Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

While the Montreal Canadiens lost their last preseason game on Saturday night, you would have been hard-pressed to get a negative comment from coach Martin St-Louis. The bench boss came to camp, acknowledging that his team wasn’t ready for the start of the season last year, but with a clear message for his team: there was no waiting for October 8 to turn up the intensity level, and he was heard loud and clear.

Speaking after the club’s last preseason game, the coach said:

I think that since we started together, this has been our best camp. I guess it comes with the evolution, where we are, the continuity, the players’ buy-in. I’m proud of the camp and how we handled ourselves, how we worked. I’m proud of the youngsters’ progression and the buy-in from the veterans. Honestly, I feel this is the most prepared we’ve been to take on the marathon that is the season since I’ve been here.

- St-Louis on his team's training camp

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It's easy to understand what the coach means when he speaks about the youngsters’ progression. At last camp, Emil Heineman stood head and shoulders above everyone, but this time around, there was a good battle up front. Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Joe Veleno, and Samuel Blais didn’t make things easier for the coach, and that’s a good problem to have.

On the blueline, Adam Engstrom showed just how much he progressed last season and what Pascal Vincent meant when he said during the rookie camp that he believed the blueliner was ready for the show. There may not be room for him in Montreal just yet, but never say never; he could force his way into the lineup or even be used in a trade to fetch more help up front.

Of course, it’s hard to know just how ready the young Canadiens are before the first game of the season, but that test is getting dangerously near now. The Habs will open their season on Wednesday, October 8, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While it seems clear that St-Louis has no intention of separating his first line, the rest of his lineup remains somewhat unclear. Ivan Demidov started shining at even strength when he was separated from Kirby Dach and Patrick Laine. The young Russian shone brightly in his one game alongside Kapanen and Alex Newhook, but that’s only one game. Can they keep it up?

As for Dach, he also looked better away from Laine and alongside Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno, but Jake Evans and Josh Anderson were less impactful as a line with Laine as their third piece. While the big Finn is a tremendous weapon to have on the power play, he remains hard to figure out at even strength. You can see that he’s making an effort out there, but it’s just not coming naturally to him. Trying to reprogram a player that has focused on offense solely for so long is no easy task, but the Canadiens do need Laine if only for how clutch he is on the power play. Given that he’s entering a contract year, this will be an essential campaign for Laine. If he genuinely loves Montreal and wants to stay, the two-way play will have to come naturally.

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There will be quite a bit to keep track of in the world of the Florida Panthers on Monday.

Florida will set its Opening Night roster, and several questions will be answered in the process.

We’re still waiting to hear the status of Aaron Ekbald and Carter Verhaeghe, both of whom were on the receiving ends of illegal hits that garnered disciplinary action from the NHL Department of Player Safety.

It’s all stemming from Florida’s preseason finale against Tampa Bay on Saturday in which the intra-state rivals called for a combined 322 penalty minutes in a game Florida won 7-0.

The aftermath, which has yet to be completely determined, has seen four Lightning players either fined or facing hearing with the league.

Roman Schmidt and Gage Goncalves were each fined the maxim allowable under the CBA for cross-checking Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues, respectively.

The NHL is calling both Scott Sabourin and J.J. Moser in for hearings on Monday as both could face fines or suspensions.

Sabourin went after Ekblad and was tossed from the game, as was Moser after a boarding incident that Jesper Boqvist was on the receiving end of.

So yeah, lots to keep track of.

But wait, there’s more!

Getting back to Florida’s Opening Night roster, the final spots are still in limbo.

Florida has yet to announce whether they are offering a contract to either or both of the men who came to camp on PTOs (professional tryouts), Noah Gregor and Tyler Motte.

The Panthers can carry as many as 23 players on their active roster, which does not include players on IR.

It’s going to be a busy day for the Panthers, who will begin their second straight title defense the following afternoon.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Dec 2, 2021; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) and left wing Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the third period at FLA Live Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)

Big Z's moment: Bruins to retire Zdeno Chara's number on Jan. 15 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins announced Monday that they will retire former captain and longtime defenseman Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 in a ceremony on Jan. 15, 2026, at the TD Garden.

The number retirement ceremony will be held prior to the team’s game against the Seattle Kraken, currently scheduled for 7 p.m. The team said additional details, including doors open time, fan activations, ceremony start time, and broadcast information, will be shared closer to the date.

Tickets to the game are available to purchase at bostonbruins.com/tickets. All-inclusive suite rental options that accommodate 18-240 guests are also available at bostonbruins.com/suiterentals.

“It is truly beyond words to see my jersey, number 33, raised to the rafters at TD Garden,” Chara said in a statement released by the team. “This honor is greater than anything I could have imagined when I first came to Boston. I am forever grateful to the Bruins organization for trusting me to lead, to all my teammates past and present, to the fans whose passion and energy made Boston feel like home, and to my family who made everything possible. This moment is not just mine – it belongs to all of us.”

