On Tuesday, the Detroit Red Wings found themselves at the center of two major storylines colliding at once with a major front office shake up that put assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff in the interim GM chair, and the arrival of the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, which is set to fundamentally reshape how contracts get done across the league. 

Detroit confirmed Horcoff will step in as interim general manager while also taking on general manager duties for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the club's AHL affiliate, putting him in position to navigate one of the more consequential moments in recent CBA history right out of the gate.

The timing of the move seemingly brings Horcoff in just ahead of Tuesday's midnight deadline when the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement officially kicks in, bringing with it several significant changes to how contracts can be structured. 

Detroit Red Wings name Shawn Horcoff interim General Manager | Detroit Red WingsDETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today appointed Shawn Horcoff as the club’s interim General Manager. Horcoff, who has served as the Red Wings Assistant General Manager alongside duties as General Manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins, will manage day-to-day roster decisions, salary cap, and hockey operations personnel for the

The rush of eight year contracts signed across the NHL over the past several days wasn't a coincidence. Teams and players alike were racing to beat the clock before the new rules took hold, since starting Tuesday, the maximum contract length shrinks to seven years for a player re-signing with his own team, and six years for a player signing elsewhere as a free agent.

The new agreement doesn't stop there as clubs will also lose the ability to defer salary on new contracts, and the practice of front loading deals, paying a player heavily in the early years to soften the cap hit later, will face much tighter restrictions. Together, those changes eliminate two of the more common tools teams have leaned on to manage the cap creatively.

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So if Detroit wants to use the current rules to its advantage in getting an Edvinsson extension done, whether that means tacking on an eighth year or structuring the deal with deferred or front loaded money, the window is closing fast, and the price tag isn't getting any cheaper while they wait. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the FAN Hockey Show on Monday, that he had heard earlier in the summer a bridge deal was on the table for Edvinsson, however with the recent mega signings around the league, the price point in that once negotiated deal may have jumped significantly.

The market for young defensemen shifted dramatically when the Vancouver Canucks signed 20-year-old Zeev Buium to an eight year, $75.04 million extension carrying a $9.38 million annual cap hit. With Edvinsson holding a stronger NHL track record than Buium at a similar stage of his career, it's fair to expect Detroit's young blueliner could command a deal in a similar range, and possibly a cap hit well into eight figures. 

Now with Horcoff finally sitting in the GM chair and Edvinsson being vocal that he has been waiting for the situation to settle itself and is interested in returning to the Red Wings, there is a chance the bargaining between the two parties can begin as early as right now, with Horcoff likely looking to make his stamp on the interim GM job a meaningful one by getting a much needed piece of business done before a pivotal deadline.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect Will Horcoff may not be moving anywhere this year as he heads back to the University of Michigan for a second full season, but his father is making some moves within his current front office.

On Tuesday, Will's father, Shawn - former center who played 15 NHL seasons - was named Interim General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings and General Manager of the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 47-year-old was previously the Assistant General Manager of the Red Wings.

As specified in a statement releaased by the organization, Horcoff's new duties will include daily roster decisions, issues concerning the team's salary cap, and managing hockey operations and personnel.

Shawn Horcoff Named Red Wings interim General ManagerAs Steve Yzerman shifts to an advisory role, the former captain takes the reins of daily hockey operations and roster management while Detroit hunts for a permanent successor.

This decision comes to bridge the gap with the search for a new permanent general manager, as Detroit announced earlier this summer that franchise legend Steve Yzerman would no longer serve as the team's general manager. As part of the Horcoff announcement, the Red Wings also confirmed what was already pretty much known about Yzerman transitioning to the role of Senior Advisor to the Governor and CEO, Chris Ilitch. 

Horcoff was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 1998 draft, and he spent 12 seasons with the Oilers and was, briefly, the team's captain. For the final three seasons of his NHL career, he played for the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks. In 1008 career games, Horcoff amassed 186 goals and 511 points. 

Will, 19, was selected 24th overall by the Penguins in 2025 and was recently named the organization's sixth-ranked prospect by THN - Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 6: Scoring Winger's Dominant NCAA Season Only The BeginningNext up on our 2026 THN Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a sniping winger who, if he can build out a more all-around game and continue to score goals at a torrid pace, could be a long-term top-six solution for the Penguins in the future.

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In 2016, Drake Batherson was passed over completely in the NHL Draft.

Ten years later, he's now the highest-paid player in Ottawa hockey history.

The Senators announced on Tuesday morning that the club has signed him to an eight-year contract extension, which carries a $10.75 million AAV.

As far as eight-year deals go, the two sides took it right down to the wire, because Sept. 15 is the last day of the NHL's current collective bargaining agreement. As of tomorrow, seven years becomes the maximum term.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the deal also includes $30 million in bonuses, which Puckpedia.com lays out like this:

Yr 1-2: $6M Salary, $6M Signing Bonus

Yr 3: $5M,$6M SB

Yr 4: $9M,$2M SB

Yr 5-6: $7.5M,$3M SB

Yr 7-8: $7.5M,$2M SB

There's a full no-move in the first four years. The next three years switch to a modified 20-team no-trade clause, and the final year is 15 teams.

