MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Jimmy Snuggerud isn’t going anywhere and won’t be going anywhere for a while.

Despite not being a part of a flurry of NHL players to get in long-term contracts that could go as long as eight years by the end of the Collective Bargain Agreement that ended on Tuesday at 11 p.m. (CT) before the new CBA kicked in that only offers max contracts at seven years, the first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues isn’t concerned about not getting something done by Tuesday.

“No, not at all,” Snuggerud said Thursday after Blues opened training camp for the 2026-27 season. “I think there’s certain ways teams do things and every player is different honestly. Every guy goes through talks and what not. Nothing really occurred and I’m just happy to keep going here. Like I said, it’ll all take care of itself. I’m not too concerned with it.”

Snuggerud, who had 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 70 games in his first full NHL season, enters this season in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be quite the bargain at a $950,000 cap hit that includes a $1.55 million average annual value. But what about beyond? We won’t speculate, but it’s a known factor that the 22-year-old, who was recently engaged, will get a nice, hefty payday. Depending on what the term and dollars come to eventually, Snuggerud has no desire to get a deal done with anyone but the team that drafted him and he most certainly sees himself here for the long term as part of the core.

“For sure. I want to be here,” Snuggerud said. “I would love to be here for as long as I can. I love this city. I love everything about it. It’s calm, people are really nice. Fans are crazy and the home games are fun. When I say it’s going to take care of itself, I think just come to the rink every day and try to do my best as I possibly can. Obviously I would love to be here for as long as possible. I love what we’re doing, the direction has a purpose.”

There were a flurry of deals done on Tuesday by other teams, including Cutter Gauthier (six years, $13.5 million AAV) with the Anaheim Ducks; Drake Batherson (eight years, $10.75 million AAV) with the Ottawa Senators; Ryan Leonard (eight years, $10.75 million AAV) and Justin Sourdif (eight years, $6.35 million AAV) with the Washington Capitals; Luke Evangelista (five years, $7.25 million) with the New Jersey Devils, and Alex Newhook (four years, $5.55 million AAV) with the Montreal Canadiens.

Batherson, Leonard and Sourdif took the max eight years and got their payday now, some didn’t, and in Snuggerud’s case, he preferred to wait it out. And that’s OK with both the player and the team.

It doesn’t mean the Blues aren’t looking at the dynamics and what’s been going on around the league.

“We spend a lot of time discussing all these things internally and what the options are, but at the end of the day, we’re back to our philosophy on how we want to approach it,” Blues general manager Alex Steen said. “We do our best to continually communicate with the players and the representatives. We don’t want our players guessing anything so we keep them as informed as we can and we go from there.”

President of hockey operations Doug Armstrong signed two players coming out of his entry-level contract to long-term deals immediately: Vladimir Tarasenko (eight years, $60 million, $7.5 million AAV) in 2015 and Alex Pietrangelo (seven years, $45.5 million, $6.5 million AAV) in 2013.

“Yeah we've kept an eye on everything that's going on,” Armstrong said. “Our belief all along has been 'trust but verify' on our players. Our philosophy isn't like philosophies of other groups and I'm not saying what's right or wrong -- to rub the crystal ball and to hope things might happen and work out.

“Since 2010, I think we've had two players come out of entry level that signed long-term extensions and that was Tarasenko and Pietrangelo, both second-team All-Stars after their third year. So yeah, my belief and I've shared it with Alex (Steen) and he agrees with me, we trust these guys. We want them to get rich. We want to pay them. We just want to make sure that they've earned that paycheck. So we're willing to allow them to play like we did last year with Broberg and Holloway.”

The Blues signed Broberg to a six-year, $48 million extension ($8 million AAV) on Jan. 10, then extended Holloway on May 1 for five years at $38.75 million ($7.75 million AAV), opting to go for shorter term than the max.

So for Snuggerud, his next contract could fall anywhere in the five to six, and up to seven years, and if making a comparable, he could very well fall into a category that Leonard got in Washington. Just let the process play out and it will get done.

“Come to the rink every single day and do my job,” Snuggerud said. “I’d say it’s there, but I’m not thinking about it. I think I can speak for everyone in this room. We just want to win games and contracts take care of themselves if you win games. I think everyone in here wants to do it. There’s a lot of guys other than me that are going through the same thing. I’d say it’s there, but I just want to win.”

And if you think Snuggerud will want to go for the fame and fortune, think again. He’s not a big city guy coming from Minneapolis. St. Louis is his style of place to live.

“Growing up in the Midwest, it kind of has that Midwest feel,” Snuggerud said of St. Louis. “There’s not too much going on. It’s relaxed, it’s calm and it’s nice to have that. You don’t really get that everywhere in other cities. Kind of that homey feeling that you get. When you get into the games, the fans are unbelievable and they care so much about us.