Chara will address the media at TD Garden on Tuesday, at 10 a.m. ET.

A big surprise for Big Zee.

An inside look at the moment he received the news about No. 33.#NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/MRooYb9EG3

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 6, 2025

“The Rafters are a fitting home for 33, because there will never be another Zdeno Chara,” said Jeremy M. Jacobs, Bruins owner and governor. “From his skill, size and physical dominance on the ice, to his leadership in the locker room and impact on the Boston community, Zee is a legend of the game and the ultimate Bruin.” 

“There is no greater embodiment of what it means to be a Boston Bruin than Zdeno Chara,” Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs added. “Zdeno brought a special brand of leadership to the Boston Bruins by challenging and empowering his teammates every day. Over his 14 years as a captain, Zdeno helped define Boston Bruins hockey with his drive for on-ice excellence and sportsmanship, along with his off-ice commitment to serve the greater Boston community.”

“From the moment he arrived in Boston in 2006, Zdeno Chara brought with him an unmatched presence, combining size, strength, and skill with a leadership style that elevated everyone around him,” Bruins President Cam Neely said. “Zdeno set the standard with his professionalism, his legendary work ethic and his fierce competitiveness, and he did it all while representing our organization with the utmost class. As someone who has experienced what it means to have your number hanging in the rafters, I can say without a doubt that Zdeno’s No. 33 belongs there. It will serve as a permanent reminder of his place as one of the greatest Bruins of all time.”

Chara’s No. 33 will be the 13th number retired by the organization and the first to be raised to the rafters since Willie O’Ree’s No. 22 was retired in January 2022. He will be the first European player to have his number retired by the Bruins.

Other retired numbers by the Bruins include 16 (Rick Middleton, 2018), 8 (Cam Neely, 2004), 24 (Terry O’Reilly, 2002), 77 (Ray Bourque, 2001), 7 (Phil Esposito, 1987), 9 (Johnny Bucyk, 1980), 4 (Bobby Orr, 1979), 15 (Milt Schmidt, 1956), 2 (Eddie Shore, 1947), 5 (Aubrey “Dit” Clapper, 1947) and 3 (Lionel Hitchman, 1934).

Taking its rightful place in the rafters.

On Jan. 15, 2026, Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 will become the 13th number in #NHLBruins history to be retired.

📰: https://t.co/a1vQxhQuZPpic.twitter.com/UoAayMEy0Z

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 6, 2025

Chara retired from the NHL in September 2022, signing a one-day contract with the Bruins. The Slovakia native was originally selected by the New York Islanders in the third round of the 1996 draft. He signed with Boston in July 2006 and served as team captain for the entirety of his 14-year stint in Boston, making him the second-longest tenured captain in club history behind Ray Bourque.

The 6-foot-9 defenseman appeared in 1,023 career games with Boston, totaling 148 goals and 333 assists for 481 points. He ranks eighth in franchise history in games played and third in goals, assists, points, power play goals (69), shorthanded points (19) and average ice time per game (24:29) by a defenseman.

Chara won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, becoming the first captain to bring a Stanley Cup to Boston since 1972. He appeared in two additional Stanley Cup Final series with the Bruins (2013, 2019) and finished his career with 18 goals and 52 assists for 70 points in 200 playoff games.

In his 14 seasons with the Boston, Chara led the Bruins to the postseason 11 times. His 14 Game 7 appearances are tied with Patrice Bergeron for the most by an NHL player.

Chara was the recipient of several individual accolades in his playing career. He won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09, awarded annually to the league’s top defenseman. He was also the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2010-11 for his exemplary leadership both on and off the ice. Chara was named to the NHL First-All Star Team three times (2014, 2009, 2004), the NHL Second All-Star Team four times (2012, 2011, 2008, 2006) and was a six-time participant in the NHL All-Star Game (2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2003).

Over the course of his 24-year NHL career, he played in 1,680 games with the New York Islanders, Washington, Boston and Ottawa, totaling 209 goals and 471 assists for 680 points with a plus-301 rating. He holds the NHL record for most games played by a defenseman and ranks seventh among all skaters in games played.

Chara was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hall of Fame in 2025. He was also elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Chara currently serves as a Hockey Operations Advisor and Mentor for the Bruins.

New Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Caleb Jones may have suited up for the Los Angeles Kings' organization last season prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent. But, oddly enough, he found himself training with some players from a different organization this summer.

And what better guys to train with in the National Hockey League right now than the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers?

Caleb, 28, is the younger brother of Seth Jones, 31, who was dealt from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Panthers prior to the 2025 trade deadline. It just so happens that Seth arrived at the perfect time, as he was an instrumental part of Florida's 2025 run and put up four goals, nine points, and a plus-11 rating in 23 playoff games for the Cats.

