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Big Hype Prospects: Letourneau, Lindstrom, Surin, Pulkkinen

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Welcome to PHR’s Big Hype Prospects series. Like the MLB Trade Rumors series of the same name, we’re taking a look at the performances of top prospects from across the hockey world. We’ll look at drafted prospects who are rising, others who are struggling, and prospects for the upcoming draft who are notable.

Four Big Hype Prospects

Dean Letourneau, C, Boston Bruins (Boston College, NCAA)
14 GP 6G 8A 14pts

When the Bruins selected Letourneau with the 25th pick at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the pick was widely classified as a significant gamble. On one hand, Letourneau offered a rare combination of size and skill, a combination that’s even more rare – and coveted – in a natural center. Letourneau stands 6’7″, 220 pounds, and managed to score 152 points in 70 games for St. Andrew’s College, at the Canadian U18 prep school level. That’s impressive production, even if it didn’t come against the highest level of competition for a draft-eligible prospect.

But with those attractive qualities came some serious risks. David St-Louis, lead scout at Elite Prospects, called Letourneau “the ultimate development pick,” highlighting his positive traits as well as the long development road required to bring those positive qualities to the NHL. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman wrote that the Bruins’ pick of Letourneau was “a big swing,” and noted that his level of competition made it “hard to gauge” Letourneau’s hockey sense and compete level.

Those reactions to the Bruins’ pick are reflective of the risk most viewed as inherent in the Letourneau selection. Likely as a result of that risk, Letourneau was a divisive prospect in the public sphere. NHL Central Scouting ranked him No. 23 among North American skaters, and the public source highest on Letourneau appears to have been Pronman, who ranked him No. 28.

Other public-facing scouts were lower on Letourneau. He was ranked No. 69 by TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button, and Future Considerations, which has since shut down, ranked him No. 135. The Bruins ended up drafting Letourneau at a higher slot than he was ranked by any major public-facing scouting outlet, a clear show of faith by the organization both in Letourneau’s qualities as a player, and also the organization’s ability to properly oversee his development.

The early returns, unfortunately, were not positive for both the Bruins and Letourneau. San Jose Sharks prospect Will Smith’s departure from Boston College to sign an entry-level deal prompted Letourneau to start his NCAA career in the fall after he was drafted. Letourneau’s original plan was to spend the year in the USHL, but with Smith’s departure, he took the opportunity to begin his development in college.

Letourneau only scored three points across 36 games in his freshman season, and by the end of the year, Bruins management admitted to the media (including NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin) that Letourneau’s choice to bypass the USHL for the NCAA may not have been the best choice for his development.

But 14 games into Letourneau’s sophomore season, many of those concerns appear to be fading away. Letourneau now ranks second on the Eagles in scoring with 14 points in 14 games, behind only fellow Bruins prospect James Hagens. Elite Prospects scout Whittaker Heart noted in an October game report that Letourneau “had a noticeable jump in his skating” and now is “starting to look like an NHLer.”

If Letourneau can continue to build on his apparent developmental leap over the course of the full season, it appears his projection as a future NHL scoring center would be significantly strengthened. Letourneau’s development is crucial for the Bruins, who don’t currently have any young centers on their roster who project as long-term top-six fixtures.

Hagens, Letourneau’s teammate, most readily projects as the Bruins’ future No. 1 center, but if Letourneau can continue his steep developmental climb, he could very well end up slotting in behind Hagens at the professional level, the same way he’s slotted in at Chestnut Hill.

Cayden Lindstrom, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (Michigan State, NCAA)
9 GP 1G 1A 2pts

In their entire history as a franchise in the NHL, the Blue Jackets have lacked one key asset: a high-scoring true number-one center. They’ve had some quality centers, but most Blue Jackets pivots have been more of the high-end middle-six variety. So when the club spent the No. 4 overall pick at the 2024 draft on Lindstrom, the selection made sense: Columbus was looking to acquire a center who offered a rare blend of size, strength and high-end offensive ability.

