TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Andrew Cogliano #11 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When we heard the news that former Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland would be heading to Nashville, many pointed to Andrew Cogliano as the replacement GM until Joe Sakic resumed his duties and took the title back this offseason. Well, fans and pundits weren’t too far off, as Cogliano was announced via Avalanche social media to take on the Assistant GM role for the Colorado Avalanche.
This is likely a step toward Cogliano becoming GM at some point in Colorado, which would make him the second former player to take on the role. We’ll see if that materializes.
Cogliano was, of course, a part of the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche. The story goes that Andrew had strong words of inspiration ahead of game six of that final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s widely respected in the league and among current Avalanche players and staff.
Joe Sakic had this to say in the NHL.com article announcing the promotion:
“Cogs is a great communicator, and that skill will be invaluable for our program. This is a well-deserved promotion.”
Let us know what you think of the promotion in the comments!
ESPN started its coverage of the 2026-27 NHL season by paying tribute to the broadcaster who helped grow the game in the United States.
The network remembered longtime analyst Barry Melrose, who died on Sept. 9, three years after retiring from broadcasting because of a Parkinson's disease diagnosis.
Melrose, 70, a former NHL player, had coached the Los Angeles Kings, going to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, before joining ESPN. He was known for his astute analysis, sense of humor, suits and mullet.
Steve Levy, who called games with Melrose, introduced the new ESPN hockey studio on Tuesday, Sept. 29. At the end, the camera panned to a caraciture of Melrose on the boards, featuring his mullet, goatee and trademark cigar.
ESPN is rolling out a fresh sheet for the '26-'27 #NHL season with its most technologically advanced studio yet@espnSteveLevy takes fans inside Studio W featuring real-time virtual environments, UHD capability & 148M pixels
"It's going to be a great season," Levy said as he kneeled. "Barry, we love you. We're going to miss you, pal."
After further video tributes to Melrose on "The Point," Levy said, "Hopefully, the NHL will do the right thing. Hopefully, a moment of silence in all those NHL buildings starting tonight to honor our pal and colleague."
While the Detroit Red Wings continue working on a new contract for RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson, they brought another Swedish blue liner into the fold.
Detroit claimed defenseman Andreas Englund off waivers from the Calgary Flames, adding a key depth piece to its blue line who is already familiar with head coach Todd McLellan from their time together with the Los Angeles Kings.
Englund practiced with the Red Wings for the first time Monday, wearing No. 24, a fitting number for him considering he has a penchant for dropping the gloves similar to that of the late former Detroit enforcer Bob Probert.
Naturally, with so many iconic Swedish players having suited up for the Red Wings over the years, Englund is already familiar with several of them, including former captain Nicklas Lidstrom and assistant captain Niklas Kronwall; Englund has particularly modeled his own style of play after Kronwall.
"For sure, Lidstrom is one of the greatest defensemen of all time," Englund said. "He's a legend in Sweden; so is Kronwall. His game was a little more like mine; I liked watching him stepping up on people. Definitely, Kronwall was a big guy (for me) growing up."
As far as his own style of play, Englund prides himself on being a physical force on the ice.
"I'm a defensive type of guy, I like to box out and keep the net clear, bring a presence on the ice, and bring a little physicality," he said.
As of right now, Englund has been designated immigration non-roster player while sorting out his visa situation.
However, the chances of him appearing with the club are higher right now thanks to the uncertainty surrounding defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who remains a restricted free agent and ineligible to play without a new contract.
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The Buffalo Sabres practiced at Key Bank Center on Tuesday, and one surprising sight was goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on the ice. The 27-year-old left the ice early in the third period of the Sabres preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, with what head coach Lindy Ruff described as a lower-body tweak.
On Tuesday, Luukkonen was in the starter’s net for most of the hour-long practice, which could be an indicator that he will be between the pipes for the club’s season opener in Columbus on Thursday. The veteran netminder indicated that he left the game just to make sure that the discomfort he felt was nothing serious.
"I don't think it was necessarily anything; it was just more just precautionary," Luukkonen said. "I didn't want anything to get worse, kind of thing."
