A former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is on the move.
This is because the Washington Capitals have claimed defenseman Jack St. Ivany off of waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. With this news, the former Penguins defenseman is now a member of one of Pittsburgh's biggest division rivals.
St. Ivany played in four games this season with the Jets before being claimed off waivers by the Capitals. During them, he recorded zero points, five blocks, six hits, and a minus-1 rating.
St. Ivany will provide the Capitals with more defensive depth with this waiver claim. The 27-year-old will now be looking to impress with the Capitals from here.
St. Ivany spent each of his first three NHL seasons with the Penguins from 2023-24 to 2025-26. In 53 games with the Penguins over that span, he posted nine assists, 63 blocks, 116 hits, and a plus-1 rating. His best season with Pittsburgh was this past campaign, though, he recorded a career-high seven assists in 20 games.
The Penguins traded St. Ivany to the Jets this off-season in exchange for forward David Gustafsson. Now, with this news, his time in Winnipeg is already over.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Brett Pesce scored the go-ahead goal and Jake Allen made 12 saves as the Devils beat the Los Angeles Kings, 3-1, on Saturday for their third-straight win.
Anthony Mantha and Artemy Gritsyuk also scored for the Devils, who also beat Colorado and Anaheim on their current homestand. New Jersey has won five of six. Allen improved to 5-2-0 this season.
Scott Laughton scored for Los Angeles, which saw its two-game winning streak snapped. Anton Forsberg made 23 saves.
Pesce beat Forsberg at 8:08 of the third period after the defenseman found a clear lane through traffic in the Los Angeles zone. Luke Evangelista and Gritsyuk assisted on Pesce’s first goal this season.
New Jersey included goaltender Nico Daws, who won against Anaheim on Thursday, in the trade for Hellebuyck on Friday. Remi Poirier, who has yet to play an NHL game, dressed as Allen’s backup on Saturday.
Laughton scored at 15:57 of the second, driving the puck past Allen for his second goal.
Mantha tied the game about three minutes later with his third goal.
Gritsyuk scored his team-leading sixth goal into an empty net at 18:55.
The Kings had a power-play chance when New Jersey’s Timo Meier was called for tripping at 12:59 of the third but were unable to tie the game.
Los Angeles was coming off road wins over Washington and the New York Islanders to start its four-game trip after losing its first six games.
The injury woes of the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to pile on only 11 games into the 2026-27 regular season.
And, this time, it's affecting their blue line.
With defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk already on injured reserve (IR), the Penguins added to the list Saturday, placing the left-shot Samuel Girard on IR with an upper-body injury. He was injured during the Penguins' 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 17 and has not appeared in a game since.
In a corresponding move to Girard, the Penguins recalled forward Avery Hayes from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), and he is expected to be in the lineup Saturday.
The 24-year-old forward has five goals and nine points in nine AHL games to start the season, and he registered five goals in 16 games at the NHL level last season. The 5-foot-10, 189-pound native of Westland, Mi. is in the final year of his two-year entry-level contract and has yet to play an NHL game in 2026-27.
Including Hayes, the Penguins - without Malkin and Chinakhov - have just 12 healthy forwards and one extra defenseman, as they recalled right-shot blueliner Chase Pietila from WBS Thursday.
Saturday evening marks the final time the Detroit Red Wings will face the Calgary Flames at the historic Scotiabank Saddledome, which is set to close following the 2026-27 NHL season.
The Flames have called the venue home since October 1983 but will soon move to the nearby Scotia Place, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open next fall.
The occasion is reminiscent of a decade ago, when the Red Wings were playing their final season at historic Joe Louis Arena, which had served as their home since 1979.
The Saddledome has been the scene for several memorable moments in Red Wings history, including the October 1995 debut of the Russian Five. It marked the first time in NHL history that five Soviet/Russian-born players took the ice together as one unit.
The venue also holds significance for Mike Vernon, the 1997 Conn Smythe Trophy winner who began his NHL career with Calgary and helped the Flames win the Stanley Cup in 1989.
In 2004, Martin Gelinas ended Detroit’s season with an overtime goal in the Western Conference Semifinals. Three years later, Johan Franzen scored the series-winning goal in double overtime to send the Red Wings to the next round.
In regular season play, the Red Wings have a record of 30-32-2-2.
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The Penguins played a full 60 minutes Thursday, getting contributions from up and down their new-look lineup. They were without the services of forwards Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel - who were both placed on injured reserve Thursday - and it appears they will be without another forward Saturday.
Forward Evgeni Malkin, who missed Friday's team practice with an illness and who registered a goal and two points in Thursday's win, was ruled out by Penguins' head coach Dan Muse after the morning skate, which Malkin participated in. Forward Egor Chinakhov, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, is expected to miss his second consecutive game.