During that playoff run, Caleb was in town, too, to watch his brother play on the NHL's biggest stage - and to learn a few pointers from some of the very best the league has to offer.

"It was a great experience for me to see those guys," Caleb said. "They’re obviously the champs, and everyone’s trying to chase them right now and see their work ethic and their mindset every day.

"I think that’s why I’ve had a really good camp. I was able to be down there with those guys and learn a lot of good habits, and kind of just put them into myself and bring them here.”

Of course, that 'here' is in Pittsburgh, where he signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract this summer. 

Former Penguins' Defenseman Signs New Deal With BlackhawksAfter an offseason of uncertainty, a former Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman finally has a home for the 2025-26 season.

Jones was drafted in the fourth round (117th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers - ironically, the team that Florida beat in the Final for the second consecutive season - and spent the first three seasons of his NHL career there. Sure enough, he spent the next two seasons with the Blackhawks, which happened to fall within the same timeline as Seth being with the organization.

Caleb has relished the opportunity to go through the experience of NHL hockey with his brother and best friend, and he especially enjoyed those two years.

“It’s been pretty cool," Caleb said. "We’ve trained together every summer since I turned about 20. And, obviously, getting the chance to play with him for a couple years in Chicago, that was really special. When you’re kinda in the moment, you don’t realize - you lose sight of, like, how actually cool that is... and then, once you’re done doing it, you’re like, ‘Wow, that was an awesome experience.’"

But now - after a stint with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24 and the one in L.A. last season - he's found a new home in Pittsburgh, and he's ready to bring some of those "good habits" to the black and gold. For much of training camp, he has been paired alongside Penguins' veteran defenseman Kris Letang, and it's a combination that has stuck, even as the rosters were trimmed down to 23 on Saturday.

Of course, Jones is aware of the strengths in his own game. But he's making sure to pick the brain of, arguably, the greatest Penguins' defenseman of all-time.

“It’s been awesome," Jones said. "I’ve been with him every day so far, and he’s obviously done a lot of great things in the league, knows a lot of tricks, and kinda has that veteran savvy to him. So, you kind of just try to take as much information from him as he gives you and, at the same time, just have confidence in yourself... trust yourself and your game and just try to play well with him. That’s all it is.”

And Jones is fairly confident in the defining qualities of his game. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound blueliner brings an element of speed to the Penguins' defensive corps, and he contributes a little bit of everything, bringing a defensive conscience while also aiding in the transition game and chipping in on offense occasionally. 

Penguins' Pre-Season: Surprising Cuts Made, Two Top Prospects Likely To Start In NHLAfter a grueling training camp that included a successful 5-1-1 pre-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster appears to be set for the 2025-26 season.

“I’m playing with a lot of energy, playing with a strong gap, and kind of just using my skating to disrupt plays and move the puck and join the rush," Jones said. "Getting a chance on the PP, PK... I’ve been in those roles. So, you try to just be solid and try to have the coaches’ trust. I’ve gotten good feedback through [camp], so I'm just trying to stay energized and keep my confidence high, and do my thing.”

Of course, there will be a bit of a battle for playing time on a crowded Penguins' blue line. It appears the team is opting to carry eight defensemen - one of them being top prospect Harrison Brunicke, who figures to get some runway on the right side along with Erik Karlsson and Letang. 

That means right-shot guys like Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba will, likely, be faced with some time on their off-side, potentially leaving little margin for error for the left-side blueliners in Jones, Parker Wotherspoon, and Ryan Shea. 

Jones is aware of the competition within team walls, even as he's felt extremely welcomed by the organization and his teammates. But he is focused on his game, his strengths, and bringing some of those champion habits he pried from Florida - as well as from some of the longstanding veterans in his current locker room - to the rink on a daily basis. 

"I'm just trying to keep going day by day," he said. "And I'll keep trying to do something a little better every day.”

Penguins Defensive Prospect Set To Start 2025-26 Season In ECHLPittsburgh Penguins defensive prospect Emil Pieniniemi won't be in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to start the 2025-26 season.

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All signs are pointing toward Conor Sheary earning a contract and roster spot with the New York Rangers. 

During the offseason, the Rangers signed Sheary to a Professional Tryout Agreement as he looked to compete at training camp for an opening-night roster spot. 

Mike Sullivan coached Sheary for multiple seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as they won two Stanley Cups together. 

Sheary’s past relationship and success with Sullivan led to him coming to New York on a PTO deal. 

Throughout training camp, the 33-year-old forward stood out, proving his worth to Sullivan and the Rangers’ management. 

Sullivan has consistently put Sheary in a power-play role, which proves that he does have a plan for his trusted winger. 

