Both J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin had to shake off some rust during the New York Rangers’ season opener on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Miller suffered a lower-body injury during the second half of training camp and missed the last few games of the preseason and multiple practices. 

On Tuesday night, Miller just didn’t look right, and he admitted that he’s still working through his injury. 

“Not great. Kind of what I expected,” Miller said about how he was feeling during the Rangers’ first regular-season game. “Legs were heavy today. I haven’t been having a whole lot of reps, but that'll come with time. I know I'll be better next game.”

Panarin also suffered a lower-body injury during training camp, which caused him to miss the entirety of the preseason. 

It’s unclear whether Panarin is one hundred percent healthy or not, but the months without participating in any game action were clearly evident in his play. 

“It’s not an excuse, but obviously first game played in like five months, it’s not easy, but it is what it is,” Panarin said. “Try being better next game.”

Mike Sullivan is not worried about his two-star forwards. 

The Rangers' head coach believes the time Miller and Panarin missed did impact them, but it’s only a matter of time before they return to their regular form.

Matt Rempe Is Being Given An Opportunnity To Show He's More Than Just An Enforcer It feels as if Matt Rempe is transforming into more than just an enforcer right before our very eyes. 

“We're gonna have to take it day by day. Obviously, J.T. missed a fair amount of training camp, as did Bread,” said Sullivan. “So, those two guys are jumping on a moving train, and when you miss that much time, it's not easy to jump back into an NHL game at NHL pace, even from a conditioning standpoint. 

“I think those guys will get better with every game they play. I think they'll get better with timing and reads and all of those things. We'll take each day as it comes, and we'll try to manage it accordingly.”

Miller and Panarin are both set to play on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres.

The new interesting batch of NHL rookies look to make their mark early in the season.

Whether it's a Calder Trophy front-runner or a surprise addition to the roster, over two-thirds of the NHL's squads had rookies on the opening day roster.

After looking at the Western Conference earlier, let’s examine those in the Eastern Conference.

Boston Bruins

Fraser Minten (C/LW)

Minten appeared in the Bruins' season opener on Wednesday. Although he was held off the scoresheet, he generated a couple of scoring chances, according to naturalstatrick.com. The Bruins acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs last trade deadline, and while he projects as a third-line center down the road, he may have already earned that role. Minten can make some simple but smart plays on offense.

Carolina Hurricanes

Alexander Nikishin (D)

Nikishin joined the Hurricanes for the playoffs last year after scoring 46 points in 61 KHL games, but he'll play his first regular-season NHL matchups this fall.

Nikishin had the most goals by a defenseman in the KHL in 2023-24 and the most points by a defenseman in 2023-24 and 2024-25. In the pre-season, he had a goal and three points in four games. While it may be tougher to score from the blueline in the NHL than the KHL, we'll see whether Nikishin can keep up his scoring on a pair with Shayne Gostisbehere.

Detroit Red Wings

Emmitt Finnie (LW), Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (RW), Axel Sandin-Pellikka (D)

With three rookies on the roster to open the season, the Red Wings are finally inserting the young talent fans have been waiting for. The most surprising of the bunch is 2023 seventh-round pick Emmitt Finnie. His hard-working game and the chemistry he’s shown with the Wings’ top players has given him not only the chance to make the roster but play on the top line. He’s going to be the worker in the corners and at the net front, allowing the stars to do their thing, but he’s playing his role.

Brandsegg-Nygard and Sandin-Pellikka making the roster already was a bit of a surprise, but they certainly earned it in camp.

Brandsegg-Nygard is a true do-it-all winger who can play in the middle six and provide a nice blend of skill and physicality. Sandin-Pellikka is a silky smooth puck-moving defender who can be used on the power play as well as driving some offense from the back end at even strength. The two first-rounders are set to be exciting additions to this team and could be the type of pieces that help get them back into post-season contention.

Montreal Canadiens

Ivan Demidov (RW), Oliver Kapanen (C), Jakub Dobes (G)

The Calder Trophy is Ivan Demidov’s to lose in the eyes of most around the hockey world. The incredibly dynamic and skilled Russian winger showed us exactly why he was such a highly touted prospect when he joined the Habs last season. He immediately electrified the Habs' fan base and brought a level of skill to the lineup that they haven’t had in a long time. Demidov’s rookie season could be one of the best we’ve seen in years. It’s certainly going to be fun to watch.

Oliver Kapanen made the lineup as a moderate surprise, but his responsible two-way play and sound pro-style game earned him a spot in camp. He got a shot on the second line with Demidov and Alex Newhook in the season opener. Kapanen will be the defensive presence for two guys who can fly up and down the ice.

New Jersey Devils 

Arseny Gritsyuk (RW)

The Twittersphere has long been a fan of the uber-skilled and silky smooth Arseny Gritsyuk. His highlights have been a fixture online for a few years now, so there are heightened expectations for the young Russian now that he’s in New Jersey. He’ll start in the bottom six, but expect him to find his way into scoring roles as the season goes on. 

New York Islanders

Matthew Schaefer (D), Maxim Shabanov (LW)

The first overall pick this past June is going from 26 total games spread over the OHL and international competition last season to a likely top four role in the NHL. Schaefer is a stellar two-way defender who has the mobility and intellect to jump right into the league. He could assert himself as the Isles’ best defenseman by season’s end.

Shabanov joins the Islanders as a 25-year-old rookie after a few really solid years in the KHL. Although undersized, his skill and hockey sense allow him to constantly find himself in position to make plays in the offensive end. He could be a sneaky dark horse Calder candidate.

