The 2026–27 season has gotten off to a slow start for the Vancouver Canucks, and this particular stat only emphasizes it. 

In a 3–2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, Vancouver surrendered their third hat-trick of the 2026–27 season to take sole-possession of the league’s lead in hat-tricks allowed. Brady Tkachuk became the third player to score a hat-trick against the Canucks this season with his three-consecutive goals for Florida. 

Vancouver began the 2026–27 season by allowing a hat-trick against in their season-opener. Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard put three goals past the Canucks in a 6–5 overtime win for Vancouver. Five games later, Vancouver surrendered their second hat-trick against, with Logan Stankoven of the Carolina Hurricanes being the one to score three this time around. Carolina won that game by a score of 7–2. 

Prior to Thursday’s game, Vancouver sat tied for first in the NHL in hat-tricks allowed, with the New York Islanders being the other team to allow two. So far, the Islanders have surrendered hat-tricks against Alexis Lafrenière and the New York Rangers, as well as Brandon Hagel and the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

In 2025–26, Vancouver surrendered a total of five hat-tricks throughout the year. The first came on November 5 against Tyler Bertuzzi and the Chicago Blackhawks. They allowed their third hat-trick of the season on March 4 against the Hurricanes, with Nikolaj Ehlers putting three past Vancouver. The first team to allow three hat-tricks in 2025–26 was the St. Louis Blues, who did so in their 33rd game of the year — a 7–2 loss to the Nashville Predators. 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

A Look At The Bo Horvat Trade After Canucks Part Ways With Final Piece

Canucks Can’t Stop Tkachuk In 3–2 Overtime Loss To The Florida Panthers

Canucks Make Two Intriguing Bets By Acquiring Buhr And Quillan From The Maple Leafs

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

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward David Perron is officially set to play his 20th NHL season after spending over three months as a free agent.

This is because the Dallas Stars have signed Perron to a one-year, $850,000 contract for the 2026-27 season. 

The Stars signing Perron comes with them dealing with multiple forward injuries. Now, the former Penguins forward will provide the Stars with more forward depth as they look to bounce back from their slow start to the season. 

Perron appeared in 65 games this past season split between the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings, where he posted 13 goals, 15 assists, 28 points, and 90 hits. This included him recording 10 goals and 25 points in 49 games for Ottawa before being traded to the Red Wings. 

Perron spent two seasons with the Penguins from 2014-15 to 2015-16. In 86 games with the Penguins over that span, he recorded 16 goals, 22 assists, 38 points, 202 hits, and a minus-21 rating. 

Here's the latest episode of the Sens Nation Podcast, the official Senators podcast of the Hockey News.

The Senators have had a roller-coaster week, with a win over New Jersey, an ugly loss to St. Louis, and a shootout victory over the Islanders. Now Travis Green has thrown his forward lines into a blender. Was it a necessary shakeup or an maybe an overreaction after a bad loss in part two of a back to back situation?

Stephen Halliday gets a shot alongside Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson, while some familiar top-six faces find themselves on the fourth line. Meanwhile, William Eklund is out 10–12 weeks, Artem Zub is finally back, and Jake Sanderson is getting closer to returning.

Should Samuel Ersson get the start in Philadelphia? And have the Senators already used more defencemen than any other NHL team?

Plus, former captain Brady Tkachuk is heating up in Florida and making comments that might not sit well with Senators fans ahead of his return to Ottawa. Also on the former Senator front, we discuss Alex DeBrincat's seven-year, $91 million extension, David Perron's latest move, and James Reimer signing a minor-league deal.

All that and more on this edition of the Sens Nation Podcast!

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

While not at the absolute top of the list of their issues at the moment, the Philadelphia Flyers will, at some point, need to find a permanent solution for their dreadful fourth line, which has cost them dearly with their poor play multiple times over the last week.

After Thursday night's narrow, uninspiring 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet spoke about moments.

"It could be a big chance, anything. It's just, we're lacking the big moments. We got to find them somehow. We got to keep coming in every day to try and find them," he said.

Moments in a game when the team should rise above, come out on top, and show some killer instinct to make a big play, even when momentum is against them.

Whether or not the Flyers' frail mentality on the ice falls on Tocchet's shoulders has been the subject of fiery debate, but regardless, the team hasn't come through, and they're losing games as a result.

