On Wednesday, the Detroit Red Wings are set to host the Florida Panthers in a matchup that could tilt in Detroit’s favor given Florida’s mounting injury list. The Panthers will be without several key contributors, opening up a window for the Red Wings to exploit.

Red Wings Aim to End Skid Against Dominant Panthers in Midweek ClashDetroit’s "Cat and Pat," look to spark a winning streak versus Panthers, challenge Florida’s dominance in Motor City

It was already confirmed that Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov would be out for seven to nine months after undergoing ACL/MCL surgery, effectively ending his 2025‑26 campaign. Not to mention Florida also lost top line winger Matthew Tkachuk for an undisclosed amount of time to start the season after receiving offseason surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle. This hasn't fazed the Cats at all as they've still managed a 3-1-0 record to start the season. However, another new injury has popped up and this one could start to make Florida look less deadly. 

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

Paul Maurice says Dmitry Kulikov will miss the next 5 months after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury pic.twitter.com/1NULFELDuQ

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 15, 2025

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice announced key defenseman Dmitry Kulikov underwent surgery to repair a labral tear and is expected to miss about five months. The 34-year-old Russian import was an integral part of the Panthers Stanley Cup winning lineup as Kulikov was a key component of Florida’s penalty kill and defensive depth. 

For the Red Wings, this presents a prime opportunity. With Florida’s forward depth thinned and their defensive rotation stretched, Detroit can press harder on both ends of the ice. The Panthers have dominated this match up in recent history with a 23-4-1 record over their last 28 matchups against the Red Wings but the tide may be changing in Detroit's favor. 

A divisional win over the Panthers would go a long way for the Red Wings as they currently sit in a wild card spot and taking away points from teams ahead of them in the standings only betters their chances at clinching their first playoff spot in nearly a decade.

How 'Bout Them Apples: Mason Appleton Happy To Come Up In Clutch For Red Wings First-year Detroit Red Wings forward Mason Appleton came through in the clutch for his team in the final minute of Monday afternoon's tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which was both the game-winning goal as well as his first tally since joining the Red Wings.

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They may be 2-1-0, but it doesn’t matter if there isn’t security in net.

The New Jersey Devils are no strangers to injured goaltenders. With a tandem of Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom, two veteran players, the risk of injury is higher.

Luckily for the Devils, Nico Daws has been ready to step up since the moment he was drafted in 2020. Daws has 22 career wins and a .898 save percentage in 52 NHL games.

He played 25 games in 2021–22, 21 games in 2023–24, and six games last season.

While trade discussions have circulated regarding Daws, he remains a crucial part of the Devils’ roster.

Even when he’s in Utica playing with the AHL Comets, he’s always a reliable option for the team.

The Devils haven’t even played a home game yet, and Daws has already been called up.

The team opened the season with three straight road games, posting a 2-1-0 record with Markstrom and Allen in net.

However, in their most recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Allen left after the second period. Markstrom took over but appeared to be in pain after a play.

He quickly skated off the ice at the end of the game and did not appear at practice on Wednesday.

Three games into the season and ahead of the home opener, the morning skate featured two goaltenders: Jake Allen and Nico Daws.

The Devils placed Daws on waivers ahead of the first game of the season for roster purposes. He was not claimed by another team, but when Markstrom returns, the Devils will once again have to place him on waivers.

The team cannot afford to lose Daws. He has been a staple on the roster for five seasons, always ready when needed. While the Devils have a strong starting tandem and a promising pool of prospects, their starters are injury-prone, and their prospects aren’t quite NHL-ready yet.

That leaves Daws, who has already proven he can step up and perform at the NHL level. The Devils should do everything they can to keep him around for the remainder of the season.

The Winnipeg Jets were put in a precarious position to start the season as they were losing players quickly with the most recent causality being key defenseman Dylan Samberg, who is sidelined for 6–8 weeks after fracturing a wrist. To fill in is defender Logan Stanley, who will change his role changed into a second defensive pairing alongside Neal Pionk. 

In one of his first games in the new role, Stanley had one of the best games of his career. This past Monday in a game against the New York Islanders, Stanley delivered in a big way with a goal and an assist, along with a season‑high 18:22 of ice time. Funny enough, the goal matched his career high, as the Waterloo native has recorded just one goal in each of his six NHL seasons. Getting his first one out of the way early could be a promising sign for Stanley.

STANzilla masterclass 🦖@GallagherGlobal | #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/piEQ0nJWcD

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 13, 2025

The 27-year-old was drafted 18th overall by the Jets in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft but has so far failed to reach his first round upside. Over his NHL career, Stanley has developed into a reliable depth defender for the Jets, with his offensive production peaking at a career-high 14 points last season. Through 205 NHL games, Stanley has tallied six goals and 32 assists for a total of 38 points. However, with his expanded role in Winnipeg's lineup over the next two months, it’s not out of the question that he could challenge his career high in points early in the season. 

STAN IS THE MAN 🫡 pic.twitter.com/uzHbrXO7Zb

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 13, 2025

As Stanley’s stock continues to rise, the Jets may soon face a pivotal decision. On one hand, they could choose to sell high, using his increased value to acquire a more proven player and strengthen their roster for another Stanley Cup push. On the other hand, Winnipeg might opt to stay the course, giving Stanley more time to prove that his early-season success is genuine and that he’s finally evolving into the first-round talent they hoped for when they drafted him. 

Many fans have long criticized Stanley for his inconsistency and have pushed for a trade, but his strong start to the season may have shifted that narrative. His breakout performance gives the front office some added leverage, allowing Samberg time to recover fully while Stanley proves he has the potential to be a top-four defenseman and, in the process, boosts his value on the trade market. 

Winnipeg has several options they could slot into the bottom pairing, including Haydn Fleury, Luke Schenn, recent AHL call-up Kale Clague as well as defense prospects like Ville Heinola and Elias Salomonsson. If they choose to trade Stanley, it could open up additional options down the road. Whether he remains part of the team’s long-term plans or becomes a trade asset, his early-season performance guarantees that both the Jets and their fans will be keeping a close eye on him. 

Ville Heinola: "I Kind of Wish Someone Would Have Picked Me Up"Frustrated by Winnipeg's deep defence, 2019 first round draft pick Ville Heinola yearns for a fresh start. The talented Finn opens up about his challenging path and overlooked potential.