New York Rangers

Noah Laba (C)

Despite Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann being expected to make the team, the Rangers seemed to shock everyone when those two were sent to the AHL and Noah Laba was the lone rookie to play for them on opening night.

Laba joined the AHL's Hartford Wolfpack last year after his junior college season and looked solid. His pre-season was very good with the Rangers, and he earned him a bottom-six center role to open his first full pro season. He must continue to earn his spot, but the Rangers may have found a sneaky addition. 

Philadelphia Flyers

Adam Ginning (D), Nikita Grebenkin (RW), Jett Luchanko (C)

After making the roster out of camp last year before getting sent back to the OHL, Jett Luchanko looks to be in a similar spot as last season. He isn’t promised a spot, and he will have to earn his role, likely in the bottom six.

He and Nikita Grebenkin appear to be healthy scratches to start the season, but we could see both of them unseat veterans on the way to full-time spots in the lineup.

Adam Ginning is a bit of a surprise to make the roster, but a weak blueline and a strong camp earned him a job on the third pair.

NHL Rookies Who Made Opening Day Lineups In The West: Sennecke, Misa, Savoie And MoreThe new NHL season brings a new crop of rookies.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Ville Koivunen (LW), Ben Kindel (C/W), Harrison Brunicke (D), Arturs Silovs (G)

The Pens are welcoming in a trio of young, talented players, headlined by Ben Kindel, the 11th overall pick in this past June’s draft. A highly talented playmaker who really seems to understand the nuances of how to generate offense, Kindel has had an outstanding training camp and earned the third-line center job. 

Ville Koivunen was acquired in the Jake Guentzel trade a couple of years ago, and he’s been gifted the opportunity to play alongside Sidney Crosby to start the season. His intelligence and tactical play could make him a perfect fit alongside the franchise legend. 

On the back end, Brunicke has found his way onto the roster a year after being drafted. His game is built around his skating and mobility. It will be interesting to see how he handles the physicality of the NHL.

Brunicke and Kindel may only see the nine games a player can see without burning a year of their entry-level contract, but it will be invaluable experience for both of them.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Jack Finley (C)

The Lightning need some young talent to play roles in their lineup as the Stanley Cup core starts to age. Finley won’t be a stud for this team, but he has been on the rise over the last couple of seasons, and now, he looks like a guy fully capable of playing minutes in the bottom six. He has been getting plenty of praise in camp for his faceoffs and his power game. 

NHL Calder Trophy Tracker: Canadiens' Demidov Leads Pre-Training Camp Rookie RaceThis year's NHL Calder Trophy race will be fun, and we're getting closer to the start line.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Easton Cowan (RW)

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't added an impact rookie in quite some time. Easton Cowan has the potential to be that kind of player, but it might be a year early. He looks slated to play in the bottom six after looking very good alongside Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton. With the injury to the latter, Cowan is a victim of the roster shuffle it seems as he starts as the 13th forward. If he doesn't find his way into the lineup, the AHL could be the landing place, but for now, he's on the NHL club. 

Washington Capitals

Ryan Leonard (RW)

We saw glimpses of the bull in a china shop that Ryan Leonard is at the end of last season but it never fully came together offensively for the former NTDP star. With a full summer of training and the experience of a short stint to end last season, we should see Leonard take a big step as he plays a full-time role with the Washington Capitals. His blend of physicality and skill is unbelievable at times and if he can find his groove, he’s going to be a handful. 

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will try and get to 2-0-0 this season when they host the New York Islanders on Thursday night. 

This will be the home opener for the Penguins after they defeated the New York Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday. The Penguins did a great job limiting the Rangers' offensive attack and hardly gave up any prime scoring chances. Justin Brazeau scored two goals in the win, including the game-winner at the end of the first period. Blake Lizotte also added a goal at the end of the third period to ice the game. 

There will be a couple of lineup changes for the Penguins on Thursday, including one up front. Filip Hallander is set to make his season debut on the third line with Benjamin Kindel and Tommy Novak. Philip Tomasino was rotating on the fourth line during Wednesday's practice and could be the odd-man out for Hallander. 

Tristan Jarry will also replace Arturs Silovs in goal after Silovs recorded a shutout against the Rangers on Tuesday. 

Here's a look at the expected lines and pairings:

Forwards

Koivunen-Crosby-Rakell

Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau

Novak-Kindel-Hallander

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defensemen

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Jones-Brunicke

Goaltenders

Jarry

Silovs

The Penguins will get to go against 2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer in this contest. He made the Islanders' 23-man roster out of training camp and is set to play on the third pair with Scott Mayfield. 

The Islanders won three of the four meetings against the Penguins last year and have won seven of the last 10 regular season games against them. 

Puck drop for Thursday's game will be at 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. 

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 4 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Jersey #4 is one of the more popular numbers to be worn.

Let's take a look at who wore 4, and where they are now

Lyle Odelein - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Montreal in 1986. 

The first-ever Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Odelein played 146 games and had 33 points. He retired in 2006 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Bryan Berard - 2006-2007 - Drafted by Ottawa in 1995. 

Berard played 55 games as a Blue Jacket and had 35 points. The former #1 overall pick in 1995 had an up-and-down career and retired in 2009 after playing a year in the KHL.

Clay Wilson - 2008-2009 - Undrafted out of Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota.

Wilson played 7 games in Columbus and had three points. He retired in 2020 after playing one season in the Ukraine. 