“I’m just kind of that low-key, relaxed guy.”

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The Utah Mammoth will have a familiar face watching from afar for much of the upcoming season.

Former Mammoth forward Nick Bjugstad is expected to miss four to six months after undergoing surgery last week to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, the New Jersey Devils announced Thursday as NHL training camps begin to ramp up.

Bjugstad sustained the injury during the offseason, putting a significant dent in his first season with New Jersey before he even had an opportunity to get back on the ice. The 33-year-old joined the Devils at the trade deadline last season after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues.

Before that move, however, Bjugstad spent the 2024-25 season with Utah, appearing in 66 games and recording eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points.

His time in Utah represented another chapter in a lengthy NHL career for the 6-foot-6 forward, who was originally selected 19th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Draft. Bjugstad has since suited up for eight organizations, including the Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Utah, St. Louis and New Jersey.

Across 821 career games, he has accumulated 163 goals and 339 points.

Bjugstad reached the 20-goal mark twice in his career, including a 22-goal campaign with Arizona in 2023-24, while his most productive season came in 2017-18 when he established career highs with 19 goals, 30 assists and 49 points in Florida.

His offensive production has dipped considerably in recent years, though, with only 14 goals over the span following his 22-goal season. Last year was particularly difficult, as he managed six goals and nine points in 61 games between St. Louis and New Jersey after posting 19 points in Utah.

The Hockey News wishes Bjugstad a safe and successful recovery. After working to prepare for another NHL season, the veteran forward undoubtedly hopes to put this setback behind him and return to the ice as soon as his recovery allows.

The first day of the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp has concluded, and head coach Jim Hiller is very pleased with how a number of his players performed and worked.

Toronto's bench boss revealed that one player who really caught his attention was 21-year-old Easton Cowan. Cowan, who was positioned on the right wing next to Colton Sissons and Nick Paul, was all over the ice in Hiller's eyes. 

"If I just had to say 'who was the player that just jumped out at you in this morning's session,' to me it would be Easton Cowan," Hiller said. "He makes some plays with the puck, but he was a puck hound. He was everywhere, I thought."

Cowan is entering his sophomore year in the NHL. Last season, he recorded 11 goals and 29 points in 66 games, averaging 14:43 of ice time per game.

Coming into the league, he was seen as a playmaking forward, especially from his days with the OHL's London Knights, winning two OHL titles, a Memorial Cup, and collecting MVP awards in both the regular season and playoffs.

But with a year under his belt with the Maple Leafs to this point, he's providing another dimension to his game.

'The Playmaking Is Elite': How Maple Leafs' John Tavares, William Nylander Believe Gavin McKenna Can Compliment ThemOn the first day of training camp, Gavin McKenna was slotted on the left wing beside John Tavares and William Nylander. Here's how they believe they can be complimented by each other.

"We talked to him about that," the bench boss said. "He's got tremendous skill, but where he can help us best is be a puck hound and then use that skill. And to me, he was all over the ice."

Hiller later added who stood out to him from the second group on Thursday. The second group was mainly filled with players from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

"I thought Groulx, Lettieri and Mermis," he listed as three that impressed him. "Those three were so dialled in and worked so hard and were complete pros out there. That's really what jumped out of me. And it wasn't one, it was all three of those guys. I was like, wow, did they set the tone for this group. So you hope it goes that way, but you never know. So those three in the second."

Four Maple Leafs Who Must Have A Great Training CampWith 2026-27 upon us, here are four players who must have a great training camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Groulx and Mermis both featured for the Leafs last season. 

Groulx played 13 games for the Maple Leafs last season, registering three goals and five points. Mermis featured in 11 appearances, providing one assist.

Lettieri hasn't featured in the NHL for Toronto yet, but he led the American League in scoring during the Calder Cup playoffs. He scored 11 goals and 26 points for the Marlies in that run.

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Sam Malinski has already taken another significant step in his development with the Colorado Avalanche, but standing still does not appear to be an option.

After establishing himself as a full-time NHL defenseman for a second consecutive season and playing all 82 games last year, Malinski arrived at training camp with a simple objective: keep getting better.

“I think there's still a lot of room to grow in my game,” Malinski said Thursday while speaking to Guerilla Sports' Jesse Montano. “So I definitely still have that hunger to just keep getting better.”

The numbers suggest just how much progress Malinski made last season. After recording five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 76 games during his first full-time season with Colorado, he exploded for eight goals and 32 assists and finished with 40 points in all 82 games last year.

Yet Malinski isn't approaching this season as though he has figured everything out.

