NHL

The Blue Jackets hold two first-round picks going into the July 7-8 selection process.

What to know: Casey isn't a terribly different player than Hutson, as both are USNTDP players who are a bit on the smallish size but have excellent hockey sense, great skating ability and a lot of promise in the offensive zone. Stats: The big defenseman moved from his native Switzerland to Sweden this year, showing some offensive ability at the U-20 level (3-4-7 in 11 games) but spending most of his time with the senior SHL squad. Stats: Up to seven USNTDP players are projected as potential first-round picks when all is said and done at the 2022 draft, but none had as productive a season as Howard, who led the team with 82 points (33 goals, 49 assists) in 60 games. Stats: Geekie combined with Savoie to make one of the top one-two punches in the WHL this past season when it comes to draft-eligible prospects, posting a 24-46-70 line in 63 games. Stats: The Austrian made it to Sweden's top level in 2021-22, playing 46 games and posting a 7-4-11 line in a defensive league and adding a 3-3-6 mark in 13 playoff games. He might be one of the best skaters in the draft while his vision and passing ability stand out on the offensive end, and defensively he's able to use his solid frame to play a physical style. What to know: Lekkerimaki has proven himself in juniors, dominating competition in his age group, and acquitted himself well in the SHL this year in his first crack at the senior level. What to know: Kemell is an intriguing prospect, and the winger stood out at the NHL Scouting Combine for his results in the Wingate Test and force plate tests. He recovered in time to join Czechia at the World Championships, notching a goal and an assist in five games. Slafkovsky has cemented himself at the top of the draft with his international performances this year, as he boasts both size and scoring ability as evidenced by his production in tournaments against senior national teams. What to know: The Pittsburgh native and University of Minnesota commit has steadily moved up this past season and seems cemented as the top American player in the draft. Wright's status as the presumed No. 1 overall pick has hit some bumps of late -- he had what was viewed as a very good but not great 2021-22 season, and three of our 13 analysts dropped him from the top spot -- but the talented forward with an excellent shot and a standout two-way game is still No. 1 in most peoples' books.

Danny Zhilkin - a young center who could bring some speed to the Blackhawks' offense.

Zhilkin is ranked fairly consistently in a range where the Blackhawks’ first selection (No. 38) could see him available. “Zhilkin is a “do-it-all” style of player, meaning he can be relied upon to play in any area of the ice, in basically any situation that is presented. As his game has developed over the past few seasons, Zhilkin’s became much more dominant in all three zones of the ice and can be relied upon to play a 200ft game. This allows him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and make plays off the rush. “A competitive forward who flashes quality skill on the regular, Zhilkin didn’t quite live up to expectations this season, though that could be partially attributed to his not playing anywhere the previous season. But he’s also a December 2003 and I would have liked to see him make finishing plays a little more consistently (whether that’s by putting the puck in himself more consistently on the chances he gets, or making that final pass that sets up a goal more regularly) this year knowing that and his athletic advantages.

The Colorado Avalanche have dethroned the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. After a hard-fought six-game series, Jared Bednar's ...

PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. As you’ve expect, the Cup finalists, the Avalanche (+450) and Lightning, are two of the top three betting favorites with the Maple Leafs sharing similar odds to Tampa Bay (+900). Before we see some big trades and destiny-shifting signings, let’s take a look at the betting favorites for the 2023 Stanley Cup, courtesy of our friends at PointsBet.

After winning the Stanley Cup on Sunday, the Colorado Avalanche opened as betting favorites to win it again in 2023.

You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Click here to find out more about our partners. - Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address

Andrew Cogliano felt he needed to say something. The veteran forward wasn't happy with how the Colorado Avalanche played in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, ...

