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Hurricanes Sign Oliver Kylington, Givani Smith To Professional Tryouts

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Givani Smith and defenseman Oliver Kylington to professional tryouts. Both players appeared in NHL games last season.

Kylington’s NHL action was split between the Colorado Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks. He only totaled 19 games, and five points, on the year after sustaining a string of injuries throughout the 2024-25 season. Kylington stepped away from the NHL from October 2022 through January 2024 to focus on his mental health. He returned for 33 games of the Calgary Flames’ 2023-24 season and won the 2024 Bill Masterton Trophy.

Kylington is now 28 and looking to reinstate his spot in the NHL. He bounced back and forth between the major and minor leagues from 2018 to 2021 – but broke out with 31 points in 73 games of the Flames’ 2021-22 season. At his best, he looked like a smooth-moving, two-way defenseman capable of holding both blue-lines. That talent could be enough to fill the in-between role vacated by Scott Morrow when he was traded to the Rangers in June. First, Kylington will need to prove he can still play at NHL pace.

Meanwhile, Smith will look to flex his might as a bottom-of-the-lineup bruiser. He has fluctuated between the NHL and AHL for the last few seasons, and averaged at least one penalty minute per game everywhere he goes. Last season, Smith recorded no scoring and 18 PIMs in 13 NHL games, and three points and 21 PIMs in 16 AHL games. Those performances brought his career totals up to 22 points and 268 PIMs in 168 NHL games, and 55 points and 287 PIMs in 167 AHL games. He could be a candidate for an AHL contract, if he doesn’t earn a deal with the Hurricanes out of camp.

Matthew Caldwell, Shawn Thornton Leave Panthers For NBA

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Florida Panthers’ team president and CEO Matthew Caldwell is set to leave the organization after 11 years to become the CEO of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, per David Dwork of The Hockey News. The report was confirmed by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. Additionally, former NHL pro Shawn Thornton announced he will step down from his role as Florida’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) to join the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks as a Senior Vice President and Chief Partnership Officer. Thornton joined Florida’s executive staff in 2017.

These moves stand as two major changes to the Panthers’ top level of business management. Caldwell joined the Panthers in 2014, amid some of their darkest years. He quickly took to a litany of responsibilities, and earned a promotion from Chief Operating Officer (COO) to CEO after just two years with the organization. He was 36 at the time. In the boosted role, Caldwell was able to take on efforts that helped to reshape the Panthers from an NHL bottom-dweller to a modern dynasty.

Caldwell played an instrumental role in the formation of Florida’s lauded front office and coaching staff. He supported the team to a franchise record in ticket sales, TV viewership, and sponsorship revenue and led the hiring of then-rookie general manager Bill Zito. Caldwell also supported the sale of local media rights to Bally Sports in 2022, Florida’s arena naming rights to Amerant Bank in 2023, and additional media sales to Scripps Sports in 2024. The trio of deals expanded coverage of Panthers hockey across Florida.

Success in the Sunshine State was only a small part of Caldwell’s career. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served five years as a Captain in the U.S. Army. During that time, he oversaw combat operations in Iraq, peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, and soldier training in Germany. He received numerous accolades for that service. Caldwell turned towards a career on Wall Street after his military duty concluded, taking on the role of Vice President with Goldman Sachs. He also attended the Northwestern University School of Law for his J.D. and MBA degrees. The Panthers cover Caldwell’s accomplishments more in depth on their website.

Now, Caldwell will join the Timberwolves and Lynx on the heels of their sale to Marc Lore and former MLB legend Alex Rodrigues. In doing so, he will continue to sustain an illustrious career that Panthers Owner Vincent Viola knows they won’t be able to replace. Viola told the Associated Press:

There are very few opportunities I would advise him to pursue, but working with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore on a global platform like the NBA is at the top of that list… Matt’s impact on our organization has been immeasurable and he leaves with our respect and gratitude

On top of that weight, the Panthers will also lose former bruiser turned proficient executive Shawn Thornton. Thornton played through 14 years and 705 games in the NHL. He was among the very last true enforcers in the NHL, and racked up an incredible 1,103 penalty minutes over the course of his career. Over his full career, Thornton averaged 12 points and 128 penalty minutes per 82 games played.

Thornton retired as a member of the Florida Panthers in 2017, at the age of 39, and quickly took to a front office role. His business career began as a Senior Vice President of Business Operations – filling a litany of roles, including heading marketing, sponsorships, broadcasting, game presentation, and community relations. He was promoted to the team’s Chief Commercial Officer in 2020, then to CRO in 2022.

