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It appears that the Flames will be parting ways with one of their prospects. James Mirtle of The Athletic reports (X link) that the team has placed forward Ilya Nikolaev on unconditional waivers, a move that is generally made to pave the way to terminate a player’s contract.
The 23-year-old was a third-round pick by Calgary back in 2019, going 88th overall. Nikolaev spent the next two seasons in Russia before coming to North America for the 2021-22 campaign, where he joined USHL Tri-City. A strong showing there that saw him record 23 goals and 49 assists in 58 regular season games helped earn him an entry-level deal soon after.
However, things haven’t gone well for Nikolaev since then. He spent his first two professional seasons split between AHL Calgary and ECHL Rapid City. In 2022-23, he played the bulk of his outings with the latter, while last season, it was the other way around. The hope was that he’d at least be able to move up to the AHL level full-time this year, but that didn’t happen. Nikolaev got into a pair of games with the Rush plus nine more with the Wranglers, where he had four assists, but clearly, he hadn’t cemented a full-time spot with them yet.
Nikolaev is in the final season of his entry-level contract, and with how things had been going to this point, he was likely heading for a non-tender in June. Assuming that he clears waivers on Friday, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent and will likely look for another opportunity overseas. Once the deal is terminated, he’ll come off Calgary’s contract list, which will bring them down to 45 out of the maximum of 50.
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Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
The Chicago Blackhawks, a crowded goaltending situation and trade rumors involving the Edmonton Oilers have fans wondering if the Stars' rivals could soon upgrade their crease before training camp. With training camp approaching, Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson has five goalies under contract, including Spencer Knight, Arvid Soderblom, Drew Commesso, newly signed Stanislav Berezhnoy, and veteran Laurent Brossoit. Only two NHL roster spots are available, which has fueled speculation that Brossoit could be moved to a contender, with Edmonton emerging as a leading candidate. For Stars fans, seeing the Oilers potentially bolster their crease should raise eyebrows. Edmonton, fresh off a deep playoff run, is looking to avoid the same issues that hurt them late in the postseason. "The Blackhawks have too many goalies and not enough spots, and Brossoit's contract and experience make him a natural trade chip for a team like the Oilers."-Julien Trekker Chicago's goalie logjam and Berezhnoy's recent signing are detailed further at NHL.com. Dallas could see its rival upgrade as Blackhawks explore trading Laurent Brossoit Brossoit, 32, carries a $3.3 million cap hit for one more season. Drafted by Calgary in 2011, he's appeared in 140 NHL games, including time with Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Vegas, where he helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023. While Chicago decides, Drew Commesso continues to push for NHL time after posting a .911 save percentage over 39 AHL games. For a deeper look at Commesso's performance, his full profile is on Elite Prospects. I think if Edmonton lands Brossoit or even Commesso, Dallas may have to plan around a deeper Oilers team come playoff time, especially given how tight the Western race looks on paper.