In addition, defenseman Sam Girard was officially placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, and the Penguins recalled forward Avery Hayes from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) to fill Malkin's hole in the lineup.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs - who posted a 25-save shutout Thursday - will get his second consecutive nod in goal Saturday.
There were no line rushes during the Penguins' optional morning skate, and it is difficult to tell where Hayes will fit into a lineup that was already shorthanded to a pretty large degree. He has had some legitimate chemistry with Rutger McGroarty in WBS, and both had nine points in six AHL games, so it won't come as a surprise if they begin the game on the same line.
The Predators are coming into this one 3-3-3 to start the season, and the Penguins are 7-0-2 in their last nine games against Nashville. They currently sit seventh in the Central Division standings and have a minus-7 goal differential.
36-year-old center Steven Stamkos has started the season hot with four goals and 10 points in nine games, and projected starting goaltender Juuse Saros is 3-2-2 with a .906 save percentage in seven appearances.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X."
The Florida Panthers had some new-look forward lines when they took the ice on Saturday in Chicago.
Fresh off a pair of lopsided defeats in Ottawa and Pittsburgh, the Panthers will be looking to get back on track when they face the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon at United Center.
Florida head coach Paul Maurice was not pleased with his players following the back-to-back losses and said he would be looking for a way to turn things back around ahead of Saturday’s skate.
“I think it looked the way I thought it did from the bench,” Maurice said. “We’ve got some things we’ve got to clean up in our game and we have an opportunity to do that tomorrow.”
When the team took the ice, it was apparent that Maurice had done some tinkering with the forward groupings.
The top line and the fourth line remained the same, but Maurice made a not-so-subtle move to his middle six.
Exciting young forward Sandis Vilmanis was bumped up to the second line, where he skated alongside Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe.
Vilmanis was a healthy scratch on Thursday.
“It’s just a little different look,” Maurice said. “When he was with Lundell and Luostarinen, I liked it early on but it’s starting to fall off a bit for me. We gave him a little bit of a reset, so he should have some good legs and good urgency in this game.”
Dependable forward Lars Eller, who Maurice has complimented several times during the early stages of the season, was on the left side of the Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen line.
In terms of defensive pairings, Radko Gudas was back with Dmitry Kulikov after being a healthy scratch during Thursday’s loss to the Penguins.
That was the only change on the blue line, as the top two pairings remained intact.
Between the pipes, Florida will turn back to Akira Schmid after giving rookie Cooper Black his first taste of NHL action on Thursday.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s showdown in Chitown:
Photo caption: Jan 10, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers left wingSandisVilmanis(95) chases the puck in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images)
The Philadelphia Flyers jumped out to 2-0 and 3-2 leads thanks to Matvei Michkov, Porter Martone, and Tyson Foerster, but the team collectively fell asleep for the last half of the second period and first half of the third period, dooming them to a 5-4 loss at home ice and snapping a three-game win streak.
Michkov opened the scoring for the Flyers on a 5-on-3 power play, rifling a shot from the high slot through screens from Foerster and Martone, beating Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal cleanly from range.
To set up the 5-on-3, rookie defenseman Hunter McDonald drilled Ducks forward Sam Colangelo with an open-ice hit, which prompted tough guy A.J. Greer to chase the Flyers defenseman down and initiate a fight.
McDonald escaped the fracas with only a five-minute penalty for fighting, while Colangelo was tagged for roughing and Greer was whistled for instigating and instigating, earning a 10-minute misconduct in the process.
After Michkov's goal on the 5-on-3, Martone joined in on the fun on the ensuing 5-on-4 chance, streaking back door and tapping in a pass from Travis Sanheim.
The Flyers went into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead and a commanding 11-6 shots on goal advantage, but the Ducks quickly came to life in the middle stanza.
Punishing a Nick Seeler turnover behind the net, Flyers archnemesis Cutter Gauthier set up Leo Carlsson for a goal from below the goal line, and Greer, back from his misconduct, tied the game at 2-2 with a fluky goal that bounced off the post and off Joseph Woll's skate, with the puck settling just enough past the goal line to count.
Foerster bought one back with a fluke goal of his own, racing down the ice on the penalty kill and flinging the puck at Dostal, who was beaten between the legs to allow the Flyers to take a 3-2 lead.
Ducks forward Judd Caulfield tied the game at 3-3 only 1:15 later, cashing in on a wacky bounce in Woll's crease.