Some ideas make hockey traditionalists squirm, and for the Philadelphia Flyers, one of those ideas is playing three “small,” puck-moving defensemen in the same lineup.

For decades, this team’s defensive DNA has been built around mass and meanness—guys like Derian Hatcher, Chris Pronger, and, more recently,  defined what it meant to wear orange on the blue line. Big frames, big reach, and bigger hits. But now, the Flyers are staring down an uncomfortable truth about the modern NHL: size still matters, but speed, vision, and touch might matter more.

The Fear of the “Soft Blue Line”

It’s an old anxiety dressed in new language. Coaches and fans alike talk about “defensive stability,” “netfront presence,” and “board strength”—all euphemisms for wanting a group of defensemen who can make a living out of cross-checking someone into the dasher and surviving the ensuing net scramble.

Philadelphia’s current defensive logjam forces a philosophical question: If Cam York (6'0”, 194 lbs.), Jamie Drysdale (5'11”, 185 lbs.), and Emil Andrae (5'9”, 189 lbs.) are all too good to sit (on paper, at least), can the Flyers live with a blue line built around brains and mobility rather than brawn?

York’s breakout efficiency and zone-exit success rate have solidified him as a promising young puck mover. Drysdale’s skating and transitional game are the foundation of his value—he’s a rover, not a bruiser. And Andrae, though undersized, has shown poise under pressure; he’s the kind of player who doesn’t panic when a forecheck closes in—he manipulates it.

Rick Tocchet, to his credit, isn’t recoiling at the thought.

He’s said he’s open to testing out a system that allows all three to play their game—a modern blue line defined by pace, puck movement, and positional reads rather than brute-force defense.

Rick Tocchet doesn’t rule out the possibility of a blue line that features Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae. The concern with that has been that it’s too small of a back line, but Tocchet cited how when he won a Cup with Pittsburgh, they didn’t have big guys on defense.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) October 13, 2025

The York–Sanheim Pairing: The Foundation of Fluidity

York and Travis Sanheim have become the Flyers’ de facto top pair, and they work because Sanheim is a rangy safety valve who can cover for York’s offensive activations. But York is no longer the “kid who needs sheltering.” His reads are sharp, and he rarely forces plays that aren’t there.

York’s control of tempo—the way he draws in pressure and opens seams—is something few Flyers defensemen have possessed in years. He’s an “offensive defenseman” only in the sense that he thinks the game like a forward; defensively, he’s actually one of the better positional players on the roster.

If Sanheim can continue eating minutes and using his skating to close space in the neutral zone, this pairing could become a model of how mobility and intelligence can replace sheer muscle.

Pros: Elite puck movement from both sides, clean exits, power-play stability.

Cons: Vulnerable below the hashmarks against heavy forechecking teams; prone to being hemmed in if they lose a retrieval battle.

The Drysdale Dilemma: Speed Meets Steel

Jamie Drysdale might be the most polarizing figure in this conversation. His gifts are obvious: he’s an elite skater, deceptive in motion, and fearless in joining the rush. But his play without the puck remains a work in progress, and pairing him with someone who can insulate that risk is critical.

That’s where Nick Seeler or Adam Ginning enter.

Seeler brings that “old Flyers” edge—he defends the crease like a junkyard dog and isn’t shy about dropping the gloves. Ginning, meanwhile, is a younger, more technical version of that archetype: steady, low-event, physical but not reckless.

Pairing Drysdale with either creates an intriguing dynamic—call it speed and steel. Drysdale’s skating draws opposing forecheckers out of structure, while his partner can handle the dirty work along the walls. The key is chemistry; Drysdale needs to trust his partner enough to take creative risks, and that only happens when he knows someone’s got his back defensively.

Pros: Balance of skill and grit, effective counterattacks, strong retrieval-escape mechanics.

Cons: Risk of mismatched pace; Seeler’s puck-handling could limit Drysdale’s options in motion.

The Andrae Experiment: Craft Meets Chaos

And then there’s Emil Andrae, the wildcard who could redefine what’s possible for this team’s blue line. At 5'9”, he’ll never be the biggest guy on the ice, but he plays big—not in body, but in conviction.

Andrae’s skating is explosive in short bursts, and his deception with the puck—hip fakes, shoulder drops, the subtle change of angle before a pass—is already NHL-caliber. He sees the game at a half-second delay, which allows him to make plays most defensemen don’t even spot.

If Tocchet pairs him with Egor Zamula or Noah Juulsen, the contrast becomes fascinating. Zamula is all reach and finesse—long stick, calm under pressure—but lacks bite. Juulsen brings the opposite: strength, edge, defensive reliability, but limited puck skill.

With Zamula, that pair would look like a risk-taking experiment in control and spacing—two defensemen relying entirely on skating and anticipation rather than body positioning. With Juulsen, Andrae would have the freedom to roam, knowing he has a physical net protector beside him.

Pros: Instant improvement in puck movement and power-play orchestration; quick-strike breakout potential.

Cons: Potential defensive fragility; vulnerable netfront coverage if chemistry falters.

What It Would Actually Look Like

The nightmare scenario, according to the skeptics, is a blue line that gets bullied in its own zone. The truth is more nuanced.

A trio of York, Drysdale, and Andrae would give the Flyers unprecedented control over the puck. Instead of flipping it out under pressure, they could escape pressure. Instead of relying on dump-and-chase transitions, they could drive controlled zone entries.

In short: the Flyers could start playing modern hockey.

The system would require tight forward support—centers tracking deep, wingers collapsing earlier—and goaltenders comfortable handling pucks to ease the retrieval load. But if executed properly, this lineup could shift the team’s style from reactive to proactive.

The Trade-Off: Identity vs. Evolution

This is where philosophy enters the room. For years, Philadelphia’s identity has been built on physicality, punishment, and a degree of hostility. But the NHL’s elite defensive cores are now built around movement, transition, and control.

Rick Tocchet, of all people, understands that the Flyers can’t skate backward into the future.

He’s said it himself: he wants puck movement. He wants his defensemen to join the rush. He wants to play a quick, possession-based game. That’s the language of a coach who knows that winning ugly only works if you can still get the puck.

The Flyers’ biggest question isn’t whether three puck-moving defensemen can coexist—it’s whether the organization is ready to embrace the growing pains that come with letting them. 