His offseason included roughly a month away from hockey, giving him time to return home to Minnesota, reconnect with family, watch his young nephews run around and get out on the golf course before eventually returning to training. Once the work resumed, the focus shifted toward continuing to develop the tools that have helped him become an increasingly dependable part of Colorado’s blue line.

There is an interesting contrast to Malinski's game. The Cornell product has the skating and puck-moving ability to create offense from the back end, including a willingness to walk the blue line and wait patiently for a shooting lane. Reminiscent of fellow Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, the shrewd Malinski can shimmy across the ice, subtly shifting his angle before unleashing a wicked wrister toward the net. His 40-point season demonstrated that his offensive game is no longer merely an intriguing part of his potential.

His 40-point season demonstrated that his offensive game is no longer merely an intriguing part of his potential.

Now, the emphasis at camp is on the other side of the puck.

“You go the whole summer and you work on a lot of skill stuff and shooting and all that,” Malinski said. “So just trying to dial in the little habits of, you know, going back for pucks and defending guys.”

That attention to detail has become a recurring theme in Malinski's development. Rather than point to one secret behind his improvement, he has previously credited the Avalanche's veteran room for showing him how NHL players maintain themselves over an entire season.

He has paid close attention to what his teammates do, from recovery routines to the daily habits that allow veteran players to remain effective over the course of an NHL season. Brent Burns, in particular, caught his attention last year.

For a player who attended an Ivy League institution like Cornell University, there has always been something distinctive about Malinski's willingness—and ability—to learn from virtually everyone around him. His curiosity has become just as important to his development as his skill set, allowing him to absorb lessons from teammates who have already navigated the challenges he is now facing.

That mentality remains intact as he enters another season.

“I don't think I need to treat it a whole lot different,” Malinski said.

The production has already improved dramatically. Now Malinski is looking for the next layer of his game.

On Wednesday, long-time NHLer and Minnesota Wild enforcer Ryan Reaves announced his retirement from hockey with a social media post. 

In his Instagram post, the 39-year-old shared his love for the sport and what it meant to him.

Reaves played 16 NHL seasons, scoring 66 goals and 140 points in 962 games. Reaves spent just one season with the Wild, but he made his mark on the fans and organization as a positive personality. As an enforcer, Reaves wasn't lighting it up offensively, but teammates constantly raved about his energy and his ability to stand up for them on the ice.

In his season with the Wild, Reaves recorded 31 penalty minutes and 1,137 across his NHL career. 

"I never thought this day would come. I thought I was invincible. I thought I could play forever, but like all good things, it must come to an end," Reaves wrote in his retirement post.

"Today, I retire from the sport I’ve loved since I was 5 years old. It was a hell of a ride. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this journey. I may not be on the ice anymore, but I know I will always be close to hockey in one way or another. You can rest easy knowing the corners are a little safer today," he added.

"Mic drop, gloves drop. Reavo out."

In his retirement post, Reaves shared several pictures of his NHL career. He began with the St. Louis Blues, who drafted him in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL draft. He then moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the New York Rangers before joining the Wild. After his lone season in Minnesota, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and finished his career with the San Jose Sharks. 

Reaves didn't win any hardware and fell just short of the 1,000-game mark, but he will be remembered for his physical style and the impact his personality had on the NHL. 

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Hockey season is official back in South Florida.

The Florida Panthers officially kicked off their 2026 training camp on Thursday at the team’s practice facility in Fort Lauderdale.

On Sunday, the Panthers will play their first of four preseason games when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena.

We’re now getting our first look at how Florida’s center ice logo will be painted for the 2026-27 season.

There’s a chill in the air 🥶

First look at the ice at @AmerantArena 👀 pic.twitter.com/gt3Cswug3N

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) September 17, 2026

Over the past two years, the Panthers’ logo has featured the inner bowl of the Stanley Cup, signifying the team’s back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.

Now that they’re not the NHL’s defending champs anymore, it’s no longer appropriate to use the league’s historic trophy as part of Florida’s home ice logo.

Florida decision makers did not want to go back to a traditional-looking paint job at center ice, though.

Instead, the Panthers elected to fill the complete circle again, but this time they used Florida’s primary Panthers-head logo and a very cool looking red background with blue horizontal stripes.

The Panthers posted a photo of how the ice looks with its fresh paint job, and the new center ice logo absolutely pops.

Let us know what you think of the new logo in the comments below.

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The on-ice portion of NHL training camps start on Thursday, Sept. 17, and the news from the day before was already busy.

Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck didn't report to camp amid his trade request and was suspended by the team.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin is reporting after his trade request but won't be able to take part in practice sessions because he suffered an upper-body injury during offseason training.