At the start of the third period, the Flyers still looked out of it, and Tristan Luneau's goal, which went through Woll, felt like a back-breaker. Trailing for the first time, the Flyers didn't begin to push back until Beckett Sennecke's redirect gave the Ducks a 5-3 lead, which was ultimately insurmountable.
Michkov, staying scoring hot, crashed the net 1:07 after Sennecke's tally to pull the Flyers within one, and despite a last hurrah that carried them through the end of the game, the Flyers came away empty-handed.
Although the Flyers were out-scored 4-1 at 5-on-5, special teams were the difference one way or another; the Flyers went 2-for-7 on the power play after starting 2-for-2, and the Ducks finished 1-for-4.
"Today good power play, a couple goals, and I think we need to stay hot on power play and five on five we have chance. We need score. We have today lots of chance. Five chances, one score. This is no good. We need hard work for chances. Chances we need score, score, score. Hard concentration, just one moment," Michkov assessed in the locker room after the game.
In the end, the Flyers spent far too much time on special teams, and while their opponents contributed, the Flyers did themselves no favors in that regard, either.
Noel Acciari, who drew three penalties in Saturday afternoon's loss, took a retaliatory penalty by tackling Tim Washe, coming to the defense of Trevor Zegras, while Sean Couturier made the mistake of inadvertently pulling Jeff Malott's helmet off in a scrum, earning himself an unnecessary roughing penalty.
Flyers react to the loss to the Ducks
The Ducks didn't score on either penalty, though Luneau's goal came very shortly after Acciari left the penalty box.
"I think there's some undisciplined penalties that we got to stop doing. I mean, guys get hit, so what? Back in the day, we used to do all that stuff. I don't think you can do that nowadays," Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said postgame.
"It's a clean hit. Take the guy's number, do it a different way. Everybody's got to be alert. I'd like us to be a little more disciplined."
Tocchet shared the assessment of Martone, who felt the sheer number of penalties affected the flow of the game.
Martone played 18:25 against the Ducks, but 6:29 of that came on the power play. For Michkov, it was 18:15 in total, and 5:59 on the power play.
The Flyers' two young stars combined with Noah Cates to provide the Flyers' only 5-on-5 goal of the afternoon.
"Lots of penalties. It kind of ruins the flow of the game," Martone said. "But I know this group, we want to win, everyone in this room. The way we fought back, the way we got one there in the third, we just couldn't buy another one."
In the loss, the Flyers eclipsed three goals for the first time this season. They're now 3-7-3 with a home game against the 3-5-0 Columbus Blue Jackets coming up on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
In his 12 years as an NHL goalie, Connor Hellebuyck has strung together quite the resumé.
Since winning the Mike Richter Award, recognizing the strongest goalie in the NCAA, in 2014, he's become a three-time Vezina Trophy winner (2020, 2024, 2025), the first American-born netminder to win the Hart Trophy as the league-wide MVP (2025), and a three-time NHL All Star (2020, 2024, 2025). He's twice recorded the lowest goals against average across the NHL (2024, 2025), and most recently, he backstopped the United States men to their first Olympic gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Games.
But there's one honor that has evaded Hellebuyck so far: a Stanley Cup.
The 33-year-old said he believes that New Jersey is where he'll finally achieve that goal.
"[New Jersey's plan] aligns perfectly with where I'm at in my career. I'm here to win, and the only thing I've got left on my resume is a Stanley Cup," Hellebuyck said at his first news conference as a Devil on Saturday. "Seeing that these guys have got their vision tight on that as well, it's just going to fit perfectly."
Hellebuyck joins the Devils after a months-long trade saga that began after he requested to be moved from the Winnipeg Jets this summer. When the offseason came to a close with no agreement in sight, Hellebuyck failed to report to training camp on time, resulting in his suspension from the team.
The suspension was set to end on Friday. Instead, Hellebuyck found himself headed to the other side of the continent in a new set of colors.
He hasn't played an NHL game since April 13, a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. While he admits that his self-managed personal practices over the last several weeks don't quite match up to the NHL-caliber environment he's been missing, Hellebuyck is confident he'll find his ice legs again soon enough.
"I don't think, at this point in my career, it's going to take me long," he said. "That being said, I think that's just one of those challenges. You adapt, and you adapt quick, but I thankfully have some experience under my belt."
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Rumors swirled as the 2026-27 campaign got underway about which teams were interested in Hellebuyck. Though he has struggled in the playoffs historically, posting a 24-34 record across seven postseason campaigns, he offers a reliable veteran presence in net that could offer a significant boost to many teams around the league.
Hellebuyck entered the negotiation period with a complete no-movement clause, giving him full control over his destination. He said he was drawn to New Jersey due to the organization's skill, size on defense, culture, and willingness "to do whatever it takes" to earn a championship.
