Category: Ice Hockey

There were plenty of eyes on the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night in Buffalo.

More than 20 scouts and NHL personnel were listed in the press box for the Wild's 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

Among the names in attendance was one that should catch the attention of Wild fans: Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper.

Considering everything that surrounded Dylan Larkin and the Wild this offseason, Draper's presence is at least noteworthy.

Larkin requested a trade from Detroit following last season, something then-Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman publicly confirmed in June. Larkin, who owns a full no-trade clause, provided Detroit with a short list of teams he would be willing to join, with Minnesota reportedly among his preferred destinations.

The Wild and Red Wings were subsequently linked in trade discussions throughout the offseason, but nothing ultimately materialized.

That makes Draper's presence in Buffalo interesting and particularly interesting on a night when Danila Yurov scored his first goal of the season.

Yurov has been one of the young Wild players whose name has surfaced in speculation surrounding what Minnesota could potentially offer Detroit in a deal for Larkin.

The 22-year-old center is one of Minnesota's most valuable young assets and would make sense as a player Detroit would have interest in if trade conversations were ever revived.

With Draper watching from the press box Tuesday, Yurov gave him a pretty good look.

The former first-round pick opened the scoring at 13:53 of the second period on the power play. Jared Spurgeon found Yurov in the right circle, where he ripped a one-timer past Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis for his first goal of the season.

Danila Yurov 🏒 (1)

Jared Spurgeon 🍎 (2)

Blake Coleman 🍎 (1)#mnwildpic.twitter.com/75SfpLvYRj

— Kevin White (@KWoo2814) October 7, 2026

"I think Yurov and Shabanov are two guys that we need to step up and play well for us," Wild coach John Hynes said after the game. "I think they have."

Yurov finished the night with the goal, two shots and 14:21 of ice time. Minnesota eventually built a 2-0 lead before Buffalo scored twice in the third period and won 3-2 in overtime on Owen Power's goal with 37.4 seconds remaining.

Draper's attendance certainly doesn't mean the Red Wings were specifically scouting Yurov, nor does it mean trade talks between Minnesota and Detroit have restarted.

NHL teams routinely have scouts and executives attend games throughout the league, and Detroit was just one of many organizations represented Tuesday.

Larkin's trade request has not simply disappeared. He reported to Red Wings training camp in September, but said conversations about his future would continue once Detroit's new leadership was in place. He has five years remaining on his contract at an $8.7 million cap hit.

Minnesota was also reportedly one of the destinations Larkin was willing to waive his no-trade clause to join.

So when a high-ranking Red Wings executive shows up to a Wild game, and one of Minnesota's most intriguing young trade assets happens to score, it's difficult not to take notice.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have made their first roster move since signing veteran winger Michael Bunting on Tuesday, sending Alex Bump down to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to clear a roster spot and a place in the lineup.

The move doesn't exactly come as a surprise by the Flyers, as Bump, 22, had just four shots on goal in three games this season, and was benched in Game 2 against New Jersey, finishing with just 8:18 of ice time.

Bump was a healthy scratch for the Flyers for Monday's 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet opting to dress the now-healthy Denver Barkey instead.

With Barkey healthy for the first time since the early stages of training camp and Bunting now in the fold, the Flyers have decided that, rather than having Bump waste away in the press box, the promising young forward will instead get game time and reps down in the AHL with the Phantoms.

Presumably, Bump will immediately assume a top-line role with the Flyers' farm team, reuniting with good buddy Cole Knuble, who enjoyed a fantastic training camp, and top center prospect Jett Luchanko.

Flyers Signing Michael Bunting Is Admission of Cracks in the ArmorBy signing Michael Bunting, the Philadelphia Flyers are cranking up the pressure on their underperforming roster.

The 22-year-old winger scored five goals, four assists, and nine points in 17 games with the Flyers last season, and added two goals in six playoff appearances.

The NHL can be unpredictable, as has been established amid the Flyers' woeful 0-2-2 start, and there is a very real possibility it may not be long before Bump finds himself in the NHL again.

An underwhelming training camp and preseason slate didn't work in his favor, and the dire state of the Flyers as currently constructed left them in a difficult position.