Emil Andrae was sent back to the AHL on Wednesday, even after having an impressive performance against the Florida Panthers on Monday. Which begs the question—short of him growing five inches and gaining 15 pounds overnight—will the Flyers ever give him a fair shot at being the NHL defenseman he's proven himself to be?

IMO, this is an unfair development for Andrae. Did everything Rick Tocchet wanted from him vs. Florida, but still gets sent down after 1 game. At some point, the Flyers need to quit the back-and-forth with Andrae and either commit to his talent or send him to a team that will. https://t.co/rLPtcRP56O

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) October 15, 2025

At this point, it's really starting to feel like no matter how well Andrae does, he's never going to get that chance as long as he's with the Flyers. And if that's the case, fine. But don't keep stringing Andrae along like the Snapchat side chick you keep around "just in case."

Danny Briere has proven that he tries to do right by his players when it comes to trades. If they truly want to build a defense that prioritizes size and physicality, then the right thing to do by a young, talented defenseman is to let him go to a team that will give him the ice time he deserves. 

The Verdict

Playing York, Drysdale, and Andrae together isn’t a weakness. It’s a challenge—a stylistic experiment that tests whether the Flyers can evolve without losing their edge.

Will there be defensive lapses? Absolutely. But there will also be more controlled breakouts, more sustained offensive pressure, and, perhaps most importantly, a brand of hockey that looks like where the game is going rather than where it’s been.

And if Tocchet truly leans into it, the Flyers might finally find something they’ve been missing for years—a blue line that doesn’t just survive the modern game, but drives it.

The Charlotte Checkers have signed forward Tyler Motte to a professional tryout (PTO), the team announced Wednesday. 

Motte recorded four goals and nine points in 55 games with the Detroit Red Wings last while averaging 11:19 of ice time per game. He attended Florida Panthers training camp on a PTO. 

The 30-year-old has been a NHLer for the past seven seasons, his last AHL appearance was in the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs with the Utica Comets. 

A fourth round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013, Motte has 53 goals and 99 points in 455 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning. 

The Port Huron, Mich., native has 21 goals and 32 points in 67 career AHL games. 

The Checkers have signed forward Tyler Motte to a professional tryout (PTO).

In addition, forward Robert Mastrosimone has been assigned to the @SavGhostPirates.

➡️https://t.co/HWMpVokPeHpic.twitter.com/0PNE3kyp6x

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) October 15, 2025

In the last three days the Checkers have now added Motte, Jake Livingstone, Kevin Mandolese, and Brett Leason to the team via PTOs in an effort to replace the veterans the team lost in the off-season. 

It remains to be seen how long Motte will stick with Charlotte for but he should immediately slide into a top-six role while with the team. 

The Chicago Blackhawks are on the road for their first of four matchups this season against the St. Louis Blues. This is a one-game road trip as they’ll come right back home for a couple of games. 

The Blackhawks enter this game 1-2-1 after earning their first win on Monday night against the Utah Mammoth. St. Louis is 2-1-0 through three games played. 

Scouting St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues got hot at the end of last season and ended up making it to the playoffs as a wild-card team. This year, they come in with expectations to be a playoff team once again. 

Joel Hofer is the projected starting goaltender for the Blues in this game, meaning that their star goalie Jordan Binnington will be the backup. This is how the skaters project to line up in front of Hofer:

Neighbours-Thomas-Buchnevich

Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou

Joseph-Suter-Snuggerud

Texier-Bjugstad-Walker

Fowler-Parayko

Tucker-Faulk

Broberg-Mailloux

Robert Thomas is the driver of St. Louis's offense, and Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, and Braden Schenn help provide the secondary scoring. 

Then there is Jimmy Snuggerud, who played with Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel at the University of Minnesota. His ability to produce offense is high-level, and he won't be in their bottom six for very long. 

On defense, they are deep. Cam Fowler came over in a trade last season, and he's paired with Colton Parayko. Having a guy like Philip Broberg on the third pair speaks to their depth beyond that great top pair. 

Nick Foligno

On Wednesday morning, the Blackhawks and Nick Foligno announced that he'd be taking a brief leave of absence to be with his daughter, who is having a follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. 

Blackhawks Captain Nick Foligno To Take Leave Of AbsenceBlackhawks captain Nick Foligno is taking a leave of absence to be with his daughter for surgery.

Projected Blackhawks Lineup

For the second time this season, Arvid Soderblom is going to start for Chicago. He played well in the overtime loss to the Boston Bruins last week, and now he comes into this game looking for his first win of the season. In front of him, the Blackhawks will skate like this:

Dach-Bedard-Burakovsky

Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi

Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Greene-Reichel

Vlasic-Rinzel

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Kaiser-Levshunov

Crevier

After the last game against the Mammoth, Jeff Blashill said that they will go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen a lot this season. He described it as a great way to go about things with so many young blue-liners on the roster. With some of them, you never know what kind of night it's going to be for them, so it's better to have extra. 

Levshunov drew back into the lineup against the Mammoth and had a good game. When he's playing well, all seven of these guys have a case to be dressed. 

Going 11/7 is also a way of getting guys like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar extra touches with double shifts. Reichel is in the lineup in favor of Sam Lafferty, who is a healthy scratch. The top three lines have been consistent for a couple of games in a row. 

How To Watch

This game is a national broadcast, as part of TNT's doubleheader. It follows their broadcast of the Florida Panthers vs the Detroit Red Wings, which will start just after 6 PM. The Chicago Blackhawks vs the St. Louis Blues is expected to start at 8:52 PM. 

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

The Florida Panthers claimed defenseman Donovan Sebrango off NHL waivers from the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Sebrango, a 23-year-old who grew up in Eastern Ontario, played two games for the Senators to start this season while fellow left-handed blueliner Tyler Kleven was injured. Sebrango recorded a fight, one hit and one shot while averaging 15:14 of ice time. He also played his first two NHL games last season, but he's yet to record a point.

Last season on the AHL's Belleville Senators, Sebrango had eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points. He brings speed and feistiness to his game.

For the Panthers, Sebrango's arrival comes after defenseman Dmitry Kulikov underwent surgery to repair a labral tear. He'll be out of the lineup for about five months.

Sebrango gives the team another option for the third pair. Uvis Balinskis currently fills that role on the left side – he had 18 points, 83 hits and 55 blocked shots in 76 games last season.