“Drake exemplifies what it is to be an Ottawa Senator,” GM Steve Staios said in a club press release. “He was drafted and developed by our organization and has shown a commitment to wanting to be in Ottawa long-term. We view him as a key part of our core group.”

That commitment is a huge deal right now for the club and its fan base, which just watched another captain leave the club this summer. 

Staios let his hair down a little on social media early this morning, previewing today's big news with a playful video nod to Batherson's Lepine Apartment ads. As Batherson does in his commercials, Staios counted off his bicep curl reps using only the number 19.

Batherson is coming off the best season of his career, scoring 33 goals and 71 points. And while most of his teammates did not, Batherson also produced in this year's playoffs. In their first-round loss to Carolina, it could have been extra ugly without Batherson. The Sens scored only five goals in the entire series, but Batherson finished with three goals and an assist.

His salary is sure to shock some fans who are trying to get their heads around the big new money the league is doling out to its players.

Interestingly, the Washington Capitals handed Ryan Leonard almost the same deal on Tuesday morning, and he's played just one season in the league with 20 goals and 45 points. So Batherson's deal, in today's crazy NHL economy, isn't out of line at all. 

Batherson made it clear to me back in late May that he wanted to stay and ideally get something done this summer before the season. He reiterated those comments at the club's annual golf tournament a week ago.

He's now scheduled to be a Senator through the 2034-2035 season, when he'll be 37 years old and should have enough tucked away for retirement.

He's come a long way from the undersized East Coast kid no one wanted ten years ago.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:

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After reports revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs were bringing in Nick Blankenburg on a professional tryout, the team officially announced the PTO signing on Monday. 

With that, the 28-year-old defenseman will join the Leafs at training camp and pre-season, as long as the club is willing to keep him around for that long. 

However, Blankenburg would only officially be a member of the Maple Leafs if they signed him to a standard professional contract. And as it stands, Toronto doesn't have the space to do so.

The Leafs have the maximum number of standard contracts signed within the organization (50), according to PuckPedia. 

Therefore, if Leafs management is impressed and pleased with how Blankenburg performs in training camp, to the point where they would want to add him to the main roster for the 2026-27 regular season, GM John Chayka would need to make some roster moves.

In addition to the Maple Leafs needing to make changes if they'd prefer to keep Blankenburg on the roster beyond training camp, there's already a backlog of depth defensemen in the system. 

There are already several candidates to fill the role of the seventh D-man, including Troy Stecher, who signed a two-year extension with Toronto in late June, and Emil Andrae, the main acquisition in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Not to mention, Marshall Rifai, William Villeneuve, Dakota Mermis and Philippe Myers are all capable of NHL minutes, albeit some better than others.

Emil Andrae Shares Reaction To Maple Leafs Trade, Pumped For A 'Fresh Start'Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Emil Andrae said he suspected that he would get traded from the Philadelphia Flyers. "But when I found out it was Toronto, I couldn't be happier."

If Toronto were willing to dump a defenseman for Blankenburg, one of those mentioned blueliners would likely be sacrificed. And if room was made for the 5-foot-9 D-man by moving off a player from another position instead, that would only add to the logjam on the back end.

In fairness, having substantial depth on any roster at any position is a strength and can lead to success in the NHL. But the Maple Leafs would also need to keep an eye on the salary cap and remain compliant, especially if they want to leave room for any moves during the coming season.

Currently, with Max Domi's $3.75-million cap hit not on long-term injured reserve, the Leafs are over the salary cap by $2.75 million.

Report: Maple Leafs’ Max Domi Will Miss Start of Training Camp, Remains Out Indefinitely GM John Chayka SaysChayka also added that Domi wants to address the injury himself at some point.

One theory regarding Blankenburg's PTO revolves around the health and status of defenseman Chris Tanev. The 36-year-old Tanev said he's feeling good going into this season, but confirmation from his doctors is still required. 

He underwent a significant core muscle injury in March and has gone through the off-season recovering from that. That's on top of the concussion and a spinal injury he dealt with, leading to just 11 appearances for Toronto last year. So, Blankenburg could be seen as an insurance policy. 

If the news for Tanev isn't positive and the Leafs are forced to be without him for some time to begin 2026-27, Blankenburg could be activated as an insurance policy. 

Report: Chris Tanev Waiting To Be Cleared By Doctors, Plans To Be On Ice First Day Of Maple Leafs CampWhile Tanev aims to be ready for the opening day of camp, Tanev described his rehab from surgery in March as "slow". The veteran defender has to show that the injury issues of last year are fully in the rearview mirror.

Blankenburg has played parts of five seasons and featured in a total of 176 games in the NHL. Last year, he made a career-high 61 appearances split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, scoring a personal-best six goals and 24 points. 

He didn't get much action with the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avs, averaging 12:02 of ice time in 12 regular-season games and 9:25 of ice time in nine post-season contests. But before he was traded from Nashville, he averaged 17:58 of ice time with the Preds in 2025-26.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 16 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #16. 

Let's take a look.

Mike Sillinger - 2002-2003 - Drafted by Detroit in 1989. 

Sillinger is best known for playing for 12 different NHL teams and being traded nine times. He played 155 games for the CBJ and had 86 points. He retired in 2008 after playing 1089 games for 12 different teams. 