Columbus' Adam Fantilli, Detroit's Simon Edvinsson and Carolina's Alexander Nikishin are among the unsigned restricted agents.

Follow along for news and notes from the first full day of training camp:

Quinn Hughes on contract extension talks

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, who's entering the final year of his contract, gave an update on whire talks stand.

"I don't feel stressed to do something before the season," he said. "That's not saying something won't, but that's just how it is."

Dylan Larkin won't reveal reason for trade request

Dylan Larkin would not say if he has rescinded his trade request, but he has spoken to his Red Wings teamamtes about the situation.

Asked what triggered the request, Larkin said, "There's a lot there. A lot of personal stuff. To be honest with you − I'm going to try and be honest with you guys today. And that's as far as I'll go on that.

"I understand that there's answers that fans and people that care about this organization around the world want to know. But I'm really not ready to go there. It's maybe something that I may never be. And it wasn't easy to get to that decision. It was very hard. It wasn't a spur of the moment thing."

Larkin, who lost his captaincy, didn't take part in practice because of his upper-body injury. - Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Winnipeg Jets address Connor Hellebuyck's absence

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said no doors are closed on suspended Connor Hellebuyck returning to the team but, "at the end of the day, that will be his choice."

Hellebuyck was suspended after not appearing at a team function on Wednesday. The GM said he will continue to explore trade talks but there is no deadline for getting it done.

"We've been trying to make trades that work for both sides for a long time and will continue to do that," he said.

Cheveldayoff said he hasn't received an offer that's commensurate with a goalie of the caliber of Hellebuyck, who has won three Vezina trophies, a Hart Trophy and an Olympic gold medal.

"I want to get this right," he said.

Nick Bjugstad injury update

The New Jersey Devils said forward Nick Bjugstad had surgery last week for a torn left pectoral muscle and will be out four to six months.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL training camp live updates, news and notes from first day

Stan Bowman spent more than 30 minutes answering questions Wednesday, and much of that time was spent discussing a decision the Edmonton Oilers knew would anger part of their fan base.

Alex Formenton signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with Edmonton earlier this month, and a petition calling for the Oilers to terminate that contract has since collected more than 65,000 signatures. Bowman said Wednesday that the reaction was considered before the organization made the signing.

“Yeah, I would say we knew going into it that this was something that wasn't going to be universally accepted or embraced,” Bowman said.

The Oilers considered the reaction and signed Formenton anyway. Bowman said the organization spent significant time looking into the situation before reaching a point where it was comfortable offering him a contract.

“I understand that people are going to view it differently, and that's okay,” Bowman said. “That's one of the things that I'm a big believer in: that we don't all have to agree on everything here, and people are entitled to their opinions and have strong feelings on it.”

Underneath everything that has followed since the signing, a decision about Formenton's on-ice performance remains at the heart of the issue, and the Oilers seem to believe Formenton can be part of their plans for future success.

His last NHL season was in 2021-22 with the Ottawa Senators, when he scored 18 goals and 32 points in 79 games. He has since spent the past three seasons playing in Switzerland and now returns to the NHL at 27, with probably his only chance to revive his NHL career.

Bowman Prepared To Gamble On Savoie's Contract, He Might Be RightAs rivals lock up young talent with massive extensions, Edmonton resisted the pressure to overpay early, prioritizing roster flexibility and definitive proof of Matt Savoie’s long-term value. Was it the right decision?

“We also knew that it is something that is a polarizing topic, and that's why we did spend as much time looking into it to get us to the point where we do feel comfortable,” Bowman said. “Alex is member of our team. He's going to be, and we believe that he's going to be an asset to our team, on the ice, but also as a teammate.”

The Oilers also considered the years that have passed since the 2018 incident. Formenton and the four other former Canadian world junior players charged in the case were acquitted in July 2025, and Bowman said his conversations with Formenton played a role in Edmonton's decision.

“You know, I've had a lot of conversations with Alex, and you know, he's grown a lot in the intervening years, from where he was then to where he is now, and he's shown that growth,” Bowman said.

Bowman Admits Controversial Formenton Signing “Wasn’t Going to Be Universally Accepted”Oilers general manager Stan Bowman defends the Oilers' polarizing decision to sign Alex Formenton, but gives fans who dislike the move room to voice their frustration.

That belief will be tested during Formenton's time in Edmonton because the organization has attached its own reputation to the decision. Bowman said the Oilers believe in the person they signed and expect him to contribute as a teammate, leaving Formenton's conduct within the organization as part of how the signing will eventually be viewed.

More than 65,000 signatures on a petition to terminate Formenton's contract represent substantial opposition to the signing, and Bowman acknowledged Wednesday that some people may also be tired of Edmonton becoming associated with second chances.

