• Associated Press

Dec 3, 2025, 12:21 PM ET

    • 1 Related

    “I didn’t live it with him last year, but I did talk to our leadership group here and what I did know is just how hard he [worked] and the effort that he put in to come back last year and how diligent he was,” Gulutzan said. “He’s a great leader for us, and he’s a great pro and he’s been a guy, quite frankly, that I’ve been maybe the most impressed with — just his leadership ability when I’ve come in here.”

    Nathan Bastian was expected to take Seguin’s spot in the lineup Tuesday night at the New Jersey Devils. Long term, the team hopes center Matt Duchene is able to help fill the void once he returns from his injury.

    That could come “sooner than later” if Duchene’s current progress continues, according to Gulutzan.

    “You’re going to have to have other guys step up,” Gulutzan said. “If Duchy comes back, he’s going to have to take some of that. [Mavrik Bourque is] going to get more opportunity. There’s going to be more opportunity for more guys, and then you’re going to see who takes it. So, you’re not really pigeonholing anybody. You’re just seeing who grabs it.”