Take the fourth line as a microcosm of an entire roster failing to come through in those said moments.

In a 2-1 loss to Ottawa last week, newcomer forward Michael Bunting took a hooking penalty that put the Senators on the power play, leading to the game-winning goal, and Bunting played just 10:56 in that game, including a full two minutes on the power play.

On Tuesday, the story was similar.

Jack Studnicka took a tripping penalty against Seattle, and Bobby McMann went on to open the scoring on the power play. The Flyers mounted a furious two-goal comeback at the start of the second period, but they tailed off and eventually lost 3-2 in the shootout.

And then again on Thursday night, Noel Acciari and defenseman Simon Benoit couldn't stop Michael Rasmussen in front of the net, and a point-blank scramble in front of Joseph Woll ended in the game-winning goal for the Red Wings.

These were three games, in the span of one week, decided by one goal, with the fourth line at the scene of the crime each time.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers 'Untouchable' Forward Drawing Big InterestThe Philadelphia Flyers are refusing to trade this popular forward drawing trade interest around the NHL.

For as poorly as the Flyers have played all year long, they very well could have their first three wins of the year, instead of being 0-2-1 in those games.

Adding five more points to their current total of three would have the Flyers tied with New Jersey and Toronto, one point outside the second wildcard spot with plenty of hockey left to play.

Instead, the Flyers are one of two remaining winless teams in the NHL, and the other, Los Angeles, has played four fewer games.

If the Flyers are going to be that bad, at least they have more opportunities to develop their young players, right?

Well, that hasn't happened either.

Matvei Michkov, for example, ranks ninth amongst all Flyers forwards with his 19.1 shifts per game, narrowly trailing Acciari's 19.2 and Denver Barkey's 20.2.

Even worse, rookie Porter Martone is just 11th, averaging 16.9 shifts per game, placing him above only Carl Grundstrom (AHL), Alex Bump (AHL), Michael Bunting, Garrett Wilson, and Jack Studnicka.

In terms of raw ice time, Michkov is averaging just 14:55 a game, seventh amongst Flyers forwards and nearly two full minutes behind the sixth-ranked Tippett, who averages 16:26.

Michkov and Martone (13:14) are closer to Noel Acciari (14:07) than they are to the Flyers' de facto top-six, and that's a major issue, regardless of wins and losses.

Now, without making the likes of Michkov and Martone the main characters of the show, the Flyers are winless, with the dreadful fourth line instead finding itself at the heart of these key "moments", including in a tied game in Detroit with under five minutes left in regulation.

Brady Tkachuk is suddenly the hottest goal-scorer in the NHL. And if Senators fans weren't already planning to give their former captain a rough reception next Wednesday night, the timing of his comments about Florida Panthers fans have probably sealed the deal.

Tkachuk has scored back-to-back hat tricks, giving him six goals in two games after a slow start to his first season in Florida.

But it wasn't just his scoring that made headlines Thursday night.

After his latest three-goal performance, Tkachuk was serenaded with chants of "Brady! Brady!" from the Panthers faithful, a familiar sound for anyone who followed his eight seasons in Ottawa.

The chanting occurred during his rinkside postgame TV interview, and Tkachuk couldn't have been happier with the reception.

"I'm just so grateful to be here. I'm truly blessed to play in front of the best fans in the NHL! How good is this?"

Ouch.

Tkachuk's comments come just days before his return to Canadian Tire Centre this Wednesday (Oct. 21). It will be his first NHL game in Ottawa wearing enemy colours since demanding a trade in the offseason.

It's a homecoming that already promised to be highly emotional, maybe even hostile.

There's no question that some Senators fans have completely moved on, happy that the Brady Tkachuk era is behind them. Others fully understand that every NHL player is going to say that his current team has the best fans. That's just pandering 101, playing along to get along. 

But for others, the timing of their former captain's declaration, just days before his return, may prove to be a final straw.

Tkachuk's slow start in Florida provided at least a little consolation. While the Sens are in first place in the Atlantic, enjoying a strong 6-2 start to the season, their former captain was struggling to find the scoresheet with his new club.

So there was some satisfaction in Ottawa, seeing Tkachuk discover that the grass isn't always greener elsewhere. But that consolation, if it was ever really a consolation at all, is now gone.