“That's understandable,” Bowman said. “I think each person is going to have to navigate that the way that feels right to them. It's not for me to say whether they should or shouldn't feel a certain way.”

It's worth acknowledging the size of the market the Oilers operate in. The truth is, no matter how upset a portion of Oil Country becomes, Rogers Place will still be full every night. Attendance won't tell us much about whether the feelings that are so loud now will change.

What Fans Want To See From Training CampThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> step onto the ice for their first day of training camp Wednesday with a new head coach, several injured players and plenty to work on after the way last season ended.

Some fans will eventually stop talking about the signing, while others signed that petition because the issue matters enough to affect how they view the organization, and Formenton's performance won't necessarily change that.

Bowman understands personally how Edmonton responds to an organization willing to offer another opportunity. He referenced his own experience on Wednesday when discussing the support he has received since becoming general manager.

“It is a privilege to be here working in this city for these fans here,” Bowman said. “I've been blown away by the support that the fans show to the team here.

“So you want to do right by the community, and you want to make people proud of you,” Bowman said. “I think that's really maybe the message I would say is we're trying to do the right thing and give us a chance to make them proud and be judged on what we do moving forward here.”

Who From Oilers Rookie Camp Could Be The Next Guy Up?The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> finished rookie camp with a 6-1 win over the Calgary Flames, giving several prospects one final opportunity to show the organization what they could do before heading back to their respective organizations.

Because Formenton is on a one-year contract, the Oilers have only this season to see what whether it was worth it. His performance in the Swiss League and the NHL are not all-star nurmbers, and Bowman's comments indicate they expect something from him as a teammate as well.

The reaction from fans was something Edmonton was willing to accepted when they signed Formenton. More than 65,000 people have now put their names in support of the opposite, leaving the Oilers to spend much of this season deciding what Formenton provides after four years away from the NHL and whether he has a future with the organization at all.

Training camp is going to look a little different for the Florida Panthers this month than it has in past years.

That’s what will happen when you combine a longer-than-usual offseason and an abbreviated training camp and preseason schedule.

This year was the first over the past five that the Panthers did not play hockey until at least late May. They reached the second round during the 2022 playoffs and then played in the Stanley Cup Final in 2023, 2024 and 2025, winning championships during the latter two trips.

Now the Cats are entering a new season after not making playoffs for the first time since 2019, and they’re doing it in a year where the regular season is two games longer and training camp and the preseason have been cut shorter.

“There is no team in the league that's gone through what the teams will go through,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday. “This is the shortest camp that I'll have ever been a part of. Fewest number of exhibition games, mandates on the number of games guys can play, veterans can play, so we have to learn real fast what the right (process will be).”

Maurice explained that he plans to change the way he handles his players during camp, now choosing to work his veterans early in the preseason instead of holding them back longer.

He also wants to get into the regular season meetings and preparation sooner rather than later, and this new way of running his veterans lends into that mindset.

“The longer you keep your teams in split groups, you can't work your special teams because you've got power plays on two different surfaces against different killers,” Maurice said. “It's not right, so we're going to run hard early with those, and then shut them down, and look at the last six days of training camp as a between series break in the playoffs. We’ll go right to special teams and things that we usually push till much later in the camp. But what we're doing with the new guys is exactly what we're doing with the veterans. If every player in this training camp had played for us last year, we’re going right back to basics, right back to the simplest things we do, the hardest things we do, and we're starting there. So, for the new guys, this is a great time to come here because we're starting with day one video.”

Considering the long offseason, the consensus from Panthers players this week has been that they just wanted to hit the ice and get started.

Regardless of how long or short training camp ends up, Maurice’s guys feel they’ll be ready when the games start to count.

“It doesn't matter,” said Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. “There could be a three-day training camp, and we'll get ourselves prepared.”

Florida’s first official training camp practice started at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

They’ll run a few days of practices before getting into their four-game preseason schedule, which will take place over a seven-day span starting on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I think it's a unique experience for everybody,” said Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk. “Everybody's got to go through that shorter camp than what we've expected and what we've gone through in the past.”

With Maurice planning to push his veteran players harder during the early stages of camp, it will be interesting to see how they respond to the workload.

Last year, when Florida brought over 20 more players to their camp than this year (72 to 51), Maurice held his veterans back during the first days, abbreviating their exposure with such a large group and essentially giving them a preview of what this year’s shorter camp could be like.

“Once you start, the only thing that probably changes is you're probably able to do a little bit more on ice, get those reps in at a higher pace, as opposed to getting your rest as much as possible,” said Panthers forward Sam Reinhart. “The shorter training camp is something everyone's going through. It’s something that’s not really new to us; we tried it out a little bit last year. The quicker you can feel up to your best and get that pace high and intensity high, the better off you'll be.”

