Browsing: Goaltending

The Ottawa Senators currently sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with a 13-11-4 record, but theyâ€re only three points behind the third-place Montreal Canadiens, and four points behind the second-place Boston Bruins.

In addition, Ottawa has two games in hand on Boston. So itâ€s rather remarkable the Senators remain a strong team in the playoff hunt while their goaltending is not getting the job done.

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In their past four losses, Ottawa has given up 16 goals and been outscored 16-7. Their 3.29 goals-against average this season speaks to their struggles in their own zone as a team.

But if the Sens want to take a competitive step forward and contend for home-ice advantage, theyâ€re going to have to tighten things up defensively, specifically in the crease.

For instance, starter Linus Ullmark has posted an .877 save percentage and 3.00 GAA in 21 starts this season. Heâ€s been better of late, with an SP of .900 or higher in his last couple of games.

However, Ullmarkâ€s career averages of a .915 SP and a 2.58 GAA suggest the 32-year-old is going to put it all together and atone for his subpar start to the season. But Ullmark can’t do it all himself, and thatâ€s where his understudy – backup Leevi Merilainen – comes in.

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In seven appearances this year, Merilainen has an .876 SP and a 3.36 GAA. The 23-year-old still has only 21 games of NHL experience under his belt, but thereâ€s no sense the Sens have given up on him.

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Who Can Be The Senators’ Trade Partner As They Look To Take A Big Swing? As the Ottawa Senators look to make a big swing in the trade market this season, what other team in the NHL can be a trade partner?

That said, Merilainen has to give Ottawa coach Travis Green a reason to challenge Ullmark for playing time. That means being more consistent, and given that heâ€s lost his past three games, Merilainen has to show he can work his way out of adversity.

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Aside from the goaltending, thereâ€s plenty to like about the Sens as a team. Sure, the team has to be better in front of Ullmark and Merilainen, and the blame for Ottawaâ€s so-so start shouldn’t fall on their netminders alone.

Prospect Check-In: A Glance At The Ottawa Senators Goaltending Pipeline

Prospect Check-In: A Glance At The Ottawa Senators Goaltending Pipeline Ottawa’s future goalies are battling across various leagues. See how these five prospects are shaping up early this season.

But the truth is, if the Senators’ tandem can find a bit more consistency and challenge each other, there’s an opportunity for Ottawa to not only be a playoff team again, but possibly a club that can claim home-ice advantage for the post-season.

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If the Sens are to get to the next level, theyâ€re going to need their goalies to be better than theyâ€ve been thus far this season.

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Goaltender Laurent Brossoit appears to be nearing a return from a lengthy injury that he suffered in the 2023-24 playoffs.

He suffered a knee injury, forcing him to miss the remainder of those playoffs, and he missed the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign.

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Sportsnetâ€s Elliotte Friedman reported that Brossoit isnâ€t far out from a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks†farm team.

With this situation, the Blackhawks already carry Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom on the roster between the pipes. In addition, Brossoitâ€s $3.3-million cap hit is a lot to carry for a netminder who hasnâ€t played in well over a year.

Therefore, on “Saturday Headlines,†Friedman reported that Chicago has given other teams permission to speak with the 32-year-old about a potential trade. This transparency also allows other clubs to understand the goaltenderâ€s situation.

“The Blackhawks have given teams permission to talk to him,†Friedman reported on Saturday. “So you can understand what his situation is, what his exact surgery was, what the process is back.â€

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With this report, all signs point to a potential trade for Brossoit. However, his cap hit would remain an obstacle.

“Not everybody can take that,†he said. “There might be some work that needs to be done here.â€

On Fridayâ€s edition of 32 Thoughts, the podcast, Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas made connections with the Edmonton Oilers, a team that has struggled to find consistency and good performances in the crease.

Laurent Brossoit (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Brossoit has ties to Edmonton, playing parts of four seasons with the organization between 2014 and 2018. He also featured in five seasons for the WHLâ€s Edmonton Oil Kings, winning a WHL championship in 2011-12.

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In his NHL career, he was a regular backup goaltender before his injury.

During his last season with the Winnipeg Jets, he played 23 games, putting up a 15-5-2 record, along with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Heâ€s had multiple impressive seasons like that 2023-24 regular season, including stints with the Vegas Golden Knights, and another with the Jets, that turned out to be his best season statistically.

He was a part of Vegas†Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022-23. He made 11 regular-season appearances, registering a 7-0-2 record with a 2.17 GAA and a .927 SP.

