NHL rookie tournaments marked the start of the league’s 2025-26 calendar over the weekend.
The Athletic’s team of writers attended tournaments and games in Buffalo, Montreal, Edmonton, St. Paul, Minn., Wesley Chapel, Fla., Irvine, Calif. and more.
These tournaments are an important kickoff of training camps and an opportunity for prospects — from top draft picks to potential free agents — to make lasting impressions.
All told, we had eyes on 27 of the league’s 32 teams. Here are our biggest standouts for each.
Golden State Rookie Faceoff
Anaheim Ducks
Stian Solberg, LHD
Beckett Sennecke might have been the “big name” out of the Ducks’ prospects to play in front of the home crowd down in Irvine as the club’s No. 3 overall pick in 2024, but it was Solberg who particularly jumped out. You can see why the Ducks brass really like the Norwegian blueliner and why they moved up to take him with the 23rd pick after grabbing Sennecke. As expected, Solberg played with some edge and isn’t shy about mixing it up with the opposition. What stood out more was his underrated puck skill, which he put on display at this year’s World Championships. The 19-year-old plays with a lot of confidence. Perhaps a little too much at times. But he’s unafraid to handle the puck or move it when under pressure, while also showing he can get it through to the net from the point. — Eric Stephens
San Jose Sharks
Michael Misa, C
The No. 2 pick in this year’s draft was as advertised in the three-team California showcase in Irvine. Misa’s hockey sense was present in his two games as he put himself in the right place for virtually every situation while repeatedly displaying his playmaking ability. The competition will ramp up for him, but the 18-year-old has an innate feel for the game, whether it’s using his speed when necessary to get into open spots or slowing things down and not panicking when defenders are bearing down on him. Misa has that look of a two-way pivot that understands the pace to play at and adjusts accordingly, while having the kind of skill that should make him a point-producer at the NHL level. — Eric Stephens
Los Angeles Kings
Carter George, G
The 19-year-old George is highly thought of in an organization that is suddenly rich with goaltending talent. After standing out with OHL Owen Sound, George looked very good in his two games of AHL duty at the end of last season. That experience showed in the prospect setting this weekend as he excelled at tracking pucks and the play in front of him while showing a strong glove hand. Overall, he stopped 35 of 36 shots on Sunday and only allowed a power-play goal to Anaheim. — Eric Stephens
NHL Prospect Games
Dallas Stars
Justin Ertel, LW
The Stars had an older, less-heralded contingent for their games against the Red Wings. But among their under-23 players, the player who affected the games most may have been the 2021 third-round pick — a big-bodied winger who was a consistent presence on the forecheck and around the net. His offensive highlight of the weekend was an assist to 2023 sixth-rounder Angus MacDonell (who also had a nice weekend with a pair of goals) on which Ertel forced a turnover with his forecheck, then found MacDonell in the slot for a big goal. He was quite noticeable on the weekend. — Max Bultman
Detroit Red Wings
Nate Danielson, C
Danielson is such a smart player. He’s constantly in the right spots defensively, where he has a strong defensive stick, and is an easy-to-notice puck transporter and distributor as well. The question with him often comes down to whether his production will match his visual impact, and this weekend it largely did. Danielson scored a pretty goal and had an assist in two exhibition games against the Stars, getting off to a nice start to his preseason. He also looked a bit thicker, which will serve him well as he looks to win a job on the Red Wings to begin the season. — Max Bultman
NHL Prospect Tournament
Carolina Hurricanes
Ruslan Khazheyev, G
Khazheyev was just OK in the AHL last year as a very young goalie, but looked like a seasoned pro in his camp games. Carolina listed him at 6-foot-6. I’m not quite sure he’s that tall, but he is huge and moves fairly well for his size. He was aggressive, squared up a lot of pucks and made a number of difficult saves, including using his stick to break up plays. — Corey Pronman
Florida Panthers
Sandis Vilmanis, LW
Vilmanis is an easy player to like due to the pace and energy he brings to shifts. He got to a lot of pucks and outmuscled players often in battles. He’s not the most creative forward you will ever see, but he had good flashes of skill with the puck. He looked like a player with a legit shot to become a bottom-six wing in the NHL. — Corey Pronman
Nashville Predators