Tkachuk has suddenly rediscovered his scoring touch, and Panthers fans are now chanting his name, just as Senators fans once did.

The Senators have already said they will recognize their former captain with a tribute video on Wednesday, acknowledging his eight seasons in Ottawa and his contributions to the franchise.

But there's no longer much doubt about how the crowd will respond. He will be booed where he once heard fans chanting his name.

They've had plenty of chances to welcome back recent former captains like Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Erik Karlsson.

But this one is way different.

After hearing Tkachuk make those comments so close to his return to Ottawa, anyone who still held some goodwill for the ex-captain may be fresh out by Wednesday night. 

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa 

On Thursday, TSN's Darren Dreger offered a new update on what the Detroit Red Wings could be seeking in a return package for center Dylan Larkin. 

The elite two-way center has returned to the Detroit lineup but has voiced that he would still prefer to be traded, and with these new details from Dreger, a deal looks more possible than ever.

Most reports have said Detroit is looking for a top-six forward in return but on the TSN show Early Trading, Dreger said the Red Wings are reportedly seeking "three or four pieces," and that the package would need to include "two A-quality prospects." It would also need to include a top-nine forward, though not necessarily a top-six one, as well as a first-round pick.

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

It is a tall asking price, but one Detroit would likely be willing to pay if it values Larkin enough. Several contenders may still struggle to meet the demands like Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, all likely out of the running due to a lack of A-quality prospects to offer.

It could open the door for a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have been among the contenders for Larkin and have prospects to offer like Sam O'Reilly, who could be packaged with an NHL-ready forward like Gage Goncalves to fill the top-nine need. The Lightning also have first-round picks in two of the next three years that could help get a deal over the line.

Sam the man strikes again 🥜

Sam O'Reilly extended the @OHLRangers lead with a highlight reel goal, earning him the @deltabingo_ Play of the Night.#GoBoltsGopic.twitter.com/VptEzYWsjh

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 23, 2026

The Washington Capitals, who have also reportedly been in on Larkin, could fulfill the requirements as well. They have quality prospects in Ilya Protas, Cole Hutson and Lynden Lakovic, along with NHL-ready forwards in Aliaksei Protas and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

There is also a case for the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers, each of which has quality prospects and NHL-ready forwards to offer, provided Larkin would be willing to waive his no-move clause for a Canadian market.

If Dreger's report is accurate, it widens Detroit's options considerably and could bring the Larkin trade saga to an end in the near future.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are collecting former Vancouver Canucks at an impressive rate. With the acquisition of Aatu Räty, there are 11 former Canucks now either playing or working for the Maple Leafs. These former players and staff members can be found throughout the organization from the NHL level down to the ECHL. 

Starting with the NHL team, there are six players who are on the current roster who played for Vancouver. They are Troy Stecher, Teddy Blueger, Oliver Ekman Larsson, Chris Tanev, Zack MacEwen and Dakota Joshua. There are also two staff members in Goaltending Coach Curtis Sanford and Assistant General Manager Judd Brackett. 

Moving on to the AHL, there are two Toronto Marlies players who played for the Canucks. They are Räty, who was just acquired and Cole McWard. Unlike in previous years, Toronto will not be playing the Abbotsford Canucks this season. 

Finally, there is one connection in the ECHL. That is Jackson Kunz, who plays for the Maple Leafs' ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones. The first matchup between the Kalamazoo Wings and the Cyclones is scheduled for November 27. 

Ultimately, the list of Vancouver connections in Toronto is impressive. At this point, it appears that the Maple Leafs are committed to adding as many former Canucks as possible. The question now is: who is the next player or staff member headed from Vancouver to Toronto? 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

A Look At The Bo Horvat Trade Tree After Canucks Part Ways With Final Piece

Canucks Can’t Stop Tkachuk In 3–2 Overtime Loss To The Florida Panthers

Canucks Make Two Intriguing Bets By Acquiring Buhr And Quillan From The Maple Leafs

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

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the second game of their four-game road trip on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. 

The Penguins will try to bounce back after losing 5-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. They rallied to tie the game in the third period before goaltender Sergei Murashov allowed a backbreaking goal with just over four minutes left. The Blackhawks added an empty-net goal at the end of the game to seal it. 