Nathan Paetsch - 2010 - Drafted by Washington in 2001 and then drafted by Buffalo in 2003. (re-entry)

He played 10 games as a Jacket and had zero points. He never played another NHL game after Columbus and retired in 2019 after spending several seasons in the AHL. 

Sami Lepistö - 2011 - Drafted by Washington in 2004. 

Lepistö played 19 games and had 5 points. He left for Europe in 2012 and played there until he retired in 2023. 

John Moore - 2012-2013 - Drafted by Columbus in 2009.

Moore only played 86 games in Columbus and had 8 points. On April 3, 2013, Moore was included in the Derick Brassard deal with the New York Rangers that brought Marián Gáborík to Columbus. 

He last played for the Anaheim Ducks.

On March 19, 2022, Moore was involved in a trade that sent him to the Anaheim Ducks along with Urho Vaakanainen in exchange for Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks then attempted to trade both Moore and the rest of Ryan Kesler's contract to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Evgenii Dadonov and a conditional second-round pick at the NHL trade deadline on March 21, 2022. However, the deal was disputed due to a no-trade clause in Dadonov's contract. On March 23, the NHL officially cancelled the trade; therefore, Moore remained in the Ducks' organization.  

Kevin Connauton - 2015-2016 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2009. 

Connauton played 81 games and has 27 points as a CBJ. He currently plays for the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL.

Scott Harrington - 2018-2022 - Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2011

Harrington played 185 games for the Blue Jackets after being traded to Columbus by Toronto with a conditional pick in 2017 NHL Draft for Kerby Rychel on June 25, 2016. Those 185 games would be spread out over six seasons, with 2018-19 being the year he played the most games at 73. He scored 7 goals and totaled 37 points in his career with Columbus, with the 18-19 season being his most productive with 17.   

During his time in the Columbus organization, he would also play 52 games for the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 7 total points. 

Harrington would sign with San Jose in 2022 and then be traded to New Jersey in February of 2023. New Jersey would then put him on waivers a few days later, where he would be picked up by Anaheim and play 17 games. 

In 2023, Harrington would leave for Europe and play for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss League. After playing just 14 games in 23-24, he would return to North America for the 24-25 season and play for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL. 

Harrington is signed to play with the Belleville Senators of the AHL for this season. 

Vladislav Gavrikov - 2023 - Gavrikov was drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 NHL Draft.

Gavrikov played 256 games for the Jackets over the course of 4 seasons. He totaled 15 goals and 73 points. Gavrikov is widely considered one of the best late-round picks to ever play for the Jackets, despite his short time in Columbus. He played great defense and would always seem to show up on the scoreboard. 

After he signed a three-year, $8.4 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets in November of 2020, former GM Jarmo Kekäläinen would make the decision to trade Gavrikov to the LA Kings in March of 2023. A decision that a lot of CBJ hated and wondered why it happened. Kekäläinen knew Gavrikov was going to want a hefty raise and didn't want to pay him. 

Gavrikov signed a two-year extension with LA just a couple months after the trade. In the summer of 2025, Gavrikov would get his big contract. He signed a 7-year. $49-million deal with the New York Rangers, which will take him into his mid-30s. 

Cole Sillinger - 2024-2025 -Drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Silinger wore #34 for two years before switching to #4 before the 23-24 season. It's hard to believe that Cole Sillinger is going into his 5th NHL Season already. 

After scoring 31 points as a rookie, his second season was anything but good. Totaling just 11 points, he only played in 64 games and was demoted to AHL Cleveland. His third season was definitely a bounce-back year for young Sillinger. He would score 13 goals and total 32 points. 

Last season, even though his point total was just one better than the career-high 32 he hit the year before, it was considered a breakout year for Cole. He had 11 goals, which was 5 off of his career-high of 16, but he had 22 assists, which set a new career-high. He also set a career-high by playing 16:55 a game. He is the kind of player that Dean Evason loves. 

Sillinger is going into the final year of a two-year deal he signed a couple of years back, and then he will be an RFA. He will be looking to have another good year so that he can get a long-term deal. How many points will he get in 25-26?

He will more than likely be asked to play the wing as well as center if needed. Should he be willing to play anywhere, he could be an extremely valuable player for the Blue Jackets. 

There are four days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Who was your favorite #4?

Let us know what you think below.

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More From THN Columbus

Cleveland Monsters Sign Defenseman Will Butcher The Cleveland Monsters have announced that they've signed defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year AHL contract. Butcher has played 275 career NHL games.  Former Blue Jackets Forward Signs With Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers have announced that they have signed former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic. Cam Atkinson To Officially Retire As A Blue JacketThe Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson have formally announced that the forward will retire from the NHL on Thursday, October 16. He will sign a one-day contract with Columbus and thus end his NHL career. 

Former New Jersey Devil Michael McLeod has signed a three-year contract with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Avangard Omsk, the club announced Thursday.

The KHL's X account shared on October 9: “Michael McLeod is a Hawk once again!”

🇨🇦 Michael McLeod is a Hawk once again! pic.twitter.com/5DkTHoymRh

— KHL (@khl_eng) October 9, 2025

McLeod is no stranger to the KHL, having played last season with Barys and Omsk, where he recorded six goals and 13 assists in 35 games.

Before heading overseas, McLeod spent several seasons in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, totaling 29 goals and 56 assists in 287 games.

McLeod, along with Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart, faced criminal allegations related to Hockey Canada’s 2018 World Junior team. The players took leaves of absence from their respective teams during the legal proceedings.