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In those playoffs, he made eight starts, winning five games for the Golden Knights. He posted a 3.18 GAA and an .894 SP.

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MONTREAL — Samuel Montembeault slid right by his post and watched as the shot flew past him and into the far side of his wide-open net.

It didnâ€t come from Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer in history, who had already beaten him with the first shot of the night for the 905th tally of his career.

No, no, the shot came from fourth-line winger Ethen Frank, who came into Thursdayâ€s game with all of four NHL goals to his name.

Frank then suddenly had six after beating Montembeault clean just 1:38 after shooting the puck right through him to give the Washington Capitals a 3-1 lead.

The No. 1 goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens then surrendered his net after literally surrendering his net.

Montembeault had stopped just seven of 10 shots — some of them seemingly by pure fluke — before being replaced by Jakub Dobes, who also found himself sliding out of his crease on the second goal to get by him over the next 10 shots Washington registered in the game.

Neither is .750 in big, block letters — a combined save percentage that not even the high-flying 1976-77 Canadiens wouldâ€ve been able to overcome in this game.

There are problems, and then there are problems, and this one is a severe problem: The only thing more damaging to a hockey team than having a goaltender who canâ€t stop the puck is having two goaltenders who canâ€t stop the puck.

But thatâ€s what the Canadiens have right now — at a time when they need the complete opposite, while theyâ€re immersed in the longest slump of their season, which extended to five games with Thursdayâ€s 8-4 loss to the Capitals.

Of course, the scoreline, which inflated thanks to two more goals Ovechkin scored for a hat trick, was indicative of more than just goaltending malaise.

At least thatâ€s what Mike Matheson, Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki acknowledged before coach Martin St. Louis talked about how disappointed he was to see the Canadiens resemble the team that lost 6-3 to the Capitals a little less than 13 months ago.

On that night (Halloween of 2024), the Canadiens were a horror show, leaving St. Louis so disgusted that he kept repeating they had puked all over themselves.

On this one, the coach spit out a list of things heâ€d have liked to have seen his team do better to help its goaltenders out.

“Put the puck deep, have less turnovers, defend better, get the puck out when youâ€re near the blue line, take less penalties, block shots, tie up sticks in front of the net,†he said, and though we believed him to be completely earnest and genuine, itâ€s not like he was about put his hand on the gear shifter of the tractor that ran over Montembeault and Dobes and flip it straight into reverse.

“Can our goaltenders play better? Yes,†St. Louis said. “Theyâ€re the first who will tell you that. You want me to say I want more saves? We all want more saves. For sure the goaltenders can play better, but Iâ€m not going to blame everything on the goaltenders.â€

Neither would a post-game sword swallowing competition for Montembeault and Dobes, hence the Canadiens†public relations team wisely sparing them from meeting the media.

Montembeault hasnâ€t found solid ground since the season started, and heâ€s owned it. Dobes has lost his balance from the high peak he stood on after winning his first six games, and he has been accountable. Both goaltenders appear to be in free fall, and talking about it publicly wasnâ€t going to help them reach the latches to their parachutes.

Their teammates know how badly they want to stand tall and make the difference, and they sympathize.

“Thereâ€s only certain positions in sports that are kind of, individually, you can put a lot of blame on yourself,†said Gallagher, who scored his first goal of the season Thursday.

“Itâ€s a really tough position,†Gallagher added. “I canâ€t even relate to it. We have help, (the goaltender) is kind of the last line (of defence).â€

His job is considerably more challenging when the details in front of the net fall off as much as they did against the Capitals.

They were sharp for the Canadiens in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, to the point that St. Louis said he felt his team was ready to “flip it and get going†against Washington.

But the Canadiens failed to do that at the start of Thursdayâ€s game, and Montembeault left them chasing it after getting chased in the fourth minute of the second period.

Most of the “immature play†that followed was a direct result of that.

The Canadiens will address it, but hockeyâ€s a game of mistakes, and you need your goaltender(s) to erase them from time to time.

With neither Montembeault nor Dobes doing that right now, the Canadiens must consider an alternative.

Perhaps thereâ€s one outside the organization.

Within it, Kaapo Kahkonen is 4-2-0 with a .919 save percentage for the Laval Rocket this season, and he has 140 games of NHL experience.

The 29-year-old Finn is probably a better option than 20-year-old Jacob Fowler at this juncture, even if Fowler is 6-4-0, with a .921 save percentage in Laval.

The risk of potentially denting Fowlerâ€s confidence at this critical point of his development probably outweighs the upside of him temporarily playing well.

