The Colorado Avalanche are trimming their blue line as training camp winds down.
Colorado placed defensemen Christian Wolanin and Domenick Fensore on waivers Wednesday afternoon, putting both players in position to be claimed by any of the NHL’s other 31 teams over the next 24 hours. Assuming they clear, both are expected to be assigned to the Colorado Eagles.
For the Avalanche, the move is part of the final roster shuffle before the regular season. Both defensemen signed one-year, two-way contracts with Colorado this summer and were brought in to provide organizational depth.
The 31-year-old Wolanin has spent most of his career bouncing between the NHL and AHL. The 2015 fourth-round pick has appeared in 79 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues, recording six goals and 23 points. He hasn't played in an NHL game since appearing in 16 games for Vancouver during the 2022-23 season.
The bulk of Wolanin's production has come in the AHL. He put up 55 points in just 49 games with the Abbotsford Canucks in 2022-23 and followed that with another productive season before recording 31 points in 53 games with the Providence Bruins last year.
Fensore, meanwhile, is still trying to establish himself as an NHL regular. The 25-year-old defenseman was selected 90th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Draft and has appeared in just three NHL games. He spent last season with the AHL's Chicago Wolves, where he led the team's defensemen with 35 points in 60 games.
Both players now have to wait and see whether another NHL team makes a claim. If they go unclaimed, they'll continue their seasons with the Eagles, remaining available as potential call-up options for Colorado when injuries or roster needs arise.
The Avalanche are set to play in their third of four preseason matchups on Saturday when they face the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena. Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed a couple of defensemen on waivers on Wednesday. The minor-league blueliners include Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis, who were placed on the wire, according to PuckPedia.
This can be viewed as the first batch of roster cuts, in terms of personnel to make the NHL lineup. McWard and Mermis have been waived because Toronto is trimming the roster as the 2026-27 campaign approaches.
Since joining the NHL in 2022-23 as an undrafted player, McWard has only played a total of nine NHL games. Last year, he made just one appearance with the New York Islanders and 63 games with the Bridgeport Islanders in the AHL.
As for Mermis, he has several more NHL games under his belt, featuring a total of 89 across parts of nine seasons in the league. In the past two years, he played 14 games for Toronto, scoring one goal last season in 11 contests.
Last year, Mermis played a key role in the Toronto Marlies taking home the AHL's Calder Cup. He featured in all 24 playoff games for the Marlies and recorded 10 assists.
Toronto signed Mermis back in July 2024. In the 2024-25 season, they lost him on waivers to the Utah Mammoth, but claimed him back later in the year.
Both Mermis and McWard have been paired together in Group 2 of the Maple Leafs' training camp so far. They are anticipated to be the third pairing with the Marlies, based on how they lined up in the lead-up days to the regular season.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
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.
After their second preseason game and reaching the halfway point of training camp, the Philadelphia Flyers have made a few more cuts as their final roster begins to take shape.
Several notable prospects, like Brek Liske and Maksim Sokolovskii, for example, were sent back to junior hockey as part of the first round of cuts.
Now, it is time for some veterans and newcomers to join them, as the Flyers have clearly established which players are battling for ice time and a roster spot.
On Wednesday, it was revealed by PuckPedia that the Flyers had placed six veterans on waivers: defenseman Cam Dineen, and forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Nolan Foote, Carl Grundstrom, Jack Studnicka, and Danila Klimovich.
Of the six, Grundstrom is the biggest surprise given that he has practiced in an NHL-facing role throughout training camp, but the Flyers could also be making this move now for the sake of roster flexibility going forward.
Should Grundstrom clear waivers now, he will not have to clear waivers again until he plays in 10 regular season games or spends 30 days on the NHL roster, whichever comes first.
This would give the Flyers insurance in case Denver Barkey (lower-body) is not back by the time the regular season starts, or in the event Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body) is not yet ready for game action.
Remember, Grebenkin has not played a competitive game since March, has yet to appear in a preseason game, and spent the early portion of training camp in a yellow non-contact jersey.
Now is the time for Grebenkin to begin ramping up, though runway is short with the regular season opener just one week away now.
As for the other players, it is clear they will just be depth options over the course of the season.
Studnicka had some moments, but that was about it from the rest of the group. Klimovich was at fault for one of the Boston Bruins' goals in Tuesday night's loss.
