Category: Ice Hockey

TORONTO -- In the summer of 2025, the New York Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick, Victor Eklund at No. 16, and Kashawn Aitcheson at No. 17, adding three strong players to Isaiah George, Cole Eiserman, Danny Nelson, and Co. 

Flash forward to now, and Schaefer is entering year two after winning the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie. 

Eklund, who played one game for the Islanders -- Game No. 82 -- before the 2025-26 season ended, made the team out of training camp. 

George, who didn't make the Islanders out of training camp, is still just 22 years old and is very much seen as part of their future.

Aitcheson and Eiserman were part of the last cuts this training camp, as they are closer than they appear.

But there's another prospect who just adds to the excitement surrounding this club's bright future.

Left-side defenseman Malte Gustafsson, whom the Islanders selected 13th overall this past summer, is playing in the SHL. He is someone who could be playing for the Islanders come season's end, as we saw with Eklund. 

Malte Gustafsson, who the #Isles selected 13th overall this past draft — with Bartner there as a witness — is playing top-pairing minutes in the SHL this season and has looked incredible.

With the way Kashawn Aitcheson played at camp and what Gustafsson is showing, the future… https://t.co/qVMoAF4h25

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 30, 2026

Gustafsson recorded three assists in 27 games last season for HV71 Jonkoping.

This season, in four games, the 18-year-old has recorded three assists, matching his season total. He is playing on the top pair, but the 6'4, 200 lb defenseman looks much stronger and that's something Islanders fans should be excited about. 

ST. LOUIS -- Tyler Tucker will miss the foreseeable future for the St. Louis Blues after having a successful arthroscopic procedure performed on his right knee on Wednesday morning. 

The defenseman is scheduled to be re-evaluated in six weeks.

Tucker, 26, was injured in practice on Sept. 20 and has not been on the ice since. Blues general manager Alexander Steen said on Monday that Tucker was in the process of having a second opinion, and it obviously led to this procedure that will keep him shelved until at least mid-November.

The Blues have had to make a series of moves on their blue line in light of recent injuries to Tucker and Logan Mailloux, who had surgery on his right hand Sunday that will keep him out at least eight weeks when he is scheduled to get re-evaluated.

The team recalled Adam Jiricek, a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, from Springfield of the American Hockey League and claimed Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators to help fill the void.

Jiricek could very well make his NHL debut when the Blues open the season Friday against the Dallas Stars.

"Yeah, we've discussed that, but at the end of the day this is going to be a coaching decision and then we'll continue to have conversations on a daily basis on where he's at," Steen said of Jiricek. "...  "Just him playing his game. What we like about him is he's excited to play hockey. I love the fact that he brings the same excitement to both the offensive side and the play without the puck. He's very eager to learn. It seems like he picks things up quickly. From the start of rookie camp, where he was, every day it felt like he was growing. Not just getting more and more comfortable, but he was almost calming his play and bringing out his strengths consistently. I thought he had a tremendous camp, so we're excited to see what he can do."

Tucker played in 69 regular-season games last season and had 17 points (three goals, 14 assists); he's played in 159 regular-season games in his career and has 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists).

Disappointment Of Being Sent Down Quickly Turned To Elation For St. Louis Blues 2024 First-Round Pick Adam JiricekDefenseman was quickly recalled from Springfield following injuries to Mailloux, Tucker; could make NHL debut in season=opener on FridayThe Hockey NewsThe Hockey NewsLogan Mailloux's Injury Comes At A Tough Time After Strong Training Camp For St. Louis BluesDefenseman had surgery on right hand Sunday, will be re-evaluated in eight weeks

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There's no question that Brady Tkachuk's "Wingmen" podcast caused a few distractions last season, and there's probably no shortage of Sens fans who are pleased that's not a concern anymore.

But now another Sens star will have a go at it.

Senators centre Tim Stützle and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider have signed on with kicker Podcasts to host a monthly podcast called Seider & Stützle. The trailer to the show was published on Wednesday morning on the podcast company's YouTube channel.

Along with the trailer, the show's first hour-long episode was published. They talk about starting a podcast, summer training, the start of a new season, their expectations, involvement in their NHL communities, and what motivates them.