Players who fit that mold to the extent Lindstrom did are typically contenders to be selected No. 1 overall. But clouding Lindstrom’s projection, significantly, was a lingering back injury. The Blue Jackets felt confident enough in Lindstrom’s health to draft him at such a high position, but their investment instantly hit a roadblock as Lindstrom’s back injury cost him most of the 2024-25 season. He ended up playing in only four games – four playoff contests during the playoff run of the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Lindstrom entered 2025-26 with a cleaner bill of health, and the hope was that he’d enter one of the top programs in college hockey (Michigan State), get to center some high-end talent (perhaps 2025 No. 7 pick Porter Martone) and put his lost 2024-25 campaign behind him. So far, that hasn’t happened. Not only has Lindstrom missed time due to injury, his production and role have fallen below expectations for someone of his draft slot. He missed five games due to injury before returning for the team’s Nov. 28 game against Colgate, and slotted in as the Spartans’ third-line center, behind 2025 second-rounder Eric Nilson and 2023 first-rounder Charlie Stramel on the depth chart.

While there isn’t one simple explanation as to why, Lindstrom’s start, in terms of production, has been below the expectation of someone selected at his draft slot. While 2024 No. 3 pick Beckett Sennecke and No. 5 pick Ivan Demidov are battling for the rookie scoring lead in the NHL, Lindstrom is still searching for his third NCAA point. Lindstrom scored a goal and an assist in an Oct. 18 victory over Boston University, but hasn’t found his way onto the scoresheet at any other point.

For comparison, Sascha Boisvert, who is another 2024-drafted NCAA center (No. 18 overall to Chicago) has scored nine points through nine games. Of course, it isn’t exactly a fair comparison. Boisvert gets to play a steadier diet of minutes and centers higher-scoring linemates. And perhaps most importantly, Boisvert didn’t have to spend most of the past calendar year recovering from a back injury.

But while Lindstrom has certainly had circumstances out of his control working against him, the bottom-line production, through nine games, simply hasn’t been where most would expect from such a talented offensive creator and a top draft pick.

That’s not to say, of course, that the Blue Jackets erred in selecting Lindstrom fourth overall. It’s still far too early to pass final judgement on the pick. If Lindstrom puts his injuries behind him and becomes a dynamic top-six center to pair with Adam Fantilli, the Blue Jackets will likely look back on the pick more than happy taking Lindstrom over the other available options. But he has to get there first, and so far, Lindstrom’s developmental road has been a bumpy one.

Yegor Surin, C, Nashville Predators (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL)
34 GP 13G 12A 25pts

Other than the Columbus Blue Jackets, another NHL franchise that has long been searching for a true play-driving number-one center is the Nashville Predators. Historically speaking, the Predators have been able to develop defensemen and goaltenders at an impressive rate, but generating quality scoring centers has been more of a challenge.

Looking towards the future, the Predators do have a few prospects who could end up breaking that trend and becoming homegrown top-six centers in Nashville. The big name in the Predators’ system is undoubtedly 2025 No. 5 overall pick Brady Martin, but a name that likely isn’t receiving as much attention as it deserves is Surin, Nashville’s 2024 first-round pick.

While there are some who were likely disappointed that the Montreal Canadiens selected USHL standout Michael Hage with the pick directly before Surin, all Surin has done since he was drafted was continue to develop his game and impress coaches and scouts alike. He spent most of his draft campaign in the MHL (Russia’s top junior league), but broke into the KHL as a full-time player in 2024-25, at the age of 18.

The KHL is notorious for being an extremely difficult league for young players, especially teenagers, to find a way to contribute in. But despite those historical headwinds, Surin was able to stick with Lokomotiv for all of 2024-25, scoring 14 points in 41 regular-season games. He added on seven points in 19 playoff games, helping his club win the Gagarin Cup championship.

Surin’s standout competitiveness allowed him to stick in the KHL, and entering the season, most public-facing scouts were confident in his projection as a future NHLer, although most classified him as a potential future middle-six center rather than a top-six talent. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman wrote in August that Surin “has the traits to be an NHL third-line center,” while Scott Wheeler, also of The Athletic, wrote in February that Surin will “be a top-nine forward someday.” Elite Prospects Russia scout Dylan Griffing succinctly classified where Surin was in his development, writing before the season that Surin needed to “round out his offensive game to grow beyond a checking-line projection.”

So far, through 34 KHL games in 2025-26, Surin’s offensive production has taken a major step forward: his points-per-game scoring rate is up from 0.34 to 0.74. Surin is one of just two teenage players in the KHL with double-digit points production, and ranks second in scoring among all KHL players aged 22 and under, behind only Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov, who is 21.