The remaining forwards competing for roster spots on the Flyers currently include Grundstrom, Jacob Gaucher, Jett Luchanko, Cole Knuble, Grebenkin, and Riley Thompson.
The San Jose Sharks are continuing to trim down their training camp roster as we've now passed the midway point of preseason. While the majority of cuts were unsurprising, there is one that stood out a bit more than the rest.
Ethan Cardwell was one of three players placed on waivers for the purpose of reassignment to the American Hockey League, along with Tye Felhaber and Libor Hajek. Cardwell has the highest chance of being claimed of the three, as he could potentially fill a fourth line role at the NHL level for a team with a shortage of quality depth. Given his usage in preseason, it seemed that he was in contention for an NHL job this time around, but it appears that management has seen enough.
The Sharks reassigned five forwards: Andre Gasseau, Samuel Huo, Donovan Houle, Anthony Vincent, and Carson Wetsch. Four defensemen were also sent to join the Barracuda: Roland McKeown, Mack Oliphant, Leo Sahlin-Wallenius, and Phillip Sinn. Last but not least, goaltender Matt Davis was also reassigned to the AHL.
With the Sharks' training camp roster currently sitting at 36 players, we're going to see quite a few more cuts in the coming days, with the next batch likely coming after tomorrow night's game against the Anaheim Ducks.
On Tuesday night, the San Jose Sharks were back on the SAP Center's ice for the first time since April as they hosted the Vegas Golden Knights for their first home preseason game of the 2026-27 season.
In the opening moments, Dmitri Orlov showed some signs of summer rust as he gave the Golden Knights a prime scoring chance with a turnover in the neutral zone. On the other end of spectrum, Ethan Cardwell continued to show why he is in the battle for an NHL job as he had a phenomenal first shift starting with maintaining possession in the defensive zone and ended with a shot on goal.
A broken stick gave the Sharks' fourth line a decent chance roughly five minutes into the game, as the Golden Knights' pass was off line and landed directly on the blade of Patrick Giles, although nothing came of it.
Alex Wennberg caught a puck up high on his birthday, causing a whistle with 12:59 remaining in the first. Nolan Allan then went on to make his presence felt with a huge old-school body check on Alexander Holtz.
In the middle of the period, the combination of Michael Misa and Igor Chernyshov seemed to be thriving, as they were generating some solid changes in transition. Patrick Giles on the other hand had a dangerous giveaway behind the Sharks' net, but he immediately made up for it with a massive hit just a second later.
Luca Cagnoni almost connected with Misa for a deflection in front of the net at one stage but it bounced off the post, then moments later, the young defenseman hit the pipe on his own shot.
After 20 minutes of play, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 but the Sharks had generated some quality scoring chances.
Collin Graf appeared to have an equipment issue right off the draw to start the second period, causing the Sharks' lines to be jumbled for a bit while he got his skate blades replaced on the bench.
The Sharks somehow didn't score a goal with 11:36 remaining in the middle frame. A sprawled out Carter Hart was able to deny a backhand chance by Stenberg, that should've found the back of the net. A minute later, Yaroslav Askarov had a bit of showmanship himself, raising his glove up in the face of Jonas Rondbjerg after a glove save.
The second period seemed to fly by with few specific notable moments. Luca Cagnoni and the aforementioned Askarov were definitely the standouts of the period, as Askarov appeared to have much more confidence. Cagnoni also had quite a bit of confidence and was timing his pinches from the blue line perfectly and helping generate offense from the blue line, even if the Sharks had yet to score in the "Power Bite Farewell Tour."
Michael Misa finally broke the deadlock, and officially got the previously mentioned Farewell Tour underway, when he scored a power play goal 4:16 into the third period. The power play had generated quite a few chances, but one finally made its way past Hart. The Sharks' lead didn't last long though, as Alex Holtz tied it up for the Golden Knights four minutes later.
Cagnoni got outmuscled heavily in front of his own net around the midway point of the period by Jakub Demek. Given Demek's seven-inch height advantage and 32 pounds on Cagnoni, it's not unexpected, but does show one of the Sharks' defenseman's biggest flaws. With his stature, he's going to be pushed around fairly regularly by bigger opposition and there's obviously nothing that can really be done about that.
Tyler Toffoli and Igor Chernyshov had an opportunity to restore the Sharks' lead on a nice give-and-go passing play, but despite Hart being out of position, Toffoli got the shot off too late and put it in the side of the net rather than scoring.