Of course, nowadays, he's best known for being the father of Jackets forwards Cole and Owen Sillinger. 

Alexander Svitov - 2004-2007 - Drafted by Tampa Bay in 2001. 

Svitov played 105 games for the Jackets and scored 26 points after being traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning. After playing in Columbus, the former #3 overall pick never played another NHL game.

He returned to Russia, where he would play until 2022. Svitov is now an assistant coach for Avangard Omsk in the KHL. 

Derick Brassard - 2008-2013 - Drafted by Columbus in 2006. 

Brassard was drafted 6th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. He totaled 169 points in 309 games while playing for Columbus. 

After playing over 1000 games for 10 different teams, Brassard retired in 2024. Brassard is a minority owner of the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. 

Max Domi - 2021-2022 - Drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2012. 

Domi played 107 games for the Jackets after coming over from the Montreal Canadiens in the Josh Anderson trade. He had 56 points for Columbus and was then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Since leaving Columbus, he's played for Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, and Toronto. He's played for 7 teams in 10 seasons, although he's played the last three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In three seasons, he has 116 points. 

Brendan Gaunce - 2023-2026 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2012. 

Gaunce played 59 games for the Jackets and had 12 points. He served as the Cleveland Monsters Captain in 23-24 and totaled 85 points for the Monsters over three seasons.

He signed with the AHL's Iowa Wild for the 2024-25 season and recorded 29 points. However, this summer, Gaunce was traded back to the Columbus organization in exchange for Cameron Butler. After playing 25 games for the CBJ and 44 games for Cleveland last season, he left in free agency to sign with the AHL's Providence Bruins. 

There are 16 days left until opening night at NWA. Who's your favorite #16?

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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. Share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

Although two days remain until the start of training camp for the Philadelphia Flyers, it's never too late for an infusion of young talent, especially at the defense position.

Ahead of what was ultimately an uneventful offseason bar the Leo Carlsson offer sheet, the Flyers made public their desire to improve the defense. Aside from the addition of Simon Benoit, who was part of the Joseph Woll trade, that hasn't happened.

In free agency, pickings were already slim, and a potential dart-throw for a power play quarterback in John Klingberg is off the table; the veteran defender announced his retirement on Friday.

The Flyers already went the offer sheet route once with Carlsson to much fanfare, which leaves the trade market as their last path to improve ahead of the start of the 2026-27 regular season.

Unsigned RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who isn't eligible for an offer sheet anyway, apparently requested a trade this offseason and is sticking to it. That should be music to the Flyers' ears.

Flyers a perfect fit for Nikishin

On Monday, The Athletic NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on the state of affairs with the young Carolina Hurricanes defender, confirming that a resolution isn't immediately forthcoming.

"Defenseman Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned by the Carolina Hurricanes as camps get set to open," LeBrun said. "The 24-year-old RFA requested a change of scenery after the season, and one thing that was made clear to me Monday is that the request remains in place."

Drafted 69th overall in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Nikishin just played his first full season in North America after a four-game cameo for Carolina in last year's playoffs, scoring 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in 81 games, but regressing to just one assist in 17 playoff games as the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup.

Nikishin, 24, featured more in the regular season primarily due to injury, as K'Andre Miller and Jalen Chatfield each played 72 games, Shayne Gostisbehere played only 55, and Jaccob Slavin missed more than half the year, playing in only 39.

The talented 6-foot-3 Russian was an afterthought for a full-strength Hurricanes team in the playoffs, and rightfully so; they won it all.

Still, Nikishin had a strong showing in his first NHL season, and a featured role elsewhere would allow him to grow further and continue to improve on his warts.

It helps, too, that Nikishin was once the captain of KHL outfit SKA St. Petersburg for two seasons and was teammates with budding Flyers star Matvei Michkov there. Those are two factors that cannot be overlooked.

From Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky's perspective, it would perhaps be unwise to spend big to re-sign a player who played a depth role for you after just winning the Stanley Cup, with Slavin, Miller, and Gostisbehere all firmly ahead on the depth chart on the left side.

That does hurt Carolina's leverage, though, as other teams, including the Flyers, know that they will have more of a use for Nikishin than the Hurricanes.

The longer this situation drags out, the bigger an opportunity it becomes for the Flyers to snag a productive young defenseman who held his own on a winning team after being thrown right into the fire.

Welcome back, everyone. It’s Tuesday! ///Jason Alexander as Duckman voice

The Bruins finished up their prospect challenge; actually managing to pull away with both games after monday, and while there’s plenty to like; Loke Johansson looked really solid as a defenseman, Dans Locmelis holding the fort with poise and maturity after coming back from an injury, and the warm fuzzies of knowing the youngs can at least handle the Sabres like in years’ past…the talk of the Prospect Challenge was of course Jimmy Hagens, who was very obviously a man amongst boys out there; pretty much single handedly winning the 2nd game of the day in a preposterous 4 goal game.

That kid is something else, but really, we should expect that from a prospect of Hagens’ caliber playing against prospects on their way back to school/junior/minor league. He’s clearly a head and a half above these guys aside from maybe Locmelis, who’s been quietly building himself into a damn solid player. We’ll see how he handles real NHL talent come this october, but for now, let’s bask in the word of the mighty Jimmy.