Matthew Wood, RW
Wood is a tough evaluation. He often frustrates coaches and evaluators with his speed and lack of physicality (and did so again last weekend), but he’s such a skilled big winger. He made a ton of difficult plays with the puck and despite his warts, he did what Nashville wanted him to, which was to create a lot of offense. — Corey Pronman
Tampa Bay Lightning
Maxim Groshev, LHD
Groshev was drafted and has been a forward for almost his entire career in high-level hockey, but late last season in the AHL, he was converted to defense by the Lightning. For a player with limited history at the position, he seemed steady. His heaviness and mobility have always been strengths and he didn’t seem panicky with the puck, which was key even if he’s not overly offensive. — Corey Pronman
The Bruins acquired Fraser Minten from the Maple Leafs in March 2025. (Bob DeChiara / Imagn Images)
Prospects Challenge
Boston Bruins
Fraser Minten, C
On paper, the Bruins were lean in talent. But I liked Minten’s two games. He was held pointless in the opener but had a goal, a primary assist and a couple of other looks to the inside in the second game. He was also good on the penalty kill, the power play and at five-on-five throughout. His offense is always going to be a little vanilla, but he held onto it inside the offensive zone, worked, won a ton of battles, cut off a lot of plays, put himself in good spots and was detailed and consistent shift-to-shift. — Scott Wheeler
Buffalo Sabres
Radim Mrtka, RHD
The Sabres’ most recent first-round pick played up to his draft status in his first rookie camp. The 6-foot-6 defenseman scored in the first game of the prospect tournament and was a noticeable physical presence throughout all three games. His skating, particularly his lateral agility, is impressive for such a tall player. Mrtka was composed with the puck, too. He looks like he has the most upside of any Sabres prospect. — Matthew Fairburn
Columbus Blue Jackets
Oiva Keskinen, C
Keskinen was a seventh-round pick (No. 194 overall) in 2023, but no Blue Jackets prospect has made up more ground over the past two years. The Buffalo prospects tournament marked his first trip to the United States, and one of the rare times he’s played a competitive game on an NHL-sized rink. But he must be a quick learner. Keskinen had two goals, two assists and four points in three games, centering the Blue Jackets’ top line — with Luca Pinelli and Jordan Dumais on his wings — in what turned out to be a strong tournament for a roster with no first-round picks. After losing the opener 8-2 to New Jersey, the Blue Jackets bounced back with wins over Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Keskinen flashed quick hands and crafty playmaking ability. He had the confidence to bring defenders into his orbit, opening the ice for his linemates. Up next is Keskinen’s first NHL training camp. It’s a tall order for him to make the Blue Jackets out of camp, and if he doesn’t survive final cuts, his contract allows him to return to Finland for a third season in the top pro league there. But Keskinen keeps inching closer to the NHL. This weekend was further proof of that. — Aaron Portzline
New Jersey Devils
Shane Lachance, LW
The Devils’ roster was pretty light on talent, which made Lachance and Seamus Casey jump out. The 6-foot-5 Lachance, whose rights the Devils acquired from the Oilers in March, stood out in particular. The former BU and Youngstown captain wore an ‘A’ with his new team and looked like a future bottom-six NHLer. He showed puck protection, physicality and detail and looked good around the net. His skating, which has at times been a question, also looked comfortable. Lachance had two goals, one primary assist and a fight in two games. Both he and Casey sat out of the Devils’ Sunday finale and deservedly so. — Scott Wheeler
Pittsburgh Penguins
Avery Hayes, RW
Hayes wasn’t drafted, primarily because he is generously listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds. But the fact of the matter is that he has emerged as one of the Penguins’ best prospects and the 22-year-old is probably going to make his NHL debut this season. He only helped at this weekend’s prospect tournament in Buffalo. Hayes scored four goals in three games, lighting the lamp at least once in all three. Hayes scored 23 goals in 60 games at the AHL level last season, and the Penguins absolutely love the edge he plays with. He isn’t big in stature, but his heart clearly is. When Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen were called up to the NHL last season, they constantly spoke of Hayes, how important he was to Wilkes-Barre’s success and how much they loved playing with him because of his sheer tenacity. He’s very much a prospect on the rise in the Penguins’ organization and someone to watch when training camp opens on Thursday. — Josh Yohe