All were found not guilty in July 2025. Per the NHL, McLeod became eligible to officially sign an NHL contract as of October 15, though he could agree to terms effective October 1.

At 27 years old, McLeod hasn’t played in the NHL in nearly two years. While reports were suggesting he might return and sign with the Carolina Hurricanes for the 2025–26 season, it is now confirmed that he will continue his career overseas.

REPORT: Former Devil Expected to Sign with HurricanesFormer New Jersey Devil Michael McLeod is expected to join the Carolina Hurricanes this season, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

The 12th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils will not return to the NHL this season, opting instead to continue playing internationally.

The day has arrived for the Detroit Red Wings, who officially begin their centennial campaign on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena. 

They'll be doing it in style with special centennial-themed uniforms that they'll not only wear for tonight's game but also on Saturday night's tilt against another historic Original Six rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

While the Red Wings will be celebrating their long and rich history all season long, 2025-26 will also mark yet another serious injection of youth into the Detroit lineup.

Rookies Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Emmitt Finnie, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka are the latest wave of young talent drafted by GM Steve Yzerman who will now look to help take the Red Wings to the next level.

Sandin-Pellikka was one of the most talked-about players in Detroit’s system, and thanks to his strong performances during Training Camp and the preseason, he earned a spot on the Opening Night roster against Montreal. He’ll be paired with Simon Edvinsson, who is coming off his first full NHL season.

Michael Whitaker (@mwhitaker_89) on X. @DetroitRedWings rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka officially begins his NHL career tonight, and will be paired with Simon Edvinsson, who is coming off his first full campaign in 2024-25. #LGRW

Following practice at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday morning, Sandin-Pellikka was beaming with excitement about his impending debut. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

"A lot of excitement, for me and my family," he said of his reaction when receiving the news that he'd made the final roster cut. "It's a dream come true. As a kid you want to play in the NHL. Just getting a chance to do it tonight is going to be very cool and I'm looking forward to it."

Just like fellow rookie teammates Brandsegg-Nygård and Finnie, Sandin-Pellikka will have multiple family members in attendance on Thursday. 

"My family is coming in with my dad and mom, my brother and sister, and my granddad and uncle," he explained. "I've got six people and it will be fun sharing it with them." 

The Red Wings have featured a wealth of Swedish-born talent throughout their history, most notably multi–Norris Trophy winner and former team captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who is widely considered the greatest defensemen in NHL history.

Sandin-Pellikka has leaned on the support from former Lidstrom teammate Niklas Kronwall, who is now a Development Coach with a focus on Swedish talent. 

"He's been helping me a lot and offered skills and video, just talking about his career and how that was," Sandin-Pellikka said of Kronwall. "It's been very helpful." 

Not only did Sandin-Pellikka prove himself worthy as a defenseman against other NHL players, but his puck-moving skills and attributes on the power-play helped make earning a roster spot possible.

Last season while playing with Skelleftea AIK, he earned himself numerous accolades, including being named the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year after leading all junior SHL players in goals and points. 

A regular on the blue line during power plays in Sweden, Sandin-Pellikka is in his element on the ice when the opposition is shorthanded, and he saw multiple minutes on the power-play with the Red Wings in pre-season play. 

"It's a fun challenge for me, playing the power play," he said. "I've always done that so I hope I still have the qualities for that. I'm feeling good for that." 

"It's Special": Todd McLellan Reflects On Meaning Of Being Part of The Red Wings The 2025-26 NHL Season has officially begun for several teams, and for the Detroit Red Wings, it will commence on Thursday evening against the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena. 

Sandin-Pellikka will begin his NHL career wearing jersey No. 44. He would have liked to have worn No. 5 as he did with Skelleftea AIK, but understandably, he knows it's unavailable.

Lidstrom wore No. 5 throughout his legendary career with the Red Wings, a tenure that included multiple Norris Trophy wins, four Stanley Cup championships, the 2002 Conn Smythe Trophy, and his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.

His No. 5 was raised to the rafters at Joe Louis Arena in 2014 and now hangs in Little Caesars Arena. Maybe one day, No. 44 will be placed alongside Lidstrom's retired jersey banner in the rafters.

"Hopefully!" he said with a grin. 

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After a great training camp and preseason, forward Hunter Haight was sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild.

The Wild had 13 forwards on the roster and Nico Sturm was progressing well and seemed healthy. But on Tuesday the Wild placed Sturm on the Injured Reserve along with Mats Zuccarello.

This opened the door for Haight and the Wild recalled him from the AHL.

Haight, 21, was the Wild's 47th overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft and played in his first season of professional hockey last year. He recorded 20 goals and 34 points in 67 games for Iowa last year.

The 5-foot-10 center will make his NHL Debut tonight on the road against the St. Louis Blues. He is expecting his parents and his girlfriend to be in attendance on Thursday.

"I feel great," Haight said. "I feel great coming into here, I think I'm ready and I'm just excited."

With Sturm out for quite some time, this has opened an opportunity to not only make his NHL debut but to make a name for himself in the NHL.

"Yeah, it's always an opportunity when you're here," Haight said on Wednesday. "I got to take full advantage of it and try and do what I can to help the team out."

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

- Wild Place Nico Sturm On Injured Reserve.

- Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild Claim Defenseman Daemon Hunt Off Waivers.

- Wild Sign Filip Gustavsson To A Five-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Out For Two Months With Lower-Body Injury.

The New Jersey Devils will play their first game of the 2025–26 season tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The two teams last faced one another in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. That series ended the Devils’ season when they fell 5–4 in double overtime to the Hurricanes in Game 5.