PT-Nope!

The Bruins announced that, for the 2nd year in a row, there will be no Professional Tryouts at this year’s preseason and training camp. The roster you see when camp opens is the roster they’re gonna pare down.

As for anyone that they could’ve brought in? Uhh…Nick Blankenburg would probably be decent value, Michael Bunting’s probably not at that point in his career but nobody’s bitten on him yet. It’s not really a PTO heavy environment right now. You’re probably better off trying to identify players other teams don’t believe in for dumb reasons and plucking them out of their environ for 3rd rounders at this point.

Who knows, maybe Boston’s scouting department busts down Don Sweeney’s door and says that the B’s could be the space Patrik Laine finally figures it out*

Welcome to last minute shopping season

The Bruins, alongside the rest of the NHL, are on the precipice of the new CBA, which limits the amount of years you can put on a UFA/RFA contract, and that’s expected to cause a stir as teams make their final signings under the old ruleset.

As for whether or not that’s wise? Well, cap’s going up, so it is a little harder than it would be to put yourself in hell. But don’t you worry, some of these GMs are gonna find a way. Hell, Pat Verbeek’s already blazing a path for us all. What an inspiration!

Preseason is soon!

Finally, hockey’s back. Or at least it’s as close to back as it’s gonna get.

The B’s will start preseason against the Washington Capitals, who will come to town with their Hershey Bears laden roster and attempt to take on real bears. That game is at 5pm EST and is on NESN+, because Red Sox september baseball is real, and you just gotta see the Sox play the median Tampa Bay Rays player.

You know, the median Tampa Bay Rays player.

Anyway get ready to pirate preseason hockey if you don’t pay for NESN+. Whoops!

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Anyway, what’s on tap?

* = DON’T DO THIS DON’T DO THIS DON’T DO THIS LOOK ME DEAD IN THE EYES THIS IS A JOKE DO NOT DO THIS.

NHL teams need to fiinish getting rosters in order with training camps opening on Thursday, Sept. 17.

There's another deadline before that with the new collective-bargaining agreement taking effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wedneday.

After that, eight-year contracts can no longer be offered by a team re-signing its own player and it will drop to seven years maximum (or six years for signing a player from another team). Teams also face changes that limit signing bonuses and how they front-load contracts.

Here are some things that need to be settled with training camps on the horizon:

Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck trade requests

The two U.S. Oympic gold medalists have asked to be traded and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made his request public this month.

Both are under contract long-term, so they need to report or they won't get paid. Dylan Larkin said he will show up to camp and will have conversations with the Red Wings' new general manager about the direction of the team. But Detroit is still looking to make that hire.

If the players are moved, their teams will need to get a solid return rather than picks and prospects. The Jets signed Stuart Skinner in the offseason, but it would make sense to get another goalie back

Restricted free agents to re-sign

Anaheim Ducks leading scorer Cutter Gauthier and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli are the big names. The Ducks have more than $15.5 million in cap space after terminating Chris Kreider's contract, Leo Carlsson is the team's top-paid player at an $18 million cap hit after Anaheim matched the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet.

Fantilli finished second on the Blue Jackets in goals (24) and third period in points (59). TSN's Pierre Lebrun said the Gauthier talks are making progress while the Fantilli talks are going slow.

Defensemen Alexander Nikishin (Carolina), Simon Edvinsson (Detroit) and Arber Zhekaj remain unsigned.

Quinn Hughes extension

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is confident he can get an extension done with the defenseman, who he gave up a lot to acquire last season. Hughes told reporters he has enjoyed his time in Minnesota but is preaching patience.

"I think if you look at a player like Quinn, you only get to free agency one time," J.P. Barry, agent Pat Brisson's colleague at CAA, told the Donnie and Dhali podcast. " I think he wants to make a great choice. He's only been there around a year or so, even less, so I think he wants to see how the team does and how he feels."

Hughes is entering the last year of his contract. A three-year extension would match him up with the end of his brother Jack's contract in New Jersey.

Captain vacancies

The New York Islandersnamed Bo Horvat to replace departed Anders Lee and Robert Thomas was appointed early in St. Louis. But there remain vacancies in Anaheim, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, Ottawa, San Jose and Vancouver. The Red Wings stripped Larkin of his captaincy.

David Pastrnak (Bruins) and Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets) seem like logical choices and Moritz Seider would make sense in Detroit.

Chicago and San Jose have future captains in Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, respectively. Do those teams go with the young rising stars now or wait? Bedard will miss the beginning of the season because of shoulder surgery.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL training camps are approaching. Here are top issues to be decided.

Believe it or not, NHL training camps start up this week, and regular season hockey is just two short weeks away from kicking off. 

And the Pittsburgh Penguins will be one of the more interesting teams to keep an eye on as far as roster battles and young talent. 

We already discussed some positional battle tiers for training camp, highlighting who the guarantees, the maybes, and the longshots were for each position. But what about the roster as a whole? 

With so much youth on the cusp of full-time NHL minutes - and a ton of competition for roster spots against more seasoned NHL players - it's going to be a difficult road for many of the Penguins' most promising young players to break camp. That said, there are some who are better-positioned than others.