For three reasons, this Sens player side hustle isn't likely to cause a stir in Ottawa. For one, it's entirely in German, so not as many Sens fans will listen. Secondly, Stutzle is a completely different personality than Tkachuk.

And finally, and probably most importantly, Stutzle won't have anyone on the podcast like Matthew or Keith Tkachuk, chirping and steamrolling over top of him, and taking the conversation into awkward places that spark distractions.

Seider & Stützle obviously have a lot in common. They've been friends for years, played on the German national team together, trained in the summers together, and they're both signed long term by their NHL clubs until 2031.

They also had their team captains ask for trades this year, but their clubs' reactions were totally different. In Ottawa, Tkachuk asked for a trade and was dealt to the Florida Panthers. Dylan Larkin wants a trade as well, but it remains to seen if the Wings will accommodate him.

It will be interesting to see if they weigh in on that topic, and if so, how they'll address it in the looser format of podcasting, compared the standard NHL media scrum.

Stützle's NHL visit to Germany is also likely to be an upcoming topic of discussion. In the week leading up to Christmas, he and the Senators will play two regular season games in Düsseldorf against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Seider & Stützle appears to be audio only and will be released on the last Wednesday of every month and available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This story was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For more from THN Ottawa, click one of the headlines below:

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The Buffalo Sabres practiced at Key Bank Center on Wednesday before departing for Columbus for their season opener against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who practiced on Tuesday after leaving the preseason finale last Saturday, was on the ice for the second day in a row..

The 27-year-old and third-stringer Colten Ellis took part in the nearly hour long workout, and head coach Lindy Ruff has been pleased with what his starter has done to get ready for the season.

"(I've liked) the  first  couple  of  games  that (Luukkonen's) been  in, the work that  he put in over the summer." Ruff said. "He came in tremendous shape.  I've liked the work he's put in, and his practices have been good. It's like I said, all three  goaltenders gave us a good year last year." 

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Ruff said that Alex Lyon is feeling good and is on track to be available within a few days. On defense, Olen Zellweger was not on the ice, but the head coach said there were any setbacks after being concussed during the preseason. The young blueliner needs to clear concussion protocol and will be tested again on Thursday, which could make him available for the Sabres opener against Chicago on Saturday or soon thereafter. 

After skating on his own on Tuesday, bluelinerMattias Samuelsson practiced fully on Wednesday. Ruff hinted that there could be a roster move made on Thursday to add a seventh defenseman for the opener, but Samuelsson sounded if he was ready to play against the Blue Jackets. 

"I thought I was fine afterwards, and then tried to play a couple of shifts and didn't feel great. It was preseason.  I  kind of just called it.  We  got  some  more  imaging  done,  and (the injury)  wasn't  too  major." Samuelsson said. " It was just kind of one of those situations where, if I felt like I was ready to play, I'd be back in the lineup. That's kind  of  what  today was for: to see how I felt out there, and it went well." 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

The Colorado Avalanche and longtime coach Jared Bednar have agreed on a four-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and avoided an awkward lame-duck situation ahead of the start to its 2026-27 NHL season.

Bednar was entering the final year of his deal but is now signed through the 2030-31 campaign. He led the Avalanche to a franchise-record 121 points and the Presidents’ Trophy last season before a Stanley Cup playoff run to the Western Conference Finals, where Colorado was swept by the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

Bednar, 54, just completed his 10th season as coach of the franchise, where he won the Stanley Cup title in 2022.

NHL: ESPN's new studio features tribute to the late Barry Melrose

“Jared has done an outstanding job over the last decade, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s the best coach for this group," Avalanche President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Joe Sakic said in a statement. “He commands the room and has complete confidence of the players. We’re excited to continue to have him in charge, and we believe that his presence maximizes the team’s potential while this core group is intact.”

Bednar is the winningest coach in franchise history with a career record of 445-262-75 and the second-longest tenured coach in the NHL. Terms of his new contract were not disclosed.

The Avalanche have reached the playoffs in all but one season during his decade with the franchise. They open the 2026-27 season against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

“I’m extremely happy and grateful to continue leading this group,” said Bednar. “My family and I have loved being a part of this organization from the beginning, and I can’t thank the Kroenke family and Joe Sakic enough for their support. I look forward to working hard each day this season and beyond to accomplish our goal of winning another Stanley Cup.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Avalanche give coach Jared Bednar new contract, avoid lame-duck season

Players can't wait to welcome back their teammate, even as he has distanced himself from the Detroit Red Wings.