Put simply: Surin’s offensive step forward, if sustained over the course of this KHL season, has the potential to materially alter his NHL projection in a positive direction. Most public-facing scouts saw a future NHL middle-sixer when watching Surin in the KHL last season. Watching how impressive he’s been this season, it’s likely that many of those same scouts now see a potential future NHL top-six talent.

Surin’s breakout also has the potential to alter how Nashville plans for its future. With 2021 first-rounder Fedor Svechkov already in the NHL and Martin on the way, Surin’s development gives the Predators three young potential NHL pivots to build around.

Development is not linear, and it’s no guarantee any player of the trio ends up reaching their potential. But in what has been a disappointing 2025-26 season for Nashville so far, Surin’s breakout is a much-needed positive development and one that could pay serious dividends for the organization at some point down the line. Surin’s KHL contract runs through the 2026-27 season.

Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD, New York Islanders (Bridgeport Islanders, AHL)
9 GP 0G 1A 1pt

Pulkkinen, a Finnish blueliner, has quite a few traits that scouts covet in defensive prospects. He’s big (6’6″, 215 pounds), he has high-level professional experience (29 games in the Finnish Liiga in his draft year) and he’s shown flashes of real value on both ends of the ice. But despite being an overage player when the Islanders selected him in the second round (No. 54 overall) at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, he hasn’t yet looked like a real contender to make a push for an NHL call-up.

While his time in North America’s pro circuit has been relatively brief (comprised entirely of his late-season move to AHL Bridgeport at the end of 2024-25 and the start of 2025-26), his time on this side of the Atlantic has been a bit of a challenge.

On Oct. 30, Pulkkinen was reassigned to the Islanders’ ECHL affiliate, the Worcester Railers. That came after Pulkkinen played in just two games at the AHL level. Pulkkinen has been one of Bridgeport’s most sparingly deployed defensemen so far this season, with limited third-pairing usage and short-handed usage that ranks fifth among Bridgeport blueliners.

Given Pulkkinen’s experience in Finland, his draft pedigree, and his impressive set of traits, it’s somewhat surprising to see him struggle to earn the trust of his AHL coaches, and it was certainly surprising to see him sent down to the ECHL.

There have been some factors outside of his control that have complicated his development. He suffered a knee injury that cost him quite a bit of time, and also necessitated that he devote time he could have otherwise spent developing his game further on recovering from that injury. But while some things have been out of Pulkkinen’s control, the reality is he just hasn’t played up to the standard he set earlier in his career.

The Islanders have other promising defensive prospects in their system, so the organization is under no great pressure to fast-track Pulkkinen’s development. He was always seen as more of a long-term project, and his performances in North America only underline that fact. He’s still just 20 years old, and could have a bright future ahead. But as of right now, his start to his North American pro career has been an uphill battle.

Senators Looking To Add But Won’t Go “Big Game Hunting”

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The Ottawa Senators have been on a gradual climb since being taken over by owner Michael Andlauer and general manager Steve Staios. That ascension helped justify their acquisition of center Dylan Cozens and winger Fabian Zetterlund at the 2025 Trade Deadline. Those additions helped push the Senators to their first playoff appearance since 2017 – but the team’s rise isn’t over yet. Ottawa ranks second in the Atlantic Division through the early season and is now hoping to land a forward and defenseman on the trade market, per TSN’s Darren Dreger and Jamie Duthie in their intermission segment during Friday’s loss to the St. Louis Blues and captured by Julian McKenzie of The Athletic.

Dreger added that he doesn’t expect the Senators to be “big game hunters” and that top prospect Carter Yakemchuk would be off the table in trade negotiations. Yakemchuk is playing through his first professional season and currently has 14 points and a minus-11 in 20 games with the AHL’s Belleville Senators. He’s a hard-hitting, offensive-defenseman who seems well equipped to bring his flashy offense to Ottawa sooner rather than later.

If Yakemchuk is off the table, Ottawa is likely to exclude any of their top prospects in negotiations. That could include University of Wisconsin defender Logan Hensler who the team acquired after trading back in this year’s draft, and winger Stephen Halliday who scored his first NHL point last week. That could leave Ottawa in a bit of a bind. Their acquisition of Zetterlund revolved around a package of future assets, and the Senators sit in the top-half of oldest rosters in the NHL.