"Sitting at home for so long was getting to me," he said. "I'm joining a very skilled group. I know that they're bringing me in for a really specific role, and I'm really excited to try to fill that role — not only on the ice, but off the ice as well ... There's nothing to not be excited about."
The trade — which sent three players, a prospect drafted just this summer, and two draft picks to Winnipeg — slashed New Jersey's forward pool. But Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said Hellebuyck was worth it, especially if it means earning the franchise's first Stanley Cup since 2003.
"Everything is about winning," said Mehta, who the Devils hired on April 16. "Everything is trying to make this team better every single day. That's been my goal since I got here."
While the Montreal Canadiens took on the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night, their alumni enjoyed a bonding dinner ahead of Saturday night’s alumni game against the former Winnipeg Jets. It’s been so long since the Habs played an outdoor game that only Paul Byron was in the lineup when the Habs took on the Ottawa Senators in the NHL 100. Go back one more year, and P.K. Subban, David Desharnais, and Andrei Markov all played in the 2016 Winter Classic against the Boston Bruins. While he attended the dinner, Subban won't play in the game.
Of course, some players have been retired for a long time, including Chris Nilan, Patrice Brisebois, Maxim Lapierre, and Stephane Quintal. In net, Jaroslav Halak and Yann Danis will split the workload, and they’ll have their hands full against a Jets roster that includes Dustin Byfuglien, Blake Wheeler, Andre Ladd, Bryan Little, and Tobias Engstrom. At the time of writing there were still some tickets available for the old-timers game are still available on Ticketmaster. If you are in Winnipeg for tomorrow’s event, you might as well splash out to enjoy the full experience.
If you didn’t make the trip but want a memento, the Canadiens have already put their outdoor games auction online, including the jersey the Habs alumnus will wear in Saturday night’s game. Buyer beware, however: Mike Cammalleri’s jersey clearly states it’s only prepared and won’t be worn or autographed, suggesting the fan favorite might not be at the event; he wasn’t in the dinner photo. The game will be available to watch on the Jets’ website.
Hopefully, everything goes smoothly tonight, and there are no accidents. 10 years ago, in 2016, ahead of the alumni game between the Habs and the Boston Bruins, Denna Laing played in the women’s game between the Boston Pride and Montreal Canadiennes. Unfortunately, she fell and went headfirst into the boards, breaking her neck and suffering a serious spinal cord injury, which has left her in a wheelchair. To this day, she remains an inspiration and a spokesperson for those who suffer a similar fate.
Connor Hellebuyck was introduced by the Devils on Saturday.
Near the end of his press conference Saturday, after answering questions about his New Jersey knowledge and his Olympic memories and how he can be the missing piece for this Devils core, Connor Hellebuyck fielded one about the Winnipeg fans.
About his message to them after the 33-year-old spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Jets before a messy breakup that ultimately ended with a blockbuster Friday — when Winnipeg sent him to New Jersey in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
Hellebuyck requested a trade in the offseason, didn’t show up to training camp and was then suspended by the Jets, but he said he hopes that the Jets fans “know I care about them” while deflecting any further reflection until a later date.
Connor Hellebuyck (37) of the New Jersey Devils answers questions during a press conference prior to a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
“I mean, there’s a lot,” Hellebuyck told reporters Saturday, when he was introduced by the Devils. “There’s a lot that I need to say, but they have the Heritage Game coming up — so out of respect for them and for the celebration of hockey, I’m gonna postpone that to a later date.”
It was the saga — along with Dylan Larkin in Detroit — that defined the NHL season to this point, especially with his suspension reportedly set to end and a potential return to Winnipeg, of all things, after months of drama, still on the table.
But a trade had always appeared to be the most likely solution, and after joining Martin Brodeur as high-profile goalies to play for the Devils this century, Hellebuyck, who hasn’t played in a game since the end of last season, said Saturday he doesn’t think he’ll need long to ramp up before returning.
Connor Hellebuyck of the New Jersey Devils holds up his jersey during a press conference prior to a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. NHLI via Getty ImagesWinnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck warms up before the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Dallas. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
He said that sitting at home for so long, as the rest of the NHL continued operating around him, “was getting to me,” and Hellebuyck oozed with excitement when talking about the chance for a fresh start that doubles as a reunion with Team USA hero Jack Hughes — who Hellebuyck watched score the game-winning goal in Milan from the other end of the ice.
Hellebuyck will also have a chance to fix perhaps the Devils’ most glaring weakness and help them have a chance to finally make a deep postseason run with a core that includes Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt.