New York Rangers • News and CommunityNew York Rangers news, video, analysis and community on The Hockey News Follow all Rangers news at https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers

The expectation is that Sheary will play a bottom-six role for the Rangers if he were to make the team.

With the regular season set to begin on Tuesday, Sheary is yet to be placed on waivers, a positive sign we’ll see him with the Blueshirts to kick off the 2025-26 season. 

The new season of Prime Video’s behind-the-scenes hockey series FACEOFF: Inside the NHL dropped on Friday.

Florida Panthers fans are going to enjoy a lot of what the new season has to offer.

While there are fun Panthers tidbits that can be seen throughout, there are some key episodes that focus much of their runtime on Panthers-related content.

First, Episode 1 features the life of Ottawa Senators star forward Brady Tkachuk on and off the ice.

Much of it focuses on his time at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he and his brother, Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, were key elements of the Team USA squad that came within an overtime goal of winning the tournament.

The injury suffered by the elder Tkachuk was also a main point of emphasis in this episode.

Another episode that Panthers fans are going to love is the final one, Episode 6.

That one is all about the Cats and their quest for a second straight Stanley Cup, and it give the same incredible, in-depth access that we received during the first season of FACEOFF.

Similarly to last year, we get some great mic’d up moments from the players, including another frustrated Oilers screaming moment in their locker room and some great bytes from Panthers Head Coch Paul Maurice.

No surprise there.

Let us know in the comments below which moments were your favorites from the new season of FACEOFF!

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Photo caption: Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

By now, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby approaching NHL records is a relatively regular occurrence. 

And - this year - he is set to tie yet another.

At the dawn of the 2025-26 season, Crosby will tie Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman as the longest-tenured captain in NHL history. Yzerman holds the current record at 19, which is the number for both total seasons captained and seasons captained with one franchise.

Crosby, 38, was named captain of the Penguins on May 31, 2007 at 19 years, nine months, and 24 days old, which made him the youngest captain in NHL history at the time. Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers have since broken Crosby's previous record.

The future Hall-of-Fame center has led Pittsburgh to three Stanley Cup Championships and four Cup Final appearances. The Penguins made the postseason for 16 consecutive seasons from 2007-2022 under Crosby's captaincy, which is tied for the ninth-longest postseason streak in NHL history.

Behind Crosby as the longest-tenured active captains in the NHL are Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, who is entering his 16th consecutive season, and Landeskog, who is entering his 14th.

Everything You Need To Know About Captains Heading Into The 2025-26 SeasonThere aren’t many higher honors on a professional sports team than being the captain of a team. This article will be all about them, a rundown of current and past captains, where they come from, and interesting facts along the way.

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We said it earlier this summer, on more than one occasion – if the Buffalo Sabres intend on ending their Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years, they can’t afford to let the injury bug take a major bite out of their roster. Obviously, that’s something that only the Hockey Gods can control, but the Sabres simply don’t have the organizational depth to withstand the damage if someone meaningful is sidelined for a notable stretch of time.

With that in mind, if you’re a Sabres fan, you have ample reason to begin the season concerned for the Sabres on the health front. Because on Friday, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff revealed the news – Buffalo No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and defenseman Michael Kesselring would begin the year in the injury ward. Luukkonen is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, while Kesselring is also out week-to-week, this because of an undisclosed injury. 

In both cases, the Sabres had notable expectations for Luukkonen and Kesselring. Kesselring was on course to play on Buffalo’s second defense pairing after the Sabres acquired him this summer in the J.J. Peterka trade. The goaltending picture is a little easier for Buffalo management to handle, given there’s three other goalies – Alex Lyon, Devon Levi and Alexandar Georgiev – to potentially step up in Luukkonen’s absence, and given that the Sabres don’t want to put the weight of the world on youngster Levi’s shoulders, you have to assume Lyon and Georgiev will begin the year as Buffalo’s two goalies.

Of course, that plan could be entirely out the window if the Sabres can’t get solid performances out of Lyon and Georgiev. Buffalo’s desperation to be a playoff team this year could mean they do turn to Levi at some point – especially if Luukonen can’t return to the form he showed only a couple of seasons ago. A netminding crisis will almost assuredly cause Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to panic – and rightfully so, as his job security depends on it – and Levi will probably be their last line of defense to salvage their season.

As it stands, the Sabres are trying not to make eye contact with the injury bug and be 100 percent healthy once Luukkonen and Kesselring return to action. But coming out of the gate with two pieces of the puzzle on the sidelines is not a great harbinger on how things are going to unfold for them the rest of the way. 

Sabres Should Be Looking Into Trading For One Of These Maple Leafs Forwards-On-The-BlockThe Toronto Maple Leafs are about to finish their 2025-26 training camp, and as it happens, the Maple Leafs are very deep at every position -- but certainly, the most depth they've got is on the wings. And as we'll exploain, we're telling you this because the Buffalo Sabres should be looking into acquiring into one of a few veteran Leafs wingers in particular: right winger/center Calle Jarnkrok, and left-wingers David Kampf and Nick Robertson.