For now, Bump returns to the AHL with the Phantoms, for whom he scored 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points in 36 games last season before earning his promotion to the NHL ranks with the Flyers.

The New York Islanders announced Wednesday morning that the team signed defenseman  Vladimir Dravecky to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The #Isles just signed Vladimir Dravecky to his ELC.

“He’s unreal and seems like a steal of a pick.” — Cal Ritchie

More on the 2026 fifth-rounder from an NHL scout, teammates + my exclusive Q&A with the young D-man @TheElmonters ⤵️https://t.co/MfUKhNvi02

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 7, 2026

The Islanders drafted Dravecky, 18, in the fifth-round of the 2026 NHL Draft with the 141st overall pick.

The Czech defender's been off to a hot start with the Guelph Storm, posting one goal and four points in four games for the Storm. His skating is one area that already looks better than it did in his draft year.

Dravecky posted nine goals and 28 points in 58 games last season while with an elite Brampton Bulldogs team, as well as three assists in 11 playoff games.

He's also posted 7 points in 4 games with the Czech u20 team this year, building off his World Juniors appearances for the Czech junior team.

At the time of the draft, people felt the Islanders landed incredible value with his work ethic and potential upside.

Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee, who coached against Dravecky last season, in that camp. Then, rookie camp started, and Dravecky blew the doors down. He excelled in all situations, and even had a strong showing with his one NHL preseason game. 

"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said during Rookie Camp.

McKee continued with effusive praise for the right-shot defenseman.

"Vlad is a very highly skilled, offensive-minded defenseman. Just saying, he's one of the best practice players I've ever coached or even played with," McKee said. "He's intense. He does everything with a purpose. Snaps his passes. He's got an active stick. He's a very, very talented player. You know, like all of them [the prospects]. There's areas of improvement, but his potential and his upside is very high."

The Islanders could use the depth in the prospect pool, especially for the right side of their defense.

The hope is that Dravecky, along with fellow 2026 draftee Lincoln Kuehne and Hamilton youngster Ryan Healey, can fill those gaps.

The Islanders have some time, but continued development is paramount for success. Kuehne will spend this year with Arizona State. Healey, meanwhile, gets his first taste of professional hockey.

Dravecky will spend this year in the OHL with the Guelph Storm and look to build on that incredible first impression next season.

Dravecky turns 19 in December, and its unclear what his developmental path will be following this season in the OHL.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins kicked off their season in the AHL with a 0-1-1 week.

Quick game recaps from WBSPenguins:

Saturday, Oct. 3 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Springfield 3 (OT)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opened its 2026-27 season in front of an excited, passionate crowd in Northeast PA. However, Springfield scored payback after being eliminated by the Penguins in last year’s playoffs. Atley Calvert scored both of the Penguins’ goals, including a shorthanded tally midway through the second period. The Thunderbirds won 1:50 into overtime.

Sunday, Oct. 4 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hartford 3
The Penguins seized an early lead a mere 86 seconds into the contest when D-man Jake Livanavage notched his first AHL goal. The Wolf Pack flipped the game in the middle frame, scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. Hartford ran its lead to 3-1 late with its second man-advantage marker of the day, but Avery Hayes quickly buried an extra-attacker goal to pull the Pens within one.

The Pens used 11 forward + seven defensemen lineups in both games. Ideally from the AHL perspective the crowded house in Pittsburgh with a couple forwards on IR will eventually lead to a quality player at this level dropping down, like David Gustafsson did in time for the second game lineup here.

Maleek McGowan makes his AHL debut tonight!

Catch the action on AHLTV on FloHockey: https://t.co/oFOWvR0WAhpic.twitter.com/XXjEvEdipi

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 4, 2026

Overall on the week there weren’t a lot of standouts with the team scoring four total goals and losing both games, though it wasn’t for a lack of trying with the team piling up 85 shots over the two games. Atley Calvert continues to impress, he scored a pair of those goals. The goalies posted identical stat lines over the two games, with both Joel Blomqvist and Taylor Gauthier stopping 20 shots on 23 attempts for an .870 save percentage. Blomqvist picked up the overtime loss, Gauthier fell in regulation.

The slow start continues this weekend, WBS plays only two games in the upcoming week with Saturday and Sunday matchups scheduled on the road for a tour of New England. The Penguins will be in Hartford on Saturday night then turnaround quickly for a Sunday afternoon game in Providence.