The game remained tied throughout the rest of the third period and went into overtime. Despite quite a few chances for both sides, neither team scored in the 3-on-3 period and the game went to a shootout.
The Sharks ultimately went on to fall in the shootout, losing to the Golden Knights 2-1.
Isaac Howard played more than 17 minutes for the Edmonton Oilers against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night and finished the night with no shots in a 2-1 overtime win.
But hey, wasn't it just a few days ago that Mike Babcock was saying he didn't particularly like Howard's game?
Howard has spent training camp trying to carve out a spot on this roster having already played a year in Bakersfield. He has talked about improving the details, becoming a more mature player and taking his offseason training seriously. One preseason game drew criticism from his new coach, and another gave him very little opportunity to show the offensive game that got him here.
Maybe everyone can relax a little bit.
“It was just a gritty game. There wasn't a ton of chances either way. I think we just stuck with it,” Howard said. “I didn't think there was a ton going on that game. It was just a simple game.”
That's preseason hockey sometimes.
The Oilers and Jets combined for 41 shots, of which Howard had none, and Viljami Marjala ultimately scored the overtime winner. Howard did, however, spend the night playing with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman.
“When you're used to playing in a different league and you have the puck all the time — then you get out here and you never get the puck — for young guys, it can be frustrating,” Babcock said. “Then you try to do too much instead of just doing your job and check it back. You're going to get a chance, then you’ve got to make it count.
Let's be real here, Howard is 22 years old and committed to being a full-time NHL player. Every now and then, he's going to have games Babcock likes, games he doesn't like and probably a few where there isn't enough happening to have much of an opinion either way.
That's why taking individual preseason performances too seriously gets a little silly.
Howard didn't lose his chance to play in the NHL when Babcock said he didn't like his first preseason game, nor did he secure one Tuesday night either. Babcock's comments about Howard have largely centred around that process of getting to know your players and where they are best suited to play within your lineup.
Howard can shoot, score, make plays with the puck, and he's more mature about the defensive side of his game as well. Zach Hyman said during camp that nobody around the Oilers is particularly concerned about those parts of his game, with the focus instead going toward his physical play, forechecking and the details required to play in the NHL.
Preseason creates too much noise every September, probably because of the size of camp when it starts compared to when it ends and the expectations fans have for every player. A young player has a bad night and suddenly his roster chances are questioned. He plays well two nights later and everyone starts pencilling him into the opening-night lineup.
Howard's camp hasn't really changed that much.
He came into it with an opportunity to make the Oilers, and he still has one. Babcock has found parts of his game he wants improved, Howard has acknowledged the details he needs to work on, and Edmonton still has time before it has to make a final decision.
The Oilers plan to dress a largely AHL lineup Thursday in Vancouver before using something close to their opening-night roster Saturday against Calgary. Howard will get his answer soon enough.
Until then, one preseason game is still one preseason game, even when the head coach doesn't particularly like it.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source.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.
Parekh’s ability to move the puck was on display throughout the night.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
He consistently used his skating and edgework to create space, whether that meant escaping pressure in his own zone, joining the rush or getting himself into the offensive zone.
That’s the part of Parekh’s game that has always stood out.
The Flames selected him ninth overall because of his ability to make things happen with the puck. During his final season with the Saginaw Spirit, he posted 107 points in 61 games.
The next step has been rounding out the rest of his game.
That has been a focus for Parekh since he was drafted, and it was something he spoke about extensively during his pre-draft process. He has talked about becoming more responsible away from the puck, defending harder and making better decisions rather than always looking to create offence.
There was a different level of confidence to his game Tuesday.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Parekh was willing to jump into the rush and get deep in the offensive zone, but he also showed the skating ability to recover when the play went the other way.
That mobility is a big part of what makes his game so intriguing.
“It feels like everything’s different this time around, I don’t want to get too high or too low, just trying to build my game and make plays.”
That mindset has been an important part of Parekh’s development.
The Flames have been patient with the 20-year-old defenceman, who played 37 NHL games last season and also spent time with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. He enters this season expected to push for a full-time NHL role.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
For Parekh, the confidence appears to be coming from a better understanding of what he needs to do to succeed at this level.
“It is nice to feel good going in,” admitted Parekh. “The last two years I’ve been here it hasn’t clicked for me. I remember, last preseason, it was a bit of a grind. I feel like my head’s in a good space and I’m playing good hockey.”