Thornton has been a pillar of growth since the onset of his post-playing career. In addition to his role with the Panthers, he also runs the Shawn Thornton Foundation – geared towards raising funding for life-threatening diseases, including Parkinson’s Disease. That organization was formed in 2013.

Florida will now bear the burden of filling two major roles in their executive offices. It will be a tough task, though one the organization seems well set up for after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups and appearing in three-straight Stanley Cup Finals. They’re a true NHL dynasty, and averaged the fifth-most attendance in the league last season according to HockeyDB. This news will mark turnover and new opportunity for a club in the midst of their peak.

Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.

NCAA Grants Eligibility To Two Former Pros

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In another milestone decision for collegiate hockey, the NCAA has granted eligibility to two players with experience in the AHL and ECHL. Forward Connor McClennon and defenseman Hudson Thornton will both suit up for the Bemidji State University Beavers, per Jared Rubado of The Bemidji Pioneer. This decision goes against the NCAA’s previous rule that stated any players who have signed pro contracts were ineligible from playing NCAA-sanctioned sports.

The future implications, or even the present justification, for this decision aren’t entirely clear. Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore told Rubado that the team wanted to “throw some darts” after seeing the NCAA allow former pros to participate in other sports. They worked with both players to submit request to the NCAA Eligibility Center, formerly the NCAA Clearinghouse. Both McClennon and Thornton pointed towards their reinstated eligibility for U Sports – Canada’s collegiate league – as one of the reasons why they should be granted a move to the NCAA.

Bemidji also pointed towards the NCAA’s extension of eligibility to pros in both basketball and football. As pointed out by Rubado, the NCAA allowed Ethan Burg to join the University of Tennessee’s men’s basketball team on July 24, despite Burg’s participation in the Israeli Basketball Super League.

The NCAA is also currently facing a U.S. District Court ruling that challenges how the NCAA counts years of eligibility. Previously, the collegiate association would include years in JUCO, or Junior College, against a player’s maximum five years of NCAA eligibility. This new antitrust lawsuit would look to reverse that decision, and extend additional eligibility to three players at West Virginia University, as well as players at Vanderbilt University, Rutgers University, and Memphis University.

The NCAA has released a statement challenging the court ruling, though they may face a tougher task overturning it after extending eligibility to two pro hockey players. McClennon played nine total games between the AHL and ECHL, scoring just one point in the former league. He spent last season at the University of Alberta. Thornton’s pro experience is much more extensive. He appeared in 49 ECHL games, and scored 14 points, this past season, in addition to making his AHL debut. Thornton has never played at the collegiate level, though he previously expressed interest in joining the University of Saskatchewan for next season.

While the long-term impact of this decision hasn’t had time to settle, it marks another boom to the ever-changing junior hockey landscape. It seems unlikely that the NCAA will officially acknowledge changes to their eligibility until after they conclude multiple lawsuits and court cases, leaving questions of who teams can recruit up in the air for now. On the other side, NCAA eligibility could begin mirroring U Sports. Currently, AHL or ECHL players are eligible to join U Sports programs, but must sit out for a season of competition if they are on a pro roster after January 10th. Even those guidelines seem uncertain, though, as U Sports commits to future changes and expansions of their own.

Flames Seem Set To Trade Rasmus Andersson, Per Teammate

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The trade rumors surrounding Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson are reaching a peak as the 2025-26 season rolls around. Flames centerman Mikael Backlund said that Andersson seems to be clearly headed for a change of teams during the NHL’s European Media Tour, as captured by Micahel Russo of The Athletic. Backlund went into depth on the divide between Calgary and the top-pair defenseman, sharing that the two sides are at ends on what a new contract should look like. Andersson will enter unrestricted-free agency next summer, and is looking for a boost over his current $4.55MM cap hit, while the Flames are looking for a value deal. Backlund told Russo:

Yeah, [Andersson is] getting traded. It’s obvious… I talked to him, too, and he doesn’t want to be a distraction… It’s too bad that it’s come to this. I don’t think that they’re close to getting an agreement, but you never know. Things could change.

Backlund seems among the most informed when it comes to changes within the Calgary organization. He’s spent all 1,066 games, and 17 seasons, of his NHL career in a Flames jersey. The Flames named Backlund team captain in 2023, after five years of serving as an alternate captain. Andersson has also served as an assistant captain as far back as 2022, cementing a clear connection between the two teammates.

