The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/] and read the full issue here. [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/issue/230150/887616?t=BLUE%20SKIES%20AHEAD%20FOR%20JACKETS] Also, go to thn.com/free [http://thn.com/free] to subscribe. Ready To Break Out: Central Division - June. 27, 2025 – Vol. 78, Issue 12 - Jared Clinton The state of the Blackhawks roster is such that Spencer Knight is unlikely to find himself in Vezina Trophy talks. In fact, his stats might even appear subpar. But his time as a Florida Panther provided insight into the stopper Knight can become. He offered glimpses into his upside, too, upon landing in the Windy City, including a spectacular 41-save performance in his Hawks debut. With the starting reins for the first time in his career, if the 24-year-old gives Chicago the chance to win each night, he’ll have worked wonders. Jack Drury wasn’t the centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen swap with the Carolina Hurricanes – that was Martin Necas – but it’s no surprise Colorado wanted the 25-year-old in the deal. Though his offensive numbers leave something to be desired, with Drury maxing out at eight goals and 27 points in 2023-24, he has an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time on either side of the puck. It’s only a matter of time before goals begin falling for him, particularly with an Avs team that’s more dynamic. Miro Heiskanen’s injury provided a chance, and Lian Bichsel ran with it. The 21-year-old was a staple of the Stars’ blueline down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the 6-foot-7, 230-pounder made his case to start next season in Dallas. His four goals and nine points perhaps set offensive expectations a bit high, as he profiles as a shutdown rearguard. The Stars need to clear cap space, and they can be confident doing so on the back end, given Bichsel is primed to assume middle-pairing minutes next season. TRENDING MAMMOTH STORIES From The Archive: Cable Cutters [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a460c4e0-0572-4596-94ac-f252ea079ca1.jpeg] From The Archive: Cable Cutters The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/from-the-archive-cable-cutters] From The Archive: 'When' Is Now [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/from-the-archive-when-is-now] Mammoth Should Target This Intriguing Free Agent Forward [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/mammoth-should-target-this-intriguing-free-agent-forward] Mammoth Might Be Willing To Deal Top-Six Forward This Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/mammoth-might-be-willing-to-deal-top-six-forward-this-season] Has Utah Mammoth Figured Out Its 2025-26 Roster? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/has-utah-mammoth-figured-out-its-2025-26-roster] Don’t let the meager two-goal, five-point NHL output fool you. Liam Ohgren has offensive chops. Take his 19-goal, 37-point performance in the AHL as evidence. That performance gave Ohgren, 21, the third-best points per game among rookies to play at least half the season. Chances are Ohgren will begin the year assuming bottom-six duty with a dash of PP time, but his gifts will see him pushing for a larger role by season’s end. He won’t be a top producer yet, but he’s a safe bet to be a great depth contributor. One way or another, Zachary L’heureux will make his presence felt in Nashville next season. The 22-year-old scored, crashed and banged his way onto the Predators’ 2024-25 roster on the heels of a 19-goal, 48-point AHL campaign the year prior. He brought the same high-energy style to the big club, leading all Preds forwards with 198 hits. He plays on a razor’s edge, but he’s more than a heat-seeking forechecking missile: he chipped in 15 points and finished eighth in per-60 scoring at five-a-side for Nashville. If you were to plot Jake Neighbours’ progression through the first three seasons of his career, it would follow a steady upward arc. And there’s no reason to believe the 23-year-old is going to be resting on his laurels. Neighbours posted a new career-best last season with 46 points and further established himself as a central figure in the new-look Blues offense. Only three St. Louis forwards saw the ice more in the post-season, which indicated Neighbours is a big part of coach Jim Montgomery’s plans moving forward. When Utah demoted Josh Doan to the AHL after he’d started the season in the NHL, Doan’s confidence could’ve been shattered. But the 23-year-old put his head down and turned in a near-point-per-game performance with the Tucson Roadrunners, forcing Utah’s hand and proving himself once called back to the big club. His six goals and 17 points in the final 42 games are a promising sign, too. Doan won’t be pencilled into the top six, but he can flirt with the 40-point plateau from the third line next season. With Adam Lowry sidelined, the Jets need to add a middle-six center, and that will have the knock-on effect of requiring cost-effective options to fill out the roster. That should allow Nikita Chibrikov to slot into a bottom-six role. The 22-year-old looked like he belonged in his five prior NHL games, and the ability to play a scrappier game will earn him chances ahead of fellow rookie Brad Lambert. There’s serious upside as well, as Chibrikov has netted 24 goals and 65 points in 100 AHL games over the past two seasons. From The Archive: Grin And Barrett [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/46e5ed67-4c34-4fde-bd3f-9bde2aab6cbe.jpeg] From The Archive: Grin And Barrett The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/from-the-archive-grin-and-barrett] From The Archive: William Eklund vs. Dylan Guenther [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/71e3de1f-f260-4a9c-8d76-327f50201610.jpeg] From The Archive: William Eklund vs. Dylan Guenther The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/from-the-archive-william-eklund-vs-dylan-geunther] Report: Mammoth Amongst Teams Interested In Erik Karlsson [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a685f408-d806-4afe-abc7-4edc8dcdbdcf.jpeg] Report: Mammoth Amongst Teams Interested In Erik Karlsson According to <a href="https://rg.org/news/hockey/maple-leafs-among-teams-interested-penguins-erik-karlsson" target="_blank">Jimmy Murphy of RG Media,</a> the Utah Mammoth are among the teams interested in Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Erik Karlsson. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/report-mammoth-amongst-teams-interested-in-erik-karlsson] Utah Mammoth Sign Jack McBain To Five-Year Contract [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ee0f39c5-d382-400c-afae-da2d2b458267.jpeg] Utah Mammoth Sign Jack McBain To Five-Year Contract Late last night, the Utah Mammoth announced that they have signed forward Jack McBain to a five-year, $21.25 million contract. The deal carries an average annual value of $4.25 million, which is around $1.25 million over his projected cap hit. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/utah-mammoth-sign-jack-mcbain-to-five-year-contract]