Noah Ostlund signs an eight-year deal with Buffalo
The Sabres had the opportunity to place a claim on a number of goaltenders placed on waivers on Sunday, but injuries to Luukkonen and Alex Lyon appear to be not as severe as once feared, but it is still possible that third-stringer Colten Ellis could get the call on Thursday.
"(Luukkone) had a good day, and we'll see what tomorrow brings. But he had a good day today," Ruff said. (Lyon 's) doing good. I would anticipate within days that he'll be back up there."
On other injury updates, defenseman Olen Zellweger is still considered day-to-day after suffering a concussion. Mattias Samuelsson may practice on Wednesday, but Ruff hinted that if he is not ready, the Sabres may make a roster move to have seven defensemen on the road. Conor Timmins is still be evaluated for a lower body injury,
The Buffalo Sabres prepped for their 2026-27 regular season opener in Columbus later this week with an hour-long practice at Key Bank Center on Tuesday after a two-day, team bonding getaway. The club got down to 23 players on Monday by placing four players on injured reserve,
Aside from minor leaguers Jack Rathbone and Topias Leinonen (who was injured in offseason training), the club placed forwards Conor Sheary and Jason Zucker, along with defensemen Mattias Samuelsson, and Conor Timmins on IR. On Tuesday, Sheary was placed on waivers to be sent down to AHL Rochester.
The Sabres roster has 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies. Timmins was injured in the preseason finale against Pittsburgh on Saturday and was not on the ice on Tuesday. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff had hopes that Zellweger might be available for the opener against the Blue Jackets, but the blueliner also did not appear, but was optimistic about Samuelsson, who skated prior to practice.
Sheary, 34, a veteran of 655 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Washington, Tampa Bay, the NY Rangers, and a 55-game stint with Buffalo in 2019-20, signed a one-year, $850,000 deal with the Sabres on July 1, and is expected to play most of the season in the AHL unless injuries hit the NHL club.
Minnesota Wild and U.S. Olympic defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after having surgery for a fracture to his skull.
Faber suffered the injury on Friday, Sept. 25 when he was hit in the head by a puck during the team's preseason game. He played the remainder of the period but didn't play in the third period.
Faber had surgery on Sunday, general manager Bill Guerin told reporters.
He said that Faber is resting at home. There's no timetable for his return.
“The biggest thing is he's doing well," Guerin said. "Sometimes, you just have to put the hockey aside and worry about the human being, and that’s kind of what we’re doing here now.”
“Sometimes you just have to put the hockey aside and worry about the human being, and that’s kind of what we’re doing here now.”
🗣️ Bill Guerin shares that Brock Faber is doing well following successful surgery Sunday for a skull fracture.#mnwildpic.twitter.com/JyzMyVT7Zy
Faber is entering his fifth season in the NHL, all with the Wild. He averaged a little less than 25 minutes per game last season and set career highs with 15 goals and 51 points.
He won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics and also played in the 2022 Olympics and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
We still have a couple of days before the San Jose Sharks take the ice for their season opener against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, but the NHL's regular season kicks off tonight with five games. For Sharks fans, it may be difficult to decide which game to watch, so let's see which teams have former members of Team Teal in their lineup.
Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes:
The Panthers have one former Shark on their roster, Jonah Gadjovich, but he's currently out indefinitely with an injury. As a result, there are no former Sharks participating in this game, but the Sharks open the season against Florida in two days, so could be a good scouting opportunity for Sharks fans.
Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs:
No former Sharks.
New York Rangers vs Boston Bruins:
Vincent Iorio is technically a member of the Rangers organization, but he's currently on the injured reserve and was placed on waivers earlier this morning. The Bruins do have one former Shark as well though, Michael Eyssimont, who will likely be a healthy scratch.
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers:
There are three former Sharks on the Oilers blue line: Jake Walman, Ty Emberson, and the newly acquired Shakir Mukhamadullin. Walman and Mukhamadullin are expected to play against Vancouver, while Emberson is likely going to be a healthy scratch.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights:
The final game of the night will feature the only battle of former Sharks. The Chicago Blackhawks have Ryan Donato, while the Vegas Golden Knights have Tomas Hertl and Adin Hill on their roster. Both of the former Sharks forwards are expected to play, while Hill likely won't be between the pipes for Vegas.
Utah’s plans for its blue line have taken a significant hit before the regular season even begins.