That could make draft capital their shiniest asset headed into the trade season. The Senators are without their first and second round picks in the 2026 draft, but have all of their top picks in the drafts beyond that. They also have Buffalo’s second-round pick in 2026, which could be valuable if the Sabres stay near the bottom of the league. A couple of high-value draft picks should be enough to land Ottawa a few difference-makers on the open market, especially if they’re willing to package them with a prospect like Blake Montgomery or Gabriel Eliasson.

Who Ottawa could go after will be a tough question. Calgary Flames assets Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson are both #1’s at their position, and likely represent that big game hunting Dreger mentioned. Instead, Ottawa could find a match pursuing St. Louis Blues veterans Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk. Or maybe they could benefit from the Nashville Predators continued struggles and acquire winger Jonathan Marchessault or Michael Bunting. Ottawa could even find a package deal from the San Jose Sharks, who are bound to be offering center Alexander Wennberg and defender Mario Ferraro on the open market.

The range of price could vary widely, and change significantly before the Trade Deadline in March. But there’s no doubt that Ottawa will be a welcome addition to a buyer’s market. There are plenty of former Stanley Cup champions and hopefuls available for trade, and landing one or two could go far in boosting Ottawa’s offense to Conference Final aspirations. The Senators are projected to have $13.68MM in cap space at the Trade Deadline and $22.57MM by next off-season, per PuckPedia. That should be more than enough room to squeeze one or two more players into the top of the Senators lineup. As proven last year, those mid-season additions could take Ottawa far.

Penguins Prospect Peyton Kettles To Undergo Surgery

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The Pittsburgh Penguins won’t get to watch one of their recent top picks for some time. The WHL’s Kelowna Rockets defenseman Peyton Kettles has sustained a shoulder injury that will require surgery, the junior team announced on Tuesday. Kettles is listed as out indefinitely, likely jeporadizing his chance to crack Team Canada’s lineup at the 2026 World Junior Championships.

Pittsburgh drafted Kettles in the second-round, marking what was yet another controversial pick from general manager Kyle Dubas and his team at the 2025 NHL Draft. To some, Kettles’ long reach and shutdown defense stood out like gold among a draft class lacking projectable fundamentals. But to others, his lack of jump or offensive upside seemed to hold him back.

Kettles has worked to alleviate those latter concerns through the early season. He recorded two points and seven penalty minutes – one minor penalty and one fight – in two games with the Swift Current Broncos to start the season. Then, he was traded to Kelowna in a truly massive deal that sent defenseman Jackson Gillespie, one first-round pick, two second-round picks, and two fourth-round picks back to Swift Current. Just over two weeks after that deal, Kettles will now land on the sideline.

This is an unfortunate blow for a defender who was not only on the rise, but truly working to silence his doubters. He is still a projectable pro talent, playing wtih a strong stick and patient fundamentals that mirros many current Penguins defensemen, like Jack St. Ivany and Ryan Shea. Surgery is far from the most ideal outcome, but it will hopefully help Pittsburgh ensure that the reigning 39th-overall pick is able to work back to full health with no complications.

Kettles was on pace for 33 points, 165 penalty minutes, and a plus-22 through 55 games this season prior to his injury, per EliteProspects. He’ll hope to continue marching towards that lofty statline before the Spring, though more about his true timeline will likely be revealed in the weeks to come.

NHL Seeking Agreement To Allow 19-Year-Olds Into AHL

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It appears a rumor from the preseason could soon come true. The NHL is seeking an agreement with the CHL that would allow teams to assign one 19-year-old to the AHL each season, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the latest Saturday Headlines. Friedman added that some general managers are seeking even more flexibility, and that negotiations will pull in voices from the NHLPA in addition to each league. A change to the format could be made as soon as next season.

This would represent yet another significant change in what Friedman dubbed “the Wild West of junior hockey in North America”. NHL draft picks make up the majority of top-end players throughout the CHL. They help drive attendance and sales, and losing even a few could be enough to bring noticeable change. At the same time, deciding where to assign CHL prospects who appear to have outgrown their junior league can often be an all-or-nothing choice.