The Penguins will face an Avalanche team coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. It was the second game of a home-and-home series between the two teams. 

As expected, the Avalanche have already lit up the scoreboard this season, scoring 31 goals in only seven games. They've scored at least six goals in three of those seven games. 

It all starts with star forward Nathan MacKinnon, who is one of the best players on the planet. Once he gets a step on you, it's game over. He already has five goals and 12 points in seven games. 

Star defenseman Cale Makar is also off to a great start, racking up three goals and seven points in six games. He's elite in all three zones and does a great job against the toughest competition night after night. 

Don't forget about Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Devon Toews, Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson, and Jaden Schwartz, either. They've all been great to start the season for the Avs. 

As for the Penguins, head coach Dan Muse is tweaking the lineup for this game. Elmer Soderblom is set to come into the lineup, and Nick Robertson has moved into the top nine. 

Here are the expected lines and pairs, based on Thursday's practice:

Forwards

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

Kuzmenko-Kindel-Robertson

Dewar-Lizotte-Soderblom

Defensive pairs

Carlile-Karlsson

Girard-Korczak

Stastney-Letang

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins after having the night off against the Blackhawks.

Puck drop is set for 9 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

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

The Vancouver Canucks have officially parted ways with the final piece in the team’s Bo Horvat trade from January 2023. The full trade saw the former Canucks captain head to the New York Islanders in exchange for three pieces: a 2023 first-round pick, Anthony Beauvillier, and Aatu Räty. 

On October 15, Vancouver dealt the final piece, Räty, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr. All three of Vancouver’s acquisitions from this trade are now with other teams; here’s a look at where they are, and what the Canucks received in return. 

The 2023 First-Round Pick 

The first piece of the Horvat trade to depart from the Canucks organization was the 2023 first-round pick. Vancouver used this selection, as well as a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, to acquire Filip Hronek and a 2023 fourth-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit used the first-round selection to draft defenceman Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Vancouver’s fourth-round selection went towards picking centre Ty Mueller, who remains with the organization as a key piece of the Abbotsford Canucks’ forward core. 

While Sandin-Pellikka remains with the Red Wings, having recorded a 21-point season in his rookie year in 2025–26, the 2023 second-round pick the team acquired from Vancouver was traded to the Nashville Predators on the second day of the draft. Detroit acquired two picks back in exchange — a second-rounder and fifth-rounder in that year’s draft — using them to select defenceman Brady Cleveland and forward Kevin Bicker. Nashville used the second-round pick to draft forward Felix Nilsson. All three players have yet to skate in their first NHL games. 

Anthony Beauvillier 

A few months after they traded the first piece of the Horvat trade, Vancouver flipped their second piece. At the end of November in 2023, the Canucks traded forward Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Beauvillier scored 11 goals and 17 assists in 55 games for Vancouver before being dealt. 

The fifth-round pick that Vancouver received in return took a bit of a journey before it was ultimately used to select forward Joel Svensson. Only a couple of days after flipping Beauvillier, Vancouver sent the fifth-round pick, as well as a 2026 third-round pick, to the Calgary Flames for defenceman Nikita Zadorov. Calgary later sent the pick to the San Jose Sharks for defenceman Nikita Okhotyuk at the 2024 trade deadline. Due to previous trade agreements with the Blackhakws and Maple Leafs, the pick made its way back to Chicago and was ultimately used by the very team Vancouver acquired it from. 

Beauvillier also jumped around a little bit after departing from Vancouver before finding a home with the Washington Capitals. The same year he was acquired by Chicago, the forward was dealt to Nashville at the trade deadline, playing in 15 games and scoring a goal and two assists. That off-season, he signed a one-year, $1.25M deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was ultimately traded to the Capitals for a 2025 second-round pick by that year’s trade deadline. 

Aatu Räty

The final piece of the Horvat trade was Räty, who Vancouver held onto for over three years before ultimately trading the forward to Toronto on Thursday. Known best for his skills in the faceoff dot, Räty spent the entire 2025–26 season with Vancouver but occasionally found himself healthy-scratched. He put together four goals and 10 assists in 66 games. 