“It aligns perfectly with where I’m at in my career,” Hellebuyck said. “I’m here to win, and the only thing I’ve got left on my résumé is a Stanley Cup. So seeing that these guys have kinda got their vision tight on that as well, it’s just gonna fit perfectly.”
Luke Glendening is expected to make his New York Rangers debut on Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators.
The Rangers signed Glendening to a one-year, $850,000 contract on Thursday after bringing him in on a PTO.
The Rangers will be without Joe Veleno for at least three months as he recovers from a lower-body injury and have been searching for a fourth-line center in the wake of his absence.
With the Blueshirts sending Justin Dowling down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, it opens the door for Glendening to take his spot as the team’s fourth-line center and is a clear indication that he’ll be in the lineup on Saturday night.
“Luke obviously has a significant body of work in the league,” Sullivan said. “The type of player that he is, he’s been a real reliable, conscientious player. Kills penalties. Really good in the face-off circle. He built a career on that element of his game and prides himself on that.
“Obviously, we've got a little bit of challenge with respect to depth at the center position, and I think Chris (Drury) and his guys thought that we'd bring him in and see if potentially he could help us.”
The 38-year-old forward was signed to a PTO by the Tampa Bay Lightning during training camp, and while he didn’t make the Lightning’s opening-night roster, he admitted that the experience “reinvigorated him.”
Glendening started the 2026-27 season without a job, but the Rangers came to him with an opportunity on Oct. 19, offering him a PTO. Just a few days later, they signed him to a full-time contract.
“I went from playing dress up and Barbies to playing in the National Hockey League, so it’s a wild ride,” Glendening said.
Throughout his 13-season NHL career, Glendening has played for the Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers, recording 85 goals, 90 assists, and 175 points.
The Chicago Blackhawks were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens at the United Center on Friday night. Outside of Connor Bedard’s first-period goal that gave Chicago a 1-0 lead, the game was an overall disaster for Chicago.
Whether it was zone entries, breaking the puck out of the defensive zone, or refraining from giving up short-handed chances, the Blackhawks were as lousy as they’ve been at any point in the young season.
At 3-7-0, they don’t have any answers, but they're looking to figure it out. It won’t happen overnight, but talent must meet the work ethic and commitment to consistently getting better. Sometimes, veteran leadership must lead the way for that to happen.
Connor Bedard is a wonderful young captain, and Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and others will make great leaders over time. However, veteran players with big-game experience can go a long way in these situations.
One player in Chicago’s locker room who can speak to that is defenseman Ian Cole. On Friday night, Cole played in the 1000th game of his accomplished NHL career.
Cole has now suited up for 10 games with the Blackhawks, but he's spent most of his career moving around the league. Cole has also played for the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Utah Mammoth.
There have been many deep playoff runs, and two of them ended with a Stanley Cup. He has also been on a few losing teams, including his current situation in Chicago. Understanding both ends of the spectrum makes him a valuable piece on the current team.
"I've been very fortunate to be on good teams," Cole said after his 1000th game. "There are many things that make them good, but consistency is number one. We were consistently doing the right things, completing plays, continuing to push the pace both as a team and individually. We need to find that. In the first 10 minutes, we'll look really good, and then it doesn't carry through the full 60. We need to find a level of consistency in our game to win hockey games. If we don't find that, it's going to be tough."
Cole talked about having those conversations with the team ahead of the next practice. He hasn't been with the organization for very long, but his 1000 games of NHL experience plus many playoff/Stanley Cup Final games should allow his voice to speak loudly.
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ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues held a team-only meeting a couple days ago and decided that their style of play would encapsulate one way:
“Just want to be relentless,” Blues forward Dylan Holloway said.
The disclosure came on the heels of an impressive 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, the first of two straight games for the Blues (5-4-1) on their current five-game homestand against the past two Stanley Cup finalists with the Carolina Hurricanes (8-2-2), the defending champs in town for a Saturday game (6 p.m.; Blue Note+, ESPN 101.1-FM).
“We just stuck to the way we were playing and it paid off,” Holloway said of Thursday’s win. “Just a lot of communication from our bench. We had some good team meetings (Wednesday), so I think they paid off. Just going over our identity, how we want to play as a team and what kind of identity we want to establish. It kind of just got everybody on the same page.”
Now the question is, can they maintain that same kind of identity? Can they maintain a level of play that’s demanding on a daily basis?
“What it takes is commitment, right,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “If anybody watches who we play (tonight), they watch them play, they would say they’re relentless and it’s every game, it’s every night, it’s every practice. So, what it takes is a commitment. It’s a simple thing to say, ‘I’m going to be relentless,’ but it takes a lot of hard work, and that’s where the commitment comes in.