But the Canadiens need someone to play well at the position right now.

Had either Montembeault or Dobes not played terribly Thursday, we wouldnâ€t have been hearing about immature plays and setbacks to October of 2024.

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Friday’s NBA Cup game between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers came down to the wire — twice. And the league had the chance to use a new-ish tool to determine if the game would keep going.

With the game tied at 123 in overtime, Clippers guard James Harden shot a floater with seconds left, but it was blocked by Daniel Gafford. Referees initially ruled the block as a goaltend, briefly awarding L.A. what would have been the game-winning two points.

The NBA then used its automated officiating to determine where the ball was in its arc. The league made automated officiating more widespread this season as a way to improve the accuracy of on-court calls.

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After NBA’s Court iQ analyzed the shot, it determined Harden’s floater hadn’t yet reached the peak of its arc when Gafford smacked it, making it a block and not a goaltend. The result sent the game to double-overtime.

The Clippers went on to win 133-127 in double OT, so the call probably didn’t change the end result. But it demonstrates the early stages of the arrival of automated officiating in the NBA — and in other pro sports as well, with robot umpires set to join MLB next season.

Harden finished with a triple-double, totaling 41 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Veteran Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanović pitched in 21 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers.

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D’Angelo Russell, who hit the game-tying layup in the final minutes of regulation, had 28 points off the bench for Dallas, while forward Naji Marshall had 28 points and eight rebounds as the Mavericks fell just short at home.

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Donâ€t look now, but after going 0-2-1 to start the season, the Chicago Blackhawks have gone 7-3-2 in their past dozen games, including a 4-0 blanking of the Calgary Flames Friday night.

If the Stanley Cup playoffs began today, the Blackhawks would be a playoff team as they currently sit in the second wild card spot. Thatâ€s obviously a stretch, but as we approach the 20 percent point of the season, itâ€s impressive that the Hawks are where they are in the standings.

But the strange thing about the Hawks isnâ€t that Connor Bedard is phenomenal. No, the odd thing is that Chicagoâ€s defense has undergone a drastic improvement. To wit: last season, the Blackhawks had the NHLâ€s second-worst defense, averaging 3.56 goals-against per game. This year, Chicago is averaging just 2.60 goals-against, the fourth-best number in the entire league. If it seems like that is an unsustainable pace for Chicago on ‘Dâ€, thatâ€s because it probably is.

Still, many of the Blackhawks†ducks are starting to fall in a row. For instance, goalie Spencer Knight was the key reason why Chicago shut out the Flames, turning aside all 33 shots he faced Friday for his first shutout of the season and the sixth of his four-year NHL career.

In six of his past nine games, the 24-year-old Knight has posted a save percentage of .938 or higher, and his overall SP of .926 and his goals-against average of 2.33 this season are outstanding. The Blackhawks indeed gave up star defenseman Seth Jones in the trade that brought Knight to Chicago, but you have to believe Hawks GM Kyle Davidson is extremely satisfied that the trade has improved his team.

The way things are playing out, Chicago is looking like theyâ€re going to be far more competitive this season. If Bedard continues evolving into the icon many thought he would be, and if Knight continues standing on his head, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Hawks could be on the fringes of the playoff conversation by the end of the season.

To be fair and realistic, the Blackhawks are likely to experience some regression in the weeks and months immediately ahead. But with every game they play so far this year, they appear to be turning the page on a competitive downswing era and returning to being a legitimate Cup contender.

Chicago has suffered through some terrible performances in recent years, and there are still lessons to learn as a group as they continue to establish a new team identity, but at long last, the Hawks appear ready and able to take that next competitive step. Davidson has put many of the pieces in place in the Windy City, and now itâ€s on the players and coach Jeff Blashill to execute and reward Blackhawks fans for sticking with them through the lean years.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have a goaltending issue, and they can no longer hide from it.

Anthony Stolarz — he of the juicy new contract extension and leagueâ€s best save percentage in 2024-25 — was pulled against the Boston Bruins Saturday night for the first time in his Leafs tenure due to poor performance.

Craig Berube has shown patience when it comes to his men in pads, and yanking a starter in the first half of a back-to-back is a rarity in the modern NHL.

So, it wasnâ€t just notable, it was a message when the head coach called Stolarz to the bench after he allowed two goals on the first two shots and four on the first 19 in a 5-3 home loss to a bitter rival.

“We all got to be better, including the goalie,†Berube said postgame, responding to a question that was not about the goalie. “For me, we caused all them goals ourselves.