That’s perhaps the biggest difference early in this year’s camp.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Tomas Galvas (32) skates with the puck in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on September 22, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Penguins made some roster cuts today during their off day, trimming away nine players.
The Penguins have assigned the following players to @WBSPenguins (AHL):
D – David Breazeale D – Tyler Duke D – Brent Johnson D – Ryan Mast D – Maleek McGowan D – Broten Sabo
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier has been placed on waivers for purpose of assignment to WBS.
Besides Gauthier, the fourth goalie in the organization, only Tomas Galvas is on an NHL contract from this group. The Penguins stuck with the plan to loan the 20-year old 2026 second round pick back to his Czech team for the season – he could be recalled to Wilkes-Barre in the spring depending on how things go. Galvas shined in the prospect tournament a couple weeks ago in Detroit but then had a rocky showing in his first NHL preseason game last night against a more veteran Red Wings team.
Beyond that, not too many notable surprises. Overall, by my count the Penguins still have 59 players in their NHL training camp. Pittsburgh has another exhibition game tomorrow night, after which a lot of cuts will be made as the team starts to pare down towards the 23-player limit before the season starts next Wednesday.
The Chicago Blackhawks have made many high draft picks during Kyle Davidson’s tenure as general manager. He came in wanting to tear things down and force a proper rebuild that would lead to long-term success. That process involves a lot of losing to achieve that level of draft capital.
For this to be successful, you need to get good play out of those first-round picks. Connor Bedard is a star first overall pick, but they need guys like Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, and Kevin Korchinski, among others, to contribute.
In addition to those high-end first-round prospects, there needs to be some luck within the draft process. Finding diamonds in the rough is a major key to a rebuild working. You saw it with the dynasty in the early 2010s, as plenty of late-round picks made their impact.
Right now, Nick Lardis is looking like one of those hits for Davidson. Lardis was selected with a third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Since then, he has become one of Chicago’s most important pieces.
Lardis, a 21-year-old winger, is a star goal scorer in the making. He has one of the best shots in the entire organization, and the hockey IQ he possesses allows him to take full advantage of that gift.
Being a 3rd-round pick is nothing to sneeze at, but Lardis showed he probably should have been selected higher during the 2024-25 season. As a member of the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, Lardis scored a remarkable 71 goals in 65 games played.
That’s a lot, even for major junior. By the end of that season, he was on the Hawks’ radar as a potential candidate to be on the team a year later. That was way ahead of schedule, as most would have thought he’d need a lot more marinating before becoming a full-time NHL player.
They did have Lardis start in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs in 2025-26, and he continued to fill the net. He scored 18 goals in 35 games played with Rockford in a league that is incredibly difficult to score. It was only a matter of time before he reached his dream of playing in the NHL.
When Connor Bedard went down with a shoulder injury in early December, Lardis was the player called up to play forward in his absence. When Bedard came back, he had another short stint in the AHL, but when he came back, he came back for good.
In 41 NHL games during the same season, he scored 10 goals. That’s a 20-goal pace over a full year’s slate of games. It is impressive when veterans can reach 20 goals in limited minutes, let alone a 20-year-old rookie who started in the minors. If he is already scoring at that pace now, what heights can he eventually reach?
"I try to go game by game, week by week, summer by summer," Lardis said about reaching certain goal-scoring totals. "This summer, I wanted to take big strides with my speed - show that more consistently. [I want to] put on more strength, win more battles, and improve my two-way game. I think if I can improve on that, every game, every practice, those totals will go up."
Lardis is exactly right. If you play the game the right way in the NHL, certain players with certain gifts will have a much easier time finding ways to use those gifts.
In Monday's preseason tilt against the Minnesota Wild, Lardis scored one of Chicago's four goals. He scored it by coming out of the penalty box (he was serving the team's too many men on the ice penalty), stripping a Minnesota player of the puck from behind, and creating a breakaway for himself.
Lardis was also tripped up on the breakaway, but he got up in stride and still found a way to fire it home. A delayed penalty was coming, but it wasn't needed as a result of the goal.
With it being a preseason game, it won't count toward his record, but the work he put in when it comes to speed and strength was on display. If that's the norm for him going forward, the goal totals will skyrocket. The fact that he's just 21 and has plenty of time to continue improving is perfect for the Blackhawks.
"I definitely see a lot more confidence in Nick Lardis," head coach Jeff Blashill said after the preseason game that Lardis scored in. "He's skating better with and without the puck; he has good speed, and he can move and create some separation. He just seems a little bit stronger, a little bit more confident; he's put himself in positions to score."
