announcement from the players’ union. In their statement, the NHLPA wrote:
Bob was an exceptionally influential leader whose unwavering commitment to the players helped shape the modern era of the NHLPA. He joined the NHLPA in 1990 as Deputy Executive Director and transitioned to Executive Director in 1992, stabilizing the Association during a tumultuous time. Bob quickly put his stamp on the organization by elevating the level of representation provided by the NHLPA’s staff, tirelessly working to educate the players, strengthening the membership and building trust in the office’s work on behalf of the players.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman issued his own statement, offering his condolences and speaking on Goodenow’s legacy within the game:
The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Bob Goodenow, a hockey man to his core who was a captain of the team at Harvard and played professionally in the IHL before serving as a player agent and as Executive Director of the NHL Players’ Association for 14 years.
Bob was a skilled attorney and tenacious advocate for the players he represented as an agent and as the head of the Players’ Association. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Wendy, their three children, Joe, Katharine and Kerry, and his many friends and admirers throughout hockey.
Goodenow succeeded Alan Eagleson as the head of the NHLPA in 1992 after Eagleson resigned his position. Goodenow instantly made his leadership felt, leading the players on a ten-day strike that resulted in league president John Ziegler being removed from his position by the league’s owners. The NHLPA credits Goodenow with negotiating “landmark gains in salary, free agency, pension, and health benefits,” and for leading the players to ultimately take “control of their name, image and likeness rights.”
He is also credited by the union with helping to establish pioneering programs such as player salary disclosure, the second medical opinion program for players, and the union’s agent certification program. Goodenow is also remembered for greatly modernizing the NHLPA’s operations by, per the union, growing “the NHLPA’s professional staff from only three people to more than 50 employees by the end of his tenure.”
The final stretch of Goodenow’s tenure was marked by the league’s infamous 2004-05 labor dispute, wherein bitter disagreements between the NHL and NHLPA ultimately resulted in the cancellation of the 2004-05 NHL season. Goodenow led the NHLPA through that battle, and then ended his tenure with the organization shortly after the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified.
Goodenow had a presence in the game outside of his leadership of the NHLPA – he was a three-year player at Harvard and both captained his team and was named to the All-ECAC second-team in his final year with the program. Goodenow also played two seasons of professional hockey with the Flint Generals of the IHL.
All of us at PHR send our condolences to Goodenow’s family and friends, as well as the NHLPA.