Latest news with #forwards
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jack Hughes Ranked High on Best Forwards Under 25 List
ranked their top forwards under 25 entering this season, and it came as no surprise that Devils' Jack Hughes landed second on the list.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jack Hughes Ranked High on Best Forwards Under 25 List
ranked their top forwards under 25 entering this season, and it came as no surprise that Devils' Jack Hughes landed second on the list. Hughes is entering his seventh year with the Devils after being selected first overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He's been a staple for New Jersey both on and off the ice. At just 24 years old, Hughes has scored at least 26 goals in each of the past four seasons, though injuries have kept him from showcasing his full potential. Hughes also happens to have one of the best, if not the best, contracts in the NHL. He's entering year four of an eight-year, $64 million deal, with an average annual value of $8 million. Jack Hughes Ranked No. 1 NHL Contract by The Athletic Dom Luszczyszyn, NHL analyst for The Athletic (a New York Times publication), r ecently ranked the best contracts across the NHL. From Leon Draisaitl's eight-year, $14 million AAV deal (ranked 6th) to Brandon Hagel's seven-year, $6.5 million AAV contract (ranked 2nd), some of the league's biggest stars made the list. Given his performance, skill, and the overall value he brings to the team, this deal is a steal for New Jersey. The only player ranked ahead of Hughes? Tim Stützle of the Ottawa Senators. Stützle is a year younger, but his impact in Ottawa mirrors what Hughes has done in New Jersey. Stützle helped lead the Senators to their first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance since 2017 and paced the team with 79 points in 82 games last season. He's hit the 70-point mark in each of the last three seasons, which secured him the No. 1 spot in the rankings. Right behind him is New Jersey's very own. Hughes has dealt with two major injuries in his career, the first in 2021 and again last season, when a shoulder injury required season-ending surgery. Still, Hughes remains a centerpiece of the Devils' lineup. In 368 NHL games, he has tallied 141 goals and 210 assists. Before last season's injury, he posted 70 points in just 62 games. His impact on the Devils is immeasurable. He's grown into the face of the franchise. It's no surprise that the slick Devils forward is ranked second on the list of best forwards under 25. Injured or not, he's proven just how valuable he is. In 2022-23, when fully healthy, Hughes recorded 99 points in 78 games. He's one of only 11 NHL players to average at least 1.10 points per game over the last four seasons, despite the injuries. The Devils made the right choice with their 2019 first-overall pick. And if Hughes can stay healthy, don't be surprised if he claims the top spot soon. Photo Credit: © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
From McDonald's To The NHL: How ‘Undersized' Jaroslav Halák Became The Best Slovak Goalie Ever
When you look back at the history of Slovak hockey, elite goaltenders have been few and far between. There used to be a common joke: Slovakia had A-level forwards, B-level defensemen, and C-level goalies.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies Ranked In Top-10 Of NHL.com's Top Forwards Under 25 List
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has made top 10 forwards under 25 list.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL Mock Draft 2025: Frondell to Chicago, Martone to Utah? Pronman projects Round 1
With the draft lottery done, we have a template of the selection order ready for the 2025 NHL Draft. Unless Radim Mrtka breaks things up in the top 5-7, we expect a run on forwards early in the draft, especially with so many good centers available. The order in which these forwards go is the most interesting thing about this draft and will be debated by teams and fans in the coming weeks. This mock is my best attempt to project how I think the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will transpire on June 27. Schaefer gives the Islanders a true No. 1 defenseman prospect to build around. His high-end mobility, intelligence and competitiveness project him as a cornerstone on the blue line for years to come and he is highly likely to be the pick despite the limited number of games he played this season. Misa's elite speed and creativity give San Jose a franchise-caliber center. The addition of Misa gives the Sharks flexibility to move either him or Will Smith to the wing long term. He can break games open with his skill and vision and will be a foundational offensive piece for a rebuilding Sharks squad. Advertisement Frondell brings high-end skill and a complete 200-foot game and fills Chicago's need for a strong two-way pivot to pair with Connor Bedard, who may end up as a long-term winger in the NHL. Utah prioritizes being hard to play against, and Martone will provide a lot of size and a high compete level while also being very skilled for a big man. It's easy to envision him next to Logan Cooley on a top line for the next 10 years. Nashville adds high-end skill and speed down the middle with Hagens, even if his game needs more inside presence. He brings the potential to be a major point producer and address a critical need for the Predators at center, even if not every NHL scout is convinced he's an NHL center. Desnoyers' stock continues to rise with his great playoff run for Moncton. He's a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves. O'Brien is a cerebral, playmaking center with top-line upside. His skill and vision are clear NHL traits and address Boston's massive need for a center who can drive play and create offense. Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game that complements all the skill Seattle has drafted in recent years while also bringing plenty of puck play himself and the ability to be a top-six forward, be it at center or wing. Mrtka is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who skates well and has offensive flashes, giving Buffalo a rare right-shot blueliner with top-four upside. He compares to a Sabres pick from a long time ago in Tyler Myers. Advertisement A 6-foot-5 center with speed, hands and bite, McQueen gives Anaheim a potential massive talent down the middle. He would have gone top five if it weren't for a concerning back injury. With superb young talent in the organization, Anaheim can afford the gamble on McQueen. Aitcheson adds significant physicality to Pittsburgh's system while also having the size, mobility and skill of a top-four NHL defenseman. Cootes brings speed, compete and two-way versatility to the Rangers' forward group, giving them a hardworking center with offensive potential and addressing an important need at center. Eklund's speed, high motor and ability to create offense gives Detroit an important addition of offensive talent to its system while continuing with a trend of prioritizing compete in its picks. Reid is a dynamic skater who closes well defensively and can generate clean exits and secondary offense. I could see him or Jackson Smith as the Jackets' pick here as they try to add young depth to their blue line. Reschny is a very skilled and intelligent player who plays hard and was as good as any junior player in the second half of the CHL season. He theoretically gives Vancouver a much-needed young center of the future, although not everyone in the league is convinced he's a pro center. A competitive and highly skilled winger who plays a physical game, Bear could provide a lot of elements to Montreal's top six. Advertisement Smith brings size, skating and offensive tools to the Canadiens blue-line pipeline as they continue to build a very strong group of young defensemen. A fast, strong winger with a dangerous shot, Carbonneau adds a scoring element and high-energy game to Calgary's top six, even if he's slightly redundant with someone like Matt Coronato. Lakovic is a big man with legit speed, skill and goal-scoring ability. He would be a highly talented forward addition to the Blues' system, even if his compete level still draws some debate. Ravensbergen is a big, athletic goaltender with starter upside — the type of swing Columbus can afford to take on a second first-rounder. Fiddler's size, defensive ability, skating and hardness make him exactly the type of defenseman Ottawa has coveted. Ideally, the Senators would add some skill to their forward group, but a run on forwards before their pick left them without any of the top-tier forward prospects. A responsible, hard-nosed, two-way center, Gastrin adds leadership traits and versatility to the forward group. Hensler fits the type of defenseman Carolina has liked to target: He's mobile, has skill and can make a reliable pass. Prokhorov's size and physicality fit the typical Flyers draft pick, and he has enough touch and speed to complement their skilled forwards. Advertisement One of the better-skating defensemen in the class, Boumedienne provides transition ability with the potential for some offense at the NHL level as well. Nesbitt is a heavy center with strong puck skills and playmaking vision. Despite questions about his skating, his offense and physicality make him a legit first-round pick as Nashville builds out its center depth in this draft. The Kings take a swing on a tall winger with NHL-caliber feet, hands and scoring ability, hoping he becomes a future middle-six scorer. Brzustewicz is a smart, mobile right-shot who adds a steady two-way game to a Sharks system that needs quality blueliners. Spence brings high effort, responsible two-way play and a solid track record for Canada. He's not the flashiest forward but he has legit enough talent to play in a middle six. A big, skilled forward with great hands, Horcoff needs to work on his skating but has the potential to be a legit scorer as a pro and looked quite good at the college level as a 17-year-old. Potter's great skating and puck skill give Washington a dynamic, high-upside forward, but his size and perimeter play does worry teams too. Zonnon is a big winger who skates and shoots well enough to be a middle-six contributor in Winnipeg's forward pipeline. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos of Porter Martone, Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