If the Panthers place Sebrango on waivers again, the Senators can try to claim him back. If they do that and no other team submits a claim, the Sens will not only acquire him but be able to assign him to AHL Belleville.

As for other NHL waiver news, San Jose Sharks left winger Egor Afanasyev cleared the wire and can go to the AHL's San Jose Barracuda. The 24-year-old last played in the NHL in 2024 with the Nashville Predators. He has one goal in 19 games and put up 21 points in 53 KHL games last season.

On the waiver wire until Thursday at 2 p.m. ET is Washington Capitals defenseman Vincent Iorio. The 22-year-old had 20 points in 67 games for the Hershey Bears last year. In nine career NHL games, Iorio has one assist.

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Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will miss the next five months as he recovers from surgery to repair a labral tear. 

The 34-year-old exited the Panthers' second game of the season on Oct. 9 after crashing into the boards. The veteran played just 7:47 against the Philadelphia Flyers before the collision.

“He had surgery this morning to repair a labral tear,” coach Paul Maurice said. “He’ll be out five months.”

Kulikov now joins a list consisting of Aleksander Barkov, Tomas Nosek and Matthew Tkachuk of Panthers players dealing with long-term injuries. Kulikov is the first, and hopefully the only, defenseman dealing with a long-term injury. The veteran blueliner skates on the third pairing at 5-on-5, but he is a key figure on the Panthers' penalty kill. 

Replacing him in the previous two games was Uvis Balinskis. The 29-year-old skated in 76 games last season, but it wasn't always smooth sailing on the third pairing. Through two games, Balinskis and his partner, Jeff Petry, have struggled at 5-on-5.

“He is unique in his role, he’s an excellent penalty killer, physical player in the 5-6, but he can skate and close gaps, so that’s the hole (that needs to be filled). Uvis (Balinskis) played 76 games for us last year, so we’ll put in a veteran player whose played here,” said Maurice. 

It's another key player who needs to be replaced, but the Panthers are sticking to the 'next man up' mindset.

"It’s the same concept, you don’t replace these guys that we have out of the lineup, but the weight doesn’t get heavier, you just have fewer guys to lift, right? Everybody shares it," said the Panthers' bench boss. "We have full expectation of Uvis playing the game that he’s capable of playing; he doesn’t get any room not to, but that’s a positive for us. We think we’re putting in a guy who's very capable."

Tobias Bjornfot was also recalled by the Panthers over the weekend, brought up as additional depth in case another Panthers defenseman suffers an injury. The 24-year-old hasn't been able to lock down a full-time NHL role just yet, but he's accumulated well over 100 games of NHL experience (134).

The Panthers are back in action tonight against the Detroit Red Wings for the second of five games on their current road trip.

The Florida Panthers will have a different look when they take the ice on Wednesday in Detroit.

Fresh off the team’s first loss of the young season, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice made a tweak to his forward lines.

It’s not uncommon for Maurice to move around his lines during the regular season to test out players in different spots with different linemates, as it helps gain understanding of which combinations work better in certain situations.

When the Panthers took the ice for their morning skate at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, second-year sniper Mackie Samoskevich skated on Florida’s top line, next to Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand.

As Maurice explained, having a player like Bennett who is so good with mentoring young guys, it makes it much easier to move a younger forward up in the lineup.

“When you get a young guy, especially if he’s a winger, you need a veteran player that wants to play with him,” Maurice said. “And Sam Bennett likes playing him because Mackie can skate with him, he can shoot the puck and he can make plays. Benny likes that speed with him.”

Carter Verhaeghe, who previously skated on the top unit, took Samoskevich’s spot on a line with Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist.

So far this season, Samoskevich has made the most of his new opportunities.

He’s been a main component of Florida’s second power play unit, with two of his three points so far this season coming while the Cats were on the man advantage.

Last season, Samoskevich played in 72 regular season games for Florida, racking up 15 goals and 31 points, before seeing his playing time limited to only four games during the heavier Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This year, the 22-year-old is looking to further establish himself as not only an everyday NHL player but one who can be counted on to produce similarly to how he’s performed throughout his playing career.

“We’ve got a fairly deep team here,” Maurice said. “If he was on a lot of the organizations that are maybe on a different part of their rebuild, he would’ve been playing bigger minutes in the NHL and putting up numbers and people would appreciate how good he is. He’s going to get that chance now.

“He’s ready for it. He’s fit, he’s strong, he’s fast, he understands our game. I know he’s a young guy but we don’t view him as that. He’s had enough training here to be good.”

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Photo caption: Oct 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) celebrates a goal against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

The Calder race, featuring standout names such as Montreal's Ivan Demidov and New York's top prospect Matthew Schaefer, also includes strong contenders from the Detroit Red Wings, three of them to be exact.

The rookie trio of Emmitt Finnie, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård have all emerged as notable prospects, each making a strong early impression with the rookie of the year award faintly within sight.

Of the three, Finnie appears the most likely contender as the 20-year-old winger has earned a spot on Detroit’s top line alongside stars Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond in a move that’s already paying off. Finnie has recorded two assists in his first three games, nearly producing at a point-per-game pace with the Lethbridge, Alberta native listed with +8000 odds to win the Calder.

Finntastic pic.twitter.com/IbcVnhPAY2

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 12, 2025

Finnie currently trails behind early standouts such as Minnesota’s Zeev Buium and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke, who have notched five and four points respectively to start the season but Finnie is still in the conversation. His spot on Detroit’s top line gives him a steady opportunity to rack up points, something that can’t be said for all of his rookie counterparts, many of whom find themselves in less favorable roles.

In this piece, we’ll examine the potential weaknesses in the cases of other Calder Trophy hopefuls and explore how Finnie could strengthen his own bid for the award. Circumstances will undoubtedly evolve as the season progresses, but as of today, this is how the landscape stands for some rookies.

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

Exclusive: Red Wings Prospect Emmitt Finnie Talks NHL Aspirations, Bond with Nate Danielson<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings">Red Wings</a> breakout prospect Emmitt Finnie breaks down off-season plans, future goals and growing up with fellow prospect <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/exclusive-red-wings-prospect-nate-danielson-focused-on-cracking-nhl-roster">Nate Danielson</a> in an exclusive interview with <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings">The Hockey News</a>.