The Calgary Flames are currently in a pickle with defense prospect Zayne Parekh, who sustained a week-to-week injury and could earn a brief AHL conditioning stint, but who could also benefit from prolonged AHL ice time after not yet finding his NHL footing. Parekh is currently ineligible for the AHL, facing the decision of whether to return to the OHL or continue fighting for NHL minutes, as the offensive defenseman recovers from injury.

The Nashville Predators faced a similar decision with reigning fifth-overall pick Brady Martin earlier in the year. Martin showed flashes of dominant play through the first three games of his NHL career. At his peak, he was playing alongside Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg, but the Predators opted to return him early after he scored only one assist. Martin has torn up the OHL since returning, netting 11 points in seven games with the Soo Greyhounds. It’s still early in the season, but Martin is on pace to rival the 100-point mark this season, after posting 72 points in 57 games last year.

In the cases of both Parekh and Martin, as well as numerous other NHL prospects, such as Seattle’s Jake O’Brien and St. Louis’ Justin Carbonneau, the AHL would seem to offer a smooth ramp into the systems and physicality of professional hockey. Instead of pursuing AHL eligibility, many teams have turned their attention to developing their prospects for the NCAA, where they face a significant jump in competition and play against players up to the age of 26. That bridge has led to the unprecedented decision to allow CHL players into the NCAA, which has built up pressure that offering a path to the AHL could relieve.

Finding a balance between player value in the CHL, NCAA, and AHL is the task the NHL and its general managers face. They will drive decision-making throughout the process, while also ensuring that each party is satisfied with their share. On the other side of those decisions lies a junior hockey landscape that is likely completely different from what the hockey world has come to know. With more precise, more incremental steps to the top flight laid out, the NHL’s relationship with its partner leagues could even become reminiscent of the MLB.

More information about the topic of 19-year-olds in the AHL is expected to be announced in March, following the next major meeting between the NHL, NHLPA, and general managers.

Flames’ Prospect Henry Mews Suffers Season-Ending Injury

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Calgary Flames prospect and University of Michigan defenseman Henry Mews will miss the rest of the season with a lower-body injury, per Matthew Auchincloss of The Michigan Daily. Mews was on the receiving end of a knee-to-knee hit delivered by University of Notre Dame forward Sutter Muzzatti on Saturday. The hit came in the first period, behind Michigan’s net. Mews was on the ice for a moment after but did get to the bench and down the tunnel under his own power.

Mews is among the Flames’ top prospects. To many, he’s already outgrown his third-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, after being highly acclaimed for much of the prior year. He’s a high-motor, offensive-defenseman who excels at pushing the puck down the ice and creating plays on the blue-line. That talent earned Mews 82 points in 68 OHL games last season, second-most of any OHL defender behind ’Defenseman of the Year’ Sam Dickinson.

That standing made Mews one of the top CHL talents to commit to the NCAA following the rule change this summer. He was expected to be an instant impact on Michigan’s blue-line, and lived up to the hype early on. Mews had nine assists and a plus-five through nine games before going down with injury, including four points in four games against tough opponents Notre Dame and Western Michigan University. His aggressive offensive immediately clicked with Michigan’s downhill style, and Mews looked noticeably stronger and more confident defensively than last season.

He was riding a four-game point-streak entering Saturday’s matchup. His promising start makes a painful, and long-term, injury all the tougher to bear. Now, it will stick as the silver lining to a missed year, and fuel confidence in Mews’ ability to take on a top-pair role in his sophomore season. The Wolverines – who are carrying an unusual 11 defensemen on their roster – will most likely turn towards Anaheim Ducks prospect Drew Schock, and undrafted defenders Matthew Mania and Hunter Hady, to step up in Mews’ absence.

Islanders Recall Calum Ritchie, Assign Marshall Warren

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The New York Islanders have swapped promising prospects on the NHL roster. Top center prospect Calum Ritchie has been officially recalled, while defenseman Marshall Warren has been loaned back to the AHL. Ritchie was expected to make his Islanders debut in place of healthy scratch Mathew Barzal on Thursday, but had his travel impeded by weather conditions.