Backlund’s comments ring loud as a result. Andersson has appeared to be the odd-man-left ever since general manager Craig Conroy completed a fire sale of trades in 2023 and 2024. The flurry moved out defenders Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and Noah Hanifin – leaving Andersson as the only long-term Flame left on the team’s blue-line. He has since been supported by veteran MacKenzie Weegar and emerging pro Kevin Bahl, playing ahead of an otherwise very fluid Calgary defense.

This news spells even more changes for the Flames’ defense. There will be no preparing for losing a player of Andersson’s caliber, even despite rumors swirling through the last few seasons. He has emerged as a true top-pair offensive-defenseman, capable of driving play and sustaining offensive chances for his side, even amid poor defensive play. Andersson tied his career-high of 11 goals this past season, to go along with 31 points on the full year. It was a slight dip from his scoring totals over the last few year. He previously scored 50 points in the 2021-22 season, 49 points in 2022-23, and 39 points in 2023-24.

These comments will once again spark what’s been an aggressive trade market for Andersson. Calgary has fielded interest from across the NHL, with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes previously emerging as front-runners. There has also been rumors of a fit with Pacific Division clubs like the Los Angeles Kings or Vegas Golden Knights, should the Flames be comfortable with moving Andersson to a nearby foe. Vegas will notably be without top defender Alex Pietrangelo next season due to injury, creating a clear hole in their lineup. The Golden Knights would need to find roughly $1MM in cap space to afford Andersson’s cap hit, assuming Calgary would be willing to retain a maximum 50-percent.

Hurricanes Sign Ivan Ryabkin To Entry-Level Contract

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed 2025 second-round pick Ivan Ryabkin to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal carries $235K in signing bonuses and a $85K salary at the AHL level. The NHL salary grows each year – from $775K, to $850K, to $895K. Ryabkin is expected to delay the start of the contract by moving to the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders this season, though rumors suggest he could make a push for the AHL roster out of training camp, per Elite Prospects’ Cam Robinson.

Ryabkin was once lauded as the top Russian in the 2007 birth year, and even considered a potential top-20 prospect after his age-17 season. That standing took a tumble over the course of his draft season, as concerns over his workout regiment and discipline grew with Russian club Moscow Dynamo. The resulting split prompted Ryabkin to the move to the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks in January, after he scored just one goal and 12 points in 15 MHL games.

The mid-season move proved instantly profitable for both Ryabkin and Muskegon. The high-volume winger totaled 26 goals, 46 points, and 100 penalty minutes over a combined 41 games in the USHL. His scoring presence was the final heave that pushed Muskegon to their first Clark Cup Championship in franchise history. Ryabkin filled the sniper role to a tee, perfectly complimenting high-energy playmaker Tynan Lawrence and nifty power-forward Vaclav Nestrasil Jr..

News of his first NHL contract will make Ryabkin a must-watch player as training camps roll around. He still measures at a hefty 5-foot-11, 205-pounds, and stood out as an unpoised hitter on what was a heavily penalized Lumberjacks lineup. His scoring prowess at the junior level is unquestioned, but the 2025-26 season will be about proving his competition, drive, and level-headedness both on and off of the ice. Breaking into the minor-leagues at 19 would go a long way towards showing that growth. Ryabkin made his debut in the KHL and VHL – Russia’s top pro leagues – early into the 2024-25 season.

Summer Synopsis: Toronto Maple Leafs

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Now more than a month into the new league year, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective. Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled. Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team has accomplished this offseason. Next up is a look at Toronto.

The Maple Leafs were big spenders at the trade deadline, augmenting their roster for what they hoped would be a long playoff run.  However, they were ousted in the second round by Florida, leading to the resumption of calls to shake things up.  They did just that, parting ways with one of their top players, using those savings to shore up their overall depth in the hopes that this will be the year that they take that next step forward.

Draft

2-64 – F Tinus Luc Koblar, Leksand (Sweden U20)
3-86 – F Tyler Hopkins, Kingston (OHL)
5-137 – F William Belle, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
5-153 – F Harry Nansi, Owen Sound (OHL)
6-185 – D Rylan Fellinger, Flint (OHL)
7-217 – F Matthew Hlacar, Kitchener (OHL)

The Maple Leafs took a unique approach to this year’s draft. They leaned into projectable floors, rather than high ceilings, in what was widely considered a shallow draft class. That approach did elicit some surprise, namely Luc Koblar’s selection at the end of the second-round. The lanky, high-tempo Norwegian was considered a mid-round pick across many public and private draft boards, though many claimed that was due to a lack of attention rather than a lack of skill. He does boast smooth skills in his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame – with capable and quick skating and stickhandling. That foundation, and a snappy ability in the middle lane, could leave Luc Koblar just a few years away from a meaningful pro role. He’ll define his long-term potential with how well he adds a stronger first step, and sharper physical presence.