News broke out of Sweden on Wednesday, Sept. 30 that Simon Edvinsson, a restricted free agent without a contract, had returned home and was skating with Fröulunda in his hometown of Gothenburg. He last skated iwth the Red Wings Saturday morning, before their final preseason game.

"We just know that he wants to be here," teammate Moritz Seider said after practice. "We want him here, and that's the bottom line. Everyone has to fight for their own contracts, and we all have his back and we support him. And we're just looking forward to when he eventually signs, hopefully sooner rather than late because he's a big part of our team, a big part of this organization and, moving forward, he will be a big piece to our success."

Swedish reporter Andreas III Johansson posted on social media that, "Simon Edvinsson is back in Sweden. Training with Frölunda on Wednesday."

Simon Edvinsson är tillbaka i Sverige.
Tränar med Frölunda under onsdagen. pic.twitter.com/8duvOn5iXU

— Andreas III Johnsson (@Johnssonen) September 30, 2026

Edvinsson, 23, arranged for his own insurance so he could be with his teammates during training camp, taking part in practices but not scrimmages or exhibition games. Once the preseason ended, however, he was no longer around the team. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said in a statement, "Simon is not practicing with the team. The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives."

The Red Wings open the 2026-27 season on Friday, Oct. 2, when they host the New York Rangers. Edvinsson could make the opener if he's signed in the next 24 hours, though it would require an early morning flight from Sweden connecting through a major international airport like Amsterdam Schipol airport or Paris Charles De Gaulle.

"The situation is an important one, but we have so much to worry about in here," forward Andrew Copp said. "I can't really worry about if Simon is going to be here Friday or not. That's not my job. We want Simon here. He's a fantastic player, he's going to be a huge player for us for a long time, but none of us can control whether he's going to be here Friday or not."

Two years ago, under former general manager Steve Yzerman, then-RFAs Seider and Lucas Raymond did not sign new deals until right around the start of camp.

"I think as a teammate, you're making sure that he's in a good mindset," Raymond said. "You kind of let all the business side to the front office. That's all we can do. Simon's a great player. He's a great guy. He's a big part of our team and we want him here. But at the same time, that's not really in our control. We're focused on Friday."

If Edvinsson isn't available, rookie Anton Johansson looks poised to make his debut.

"The players that are here in the locker room, the coaching staff that's here, we have jobs to do," coach Todd McLellan said. "The business between Simon and the hockey club, we have nothing to do with it. We can't change it. We can't affect it. There's nothing we can do about it. So it's pretty simple − we get out, we have a good practice like we did today, and we get ready for the game. And if you're in a Red Wing jersey, then you're playing. That's the only way we can deal with it."

Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Red Wings' Simon Edvinsson heads to Sweden as he awaits new contract

On the heels of a successful 2025-26 season, the Philadelphia Flyers open up their 2026-27 campaign with a home matchup against the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins at 7: 30 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and they'll have a lot to prove early on.

For starters, Wednesday night's game against the Penguins will be a rematch of the first-round playoff series between the two teams, and the Flyers are returning a mostly unchanged lineup with the exception of two players.

Noel Acciari switches sides, and Simon Benoit will start the season as the No. 6 defenseman alongside Nick Seeler. Dan Vladar will start for the Flyers against the Penguins, so newcomer Joseph Woll will serve as the backup goalie.

As for the Penguins, they will be starting the season without Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau, and Andrei Kuzmenko, and their defense corps has the likes of Declan Carlile, Sam Girard, Kaedan Korczak, and Trevor van Riemsdyk trying to complement Erik Karlsson and the declining Kris Letang.

Arturs Silovs will start for the Penguins opposite Vladar, too, with Sergei Murashov backing him up. The Penguins have a weakened lineup that should make for a 'gimme' for the Flyers, though that was true of the Flyers' last preseason game, and they came up woefully short instead.