There’s still 82 games to be played by the Sabres, and who knows – maybe this early adversity is a rallying point for Buffalo. Maybe they show the expectations on them have been unfairly lowered. Right now, there’s still plenty of time left for them to be the authors of their destiny.

That said, nobody will care to hear Buffalo’s excuses if injuries do cause the Sabres’ playoff hopes to dwindle and die on the vine. This is a bottom-line business the Sabres are in, and if their playoff drought extends to a 15th consecutive season, Buffalo won’t be able to couch it with lines like “moral victory” or any kind of victory, for that matter.

Sabres' Second Line Must Lead The Way For Buffalo's Forwards This YearThe Buffalo Sabres need a lot of things to go right for them to be a Stanley Cup playoff team this coming season. They need their goalies to pan out with strong performances. They need star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to put on a defensive clinic and carrry Buffalo to a strong defensive game. And one thing could also be the difference between the Sabres missing or making the 2026 playoffs -- namely, the play of Buffalo's second line of forwards: center Ryan McLeod, and wingers Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker.

Healthy or unhealthy, the Sabres are going to be judged this year only by the bottom line in the wins and losses department. They’ve got to make do with whomever’s healthy enough to play, and let the chips fall where they may. 

And the ramifications that will follow will be well-earned, one way or another.

With the preseason now in the books, the Ottawa Senators cut their roster from 31 to 24 players on Sunday afternoon, with seven players ticketed for the AHL's Belleville Senators.

Stephen Halliday is waivers-exempt, so he's been loaned directly to Belleville. Jan Jenik, Hayden Hodgson, Olle Lycksell, Arthur Kaliyev, Lassi Thomson and Mads Sogaard have been put on waivers for the purpose of a loan to the B-Sens.

Many fans today are pointing to last fall when Adam Gaudette was placed on waivers at the end of camp, yet he still made the Senators’ opening-night NHL roster. But that's not likely to happen with any of today’s assignments, which are specifically labelled for the "purpose of being loaned to Belleville."  According to Puckpedia, Gaudette didn't have that label when he was waived last year.

So, all seven of these players are expected to report to Belleville if/after they clear waivers, and that leaves just one extra player in camp that the Sens have to let go before Monday’s 5:00 p.m. deadline because the NHL's maximum roster size is 23.

Tyler Kleven and Drake Batherson are still dinged up right now, so the Sens are probably waiting for one more day of healing before making the decision on who their last cut will be.

For example, if Batherson is still hurt, MacDermid would likely move into the starting 12 for Thursday’s opener. At the same time, the team probably wouldn't want to head for a two-game Florida road trip this week with no extra forward. So one of the forwards who was placed on waivers today would probably be recalled for the trip. If that happens, the Sens might keep one fewer defenseman than they were planning.

That’s just one of the potential variables, and there’s nothing to say the Sens couldn’t decide to roster 22 players if they choose and go with just one extra D and one extra forward.

If nothing else, Kleven and Batherson are close to returning — even if they miss opening night. So the last cut between now and tomorrow is likely a defenseman, and we’re still of the opinion that Carter Yakemchuk will end up in Belleville, where he’ll get to play big, important minutes.

With today's news, here's what a sample lineup might look like if they go with a full 23-man roster.

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux

Fabian Zetterlund – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson

Ridly Greig – Shane Pinto – David Perron

Nick Cousins – Lars Eller – Michael Amadio

Kurtis MacDermid (extra)

Defence

Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub

Thomas Chabot – Nick Jensen

Tyler Kleven – Jordan Spence

Nikolas Matinpalo (extra #1) – Donovan Sebrango (extra #2)

Goalies

Linus Ullmark - Leevi Merilainen

The Senators open the 2025-26 regular season in Tampa Bay on Thursday night, taking on the Lightning.

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When Chase Stillman learned he’d been traded to the Vancouver Canucks organization this summer, it was unexpected but exciting. Rather than dwelling on the uncertainty of being moved, not once, but twice in the same season, the 22-year-old forward is choosing to focus on what it represents: opportunity.

“It was awesome,” Stillman said. “Obviously, getting traded twice in the same season is a lot on a player, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to look at it as someone wanting you. I got traded for a pretty important piece on the team last year, so it’s clear they see me as high value.”

That mindset —resilient, grounded, and optimistic — has defined Stillman’s approach to his career so far. The American-born winger, originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, joins the Canucks organization that prizes speed, grit, and relentless competition. After a strong showing at training camp, Stillman began the year in Abbotsford, where he’s eager to establish himself as a key piece of the team’s forward group.