“Itâ€s frustrating. It is.â€

The coaching staff is frustrated, watching 2024-25â€s fourth-best save percentage team shrink to the bottom five. So stingy last season, Toronto now ranks 30th in goals allowed per game (3.7).

Management is frustrated, trying and giving up on depth options James Reimer and Cayden Primeau while patiently supporting Joseph Woll during his absence.

And Stolarz must be frustrated after seeing his record even out at 6-5-1 and watching his sparkling 2024-25 .926 save percentage tumble to .889.

“I got to bear down, make a save. I mean, giving up the first two shots? Not a good way to start the game,†said Stolarz, owning the rough moment. “When you give a team like that a couple freebies, itâ€s gonna be a tough hill to climb back from.â€

After getting beat by David Pastrnak — who absolutely posterized defenceman Simon Benoit en route to Stolarzâ€s crease — Stolarz apologized to recently recalled backup Dennis Hildeby for the surprise action.

“He was awesome. I mean, I put him in a s— situation,†Stolarz said. “But he came in and handled it like a true pro and played well.â€

Hildeby gave the Leafs a chance, but also let former teammate Fraser Minten snipe one past him for the insurance.

“Nerve-wracking to begin with. I had to battle with my breathing there and all that. But once I got into it, I had a lot of fun,†Hildeby said.

He could be in for some more fun in less than 24 hours, as the Leafs host contender Carolina.

Berube said he didnâ€t know Sundayâ€s starter yet.

Regardless, Toronto will now be leaning on a tired netminder. And, likely, one that will be tested due to the clubâ€s penchant for neutral-zone turnovers and troublesome D-zone coverage.

John Tavares believes all these mistakes are “self-inflicted.â€

Pick your punching bag.

The goalies are bailing them out enough; the skaters arenâ€t defending an overworked Stolarz enough.

“I don’t feel weâ€re as tight defensively as we were last year. I do feel that. I think there’s good stretches of it. Not enough,†Berube said. “(Mintenâ€s) goal is just a turnover. I mean, I don’t know what you want the goalie to do on that play?â€

Toronto designed its crease to be shared, and the 1A/1B plan served the Leafs well last winter. Berube believes Stolarzâ€s lopsided workload has contributed to his inconsistency. That fatigue has set in.

The eye test would concur.

Stolarz himself denies it. He says he trained hard all summer, aiming for a career-high in games played and feels strong physically.

Yes, with both the timeline and quality of Wollâ€s return still uncertain, and the Olympics-affected schedule relentless, the Maple Leafs have a goalie issue.

But to his credit, Stolarz isn’t ducking the problem.

“As the goalie, youâ€re the last line of defence, and your job is to step up and make a save. I didnâ€t do that tonight,†Stolarz said. He vowed to regroup and respond.

“Itâ€s obviously not up to par. I mean, it seems like every night I’m giving up one or two you want back. But for me, itâ€s just life of a goalie. You have to put it behind you and just focus on the next game.â€

Which may or may not be Sunday.

• Good on Bobby McMann (6-foot-2, 217 pounds) sticking up for teammate Scott Laughton, who got absolutely trucked by Nikita Zadorov (6-foot-7, 255 pounds) coming down the wall.

Poor Laughton left the game — just his second since getting off IR with a foot injury — and suffered an upper-body injury. He wonâ€t play Sunday, as the severity of his injury is unknown.

“I thought it was a head shot,†Berube said. “I mean, I got to take a closer look at it, but I will.â€

McMann said he “didnâ€t love the hit†and that throwing down with a bigger foe is just part of the game.

“Sucks because you hate that side of the game,†McMann said of Laughton. “I hope heâ€s back soon.â€

•Considering the sickening scene one week ago today — when Chris Tanev got stretchered off the ice in Philadelphia and spent one night in hospital due to a head/neck injury — it was surprising to see the defenceman back on the ice Saturday morning.

Just a solo twirl and no timeline for return, but an encouraging development.

“Every time Iâ€ve talked to him since, heâ€s seemed just like himself,†Carlo said. “Thatâ€s what you like to see. Heâ€s got bright eyes and a bushy tail in the morning.â€

Tanevâ€s injury flashed Laughton back to when he got stretchered off in 2016 following a hard crash into the boards. Because Laughton didnâ€t dress in Philly last Saturday, he made sure to spend time with his teammate before Tanev was taken to the hospital.