“… This is a great opportunity. We’re really happy with the way we played. Can we do it again against the team that plays relentless, the most competitive team in the NHL? There’s no surprises. They’re coming hard to your net every chance. Any turnover off of O-zone, off the forecheck, off the neutral zone, are you going to beat them back at your net? Offensively, they’re in your face everywhere. You’ll have defensemen down at the goal line, so if you make a good decision with the puck, are you going to beat that guy to their net? One-on-one loose puck battles, are you going to be first on it? This is a real good test for us about being able to rinse-repeat with that same kind of effort and determination and also do it against the Stanley Cup champs. We did it last game against Vegas, Stanley Cup finalists. I just really like where the schedule just happened to be this time of year for the way we’re playing.”
How Montgomery and the coaching staff deliver that message will also play a big role in this.
“There’s been books written about it, so you’re always trying to find different ways to sell being relentless,” Montgomery said. “Whether it’s different words within your structure, but what I love is the word relentless came from them. It’s not us saying that we need to be like that, it’s them wanting to be like that and they took the action. Now, can we repeat it? It’s rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat. You’re not going to win every game just because you’re relentless because other teams are trying to win hockey games too, but you’re going to give yourself an opportunity and people are going to know when they play the St. Louis Blues, they’re in for a hockey game. They better be ready. We’ve got to get to that level.”
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Defenseman Quinton Burns, recalled on Friday night from Springfield of the American Hockey League, not only played on Friday for the Thunderbirds in their 3-2 loss at Charlotte, but then got the word that he was coming to the NHL for the first time.
The third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft was on a 6:30 a.m. (CT) flight out of Charlotte Saturday morning early and in St. Louis in time to get on the ice this morning to take in the optional morning skate.
Adrenaline was high, to say the least despite the whirlwind of the past 12 hours or so.
“It’s been busy, not a lot of sleep,” Burns said. “I got done with my game in Charlotte yesterday and then got the news. It was really exciting, was on a flight early this morning here, so it was pretty cool.
“Just pure excitement, right? Just so many people to thank. It takes so many people to help me get here and yeah, it’s just pure excitement. There wasn’t a lot of words when I got told. Just really happy to be here and looking forward to getting to work.”
Burns started off his first pro season last year with Florida of the ECHL, playing 16 games there (one goal, five assists, plus-10) before getting summoned up to Springfield, where he finished the season playing 31 regular-season games (five assists, 92 penalty minutes), then playing seven games there this season (one assist) before getting the call up.
It’s been a culmination of hard work and determination to get here, and the Blues recognized it. It is also a chance for Theo Lindstein, who was assigned to the Thunderbirds late Thursday, to play rather than sit here in St. Louis.
“What do we got, like four games in the next week? We only have six healthy defensemen right now,” Montgomery said. “Good opportunity for Lindstein to go down and get good ice time during those 3-4 games, and Burns is getting rewarded for all his hard work.
“Last year, his first year in pro went down to the East Coast League, worked his way back up to Springfield. Springfield just kept getting better and better. Great team guy, will fight for his teammates, will do anything to help his team win, block shots, smart defenseman. We believe if he continues to progress has a real good chance of being a real good defenseman in the league for a long time. That’s the organization again rewarding someone for how they’ve really made a commitment to their development.
“I think (the physicality has) always been there. He’s as old school as it gets. The Plagers would love him, (Barret) Jackman loves him.”
There are no promises Burns will play in this stint here, so the 6-foot-2, 198-pound left-handed shot will soak up as much as he can and absorb as much information as possible, and if the opportunity presents itself, he will be ready.
“Just taking it day by day; obviously I’d love to play a game,” Burns said. “But yeah, I’m just here to work and if my name gets called upon, I’ll be ready to go and looking forward to it.
“I feel like my game feels pretty good right now. I just try to play simple. I try to be relentless and be really hard to play against. That’s my identity, move the puck quick and be really hard to play against defensively and physical and that’s just what I’m looking to bring here. I’ve got to be myself.
“It’s been a journey. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, getting sent down to Florida. Obviously you don’t want to get sent down, but I just went to work and tried to get better and eventually when I got my chance up in Springfield, I thought I took it and I thought I played good. I had a really good summer and now I’m here. It just shows if you work hard and don’t get discouraged, good things will happen, so I’m just really happy.”
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At Saturday’s optional morning skate, injured skaters Logan Mailloux (hand), Ross Johnston (lower body) and Alexey Toropchenko (upper body) all were participants on the ice.
Toropchenko has been skating all week and was putting in a full workload minus the contact and is closest to returning.