Lardis was on pace for 20 last year, but it can't be assumed until he actually does it. However, he may be able to go well past 20 if he stays healthy. He is taking it day by day, which is wise, but there is a lot of talent and a desire to get better, which can only lead to big totals for him.
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 Buffalo Sabres are set to try and build on their mostly-excellent 2025-26 season, in which they won the highly-competitive Atlantic Division in the regular-season, beat the Boston Bruins in Round 1 of their Stanley Cup playoff series before losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round..
And here at TheHockeyNews.com, we’re breaking down the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series we call “Know Your Enemy”. In this series, we’re breaking down how Buffalo played against every East team, and how they’re likely to fare against each team in the East this season. And in this file, we’re focusing on the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers are still in the midst of a full roster rebuild, but they took a major step forward last season by finishing third in the Metropolitan Division and winning their first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here’s this columnist’s view on how the Sabres should fare against the Flyers this season:
BUFFALO SABRES VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
NEW FLYERS PLAYERS: Joseph Woll (G), Noel Acciari (RW), Simon Benoit (D)
2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Flyers 1-2-0
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: October 21 at Buffalo; November 17 at Philadelphia; February 24 at Philadelphia
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? There’s always been a healthy level of dislike between the Sabres and Flyers, but last season, Buffalo took two out of three games against Philadelphia, and there’s really no reason why the Sabres should lose the season series to Philly this season.
Now, it’s true the Flyers have improved this summer with the addition of goalie Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs. If Woll is healthy – and that’s a very big ‘if’ – he can give his team a chance to win every night. But the Woll/Dan Vladar tandem won’t be regarded as one of the better duos in the game until both of them prove they can handle the rigors, mentally and physically, on a consistent basis.
The other thing the Flyers have going for them is the coaching of Rick Tocchet, who always finds ways to motivate his charges. And he’s also got a nice veteran addition in Acciari, who is a solid complementary piece and will make Philadelphia tougher to play against.
But make no mistake – this Flyers team is still transitioning to a new era, and they’re the kind of young, unproven team the Sabres had been until they took that next competitive step forward in 2025-26. So while Buffalo is going to have its hands full in their three regular-season games, the Sabres absolutely should take at least two of their three games against Philly this season.
The Sabres could wind up playing the Flyers in the playoffs next spring, so sending a message and setting the tone in their two early-season games will be important for Buffalo. Both teams could be significantly different between their second showdown in November and their final tilt in February, but to start the season, the Sabres need to hunker down and show the Flyers how far they have to go before they’re on the same level as Buffalo.
A year after making the jump from the NHL blue line to the broadcast booth, Erik Johnson has extended his stay in television.
ESPN has signed the former Colorado Avalanche defenseman to a multi-year contract extension, keeping one of the franchise's most beloved players around the game he spent 18 seasons playing.
"Back on your screens for more!" Johnson exclaimed Tuesday morning on Instagram. "I am excited to announce I have signed a multi-year deal with ESPN to continue to work as an NHL analyst for games and in studio."
Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood was among the first to congratulate Johnson, adding a playful jab in the comments: “Congrats! Hopefully you don't have to read the teleprompter.”
The first overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Johnson spent 14 of his 17 seasons with Colorado across two separate stints. He arrived in Denver in February 2011 after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues and quickly became a fixture on the Avalanche blue line.
Johnson appeared in 731 games for Colorado, the second-most among defensemen in franchise history behind only Adam Foote. He finished his time with the Avalanche with 69 goals, 179 assists and 248 points.
After years of playoff heartbreak, injuries and difficult seasons, Johnson finally reached the top of the hockey world in 2022. He played all 20 postseason games that year, helping Colorado defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win its first Stanley Cup since 2001 and the third championship in franchise history.
Johnson left Colorado following the 2022-23 season, signing with the Buffalo Sabres before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2023-24 campaign. The Avalanche brought him back at the 2025 trade deadline, giving him one final opportunity to wear the Burgundy and Blue.
Johnson in his final game in an Avalanche sweater. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
He played his final NHL game on April 21, 2025, against the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Johnson finished his career with 1,023 regular-season games across four NHL teams, recording 95 goals and 253 assists for 348 points. He added five goals and eight assists in 57 playoff games.