Green Bay Packers Make Major Position Change, in Hopes of Replacing Jaire Alexander
The Green Bay Packers are going to extreme lengths to replace former Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was released earlier this spring before signing with the Baltimore Ravens. After trying wide receiver Bo Melton out at cornerback during minicamp practices earlier this summer, the Packers appear to have made that position change official, as training camp gets underway. Packers Making Bo Melton a Cornerback During the first practice of training camp, Melton, who the Packers originally signed in December, 2022, was working with the cornerbacks and has officially changed positions. As the summer kicks into gear, the Packers need to figure out how to add quality depth at cornerback not just to replace Alexander but also fill out a depth chart at a position that’s critical in defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme. Prior to changing positions, Melton had caught 24 passes, through his first 22 career NFL games, for 309 yards and one touchdown. However, given the influx of young talent at wide receiver and a desperate need at cornerback, head coach Matt LaFleur, Hafley, and the Packers clearly believe that the 5-foot-11 and 189-pound former Rutgers standout has a clearer path to the field and adds more value in the secondary than at wide receiver.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger's Bold Prediction Sets Steeler Nation On Fire For 2025 NFL Season
The Pittsburgh Steelers have some interesting expectations for the 2025 NFL season. After many fans were hopeful that the team would commit to a rebuild and begin preparing for the future, General Manager Omar Khan did the impossible. He orchestrated an impressive offseason that not only laid the foundation for long-term success, but also made the roster significantly better in the short-term. Khan’s approach brought in experienced veterans, addressed major roster holes, and added young talent through the draft. While the Steelers have certainly set themselves up for the future, this team is built to win right now. The biggest question mark remains Aaron Rodgers. At 41 years old, his ability to stay healthy and perform at a high level will be the ultimate factor in how far this team can go. On his podcast Footbahlin, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger shared a surprising and bold take. He believes the 2025 season is 'Super Bowl or bust' for Pittsburgh. Citing the strength of the roster and the urgency created by Rodgers’ limited window, Roethlisberger’s comments have fired up Steeler Nation and added even more intensity to an already pressure-filled season. "I anticipate big things this year..." Roethlisberger said on Tuesday's episode. "When Coach Tomlin built this team, there was no way that they're saying that .500, that's not even on the table right now. This team right now is built, what Coach Tomlin has built, is a Super Bowl or bust team, in my opinion." Roethlisberger didn’t hold back, and while he didn’t want to add unfair pressure, he made one thing clear. In his eyes, this roster can win a Super Bowl in 2025. The pressure is on for the Steelers to deliver, but at the very least, Mike Tomlin must win a playoff game this season. If he doesn’t, the fan base is likely to go crazy and continue their calling for his termination. "I don't want to sit there and say that anything short of that is a failed season," Roethlisberger said. "Because that seems like that's unfair pressure, but it also feels like that's what they've built for. And so it's not about just getting to the playoffs. And it's not even just winning a playoff game. That's a step up and that's great, but that can't be what is the final goal of this team. It can't be that. This team is built right now to go to a Super Bowl and to win a Super Bowl. And so it needs to happen." Tomlin has remarkably never had a losing season in his 18 years as the Steelers' head coach. That is an incredible accomplishment, especially in a league built for parity. However, even with that level of consistency, it is hard to ignore the glaring issue. Tomlin has not won a playoff game in nearly a decade. That is a shocking reality for a franchise that is used to deep postseason runs and competing for Super Bowls. For many fans, that kind of drought is simply not acceptable. Steelers Are 110% Capable Of Winning The Super Bowl In The 2025 NFL Season Tomlin’s last playoff win came during the 2016 season, and that needs to change as soon as possible. That is part of the reason the Steelers went all in this offseason. They did not just make a few tweaks to the roster. They made bold and aggressive moves in an effort to break through. The addition of Rodgers and the focus on building a complete, veteran-ready team showed that Pittsburgh is tired of falling short when it matters most. While every season can be viewed as Super Bowl or bust, hearing Roethlisberger say it out loud adds weight to that belief. He has no reason to sugarcoat anything, and if he believes the Steelers are capable of winning it all, fans have every reason to feel excited. The expectations are sky-high and the pressure is real.
The 'Most recent 4,000-yard passer by NFL team' quiz
Happy 32nd birthday to Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott! Dak Prescott has been statistically productive as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, but he knows that isn't nearly enough to make Cowboys fans happy. Prescott is heading into his 10th NFL season and while he's helped lead the Cowboys to five postseason appearances, he's still yet to lead them back to either the NFC title game or Super Bowl. Injuries have hampered him on multiple occasions in his career, including in 2024 when his season was cut short after just eight games due to a hamstring injury. With training camp underway, Prescott explained how badly he wants to brink the Lombardi Trophy back to Dallas. "I'd give the money I make to win and be broke," he said. Which brings us to today's quiz. How many of the players to throw for 4,000 yards in a single season most recently for each NFL franchise can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
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