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Best chance: Sergei Murashov

Of all the prospects in camp, Murashov is the most sure bet to make the roster, even if that possibility isn't 100 percent. There is always a good chance that Joel Blomqvist will outplay Murashov in camp and earn the spot. 

However, with one goaltending spot absolutely open for the taking regardless - which is not the same case with the other positions - he is, naturally, the most safe bet to be on the NHL roster come Sept. 30. 

Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: GoaltendersOne of the biggest positions of interest for the Penguins this season will be goaltending, and a few prospects will jockey for positioning as the other half of the NHL tandem.

Decent chance: Ville Koivunen, Avery Hayes, Harrison Brunicke, Tomas Galvas

Just behind Murashov is a small crop of players who should have a pretty decent shot at making the roster with a good camp.

Koivunen was just inked to an eight-year extension this summer, and although the contract makes him waivers-proof, the organization clearly chose to bet on him. He had a great summer in terms of training, his camp last year was excellent, and the top-six scoring potential is not lost on the organization. Even in a crowded pool of forwards, he's probably the young forward (not named Ben Kindel) with the best shot at breaking camp.

Hayes had a respectable NHL run last season, as he was called upon in the most crucial stretch of the season during the month of March. He registered five goals in 16 games at the highest level, two of which came during his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 5. The fact that he is someone who can thrive in a bottom-six role and work his way up the lineup might give him a leg up on some of his peers. 

Brunicke's road may be a bit more murky, as the high-upside right defenseman has Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and Kaedan Korczak ahead of him on the depth chart. But Brunicke has put together two standout camps in a row, he's put on a lot of size, and he is capable of playing the off-side if need be. If he has a repeat camp of the last several years - or, even, improves on them - the Penguins will have a hard time leaving him off the roster.

Then, there's Galvas, drafted in the second round (54th overall) this summer, who has been wildly impressive through three Prospect Tournament games. Even if it's just a tournament for prospects and Galvas should look comfortable in this format from playing against men in Czechia's Extraliga previously, he has been the standout for the Penguins, and he's showing legitimate upside as a two-way force.

Does Young Defenseman Have Legitimate Shot At Breaking Camp For Penguins?With the departure of Parker Wotherspoon this summer, the left side is wide open for the Penguins - and one young prospect could surprise.

Fair chance: Rutger McGroarty, Owen Pickering, Tristan Broz, Joel Blomqvist

Unfortunately, there are a few young players who will be challenged quite a bit for a spot, but they still have a fair chance at cracking the roster with a stellar camp.

McGroarty is in the driver's seat, as he is, pretty much, Koivunen's and Hayes's primary competition for a roster slot. After a tumultuous start to the 2025-26 season riddled with injury and inconsistency, McGroarty finished the AHL portion of his season strong with 10 goals and 34 points in 30 games. The left winger could earn himself a spot if he manages to stand out and beat a few others, but it's going to take a very strong showing from him.

Pickering, 22, developed long-sought consistency in the second half of his AHL campaign last season, and he will join a legitimate battle for a spot on the left side. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound defenseman has faced some adversity at the NHL level but appears primed for an NHL breakout this season, and he can get a head start on that if he beats out Galvas, Brunicke, Ilya Solovyov, and Ryan Graves.

Broz, 23, probably should have broken camp last season, as he was arguably the most impressive young forward in camp along with Kindel. His ability to play each forward position helps him, and like Hayes, he is a guy with a two-way toolset who can play well in the bottom-six. However, his hill might be a little tougher to climb, especially since the center position is very crowded at the NHL level. If he stands out enough to separate himself, though, he will make decisions tough for the Penguins. 

For Blomqvist, it all comes down to whether or not he can outperform Murashov and demonstrably show that he should be the guy occupying the second NHL roster spot next to Arturs Silovs. Murashov is primed to be the other guy, but Blomqvist will absolutely have a fair chance at shooting down those plans with a better camp. 

Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: CenterEven if there is not much mystery surrounding some centers that will be on the Pittsburgh Penguins' NHL roster next season, there could still be room for a few players to surprise.

Shooter's chance: Jake Livanavage, Finn Harding, Bill Zonnon

As for these guys, there is a sliver of hope for an NHL spot out of camp. But their chances are just that: A shot in the dark.

Livanavage, signed to a two-year entry-level contract nearing the end of the 2025-26 season out of the University of North Dakota, has shown some flashes of his offensive capabilities and ability to run a power play. He burned the first year of his ELC with one NHL appearance last season, and while there is some intrigue with Livanavage, a simple numbers game on the left side renders his chances of cracking the roster out of camp minimal.

The same goes for Harding, who would have to knock off Brunicke, Galvas, Pickering, Solovyov, and Graves to earn a spot. The right-side defender is as steady as they come and is smart in all three zones, which is something that could play well on a bottom pairing. But the current NHL club simply has too many guys in the mix, so Harding would need to have an undeniable kind of performance in camp to be considered ahead of the others.

Finally, 2025 first-round pick (22nd overall) Bill Zonnon made his professional debut during the Calder Cup Playoffs last season, and he has done nothing but impress ever since. Like everyone else, there are simply a whole lot of formidable young players fighting for precious few forward spots, and Zonnon just isn't high enough on the depth chart right now. However, never say never: Kindel would be the first to tell you that. 