“’Torpo’s really close,” Montgomery said. “I believe by Tuesday I would think he’s ready. That’s where he’s at, very close. Way ahead of schedule. We didn’t expect to have him back for a minimum four weeks and four weeks isn’t until like next Friday.”
Now will Toropchenko, injured in the season-opener against the Dallas Stars, jump right back in? That all depends since Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and Otto Stenberg have looked strong in their two games with Pius Suter on the fourth line.
“It does afford you the time to be patient, and if you want to see if those young men can consistently deliver the same thing they’ve given us for two games,” Montgomery said. “I thought their first game was good, I thought they raised their level the second game, and that’s what you want to see is guys not only be excited to play that first game but to be full-time NHLers and show the grit, the pace and the mental aptitude to get better.”
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Don’t look now, but the Blues’ power-play suddenly is eighth in the league after scoring in five straight games (6-for-17), including 2-for-2 against Vegas Thursday.
What’s changed from the start of the season with new assistant coach Vinny Prospal running the show?
“I think changing habits takes a while, and Vinny talks a lot about shooting and shot volume and converging at the net and have numbers at the net and to the goals, and I think our power play last year was slow, and it wasn’t about converging, it was about moving the puck around and waiting for the right opportunity,” Montgomery said. “So he’s changed the mindset and they understood it right away, but to change your own habits, that takes a couple of weeks anyways.”
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud
Connor McMichael-Mason McTavish-Jonatan Berggren
Jake Neighbours-Dalibor Dvorsky-Pavel Buchnevich
Aleksanteri Kaskimaki-Pius Suter-Otto Stenberg
Philip Broberg-Justin Barron
Adam Jiricek-Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler-Brandon Carlo
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
The healthy scratch includes Quinton Burns. Logan Mailloux (hand), Tyler Tucker (knee), Alexey Toropchenko (upper body), Dillon Dube (neck) and Ross Johnston (lower body) are out.
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Hurricanes Projected Lineup:
William Carrier-Sebastian Aho-Andrei Svechnikov
Nikolaj Ehlers-Logan Stankoven-Jackson Blake
Jordan Martinook-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Seth Jarvis
Eric Robinson-Skyler Brind'Amour-Nicolas Deslauriers
Jacob Slavin-Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller-Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere-Juuso Valimaki
Pyotr Kochetkov is projected to start in goal; Brandon Bussi would be the backup.
Healthy scratches could include Felix Unger Sorum and Mike Reilly. Taylor Hall (upper body), Mark Jankowski (lower body) and Jordan Staal (calf) are out.
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When the Winnipeg Jets finally traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on Friday, the reaction to the return was mixed. A debate has since taken hold on would the Jets have been better off with the deal that reportedly sat on the table at the NHL Draft?
Winnipeg sent Hellebuyck to New Jersey for forward Dawson Mercer, recent 12th overall pick Alexander Command, veteran center Nick Bjugstad, who is currently on the injured reserve, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Reports after the draft said the Jets had a Hellebuyck deal available from the Buffalo Sabres. According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, the package would have included the fourth overall pick, which Buffalo used on Daxon Rudolph, plus starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a player believed to be Jack Quinn and at least one more asset.
The Sabres also reportedly wanted Winnipeg's eighth overall pick as part of the deal. Comparing the two packages piece by piece, the Devils' offer comes out ahead, if only slightly in some areas.
In goal, Luukkonen is the more established NHL name, while Daws is two years younger and earlier in his development. Daws went 9-11-0 with a 3.15 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage in his first NHL season, then returned to the minors and improved.
Over the next two seasons, he went 5-2-0 with a 2.02 GAA and a .925 save percentage, all team-leading marks for the Devils over that span. This season, he allowed six goals on 32 shots in his season opener against the New York Islanders, but quickly rebounded, allowing five goals on 54 shots over his next three starts, nabbing two wins. Luukkonen has shown he can be a fringe NHL starter, while the jury is still out on Daws.
Among forwards, Mercer and Quinn are very close as the Sabres winger has ten points in as many games this season and a career high of 51 points, while mostly being a 40-to-50-point player.
Mercer, a year younger at 24, has a slighly higher career best of 56 points and so far has four assists but no goal in ten games this season. Quinn is listed mainly as a winger, while Mercer can play right wing and center, giving Winnipeg added flexibility that matters in today's NHL. Both are pending restricted free agents, so neither has an edge in financial flexibility but Mercer appears to be the slightly better option.
The draft picks may be the clearest difference as Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said at his press conference that Winnipeg was going to select Viggo Björck wherever it was picking if he was available. A trade with Buffalo would therefore have meant moving up to fourth overall for a player the Jets landed at eighth overall anyway.