Maveric Lamoureux is expected to miss the next four to six months after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, the Utah Mammoth announced Monday.
The 22-year-old defenseman suffered a shoulder dislocation during training camp and underwent a procedure to repair the injury Monday, according to general manager Bill Armstrong. The recovery timeline puts Lamoureux on track to potentially return around the All-Star break.
Lamoureux had been competing for a full-time NHL role and was viewed as one of the young defensemen pushing for a spot on Utah’s opening-night roster. Instead, he’ll begin the season on injured reserve.
The 6-foot-6, 196-pound right-shot defenseman was originally selected No. 29 overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was the third first-round selection made by Arizona that year, joining Logan Cooley and Conor Geekie.
Lamoureux turned professional shortly after the Coyotes relocated to Utah, making his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season. He has spent much of his development with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, where he appeared in 65 games last season and recorded five goals and 20 points.
He also appeared in five NHL games for Utah in 2025-26, registering one assist.
Through 107 career AHL games, Lamoureux has seven goals, 33 points and 123 penalty minutes. He has added four points — one goal and three assists — in 20 NHL appearances, along with 44 penalty minutes.
With Lamoureux now sidelined for a large portion of the season, Utah will have another opening to fill on defense.
Andrew Peeke and Nick DeSimone could see increased opportunities, while 2023 first-round pick Dmitri Simashev will have another chance to establish himself. Prospects Tomas Lavoie, Artem Duda and Gregor Biber are also looking to make the jump from Tucson to Salt Lake City.
The Mammoth open their 2026-27 season Oct. 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 20: Gabriel Landeskog #92 and Taylor Makar #16 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate their 4-1 win against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on September 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images)
To celebrate the start of the 2026-27 season, we are recording our final thoughts and predictions as we are set for the first Colorado Avalanche puck drop tomorrow night. Will any of our predictions come true?
Let’s start easy: Who will score Colorado’s first goal of the season?
Jackie: I feel like this is going to be a big year for Cale Makar, so he’s going to be the one to start the team off.
Matthew: I think Brock Nelson scores the first Avs goal this season.
Brennan: It would be perfect to see T.J. Hughes score the first goal, with as much work he has put in over the summer.
Jess: I’ll throw Nazem Kadri out there; seeing him score the first goal after being traded back to Colorado last season would be so much fun.
Adrian: My original answer was Logan O’Connor, but he won’t be playing in game one. Since that was my unconventional pick, I’ll pivot to the most conventional pick. It will be Nathan MacKinnon, but I’ll make it bold by saying it comes on the first power play of the season.
Which trophies (if any) will the Avalanche win in the 2026-27 season?
Matthew: Nathan MacKinnon will win another Rocket Richard Trophy, much to the chagrin of Montréal Canadiens fans (again).
Jess: I think Makar has a good shot at another Norris this year, and I agree with MacKinnon winning the Rocket Richard as well.
Jackie: Continuing the theme of a big year for Cale Makar would mean he’s in line to win his third Norris trophy.
Brennan: I agree with Jackie have to say that Makar will get the Norris.
Adrian: I predict that Brock Nelson will, in fact, win the Selke this year and that the goalie tandem will repeat as Jennings winners as well. All of that, minus major scoring and MVP awards, will mean Jared Bednar finally earns a Jack Adams this time.
Which youth movement candidate will score the most points in burgundy and blue?
Matthew: As much as I want to believe it’ll be T.J. Hughes, I’m going for Fedor Svechkov.
Brennan: If Zachary L’Heureux can stay in the lineup and stay healthy, I think he is shaping up for a career year.
Jess: I’ve been impressed by T.J. Hughes through camp and preseason; I think there’s a good chance he’ll score quite a bit this season.
Adrian: I’m gonna say T.J. Hughes for most points from the youth movement, especially considering he’s seemingly going to get power-play opportunities. L’Heureux for most penalty minutes.
Jackie: I’m going real bold and believe it will be Taylor Makar.
Surprise team to make and/or miss the playoffs?
Matthew: Choosing one team from each conference on this question – Chicago and Columbus make the playoffs, while Anaheim and Florida miss the playoffs.
Brennan: Ottawa will make the playoffs, and just in the Wild Card, but in the top three of the Atlantic with Brady gone. Nashville is in a position to make a jump into the playoffs with six former Avalanche players on the roster as well.