In Colorado, Johnson left his mark in some of the less glamorous areas of the game, finishing as the franchise leader in blocked shots among defensemen with 1,373. His 1,288 hits also ranked first among Avalanche blueliners.
His longevity put him in rare company. Johnson became just the sixth defenseman selected first overall in the NHL Draft to play at least 1,000 games and one of only two American-born defensemen ever selected No. 1 overall, joining Bryan Berard.
The Bloomington, Minnesota, native reached the 1,000-game milestone with Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 2024, against Buffalo. Two days later, the Flyers held a pregame ceremony to celebrate the accomplishment, with Johnson sharing the moment against his former Avalanche teammates.
Johnson also represented Team USA throughout his career, winning a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics and bronze medals at the 2007 World Junior Championship and 2013 IIHF World Championship. He also played in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
After nearly two decades of playing professional hockey, Johnson has now found a new place in the game — one where he can share his experience rather than lace up the skates himself.
One of the more memorable moments of his first season in the broadcast booth came during an interview with his former teammate Nathan MacKinnon. After Johnson asked MacKinnon about the importance of Colorado's 5-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings, MacKinnon couldn't resist taking a shot at his former teammate's new television look.
“About as big as that spray tan you got there,” MacKinnon joked.
Johnson laughed it off, implying it was simply TV makeup. The exchange was a perfect reminder that while Johnson may have traded his helmet and skates for a microphone and a new set of teeth, the chemistry between the former teammates never changed.
Now, Johnson is back for a second season with ESPN, continuing to build what could become a long-term career in broadcasting. After 18 seasons on the ice, he has plenty of stories, experience and relationships to bring to the booth — and Avalanche fans get to keep seeing one of their most familiar faces around the game.
Forward Adam Sykora will miss the next four-to-five months with a lower-body injury after exiting Monday’s game against the Devils. Defenseman Vincent Iorio, who also left the preseason opener early, is day-to-day.
Sykora’s injury serves as a crushing injury blow to one of the Blueshirts’ promising prospects, who received his first taste of the NHL at the end of last season and produced three goals and four points across 11 games.
He was skating with the Rangers’ AHL group throughout the start of training camp, but Sykora had positioned himself as a call-up option for the Blueshirts if injuries arose during the season.
Adam Sykora (38) of the Rangers is injured during the first period of a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey. Getty Images
But that outlook changed, at least for the first portion of the season, when the 22-year-old skated around the corner and absorbed a crushing hit from Devils defenseman Mikael Diotte.
Sykora, a second-round pick in 2023, fell awkwardly into the boards and ended up hobbling off the ice with help from Anton Blidh, Liam Greentree and a trainer after initially trying to crawl his way over.
Rangers’ Adam Sykora (38) skates back to the bench after being injured in the first period of a Rangers-Devils pre-season hockey game in Newark, N.J., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Bill Kostroun for NY Post
In addition to his four points at the NHL level, he also collected 12 goals and 29 points in 62 games last season with AHL Hartford.
The New York Islanders went into Madison Square Garden last night with a near-full lineup of veterans, erased a 3-0 deficit, and knocked off the New York Rangers 4-3.
The game was full of big moments for the Islanders, but the number one highlight has to be Semyon Varlamov's return to the NHL, even in preseason form.
After 662 days, Semyon Varlamov was back in the #Isles net.
When I asked about the hugs from his teammates, he looked down, paused, then smiled.
Eklund and Eiserman skated with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and had a very strong game as a whole as a line.
Aitcheson, meanwhile, skated with Scott Mayfield and faced a very tough Rangers team, and in the process, he caught Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer's eye.
“I thought he did a good job," DeBoer said postgame. "It’s a big ask. You’re coming into MSG, the bright lights of New York, and I thought all our young guys, again, played well. We’re giving them a lot of opportunity here in big situations to really kind of show us what they can do.”
The opportunity for Aitcheson is massive, even if he doesn't make the team outright. With the way he's played throughout training camp, he has played himself right into first call up consideration if and when injuries may strike.
With Matthew Schaefer on the right side, it's one less player in the path of Aitcheson's goal of the NHL.
The Islanders have stated that 2026-27 is a transitional year. People have taken that to mean the Islanders may not compete or go all-in.
It's just the opposite. Under DeBoer, and with a wide open Metropolitan Division, the Islanders could very well compete and earn a playoff spot. The transition is the emergence of young players as key contributors.