It certainly helps that many of Florida’s veteran players, including Ekblad, Reinhart, the Tkachuk brothers and Panthers captain Sasha Barkov, have all be taking part in informal workouts at the team’s practice rink in Fort Lauderdale over the past several weeks.

Sometimes working with skills coaches, sometimes setting their own pace and drills, the players have been ramping themselves up in anticipation of hitting the ground running when Opening Night arrives at the end of the month.

That’s why for some, the shorter training camp doesn’t feel like much of a difference.

“I still think training camp is too long, but that's maybe just me,” said Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. “Guys have been here since like August 20th. Maybe we haven't been doing Paul's skates at the end of practice, but they've still been hard. Everybody's still pulling the rope the same way right now. Guys are in the weight room all day. We've been at this for at least a few weeks now, so I don't think we should have an issue once camp starts, once the season starts.”

Ultimately, the plan for camp is something that Maurice and his staff worked and tinkered with throughout the summer.

It’s a process that started immediately after last season ended, continued when the coaches and managers returned to South Florida around the NHL Draft and free agency, and finally came to fruition as the players began making their way back to Fort Lauderdale.

“One of the things I wrestled with this summer was how to tackle this,” Maurice explained. “The first one is we run a hard camp, but if you power your team for let's say 10 days, you're not right for two days after that, so it has to be a little bit more selective, but I still have to get that message across, and it still has to be hard and it has to be fast.”

Under Maurice, Florida has become one of the hardest teams to play against, combining speed, puck possession and suffocating checking.

It’s an incredibly difficult way to play on a daily basis, and it something the Panthers have strived at.

We’ll see if Maurice can keep the train moving amid the new adjustments to training camp.

“Sometimes you don't know when you tweak your drills, what's going to happen,” he said. “But we'll go real hard.”

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Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is entering his 22nd season in the NHL and has a chance to set another goal-scoring record.

But the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer's opening news conference for the 2026-27 season also dealt with his appearance in a political ad for the United Russia Party, which supports president Vladimir Putin.

MultipleRussian news outlets have published images and video of the commercial showing Ovechkin, a Moscow native, standing behind Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, a prominent figure in Putin's Kremlin and the leading parliamentary candidate for the United Russia Party. Other Russian celebrities appeared in the ad.

"They asked me to do this, and I said yes," he said at the opening of his news conference, which occurred on his 41st birthday.

He said there was no hesitiation on his part.

"I'm Russian and I support my country," he said.

He's planning to live with his family is Russia after he retires.

"I'm for peace and love and I hope everything is going to be OK," he said.

Backlash to Alex Ovechkin's appearance

Ovechkin said he heard no backlash over the ad, but there has been.

Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek, a Czechia native and frequent critic of Russia's war against Ukraine, said, "Everyone in this photograph has chosen to officially support Russia's imperialist war in Ukraine. Among them are also hockey player Ovechkin and former hockey player and national team captain (Slava) Fetisov. Because of each of them, many Ukrainians and Russians will be killed."

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. sent a letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman asking him to "clarify what policies, if any, govern the participation of active players in political advertisements or propaganda on behalf of dictatorial political parties and foreign political regimes. I further request that the League and the Capitals organization clarify any endorsement of Putin’s party is not a official position of the NHL or the Washington Capitals."

Alex Ovechkin's ties to Vladimir Putin

Ovechkin has been tied to Putin before the political ad.

He had started a social movement supporting Putin ahead of the 2017 Russian presidential election, and a picture of the two of them is the profile picture of the winger's Instagram account.

The Capitals had called a news conference in February 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in which Ovechkin answered questions about the war.

"It’s a hard situation. I have lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine, and it’s hard to see the war," he told reporters. "I hope soon it’s going to be over and there’s going to be peace in the whole world."

Ovechkin was asked at the time whether he supported Putin amid the invasion.

"He’s my president but … I’m not in politics," he said. "I’m an athlete and how I said, I hope everything is going to be done soon. It’s a hard situation right now for both sides. … I'm not in control of the situation."

What the Washington Capitals said

Capitals spokesperson Sergey Kocharov provided the following statement to USA TODAY Sports

“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement. This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign. As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C. and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”

Alex Ovechkin's 2026-27 season

Ovechkin signed a bonus-laden deal for this season. He broke Wayne Gretzky's goal record in 2025 and has a chance for another this season.

Ovechkin trails Gretzky by 10 goals when it comes to combined regular season and playoff goals (1,116). Ovechkin has scored 929 goals in the regular season and 77 in the playoffs.