Jess: I think Utah will finally get into the playoffs this year, by way of either a Wild Card spot or the third spot in the Central Division. I think there’s a chance the Kings miss the playoffs, but I also don’t see them bottoming out and being as bad as some other bottom teams in the Western Conference. Out in the Eastern Conference, I think the Islanders make it this year, and the Senators end up missing.
Adrian: I think the Blackhawks will steal a wildcard spot, but mostly because of how bad the Pacific will look, in my opinion. I think the Central will earn both wild-card spots by year’s end.
Jackie: The New York Rangers will make the playoffs and the Buffalo Sabres will miss.
Guess a big-name player who will get traded in-season?
Matthew: Connor Hellebuyck gets his wish and finally gets traded out of Winnipeg…and lands in Utah.
Brennan: Hellebuyck, but he will go to an Eastern Conference team based in the U.S.
Adrian: Quinn Hughes is headed to New Jersey, right?
Jess: Not to jump in and give the exact same answer, I think Hellebuyck gets traded this season and lands in Buffalo; that’s the location that’s been widely talked about when discussing him getting traded since the NHL draft.
Jackie: Now that things are moving in Columbus, I’ll say the Blue Jackets revisit the Zach Werenski situation that was supposedly smoothed out over the summer and trade him by the deadline.
Who will win the Stanley Cup?
Matthew: After sixty years, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally end the drought, and the jeers of “1967” will be replaced with cheers of “2027”!
Brennan: Do I dare say the Canes repeat (and of course I would love to see the Avs take it).
Jess: I’ll be an unashamed homer and take Colorado; for a more fun, underdog pick, seeing Buffalo go all the way would be really fun
Adrian: The Colorado Avalanche will win the Stanley Cup on the back of a dominant commitment to defense and netminding. Defense wins championships.
Jackie: For some reason, I’m feeling the Washington Capitals.
What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments!
The Ottawa Senators have their new captain, and in a lot of ways, they couldn't have made a more fitting choice.
The Senators announced Thomas Chabot as their new captain at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, handing the "C" to the longest-serving player on the roster and someone who has been around for the organization's long climb back to relevance.
Chabot takes over the captaincy left vacant when Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in June after requesting a move. Tkachuk had served as the Sens' captain for the previous five seasons.
There were certainly other strong candidates.
Jake Sanderson has already emerged as Ottawa's No. 1 defenceman and figures to be one of the faces of the franchise for years. Tim Stützle is entering his seventh season in Ottawa and is one of the club's most important players. And Claude Giroux brings more leadership experience than just about anyone in the NHL.
All three of those men will wear the A as alternate captains this season, but Chabot's connection to this organization runs deeper than anyone else's.
The 29-year-old has played his entire NHL career with the Senators. He has appeared in 569 regular-season games, scoring 78 goals and adding 257 assists for 335 points. Last season, Chabot had seven goals and 31 points in 57 games.
He may no longer be Ottawa's No. 1 defenceman, pounding out 30 minutes of ice time every night, but Chabot is still a very important No. 2 and a major part of the Sens' top four.
More importantly, nobody on this roster has lived through more of the Senators' ups and downs than Chabot.
He was here before the rebuild began. He was here through the messiest parts of it, when playoff hockey seemed a long way off and the Sens were regularly near the bottom of the NHL standings.
And when there wasn't much tangible evidence that better days were coming, Chabot bought in anyway.
In September 2019, at age 22, he signed an eight-year, $64-million contract to remain in Ottawa. At the time, the Senators were coming off a 64-point season and had just finished 31st overall.
Chabot didn't wait for the rebuild to succeed before committing to it. Chabot set a template for other young players in the core.
He then stayed through all of it: the losses, the coaching changes, the ownership change and all the seasons when spring hockey was something other teams played.
Now he's still here as the Senators prepare for a third consecutive playoff push.
Chabot's ability to communicate well in both English and French gives the Senators a captain who can comfortably represent the organization on both sides of the Ottawa River. That's significant for a franchise that has long talked about strengthening its connection with hockey fans in Gatineau and western Quebec.