“Give him a little bit of support. But itâ€s scary,†Laughton recalled. “Itâ€s not a fun feeling when youâ€re off like that. So, I hope itâ€s a speedy recovery. Heâ€s an amazing, amazing guy — and a guy you want to go to battle for and battle with every night.â€

Torontoâ€s D-zone play against Boston was screaming for a Tanev type.

• Bostonâ€s Morgan Geekie has already piled 11 goals and is tied for second place in the Rocket race, behind Cole Caufield, with Sidney Crosby and Cutter Gauthier.

Last season, Geekie didnâ€t pot his 11th until Jan. 18.

•Cayden Primeau, we hardly knew you.

The depth goaltenderâ€s tenure in Toronto ended Saturday, when he was claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes (a team Dad Keith once captained) and sent to AHL Chicago. The 26-year-old leaves the Maple Leafs with a winning record (2-1) and an .838 save percentage.

Enter prospect Hildeby, who is 2-2-1 with an .890 save percentage for the Marlies this year.

Heâ€ll help hold the fort until Woll feels ready for NHL action.

Woll was removed in his first conditioning start with the Marlies after 36 minutes of work against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. That was planned. He stopped 21 of 24 shots (.875) and took a 3-2 loss.

•With Casey Mittlestadt going down to injury, call-up Alex Steeves made his Bruins debut in familiar territory.Â

Concerned about flight cancellations, the Bruins hired a car service to drive Steeves to Toronto from Cleveland, where the AHL Providence Bruins are playing this weekend. Mustâ€ve been pricey.

“Iâ€m not paying for it,†Steeves chuckled.

Steeves spent the past four seasons with the Marlies but popped up for 16 Leafs games, scored a goal in the show, and realized his NHL dream in this barn.

“Some of the best years of my life, honestly,†the 25-year-old said. “I still text with some of my buddies, mainly from the Marlies, every day. I never expected to get so close with guys.

“Four years on one team is a long time at this level, and really made some unbelievable friends and teammates, staff members. I love this city. Good food, good people, and all that stuff. I absolutely loved being a Marlie and loved being a Leaf, and itâ€s good to be back. It feels weird going back to the hotel and not my apartment right now.â€

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On Friday night, the Utica Comets will host the Cleveland Monsters at Adirondack Bank Center, kicking off the 2025-26 season.

With plenty of notable New Jersey Devils prospects on their roster, including Shane Lachance, Lenni Hämeenaho, Ethan Edwards, and Jakub Malek, it is an exciting time for the Devils organization.

On paper, there should be a noticeable improvement of an on-ice product that has been dwindling over the past couple of seasons.

“We have been in Utica for four full seasons,” Utica Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon told The Hockey News. “Our first season, which seems like a lifetime ago, we had a great roster. I think we counted up to eight of those players who went on to what we call legit NHL careers, whether with the Devils or elsewhere.

“We won the North Division that year,” he continued. “Then, it has been a steady, I will use the word decline, since then.”

In an exclusive interview, MacKinnon spoke on a variety of topics, from the development of Lachance and Hämeenaho to clarity on their goaltending tandem.

Let’s get into it.

MacKinnon On Comets’ Blended Roster

“To be competitive, the recipe you need is a good group of young prospects, sort of pushing up with their play, demanding more ice time and bigger roles,” he said. “You also need, just as critically, a solid group of what we call impact-type AHL veteran players who do two things: stabilize the group, and help drive the competitive success. If they are doing their job well enough, they make themselves available for plug-and-play call-up games with the big roster.

“I feel like since year one, we have the best blend of those two groups of players in Utica,” he continued. “The young guys, bona fide prospects, and really good older guys who are pushing for NHL games themselves.”

The Comets will start the season with eight players with more than 200 games of AHL experience to balance the youngsters of Mikael Diotte, Edwards, and Matyas Melovsky.

MacKinnon On The Right Type of Veterans In Utica

Captain Ryan Schmelzer will continue to lead the Comets along with defenseman Colton White, who served as an alternate captain in 2024-25.

White is in his second stint with the Devils and, at 28 years old, has taken on a bigger role in the Comets’ locker room, earning praise from younger players like Seamus Casey.

“What a great example of the right type of person and player,” MacKinnon said. “We have a long history with Colton, and when (his contract with the Anaheim Ducks expired) he reached back out to us, expressing interest in signing with our organization, which I was really impressed with.”

The conversation between MacKinnon and the blueliner was simple: if he was going to be with the Comets, he needed to take hold and own that leadership and mentor role, not just for the younger defensemen, but for every player in that room.