Contributing: Mark Giannotto

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Ovechkin on Russian political ad appearance: 'I support my country'

After four seasons in the NCAA, Charlie Stramel finally signed an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild, and excitement around his arrival is high.

Leading up to his draft year, Stramel was considered a top-10 pick, or at the very least a candidate to land in the top 10. As a late-2004 birthday, Stramel missed the cutoff for the 2022 draft and was selected by the Wild in the first round (21st overall) of the 2023 NHL draft. 

His first two seasons of college hockey with the University of Wisconsin were very underwhelming, but the move to Michigan State unlocked his game. In his first season with the Spartans, his junior year, Stramel posted nine goals and 27 points in 37 games. But his senior season is when things finally came together, as the 21-year-old scored 19 goals and 44 points in 37 games.

Stramel morphed into one of the better players in college hockey and proved to the Minnesota brass that he was ready to begin his professional career.

After signing his entry-level contract, Stramel will have the opportunity to compete in training camp and pre-season to make the opening-night NHL roster. The question is whether he has the tools to play a bottom-six role, or if his skill stands out enough to warrant a spot in the top six.

If he can provide neither, he'll likely start in the AHL, but he is gunning for an NHL job.

"That’s for sure a goal of mine,” Stramel told reporters last week during the team’s prospect camp. “I’m going to have to bring it in camp and hopefully show them what I’m capable of. But at the end of the day, if it doesn’t happen right away, it doesn’t happen right away.”

Minnesota Wild Announce 2026-27 Training Camp Roster, Preseason ScheduleQuinn Hughes and fresh additions join Kirill Kaprizov in St. Paul, while Jesper Wallstedt takes the spotlight in net with Filip Gustavsson sidelined by early-season injury.

There is no shame in starting in the AHL; for many prospects, it helps them acclimate to the style of play and speed they may face in the NHL. But with some of the off-season departures the Wild faced, it would be great to see a top prospect like Stramel force his way into the lineup. 

Stramel has the physical tools, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 212 pounds. His game is built on his playmaking, as he excels in small areas of the ice. His hockey IQ is arguably his greatest strength, and he uses that to be a step ahead of the game.

His ability to play on the wing or up the middle could be another valuable trait that helps him land an NHL job. 

Six Questions Facing The Wild Entering Training CampFrom contract tension surrounding Quinn Hughes to a high-stakes battle for the top center spot, Minnesota enters camp balancing Stanley Cup ambitions with critical roster uncertainties.

But it won't be an easy task for Stramel. If he starts on the wing, he can't beat out Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy in top-six roles, and in the bottom six, Stramel doesn't have the physicality of Yakov Trenin or Marcus Foligno to beat them. Additionally, Blake Coleman provides offense and penalty killing, and Nick Foligno is a veteran leader who also brings physicality. The two players he can truly compete with are Maxim Shabanov and Bobby Brink, but they, too, have more NHL experience than Stramel.

Up the middle, Stramel won't beat Joel Eriksson Ek, doesn't bring the physicality of Michael McCarron on the fourth line, nor the veteran experience of Ryan Hartman, and like Brink and Shabanov, he is likely unable to beat out Danila Yurov.

It's more than an uphill battle, but Stramel will be given the opportunity to prove himself.

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On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets announced that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck had been suspended indefinitely for failing to report to camp, and that GM Kevin Chevaldayoff would speak to the media on Thursday. After benefiting from the Anaheim Ducks’ cap crunch less than a week ago, could Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens swoop in to land an (albeit interested) hand?

After all, the Habs GM said he was fine with starting training camp with three NHL goaltenders, but not starting the season, and while Jacob Fowler could be sent back to Laval, that’s probably not ideal. Looking at the list of invited players to training camp, it’s easy to see that the Canadiens are ready for the possibility of a Samuel Montembeault trade; they have seven goaltenders at camp (Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, Fowler, Kaapo Kahkonen, Hunter Jones, Francesco Lapenna and Hunter Jones), meaning a pair for the Habs, one for the Laval Rocket and one for the Trois-Rivières Lions, with a spare.

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Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, if Hellebuyck holds firm and the team keeps him suspended as they struggle to find a good match on the trade market, Stuart Skinner is set to be their number one netminder. While he once led the Edmonton Oilers to a couple of Stanley Cup finals, he hasn’t posted a save percentage above .900 since 2023-24, which hardly inspires confidence. Down in the depth chart are Thomas Milic, who’s seen only two NHL games; Dom DiVincentiis, who’s yet to make it past the AHL; and Isaac Poulter, who has spent time between the AHL and the ECHL. As for Samuel Hrenak and John Parsons, they’ve only just been drafted.