Chabot will succeed past captains Laurie Boschman (1992-93), Gord Dineen, Mark Lamb and Brad Shaw (1993-94 rotation), Randy Cunneyworth (1994 to 1998), Alexei Yashin (1998-99), Daniel Alfredsson (1999 to 2013), Jason Spezza (2013-14), Erik Karlsson (2014 to 2018) and Brady Tkachuk (2021 to 2026).
If there's one question attached to Tuesday's announcement, it's what happens beyond the next two seasons.
Chabot is entering the seventh season of the eight-year contract he signed in 2019. His $8-million-a-year deal runs through the 2027-28 season, after which he can become an unrestricted free agent at age 31.
The Senators have had more than their share of captains leave the organization over the years, and they've just watched it happen again with Tkachuk.
The last thing they would want is to name Chabot captain in 2026 and find themselves facing another major captaincy decision two years from now because he's headed elsewhere. That suddenly becomes a little more interesting when you're putting the "C" on his sweater.
Chabot was asked about that on Tuesday and said that Ottawa feels like home, speaking with pride about settling in as a member of this community.
“We’ve always said it. Ottawa feels like home,” Chabot said. “We bought our first house here. We started our family here. Becoming captain here is a huge honour.”
While there's no guarantee of anything this far away from Chabot's next contract, you'd have to think the Senators wouldn't have made this decision without feeling comfortable about Chabot's desire to remain in Ottawa beyond his current deal.
And Chabot's own words earlier this month certainly sound like those of a player who remains invested in what has been built here.
"You want guys to be here. You want guys to want to be part of this team and part of this city," Chabot said after Tkachuk's departure. "We feel like we're on the verge of starting to make the playoffs and building something."
Chabot knows better than anyone how long it took to get here. Now he's been rewarded for his loyalty, becoming the 11th captain of the Ottawa Senators.
Before the 5 p.m. NHL roster deadline, the Florida Panthers assigned a slew of players to the Charlotte Checkers, including several who cleared waivers.
Among those joining the Checkers in the AHL after clearing waivers are Nathan Bastian, John Beecher, Sam Lafferty, Alexander Petrovic, Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, Kai Schwindt, and Donovan Sebrango.
Among those who did not require waivers were Marek Alscher, Cooper Black, Jack Devine, Kirill Gerasimyuk, Mikuláš Hovorka, Ludvig Jansson, Tyler Muszelik, Emil Pieniniemi, Samu Salminen, Matvei Shuravin, and Hunter St. Martin.
Finally, the Panthers released several players on PTO: William Bitten, Karsen Dorwart, Riese Gaber, Robert Mastrosimone, Liam McLinskey, and Nathan Smith.
As a result, the Panthers enter the season with 21 players on their roster: 12 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goalies. Brad Marchand starts the season on injured reserve, while Jonah Gadjovich is placed on the injured/non-roster list.
The Charlotte Checkers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season after losing to the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate. This followed the Checkers' loss in the Calder Cup Final during the 2024-25 season to the Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate.
With a mix of youngsters and veterans, the Checkers should once again be a playoff team capable of a long run. Last year, the Checkers' lineup was depleted due to the injuries the NHL club faced. The hope is that the Panthers' NHL lineup remains intact and they aren't as desperate to recall so many key figures from the Checkers.
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For St. Louis Blues fans, the deal they're watching is whether GM Alexander Steen pulls the trigger on a trade for Alexander Nikishin. But now, according to a recent report from Friedman, the Blues' pursuit of Nikishin could have direct implications on the Carolina Hurricanes' ability to acquire Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets.
Friedman believes that a deal between the Hurricanes and Jets would have happened already if Nikishin were willing to sign in Winnipeg. He stated that he is still under the impression that Nikishin is looking for a five-year deal carrying a $9 million AAV.
Nikishin reportedly isn't interested in signing in Winnipeg, which further narrows the trade destinations.
"St. Louis has been a consistent pursuer, and there are some who are surprised it hasn’t happened," said Friedman. "Nashville tried, but wasn’t close enough for what Carolina wants. The Hurricanes were disappointed the Rangers trade didn’t work out and made it clear they would move Nikishin at their own pace. They are motivated now, so we’ll see. Nikishin is a talented player, but has zero leverage under the CBA."