Now, the Devils are looking for revenge after that elimination. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET in Carolina.

Last season, the two teams met four times in the regular season and five times in the postseason.

Regular-Season Results

• Oct. 15 at Hurricanes – 4–2 L
• Nov. 21 vs. Hurricanes – 4–2 W
• Dec. 27 vs. Hurricanes – 4–2 W
• Dec. 28 at Hurricanes – 5–2 L

Playoff Results

• Game 1: Devils at Hurricanes – Lost 1–4
• Game 2: Devils at Hurricanes – Lost 1–3
• Game 3: Hurricanes at Devils – Won 3–2 (2OT)
• Game 4: Hurricanes at Devils – Lost 2–5
• Game 5: Devils at Hurricanes – Lost 4–5 (2OT)

Including playoffs, the Devils are 0–10 in their last 10 games played in Carolina, a streak they’ll look to end tonight.

Leading into the season, both teams wrapped up their exhibition schedules. The Devils went 3–2–2 in seven preseason games, while Carolina finished 1–3–2 in six.

Where to Watch

• TV: ESPN+ and Hulu
• Radio: Devils Hockey Network

At the morning skate, the Devils’ lines looked nearly identical to Wednesday’s session: 

Your first #NJDevils morning skate lineup ahead of facing the Hurricanes tonight:

• No changes from yesterday.
• Pesce set to play his 700th NHL game
• NHL debut coming up for Arseny Gritsyuk
• Devils debut for: Dadonov, Brown and Glendening pic.twitter.com/mgVJkVbA46

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) October 9, 2025

Morning Skate Lines

Evgenii Dadonov — Jack Hughes — Jesper Bratt

Timo Meier — Nico Hischier — Dawson Mercer

Ondrej Palat — Cody Glass — Connor Brown

Paul Cotter — Luke Glendening — Arseny Gritsyuk

Zack MacEwen

Luke Hughes — Brett Pesce

Jonas Siegenthaler — Dougie Hamilton

Brenden Dillon — Simon Nemec

Dennis Cholowski — (Noesen)

Goalies:

Jacob Markstrom, Jake Allen

The expected goaltending matchup is Frederik Andersen for Carolina versus Jacob Markstrom for New Jersey.

---

Milestone Moments

Tonight’s game will mark Brett Pesce’s 700th career NHL game. Pesce, who was a full participant in practice yesterday after missing time in training camp, will become the 20th player in NHL history to play his 700th game against the team that drafted him.

Pesce was originally selected by the Hurricanes, where he played for nine seasons before joining the Devils this offseason.

It’s also a milestone night for rookie Arseny Gritsyuk, who will make his NHL debut after spending most of his career in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Gritsyuk led the Devils in preseason scoring with five points (2 goals, 3 assists).

Three other players will make their Devils debuts tonight: Evgenii Dadonov, Connor Brown, and Luke Glendening, all appearing in the red and black for the first time.

After 163 days of waiting, Devils hockey is finally back, and the team will look to start the new season on the right foot tonight in Carolina.

Full-Circle Moment: Devils Open Season Against Hurricanes as Brett Pesce Returns to Carolina for His 700th NHL Game162 days later, the New Jersey Devils will once again face the Carolina Hurricanes, this time in Carolina.

This off-season, the St. Louis Blues and the Montreal Canadiens completed a trade, with the Blues sending winger Zachary Bolduc to the Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux.

In his first game with the Habs, Bolduc made his mark, scoring what was at the time the go-ahead goal in the second period. The 22-year-old forced a turnover on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson before scooping up a rebound off a Brendan Gallagher shot to make it 2-1. 

Bolduc finished the game with a goal, three shots on net and two hits in 13:34 of ice time. Bolduc also saw time on the first power play unit, but the Canadiens were unable to capitalize on any of their opportunities. 

Took one game for the Zachary Bolduc for Logan Mailloux trade to start paying off 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Oi9zvJ7cIb

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) October 9, 2025

The trade shocked many Blues fans, but it works for both teams. The Canadiens acquired Dobson, which made Mailloux's skill set unneeded to the organization, but the Blues required Mailloux's profile. In return, they felt that the depth of their prospects made Bolduc expendable, and the trade helped bolster the Canadiens' top nine. 

While judging the two off of one game isn't fair, it's the nature of a one-for-one trade. Mailloux hasn't even played an NHL regular season game yet with the Blues, as he'll do so tonight against the Minnesota Wild, but the Blues have liked what they've seen from the 22-year-old in pre-season and training camp. 

The offensive part of Mailloux's game has never been an issue, but his defensive capabilities have been lacking. Coach Jim Montgomery has worked hard with Mailloux to improve that aspect of his game, and the early indication from Montgomery is that he has improved and believes he is a full-time NHLer.

'It's His Job to Lose,' Blues GM Doug Armstrong With A Straightforward Message To Logan MaillouxThe St. Louis Blues' training camp has finally started, but prior to the first practices, GM Doug Armstrong spoke to the media, talking about several topics.

The Blues' bench boss has praised Mailloux's stick work, mentioning how he has done an excellent job of breaking up plays with his stick. He's also talked about how Mailloux is using his feet and awareness to be in better positions to negate offensive opportunities for his opponents. 

Mailloux will start the season with Tyler Tucker, and the two defenders believe they complement each other well. The goal is for the two to play physical hockey, safe in their own end, but pitch in offensively when the right opportunity arises. 

Tonight's game against the Wild is a difficult test, but the Blues believe Mailloux will pass with flying colors. 

