Former Toronto Maple Leafs president and Hockey Hall of Fame forward Brendan Shanahan has wrapped up his Hockey Canada assignment on Ontario junior hockey, and the result is a set of 11 recommendations aimed at improving development and care for athletes.
Shanahan was asked to examine Ontario junior hockey and lay out a path forward through 2026. His first recommendation is a standardized billeting policy that would give teenagers more flexibility to play across Ontario. He also wants Hockey Canada to create both an advisory committee and an executive position to oversee the policy changes and the rest of his recommendations.
Shanahan, who now works in the NHL league office, made clear he is not interested in that executive job. He told Chris Johnston of The Athletic:
It’s going to be a key hire. Somebody that has worked and lived in that space, but yet has the ability to take a step back and see the bigger picture and sort of put all of the different leagues and organizations in the best position to thrive. That’s not me.
Another major piece of his report calls for all Ontario junior leagues to line up with the rules of the Ontario Hockey League. Shanahan’s approach, by design, avoids getting overly specific; the goal was to give Hockey Canada clear steps it could start on quickly. Hockey Canada president and CEO Katherine Henderson said those changes will begin as soon as this season.
Around the league, Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said the team won’t have a full picture of its blue line until Simon Edvinsson is signed, according to Max Bultman of The Athletic. McLellan said Detroit can’t really think “long term” when it comes to fringe defenders such as Anton Johansson or Axel Sandin Pellikka and whether they make the final cuts.
Sandin Pellikka appeared in 68 games for Detroit last season and finished his rookie year with 21 points and minus-20, with much of his ice time coming alongside Edvinsson or Ben Chiarot. If Edvinsson ends up missing the start of the season - something Detroit appears likely to avoid - the Red Wings could have enough room on defense for both Johansson and Sandin Pellikka.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin has also made a change off the ice, switching agents as his trade request remains unresolved. The 24-year-old has parted ways with Quartexx Hockey and hired Paul Theofanous, per PuckPedia.
Theofanous represents Russian stars including Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, and he’ll now handle negotiations for Nikishin, who is still an unsigned restricted free agent with only days left before the regular season begins. Nikishin had 11 goals and 33 points in his rookie NHL season last year, and despite his issues with Carolina, a return to the KHL is reportedly not on the table for the Stanley Cup-winning defenseman.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Still Have One Big Roster Question Before Opening Night
The Hurricanes cleared a bit more camp clutter this week by trimming their roster to 28 players, sending a handful of prospects back to the AHL and junior ranks as opening night draws closer. It was also a notable week for their long-term picture in goal, with Pyotr Kochetkov landing a new contract extension that starts in 2027-28, a move that keeps one part of Carolinas future stable even if the immediate focus remains on final lineup decisions.
The bigger question still hanging over the group involves the blue line, where Alexander Nikishins situation has become one of the more interesting storylines around the team. Elliotte Friedman reported that the defenseman has been allowed to speak with other clubs, even though Carolina still controls his NHL rights for three more seasons, leaving the Hurricanes with an unresolved piece of business as camp winds down and the season nears. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Preseason Finale Could Shape Carolinas Final Roster Decisions
The preseason is down to its final stop, and the next look for Carolina should come with a lineup full of fresh faces. A newly built top line is set to get its first action together, with Brandon Bussi in line to handle the crease as the Hurricanes sort through one last exhibition tune-up before the games start to count. It is the sort of finale that can still matter quite a bit for a team trying to separate the everyday group from the players still trying to force their way into the conversation.
Eric Robinson, Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal are among the names worth tracking as Carolina makes those last evaluations, while the wider camp picture also includes Nashvilles latest cuts and the thinning field around the league. For the Hurricanes, the focus is less on the scoreboard than on how the roster pieces fit, and Charles Alexis Legault is one of the younger players who could leave a lasting impression with one more strong showing. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes End Preseason With One Roster Battle Suddenly Harder To Ignore
The Hurricanes wrapped up the preseason with a convincing 6-0 win over Nashville, a night that checked a lot of the boxes they could have wanted before the games start to count. Jackson Blake chipped in three points, the power play struck three times, and Brandon Bussi handled all 22 shots he faced to finish off the shutout.
Amid the clean finish, Felix Unger Sorum made his case in a setting that mattered more than another exhibition result. He was given a prominent look alongside Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov on the top line, and he made enough of that chance to turn what had been a quiet roster question into one of the harder calls left for Carolina. [Read more 🡒]