Joining Vancouver in return are forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr. Quillan signed an entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs in April of 2024 and has played in 24 NHL games and 111 AHL games since. Buhr signed a one-year deal with Toronto in March of 2026 after spending the past four seasons in the NCAA. Both are expected to fill depth roles for the Canucks organization, with Quillan expected to join the Abbotsford Canucks and Buhr likely joining the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL. 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Canucks Can’t Stop Tkachuk In 3–2 Overtime Loss To The Florida Panthers

Canucks Make Two Intriguing Bets By Acquiring Buhr And Quillan From The Maple Leafs

Canucks Trade Aatu Räty To The Maple Leafs For Two Forwards

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

Forward David Perron is signing up for a 20th NHL season after reaching a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars.

Perron, 38, didn't get signed during the offseason but now is joining his eighth NHL team on a one-year, $850,000 contract.

The Stars were in need of scoring depth at forward after losing Matt Duchene for three months because of core muscle surgery. Plus, forward Oskar Back (upper body) was hurt on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and was placed on the injured list.

"He brings a competitive mindset and a proven ability to perform in big moments," Stars general manager Jim Nill said of Perron. "We believe his veteran leadership and skill set will be a valuable addition to our group as we continue to build toward our goal of winning a Stanley Cup."

David Perron stats

Perron won a Stanley Cup in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues and went to the 2018 Final with the Vegas Golden Knights. He has 332 goals, 480 assists and 812 points in 1,239 career regular season games. He also has 64 points in 110 playoff games.

He has had three stints with the Blues and two with the Detroit Red Wings. He also played for Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Anaheim and Ottawa.

Remaining unsigned free agents

Perron joins forward Michael Bunting (Philadelphia) and defenseman Carson Soucy (Columbus) as players who have signed since the opening day of the season.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrik Laine are among the prominent free agents who have yet to land a 2026-27 contract.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dallas Stars sign forward David Perron to one-year contract

In Thursday night’s win over the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane reached another remarkable milestone in his NHL career. With his assist on Connor Bedard’s opening goal, Kane earned his 895th career assist. 

This surpassed Phil Housley's record for an American-born player. Kane is already the all-time leading scorer among Americans in the NHL, and now he stands alone in terms of assists. 

Kane currently sits 4th in goals with 509. He trails Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), and Jeremy Roenick (513). He will jump into third by passing Roenick this season, and it will be interesting to see how far he can climb. 

Brett Hull is Canadian-born but represented Team USA nationally, so that adds confusion to the record book. He had 741 goals, which is out of reach for Kane at this point. The league recognized Kane as the all-time leading scorer when he passed Modano in points, not Hull, so you’d think they'd do the same if he passed Modano in goals.  

After the game was over, head coach Jeff Blashill was asked about this milestone for Kane. He answered in a way that may be unexpected: he sounded like a fan more than a coach. 

"I’m a huge Patrick Kane fan for what he’s done for the sport and the US - how much it’s meant to so many Americans,” Blashill said. “He’s been a special, special player in this sport and deserves every accolade he gets because of what he’s done, but also who he is."

Both on and off the ice, Kane has impressed his new head coach in a short amount of time. It’s not hard for Kane, who is one of the best players of his generation. Blashill also has ties to USA Hockey, just like Kane. 

Later in the game, Kane added career assist 896 with a helper on Artyom Levshunov’s game-winning goal in overtime. Combine that with his 509 goals for 1405 points. The numbers almost don’t feel real, but he has been so great for so long. When you select a player first overall, you think they should become a franchise player, but Kane was so much more than that. 

Kane received some high praise from his head coach, who went out of his way to compliment him outside of coach speak. That doesn’t happen often, but the 37-year-old certainly deserves it. 

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

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

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Nico Hischier responds to becoming the third all-time goal scorer in Devils franchise history:

Nico Hischier on becoming No. 3 in franchise goal scoring:

“These things obviously make me a little proud, but I’d rather get a fourth Stanley Cup for this franchise.”