Flyers lines vs. Penguins

Owen Tippett - Trevor Zegras - Porter Martone

Alex Bump - Noah Cates - Matvei Michkov

Tyson Foerster - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny

Carl Grundstrom - Sean Couturier - Noel Acciari

Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - Simon Benoit

Extras: Garrett Wilson, David Jiricek

Dan Vladar (S), Joseph Woll

Penguins lines for Flyers game

Nick Robertson - Sidney Crosby - Rickard Rakell

Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin - Egor Chinakhov

Filip Hallander - Hendrix Lapierre - Ville Koivunen

Elmer Soderblom - Blake Lizotte - Connor Dewar

Declan Carlile - Erik Karlsson

Trevor van Riemsdyk - Kris Letang

Sam Girard - Kaedan Korczak

Arturs Silovs (S), Sergei Murashov

Flyers players to watch

The two players I'm looking at to make an early impact on Wednesday night are wingers Tyson Foerster and Matvei Michkov.

Michkov has looked spry and rejuvenated all throughout camp, and he'll be paired up with familiar linemates in Alex Bump and Noah Cates. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists, and seven points in eight career regular season games against the Penguins.

As for Foerster, the Flyers continue to rave about the winger, who inked a long-term extension with Philadelphia this summer.

Foerster scored at a 36-goal pace in his 29 games last season, and while we can debate whether or not that's sustainable, those are the heights the Flyers believe the former first-round pick can ultimately reach.

Foerster will start on a high-leverage line with Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny, and he has scored six goals, four assists, and 10 points in 11 career regular season games against the Penguins.

Both Michkov and Foerster will look to put their disappointing playoff showings against Pittsburgh in the rearview mirror in short order.

How to watch the Flyers game

Wednesday night's Flyers game against the Penguins will be broadcast on TNT (national), TruTV, and HBO Max.

The five games on the opening night of the 2026-27 NHL regular season was a display of hockey that reflected teams that were still in preseason mode, based on how disjointed and out of sync the clubs performed in their openers. The contest between the last two Stanley Cup winners; the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers was a 1-0 sleeper, ended by Gustav Forsling’s slapshot with five seconds left in overtime. 

Three of the four other contests featured former Buffalo Sabres. Defenseman Bowen Byram made his Chicago Blackhawks debut against former Sabres captain Jack Eichel and the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas. Byram played over 25 minutes in the contest, leading Chicago in ice time, but went pointless and was -2 on the night. 

INTRODUCING J.J. PETERKA 🤯 pic.twitter.com/m2Y3i6Ft2a

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 30, 2026

Chicago’s two goals had a Buffalo connection, as Patrick Kane scored in the first game of his return to the Hawks, and former Sabres forward Jordan Greenway tallied his debut. Greenway, who was part of the Byram deal, had one goal in 40 regular-season games with the Sabres last season. Ex-Sabre Jack Eichel had three points in the win, and winger Victor Olofsson had a tally in the victory.  

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Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

In the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 loss to Montreal, defenseman Jake McCabe narrowly avoided serious injury. McCabe left the game in the first period after colliding with Habs forward Josh Anderson, who appeared to cut McCabe in the ankle area with his skate. The blueliner did not return for the rest of the period, but came back in the middle frame.      

Another former Sabre, winger JJ Peterka, made his mark in return to the Atlantic Division with the Boston Bruins, scoring a highlight reel goal in the Bruins 3-0 shutout of the New York Rangers. The 24-year-old, who was obtained by the Bruins from Utah for a pair of first round picks, deked past Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider and beat goalie Igor Shesterkin for his first for the Beantowners.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo  

The New Jersey Devils will open their 2026-27 season Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, looking to rebound from a disappointing campaign.

For Detroit Red Wings fans, the matchup will also provide an opportunity to watch a former prospect begin a new chapter in his career.

Amadeus Lombardi, a fourth-round pick by the Red Wings in 2022, was traded to New Jersey during the offseason in exchange for a fourth-round selection, which Detroit later used to draft Canadian center Adam Levac.

The move came as a surprise to many Red Wings fans, particularly given Lombardi’s quiet emergence as one of the organization’s more intriguing prospects.

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

The 23-year-old Newmarket native posted nearly a point per game across his sophomore and junior AHL seasons, putting himself in position to potentially make the jump to the NHL.