The New York Islanders dropped their game against the New York Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday night inside Madison Square Garden. Though it looks like a blowout, the game was effectively 3-2 until Alexis Lafreniére potted not one but two empty-net goals to seal the win for the Rangers. 

The story became about two other things for the Islanders as the night evolved.

First, Alexander Romanov suffered an undisclosed injury, and is still being evaluated. An update is expected at some point Wednesday.

The other main storyline is the unbelievable, surreal return for Semyon Varlamov from partial double-knee replacement surgery.

For a 38-year-old goaltender, you'd not be surprised in the least to think that would be it for his career.

Instead, Varlamov rehabbed and worked hard for two years, and returned for his first NHL start in 676 days. Varlamov just enjoyed the moment Tuesday.

“I was having a lot of fun out there," Varlamov said postgame. "[It was] a little bit emotional in the beginning, especially during the warm-up.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results today," The veteran netminder continued. "But the whole experience was awesome.”

Unfortunately for the Islanders and Varlamov, the team did not play their best game. The Islanders coughed up far too many Grade-A chances, and the Rangers took advantage.

“Considering the circumstances, I thought he was a warrior for us out in there today," Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer said postgame. "I give him full marks for what he’s gone through to come back, and this is the first step for him.”

The trouble started from the first shot of the game. Oliver Bjorkstrand was left entirely unmarked from a dangerous position.

Bjorkstrand sniped it top shelf, burying it over Varlamov's glove

."The first shot was a great shot," Varlamov said. "He did surprise me a little bit on that one. Short side goal. That's not how you wanted to start a game.

"But you know it is what it is," Varlamov continued. "I gave up the the first first goal, the first shot, but I was trying to just not to think about it too much, and then kind of like move on quickly, and then continue to just stay focused on the game."

Varlamov's composure was key, as the Rangers fired off high-danger chances one after another.

Lafreniére's first of his hat trick came on a partial breakaway just 25 seconds into the second period, sniping one over Varlamov's glove.

The ESPN broadcast pointed it out, and made it out to be a potential weakness.

Varlamov proceeded to make multiple big glove saves from then onward, not allowing another goal to beat him on that side.

The Islanders clawed back from down 2-0 to tie the game, but a late second period penalty spelled doom.

The Islanders completely lost their assignments on a puck battle, and when the Rangers emerged with it, Bjorkstrand stood all alone on the opposite side of the rink, waiting for a pass.

The pass came, and the sniper rifled it home over Varlamov's blocker, a shot he had no chance at.

The Islanders then could not do much of anything in the third period with the puck, but Varlamov kept them in it til the very end. Varlamov made 10 third-period saves to keep the Islanders alive, until the empty-net goals.

That was all she wrote, and the Rangers won 5-2. Postgame, Varlamov physically felt 100%.

“Everything feels great," Varlamov said. "Everything feels 100%. Nothing holds me back. I felt like I finished the game strong, and then did not have any issues.”

The Islanders' next three games are all at home, followed by a two-game road trip to Ontario to see the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Varlamov' next start will likely be one of those two games, if not the home game next Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.

Darcy Kuemper finally looked like himself again. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Kings, it still wasn’t enough.

The former Colorado Avalanche goaltender and 2022 Stanley Cup champion stopped 26 of 28 shots Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, but the Kings lost 2-1. After giving up eight goals to Colorado in the season opener and then watching Anton Forsberg get the start against San Jose, Kuemper was back in net and gave Los Angeles a much-needed performance.

Kuemper was solid from the start and made several big saves as the game went on. It was a much different showing from the season opener, and for a night, he looked more like the goaltender who was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2024-25.

The Kings gave him an early lead to work with.

Alex Laferriere made it 1-0 late in the first period, putting home a rebound after Erik Haula created the chance from behind the net. Los Angeles had a chance to add another goal in the second when Florida took two penalties, including 66 seconds of five-on-three, but the Kings couldn't score.

That ended up hurting them.

Just six seconds after the final penalty expired, Seth Jones tied the game for Florida. From there, the Kings had trouble generating much offensively. They finished 0-for-5 on the power play, while their penalty kill went 6-for-6.