News of Ritchie’s recall will put the Islanders in an interesting position. The rookie had a clear path to an NHL role with Barzal out of the lineup for disciplinary reasons. But New York head coach Patrick Roy is very unlikely to keep his lineup star, and second-highest scorer, out of the lineup for consecutive games. With Barzal back in, the Islanders will need to scratch another forward to make room for Ritchie. Fourth-line centerman Kyle MacLean seems like the most reasonable option to step out, after posting no scoring, 19 penalty minutes, and a minus-five in six games this season. New York could also try to use this as a chance to spur underperforming scorers like Maxim Tsyplakov (one point in eight games) or Anthony Duclair (three points in 10 games).

No matter who they scratch, it’s hard to argue that Ritchie doesn’t deserve a hardy NHL look. He has scored in all three games he’s played with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders this season. That productivity continued even through a day-to-day injury that knocked Ritchie out of the lineup last week. He’s proven to be clearly capable in his first full pro season. Ritchie broke camp with the Colorado Avalanche at the start of the 2024-25 season, and scored one goal in his first seven NHL games before being reassigned to the OHL. His first game with the Islanders will be the two-way centerman’s next chance to prove he can stick in the NHL.

Meanwhile, Warren will head back to the minor-leagues after an exciting start to his pro career. He recorded two assists in his NHL debut last Saturday, and followed it up with a stout, bottom-pair performance on Tuesday. Warren leads Bridgeport in scoring even after a week with the NHL club, with five poitns through four games this season. He’s made confident impacts on both blue-lines this season, using a strong stick and decisive playmaking to take advantage of chances many other depth defenders would miss. Warren scored 17 points in 53 games of his AHL rookie season last year. That makes his jump this year a bit of a surprise, though certainly a welcome one amid an Islanders blue-line that’s struggled to score. A move back to the AHL will give Warren a chance to show he can hold onto his hot scoring beyond a couple of weeks. Should he remain on top of Bridgeport’s scoring, it’d be hard to imagine Warren staying in the minor leagues for long.

Flames Assign Matvei Gridin, Activate Jonathan Huberdeau

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The Calgary Flames have assigned winger Matvei Gridin to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers to make room to activate Jonathan Huberdeau off of injured reserve. Huberdeau has been sidelined since sustaining an undisclosed injury in a preseason matchup against the Vancouver Canucks on October 1st. He missed the first seven games of Calgary’s season.

Gridin played in the first four games of his NHL career to start the season, but found his way to the press box after posting one goal and a minus-three. He is among Calgary’s top prospects, and is set to become one of just six 19-year-olds in the AHL. A taste of NHL minutes, and continued pro challenge in the minors, could be exactly what Gridin needs to grow his game.

He looked fast and flashy in the QMJHL last year, posting 96 points in 72 games over the course of the Shawinigan Cataractes’ full season. That performance earned him the QMJHL’s ’Rookie of the Year’ award. The 2024 first-round pick spent two seasons in the USHL prior to his draft. He scored 99 points in 108 total games in the league. That includes a league-leading 83-point season in 2023-24, the second-highest scoring season in Muskegon Lumberjacks history.

While Gridin develops in the minors, Huberdeau will look to keep up his momentum from last season. He scored 16 points in 18 games to finish the 2024-25 season, pushing him to 28 goals and 62 points in 81 games on the year. It was Huberdeau’s highest-scoring season since he posted 115 points with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22. His dip in scoring with the Flames has shadowed his last three seasons, but he showed a click next to Morgan Frost and Matthew Coronato that could propel the Flames’ offense this season. Coronato currently leads Calgary in scoring, with three points in five games. Frost has two points.

Evening Notes: Markstrom, Willander, Mancini, NHL Top 10

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The New Jersey Devils could be the next team to extend their starting goaltender. On the heels of a five-year, $34MM contract extension for Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, the Devils are now working out a new deal for Jacob Markstrom, per The Fourth Period. Markstrom is entering the final year of a six-year, $36MM contract originally signed with the Calgary Flames in 2020.

Markstrom earned a second-place finish in Vezina Trophy voting on the second year of his last contract, after posting 37 wins and a .922 save percentage in 63 games of the Flames’ 2021-22 season. He fell drastically in 2022, landing at a .895 save percentage in 59 games with Calgary, and only rebounded to a .905 in 48 games of 2023-24. That prompted a summer trade to greener pastures, landing Markstrom with a playoff contender in the New Jersey Devils. He posted a middling .900 save percentage in 49 games of his first season with the Devils. That’s far from the .910 mark that Markstrom routinely challenged at his peak, but on a well-rounded Devils squad, average numbers from the aging veteran have proven supportive enough. He is sure to take a big hit on both term and salary in his next contract, which could take him through the rest of his career.