However, Detroit’s prospect pipeline had become increasingly crowded, with several young players competing for NHL opportunities. That logjam could have made it difficult for Lombardi to receive the opportunity he was looking for in Detroit.

Thursday’s season opener could mark the beginning of Lombardi's first significant opportunity at the NHL level, although it will come with the Devils rather than the Red Wings. Even more notably for Detroit fans, Lombardi will look to establish himself in the same Eastern Conference as his former organization.

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There were a whole lot of new faces on display for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their season opener against the Montreal Canadiens. Ten players made their Maple Leafs debut, including defenseman Darren Raddysh, who was paired alongside Morgan Rielly.

It wasn't the greatest outing by Raddysh in his first game for his hometown team, and he was the first to admit that post-game on Tuesday.

In preparation for the Leafs' next game against the New York Islanders on Wednesday, the second night of a back-to-back, Rielly talked about what it felt like in the pairing's first real test and how Raddysh is handling his new surroundings.

"It's been great," Rielly said of his partnership with Raddysh. "I mean, we spend lots of time together talking about, you know, how we want to play. And I think he's done a great job, you know, since he's gotten here, just trying to get comfortable.

"I think he looks great out there. So as we go along here, we're going to look to improve and get better. We have lots of conversations about that. So I think he's done a great job," he added.

Darren Raddysh’s Maple Leafs Debut: Shaky First Game Tests Toronto’s $68 Million BetFollowing a tough minus-2 debut on the top pairing, Darren Raddysh owned up to a shaky first night in blue and white.

Rielly missed some time in training camp and the first pre-season game due to a viral condition. When he returned to full action, he was paired with Raddysh almost immediately, and given the offensive tendencies of both blueliners, some eyebrows were raised at the decision.

Rielly is happy that the two of them are at least getting the opportunity to play alongside each other, he said back in training camp.

'I'm Giving Him A Clean Slate': Maple Leafs' Hiller On Why Rielly And Raddysh Are Paired TogetherMorgan Rielly and Darren Raddysh were paired together at Monday's practice for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Head coach Jim Hiller explains his reasoning behind that decision.

But with how Rielly and Raddysh operate, would there be a challenge in balancing the proneness to jump up in the play?

"It's not hard," Rielly said confidently. I think it's just based on opportunity, just based on where the puck is. I think we're both able to kind of recognize the right spots to go. I don't think we both want to go at the same time, but it's not hard. It's just based off game flow."

Raddysh was on the ice for all three goals from Montreal on Tuesday and had a game-high of five giveaways. But there is an opportunity for him and that pairing to brush off the opening-night jitters and rust with the Islanders in town.

Maple Leafs Lineup Changes: Bo Groulx Enters Lineup Against Islanders But Scratch Remains A MysteryToronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller revealed that there will be two lineup changes against the New York Islanders, following their 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Leafs head coach Jim Hiller is also not too worried about the first game from Raddysh and that pairing. After all, there's a lot that comes with being a hometown player, coming off a big contract in the off-season, and the whole excitement and anxiety of the first game of the season.

"We're all human, so you have a little extra pressure," Hiller said Wednesday morning. "No matter what, you can stay relaxed and go out there and play. But I think he'll have to work his way through that. I think getting the first one out of the way probably will help him."

Unfamiliar Teammates, Darren Raddysh Turnovers, And Other Takeaways From Maple Leafs' Season Opener Against CanadiensDropping the season opener to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, here are the biggest takeaways from the Toronto Maple Leafs' 3-2 defeat to kick off 2026-27.

As for the chemistry with Rielly, that'll come along the longer they get the chance to play alongside one another.

"Well, it'll take time," Hiller admitted. "There's no question, and and we've talked about this. Lots of new guys. We're trying to get this thing together as quick as we can, but we all know it's going to take a little bit of time. We just want to shrink that time. So I just I just can't put a date on that. But everybody will get better together."

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We have officially made it! The Pittsburgh Penguins will open the 2026-27 season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. 

This matchup comes five months after the Flyers ended the Penguins' season in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Defenseman Cam York scored the series-winning goal in overtime. 