Florida eventually took the lead in the third period. A turnover in the neutral zone sent the Panthers the other way, and Matthew Tkachuk beat Kuemper with 8:40 remaining. Los Angeles pushed for the equalizer and pulled Kuemper late, but Florida held on.

Kuemper played well enough to win. He just didn't get enough help in front of him.

Through two starts, Kuemper is 0-2 with a 5.11 goals-against average and a .825 save percentage. Those are rough numbers, especially for a goaltender who is trying to get his starting job back.

Kuemper has been here before, though. He was in net for Colorado when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, and he followed that up with a Vezina Trophy finalist finish in 2024-25. The Kings signed him expecting that version of Kuemper.

So far, they haven't gotten it consistently.

His situation became even more interesting last season when he lost the starting job to Forsberg down the stretch. Forsberg went on to start every game of the Kings' first-round playoff series, which ended with Los Angeles being swept by Kuemper's former team, the Avalanche.

Now Kuemper is trying to get his crease back.

Tuesday was at least a step in the right direction. He stopped 26 of 28 shots and kept Los Angeles within a goal until the final minutes. The Kings couldn't find enough offense to get him the win, but this was the kind of performance Kuemper needed.

The challenge now is doing it again.

The Utah Mammoth are having a strong start to the season, as evidenced by their 3-1-0 record so far.

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Schmaltz is a big reason behind Utah's good start the campaign, as he has been excellent for them.

In four games so far this season with the Mammoth, Schmaltz has recorded five goals and seven points. His five goals are currently at the top of the entire NHL, so there is no question that the former Blackhawks forward is impressing right now.

Schmaltz has scored at least one goal in each of his first four games of the season. He is also not showing any signs of slowing down, as he had one goal and three points in Utah's most recent game against the New Jersey Devils.

Schmaltz was selected by the Blackhawks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, 20th overall. In 162 games over three seasons with the Blackhawks from 2016-17 to 2018-19, he posted 29 goals, 62 assists, 91 points, and a plus-7 rating.

Luke Schenn has never ordered room service from a hotel when on an NHL road trip. Not a single time in his 1126-game NHL career. 

As the Vancouver Canucks prepare to embark on one of their longest road trips throughout the 2026–27 season, Schenn is looking at keeping things that way.  

The act of rallying teammates together for a dinner on the road is something known throughout the NHL as a custom for team-bonding. It serves as a good means of spending time in different cities after practices and team-obligations wrap for the day. 

“That’s the best part about the NHL, is getting out there and getting to know your teammates,” Schenn told The Hockey News ahead of Vancouver’s trip out east. 

The Canucks’ upcoming road trip will push the team through six different games in the span of a little less than two weeks. After facing the Carolina Hurricanes on October 8, Vancouver will head to New Jersey and New York to face the Devils, Rangers, and Islanders on the 10th, 11th, and 13th respectively, before heading down-south to Florida to play the Panthers on the 15th and the Tampa Bay Lightning on the 17th. 

It’s the first long road trip for the Canucks during the early stages of the 2026–27 season, which means this trip will be when things like team-dinner organizers and airplane seatmates are sorted out. 

Given his experience throughout the league, the role of the team’s rallying figure is usually something Schenn takes on. 

“I would say 70 percent [of the time], probably. Decent amount,” he said. “When you’ve been around a long time, you kind of know the spots to go, and it’s easy to get a group together — throw it in the group text, and get some guys together and have some fun, have some laughs.” 

Those 1126 games have seen Schenn take on roles with 10 different teams throughout the NHL — the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and, of course, the Canucks. Through these experiences, he’s seen how the road-trip team-bonding culture has changed. 

“I think probably few guys that meet up for a beer a little more often, probably when you get into a city, that’s just kind of the old school environment of how the NHL used to be, I would say [...] now, obviously, with the speed of the game and the schedule, it’s a lot more recovery, I would say.” 

It’s still early in the season, which means Vancouver still hasn’t quite gotten the opportunity to do their fair share of team-bonding on the road other than their short one-game trip to open the season against the Edmonton Oilers. While they also went up to Penticton for 2026 training camp, due to the hectic schedule and large groups of players, there wasn’t much room for the players themselves to organize their dinners on their own. 