Toronto curbed a confident reach in the second-round by selecting a scout’s favorite in the third. Hopkins was praised by many for his simple, effective, and imposing drive throughout the Kingston Frontenacs season. He plays heavier than his 6-foot-1, 179-pound frame suggests, and showed a strong ability to keep tempo with smaller and faster linemates. He’ll offer the upside of an all-three-zones, physical presence. The same can be said about Belle and Nansi, the former a high-motor forechecker who began his hockey journey in China; and the latter a growing support winger. Both Fellinger and Hlacar will offer hard-hitting ability to round out a class of unexciting, but seemingly projectable, draft picks.

Trade Acquisitions

F Dakota Joshua (from Vancouver)
F Matias Maccelli (from Utah)
F Nicolas Roy (from Vegas)
D Henry Thrun (from San Jose)

With the understanding that Mitch Marner was likely heading to Vegas one way or the other via either a sign-and-trade or free agency, GM Brad Treliving was at least able to salvage something out of the situation with Roy’s acquisition.  He has reached the 30-point mark in four straight seasons, ranging between 13 and 15 goals in each of them.  More importantly, he’s a natural center, giving them a much-needed option down the middle which should allow them to use Max Domi on the wing, a position he’s better suited to playing.  Between Roy and deadline acquisition Scott Laughton, Toronto’s center group is much deeper than it has been in recent years while giving them a much bigger group of bottom-six middlemen, fitting in with Treliving’s goal of getting the team tougher to play against.

That last bit also helps justify the acquisition of Joshua on a buy-low pickup from Vancouver.  He’s only one year removed from a breakout 18-goal, 32-point campaign but last season was a struggle as he worked his way back from testicular cancer plus some nagging in-season injuries.  If all goes according to plan, he’ll help out their depth scoring and penalty killing.

Treliving also bought low on Maccelli, grabbing him from Utah for a conditional third-round pick.  Last season was a tough one as he slid down the depth chart but two years ago, he was fourth in Calder Trophy voting.  In between those two years, he finished third on the Coyotes in scoring with 57 points.  He has shown legitimate top-six upside early in his career and with Marner gone, they’ll be counting on him to help replace some of the playmaking that they lost.

UFA Signings

F Travis Boyd (one year, $775K)*
F Benoit-Olivier Groulx (two years, $1.55MM)
F Vinni Lettieri (one year, $775K)
D Dakota Mermis (two years, $1.55MM)
F Michael Pezzetta (two years, $1.55MM)

* denotes two-way contract

After making a splash on the open market last summer with some moves on the back end, Toronto’s free agent activity was on the depth front this time around.  Of the above signings, only Pezzetta was on an NHL roster for the entire season and he played in just 25 games.  However, he had been more of a regular on the fourth line with Montreal for the previous three years and has 200 games at the top level under his belt.  He’s someone who will be in a battle for a spot at the back of the NHL roster.

The Group Six UFA market wasn’t particularly strong this year and most players went from being on low-cost two-way contracts to being on low-cost two-way contracts with another organization.  Groulx was one of the exceptions, securing a two-year, one-way agreement with Toronto.  He’s only a year removed from playing in 45 games with Anaheim but he didn’t get a sniff of action at the top level last season, instead playing exclusively with AHL Hartford.  The team is likely eyeing him for depth with the AHL’s Marlies but he could be an under-the-radar add.

Experience is the name of the game with their other pickups.  Boyd has a pair of 30-point-plus seasons in the NHL under his belt in nearly 300 games but has been more of an AHL regular in recent years and is likely ticketed to be a big scorer with the Marlies.  Lettieri was a regular with Boston for a good chunk of the second half of last season which helped earn him a one-way salary but he’s probably heading for the AHL as well.  Mermis was claimed off waivers twice last season although it didn’t help him play much in the NHL as he suited up just four times.  He’ll be among their more experienced recall options in the minors, assuming he gets through waivers unclaimed in training camp.