Since then, the Penguins have made several changes, including adding players like Declan Carlile, Kaedan Korczak, Nick Robertson, Hendrix Lapierre, and several others. They also lost some players, but that's what you'd expect from a team that lost in the first round. 

The Flyers are returning almost their entire team for the 2026-27 season and will look to take another step after advancing to the second round of the playoffs. They'll get a full season from forward Porter Martone after he played well down the stretch last season and into the playoffs. 

Goaltender Dan Vladar had a great year, which led him to sign a new five-year extension this summer. The Flyers hope he can replicate his 2025-26 season over the course of the contract. 

The Penguins enter this game banged up and will be without Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau, and Bryan Rust. Andrei Kuzmenko is also out, but that's because he's still in Russia for his father's funeral. 

Blake Lizotte is listed on injured reserve, but will likely play tonight after Penguins head coach Dan Muse told reporters after the morning skate that Lizotte "looks good." Lizotte fully participated in practice on Monday and Tuesday.

Here are a look at the Penguins' expected lines and pairs:

Forwards

Robertson-Crosby-Rakell

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

Hallander-Lapierre-Koivunen

Dewar-Lizotte-Soderblom

Defensive pairs

Carlile-Karlsson

van Riemsdyk-Letang

Girard-Korczak

---

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins and Sergei Murashov will be the backup. 

Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT and truTV. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

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It’s been 127 days since the Colorado Avalanche last played meaningful hockey, but their long-awaited return is finally here as they welcome the Los Angeles Kings to Ball Arena in Downtown Denver for regular-season game one, fresh off a Jared Bednar contract extension!

Colorado Avalanche

It’s an exciting time of year for every fanbase, and with another year of Stanley Cup aspirations, Colorado Avalanche fans enter the season with anticipation and expectation, hoping they can get closer to a fourth cup than they did last season.

The offseason? Over. pic.twitter.com/dFJIhaSmxP

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 30, 2026

With Logan O’Connor and Zachary L’Heureux listed on IR, we will see the Avalanche in their 11-7 form on opening night. Noah Juulsen will slot in as the 7th d-man.

Cale Makar will also be under a watchful eye this evening, as he spent part of the summer and training camp on rehab skates and played only one preseason game. Marc Moser of Altitude Sports endeeringly referred to Cale’s ailment as “a tweaky tweaky thing,” and didn’t sound worried about his status while talking with the Sirius XM NHL crew.

We will get a look at MacKenzie Blackwood as the opening-night starter this season after he missed a good portion of last year’s campaign while rehabbing from offseason surgery. All word points to Blackwood having a breakout season and solidifying himself as the bona fide starter over Scott Wedgewood, who carried the load last season.

Youngster T.J. Hughes has officially extended his excellent performance in Loveland into a great camp and NHL debut for the Avalanche. It’s rumored Hughes could get PP1 time early in the season after getting a look with the unit in practice.

Projected Lineup:

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Nazem Kadri
Jaden Schwartz — Fedor Svechkov — T.J. Hughes
Parker Kelly — Nicolas Roy

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Noah Juulsen

MacKenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Los Angeles Kings

It’s a bit ironic that the Avalanche and Kings meet to start the season, as the Avalanche dispatched the Kings in a four-game sweep during the first round of the 2025-26 playoffs. LA struggled to put the puck in the back of the net last year and hopes they addressed that in the offseason by adding forwards Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, and Scott Laughton.

It did feel like if LA had scoring touch last postseason, they could have put up a stronger fight against the Avalanche, as the “we’re right there” quotes came about after the sweep, so let’s see if their efforts to improve in that regard come to fruition.

Officially official… IT'S HOCKEY SEASON pic.twitter.com/ivfb8a9sPf

— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 29, 2026

Projected Lineup:

Artemi Panarin — Quinton Byfield — Adrian Kempe
Mats Zuccarello — Alex Turcotte — Alex Laferriere
Trevor Moore — Scott Laughton — Erik Haula
Andre Lee — Samuel Helenius — Joel Armia

Erik Gustafsson — Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin — Drew Doughty
Mikey Anderson — Cody Ceci

Darcy Kuemper
Anton Forsberg

NOTE: Don’t forget to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s action!

After the Toronto Maple Leafs' 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, they are back at it with the second half of a back-to-back against the New York Islanders on Wednesday.