As things stand, the Jets have $4.4 M in cap room and getting an experienced goaltender with NHL experience could be tempting. Montembeault could be an option; he has only a year left on his contract and a $3.15 M cap hit. While the Bécancour native had a horrendous year last season (10-8-4 with a 3.43 goals-against average and a .872 save percentage), many believe he will bounce back. In the four seasons before his collapse, he posted a SV above .900 and was Canada’s third-best netminder at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The question is whether the Jets would be willing to make it worth the Canadiens’ while. Hughes isn't in the business of giving away assets, but to avoid another three-goalie carousel last season, he traded Cayden Primeau (an RFA) for a seventh-round pick. Of course, Montembeault has more value than Primeau did, but trading him away could remove a thorn from Hughes’ side. It may be time for Hughes to lower his asking price for the goaltender. 

Of course, if the Jets could trade Hellebuyck in a deal that includes an NHL-level goaltender, the issue would go away, but they’ve been trying to move him for some time now, and plenty of netminders have been moved this offseason. Winnipeg will be a team to watch in the coming days/weeks…It's an awful position to find yourself in, especially after the goalie said in 2023 that he could see himself "being a Jet for life." What a difference an Olympic gold medal makes...

With Connor Hellebuyck officially not reporting to Jets training camp, let’s revisit what he said after signing his 7-year extension in 2023 😭🤐 pic.twitter.com/v3puR9cLmr

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) September 17, 2026

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The Calgary Flames are officially back on the ice.

Following Wednesday’s media day, which saw players take part in headshots, promotional shoots and the usual start-of-season activities, the Flames opened training camp Thursday morning with their roster divided into two groups.

Team Red features much of the expected NHL group, while Team Black is made up largely of players expected to start the season with the Calgary Wranglers, along with several prospects looking to make a strong impression.

With preseason games coming up, here are some of the names and storylines worth watching from each group.

Reporting for camp 🫡

🔗: https://t.co/Jc49osPtiXpic.twitter.com/K3XXn8ICMu

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 16, 2026

Team Red: The NHL Group

Team Red features plenty of familiar faces, including Mikael Backlund, Matt Coronato and Morgan Frost, while Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley make up the goaltending tandem.

For the most part, this is the group that gives us an early look at the players expected to be competing for spots on the Flames’ opening-night roster.

There is also an interesting prospect mixed into the group.

Chase Harrington, the Flames’ second-round pick from the 2026 NHL Draft, gets an early opportunity to skate alongside NHL veterans.

Harrington is coming off his junior career with the Spokane Chiefs, where he recorded 57 points, including 28 goals and 29 assists, in 61 games last season.

At this point, camp is about getting a first look at how prospects fit into the bigger picture. For Harrington, being around the NHL group provides an opportunity to show what he can do against stronger competition.

For Calgary Flames Roster Hopefuls, Preseason Is Their ChanceThe Calgary Flames Celebrity Charity Golf Classic has become something of an unofficial kickoff to hockey season in Calgary.

Team Black: Wranglers Core and NHL Hopefuls

Team Black is largely made up of players expected to form the core of the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to watch.

Andrew Basha, Jonathan Castagna, Rory Kerins, Sam Morton and Aydar Suniev are among the younger players looking to make an impression and put themselves into the conversation for NHL opportunities.

The "Show Me" Season: Can Rory Kerins Stick in the NHL?Rory Kerins has spent the last few years doing things the right way, but now he faces the ultimate test: turning AHL dominance into a permanent NHL career. At 24 years old, the Caledonia, Ontario native is no longer just a "prospect", he’s a player with a proven track record of finding the back of the net at the AHL level, and he knows exactly what the Flames are looking for.

A strong camp doesn’t necessarily mean an immediate NHL roster spot, but it can go a long way toward establishing where a player sits on the organization’s depth chart when injuries or roster needs arise during the season.

William Strömgren is another player worth keeping an eye on.

After getting an NHL call-up last season, Strömgren enters this year’s camp with some experience at the next level and another opportunity to push his way further up the organization.

Brzustewicz in the Blue-Line Mix

One of the bigger names on Team Black is defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz.

Brzustewicz appeared in 34 games with the Flames last season, recording two goals and five assists for seven points.

That NHL experience gives him something to build on as he enters another training camp.

The Flames added Simon Nemec and Jake Middleton to the blue line this offseason, creating another layer to the competition for NHL spots.

For Brzustewicz, the task is pretty straightforward: have a strong camp, carry over what he learned from last season and make the decision as difficult as possible for the coaching staff.

What to Watch as Camp Continues

The roster split gives us an early snapshot of how the Flames are organizing their group, but there is still plenty of time for things to change.

The preseason will provide a better indication of where some of these players fit, particularly among the prospects and younger players competing for NHL opportunities.