“I just want to get my foot in the door and play in the NHL,” Stillman said. “Regardless of what that takes or what kind of player I have to be to get there. That’s the goal this year. It’s a brand new season, zeros across the board, so I’m just trying to enjoy the process.”

Over the summer, Stillman focused on building both his physical strength and mental resilience. He trained with his agency’s development group alongside other pros, sharpening his skating and conditioning, but he admits the mental reset was just as important.

“It was a tough start to last year, for sure,” he reflected. “But mentally, I’ve been working on building back my confidence and remembering that every season is a clean slate. I’ve been really excited about coming here. The fans are great, and obviously, Canada loves their hockey.”

Stillman’s enthusiasm for Vancouver is palpable, and he’s already experienced a taste of what’s to come. “I played in the exhibition game here in Abbotsford, and it was pretty rowdy,” he laughed. “I’m excited to see what it’s like during the regular season for sure.”

Hockey runs deep in the Stillman family. His father, Cory, played over 1,000 NHL games and won two Stanley Cups, while his brother, Riley, is a defenceman in the Buffalo Sabres organization. When asked if his brother had any advice about playing in Vancouver, Chase smiled.

“Yeah, he said the fans really like their hockey here. Regardless of what you do or what your job is, if you do your job really well, you’re going to be liked. There’s no better feeling than when you’ve got fans that love the way you play.”

For Stillman, that’s what this new chapter is about: proving himself to a new city, a new organization, and to the fans who fill the stands. “I just want to show them that I’m a fun player to watch,” he said. “That I can do a lot of things on the ice. I’m excited to get going.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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With the 2025-26 NHL regular season almost here, several players were placed on waivers on Oct. 5. The Philadelphia Flyers were one of the clubs involved, as they placed newcomer Carl Grundstrom on waivers shortly after acquiring him from the San Jose Sharks. 

Yet, four former Flyers have also been placed on waivers, as Cal Petersen (Minnesota Wild), Tyler Pitlick (Wild), Erik Gustafsson (Detroit Red Wings), and Olle Lycksell (Ottawa Senators) have all hit the wire. 

Petersen signed with the Wild this summer. This was after he had a 13-15-3 record, a .885 save percentage, and a 3.14 goals-against average in 31 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2024-25. In five games with the Flyers in 2023-24, he had a 2-2-0 record, a .864 save percentage, and a 3.90 goals-against average. 

Pitlick also signed with the Wild during the summer. In 63 games with the Flyers during the 2019-20 season, he posted eight goals, 12 assists, 20 points, and a plus-11 rating. 

Gustafsson is entering his second season with the Red Wings, where he carries a $2 million cap hit. In 24 games with the Flyers during the 2020-21 season, he recorded one goal, 10 points, and a minus-2 rating. 

As for Lycksell, he signed with the Senators this summer. In 45 games over three NHL seasons with the Flyers from 2022-23 to 2024-25, he recorded one goal, 11 points, 14 hits, and 16 blocks. 

The NHL saw several players around the league be placed on waivers on Oct. 5. The Montreal Canadiens were one of the many teams that placed players on waivers, as Sammy Blais and Kaapo Kahkonen hit the wire.

Two former Canadiens are also available to be potentially claimed, as the Carolina Hurricanes have placed Cayden Primeau on waivers, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have placed Michael Pezzetta on waivers. 

Primeau's time with the Canadiens organization came to an end this off-season, as he was traded to the Hurricanes in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick back in June. This was after he had a 2-3-1 record, an .836 save percentage, and a 4.70 goals-against average in 11 games with the Canadiens last season. He also had a 21-2-2 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 1.96 goals-against average in 26 AHL games with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25.

In 55 games over six seasons with the Canadiens, Primeau had a 13-24-7 record, an .884 save percentage, and a 3.69 goals-against average. 

Pezzetta, on the other hand, signed a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs this off-season. This was after he recorded zero points, 24 penalty minutes, 73 hits, and a minus-2 rating in 25 games with the Canadiens last season. 

In 200 games over four seasons with the Canadiens, Pezzetta posted 15 goals, 23 assists, 38 points, 241 penalty minutes, and 710 hits. 

The Philadelphia Flyers finished the 2025 preseason with a 3-4-0 record, needing a shootout to achieve each of those three wins. Despite some new players impressing, there are causes for concern, too.

Chief among those concerns is the performance of the defense, especially the third defense pairing, as the group continues to adjust to the new Box +1 system preferred by Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet.

The Flyers already waived Dennis Gilbert on Saturday, so the final three roster spots on defense, at least for now, are going to Adam Ginning, Egor Zamula, and free agent addition Noah Juulsen.

Stock Up: Adam Ginning

A disastrous preseason and training camp last year left many, including myself, thinking Ginning, 25, was effectively done for at the NHL level with the Flyers.