Following an optional morning skate at Scotiabank Arena, head coach Jim Hiller revealed that Bo Groulx will be making his season debut for the Maple Leafs against the Islanders. However, he wouldn't reveal who would be coming in for the 26-year-old.

Groulx was one of the two Maple Leafs who skated in the morning, along with defenseman Nick Blankenburg, who will be an extra for the second straight game.

Last season, Groulx played 13 games for Toronto in the NHL. He scored three goals and five points in that span, making a name for himself on the main roster.

The majority of his time last season was spent in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. He had a great season in the American League, notching 28 goals and 52 points in 59 appearances. He added eight goals and 14 points in 23 Calder Cup playoff games, helping his team win the title.

Unfamiliar Teammates, Darren Raddysh Turnovers, And Other Takeaways From Maple Leafs' Season Opener Against CanadiensDropping the season opener to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, here are the biggest takeaways from the Toronto Maple Leafs' 3-2 defeat to kick off 2026-27.

The other change for the Maple Leafs against the Islanders will be in the crease. On the second night of a back-to-back, Anthony Stolarz will be the starting goaltender, after Sergei Bobrovsky was between the pipes on Tuesday.

Bobrovsky ended the loss to Montreal, stopping 21 of 24 shots on goal, earning a .875 save percentage.

Stolarz registered an .893 SP and a 3.28 goals-against average in 26 games last season. The year before that, he recorded a .926 SP and a 2.14 GAA in 34 appearances for Toronto.

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One thing was made abundantly clear in the Montreal Canadiens’ first game of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs: Josh Anderson plays an important role on the team. It wasn’t just that he scored the goal that let the Habs tie it up in the first frame; he was absolutely flying out there, determined to make an impact. If anyone doubted he deserved an alternate captaincy after Brendan Gallagher’s departure, those doubts should have been eased. On Monday night, he was a general leading his troops into battle.

What patience from Josh Anderson to not bat in a highstick 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/Sj3uKDx2ch

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) September 29, 2026

Granted, one good game doesn’t make a season, but Anderson picked up right where he left off in the playoffs with gritty, physical play. The winger landed four hits, more than anyone else on the team. Watching him play, Jeff Gorton’s words from the third episode of the rebuild came back to me: “This is why we’ll never trade Andy.” The executive said that in a game against the Boston Bruins, when the big winger set the tone by dropping the gloves early against Tanner Jeannot. The Habs eventually won that December 23 game 6-2.

Canadiens Rain On Leafs Parade
Game 1: Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs Pregame – Newhook’s Opportunity
Canadiens: The One That Got Away

As things stand, the power forward is in the final year of a 7-year deal with a $5.5 million cap hit. When Marc Bergevin signed him to that deal, he hoped Anderson would be a 30-goal-per-year scorer; that didn’t happen. Early in his contract, and during the rebuild, there were rumblings that he should be moved; his name was in a lot of rumors, and he absolutely hated being asked about the possibility. He was clear about his intentions back in 2022:

We’re in a tough situation right now, but I think that we have the right people to make this thing work. I love it here in Montreal; I signed a long-term deal for a reason: to stay in Montreal and to win here. So, I’m obviously very excited about that, and like I said, I think we have the right people to make that happen.

- Anderson back in 2022

Even though he never became the offensive producer the team hoped for, he became one of the few players on the roster to provide the all-important sandpaper. Who else would have dared to drop the gloves against Tom Wilson in the 2025 playoffs? It gave us one of the most memorable moments of that postseason, with the tussle ending up on the Washington Capitals' bench between two periods.

For all those reasons, Anderson needs to stay, but the Canadiens must find a way to fit him into his rightful place in the Habs’ salary structure. The salary cap may be going up, and the Canadiens are in an enviable position from that standpoint, but they have to stay there. Kent Hughes just signed Alex Newhook to a four-year contract extension with a $5.55 million cap hit. Last season, the Newfoundlander put up 25 points in 42 games, and if he stays healthy, he’ll be counted on for around 50 points.