Closest Comparables To Finnie's Situation

Matthew Schaefer (NYI) : The rookie defenseman has taken on a significant workload early in the season for the Islanders, leading the team in ice time through his first three games. While Lane Hutson broke through last year as the first defenseman to win the Calder since Detroit’s Moritz Seider in 2022, history isn’t on Schaefer’s side. No blueliner has claimed the award in back-to-back seasons since 1963 and 1964, when Toronto’s Kent Douglas and Montreal’s Jacques Laperrière achieved the rare feat, the only consecutive defenseman wins in Calder Trophy history. 

Beckett Sennecke (ANA) : He’s earning top-six minutes with the Ducks, skating alongside promising young talents Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier, a line that gives him plenty of offensive opportunity and support. 

Easton Cowen (TOR) : The young winger has stepped into a top-line role alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies and has thrived early, posting a point through his first two games. If he continues in this spot, Cowan could rival Finnie for the league’s most favorable rookie situation especially given he’s sharing the ice with a 69-goal scorer in Matthews. 

Calder Contenders With Flaws

Maxim Shabanov (NYI) : The rookie has been slotted on the Islanders’ third line alongside seasoned veterans Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, providing him with a steady two-way environment to develop in. He’s also earning additional minutes on the power play, which could boost his production, already evident as he’s found the back of the net to start the season. 

Ivan Demidov (MTL) : Arguably the most naturally gifted player in this rookie class, Demidov is already logging top-six minutes and power-play time for Montreal. However, his production potential may be limited somewhat by his current linemates, skating alongside youngsters in Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook.  

Red Wings Aim to End Skid Against Dominant Panthers in Midweek ClashDetroit’s "Cat and Pat," look to spark a winning streak versus Panthers, challenge Florida’s dominance in Motor City

Zeev Buium (MIN) : Much like Schaefer, Buium is logging significant minutes early in the season and quickly proving his reliability on the blue line. However, he faces the same historical hurdle as Schaefer with no defenseman having captured the Calder Trophy in back-to-back seasons since 1963 and 1964, marking a challenge that adds extra weight to his campaign. 

Alexander Nikishin (CAR) : Unlike Schaefer, Nikishin isn’t logging heavy minutes to start the season, which could limit his early impact. On top of that, he faces the same historical obstacle for defenseman, making his path to the award an uphill one. 

Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) : Entering the season with valuable experience from 14 NHL games, split evenly between last year’s regular season and playoffs. However, he’s currently limited to third-line minutes alongside Pius Suter and Mathieu Joseph, which could cap his offensive opportunities early on. 

Ryan Leonard (WSH) : Leonard is currently stuck in a bottom-six role with little opportunity to move up the lineup, blocked at right wing by established players like Tom Wilson and Anthony Beauvillier, unless he can significantly outplay Beauvillier. So far, he has managed just two points across 17 NHL games, including nine in the regular season and eight in the playoffs. 

Sam Rinzel (CHI) : Faces an uphill battle playing on a Blackhawks team struggling offensively, which will likely limit his point production. Additionally, he must overcome the same historical challenge as the other defenseman, adding another hurdle to his rookie campaign. 

"That's A Good Sign": Red Wings Find Positives In Win Despite Being Outshot Getting outshot by a 40-15 margin and constantly getting hemmed into their defensive zone wasn't the strategy for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings">Detroit Red Wings </a>on Monday afternoon, and yet things still worked out for them thanks to a superhuman performance from goaltender Cam Talbot.&nbsp;

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Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.

The Bruins are good, and the Kings aren’t, just like everyone predicted, right? 

We must not overreact to what’s going on in October – it’s hard, I know – but we are just merely a week into the 2025-26 NHL season. This time last season, the Oilers and Avalanche were a combined 0-6-0. 

As in years past, the NHL power rankings see significant movement in the first few weeks while the league sorts itself out. There have been plenty of upsets, but it always requires some recalibration as we see teams for the first time in games that matter. 

Here are this week’s NHL power rankings. 

1. Dallas Stars (3-0-0, +5 goal differential. Previous Rank: 3)

They’ve basically run the gauntlet of the Central, defeating the Jets, Avs and Wild with no fewer than five goals scored in each game. The Stars are one of only two teams to have a perfect 1.000 points percentage so far this season. 

2. Carolina Hurricanes (3-0-0, +8. PR: 5)

It has not been one of the toughest schedules at all, but once again, the Hurricanes are proving to be a regular-season buzzsaw. And they’re doing this with Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers combining for zero goals. 

3. Florida Panthers (3-1-0, +3. PR: 1)

A road loss to the Flyers was the lone blip, but otherwise, the Panthers are rolling even without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Don’t ever count out the Panthers making another big move, though.

4. Edmonton Oilers (2-0-1, +3. PR: 2)

Once in a while, Stuart Skinner will have a really good game and make you wonder if he really has the goods to backstop this team to the Cup. 

5. Colorado Avalanche (3-0-1, +5. PR: 8)

Nathan MacKinnon is a man on a mission, and Scott Wedgewood has held the fort nicely in Mackenzie Blackwood’s absence. A contract stand-off looms with pending UFA Martin Necas, who is tied with MacKinnon with eight points in four games. The situation is reminiscent of Mikko Rantanen’s last season; what lessons did the Avs learn from that negotiation, I wonder?

6. Vegas Golden Knights (2-0-2, +1. PR: 4)

Their power play has been awesome, but their defense and goaltending… not so much. The Knights seem a bit more careless than usual with turnovers, and Adin Hill left last night’s game due to an injury, which will put the Knights’ goalie depth to the test… but what depth?!

7. Winnipeg Jets (2-1-0, +3. PR: 6)

They nearly battled back from a 5-1 deficit in the season opener against the division rival Stars and completed a comeback to beat the Kings. Injuries have not made it easy on the Jets, but they’re powering through OK so far. 

8. Washington Capitals (3-1-0, +2. PR: 9)

The Caps aren’t scoring a ton and they’re also allowing a lot of scoring chances, but the biggest difference so far this season has been their goaltending. Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren rank third and sixth, respectively, in goals saved above average at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com. 

9. Minnesota Wild (2-2-0, even. PR: 10)

The Wild's power play (10-for-21, 47.6 percent) has been otherworldly, and there’s no better combo right now than Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. However, despite outchancing and outshooting their opponents by significant margins, they’ve also allowed 12 goals in their two losses. 