“[It’s] just a little bit different now to have the group together.” 

The road trip team-bonding experience is an essential part of the NHL experience, according to Schenn. Back at home, there are personal and familial elements to life that keep players busy off the ice. Things are different on the road.   

“I always say, I don’t remember a lot of games, good or bad, guys have had, or a lot of plays along the way. But I remember getting to know the guys and stories along the way, and some of the best memories are just getting to know your teammates.” 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Canucks’ Tough Road Trip Test Will Be Even Tougher For Jake DeBrusk

Canucks’ Jake DeBrusk & Manny Malhotra React To Paul Cotter Being Named NHL Third Star Of The Week

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The Vegas Golden Knights are having a good start to the season. At the time of this writing, they have a 3-1-0 record and are at the top of the Pacific Division.

Former Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel is a big reason for the Golden Knights' strong start to the campaign, as he is dominating right now. 

In four games so far this season with the Golden Knights, Eichel has two goals, eight assists, and 10 points. His eight assists and 10 points are also at the top of the NHL, so the former Sabres forward is on fire right now. 

Eichel is showing no signs of slowing down from his hot start to the season, either. In the Golden Knights' recent 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, the former Sabres forward recorded one goal and four points. 

Seeing Eichel have such a good start to the season is not surprising, as he is one of the NHL's top stars. Just last season with the Golden Knights, the former Sabres forward had 27 goals and 90 points in 74 games.

Eichel was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, second overall. In 375 games over six seasons with the Sabres, Eichel posted 139 goals and 355 points.

Jared Bednar isn't too concerned about Zach L’Heureux's past.

He knows about it. So does everyone else around the Avalanche.

L’Heureux has racked up 12 suspensions since the start of his career, dating back to his days in the QMJHL. He's missed 42 games because of those bans. The latest came last January, when the NHL gave him three games for slew-footing Wild captain Jared Spurgeon.

It's a long list for a 23-year-old.

But Bednar isn't looking at L’Heureux and seeing only the suspensions.

Hear from Jared Bednar following Avalanche practice today. Full presser. pic.twitter.com/OEgwVrgxP7

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) October 6, 2026

“We're aware of his past just like you guys are,” Bednar told reporters Tuesday.

There's obviously some work to do. L’Heureux has already admitted as much. But Bednar sees a young player who is still learning how to play with the physical edge that makes him effective without letting that side of his game get him into trouble.

And he's been down this road before.

When the subject of L’Heureux's history came up, Bednar brought up Nazem Kadri.

Kadri was 28 when Toronto traded him to Colorado in 2019. He wasn't a young player trying to find his way in the NHL anymore. He had been around, had established himself and had already been suspended four times for on-ice incidents.

The reputation followed him to Colorado.

So did the occasional mistake.

During the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kadri was suspended eight games for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. It was his fifth suspension for an on-ice incident and his third in the playoffs.

And then, nothing.

Kadri hasn't been suspended since.

He didn't suddenly become a different player, either. He still played with an edge. He still brought the physicality and wasn't afraid to get under an opponent's skin. He just got better at knowing when that edge was helping him and when it was going too far.

“He still kind of plays on the edge at times,” Bednar said. “But he's still, he's disciplined guy. You know, he wants to win. He's matured into knowing when he has to play physical and play with grit, and, you know, when he can, like, kind of tone that down a little bit.”

That's a pretty good blueprint for what Colorado needs from L’Heureux.

The Avalanche didn't bring him in because they wanted him to tone down everything that makes him effective. They need some bite from him. They need somebody who is willing to make opponents uncomfortable and push back when games get nasty.

Colorado has had plenty of skill. But in the playoffs, it's run into teams like Dallas and Vegas that are more than willing to make a game difficult and turn it into a fight for every inch.

🗣️Zachary L'Heureux on if he's 'chomping at the bit' to play in his first game as an Av:

"F*** yeah!!"#GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/dxHGw2CWLz

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) October 6, 2026

L’Heureux can help in those situations.

He just can't let that part of his game take over.

“We'll just watch him play,” Bednar said, “and we'll have discussions on when we think he needs to dial it back a little bit, or when he needs to ramp it up a little bit.”

That's probably the biggest thing L’Heureux has to figure out.