Prospects Showcase
Seattle Kraken
Berkly Catton, C
Catton was easily the best player on the ice for either team in the one game he played against Vancouver’s prospects on Saturday night. Catton dictated play throughout the evening, dominating the puck in the offensive zone and generating at least one scoring chance per shift (sometimes two). He hit a post on a breakaway opportunity, still finished the night with two points (a goal and an assist) and you left the rink thinking it was a miracle he didn’t have four or five. That the Kraken opted not to dress Catton in the second game of the back-to-back set this weekend is bullish for his chances of seeing real NHL action this fall. He certainly looked dynamic and ready this weekend. — Thomas Drance
Vancouver Canucks
Vilmer Alriksson, LW
Alriksson is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound specimen who is willing to mix it up after the whistle, throws thunderous hits and has some meaningful skill in his game, even if his CHL scoring has been pedestrian in two seasons since his draft year. Alriksson can struggle a bit with consistency and puck management, and it’s clear he’s still growing into his body somewhat. This is still a player that’s very much a project. The project we’re talking about in this case, however, is a gigantic, athletic, tough winger with puck skills, a conscientious defensive game and a high motor. It may be a year or two before we see Alriksson push for a full-time role at the NHL level, but he looked more than intriguing in the two games he played against Kraken prospects this weekend. — Thomas Drance
Prospect Showdown
Montreal Canadiens
Ivan Demidov, RW
The one game Demidov played against the Winnipeg Jets rookies was ridiculous and firmly demonstrated he did not belong in this event, which was only confirmed when Canadiens brass decided there was no point in Demidov playing a second game. He was involved in all three Canadiens goals, with his first assist leaving 2023 No. 14 pick Brayden Yager spinning, and that was not the only time Demidov hurt Yager’s feelings in the game. His goal was borderline unfair and left his varsity Canadiens teammates laughing amongst themselves in the stands. “Every time you send him on the ice, you get the sense something’s going to happen,” Laval Rocket coach Pascal Vincent said. “And then, something happens.” — Arpon Basu
Faites DEMI-tour
Demi’s world#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/tBvp8MkHb0
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 14, 2025
Ottawa Senators
Carter Yakemchuk, RHD
The Sens’ top prospect had a great performance in his team’s first game of rookie camp, scoring two goals where he flashed his NHL-ready shot and smooth hands. His defense will be under the microscope when he attends main camp later this week — he used his reach and size during the rookie tourney, but can’t afford to be too aggressive or out of position. But his offensive capabilities and build will also draw attention. — Julian McKenzie
Toronto Maple Leafs
Luke Haymes, C
The Leafs have been light on high draft picks, so it was promising to see touted NCAA free-agent signing Haymes pop. The quick and intelligent 6-foot-1 center battled for pucks and usually came out on the right side of things. Haymes took the puck to dangerous areas shift after shift. But in doing so, he never put his teammates in jeopardy. He added a goal in each game. Also, this is a guy who blocked a shot … with his face. With a short opportunity to make a serious impression, Haymes did just that. After impressing in a late-season Toronto Marlies stint, a full AHL year could put him on his way toward a middle-six NHL center role. He certainly looks like a bona fide pro. — Joshua Kloke
Winnipeg Jets
Domenic DiVincentiis, G
DiVincentiis was the only thing stopping Saturday’s prospect showcase game against Montreal from turning into a rout, with Ivan Demidov creating scoring chances seemingly at will. DiVincentiis was swarmed early and often but made spectacular saves on Demidov, Owen Beck and Joseph Dunlap at even strength. He also put on a penalty-killing clinic, stopping multiple one-timers — including a third-period slingshot play into the center slot that gave Winnipeg a chance to pull off the win. DiVincentiis’ 38-save performance made him the Jets’ weekend standout, leaving Manitoba Moose head coach Mark Morrison effusive in his postgame praise. — Murat Ates
Next Gen Showcase
Edmonton Oilers
Viljami Marjala, C