10. Toronto Maple Leafs (2-2-0, +2. PR: 7)

A public tongue lashing was enough to get William Nylander and Auston Matthews going, who combined for five points in a 7-4 win against the Preds. We cannot deny, however, that the absence of Mitch Marner has had an effect. The Leafs are one of three teams that have yet to score a power-play goal.

Why Easton Cowan Looks Like He Just Might Stick On The Maple Leafs' Top LineIt took two games for Easton Cowan to finally get in the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. And another two games for the rookie winger to show that he has the skill — and tenacity — to potentially fill Mitch Marner's coveted spot on the top line.

11. St. Louis Blues (2-1-0, even. PR: 13)

The Blues rank second with 30.33 hits per 60 minutes entering Wednesday's games, and with some line juggling, they have managed to produced nine goals in two games after getting shut out in the season opener. They haven’t stormed out of the gates, but they’re still an intriguing dark horse given their physical play and scoring ability. 

12. New Jersey Devils (2-1-0, even. PR: 14)

After a shaky start in a 6-3 loss in the season opener, the Devils have flipped the script and won two straight. They have a tough schedule in the first month, and they need Jacob Markstrom to have a strong season.

13. Montreal Canadiens (3-1-0, +3. PR: 16)

After a season-opening loss, the Habs quickly regrouped and beat the Wings and closed out two close wins against the Hawks and Kraken. Their offense has yet to really get going, too. Lane Hutson doesn’t have a point on the power play, Juraj Slafkovsky has only one goal and Patrik Laine has one assist.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning (1-2-1, -3. PR: 11)

Remember, the Lightning didn’t have a great start in their previous season either (7-6-1 after the first month) so there’s no panic yet. But it is hard to shake the feeling that an aging Lightning core is bound to drop off at some point. Andrei Vasilevskiy is winless through three games with a .870 SP. Fun stat: the Lightning had the third-lowest winning percentage (.370) in one-goal games last season, and they have one win in three one-goal games so far this season. 

15. Detroit Red Wings (2-1-0, even. PR: 21)

It was an ugly start with a 5-1 loss where the Wings were outshot 31-17. Then came back-to-back victories against the Leafs. It’s a young team, especially on defense, but trust the process and make sure you keep benching Travis Hamonic. 

16. Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-0, +1. PR: 18)

The Jackets lost both their games by just one goal, but the early signs are very encouraging with strong goaltending from Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins. The pre-season diagnosis was that this was the weakest part of the Jackets’ roster, and it’s not even an issue right now. A tough four-game test looms with Colorado, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Washington. 

17. Boston Bruins (3-1-0, +4. PR: 29)

Surely, the Bruins are the most surprising team through the first week of 2025-26. They nearly staged a comeback win after trailing 3-0 against the Lightning with their backup in net, and they’re getting contributions from nearly every single player. Of their 12 forwards, nine of them have already scored a goal. Could they rank higher? Maybe, they already made the biggest jump in the rankings this week with 11 spots, and we mustn’t overreact in October. 

18. Seattle Kraken (2-0-1, +2. PR: 26)

I really think Matty Beniers looks different this season. He’s faster, generating more offense and, perhaps most importantly, getting more deployment for offensive-zone draws. The Kraken had some really close games, and I’m still not convinced they’re playoff material, but grinding out a low-event overtime win against the Knights was encouraging.

19. Los Angeles Kings (1-2-1, -4. PR: 12)

Is it a shocker that the Kings’ third pair has been a problem? They have zero regulation wins through four games, spotted their opponents a 3-0 lead in two games after two periods, nearly blew a lead against the Knights and blew one against the Jets. Aside from a six-goal outburst against the Knights, the Kings have scored six goals in three games, echoing last season’s inability to score. 

20. Anaheim Ducks (2-1-0, even. PR: 23)

Joel Quenneville, Chris Kreider, Beckett Sennecke, Mason McTavish… it looks like the Ducks have made all the right calls so far this season. If there’s a young team ready to upset the established order in the West, the Ducks look like a strong candidate.

21. Ottawa Senators (1-2-0, -6. PR: 15)

Horrible news coming down the pipeline Tuesday that captain Brady Tkachuk would miss at least four weeks with a hand injury. Linus Ullmark has struggled in the early going (.842 SP, 4.07 GAA) and needs to get those goals against numbers down. 

22. Utah Mammoth (1-2-0, -2. PR: 17)

The Mammoth are not delivering the high-octane offense I was expecting, scoring just four goals in regulation through three games. The upcoming four-game homestand is vital to generate some rhythm since eight of their next nine games will be on the road. 

23. Vancouver Canucks (1-2-0, -1. PR: 19)

The Elias Pettersson revenge tour hasn’t manifested itself, and that’s a problem because Quinn Hughes can only do so much. The saving grace so far this season has been Thatcher Demko, who’s a Vezina-caliber goalie for the Canucks when he’s healthy. 

24. Calgary Flames (1-3-0, -7. PR: 20)

They can’t generate consistent offense, and even the prospective return of Jonathan Huberdeau doesn’t bring a ton of optimism. The Flames are cooked if Dustin Wolf – currently the worst goalie in the league based on goals saved above average at 5-on-5 per naturalstattrick.com – can’t replicate last season’s form. 

25. New York Rangers (2-3-0, +3. PR: 22)

The Rangers set a new NHL low with three straight shutout losses at home. Kreider, meanwhile, has four goals. And you’re telling me he was the problem?! Somebody save Igor Shesterkin from this mess – he deserves better.

26. Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-0, -2. PR: 27)

Somehow, they’re not that bad? The Pens nearly went 3-1-0 but blew a 2-0 lead to the Ducks. I still think the Pens are on a path to a rebuild, but if winning more games and foregoing a chance at Gavin McKenna means keeping Sidney Crosby around just a little longer, then why not keep doing what they’re doing?

The Top 100 CHL Players To Watch In 2025-26For years, I've done a <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/the-top-100-ncaa-players-to-watch-in-2025-26">top 100 NCAA hockey players to watch list</a>, and for some reason, despite the fact the CHL has about the same number of teams, I always felt a major junior list would be harder.

27. Nashville Predators (2-1-1, even. PR: 30)

Juuse Saros looks as good as he’s ever been, bouncing back from a horrendous 2024-25. That alone will keep the Preds competitive, and keep in mind the Preds only play their tough Central opponents seven times from now until the end of November, so don’t be surprised if they’re a lot more competitive in the standings than anticipated. 

