Around the NHL: Canadiens’ Suzuki excited about new direction, Panthers’ Tkachuk out until 2026

Welcome back to our last Around the NHL of August. The NHL’s offseason continues for another few weeks, as training camps are just around the corner. While the summer hasn’t necessarily been as busy with blockbuster-type transactions, there’s been plenty of entertainment throughout the 2025 offseason.

Looking ahead to 2025-26, every team is excited for the potential of what they could accomplish, including the Montreal Canadiens. There’s also multiple teams who will be dealing with some adversity to start the year, which is something the Florida Panthers seem used to at this point. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs have several potential trade candidates who could be moved throughout training camp.

Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Montreal Canadiens captain happy GM added more talent

Nick Suzuki is ready for his team’s new direction. The Montreal Canadiens captain was getting sick and tired of seeing his general manager Kent Hughes selling off trade assets, instead of adding top-end talent. There’s a new direction in Montreal, and frankly, for Habs’ fans, there’s some exciting times on the horizon.

Suzuki applauded Hughes adding top-pair defenceman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in a draft-day trade, and the team also added Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues, which will help balance out their top-nine up front. The vibes are very high for the Canadiens heading into training camp.

“It’s exciting,” Suzuki told The Athletic’s Arpon Basu. “We’ve been trading guys away for a long time, so now that we’re adding guys – really good NHL players – to the team, it’s exciting for everyone. Talking to Dobber and Bolduc coming in, they’re really excited to join the group. It’s an exciting time for the Canadiens, the players, and the fans can all see that. Now I’m just excited to get the season going.”

Suzuki is ready to build off a career season, one which he collected an impressive 89 points. With a full season of Ivan Demidov, along with an improving Juraj Slafkovsky, and a potential very motivated Patrik Laine, who is entering a contract season, the Canadiens are going to be one of the more entertaining teams in the league. While expectations have increased from the outside world, Suzuki made it very clear the players in the dressing room have had lofty expectations for quite some time now.

“(Last year) our expectations for ourselves were higher than the media and the fans had, so I don’t think it’s any different this year. I want to be in the same spot or better. I think we have the team to do that.”

Matthew Tkachuk undergoes surgery, could be out until January

The Florida Panthers will be defending their second Stanley Cup without Matthew Tkachuk to start next season. The pesky power forward underwent offseason surgery, and according to the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, it’s likely Tkachuk doesn’t return to action until the start of 2026.

Tkachuk has battled through several different injuries throughout the course of the past couple of seasons and somehow the Panthers have managed to weather the storm. He revealed he was dealing with a torn adductor and sports hernia to end last season, meanwhile, still helped push the Panthers to another Stanley Cup, collecting 23 points in 23 playoff games.

The Panthers are once again the team to beat as not only did they win another Cup, GM Bill Zito also won the offseason re-signing Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad to long-term contracts. With Tkachuk out of the lineup until likely January, look for the Panthers to give some more ice-time to 23-year-old Anton Lundell and 26-year-old Eetu Luostarinen.

Quick hits from around the NHL:

• Maple Leafs defenceman Matt Benning admitted he’s going to give it his all at training camp to not only impress GM Brad Treliving, but to also put on a showcase to other general managers in hopes of a change of scenery to more ice time. Nick Robertson and Philippe Myers are also in tough to crack the roster and could be dealt throughout training camp.
• Blackhawks’ Frank Nazar signed a $46.2 million seven-year contract extension after having just 56 NHL games under his belt.
• Speaking of the Blackhawks, Connor Bedard was eligible to sign a contract extension July 1st and didn’t, and according to Frank Seravalli, the two sides are going to be patient putting together this next deal.
• Daily Faceoff listed out five players who they felt could have big 2025-26 seasons, including Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks, Brandt Clarke of the L.A Kings, Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars, Will Cuylle of the New York Rangers.
• Panthers signed depth centre Luke Kunin to a one-year contract. Kunin was on the Maple Leafs’ radar ahead of last season’s trade deadline before being shipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• Dallas Stars’ forward Roope Hintz feels his foot is 100% healed after recent surgery, and he’ll be 100% come training camp next month.