Penguins Announce Series Of Roster Moves Ahead Of Training CampPittsburgh is working to finalize its roster for training camp later this week.

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The Martin family will be hosting Matthew Schaefer this upcoming season again whether they like it or not. 

The 19-year-old NHL star made the joke on Monday during the Islanders golf outing at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury when a reporter asked if Matt Martin and his family wanted him back. 

“I don’t know if they want me back, but I’m going back,” Schaefer said. “I mean, I kept my stuff there and then I’m like, I’m coming back. I guess they can’t say no. I think they want me out probably sooner, but you know what? I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m planting my seed here and I’m staying here.’”

Matthew Schaefer is staying with the Martin Family again this season – whether they like it or not @NYIslanders | #Islespic.twitter.com/8fvGUsjdRa

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) September 14, 2026

It’s doubtful that the Martin family really wants Schaefer out sooner than later, considering how big a part of their family he has become. 

Martin, who played 16 seasons in the NHL, including 14 with the Islanders before becoming an executive with the organization, welcomed the teenager into his home last season, and Schaefer quickly created a bond with the family.

In particular, he has taken on a big brother role to the family’s two daughters, Winnie and Alice. Martin’s wife, Sydney, has shared a number of adorable moments involving Schaefer and the Martin kids on social media. 

Earlier this month, Sydney posted on Instagram a photo of Schaefer celebrating his 19th birthday with the family. 

Martin praised how Schaefer carries himself on SiriusXM last month and said that the now second-year star would be staying with him and his family again this upcoming NHL season. 

“From the moment he kind of stepped in our house and met our family, before it was ever decided he was going to live with us, you just feel the type of kid he is, the type of energy he has,” Martin said in the August interview. “Kind of gravitated towards our kids and our kids gravitated towards him. It’s a really special thing for my kids.” 

Schaefer is coming into this season looking to build off a monumental rookie campaign that saw him win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. 

He recorded 23 goals and 59 points while appearing in all 82 games during the 2025-26 season.

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, has appeared in a campaign ad for the United Russia party, which supports Vladimir Putin, as he prepares for the new hockey season.

The Russian business newspaper Vedomosti published images of the Washington Capitals star alongside pro-Putin figures such as Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, the leading parliamentary candidate on United Russia’s list, and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the propaganda network RT.

Related: Alex Ovechkin is now the NHL’s greatest goalscorer. It’s debatable what else he is

Ovechkin is a longtime supporter of Putin. In 2017, he launched Putin Team, a social movement that he hoped would unite “people who are proud of their country and want to make Russia stronger”. He also praised the Russian leader’s “trust in and respect for his people, his fairness [and] righteousness, and the fact that he really cares”.

The 40-year-old was more cautious about his backing of Putin after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He said he hoped the war “was going to be over and we are going to be living in a good world”, although he still said that Putin was “my president”. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the war that followed the invasion.

Ovechkin signed a one-year contract extension with the Capitals in July. The Capitals selected him with the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft and he has played his entire NHL career with them, winning the Stanley Cup as the team’s captain in 2018. In 2025, he scored his 895th goal, passing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record, a mark that had stood since 1999 and one few believed would ever be broken.

The Calgary Flames’ rookies got their first taste of game action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday night, hosting the Edmonton Oilers in the NextGen showcase.

The Oilers controlled the game offensively and came away with a 6-1 victory, while the Flames got a chance to put several of their young prospects in a game setting in front of a home crowd.

Edmonton opened the scoring on the power play in the first period.

Quinn Hutson walked into the high slot and ripped a wrist shot blocker side past Flames goaltender Arsenii Sergeev to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.

The opening period also featured some physicality, with Maceo Phillips dropping the gloves with Weston Cameron in a spirited bout. Phillips ultimately came away with the takedown.

The Oilers added to their lead late in the opening frame. Zach Bookman sent a shot toward the net from the blue line that bounced in front of Sergeev before finding its way through the goaltender’s pads to make it 2-0.

It was a difficult one for Sergeev, who likely would have wanted another look at the goal.

The Flames finished the opening 20 minutes trailing 2-0, with Edmonton holding a narrow 7-6 edge in shots.

Calgary had a couple of good opportunities early in the second half of the game, but Edmonton eventually extended its advantage.

With Kirill Zarubin taking over in net for Sergeev midway through the game as scheduled, a bouncing puck found its way into the crease. Caden Harvey was quick to react, swatting the loose puck past Zarubin to make it 3-0.

The Oilers then added another on the power play. Edmonton moved the puck quickly around the Flames penalty kill before a tic-tac-toe sequence ended with Isaac Howard redirecting the puck into the net, giving the Oilers a four-goal cushion.

The Flames finally got on the board at 8:55 of the third period.

Aydar Suniev created the opportunity himself, slipping past an Oilers defender before cutting to the forehand and tucking the puck past Samuel Jonsson. Tyson Gross picked up the assist on Suniev’s goal.

Calgary couldn’t find another one, however, and Edmonton added an empty-net goal and another late tally from Kyle Heger to close out the 6-1 victory.

Despite the final score, the NextGen game provided an important opportunity for several Flames prospects to get their first game action ahead of the preseason and make an impression as the organization evaluates its young players.