RFA Re-Signings

F Matthew Knies (six years, $46.5MM)
F Nicholas Robertson (one year, $1.825MM)
D William Villeneuve (one year, $775K)*

* denotes two-way contract

Speculated as a potential offer sheet candidate had he made it to July 1st, the Maple Leafs made sure that Knies didn’t get there, agreeing to terms of this contract not long after the draft.  In his two full NHL seasons, he has worked his way into being a legitimate top-line winger and at 22, there’s still room for optimism that he has another level to get to offensively.  In an ideal world, they would have been able to get him locked up for longer as they ultimately only picked up one extra year of club control with this contract but the price tag to do so would have pushed past the $8MM AAV mark which would have limited their flexibility to add other pieces.  With Auston Matthews still having three years left on his deal, two-thirds of Toronto’s top line will be in place for at least that long.

Robertson came pretty close to going to an arbitration hearing but the two sides were able to get this deal done beforehand.  He put up a career-best 15 goals in 69 games last season despite averaging only 12 minutes a night which helped him nearly double his previous price tag.  Nonetheless, his future with the Maple Leafs still seems a little murky, especially with his trade request from a couple of years ago but this agreement buys both Robertson and the team a little more time to assess his long-term fit.

Departures

F Nicholas Abruzzese (Tampa Bay, one year, $775K)*
F Roni Hirvonen (signed with Karpat, Liiga)
F Pontus Holmberg (Tampa Bay, two years, $3.1MM)
D Mikko Kokkonen (signed with Linkoping, SHL)
F Mitch Marner (trade with Vegas)
D Nicolas Mattinen (signed with Adler, DEL)
G Matt Murray (Seattle, one year, $1MM)
D Topi Niemela (signed with Malmo, SHL)
F Max Pacioretty (unsigned)
F Ryan Reaves (trade with San Jose)
F Alex Steeves (Boston, one year, $850K)
F Ty Voit (contract termination, signed with Utah, ECHL)

* denotes two-way contract

Toronto’s summer was overcast by the departure of star winger Marner, coming off the first 100-point season of his career. He was traded to Vegas after agreeing to a max-term, eight-year extension with the Maple Leafs. The sign-and-trade netted Toronto centerman Nicolas Roy as a consolation, though Marner’s presence will be hard to replace on a night-to-night basis. Luckily, Toronto was able to get through the rest of the off-season without many notable changes to their NHL roster. Holmberg will vacate a hardy role in the team’s bottom-six, after netting 19 points in 68 games last season. Pacioretty also helped filled space on the wings, though he was limited to only 13 points and 37 games on the season by a long-term, lower-body injury. The Leafs also landed a positive return for Reaves, who filled the enforcer role through 35 games last season.

The Leafs otherwise enter the season unscathed, replacing much of their minor-league turnover with an active summer. They will maintain the NHL rights for Hirvonen and Niemela through their move to Finland, opening the door for the club to still bank on the former second and third round picks. Steeves and Abruzesse will look to jump above their AHL roles after sitting near the top of Toronto Marlies scoring over the last few seasons. Meanwhile, Murray will look to continue his return from bilateral hip surgery, after posting an encouraging 10-5-4 record and .934 save percentage in 21 AHL games this season. Murray contributed a 15-9-2 record and .901 save percentage over 28 games, and three seasons, with the Leafs.

Key Extensions

F Steven Lorentz (three years, $4.05MM)
F John Tavares (four years, $17.56MM)

Toronto’s summer kicked off on a high note when former captain Tavares signed a team-friendly extension, with an annual cap hit of just $4.38MM. The deal didn’t change the Leafs’ chances at retaining Marner, but landing Tavares at a salary nearly $7MM cheaper than last year did support the team’s push to sign Knies long-term. Tavares continued to produce at a top-level last season, with 38 goals and 74 points in 75 games. He’ll be a true discount headed into next season, where he’ll chase his 1,200th NHL game (currently at 1,184) and 500th goal (currently at 494).

Lorentz will also stick in Toronto, after playing through his first year with the club last season. He finished the year with 19 points in 80 games, operating out of a fourth-line role. This deal is just the second three-year deal of Lorentz’s career. It’s a nice bode of confidence for a depth, two-way winger who has already won a Stanley Cup with the 2024 Florida Panthers, and a Calder Cup with 2019 Charlotte Checkers. He has 62 points in 310 career NHL games, and hasn’t appeared in the minor-leagues since 2020.

Salary Cap Outlook

After years of operating with often multiple players on LTIR, the Maple Leafs project to have $1.919MM in regular cap space heading into the season, per PuckPedia.  That’s not enough to add anyone of consequence in free agency which is why they’re believed to be shopping some of their extra forwards while also being linked to UFA Jack Roslovic if they can free up the money to sign him.  If that doesn’t come to fruition, they’re at least in a spot where they can afford a couple of injury recalls before needing to rely on emergency cap-exempt ones.  That might not sound like much but that’s a big step up from where they have been.  And if they’re able to stay relatively healthy, Treliving might have a bit of wiggle room to work with at deadline time.