Ginning appeared in just one NHL game for the Flyers last season and played a measly eight minutes, but a solid AHL campaign and offseason have put him right back where he was at the end of 2023-24.

The Flyers' former second-round pick won't be mistaken for Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes, but he has the size the team wants at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and uses that size far more effectively than Zamula, for example.

I still have reservations about Ginning's ability to move the puck, but he's no more mistake-prone than Zamula in that regard while being a substantially more physical and quicker (relative to his size) player.

He's earned his spot on this roster, though we'll have to see if he keeps it when Rasmus Ristolainen returns from injury.

Stock Down: Egor Zamula

Those of you who have followed my coverage of the Flyers on here often know that I was skeptical of Tocchet's patience for Zamula's play, and it seems that Thursday's preseason loss to the New York Islanders pushed Tocchet over the hump.

Injured Flyers Prospect Missing Out on Big OpportunityIn what is shaping up to be a race to the bottom in the battle for a roster spot on defense, injured Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk is, unfortunately, missing out on a big opportunity.

Zamula, 25, has squarely lost his spot to Ginning and has shown little development over the last two seasons, and he's prone to turnovers and doesn't use his size.

Zamula already carries a $1.7 million cap hit and is on an expiring deal, like Ginning; I can't see him re-signing and/or earning a raise unless he can completely turn over a new leaf by April.

Stock Up: Nikita Grebenkin

Seemingly everyone's favorite Flyers rookie, Nikita Grebenkin has quickly endeared himself to Flyers fans and the coaching staff with his slick playmaking, underrated zone entry skills, and dominant presence around the opponent's net.

The 22-year-old former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick has produced in a variety of roles up and down the lineup, at times featuring with Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink.

Grebenkin can be a little over-zealous with his stickhandling and passing at times, but it's refreshing to see a young Flyers player try to make plays at every opportunity.

The 6-foot-2 winger also had two screens to help his teammates score goals in as many games to finish the preseason, which should help him establish a foothold on one of the power play units with time.

Flyers Working to Turn Nikita Grebenkin Into 'A Force'While it's still early, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found themselves a hidden gem in winger prospect Nikita Grebenkin, who continues to impress in the NHL preseason and training camp.

As Grebenkin continues to learn the game, adjust to the language barrier, and clean up some miscues, he could easily become a formidable top-six support winger for the Flyers.

Stock Up: Dan Vladar

As far as goaltending goes, I feel that Dan Vladar had a better season overall than Sam Ersson, at least as far as shot-stopping goes.

I was skeptical of the Flyers signing the 28-year-old to a two-year deal in the summer when they are clearly prioritizing the development of their prospects, which still, apparently, includes Aleksei Kolosov, but Vladar has looked legit.

The former Calgary Flame and Boston Bruin did have a miscue in Saturday's preseason win against the New Jersey Devils, mishandling the puck behind his net and allowing Arseny Gritsyuk to feed Paul Cotter for a slam-dunk score that gave the Devils a temporary 3-2 lead in the third period.

As for the other goals, though? Vladar had no chance on the Kevin Rooney deflection and was hung out to dry when Shane Lachance connected with Lenni Hameenaho on a back-door pass on the power play.

Right now, Ersson probably still starts for the Flyers on opening night, but Vladar is certainly going to push for 50% or more of the starts this season, health willing.

Stock Down: Owen Tippett

To say this is a big year for Owen Tippett would be an understatement, but equal onus should be placed upon the Flyers to put him in a position to succeed.

The 26-year-old played with Trevor Zegras, Matvei Michkov, and Travis Konecny, respectively, to finish the preseason, but those combinations don't work. Why?

Simply put, Tippett is at his best when he generates his own offense with his legs, but often settles for low-danger looks rather than getting in position for high-danger looks.

The Flyers are right for trying to get him more of those high-danger looks with players like Zegras and Michkov, but Tippett would be at his best driving the offense for Cates and Brink, for example.

He can still hit and check and has improved enough defensively to be utilized on the penalty kill, where he can also find some scoring opportunities by using his legs to latch onto breakaways.

Tippett is basically the Jaromir Jagr of Daniel Sprongs--he has considerable offensive talent, but there's a reason the top-six isn't calling for him.

Right now, the chemistry with those top-six players isn't there, and I like Tippett's game more when he plays with guys like Cates and Jett Luchanko.

Yes, the former No. 10 pick is just one year removed from a 28-goal, 53-point campaign, but that was before the days of Michkov and Porter Martone.

The Flyers' $49.6 million man will need to adapt to stay in Philadelphia long-term; his 10-team no-trade list will come into effect on July 1, 2026.

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed five players on waivers on Saturday in their attempt to finalize their 23-man roster ahead of Monday's deadline. 

Defensemen Alexander Alexeyev and Ryan Graves, plus forwards Sam Poulin, Boko Imama, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard were placed on waivers but didn't get claimed by another team. They've now been assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are having their training camp and preseason right now.