“He has done it so well and is an important part of our organization right now.”

MacKinnon On Goaltending

The Comets will enter the season with a goaltending tandem of Nico Daws and Jakub Malek.

On Oct. 6, Daws cleared waivers to be assigned to Utica. MacKinnon confirmed that the 24-year-old is the organization’s third goaltender behind veterans Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen.

“He is going to own the number one role in Utica and the number three role in terms of our goaltending group,” he said. “We are developing Jakub Malek as well. He is an important prospect for us.”

It is worth noting that once a player clears waivers, they don’t have to clear again if they get called back up again, unless the player plays 10 games or is up for 30 days.

“I think any time (Daws) can get up and get NHL time without waivers exposure will be the objective,” he said.

MacKinnon On Lenni Hämeenaho & Shane Lachance

“As we move forward here, you are going to see those two players get sort of a combination development path in Utica and New Jersey. Probably more Utica in the earlier part of the season.”

Lachance made his Comets debut last season, earning two points in two games. Hämeenaho will make his AHL debut, wearing no. 29.

Devils’ Prospect Ethan Edwards Looking Ahead After Signing First Contract
Ever since the New Jersey Devils drafted Ethan Edwards in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the defenseman had a dream.

MacKinnon On Cam Squires

To the surprise of some, Devils prospect Cam Squires will begin the season in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder.

“Cam is a young guy,” he said. “A very young, pro at 20 years old. Not overly physically developed coming out of Junior. If he is not getting regular games right away in Utica, he is a player we feel very comfortable sending for game exposure down in Adirondack, like we did with Josh Filmon. It is so important these guys don’t just sit and get stale in the press box; they actually play pro games against men and try to get to their game.

“We are so fortunate to have a great development affiliation with Adirondack,” he continued. “It is two hours away from Utica so that we can send guys up and down.”

Squires signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils on July 19, 2024. He made his AHL debut on Apr. 16, 2025, against the Toronto Marlies. Through three games with the Comets, he has four points (one goal, three assists).

MacKinnon On The Balance Of Being Competitive vs. Developing Players In Specific Roles

“That has always been the nature of the American Hockey League,” he said. “You are projecting prospects down there to potentially grow into a certain role at the NHL level, and that doesn’t always completely align with what they are asked to do in the American Hockey League.

“A bona fide future third or fourth line NHLer is probably, after an initial adjustment period, going to be at least a middle-six or top line AHL player. That is just the nature of the beast.

“We believe as an organization that the best development happens when you are part of a competitive team that is getting its fair share of wins,” he continued. “You want  Brian Halonen to score, and I think he can this year, 30 to 40 goals in the AHL, but the job he is competing for at the NHL level is a fourth line role where, if he ever has it full-time, and gets eight to 10 goals, I think the organization would be thrilled.”

Make sure you bookmark THN’s New Jersey Devils site for THN’s latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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ST. PAUL, Minn – The Minnesota Wild announced on Monday the signing of goaltender Chase Wutzke to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2025-26 season.

Wutzke, 19, went 17-25-5 with a 3.38 goals-against average (GAA), a .895 save percentage (SV%) and one shutout in 50 games for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 2024-25 season.

He was drafted with the fifth-round of the 2024 NHL Draft with the 142nd pick. He is 40-35-10 with a 3.21 GAA, a .896 SV%, and two shutouts in 93 career games across parts of four seasons with Red Deer.

Red Deer Rebels’ Chase Wutzke Signs ELC With The Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have signed goaltender Chase Wutzke to a three-year, entry-level contract. Wutzke, who plays for the Red Deer Rebels was drafted in 2024, going 142nd overall to Minnesota. Wutzke has played 93 games during his WHL career, putting together a record of 40-35-8.

The 6-foot-2 goaltender played in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at The TRIA Rink and played well. He has been at training camp and has just been returned to Red Deer for the upcoming season.

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‘You Guys Know I Like Minny’ Kirill Kaprizov Gives His Stance On Contract Situation
ST. PAUL, Minn – On Thursday Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov was given the chance to talk about the recent reports that came out about him rejecting an 8-year, $128 million contract extension.

– What Is New On The Kirill Kaprizov Contract Situation.

– Wild’s Mats Zuccarello Will Be Out For “A Little While”

– Is It Time To Panic: Kirill Kaprizov Contract Extension Situation.

– Minnesota Wild Announce Helmet Sponsor For 2025-26 Season.

– Marc-Andre Fleury Signs Professional Tryout With The Pittsburgh Penguins.

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