28. Philadelphia Flyers (1-1-1, +1. PR: 28)

The good part is that their goaltending actually doesn’t look terrible, and Trevor Zegras is already generating plenty of buzz. The bad part is they still might have some trouble scoring on a consistent basis while Rick Tocchet figures out his offense. Matvei Michkov has already drawn his ire.

Flyers Fans Stay Patient, Believe They Could Be 'Sneaky' Playoff ContenderThe Philadelphia Flyers’ head honchos say making the playoffs would be nice, but they are stressing improvement, especially from their young players, more than anything else this season.

29. Chicago Blackhawks (1-2-1, -1. PR: 32)

Connor Bedard looks like he’s gained a step and gotten a little quicker, but Frank Nazar has taken the biggest leap so far. It’s shaping up to be a breakout season for Nazar, and more importantly, he is taking some pressure off Bedard’s shoulders as a legit No. 2 center for the Hawks. 

30. New York Islanders (0-3-0, -6. PR: 24)

Ilya Sorokin looks a bit uncomfortable out there, having allowed 12 goals in three games. The Isles have no chance if their elite goalie can’t perform up to standard. The goal to shelter Matthew Schaefer lasted just one game – after playing 17 minutes in the season opener, he played 26 minutes in the subsequent two games. There’s the silver lining. 

31. San Jose Sharks (0-1-2, -6. PR: 31)

At this pace, the Sharks are on their way to being one of the 10 worst defensive teams in the cap era for the third (!) time. They can score goals in bunches when Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith drive their offense, but their defending is weak, and their goaltending inconsistent. Could you imagine, though if they add Gavin McKenna to a core of Celebrini, Smith and Michael Misa? 

32. Buffalo Sabres (0-3-0, -8. PR: 25)

I am so, so sorry, Buffalo fans. 

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Oct 14, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) congratulates Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) after defeating the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Former Maine Mariners' goaltender Brandon Bussi became the 769th former ECHL player to reach the NHL when he debuted with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday at San Jose against the Sharks.

Bussi was impressive in the Hurricanes’ 5-1 victory Tuesday night, stopping 16 shots and making numerous spectacular saves to keep his team in the game and allow them to eventually grab momentum.

The Canes exploded for four goals in the final 26 minutes and didn't allow the Sharks a shot on goal in the final period.

The only blemish occurred early in the middle frame, and that was due more to a defensive breakdown on the part of the Canes than their goaltender.

William Eklund scored on a partial breakaway to knot the game 1-1 after Sean Walker lit the lamp for the Hurricanes three minutes earlier.

The 27-year-old Bussi is the 10th netminder in Hurricanes franchise history to win his NHL debut while playing for the club, and the first since Pyotr Kochetkov accomplished the feat on Apr. 23, 2022. He’s the first former ECHL player to make his NHL debut during the 2025-26 season.

Bussi signed this summer with the Florida Panthers after three seasons with the Boston Bruins organization, but was among the final cuts from the defending Stanley Cup champs. He came over to the Canes when third-string goaltender Cayden Primeau was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs, then Kochetkov was placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound netminder went 3-1-0 in four appearances with the Mariners during the 2022-23 season with a 2.50 goals-against average and a save percentage of .922.

A native of Sound Beach, N.Y., Bussi has seen action in 111 career games with Providence of the American Hockey League, where he is 63-31-12 with eight shutouts, a 2.62 goals-against average and a save percentage of .915.

Thanks to Bussi’s outstanding performance Tuesday, the Canes are one of just two teams who remain unbeaten on the young season as they head to Anaheim for a clash with the Ducks Thursday night. The Dallas Stars are the only other undefeated team.

Throughout the course of the NHL season, there are plenty of scenarios when players wish they could take a play back and do things differently. 

One such scenario - a costly one - happened for Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Parker Wotherspoon on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. 

With 1:34 remaining in regulation and in the midst of a back-and-forth, high-energy 3-3 tie, Wotherspoon had the puck on his stick in the defensive zone, readying for a breakout. There are any number of decisions he could have made in that moment, but the 28-year-old defenseman decided to try to bank the puck off the glass in order to move it out of the defensive zone.

Unfortunately, that's not what happened.

Wotherspoon ended up airmailing the puck over the glass, which resulted in a late delay of game penalty. The Ducks scored a power play goal just seven seconds later, which was Chris Kreider's second power play goal of the night - and the nail in the coffin for the Penguins, who dropped the contest, 4-3.

Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau, and Anthony Mantha scored for the Penguins, while goaltender Tristan Jarry stopped 18 of 22 Ducks' shots on goal.

"It was just a dumb play," Wotherspoon said. "I was trying to make the right choice and just get it off the glass. Obviously, it's super unfortunate, but I can't be doing that that late in games, so it was dumb."

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Win over the PenguinsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> returned from their two-game road trip to play their home opener, when they hosted the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> on Tuesday at Honda Center.

Although the result was indeed unfortunate for the Penguins, they - once again - didn't do themselves any favors in this game, as they were unable to stay out of the box akin to what happened in a 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Their only power play came in the form of a delay of game after a failed offside challenge by Anaheim late in the second period, which followed Mantha's first goal as a Penguin to tie the game at 3-3.

Pittsburgh took six penalties on the evening, and the Ducks had two power play goals. If the Penguins hope to win hockey games going forward, they will need to find ways to stay more disciplined, even if the game isn't always going their way.

And they also need improve their penalty kill, which has surrendered four goals in the past two contests.

"You want to be at least even or getting more on the advantage than you are killing," head coach Dan Muse said. "So, it plays a role. At the same time, too, when we do have to kill penalties... it's an area that we're going to have to continue to work to improve."

Final from Anaheim ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/iGGjb6OsWz

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 15, 2025

---

Here are a few notes and observations from this one:

- Aside from the delay of game penalty at the end of the game, I thought Wotherspoon played another solid game for the Penguins. His defense partner, Erik Karlsson, was caught out of position a few times, and - as he has done with consistency so far this season - he was able to read off of that. He was also able to break the Penguins out of danger a few times.

So, that's what made the penalty at the end all the more unfortunate. Mistakes happen, of course, but that was certainly a costly one. 