Blues Have Experience On Defense, It Will Be Key For Tucker, Mailloux To Make Group WholeMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the puck drops on the 2025-26 season for the St. Louis Blues against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, they will introduce what they hope are a pair of mainstays on the blue line for some time.

For GM Kent Hughes, landing Noah Dobson on the first day of the NHL draft was an absolute coup. Right-shot defenseman in their prime rarely become available on the trade market. When the Montreal Canadiens’ brass heard that the New York Islanders had such a player available, they couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.

Not only were they able to acquire Dobson, but they also managed to ink him to an eight-year deal, which made him the highest earner on the team. Throughout training camp, Martin St-Louis had his new defenseman skate alongside Mike Matheson on his first pairing, which raised several questions.

Canadiens Looking For Better Result In Detroit
Three Takeaways As Canadiens Fall Short In Toronto
Canadiens Get Mixed Grades From The Athletic

Some believed that the pair wouldn’t be good enough defensively to handle the opponents’ best players night after night, but in the first real game of the season, the duo delivered. Granted, Dobson ended the night with a minus-one rating, but he was on the ice when the Toronto Maple Leafs scored their first empty net goal, which can hardly be hung at his door.

He spent 22:56 on the ice and looked calm and in control. Of those nearly 23 minutes, only 59 seconds were spent on the power play, which didn’t give him much of an opportunity to show off his offensive creativity. He had one shot on net, one attempt blocked, a blocked shot, and a single giveaway. Overall, it was a good game for the blueliner, and it should help silence the critics who were already ready to criticize his play after training camp.

Wednesday’s score gives the impression that the Maple Leafs had their way with the Canadiens, but it really wasn’t the case. Montreal dictated play for much of the game and was able to neutralize the Leafs’ best player, Auston Matthews. Yes, he scored a goal, but only once the Habs’ net was empty. That goal was the sole shot he was able to get on net during the game, which in itself shows that the Sainte-Flanelle did well.

Of course, one game is a small sample, but that first match showed why Hughes had to pounce when Dobson became available. His presence will also allow St-Louis to better manage Matheson’s and Lane Hutson’s ice time. In an ideal world, Dobson would have gotten on the scoresheet, but give it time, it’s coming, especially after a game that will have allowed him to build up some confidence.

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The Red Wings open up their regular season at home versus the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

The Detroit Red Wings open up their season Thursday at home versus the Montreal Canadiens, who are coming off a crushing 5-2 defeat in their first game of the season versus the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

This will be the 613th all-time meeting between the Red Wings and Habs with Montreal holding the upperhand historically with a 297-210-91-9 record. This trend continued last season when the Habs won three out of four games in the season series versus the Red Wings. We can expect a high-scoring affair as these two clubs have totalled over six goals in six of their last seven matchups. 

Lineup Storylines

Both teams have made significant changes to their lineup with Montreal adding a top end talent to their blueline with Noah Dobson as well as inserting more young talent into meaningful roles this season with center Oliver Kapanen, who scored his first NHL goal on Wednesday, and winger Ivan Demidov, who is the favorite to win the Calder trophy this season. 

Detroit will counter with an impressive wave of top prospects, including former first-round selections Axel Sandin-Pellikka on defense and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård on the right wing. Joining them is training camp and preseason standout Emmitt Finnie, a 2023 seventh-round pick who has transformed from an overlooked long shot into a projected top-line winger alongside captain Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. The last seventh round pick to rise up the rankings like Finnie has was Red Wings legend Henrik Zetterberg. All three of Detroit’s prospects will be making their NHL debut on Thursday. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Final Form? Red Wings Hint At Opening Night Lines During PracticeThe Detroit Red Wings were back at practice this morning at Little Caesars Arena, and the lines they skated with could give a good indication as to what things could look like on Opening Night this coming Thursday.

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (-133) | MTL ML (+110)

DET -1.5 (+170) | MTL +1.5 (-208)

O/U 6.0 Goals

A key player to watch for the Canadiens is standout defenseman Lane Hutson. Despite posting a -2 rating in Wednesday’s game against Toronto, he still showcased his high-end skill with several plays that generated quality scoring chances. Hutson has also fared well historically against Detroit, recording five points in six career games versus the Red Wings. On the other hand, a Canadiens player to approach with caution is Cole Caufield. The 24-year-old sniper has struggled against Detroit, managing just five points (three goals, two assists) over 11 career games against them.

For the Red Wings, expect Alex DeBrincat to be a major factor once again. Detroit’s leading scorer has excelled in this matchup, notching 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) over his last 17 games versus Montreal. His chemistry with linemate Patrick Kane should also be key as Kane has tallied 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 18 career games against the Canadiens. A Detroit player who may be worth fading is Marco Kasper. The 21-year-old center has faced Montreal four times and has yet to register a point.

Note: The Habs have dominated the sportsbooks when it comes to facing off against the Red Wings with a 12-3 record against the spread over their last 15 matchups, including a 9-3 record when listed as an underdog. An overtime bet might be worth an extra look as the Red Wings and Habs have seen 11 of their last 18 matchups decided by one goal with seven of the games needing extra time. 

Goalie Matchup

Montreal: Jakub Dobes (First Game VS DET, Last 19 Games: 8-6-3 record, 2.77 GAA, .906 SV%)

Detroit: John Gibson (VS MTL: 7-2-0 record, 2.29 GAA, .927 SV%)

Red Wings' Future Options Limiting As Star Free Agents Re-SignSuperstars Connor McDavid and Kyle Connor are no longer free agents next July, leaving smaller but still impactful group of targets for Red Wings to pick from. 

