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This week we're covering four rising stars across both the NHL and PWHL prospect pipelines. We start with Finnish two-way defender Nelli Laitinen, PWHL Hamilton's first-ever draft pick (6th overall, 2026) out of the University of Minnesota, breaking down her Olympic pedigree with Team Finland and her transition from steady defender to legitimate offensive threat. Then we shift to Vancouver Goldeneyes' late-round pick Ashley Messier, a former Minnesota Duluth alternate captain and true underdog story fighting for a pro roster spot. On the men's side, we scout Anaheim Ducks second-round pick Mathis Preston, a dynamic WHL winger out of the Vancouver Giants whose draft stock cratered and rebounded within a single season, and Boston Bruins first-rounder James Hagens, the former consensus No. 1 prospect turned NHL rookie center. Full scouting breakdowns, stats, strengths, weaknesses, and outlooks for all four — a can't-miss episode for PWHL draft fans, NHL prospect hounds, and anyone tracking the next generation of pro hockey talent.

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In the latest episode, the guys start things off discussing Connor Bedard being named next captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. Then discussions transition to the Detroit Redwings, how they still don't have an official GM and what that means for the pending Dylan Larkin trade request.

Then out of the first break Ryan gives his analysis on prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and for the first time ever the guys branch out to PWHL prospects and Ryan talks about Leila Edwards.

Next, it's time for Michael to discuss prospect Ryan Roobroeck, a promising young talent within the Chicago Blackhawks organization. After that he gives his PWHL prospect, Abbey Murphy.

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In this week’s episode of Breaking Into the League, Michael and Ryan kick things off with a busy slate of NHL news. The guys react to Fraser Minten signing his new deal with the Boston Bruins, break down the surprising move of Chris Kreider being waived by the Anaheim Ducks, leading to talks about the remaining free agents including one player Michael really wishes the Chicago Blackhawks would take a swing on.

After promising a Canada‑focused episode last week, the boys deliver. Michael opens the prospect segment with a deep dive into Michael Hage, one of the most exciting young centers in the Montreal Canadiens pipeline. Then, after the break, Ryan takes over with his analysis of Artur Akhtyamov, the rising goaltending prospect in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.

From breaking news to prospect scouting, this episode is packed with insight, debate, and a full spotlight on the future of Canadian hockey.

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Welcome back to Breaking Into the League — the show where Michael and Ryan dive into the biggest storylines shaping the NHL and the future of the game. In today’s episode, the guys open with a look around the league, starting with the major news out of Anaheim: the Ducks are officially retiring Ryan Getzlaf’s jersey, cementing one of the most respected careers of the modern era.

From there, the conversation shifts to leadership — specifically, who should wear the “C” next for the Chicago Blackhawks, and which direction the Colorado Avalanche should go when the day comes to name a captain after Gabriel Landeskog’s retirement. The guys even throw the question back to the fans, asking who they want to see take over the role in Denver.

Then it’s prospect time. Ryan breaks down the electric, fast‑rising game of Zayne Parekh, while Michael spotlights Porter Martone, a potential superstar in the making and one of the most exciting young power forwards in the league.

To close out the show, the guys tackle a classic debate: Which Canadian team will be the next to win the Stanley Cup? They go through the contenders, the pretenders, and the teams that might be closer than people think.

Another packed episode full of insight, debate, and future‑of‑the‑league conversation — let’s get into it.

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In this episode, Michael and Ryan dive into one of the biggest storylines in the NHL: Connor Hellebuyck officially requesting a trade out of Winnipeg. The guys break down the most realistic landing spots for the former Vezina winner, including why the Chicago Blackhawks make more sense than people think and why the San Jose Sharks could be a sneaky sleeper team in the mix.

Then, the show shifts to prospect talk, spotlighting two emerging young talents. Michael and Ryan dissect the evolving game of Kevin Korchinski, the dynamic, puck‑moving defenseman in Chicago’s system, and Oliver Bonk, the rising two‑way blueliner developing inside the Philadelphia Flyers pipeline. From strengths and weaknesses to long‑term projections, the duo breaks down what makes each player stand out — and what their paths to the NHL might look like.

A mix of trade speculation, prospect analysis, and sharp hockey insight — Episode 5 keeps the momentum rolling.

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In this episode of Breaking Into the League, We break down two standout prospects making noise in their respective systems: Hunter Haight of the Iowa Wild and Nick Lardis of the Chicago Blackhawks. We dig into Haight’s play-driving ability, his growth in the AHL, and how his offensive instincts translate to the next level. Then we shift to Lardis — a speed-first winger with a lethal shot and one of the most intriguing long-term upside plays in Chicago’s pipeline.

We also learned that the Hartford Whalers were indeed from Connecticut and NOT Canada.

If you’re tracking the future of the NHL, this episode gives you a clear, detailed look at where both players are trending.

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(apologies for the poor audio on this week's episode. we switched studios and were unaware of the issues until afterward)

In this episode of Breaking Into the League, we break down two rising NHL prospects: Taylor Makar and Finn Harding. We dive into Makar’s evolving power-forward game, his development path, and what his ceiling could look like as he pushes toward the pros. Then we shift to Harding — a smart, steady defender whose poise, skating, and decision‑making make him one of the more intriguing blue‑line names to watch.

If you’re tracking future NHL talent, this episode gives you everything you need to know about where these two players stand and what might come next.

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In today's episode we cover two emerging prospects; Ivan Stenberg and Beckett Hamilton. We also discuss news from around the league, including Patrick Kane rejoining the Blackhawks, Dylan Larkin trade rumors and predict where we think he will end up.