Three Takeaways

Castagna strong in the faceoff circle

Jonathan Castagna stood out on the draws, particularly in the offensive zone. Winning possession off the faceoff created immediate scoring opportunities, and Castagna consistently gave the Flames a chance to start with the puck.

Iginla wears No. 88

Joe Iginla suited up for the Flames wearing No. 88, the same number his father, Jarome Iginla, wore during his time with the Los Angeles Kings. It’s a small detail, but one that didn’t go unnoticed on a night where the younger Iginla made his Saddledome debut with the Flames organization.

Gridin creates opportunities

Matvei Gridin was one of the Flames players who consistently found ways to generate offence. He created multiple quality chances, while his passing was firm and crisp throughout the game.

There was a level of poise to Gridin’s game that made him look like a more established presence than many of the players on the ice.

The Chicago Blackhawks prospects took the ice at USG Arena against the St. Louis Blues prospects on Monday night. This was the first of two meetings in the 2026 Prospect Showcase that the two organizations are participating in. 

For the Blackhawks, marquee prospects like Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, AJ Spellacy, Adam Gajan, and Ryan Roobroeck all took part. The leadership group was led by captain Taige Harding and alternate captains Paul Ludwinski and Jake Furlong. 

There were some notable spectators taking in the game. For one, Kyle Davidson, Jeff Blashill, and multiple executives/coaches were on hand to get a glimpse of the future. A handful of players within the organization were also in attendance, including Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov. 

The Blackhawks started with as good a top line as they could put out at this event: Sacha Boisvert, centering AJ Spellacy and Ryan Roobroeck. Adam Gajan started in goal. 

After the top line created some good chances off the jump, they were forced into a penalty-kill situation. Martin Misiak, however, scored a shorthanded goal to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. 

🚨 Replay 🚨 https://t.co/5YugVmDm51pic.twitter.com/GtOXrVx4gh

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) September 14, 2026

The Blackhawks continued to march to the penalty box after that, and eventually, one of them caught up with them. In the latter half of the first period, Jakub Stancl scored for the St. Louis Blues to tie the game at 1. That score held through the first intermission. 

It was a physical first period, and that continued into the second. Just about halfway through the middle frame, AJ Spellacy got into a little bit of a skirmish behind the St. Louis net after missing a chance. To his defense came Ashton Cumby, who fought Blues prospect Colin Ralph. He will bring another layer of physical hockey to Rockford this year. 

Ashton Cumby comes to the defense of AJ Spellacy. He threw some absolute haymakers. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/zCdvU18xMx

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 15, 2026

Not long after that, the Blackhawks went to the penalty kill. It led to another Blues power play goal. Shortly (10 seconds) later, they found another to make it 3-1. At that point in the game, the Blues were in a groove. 

After two periods, the Blues hung onto that two-goal lead. With under a minute remaining in the middle frame, AJ Spellacy rang one off the pipe after bursting into the offensive zone, but it wouldn't go in.

pic.twitter.com/aIBbrvH1NI

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) September 15, 2026

In the third period, the ice was a lot more level, but no goals were scored. The final score of 3-1 held in favor of the Blues. It was a physical battle from the opening whistle onward, but the Blackhawks took the bulk of the penalties which put them in trouble. 

One more match between these two groups of prospects will take place at 4 PM on Tuesday evening at USG Arena. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Over the last few days, RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey, has been filled with high energy, the sound of whistles, and the unmistakable soundtrack of hockey.

The New Jersey Devils invited 25 players to their 2026 Rookie Camp, which opened Friday, Sept. 11. The group has completed two practices and one scrimmage against the New York Islanders, falling 5-4 in overtime.

Ahead of the team’s final scrimmage, which will take place in Long Island on Tuesday, Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News emptied her notebook with some news and notes she has collected this past weekend. 

Odds and Ends From Rookie Camp

— Shane Lachance referred to his first season in the pro league as a rollercoaster: “I think the beginning of the year was tough because we didn't win many games. Then I got called up, I was up for a week and then sent back down, and we started winning more. It is a long year, and I think that is the biggest change. So much happens over the course of the year that, mentally, you have to try to keep your head on straight. Coming from college into the pros, that is probably the biggest thing for me - just how long the season is.”

Lachance shared that he tries not to overthink things, but it is something he occasionally struggles with.

“I think in our job, you are always thinking, what can I do better? Did I do the right thing? Sometimes I have to tell myself to just go out there, have fun, and play the game because I am here for a reason.” 

— While some players have their eyes set on making the NHL rosters, other players at the Devils rookie camp hope to play in the American Hockey League full time. That is the case for 22-year-old defenseman Charles Leddy, whom New Jersey drafted in the fourth round in 2022. He spent last season at Quinnipiac University before signing an AHL contract through the 2027-28 season in March. He began his collegiate career at Boston College as a political science major, but ultimately earned his degree in international business. 

— JakubMálek’s excitement for the 2026-27 season is palpable. Sitting at his stall next to Jeremy Brodeur, he smiled from ear to ear, talking about the upcoming job ahead of him: “This is the first time I [can] say that I'm excited for a season this much. I am always excited, but this is something I never felt before. I'm so excited to go to work.”