Under the Devils deal, Winnipeg kept the pick, got Björck and added Command, an 18-year-old center who is unlikely to reach the NHL for several years. Both prospects are from Sweden and have already been in touch, and the pair could give the Jets a long-term one-two punch down the middle.
The unnamed additional asset in the Buffalo offer makes it hard to judge that package in full. But whatever it was would have had to outweigh a return that also includes Bjugstad, a depth center and pending free agent, and two picks, including the second-rounder. Cheveldayoff said he can use the added assets at the trade deadline to help further bolster the roster.
Bjugstad is recovering from surgery last month on a torn muscle and is expected to be out four to six months, though Cheveldayoff said some issues remain under a doctor's care. He is on IR in Winnipeg and will not need to be placed on long-term injured reserve.
Mercer could make his Jets debut as early as Sunday, when Winnipeg hosts the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium. If he plays well, it could leave a positive impression early on that Cheveldayoff made the right move by sticking to his guns.
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Through the first 10 games of their 84-game season, the Devils rank second among all NHL teams in expected goal differential (+11.36, or +1.136 per game), but rank third worst in goal differential above expected (-9.36, or -0.936 per game).
Both of the goalies that have manned the net for the Devils this season - veteran Jake Allen and Winnipeg-bound Nico Daws - have struggled, combining to allow a whopping 6.0 total goals above expected thus far.
For reference, Hellebuyck was viewed to have had a very poor season by his standards in 2025-26, but still recorded 5.5 total goals saved above expected across 57 games played.
Within this context, New Jersey's solid 6-4-0 start to the year can be viewed as an underperformance, one which Mehta has reasonably diagnosed as a goaltending issue.
However, the other NHL players sent by the Devils to Winnipeg in exchange for Hellebuyck were forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad.
In solving one key issue (goaltending), Mehta may have created another (forward depth).
Mercer's versatility and complementary style could be greatly missed by the Devils moving forward. In 2025-26, he partnered center Nico Hischier and winger Timo Meier on what was, by far, the team's most productive and reliable forward line. Together, the trio played a team-high 476 minutes across 54 games, generating a total expected goal differential of +8.2.
Mercer scored 20 goals and added 22 assists in 2025-26, and at time of writing, he has an ongoing ironman streak, having suited up in 420 straight contests dating back to his NHL debut in 2021.
Apr 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Prudential Center. / Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
This season, Mercer was supplanted by newcomer Luke Evangelista on that forward line alongside Hischier and Meier. Mercer was instead mostly deployed alongside center Evan Rodrigues and winger Anthony Mantha on the Devils' third line.
Mercer is yet to open his scoring account this season, tallying four assists in the last 10 games he's played as a Devil.
Bjugstad, meanwhile, is a bottom-six veteran center who averaged just 10:00 minutes of ice time per game in the 26 games he played last season with New Jersey after he was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in early February of 2026. He underwent surgery for a torn left pec in September and is currently on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) with an expected return sometime in early 2027.
With a productive first two forward lines - top line of Arseny Gritsyuk and Jesper Bratt centered by Jack Hughes, second line of Evangelista and Meier centered by Hischier - head coach Sheldon Keefe will be tasked with finding the right combination of players to anchor the Devils' bottom-six forward lines.
Bottom-six forwards are often overlooked, but are crucial gears within a winning machine. These two forward lines provide short bursts of energetic, physical, defensively sound play, mucking up possession and trying to generate scoring opportunities through aggressive forechecking rather than end-to-end skill. As such, bottom-six forwards are also relied upon for penalty-killing duties.
The aforementioned Rodrigues won two Stanley Cups as a versatile bottom-six forward with the Florida Panthers. Mantha set career highs in both goals (33) and assists (31) with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, but at 6'5" and 240 pounds, he's also an intimidating presence on the ice who is a prototypical third-line spark plug.
Wingers Connor Brown and Stefan Noesen are grit-and-sandpaper types, willing and able to serve limited roles on the fourth line and as penalty-kill specialists. With the Devils' forward depth suddenly looking mighty thin, the top priority for these aging veterans is to stay healthy and productive.
With Mercer and Bjugstad now out of the picture, center Cody Glass and 23-year-old rookie Amadeus Lombardi have a chance to nail down expanded roles as bottom-six stalwarts.
Glass played pretty sparingly in his 70 games last season, but recorded career-best figures in goals (19) and faceoff win percentage (57.9 percent).
Lombardi, meanwhile, is yet to score his first NHL goal through eight games this season, but has three assists to his name, two of which came in the Devils' 7-1 rout of the Rangers in their home opener.