Eklund will be on the opening night roster, barring an absolute shock. Eiserman and Aitcheson likely won't be due to the numbers game, but both have had extremely solid camps and feel extremely likely to play NHL games at some point this season.
That's the transition. Aitcheson's tenacious game along with Eiserman's electric offensive zone displays should be an unbelievable bright spot for the Hamilton Hammers in the AHL.
This training camp has been an unquestioned success when evaluating Aitcheson and Eiserman. Both have things to work on, but both are much closer to the NHL than a lot of people realized entering this year.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — There wasn't a player in the NHL who threw the body around more than Yakov Trenin last season.
The Minnesota Wild forward finished the 2025-26 regular season with an NHL-leading 413 hits, 74 more than Kiefer Sherwood, who finished second with 339.
Trenin doesn't plan on abandoning the physical style that has become a defining part of his game.
Entering his third season with the Wild, he would like to bring something else to the table, too.
More offense.
“I always want to improve in every aspect and also keep the hits on the same high level,” Trenin said.
The idea of Trenin contributing more offensively isn't unprecedented.
The 29-year-old scored a career-high 17 goals in 80 games with the Nashville Predators during the 2021-22 season, under current head coach and former Predators head coach John Hynes. He followed that with 12 goals and 24 points the next season.
His goal totals haven't reached double digits in either of his first two seasons in Minnesota. Trenin recorded seven goals and 15 points in 76 games in 2024-25 before finishing last season with six goals and a career-high 17 assists for 23 points while playing all 82 games.
The offense also showed up in the postseason.
Trenin recorded 51 hits in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after registering 34 during Minnesota's playoff run the year before.
Now, there could be an opportunity for him to provide more than physicality.
Trenin has spent time playing alongside skilled forwards such as Danila Yurov and Bobby Brink, something that could give the Wild a different look from a line that will still be expected to play hard and defend.
“Obviously, you always want to help the team to win,” Trenin said. “It's either defense or hit, but nothing more exciting than scoring and jumping into the glass.”
Jan 27, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin (13) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Trenin knows firsthand what Yurov went through during his first full NHL season and believes the young Russian forward could be ready to add another offensive dimension to his game.
“During the last season, he learned a lot, he improved a lot, and just getting the confidence, staying always here, helps you,” Trenin said. “I think his defensive game was always great. He worked hard, and I think he can put his offensive game on too.”
Trenin has noticed Yurov becoming more comfortable away from the ice as well.
“His English got better too, and just confidence in the room, small jokes, all that stuff,” he said.
Who ultimately ends up alongside Trenin remains to be seen, but the veteran winger knows what he wants his own game to look like.
The physicality isn't going anywhere. After 654 regular-season hits over his first two years with Minnesota, including a league-leading 413 last season, that part of his identity is well established.
But Trenin has scored 17 goals in an NHL season before.
This year, he'd like to show there's still more offense there, too.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
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.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Hendrix Lapierre (22) skates with the puck in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on September 21, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A lot can change quickly for the picture of building the NHL roster. Take a look at the last 48 hours, where Blake Lizotte was announced as being out on a week-to-week basis, and Ben Kindel got injured during the preseason game with a day-to-day designation. Add in more injuries to Ville Koivunen and Justin Brazeau (both also day-to-day) and there’s not as much clarity coming into focus as much have been expected nearly one week into camp.
Let’s take a quick glance at how it looks like players fighting for spots might be at the moment. As of now, the exhibition games are 50% completed and all the forwards competing for 1-3 spots (though it would be four if Lizotte heads to IR for the start of the regular season) have played one game. It’s just a baseline temperature check for now as for who is perceived to be moving in the right direction and what cases are not launching so cleanly. The upcoming days could always throw major new developments and changes into the picture in a hurry.
Stock up
Hendrix Lapierre – Lapierre was named the third star of the game on Monday. In a world where the Penguins have lost two centers this week (Kindel and Lizotte) to injury, Lapierre has looked the part of a capable lower-line fill-in. He’s a good skater and can make things happen in the offensive zone. He was pretty good in the faceoff circle. It’s early but he had a nice night for himself and other circumstances seem to be breaking in his favor – he found power play time during the game because of Kindel’s injury, then made the most of it getting an assist there. Opportunity knocking is one thing, making the most of it is another and right now it looks like Lapierre is starting to make good on the chances afforded. If Lizotte can’t be back in time for the regular season opener, the path is wide open right now for Lapierre to claim a spot in the lineup. At worst, he’s trending towards sticking with the NHL club.