— Speaking of Málek, he finally received his goalie mask. Its delivery may have been a season too late, but he was thrilled to showcase it and share some personal touches, including nods to two of his closest friends. 

#NJDevils Jakub Málek finally received the goalie mask he was supposed to wear for the 2025-26 season. It has some awesome touches, including nods to his best friends and the movie Cool Runnings. pic.twitter.com/FCdcWdWfUK

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) September 12, 2026

— For a second consecutive season, Málek will be living with forward Matyas Melovsky. The two are best friends and say they are always together. 

— Melovskyplayed with Lenni Hämeenaho last season in Utica, and during camp, The Hockey News asked Melovsky if that chemistry instantly came back this week. He laughed and said, “Yeah, the Euro chemistry.” 

— Newcomer Ben Steeves has been skating with Melovsky and Hämeenaho. After Monday’s practice, The Hockey News spoke to the 24-year-old. 

THN: Coaches always say that they usually keep pairs together on a line, and the third player they may insert in and out. If you're that guy who's playing with people who already have chemistry together are there any attributes or characteristics you need as the third player coming onto a line? 

Steeves: Yeah, absolutely. You hit the nail on the head. It is simplifying and being predictable for your teammates. Throughout my entire career, I have tried to be a player like that. An easy player to play with. Especially playing with these guys, it is holding on to pucks and making good flat passes. Making it easier on each other is a big thing.

THN: What was the first thing you noticed about Melovsky and Hämeenaho?  

Steeves: They are smart. When they have the puck, they are always looking for the next play. There's no real time on the ice where they can't do anything with it. They always make stuff happen, so it is really cool to watch that.

— Speaking of Steeves, he was on a golf course when he received a call from Devils general manager Sunny Mehta to alert him that he was traded to New Jersey: “That was a cool moment. (Mehta) was obviously in Florida with me and brought me with him. Definitely happy to get a new opportunity here.” 

— Seamus Casey has been impressed with his new D-partner, Anton Silaev: “I think he is doing incredible. He is super involved with the team. It is easy to shy away and kind of shut down, only talk to people who you can understand, that kind of thing. He is not doing any of that. I have a lot of respect for that. Obviously, we are trying to help out too, and make it easy for him.”

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While the fate of some Philadelphia Flyers prospects is already sealed in terms of where they'll play in the 2026-27 season, many of the top dogs will have plenty of opportunities to earn themselves an NHL roster spot. Training camp hasn't officially started yet, but for them it has.

Not every young Flyers prospect with something to prove is at rookie camp this week. For example, players like Hunter McDonald and David Jiricek, who aren't established NHLers, were left off the rookie camp roster.

Conversely, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, and Porter Martone are all on the ice having to prove themselves, with each player dressing for at least one of the two Rookie Series games against the New York Rangers over the weekend.

But, even when we remove McDonald, Jiricek, Barkey, Bump, and Martone from the equation, the Flyers still have a healthy amount of competition.

On defense, Oliver Bonk and Ty Murchison will be working to make their argument for an NHL roster spot, having to compete with the likes of McDonald, Jiricek, and veteran newcomer Simon Benoit for a place on the Flyers.

By the time training camp starts on Thursday, their strong work in rookie camp this week could be a feather in their caps; the process of making a strong impression is already in motion.

"We were pretty direct in the first meeting that we had for rookie camp, is that their camp is starting now. So with the new makeup of how the training camps are now in the NHL, there's not a whole lot of time to make an impression. So, for the rookies and the guys that are coming into main camp, they got to be ready to go right from the start of this camp," Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden said after practice Monday with an exclamatory two-hand tap at the podium.

'Sneaky' Oliver Bonk Impressing Flyers In Rookie CampPhiladelphia Flyers defenseman Oliver Bonk is consistently drawing praise from his coaches, even during a simple rookie camp.

Bump, Barkey, Martone, Noah Powell, Cole Knuble, Devin Kaplan, Riley Thompson, Jett Luchanko, Maksim Sokolovskii, Spencer Gill, Jackson Edward, Bonk, and Murchison are the skaters participating in rookie camp who are also listed on the main training camp roster.

On Tuesday morning, they'll take the ice for their last rookie camp session. Wednesday is a team day off, and Thursday is go time.

In the eyes of Snowden and the Flyers, everything those players have done in the building over the last week can work against them or in their favor when it's time to make the important decisions.

"The message [Riley Armstrong] started our rookie camp with, and I've reiterated throughout the whole camp and our staff has reiterated throughout the whole camp, is like, you don't have time to wait around right now. You gotta go, and you gotta hit the ground running. You can't ease your way into these rookie games," Snowden continued.

"Like I said, this is their training camp. It started now. You just got to keep pushing them to make sure they understand that every single time you touch the ice, every single time you walk into the building, it's going to matter. So, make sure you carry yourself the right way, you train the right way, you practice the right way, you play the right way every single time, because everything you do when you walk into this building, it's gonna matter."

Message sent, message received for the Flyers, who have seen players like Powell, Barkey, Knuble, and Bonk crank up the intensity and speed of their play this weekend.

Powell, in particular, played with ferocity against the Rangers, standing out in a different way from the scorer types like Bump and Martone.

And he'll be one of many players with their eyes on the NHL prize when training camp kicks off in a few days.