Penguins' New Top Defensive Pairing Could Be Hidden GemThere are a lot of new faces populating the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' roster this season, especially on the left side of the Penguins' blue line.&nbsp;

- Rookie teenage defenseman Harrison Brunicke was held out of the lineup for developmental purposes on Tuesday, which made way for Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba to make their Penguins' debuts.

And it was a mixed bag for both of them. Dumba was caught flat-footed on more a few occasions, and his net-front defense failed him on Kreider's first goal because he allowed the pass to get through and he didn't box Kreider out. He had some good moments as well - namely in helping generate some offense - and it's worth noting that was playing his off-side.

Clifton wasn't great on the penalty kill, either, but I thought he played a relatively solid game five-on-five. He showcased his physicality, too, and landed a few big hits. 

If Brunicke sticks around for good this season, it's unclear exactly how the defensive rotation is going to work. Caleb Jones is also in the mix. But, assuming Brunicke is back in next game on the right side, I'd like to see Clifton get a game on the left side. 

It's Only Been Three Games. But Kindel And Brunicke Should Be In Pittsburgh To Stay.Going into <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' training camp this season, it's safe to say that most folks did not have 2025 11th overall pick Ben Kindel making the NHL roster out of the gate.

- I don't think Rust played a particularly strong game Tuesday. It's definitely a factor that he is just coming back from injury and has only played two games. But, in both games, he struggled in his own zone five-on-five and on the penalty kill, his reads were off, and he sent a few errant passes.

On Tuesday, he also made a few poor decisions with the puck during the six-on-five, which led to the puck leaving the offensive zone on both occasions. 

It's early, and I won't hold anything against Rust yet. But he hasn't been great in his first two.

- I saw a lot of people getting on Jarry after this one. After all, four goals on 22 shots isn't great, right? 

On paper, no. But, honestly, I thought he was pretty good in this game for the most part. He made some key saves in opportune moments when the Ducks were coming on strong, which happened in waves during this game. The entire flow of the game was back-and-forth, run-and-gun, footrace-style hockey, and the teams were trading chances and momentum all night long.

It's reasonable to suggest that Jarry needs to be better. That's not a false statement. But this was one of those games where looking at the final stat line for him doesn't exactly tell the whole story.

- The Penguins play the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, another late one for the East Coast. I would expect them to be much more disciplined and come out strong in this one. The Penguins tend to play some of their best hockey against the Kings, who play a stingy, tight-checking brand.

I would venture to guess that Brunicke will be back in the lineup, and it's possible that Ben Kindel may not be. Muse said that the two rookies getting scratched on planned days is all part of a development plan laid out by management and the coaching staff.

Kevin Hayes made the trip and should also be returning soon. Some interesting decisions loom for the Penguins.

4 Early Trade Candidates For The PenguinsWith a few players on injured reserve and some young prospects making some pretty solid cases to stick around for good, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> will have some tough roster decisions to make in the coming days and weeks.

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Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

To say that defenceman Ville Heinola is frustrated would be an understatement.

The Winnipeg Jets have long been a very deep defensive club.

So much so that they set NHL records last season for their strong play away from the puck. From longest streaks of games played without allowing a certain number of goals against, to blocked shots, hits and time spent in the defensive end, the Jets have been a stellar shut down defensive squad.

In order to be that, a team needs to be assembled in a particular manner: large, strong, tough and sturdy.

Think, Luke Schenn.

The veteran defenceman brought in prior to the trade deadline last season fits the exact mold set by GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Dylan Samberg has all of those characteristics, plus a flair for smart decision-making with the puck and some added offence when needed. 

Josh Morrissey is the offensive stalwart, while Neal Pionk has proven to be a reliable, speedy option on the back-end. 

Colin Miller, whom Winnipeg traded for a couple years back, also has similar traits to that of Schenn and Samberg - he's just a bit slower, but has a heavier shot. 

Logan Stanley - who does not skate particularly well - fits the bill on the third pairing due to his towering 6-foot-7 frame and his willingness to clear the netfront. 

Haydn Fleury, who is possibly the best skater of all the Jets' defence, even found himself sitting out more often than not last year in favour of bigger, slower teammates. He has made himself at home, however, since proving his worth during last spring's postseason. 

Then, there's the curious case of Ville Heinola. 

The small, speedy Finn has not been able to find a place on the crowded blueline in Winnipeg, and on Tuesday made clear his frustration with another training camp resulting in a trip down the hallway to the AHL's Manitoba Moose dressing room.

When asked by Illegal Curve's Dave Minuk of being placed on Waivers for the first time in his career, Heinola responded bluntly.

"I mean, it's obviously not fun," he said. "To be honest, I kind of wish that someone would have picked me up. But that didn't happen, and I'm here. Happy to play." 

Asked Ville Heinola about going through the waiver process for the first time in his career.

He said he hoped he would have been picked up by another team (which is an honest answer as it would mean he remains in the NHL).

Our full chat: https://t.co/eMHhOfIdDfpic.twitter.com/l4olizG39X

— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) October 14, 2025

Selected 20th overall in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the now 24-year-old cracked the Jets out of camp that fall following the retirement of Dustin Byfuglien. He became the first player born in the 21st century to score on NHL goal, and had a goal and five points in eight games to start that rookie season prior to being sent home for further development.

Thanks to beefed up bluelines, an influx of coaches and unfortunately timed injuries, he never made the Jets out of training camp again. 

In 53 games over five seasons, Heinola has that single goal and 12 points to his name. The majority of his time has been spent with the Moose, where he has played 154 games over parts of seven seasons. He has 23 goals and 103 points over that lengthy time spent in antlers. 

Now, having been placed on Waivers for the first time in his career and having no takers of the 31 other teams, it was a bit of a low-blow for the puck-moving defender. 

"That's all I can do," Heinola concluded. "I'll try my hardest and try to play well, and hopefully something happens."

With Winnipeg's draft and develop model having worked wonders for current star players Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Cole Perfetti, Morrissey and Samberg, others, such as Heinola may be getting squeezed too thin at the AHL level.

The current flock of AHL prospects includes that of Heinola, fellow defenceman Elias Salomonsson and forwards Brayden Yager, Brad Lambert and Colby Barlow. Once Perfetti and captain Adam Lowry return from their injuries, the expectation is that both Parker Ford and Nikita Chibrikov will be sent back down to join Ville Heinola and David Gustafsson on the Moose.