With the New York Rangers out of the mix, the Nashville Predators unwilling to part with the necessary pieces, and the Jets unable to convince Nikishin to sign in Winnipeg, the Blues are the only true contender to land the 24-year-old Russian defenseman.
Friedman mentioned that Nikishin has changed agents and has been granted permission to speak with other teams about a contract. He also mentioned that the Hurricanes could be looking to make a three-team trade.
Nikishin is a left-handed defenseman who took home the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in his rookie season. He posted 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games, finishing seventh in Calder Trophy voting.
While he primarily played on the left side for the Hurricanes, Nikishin can play on the right side of defense, giving him the ability to play with Philip Broberg on the top pair or on the left side of the second pair.
The 2020 third-round pick boasts a 6-foot-3 frame, strong two-way ability, and the offensive skills to run a power-play unit. Nikishin fits the Blues stylistically and in terms of age.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are probably the heaviest team in terms of the headlines and storylines going into opening night. They just acquired Kirill Marchenko in a blockbuster deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have nearly an entire new roster compared to last year, and many more.
But what can't be lost is that Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena marks Gavin McKenna's NHL debut. It's clear that the 18-year-old oozes confidence, but he has continued to put that attribute on display on the morning of the biggest game of his hockey career so far.
The Maple Leafs held an optional morning skate on Tuesday, featuring 12 players, many of whom were veterans. However, in preparation for his NHL debut, McKenna did not take the ice for the team's optional skate, which is something pretty routine for a young player, let alone a rookie gearing up for his first game in the league.
"He's got some swag," defenseman Chris Tanev said of McKenna after the session. "You know, he's very confident, very good player. So, I mean, I'm super excited for him. I mean, he's got - I think his parents are coming in tonight, and I'm sure he's got some other people. So, first NHL game, it's something that you should enjoy, and I'm sure he will tonight."
Left winger Easton Cowan, who made his NHL debut last year, laughed about McKenna's decision when asked about it.
"I can't comment on that," the 21-year-old said. "Maybe ask the older guys."
Even Leafs bench boss Jim Hiller got a kick out of McKenna not taking the ice for the morning skate. He admitted that he loved the decision he made, saying it truly speaks to how confident he is in himself.
"Yeah, you know what - I actually thought it was great," Hiller said. "I really did, because that's an optional skate. It's optional if you think you need it to get ready to play tonight. And when I heard he didn't go out, it didn't surprise me. He just has that way. He knows who he is. He knows what he has to do. And I think how he's adapted in a short amount of time just speaks to who he is and the confidence that he has in himself."
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But there’s a difference between looking ready for the NHL and being ready to stay there.
For Suniev, starting the season with the Calgary Wranglers doesn’t have to be viewed as a setback. In fact, it could be an important part of making sure he’s ready when his next opportunity comes.
“I just try to do my best every game, obviously work hard on the ice, do what my coaches need from me and also, not forgetting to play my game and using my shot,” Suniev explained about his approach during preseason.
Now, entering his second professional season, he has already shown he can produce at the AHL level and that his offensive skill can translate against NHL competition.
The next step is consistency.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Flames aren’t sending Suniev to the AHL because he lacks talent. If anything, his preseason made it pretty clear that the talent is there.
Rather than sitting in the NHL lineup and potentially playing limited minutes, Suniev can go to Calgary’s top affiliate, play a major role, work on the details Huska and the coaching staff want to see and continue developing his offensive game.
That doesn’t mean the door to the NHL is closed.
Quite the opposite.
If Suniev continues to produce while becoming more reliable without the puck, the Flames will have another decision to make. And considering the offensive holes on this roster, it’s hard to imagine the organization ignoring a player who is producing and showing he’s ready.
Suniev is close. Very close.
But being close and being ready to stay in the NHL are two different things.
The Flames are likely betting that a little more development now will give Suniev a better chance of making a permanent impact when his next opportunity arrives.
After the preseason he just had, there’s plenty of reason to believe that opportunity won’t be far away.
Alas, the NHL lost a great rivalry. | Getty Images
Hi, I got tired of seeing every hockey site posting “BOLD predictions for each NHL team” that weren’t very bold. Truly, they were mostly just lists of “this completely realistic thing could happen but my editor required that I make it sound bold,” and then they slapped “bold” on the headline for some rote, click-baity reason.