The Oilers signed Marjala, 22, out of Finland’s Liiga in June to boost their offensive prospect group. He showed he’s got potential for his first North American pro season based on what he did over the weekend. On Friday against Calgary, Marjala displayed great patience to score on a breakaway, had excellent instincts in the Flames’ zone and made a deft pass to send Matt Savoie in for a goal. All that earned him a promotion centering top prospects Savoie and Ike Howard. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman
Rookie Series
New York Rangers
Scott Morrow, RHD
The 22-year-old defenseman acquired from Carolina as part of the K’Andre Miller trade dazzled during a pair of rookie games against the Flyers over the weekend. He led the Rangers with five points (one goal and four assists) between the two contests and lived up to his reputation as a skilled playmaker when the puck is on his stick. He’ll have to prove he can do it against stiffer competition once NHL camp starts Thursday, particularly on the defensive end. But there’s a real chance for him to earn a spot in the opening-night lineup if the UMass product carries this momentum through the preseason. — Vincent Z. Mercogliano
Philadelphia Flyers
Nikita Grebenkin, LW
Grebenkin, who could challenge for an opening-night roster spot, scored the overtime winner in the first rookie game against the Rangers and added two assists in the second game. He wasn’t afraid to get his nose dirty, either, when things got chippy. “He plays with a ton of bite,” said Phantoms coach John Snowden. “He’s a highly skilled player, but he is not easy to play against at all.” — Kevin Kurz
Rookie Showcase
Vegas Golden Knights
Kai Uchacz, C/RW
Last season, Uchacz finished second on the Henderson Silver Knights with 15 goals in his first season of professional hockey. He scored a ton of goals for the Red Deer Rebels in the WHL and has continued that as a pro. He started his 2025-26 campaign off on the right foot, scoring three goals in two games at the Rookie Showcase in Denver. He’s certainly not ready to crack Vegas’ opening-night roster, but if he continues this progression, he’ll be among the names considered for in-season call-ups. — Jesse Granger
Sam Rinzel continued to excite the Blackhawks about what this season could look like for him. (Talia Sprague / Imagn Images)
Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase
Chicago Blackhawks
Sam Rinzel, RHD
The Blackhawks got a nine-game glimpse of Rinzel’s potential late last season after making the jump from college. In one game at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase on Saturday, Rinzel continued to excite the organization about what this season could look like for him. From retrievals to breakouts to creating in the offensive zone, Rinzel was smooth and efficient in everything he did. He finished with two assists in the Blackhawks’ 3-2 win over the Blues. Heading into training camp this week, it wouldn’t be surprising if Rinzel is asked to be the team’s power-play quarterback and gets No. 1 defenseman minutes. — Scott Powers
Minnesota Wild
Adam Benák, LW/RW
No Wild prospect was as visible as Benák, the forward with first-round talent who fell to 102nd in June’s draft because of his 5-7 frame. In two games, he flashed supreme skill and had four assists, including one Sunday against Chicago in which he had a steal then set up Rasmus Kumpulainen’s tiebreaking winner with 62 seconds left. That followed a three-assist performance against St. Louis. “He was awesome these two games,” said Kumpulainen, a 2023 second-round pick. “That goal was all him. He’s really shifty out there. His hands are unreal. And even though he’s so small, no one can get to him.” After leading all USHL under-18 players last season with 59 points in 56 games, the Czech-born forward will play for OHL Brantford this season. “He’s terrific,” AHL Iowa coach Greg Cronin said. “He’s got an unbelievable mindset, very coachable. He’s got a history of scoring and generating points, and the other parts of his game, I think he’s going to learn them over the next year or two. If I’m the Minnesota Wild, I’m really excited to watch him develop.” — Michael Russo
St. Louis Blues
Otto Stenberg, LW
While 2025 first-round pick Justin Carbonneau showed why his combination of physicality and skill will look good in a Blues uniform, Stenberg illustrated why he shouldn’t be a forgotten man among the five first-rounders the team has added in the past three years. The 20-year-old, who left Sweden for the AHL last season, led all Blues prospects with three points (one goal, two assists), including an assist on Carbonneau’s game-winner in a 6-4 win over Minnesota. He made quick plays around the net, and if not for a couple of dandy saves, he could have been on the scoreboard more. — Jeremy Rutherford
(Top photos of Ivan Demidov and Vilmer Alriksson: David Kirouac and Bob Frid / Imagn Images)