Not how to become less physical. Not how to stop playing with an edge. Just when to use it.

He's already said he needs to clean up that part of his game. At 23, there's still plenty of time for him to do that.

Kadri is the obvious example.

He was 28 when he arrived in Colorado and had already made plenty of mistakes in that regard. Even after joining the Avalanche, he had one more major suspension to serve before he finally got past it.

L’Heureux is getting the chance to learn that lesson much earlier.

Colorado doesn't need him to become somebody else. It needs him to figure out how to be the player he already is without constantly paying the price for it.

Bednar seems willing to give him the time to figure that out.

It was a historic night at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, as Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna scored his first NHL point and goal against the Nashville Predators.

The crowd completely erupted when his name was called on the PA for both goals that he contributed to and, of course, when his goal itself was scored.

"Definitely feeling the love from the fans," McKenna said after Toronto's 5-4 overtime win against Nashville. "That one obviously feels good, and (I) love this fan base. So to hear that, it was pretty special."

The fans were happy, but McKenna's teammates and coaches were thrilled for the 18-year-old, in a moment he called "a big monkey off the back," even if this was only his fourth NHL game.

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who had the primary assist on McKenna's goal, was asked about the moment, and his face lit up.

"It was great," Matthews said. "I mean, he's been playing great, and it can be tough when you don't score for a little bit. But, I mean, you saw he made a nice play in the D zone there. Johnny goes down and scores. And, I think it just kind of gives you a little boost. He scores the goal and gives you another little boost. He's got all the confidence in the world in himself in the best way possible. But, obviously, when you find the back of the net, it obviously helps. And it was great to see him and get that moment, and enjoy that. It's very well deserved."

Auston Matthews on Gavin McKenna: “I think you’re going to see him go on a tear now with the weight lifted off his shoulders.”

— David Alter (@davidalter) October 7, 2026

Also, for someone who has made a living of catch-and-release finishes, Matthews was impressed with McKenna's shot, labelling it as "beautiful."

"That was awesome," William Nylander said of his goal. "I mean, I was so happy for him. That moment is just something you never forget. It was a bullet, top shelf, so I'd be very happy for that one."

'In Toronto Media, You Hear About It': Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna Eyes First NHL Point Still searching for his first NHL point through three games, Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna is already learning that in Toronto’s relentless media spotlight, “you hear about it”

Also impressed with the goal was Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller."That goal was a goal-scorer's goal," he said post-game. "We know he's a playmaker, I guess. That's kind of by trade, he's a playmaker. But that was a goal-scorer's goal. Got his feet around it on the strong side, and he had some zip on it."

What Hiller liked most about McKenna's first NHL goal was how important it was for the team, and how he came through in a big moment. The rookie's goal brought the Leafs within one goal of the Preds, making it 4-3 for Nashville.

"It was a big goal in the hockey game," Hiller said. "So that's the one you remember. It was really important. It wasn't the first goal of the game. It was an important moment, and he came up big in an important moment. So I like that."

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Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Not exactly a roaring start to the season. The Mammoth went 2-for-4 on the power play and took a 5-3 game over the Devils on Tuesday. [Devils NHL]

Marty talks:

Martin Brodeur and his son Jeremy join me for a wide-ranging conversation about the Devils’ goalies, the evolution of the position, carrying the Brodeur name and passing a legendary legacy to the next generation.

WATCH: https://t.co/yrPLS1KZuR#NJDevils

— Anthony Corona (@ACoronaNJD) October 6, 2026

“Rutt’s Hut’s debut at Prudential Center was a hit with New Jersey Devils fans. A team source told NJ Hockey Now that the iconic Clifton, New Jersey hot dog stand — located in Section 15 — sold more than 1,200 ‘Ripper’ dogs during the Devils’ home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

“There are very few people who truly understand what it has meant to grow up as a New Jersey Devil. Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt have never had to explain it to one another. They were there for each other at the beginning, two teenagers trying to find their place in a new league, a new city and a life that suddenly looked very different from the one they had known. And they’ve been there for virtually everything since.” [Devils NHL]

Hockey Links

Welcome back, Dylan Larkin:

The BOOOOOOOOO birds are out for Larkin 😳👎 pic.twitter.com/3K6n65iarP

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 6, 2026

WHO ELSE BUT DYLAN LARKIN!!!