The following players have been assigned to the @WBSPenguins (AHL):
 
- Alexander Alexeyev
- Ryan Graves
- Rafael Harvey-Pinard
- Boko Imama 
- Sam Poulin

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 5, 2025

The Penguins signed Alexeyev and Harvey-Pinard during free agency in July, and they could be call-up options from WBS if some injuries arise during the season. 

Imama made his Penguins' debut last season and scored one goal in 16 games. He's great in the locker room and can be a physical presence on the ice. 

Poulin has been with the organization since 2019 when the Penguins selected him in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Since then, he has only appeared in 13 NHL games, compiling no goals and two assists. 

Graves is in the third year of a six-year contract he signed during the 2023 offseason and hasn't been the player that the Penguins were hoping they were getting when they brought him in. He had a rough first season in 2023-24 and never improved last year or during training camp this year. 

The Penguins will open the 2025-26 regular season against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. 

---

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The Ottawa Senators' 2025 preseason schedule has come to a close, and as of this writing, they still haven't made a player cut that would qualify as surprising or, quite frankly, even that interesting. But that's about to change. The season starts on Thursday night in Tampa, and the Senators – like all NHL teams – have to have their 23-man roster filed by Monday at 5 pm.

"We've got some decisions to make," head coach Travis Green told the media after the 3-1 win in Montreal on Saturday night. "With Drake Batherson still being out of the lineup – we'll see if he can start the season – but in the next 24 hours, we'll make some hard decisions and see where we end up."

Right now, they have 31 players still in Camp. Here's the full list from the Sens website, with asterisks that we've placed beside names of players who aren't considered locks for the final 23-man roster..

Forwards

1. Michael Amadio
2. Drake Batherson (injury concern)
3. Nick Cousins
4. Dylan Cozens
5. Lars Eller
6. Claude Giroux
7. Ridly Greig
8. Stephen Halliday*
9. Hayden Hodgson*
10. Jan Jenik*
11. Arthur Kaliyev*
12. Olle Lycksell*
13. Kurtis MacDermid*
14. David Perron
15. Shane Pinto
16. Tim Stützle
17. Brady Tkachuk
18. Fabian Zetterlund

Defense

19. Thomas Chabot

20. Nick Jensen

21. Tyler Kleven (injury concern)

22. Nikolas Matinpalo*

23. Donovan Sebrango*

24. Jake Sanderson

25. Jordan Spence

26. Lassi Thomson*

27. Carter Yakemchuk*

28. Artem Zub

Goalies

29. Leevi Merilainen

30. Mads Sogaard*

31. Linus Ullmark

Last year, the Senators began the year with the full lineup of 23 players, opting for a ratio of 14 forwards, 7 defensemen and two goalies. Complicating decisions this time of the year are things like injuries and who's waiver exempt and who is not.

Among the bubble players, the most intriguing name by far is defenseman Carter Yakemchuk. He was excellent in last year's NHL preseason, leading the Sens with 7 points in 4 games. This year, he had 0 points in four games. His junior numbers also tumbled last season, and he seems like a young man still adjusting to being asked to toggle back his offence to be a better defender.

But it was his offence that caught the eyes of NHL scouts, and it's why the Sens drafted him seventh overall. They're likely asking themselves right now, 'Does Yakemchuk upgrade the right side of our defence enough (or at all) that he should forego some valuable development time in the AHL, where his inevitable mistakes won't be splashed all over TSN highlight reels?'

For all the talk about Jensen's injury over the offseason, he's going to be ready to start the season. Artem Zub is a lock as well, leaving Jordan Spence and Nikolas Matinpalo as the 6-7 options to round out the right side of the defense. So there's no obvious reason to rush Yakemchuk, and what's more, he simply might not be good enough yet to crack this lineup.

We expect him to be joined in Belleville by Lassi Thomson. On the left side, if Kleven isn't ready, Sebrango might get a stay of execution on reassignment. Either way, after appearing in all playoff games last spring, Matinpalo has the edge as the seventh man.

In goal, Sogaard is our odd man out to be reassigned to Belleville, but first, he would need to clear waivers. That will be intriguing to see if some goalie-poor organization takes a shot at a young 6-foot-7 goalie.

Up front, 12 forwards are locks, but some of the lower-rung players may be interchangeable. So, depending on Batherson's injury, we'll keep two or three more forwards beyond that. We're rolling with a group of MacDermid, Kaliyev and Lycksell, and when one eventually has to go down, we're choosing Lycksell. 

Hodgson's stock fell hard with MacDermid's addition on Friday. So Hodgson, along with Halliday and Jenik, will be reassigned to Belleville.

So that's our game plan. Let's see now what the Sens actually do over the next 24 hours.

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