As for Anderson, he put up 23 points in 72 games last year. The organization knows what he brings, and his ceiling is clear. He won’t be a massive offensive contributor, but he’ll contribute in other ways. At the end of June, the Anaheim Ducks gave tough guy AJ Greer, who put up 32 points and 113 penalty minutes, a four-year contract with a $4.25 cap hit; that’s a strong comparable for the rugged forward. Term-wise, four years may be a bit much for the 32-year-old; a two- or three-year contract would probably be the right fit. Given that every Hab has bought into the notion that they need to take less money for the good of the team, Anderson will likely do the same. A $4 million AAV would be ideal, given the salary cap is still rising, and it feels like that will soon be the average earned by bottom-six players.

Does he have to be signed right away? Probably not, but he’d likely want to put the uncertainty behind him and play hockey, though being made alternate captain permanently shows the organization is committed to him and values what he brings.

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DENVER — The wait is over.

The Avalanche are back at Ball Arena, the Stanley Cup is still the goal, and their first opponent of the new season just happens to be the team they swept out of the playoffs four months ago.

Colorado opens its 31st season in Denver on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings, giving the Avalanche a chance to start a new season in a building that should be buzzing from the opening faceoff.

And there’s no shortage of familiar faces or interesting storylines.

Nathan MacKinnon is coming off a 53-goal, 127-point season and has continued to produce against Los Angeles. He has two goals and five assists in his last four regular-season games against the Kings, along with four points in Colorado’s four-game playoff sweep.

Cale Makar is fresh off signing an eight-year, $163.2 million extension to remain in Colorado. He has one goal and five assists in his last four regular-season games against Los Angeles and scored once in each of Games 3 and 4 of last season’s playoff series.

Then there’s Martin Necas.

Necas opened last season’s matchup against the Kings by firing a wicked wrist shot past Darcy Kuemper for the first goal of Colorado’s 4-1 win. He scored twice that night and finished with four goals and four assists in seven games against Los Angeles when combining the regular season and playoffs.

So, yes, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about seeing this group back on the ice.

But the Kings have some players Colorado will have to keep an eye on, too.

Adrian Kempe led Los Angeles in goals, assists and points last season, finishing with 36 goals and 73 points. He had three assists in the three regular-season meetings against Colorado before adding a goal and two assists in the playoff series.

Quinton Byfield finished second on the Kings with 24 goals and 49 points. He was held without a point in the regular-season meetings with Colorado but picked up two assists in the playoffs.

Alex Laferriere scored 21 goals and finished with 44 points last season. He also failed to register a point against Colorado during the regular season, but found another gear in the playoffs with four assists.

Colorado managed to keep Byfield and Laferriere quiet during the regular season. The Avalanche will get an early look Wednesday at whether that trend continues.

The goaltending matchup could be another interesting part of the night.

Mackenzie Blackwood, who is expected to start for Colorado, has a 5-3-2 career record against the Kings with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.

Scott Wedgewood has been even better statistically. He is 6-2-0 in eight career games against Los Angeles with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.

Wedgewood also played a big role the last time these teams met. He stopped 24 of 25 shots in Game 4 as Colorado completed the sweep, finishing the series with a .950 save percentage.

Los Angeles has a familiar option of its own.

Anton Forsberg appears likely to be part of the Kings' crease rotation after putting together a strong 2025-26 season. He started all four games of the playoff series against Colorado and was arguably Los Angeles' best player in the matchup.

Darcy Kuemper is also back, although the Kings' goaltending situation remained unsettled coming out of training camp. Kuemper struggled after returning from a midseason injury last year, while Forsberg emerged as the team's postseason starter.

There’s a pretty good Colorado connection as well. 

Forsberg won the Calder Cup with Jared Bednar and the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016. Kuemper, meanwhile, was part of the Avalanche team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022.

And Bednar signed a four-year contract extension Wednesday morning, keeping him behind the Colorado bench through the 2030-31 season.

Tonight will also mark the highly anticipated NHL debut of T.J. Hughes, the former University of Michigan standout who has been one of Colorado’s most impressive players throughout training camp. Hughes capped his preseason with a four-point performance in Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena, scoring a hat trick in the process.

The Avalanche and Kings have plenty of history, but that doesn't matter now. The playoff series is over, the slate is clean, and the Avalanche are back.

The Kings get the first crack at them — again.