Other notes from across the league:

  • The Vancouver Canucks made a pair of important decisions earlier today. They have assigned top defense prospects Tom Willander and Victor Mancini to the minor-leagues, after both clung to the camp roster to nearly the final day. Mancini played his first full season in the pros last year. It was certainly eventful, spread between NHL and AHL ice time with the New York Rangers and Canucks, and ending with a Calder Cup win with the Abbotsford Canucks. In total, he recorded eight points in 31 NHL games and 21 points in 54 AHL games on the season. Meanwhile, Tom Willander was a core piece of the National Championship runner-up, the Boston University Terriers. He posted 24 points in 39 games with the club – one point fewer, in one game more, than he managed in his freshman season. Willander is nonetheless a pillar of consistency on both ends of the ice, and will look to prove that soon with his pro debut in Abbotsford.
  • The NHL has announced their top-10 players, wrapping up their Top 50 Players series just two days before Opening Night. The list is, of course, headlined by Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. His teammate, Leon Draisaitl, holds the third spot, while Colorado Avalanche superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar hold #2 and #4 respectively. The rest of the list includes, in turn: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Jets goalie and reigning MVP Connor Hellebuyck, Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Canucks defender Quinn Hughes. It’s hard to argue any other names should be featured on the list, though Panthers fans may feel salt in the wound seeing their captain, and perennial Selke Trophy candidate, landing in the top-10 on the heels of a season-ending injury.

Transaction Notes: Oilers, Ducks, Senators

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As the preseason winds down and rosters take form, several teams have recalled players, having already cleared waivers, who are set to fill out NHL rosters before (most likely) being reassigned to their respective AHL clubs. 

The Edmonton Oilers announced today that they recalled forwards Viljami Marjala, James Hamblin, and Connor Clattenburg from AHL Bakersfield in advance of tonight’s preseason tilt in Seattle. 

Hamblin, an undrafted Edmonton native, proudly has 41 games under his belt for the Oil, but is expected to return to Bakersfield and continue to lead the Condors, in his sixth season with the team. 

Other transactional notes from today:

Although none of the players are expected to remain with their NHL clubs by season’s start, it stands a chance for them to make an impression, and for fans to get to see some former notable prospects skate at the highest level.

Red Wings’ Nate Danielson Out Indefinitely Among Injury Updates

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The race for an NHL roster spot has been cut short for one of the Detroit Red Wings’ top prospects. Centerman Nate Danielson sustained an injury during the team’s Saturday preseason loss to the Buffalo Sabres, head coach Todd McLellan relayed to Ansar Khan of Michigan Live. No specifics were provided on Danielson’s injury or timeline to return. McLellan also shared that defenseman Simon Edvinsson will continue to sit out of the next two preseason games, but is expected to be at full health for opening night. Edvinsson has missed the majority of training camp with a lower-body injury.

This news will come as a major blow for Danielson, who was making the Red Wings’ decisions tougher with his camp performances. He had averaged just over 11 minutes of ice time through three preseason games and was one of only seven Red Wings to score a goal. Now, the 2023 ninth-overall selection will be sidelined in a move that’s sure to default him to the AHL when he’s back to full health. Danielson played through his first professional season with the Grand Rapids Griffins last season. He emerged as one of the club’s top three centers by the end of the year, and notched a commendable 12 goals and 39 points in 71 games. Danielson was highly regarded through a four-year career in the WHL, where his shifty playmaking earned him 217 points in 199 career games. He’s expected to be main pillar in Detroit’s new era, but will need to overcome this new injury before he can solidify that standing with a strong sophomore season.

The Red Wings’ lineup will get some relief with positive news on Edvinsson’s recovery. He was a core piece of Detroit’s blue-line last season, averaging over 21 minutes of ice time through 78 games in his first full NHL season. Edvinsson made good work of the minutes, notching 31 points – second-most among Red Wings’ defenders behind Moritz Seider’s 46 points. He’ll be in line for a premier role again this season, and could close the gap in scoring with Seider, assuming Edvinsson remains in line to take the ice on opening night.

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