Key Questions

Can The Team Replace Marner’s Production? No matter where you stand on Marner moving on, the Maple Leafs still face the challenge of replacing over 100 points. To offset the loss of not only Marner’s offensive production but also his steady two-way play, Treliving prioritized depth signings over chasing a big-name free agent. However, none of those additions bring proven offensive capabilities at the NHL level. To truly offset Marner’s production, the team will likely look for continued growth from players who were already on the roster. This includes the continued rise of the recently extended Knies, who could continue to grow in his age-23 season. The same expectations could be placed on Robertson, who flashed potential with 15 goals in 69 games last season. Trade acquisitions like Roy and Joshua should also be able to chip in. Either way, it’s going to take a committee approach to replace what Marner provided every night.

Is The Goaltending Strong Enough? Joseph Woll is coming off of a solid season, where he posted a solid .909 save percentage, right in line with his career average of .910. However, he struggled with an .886 save percentage in the playoffs, surrendering 23 goals through seven games. Backup Anthony Stolarz fared better in his seven postseason appearances, posting a .901 save percentage, but it too was a far cry from his robust .926 save percentage through 34 regular season appearances. While the duo found success in the regular season — guiding the team to 108 points and an Atlantic Division title — key questions remain: can they elevate their game in the playoffs, steal a must-win game, or go toe-to-toe with the likes of  Sergei Bobrovsky?

Can This Team End The Streak? When the Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup, Frank and Nancy Sinatra topped the music charts and the Super Bowl hadn’t even been invented. After 57 years without a championship, the question of when the drought will end only grows louder. So, can this roster, as it stands, finally get over the hump? The Leafs certainly appear to have the offensive firepower to contend with the top teams in the league. The team finished seventh in the league in goals for last season, and still have stars like Matthews, Taveres, and William Nylander leading the way. But does the team have the depth, defense, and goaltending needed to truly make a run?

PHR’s Brian La Rose and Paul Griser also contributed to this post.

Prospect Notes: Behrens, Wassilyn, Bourque

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The Colorado Avalanche have received a bit of good news in the quietest days of summer. Defense prospect Sean Behrens shared that he’s been fully cleared to participate in the team’s rookie tournament with Meghan Angley of Guerilla Sports. Behrens missed all but two games of last season after sustaining a knee injury in an October practice scrimmage. The first-year pro only suited up for the very first, and very final, game of the Colorado Eagles’ season.

Hopes were high for Behrens prior to his season-ending injury. He seemed well set for a strong push into pros after finishing a three-year stay at the University of Denver with 31 points in 44 games, and a National Championship win, in the 2023-24 season. Behrens was a core part of the title-winning Pioneers, where he often found himself playing alongside or directly behind top prospect Zeev Buium. He showed off all of the sharp stickhandling and quick skating needed to keep the Pioneers offense running with Buium off the ice, and earned the NCHC’s ’Defenseman Of The Year’ award as a result. Behrens now faces an uphill battle adjusting his slight, 5-foot-10 frame to the pro level. He’s made strong impacts in both junior and college hockey, and could earn a top role with the Eagles with a quick return.. He’ll be a name for fans to watch – though likely one that the Avalanche take their time with – as he looks forward to a healthy season.

Other notes from around the prospect world:

  • Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Braidy Wassilyn will indeed return to the OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs next season, then attend Boston University in the 2026-27 season, shares Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News. Kennedy mentions that Wassilyn’s return to juniors wasn’t previously guaranteed. This news puts the cherry on top of a productive summer for Niagara. Wassilyn scored 39 points in 62 games of his rookie OHL season last year. He rivaled the team’s top-six by the end of the season, profiling as a sharp and mobile playmaker with a heavy, 200-pound frame. He’ll return to great company in Niagara – set to play alongside fellow top 2026 draft prospect Ryan Roobroeck, Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He, and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Ethan Czata.
  • Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque will now be represented by agent Olivier Fortier, Vice President of Wasserman Hockey, per PuckPedia. Borque just wrapped up his rookie season in the NHL with 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games. It was a relatively calm performance, after Bourque won the AHL’s MVP award with 77 points in 71 games of the 2023-24 season. He did maintain a positive plus-minus and consistent lineup role through his first NHL season, even playing second-line minutes through certain points in the year. He’ll face the task of now cementing a spot up the lineup, and discovering his scoring prowess, ahead of restricted-free agency next summer.

Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies Could Be Beneficiary Of Marner Move

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The conversation of which forward will step up for the Toronto Maple Leafs is beginning to grow as players reconvene for training camp. Toronto lost 100-point scorer Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, and failed to find a suitable replacement on the open market. That will leave the task of filling Marner’s shoes to one of the Leafs’ current stars. Left-winger Matthew Knies dubbed William Nylander as the best bet in an interview with Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. But following a true breakout performance last year, Knies could be the one best setup for another big step.

Knies found his way in the Maple Leafs lineup with a career-high 58 points, split evenly, in 78 games. He found his way onto Toronto’s top line at the age of just 22, becoming the heavy play-driver behind Auston Matthews and Marner. The star-studded company helped Knies reach a lofty 19.1 shooting percentage that will be tough to maintain, but his habits of driving hard into the slot will become a defining trait.

That style complements the similar heft and drive of Nylander, who has spearheaded one of the best second lines in the league next to passer John Tavares. Nylander reached a career-high 45 goals last season, after two seasons of scoring 40 goals. He’s undeniably a star on the rise, though on the back of stepping up as the #1 of his own line – rather than playing along Toronto’s other stars.

That independent ability could convince head coach Craig Berube to leave Nylander separate from the top line. The Swedish star wouldn’t commit to a role when asked, saying his only plans for next year are to dominate the minutes he does receive. If Nylander doesn’t elevate to the top line, Knies will confidently move into the line’s role of #2 behind Matthews. The responsibilities of that status will include teeing up Matthews, and burying the rebounds that his heavy shots generate.

Even on the back of a sky-high shooting percentage, Knies seems well-equipped to match that bill. He showed might in all three layers of the offensive zone, and is still incredibly early in his professional development. The help of a skilled passer, like Matias Maccelli, or the reserved grit of a player like Nicolas Roy could be enough support to let Knies dig in his feet as the star Toronto needs.

A ramp into more responsibility is exactly what Knies is due for after flashing as a 30-goal hopeful last season. He faces a tough task in maintaining his performance from last season, and an even tougher test in finding ways to improve. But in a lineup looking for a big performance, Knies could be the one holding the most potential. Growing to the heights of 65, or even 70, points would maintain Toronto’s mighty top-six, vindicate Knies’ recent contract extension, and undoubtedly cement him as the club’s biggest draft steal in years.

Ducks Want To Sign Mason McTavish Long-Term

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With Marco Rossi off the board, the top remaining restricted-free agent at forward is almost certainly Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish. The 22-year-old remains unsigned as September nears, pushing him to the very top of late-summer trade rumors. But despite growing discussion of a potential move, Eric Stephens of The Athletic emphasized that McTavish isn’t going anywhere.

In a recent mailbag, Stephens pointed out that – while plenty of teams need high-upside forwards – the Ducks have far too much need for their own center with upside. He added that the holdup in re-signing McTavish is the team’s desire to avoid a bridge contract, and ink one of their top scorers to a long-term contract.

McTavish always seemed unlikely to part from the Anaheim organization. He plays a style that’s confidently in-line with the preference of general manager Pat Verbeek, and both former head coach Greg Cronin and future head coach Joel Quenneville. McTavish was also one of the Ducks’ top offensive pieces last season, leading the team with 22 goals and ranking second with 52 points through 76 games on the season. The only player to outscore the young center was veteran winger Troy Terry, who finished the year with 55 points.

That’s a glowing performance for a player so young. While many players his age are still working towards breaking into the NHL, McTavish has already firmly planted his feet. He’s totaled 58 goals and 137 points in 220 games over the last three seasons – an average of 22 goals and 51 points per every 82 games. The 2021 third-overall selection also worked his way up to an even plus-minus last season, after recording a minus-19 and minus-23 in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons respectively.

More than finding his way to the top of Anaheim’s scoring charts, McTavish’s seemed to find a new layer of confidence last season. He emerged as one of the club’s top play-drivers, and the perfect skillful complement to the brute of Leo Carlsson. That mental improvement, and lineup fit, should set McTavish up for a huge season next year. He’ll enter the season as perhaps the best bet for the top-line center role under Quenneville’s guidance.

With a 30-goal and 60-point season seemingly within reach for McTavish, it only makes sense that Anaheim want to solidify his salary for the future as soon as they can. But finding the right price will be a challenge. The Chicago Blackhawks recently signed 21-year-old Frank Nazar to a seven-year, $46.2MM contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. That deal came after Nazar played in just 56 career games, and scored at a 40-point pace.