Avery Hayes — Hayes has been coming from way in the back of the field, considering he’s mostly skated in practices with AHL caliber players and been something of an afterthought in a very stacked field. (Which, hey, someone has to be towards the back of a long pack). But seemingly every time Hayes plays, he makes something good happen, highlighted by creating a turnover and scoring a goal just before time expired in the second period in Monday’s game against Buffalo. Hayes usually leaves a lasting positive impression, it’s just a matter of how much opportunity he will get considering how many wingers the team has to sort through. His stock being up might not even have him on the verge of finding a roster spot but it hasn’t deterred him from standing out.
Elmer Soderblom – Soderblom went from the doghouse (misreading the schedule and showing up late on the first day of camp) to the penthouse of playing in key spots in the first preseason game in no-time flat. His physicality and mobility are very evident. He looks like a guy that is going to help an NHL team with his reach, length, skating ability to go along with the willingness to throw his body around.
Fillip Hallander – Hallander had five shots on goal in the game he played on Monday, probably should have scored one on a clean rush attempt. He does a lot of the little things right around the rink, knocking pucks free and staying on the right side of the action. So far he’s doing as expected to make his case back into the NHL, he’s an honest player that will be in the right spot at generally the right time. The injury situation is working in his favor much like last year when Hallander made the opening night roster in large part because Bryan Rust and Kevin Hayes opened the season on IR.
Stock middling or down
Tristan Broz – Broz was one of the stars of the 2025 training camp, so far he’s just kind of been present this year. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but you have to figure that he needs to elevate in order to make headway and jump the players with more experience and more established contracts to make the team. The tie isn’t going to go to the player like Broz that doesn’t need waivers to be sent to the AHL. And I’m not sure Broz has even come close to forcing the issue, to this point. Younger players are supposed to make it hard (if not impossible) to send them down. So far, I don’t think you can say Broz has done that.
Justin Brazeau – Brazeau endured a leg injury on Monday, so it’s reasonable not to get too down on him now, but even before that it looked like he’s barely keeping up with his teammates. Players and coaches say the league gets a little faster every year, it doesn’t look like Brazeau has kept up. Will his hands and scoring touch make up for the fact he’s the least mobile player in the competition? Especially now with a lower body currently less than 100%, it’s an area worth watching to see how quickly he returns to the ice and can try to secure a roster spot.
Ville Koivunen – It’s not Koivunen’s fault he got hit in the face and couldn’t play in his scheduled preseason game last night, but it certainly doesn’t help his cause to miss time in a quick preseason. Can’t make the club from the tub, and all that. This was going to be a massive camp for him to show his stuff and he can’t afford to miss much more time. Even prior to the injury, things were not trending in the right direction – Koivunen started camp on the first day playing with two surefire NHLers (Andrei Kuzmenko and Ben Kindel). By the third practice, he was playing with fourth liner Blake Lizotte and probable AHLer Rutger McGroarty. That may or may not be indicative of Koivunen’s performance but he wasn’t moving in the right direction prior to the injury that at the very least steals some time away from him at a critical juncture to find a niche.
Rutger McGroarty – It would be difficult to make a move for a player like McGroarty who is younger (22) than everyone on the list. So far, he hasn’t received a great opportunity to do so. Like Koivunen, McGroarty opened camp on a practice line with two NHL players (Lizotte and Bryan Rust). By last night’s preseason game, he was skating with future AHL players (Bill Zonnon and Atley Calvert). It’s not going to be the end of the world for McGroarty to go to the AHL and try to work his way up with a mid-season call-up but it sure looks like his path to making the NHL club out of camp is narrow to the point of barely being visible right now.
Projected lineup as of today
Nick Robertson – Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin Andrei Kuzmenko – Ben Kindel* – Bryan Rust Connor Dewar – Hendrix Lapierre – Elmer Soderblom Extras: Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte (injured)
Bubble: Justin Brazeau, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen
—
Kindel and Lizotte’s status for opening night could change the picture, placing Lizotte on IR would mean keeping one more bubble player. We’re projecting as a day-to-day that Kindel won’t miss the games that count, which obviously isn’t a known guarantee in this moment that would further shake up the picture.
There’s still another week for the bubble players to work their way up, and as seen already in camp, things can change on a dime with an injury or change in placement of the lines. Today’s outlook doesn’t always hold up for those future developments as the Pens enter the final week of camp before the opener on the 30th.
