A Ducks first-round pick is headed for a different setting next season. OHL London announced that it has signed Marcus Nordmark for the upcoming campaign, giving the 18-year-old a new team and a new league after Anaheim took him 28th overall.
The Ducks moved up one spot to get Nordmark, jumping from the 29th pick they had acquired as part of the return for Mason McTavish. Nordmark spent most of last season in Djurgardens’ under-20 system, where he produced 38 points in 25 games.
He also saw eight SHL appearances and recorded one assist. If his season in London goes well, he could be in position to move up to the AHL in 2027-28.
In Vancouver’s camp picture, prospect Ilya Safonov said in a blog for Sports.ru that his contract gives him an option to return to the KHL at some point in the coming season if he doesn’t land a spot with the Canucks. The 25-year-old signed a one-year, entry-level deal in June after a solid KHL season with Ak Bars Kazan, finishing with 16 goals and 17 assists in 68 games.
On the surface, Safonov looks like a tough fit for the opening-night NHL roster, and AHL Abbotsford would seem the likeliest starting point. Still, he said he won’t head back home at the first challenge, which points to at least some time in the minors in 2026-27.
As for Calgary, GM Craig Conroy told Sportsnet’s Eric Francis that the Flames do not plan to add anyone else to training camp on a PTO beyond winger Alex Nylander. Conroy also addressed some uncertainty around veteran Jonathan Huberdeau, but he said he wants to give younger players a chance to compete for a roster spot. With Calgary looking like a team that is likely to miss the playoffs again, that kind of approach makes sense as the Flames try to learn what their prospects can actually give them.
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Lekkerimaki Arrives At Canucks Camp Facing One Crucial Test
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For Vancouver, the important part now is not simply that Lekkerimki is healthy again, but how he handles the pace and demands of camp after missing so much time. He sounded optimistic about both his recovery and his opportunity with the team, and the next stretch will tell the Canucks whether his offseason progress translates into a real push for a larger role. [Read more 🡒]