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The Columbus Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, have announced that they have signed former New Jersey Devils defenseman Will Butcher to an AHL deal for the 2025-26 season.

Butcher signing with the Monsters comes after he split the 2024-25 season between Barys Astana of the KHL and EHC Red Bull Munchen of the DEL. In 15 games with Barys Astana this past campaign, the 5-foot-10 blueliner recorded three assists and a minus-7 rating. He then had three goals, eight assists, 11 points, and a plus-7 rating in 32 games with EHC Munchen. 

Butcher kicked off his NHL career with the Devils after the Metropolitan Division club signed him during the 2017 NHL off-season. From there, he played four seasons with the Devils from 2017-18 to 2020-21, where he recorded 14 goals, 92 assists, 106 points, 239 blocks, and a minus-27 rating in 238 games. This included him posting career highs with five goals, 39 assists, and 44 points in 81 games with the Devils during his rookie year. This was good enough for him to make the 2017-18 NHL All-Rookie Team. 

Butcher's time with the Devils ended when he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the 2021-22 season. 

The day has finally arrived! After nearly six months, the Nashville Predators will return to the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST. 

The new season gives the Predators a fresh start after a disappointing campaign last season. This year's roster will face multiple new additions, including the Predators 2025 fifth overall pick, Brady Martin. 

With puck drop upon us, here is everything you need to know ahead of the Predators' season opener. 

Inactive players 

- Nashville defenseman Nicolas Hague is out with an upper-body injury until at least Oct. 23. 

- Nashville forward Matthew Wood is out with a lower-body injury until at least Oct. 11. 

- Nashville forward Luke Evangelista is still figuring out details with his newly signed contract and was listed as "non-roster" on the Predators' opening night roster announcement on Monday. 

- Columbus defenseman Luca Marrelli is out until at least Dec. 16 with a shoulder injury. 

- Columbus forward Jordan Dumais is out until at least Oct. 18 with a hip injury. 

Brady Martin to make NHL debut 

The Predators highest pick since 2013, Martin, is set to make his NHL debut on Thursday. Head coach Andrew Brunette confirmed on Wednesday that the center would play. 

Martin said he has around 30 family members in town to watch him play. He is expected to center the Predators top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly on the wings.

It's a big moment that's received some criticism, but the Predators feel confident in Martin's capabilities. 

Nashville Predators confident with Brady Martin centering Forsberg, O'Reilly line ahead of opening nightBrady Martin may have the biggest role of any rookie in the NHL on opening night. 

Predators eyeing a strong start to season 

A lot of the Predators hype from the 2024 offseason was derailed in October as they went 5-9-1 and lost their first five games. In wanting to have a chance to make the playoffs this season, the Predators will need to have a strong start out of the gate.

Nashville earned between both of its matchups against the Blue Jackets last season.

Its first meeting was one of the few games the Predators won in October, taking a 4-3 overtime win on Oct. 26. 

The second meeting was an 8-4 blowout victory in favor of the Blue Jackets on April 1. That loss was in the middle of a six-game Predators losing streak at the end of last season. 

Nashville has also not won on a traditional opening-night since 2019. It's win over Columbus to open the 2020-21 season was in January in an abbreviated 56-game season. The Predators win over the San Jose Sharks to start the 2022-23 season was part of a double-header played in Prague, Czechia. 

Nashville Predators Hope To Reverse Recent Opening Night StrugglesApr 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Projected Predators lineup 

Nashville 

Forwards 

Forsberg-Martin-O'Reilly

Kemell-Svechkov-Stamkos (potentially Evangelista at LW) 

Bunting-Haula-Marchessault 

Jost/Wiesblatt-McCarron-Smith

Defensemen

Wilsby-Josi

Skjei-Perbix

Stastney-Barron

Blankenburg 

Goaltender 

Juuse Saros 

How to follow along 

Game time: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. CST 

Where: Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn. 

Line (via MGM): Nashville -1.5, Columbus +1.5. Over/under 6 

TV/streaming: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.6 The Game

Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster starting at $37.50

 

A day into the 2025-26 NHL regular season, the depth of star talent potentially available in next summer's UFA market shrank considerably.

It began on Sept. 30, when the Minnesota Wild signed left winger Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year extension. Six days later, center Connor McDavid signed a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers.

Two more notable names came off the list on Wednesday, as the Winnipeg Jets re-upped Kyle Connor on an eight-year deal, followed by Jack Eichel agreeing to an eight-year extension with the Vegas Golden Knights.

That leaves New York Rangers left winger Artemi Panarin and Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky as the most noteworthy remaining talent.

Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30 and is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $11.642 million. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky is also finishing a seven-year deal, with an average annual value of $10 million.

Panarin reportedly turned down a team-friendly offer during the summer. As this season begins, he and Rangers management have kept mum about his contract status.

Despite Bobrovsky's age, the defending champion Panthers could re-sign him if he keeps them in the Stanley Cup hunt. George Richards of Florida Hockey Now speculated in August that he could get between $6.5 million and $7 million annually from the Panthers on a five- or six-year deal, or $8 million annually for four years.

Other UFA-eligible notables include Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas and Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch.

Reports: Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Signs Fifth-Richest Contract In NHL HistoryThe Vegas Golden Knights reportedly re-signed Jack Eichel to an eight-year contract extension.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Canadiens recently made an eight-year contract extension offer to Lane Hutson. The 21-year-old defenseman won the Calder Trophy last season and is in the final year of his entry-level contract.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman cited sources claiming that the Canadiens' offer was “slightly below 8 by $9 million,” adding that he believed Hutson wanted to sign a new deal before the start of this season.