So I made my own list, for catharsis. Kindly disregard.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: Pat Verbeek is such a tough salary negotiator that he spends the entire season trying to fit his 23-man roster under the cap.
Calgary Flames: The Flames miss the playoffs. Bold!
Edmonton Oilers: After being suspended for projecting individual players’ TikToks on the hot tub big screen, Mike Babcock is replaced as head coach by Mark Messier, who promptly awards himself with the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Los Angeles Kings: Pete Laviolette is fired by his seventh franchise, replaced by Darryl Sutter who guides them to a Stanley Cup.
San Jose Sharks: Ryan Warsofsky is replaced by Pete Laviolette.
Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle remains captain, but laments that his best-performing years were when he was required to be clean shaven before showing up to work.
Vegas Golden Knights: Praised for always going above and beyond, Vegas puts a bunch of guys on LTIR and acquires Connor Hellebuyck. But this achievement pales in comparison to ensuring Bruce Cassidy remains unemployed.
Vancouver Canucks: With performance and attendance dwindling, the Canucks announce a rebrand based around a new logo featuring an orange and black orca whale skating downhill in the shape of a hockey rink.
Atlantic Division
Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin is traded. Bold! But the Wings still extend their franchise-record playoff drought to 11 seasons.
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres miss the playoffs, because Buffalo is a cruel, cursed sportstown.
Boston Bruins: Warning that he won’t re-sign when his ELC expires in three years, James Hagens requests a trade. Also: Mired in a five-game losing streak, Hampus Lindholm and Elias Lindholm get in a bloody fight in practice, tearing the locker room apart.
Montreal Canadiens: Noah Dobson wins the Norris Trophy.
Florida Panthers: Brady and Matthew Tkachuk combine for 50 goals and 200 PIM. Bold!
Ottawa Senators: The LeBreton Flats arena plan falls through yet again, and the Senators announce a plan to share a state-of-the-art arena in Hamilton with the Hammers.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning make the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews and his teammates return from their Phoenix preseason junket without harassing any security guards.
Metropolitan Division
New Jersey Devils: Sunny Mehta — not to be confused with the late, longtime Alfred A. Knopf publisher Sonny Mehta — is fired as GM and replaced by Lou Lamoriello. Chris Lamoriello is named assistant GM, Martin Brodeur is named interim head of player nutrition.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Every single American on the team demands a trade to a U.S. market where there is less pressure.
Washington Capitals: Alex Tuch outscores Jordan Kyrou by four goals, but they are separated by 26 in plus/minus.
New York Rangers: After years of disappointing everyone by simply existing, the sadsack Rangers franchise finally folds. All their historical statistics are transferred to the Winnipeg Jets, except for the 1994 Stanley Cup, which is returned to the Edmonton Oilers franchise.
Philadelphia Flyers: Kevin Kurz files multiple articles about the team in the opening week, including another “Why I Joined The Athletic” thought piece.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Egged on by local media, Penguins fans spend the entire 84-game season complaining that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang do not get enough respect, while Mario Lemieux laments that he needs to rethink whether he wants to be a part of it all.
New York Islanders: The Drive for Five…regular season wins continues into November.
Carolina Hurricanes: NHL fans are reminded that this team won the Stanley Cup, and it turns out it’s their second in this century.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane returns to one of his old franchises and manages to avoid a drunken tussle with a cab driver.
St. Louis Blues: With both franchises in self-deluding late-season playoff pushes, the Blues swap a 7th defensemen to the Islanders for a fourth-line forward, each team raving about the new acquisition’s “veteran presence.”
Colorado Avalanche: ESPN names Ray Bourque the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the 21st Century.
Winnipeg Jets: What prediction can you possibly give a team who already has everything?
Utah Mammoth: Anders Lee reaches 20 goals for the 10th time in his career at age 36.
Dallas Stars: Despite doing almost everything right for about a decade, GM Jim Nill continues to have to push the rock uphill.
Minnesota Wild: Not getting quite enough media praise, Bill Guerin is awarded an Emmy for his performance as Jimmy McNulty on The Wire.
Nashville Predators: Former GM Barry Trotz looks at the current Predators and looks at the current Islanders and mutters, through tears, “Why…why did we ever do any of this?”