RED WINGS LEAD#Senspic.twitter.com/Tffjvj7jRg

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 6, 2026

This is it for Alex Ovechkin:

Alex Ovechkin announced to his teammates this morning that this season will be his final in the NHL pic.twitter.com/wnnnkrIl5U

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 5, 2026

Brad Marchand:

Brad Marchand has left the game with a leg injury after falling awkwardly into the post 🤕

This was just Marchand's 2nd game back from off-season surgery. pic.twitter.com/UdmYNSIhgR

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 7, 2026

“The beginning of this conversation about no-move and no-trade clauses, we do take as an attack on players’ CBA-negotiated rights. And we will treat it as such.” [The Athletic ($)]

“The past few seasons were difficult for Elias Pettersson, but these first few outings may suggest that the 27-year-old center has found his spark again. What has led to his strong start?” [The Hockey News]

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

Following Monday’s announcement that this would be Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL season, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals fans likely peeked at the schedule to see how many more times the two generation-defining rivals would face off. Luckily for us, tonight is the first of four final regular season matchups between Ovechkin and Crosby. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. in the nation’s capital. [NHL]

With that introduction out of the way…

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

The Penguins made some changes to their forward lines at Tuesday’s practice following Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, with Hendrix Lapierre moving up to Sidney Crosby’s line and Nick Robertson dropping to the fourth line. [PensBurgh]

Forward Bryan Rust appears close to returning from an upper-body injury after participating fully in Tuesday’s practice in a regular-contact jersey. Rust, who has missed Pittsburgh’s first three games, skated on a line with Ben Kindel and Ville Koivunen. [Trib Live]

News and notes from around the NHL…

The NHL has ended its “Hot for Hockey” marketing campaign less than a week after launching the series of short, romance novel-style audio stories featuring real NHL players. The league said the campaign was intended as a one-week promotion tied to the start of the season, and the seven episodes released on Spotify have since been removed, with no new installments planned. [CBC]

New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov made his first NHL start in nearly two years Tuesday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The 38-year-old returned after undergoing partial replacements on both knees and last played Nov. 29, 2024, before missing the following season. [NHL]

Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NHL draft, scored his first career goal on Tuesday night, getting one past Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros in the second period of his fourth professional game. [TSN]

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is set to miss six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury. Barkov, who missed all of last season because of a right knee injury, was hurt in his second game back and will not require surgery. [The Associated Press via Sportsnet]

Nashville Predators (1-1-1, in the Central Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (1-1-1, in the Atlantic Division)

Montreal, Quebec; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens host the Nashville Predators after Zachary Bolduc's two-goal game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Canadiens' 6-4 loss.

Montreal had a 48-24-10 record overall and a 26-19-4 record at home last season. The Canadiens had a 23.1% power play success rate last season, scoring 56 goals on 242 chances.

Nashville had a 38-34-10 record overall and a 17-17-7 record on the road last season. The Predators scored 242 total goals a season ago, averaging 3.0 per game on 27.8 shots per game.

INJURIES: Canadiens: Oliver Kapanen: day to day (lower-body), Kaiden Guhle: out (groin), Ivan Demidov: out (lower-body), Lucas Condotta: out (undisclosed), Bryce Pickford: out (undisclosed).

Predators: Justus Annunen: out (undisclosed).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Chicago Blackhawks (1-3, in the Central Division) vs. New York Islanders (1-2, in the Metropolitan Division)

Elmont, New York; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks will attempt to end a three-game road slide when they visit the New York Islanders.

New York went 43-34-5 overall and 22-17-2 in home games last season. The Islanders averaged 3.0 power-play chances per game last season, and converted on 16.5% (40 total power-play goals).

Chicago went 29-39-14 overall and 15-20-6 in road games a season ago. The Blackhawks scored 40 power-play goals last season on 236 chances for a 17.0% success rate.

INJURIES: Islanders: Mathew Barzal: out (knee), Alexander Romanov: day to day (undisclosed).

Blackhawks: Andrew Mangiapane: out (lower-body), Teuvo Teravainen: day to day (undisclosed), Ryan Ellis: out for season (back), Connor Bedard: out (shoulder).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.