“I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, but I’m not done. I still want to keep working hard.” #NJDevilspic.twitter.com/7ODTW2SXCm

— Anthony Corona (@ACoronaNJD) October 16, 2026

JP Gambatese responded to some early-season knocks on analytics after the Devils started the season without any finish to their game. [Devils Advocates]

Last night was historic on a few levels:

Devils beat the Rangers by 6 goals or more for the first time since March 25th 1987 #NJDevils#NYR

— nick cahill (@devilstatguy) October 16, 2026

Greg Wyshynski interviewed Sunny Mehta for ESPN, and Mehta took him to task before diving into a mix of fan nostalgia and current team-building philosophy. [ESPN]

Sheldon Keefe hits a milestone:

The bench boss just hit 300. pic.twitter.com/8oR32AU3x6

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 16, 2026

The Devils did alright in Frozen Frenzy:

-NHL on ESPN avg viewership TUE OCT 13th-

Devils-Red Wings: 697k
Avalanche-Stars: 603k
*Bruins-Sharks: 492k

espn2 Frozen Frenzy: 105k

*non-exclusive game

— NHL4Life (@jheaps4) October 15, 2026

Hockey Links

The Red Wings scored late in the third period to drop the Flyers to a whopping 0-6-3. The usual from Rick Tocchet: “I liked our start, but they came on a little bit. There are moments in a game when you have to come through, and we’ve been having a tough time of that.” [NHL.com]

Prior to the Red Wings—Flyers matchup, Detroit celebrated the life of Jenny Baumann, the wife of Red Wings trainer Russ Baumann, who passed away after a battle with cancer last weekend:

💜 pic.twitter.com/wBd5kGBsTX

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 15, 2026

After Dave Hakstol left the Colorado bench to take the reigns of the Arizona State hockey program, the Avalanche hired Brett McLean as an assistant coach. [NHL.com]

Patrick Kane makes history:

and with that assist, Patrick Kane takes the top spot for 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻-𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 in the NHL ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Y8LyB8OJ9Q

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 16, 2026

While he was just an outcast from Vancouver a few seasons ago, Vasily Podkolzin has turned into a top-line goal scorer for the Edmonton Oilers this season. [The Hockey Writers]

David Perron will play his 20th season after all:

We have signed forward David Perron to a one year contract 🚨 pic.twitter.com/LIZS7Vq7Xt

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 16, 2026

The NHL has been discussing the future of Frozen Frenzy, as they consider it a success in the United States with room to improve and grow. Cam Neely: “It’s a great concept to have all teams play the same day, although tough for an East Coast team’s fanbase to have an 11:15 p.m. Eastern puck drop. I heard plenty of complaints, for example, from our fans in New England. Maybe think of doing it all day on a Saturday after college football?” [NYT/The Athletic]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

LAS VEGAS - Mark Stone collected the hats. Jack Eichel continued collecting points.

But beneath the star power driving the Vegas Golden Knights’ early success is something coach Ryan Craig considers essential: four lines capable of keeping the game moving in the same direction.

Mark Stone recorded the @NHL's 10th hat trick of 2026-27. The only seasons with more at this stage (118 GP) over the past 30 years are 2021-22 and 1997-98 (both w/ 11).#NHLStats: https://t.co/oQaEN3PT3mpic.twitter.com/SfNmyyla2J

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) October 16, 2026

Through nine games, Vegas has received goals from 13 different players, with nine scoring at least twice. Thursday’s 6-2 victory over Calgary lifted its total to 35 goals, an average of 3.89 per game, after entering the night seventh in the NHL at 3.63.

Stone leads Vegas with six goals after his third-period hat trick, while Eichel has five goals and 16 points. Yet the supporting cast has helped the Golden Knights reach 7-2-0 and top the NHL standings.

Lonely at the top?#NHL#VegasBornpic.twitter.com/PuBZNos4nv

— WillieGRamireZ (@WillieGRamirez) October 16, 2026

“When we’re at our best, we’re rolling four lines,” Braeden Bowman said. “We have everybody contributing and doing their thing, and you know when the full team’s going, we’re a pretty tough team to beat.”

Bowman supplied a timely example Thursday.

After Calgary scored shorthanded to cut Vegas’ lead to 2-1, the fourth-line winger converted on the second power-play unit, restoring the two-goal cushion.

“We talk about those kinds of reset shifts all the time,” Craig said. “That was one from the second unit going out there and getting the job done.”

That contribution followed Tuesday’s victory at Nashville, when five different Golden Knights scored. Beyond the leading duo, Tomas Hertl and injured Victor Olofsson have four goals apiece, while rookie Trevor Connelly and Brett Howden have three each. William Karlsson, Mitch Marner and Bowman have two each.