Those numbers are far flatter than the 60 goals and 140 points McTavish has totaled in 229 career games – likely earning the Ducks’ star a salary far above Nazar’s $6.6MM cap hit. Anaheim may need to be ready to spend $7MM or even $8MM on McTavish in order to buy a long-term extension. While that will require careful budgeting, it will put no stress on the Ducks’ 2025-26 season. They sit with more than $20.5MM in available cap space entering next season, with only McTavish left to sign.

A hardy extension for McTavish could be the Ducks’ first true stride towards a new era. He’s a high-impact centerman, with the skill to drive play and the heft to fit in a physical Ducks lineup. While rumors continue to swirl, Stephens assures that Anaheim will take that step forward sooner rather than later.

Filip Gustavsson Open To Extension With Wild

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The Minnesota Wild can finally turn their attention towards the 2026 summer after locking up top restricted-free agent Marco Rossi to a three-year deal. One of their top tasks will be making a decision on the future of their crease. Veteran goaltender Filip Gustavsson will play through the final year of his three-year, $11.25MM contract next season and be due for a much richer salary next summer. Ahead of returning to Minnesota for training camp, Gustavsson told Michael Russo of The Athletic that he is open to inking a new deal. The netminder said:

I’ve had the conversations with my agent and all that stuff, and what we’re looking into and what we would like to do… {We} haven’t started actively talking to {Bill Guerin} or anything. When they want to talk, then we talk, and otherwise I have this year left and I’m just gonna play and win.

Early interest in an extension could benefit Gustavsson. He’s set to be backed up by top Wild prospect Jesper Wallstedt for the first time next season, after hockey legend Marc-Andre Fleury announced his retirement last season. Wallstedt was a first-round pick – 20th overall – in the 2021 NHL Draft. He moved to the AHL’s Iowa Wild two seasons later, and has served as the team’s de facto starter in the three years since. That tenure started positive – with a .908 save percentage in 38 games of his AHL rookie season. He followed it with a .910 Sv% in 45 games of the 2023-24 season, but soured this year with a bleak .879 Sv% in 27 games, low enough to cede the starter’s chair to Samuel Hlavaj.

Despite the dip, Wallstedt still stands as one of the best goalie prospects in the world, and will finally get a chance to show his might at the NHL level next season. He won’t stand much of a chance to overcome Gustavsson, who spent the last three seasons firmly planting his feet in Minnesota’s starter’s crease. After years of fluctuating between NHL and AHL lineups, Gustavsson flourished with a move to Minnesota in 2022. He had a career-year in his debut season with the Wild, recording a .931 Sv% and lofty 22-9-7 record in 39 games.

With a path to the starting role carved out, Gustavsson quickly established himself as Minnesota’s surest bet to win games. He was a composed, big-moment goaltender, who stood as one of the squad’s bright spots in a slumping 2023-24 season. Gustavsson recorded a team-best .899 Sv% and 20-17-5 record in 45 games that year. It was a slight dip, on a Wild roster that was outscored by 12 goals on the full year, and Gustavsson continued to surge as Fleury entered his final season this year. The 27-year-old Swede managed a bright 31-19-6 record and .914 Sv% in 58 games. That performance not only marked the most Gustavsson played in a single season, but also gave Gustavsson the fourth-highest save percentage of any starter in the NHL.

It is on the heels of that performance that tremendous Gustavsson will now beginning entertaining a new contract. Even with the pressure of Wallstedt, there’s no question over who Minnesota’s top goaltender is. Gustavsson has shined as a consistent performer, through both extended runs in the regular season and spot performances in the playoffs. He’s also square in the middle of his prime years, and could stand up to a starter’s year through the next four, five, or six seasons.

Gustavsson’s rise to the starter role, and standout performance last year, are both very comparable to 28-year-old Mackenzie Blackwood. Blackwood was dealt around the NHL over the last two seasons, but planted his feet with the Colorado Avalanche last season, stamped by a five-year, $26.25MM contract extension. That price tag – a yearly cap-hit of $5.25MM – could be the mark that Gustavsson shoots for on a new deal. He could even ease his way closer to $6MM, with the benefit of a career-long .913 Sv% sitting higher than Blackwood’s .906.

The Wild could prefer waiting to see how Wallstedt performs in his first full NHL season before they commit to Gustavsson long-term. But with a lofty 73-46-17 record and .914 Sv% in 142 total games with the Wild, it will take a monumental performance to bump Gustavsson out of his seat. Should he stick in it through the full season, a rich payday seems all but certain next summer.

Photo courtesy of Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports.

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