The two reporters believed the Canadiens' offer had some salary deferral in it. At the same time, Friedman noted recent reports out of Montreal claimed they also pitched Hutson's camp on a Canadian retirement compensation arrangement (RCA) that many players used to soften the tax burden. However, neither option was of interest to the blueliner's representatives.

Both sides are reportedly pausing talks to let things cool down a bit. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes remains optimistic that an extension will be done at some point, reminding nervous Habs fans that Hutson isn't UFA-eligible until 2031.

The Canadiens hold most of the leverage in these negotiations. PuckPedia indicates that Hutson not only lacks arbitration rights coming off his entry-level deal but is also ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club next summer.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

It was midway through the third period of a tied game against the Montreal Canadiens, when Morgan Rielly decided to do something that didn’t do nearly enough last season.

He joined the rush. 

Following a turnover in the Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive end, Matthew Knies was sprung loose. The Canadiens gave chase. But so did Rielly, who sprinted up the ice and headed to the front of the Canadiens' net, where he then buried a pass in front for his first goal of the 2025-26 season.

“Everyone in here wants to play well the first game,” Rielly, who had a goal and an assist, said following Toronto’s 5-2 win against Montreal on opening night. “You work hard all summer and you just want to get off on the right foot.”

For Rielly, getting off on the right foot ultimately means using his feet. It's no secret that he's one of  Toronto’s best skaters. Only you wouldn't know it, because he rarely used that asset to his advantage last season.

But now that Mitch Marner is gone to Vegas, the Leafs are looking for offensive help wherever they can find it — even if that means relying on Rielly to be a sort of fourth forward.

“I thought he had a really good game,” said Leafs coach Craig Berube. “Skated well, moved the puck well, had good reads … he was solid tonight. It was great to see.”

'He Did Everything For Us': Morgan Rielly Renaissance Kicks Off As Maple Leafs Down Canadiens In Season Opener The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't have any turnover on their defense from last season to this one , but they still wanted to see improvement from their highest-paid and longest-tenured defenseman.

The Leafs will need to see more of it this season if they are going to build off of last year’s division-leading 108-point regular season. It can’t just be Auston Matthews and William Nylander carrying the offense, although those two did combine for a pair of goals and four points against the Canadiens.

Last year, the Leafs ranked last in the NHL in goals from their defense. Rielly, who led Toronto defensemen with seven goals and had 41 points, was tied for 39th. A lot of that had to do with Rielly losing his spot on the power play, as Toronto went with five forwards on the top unit.

But even so, in a league where Colorado's Cale Makar had 30 goals, Rielly's contributions weren't nearly enough. And he knows it. 

"I think I’ve been open and honest about all those conversations," said Rielly. "You train all summer and do what you can to be healthy as you can, you want to play hard, you want to play a team game. And so, here and now, our vibes here are good because we won. But we have a lot to work on."

In 2018-19, Rielly finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting after scoring a career-best 20 goals and 72 points. But in the six years since then, he’s combined for 29 goals and has never really been part of the conversation for best defenseman in the NHL.

'I Heard Them Early In My Career In A Negative Way': Maple Leafs React To Blue Jays-Fueled Fans At Scotiabank ArenaWhen Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman struck out New York Yankees left-fielder Cody Bellinger to win the ALDS, Maple Leafs fans — who were still inside Scotiabank Arena — let out a huge roar. So did whoever was controlling the Toronto Maple Leafs' goal horn.

Over the summer, Rielly and Berube had conversations about changing that and getting Rielly to get back to what made him so successful early on in his career. One game in, it appears to be working.

"I think that coming in, we tried to change the style of team — not so much run-and-gun, more controlling then game, good defense — and I think he took that to heart about trying to play good defense," Berube said of Rielly's play last season. "Sometimes when you do that, you’re not aggressive enough and you’re not jumping into the play because you don’t want to take chances as much. That may have been part of it.

"I thought he got better in the second half of the year and the playoffs, and he looked more like Morgan Rielly again."

It helps, added Berube, that Rielly is playing regularly with Brandon Carlo. Ever since the team acquired the stay-at-home defenseman from Boston at the trade deadline last year, Rielly no longer has to look over his shoulder to make sure someone else is manning the fort. In other words, Rielly has the green light to go.

“And that was one of the reasons to put Brandon Carlo with him," said Berube. "He’s really good at protecting his partner and doing all that stuff, so I think Mo’s got a lot more freedom and quite frankly when he came over here I thought Mo’s game changed.”

Tick Tock: A New Doomsday Clock Has McDavid And Matthews Heading To Free Agency In 2028Tick… tick… tick…

Part of the change has to do with the system that Berube is now preaching. He wants his defense to be more aggressive in the offensive zone. Of course, you can only be aggressive when you're feeling good about your game. And one game in, it's fair to say that Rielly is feeling pretty good.

“He’s confident with the puck, he’s making plays at both ends of the ice,” said goalie Anthony Stolarz. “I think he did a great job with his gaps and getting sticks on pucks and moving guys from in front… I think we can all see that the offensive talent is there and when he feels confident he can fly up the ice and join the rush like that. For him to get that goal, I think it’s huge for him and huge for us as a team.”

Now that big question: can it continue?

“We’re all trying to do it," said Rielly. "It’s a great first win, but lots to work on.”

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.