Our guys from the second he walked into the room, looked up to this guy because of the way he handles himself, him and [forward] Darren Helm, what they've put in and how they take care of themselves, how they prepare, how serious everything is for them and how much they want to win." "He addressed how he felt last game and I think we all resonated with that, where we were maybe looking a little ahead and thinking about this [Cup-winning celebration], thinking about this rather than being in the moment. Cogliano was acquired by the Avalanche from the San Jose Sharks on March 21. We lost him in the Edmonton series, he breaks his hand, has surgery and he's the first guy back, working to try to get back and help our team. And that message was pushed by our leaders," Cogliano said after the Avalanche defeated the Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001. "It was more just, we've worked so hard to get here playing the right way, let's be in the moment, win or lose, no regrets.

The Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres each have three first-round picks, and the Canadiens, Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks each have two. In addition to ...

In addition to Colorado's pick, Arizona has the No. 3 selection, and No. 27 pick, which it acquired from the Canadiens in a trade for forward Christian Dvorak on Sept. 4. The Winnipeg Jets have the No. 30 pick, which they acquired from the New York Rangers in a trade for forward Andrew Copp on March 21. The Sabres have the No. 9, No. 16 and No. 28 choices. The Montreal Canadiens won the lottery and have the No. 1 pick. The 12 teams that lost in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs have picks 17-28. The Ducks have the No. 10 and No. 22 selections, the latter acquired from the Boston Bruins in a trade for defenseman Hampus Lindholm on March 19. The New Jersey Devils won the No. 2 selection. The Blue Jackets have the No. 6 pick, which they got in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Seth Jones on July 23, as well as the No. 12 pick. The No. 16 pick was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade for forward Jack Eichel on Nov. 4, and the No. 28 pick came from the Florida Panthers in a trade for forward Sam Reinhart on July 24. The Canadiens select No. 1 and No. 26, which they acquired from the Calgary Flames in a trade for forward Tyler Toffoli on Feb. 14. The Jets have the No. 14 pick as well as the Rangers' pick. The Edmonton Oilers, who lost in the Western Conference Final, have the No. 29 pick.

1. Montreal Canadiens · 2. New Jersey Devils · 3. Arizona Coyotes · 4. Seattle Kraken · 5. Philadelphia Flyers · 6. Columbus Blue Jackets (CHI Pick) · 7. Ottawa ...

The draft has also seen some big trades made in past years. 28. Buffalo Sabres (FLA Pick) 27. Arizona Coyotes (CAR Pick) 16. Buffalo Sabres (VGK Pick) Let’s go over what the first round looks like. The draft will feature stars like Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky, Logan Cooley and Simon Nemec expected to go in the top four.

Greg Rajanen will retire as a full-time scout for NHL Central Scouting at the end of this scouting season after 10 years of service.

"He was recommended by former Central Scouting evaluator Jack Barzee and fulfilled his role and responsibilities for scouting coverage and networking in the USHL and midwestern high school leagues with the highest degree of professionalism. "He was involving all of his teammates in the game, and then in the third period of a close game he just took over. "There are things we want to do with our grandkids," Rajanen said. You could just tell the leadership skills he had as a young player and how respectful he was of his teammates. Rajanen said he's looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 42 years, Nancy, and their three grandchildren. "It was kind of a dream job for me to be a full-time scout with Central Scouting," Rajanen said.

With names like Shane Wright, Brad Lambert, and Matthew Savoie all headlining favorites for the top-ranked player in what was shaping up to be a strong draft ...

Returning to the SHL for his D+1 year but could be one of the more NHL ready players in the draft. Good upside, but a long-term prospect, and the Russian factor is at play here. There are big questions about when if ever he comes to North America, but the skill and upside demand he is a first-round pick regardless. He drops the gloves but can also score with his hard shot and drive to the net. The biggest concern in his game is hit size – 5-9 and 179 pounds. The Michigan commit has size, skill, hockey sense, is a net front presence, plays a physical and two-way game. His usage in the KHL was limited and it would have been nice to see him play more minutes in another league. Thinks the game fast and has the hands and feet to match. Big, skilled, and mobile he is perhaps the most NHL-ready player in the draft. Has the upside to be the biggest impact defenseman in this draft class. His shot is quick, accurate and the release is very sneaky. The pandemic all but eliminated an entire season of development for the 2021 Draft Class, and there is still some fallout from that impact.