Ivan Barbashev added three assists against Calgary, illustrating that the contributions extend beyond finishing chances.

“Everybody’s stepping up in our team,” Barbashev said. “It’s fun to play right now.”

More Than The Headliners

For Craig, the depth begins with what happens before a scoring opportunity develops. Forwards working back, defensemen moving the puck quickly and connected support allow different combinations to turn defensive stops into attacks.

“The depth of our lineup maybe allows us to do that with whatever line is on the ice,” Craig said.

Bowman embodies that flexibility. Alongside Marc Gatcomb and Nic Dowd, he brings forechecking pressure and dependable defense. His special-teams opportunities expand the ways he can contribute.

“He can play up and down our lineup. He can play on the special teams,” Craig said. “Braeden’s a very responsible, detail-oriented player.”

Stone sees a benefit that reaches well beyond October. Sharing the workload now can help preserve the players Vegas will need most when the season reaches its decisive stretch.

“If you can have your top guys playing 16 to 18 minutes a night and rolling over lines, it’s the formula for us going into that time of year,” Stone said.

“It’s a good thing to have four lines that are ticking.”

The stars remain the headliners, sure, but Vegas’ encouraging development is seeing many teammates help carry the show.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Bridgestone Arena.

The New York Islanders continued their inconsistency on Thursday in Canada's capital, as the Ottawa Senators knocked off the Islanders 2-1 in a shootout.

Matias Maccelli scored with 12 seconds left in the first period, giving the Islanders a 1-0 lead.

However, Ridley Greig, who was picked using the Islanders' 2020 first-round pick dealt to Ottawa for Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored with under five minutes to go in the second period.

Long Island native Shane Pinto scored the shootout winner, knocking off the Islanders 

Semyon Varlamov, in his second start of the season, made 18 saves and played a terrific game.

“He looked like the old Varly, which is great to see, and it’s great for us because we’re going to need him.”

Pete DeBoer on Semyon Varlamov's bounce-back performance against Ottawa.

More @TheElmonters#Isles Free Friday ⤵️https://t.co/HSpwsjHzao

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 16, 2026

Outside Varlamov, it was inconsistent and frustrating play that plagued the Islanders on Thursday.

That's to be expected when learning an entirely new system of a play from a brand-new coach in just the seventh game of the season.

With the score tied 1-1, and with both teams pushing for a winner, Islanders' Head Coach Pete DeBoer made the call to shorten his bench.

#Isles HC Pete DeBoer sat three players for the remainder of the third:

Ritchie: 11:30 left (penalty, on ice for GA in 2nd)

Duclair: 9:25 left (penalty in 2nd)

Kessel: 12:30 left

“The players make those decisions for me.”

DeBoer cited puck management issues and penalties.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 16, 2026

Cal Ritchie and Anthony Duclair can only look to use it as a learning moment. 

It's very easy to forget that Ritchie is still just 21 years old and has only played 79 NHL games in his career. He's still learning the ropes, as much as anyone could, and has had three head coaches in those games (Jared Bednar in COL, Patrick Roy, DeBoer).

Ritchie is going to be just fine.

Duclair, meanwhile, is someone DeBoer has already been happy with and publicly praised for his effort last week following the win over the Chicago Blackhawks:

"I thought he had an excellent camp," DeBoer said after the Chicago game. "I thought he was great the first two games. I thought he took a step back in the Ranger game, and I talked to him this morning and said, 'I need you to get back to what you were doing because he was becoming a really important part of our group,' and he responded tonight. 

"He did a great job, and I'm glad he got rewarded because that's a little while coming. He could have had a couple in the first couple of games."

The easy thing to do is jump to conclusions about what it may or may not mean for Duclair long-term when Mathew Barzal returns.

This isn't that. This is a player DeBoer believes in, and wants to get the very best out of. Sometimes, that means taking a hardline approach in a tight situation.

As for Matthew Kessel, it might even be less about him and his play and more about wanting to maximize Matthew Schaefer's minutes.

Schaefer played over 29 minutes in the shootout loss Thursday, and that meant Kessel's late ice time got sacrificed.

For all three players the takeaway should be simple: Take care of the puck, and don't take unnecessary penalties on the road. In other words, don't put the team in a bad spot.

The Islanders are next in action Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom they lost to begin this season. We'll see if there's any major lineup changes then.