The Buffalo Sabres returned home to begin a four-game homestand on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators after earning seven of a possible eight points going 3-0-1 on a four-game road trip, with an overtime loss in Washington and three wins over San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. Tage Thompson was the scoring star in the California sweep and on Monday was named the NHL First Star of the Week.
Thompson led the NHL with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in the three games, which improved their record to 7-4-3 this season. After assisting on the Zach Benson’s empty net goal in the 2-0 win over the Sharks on Tuesday. The big forward then scored a natural hat trick and a pair of assists in a 7-6 victory over the Ducks on Thursday, followed by a pair of goals in a 3-2 victory over the Kings on Saturday afternoon.
"(We)had a good trip out there, and started to play a little more consistent and (found) our game," Thompson said after practice on Monday. Yeah, "(I'm) feeling pretty good about where my games at. I felt good about it really all season. Some games they're going to go in for you, and some games are not. But I feel like for the most part, generating some pretty good looks and playing some pretty solid hockey. So we just gotta continue to build off it and keep finding ways to do better."
Thompson has 10 goals in 14 games, and is setting a torrid pace that would top his career-high 47 goals in 2022-23. The Sabres are relying on his production more than ever this season, as the only other player who is meeting or exceeding expectations so far is winger Jack Quinn, who is second in team scoring with 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore center Noah Ostlund with four goals. For the Sabres to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, Buffalo will have to get more depth scoring contributions to stay in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Pittsburgh Penguins returned to practice on Monday after Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but were without two players who played in that game.
Before practice started, Penguins PR posted on X that Evgeni Malkin and Kaedan Korczak would miss practice due to injuries and are day-to-day. Both players played against the Canadiens on Saturday and finished the game.
In response to this news, the Penguins called up forward Justin Brazeau from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after he was down there on a conditioning stint.
Kaedan Korczak (lower body) and Evgeni Malkin (lower body) are day-to-day and will not practice today.
Penguins head coach Dan Muse confirmed after practice that Brazeau is available for Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights. He's also not super concerned with Malkin's injury.
Muse said he’s not concerned that Malkin’s injury is anything too bad. Brazeau is available tomorrow.
- With the new injuries, the lines were a bit jumbled at practice. However, this is what they looked like:
Novak-Crosby-Rakell
Kuzmenko-Kindel-Chinakhov
Koivunen-Lapierre-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Robertson
- Putting Kuzmenko with Kindel is super interesting and it's time for the former to start producing. He has yet to score this season and that needs to change.
- I still like the fourth line quite a bit, and it was good to see the top line finally produce on Saturday, even in a loss. Sidney Crosby was sensational in that game and he'll need to keep playing at that level if the Penguins want to get out of this rut that they're in.
- The defense rotated because of Korczak's injury, but don't be surprised if Jake Livanavage comes up from WBS if Korczak goes on injured reserve. Livanavage has been great to start the year with two goals and eight points in nine games.
- The Penguins will return to action on Tuesday against the Golden Knights. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.
In their last three games, the Edmonton Oilers have allowed one goal with Tristan Jarry and Matt Tomkins in net during the team's road trip through New York.
Jarry recorded consecutive shutouts against Calgary and the New York Islanders, while Tomkins made 27 saves in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Edmonton has been without Frederik Andersen since training camp, and Devon Levi's recent groin injury has left Jarry and Tomkins responsible for manning the net. During which time, Jarry recorded 120 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal.
It's a positive development for a player whose future in Edmonton was being questioned there for a while after losing the confidence of Oilers fans last season.
“With Dev hurt, I knew I'd get a little bit more work,” Jarry said following Saturday's win over the Islanders. “So just being able to take care of that opportunity and kind of just run with it… It's been fun, to say the least.”
Jarry stopped 18 shots against New York after shutting out Calgary, although Edmonton's defence has been vital to their recent success.
“Anytime you can have a stretch like that, you're obviously feeling pretty good,” Jarry said. “The guys are doing a great job keeping pucks to the outside.”
“We're trying to create a plan that works all year long, and then at playoff time,” Babcock said following Saturday's win. “Our priority right now is to be better without the puck, try not to give up as much and learn to play that way every night.”
Tomkins made his Oilers debut against the Rangers, playing his seventh NHL game and first since April of 2024. He's spent much of his professional career playing in the AHL, ECHL, and Swiss Hockey League, and was originally drafted by Stan Bowman during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012.
“It's been a long road, for sure,” Tomkins said afterward. “It's been tough, but it's been enjoyable at the same time. I love to play, my career has taken me all over the world, and I've enjoyed every step.”
Connor McDavid opened the scoring just 50 seconds into the game, Colton Dach added two goals, and Evan Bouchard finished with three points.
Tomkins made several important saves in the second period, helping Edmonton maintain its lead before the Oilers eventually secured their third consecutive win.
“He's an unbelievable dude. He worked so hard this summer in Edmonton and just so happy for him,” McDavid said. “Obviously, (MSG) is a cool place to play, a special building. I'm happy for him.”
The Oilers have now won seven consecutive road games to open the season, improving to 11-2-2 and sitting near the top of the NHL standings.
Babcock's defensive system has been producing some encouraging results, and Jarry has been making the most of his opportunity with Andersen and Levi unavailable.
Edmonton's goaltending was one of the biggest concerns heading into the season, and through 15 games, it's been one of the more encouraging parts of Babcock's team.
After a lot of teasing and anticipation, the NHL finally did a league-wide reveal of each team's new Hometown Remix jerseys for the 2026-27 season.
There were a lot of interesting designs. And the Pittsburgh Penguins certainly had one of the more interesting ones.
In a nod to the team's history and to the city of Pittsburgh, the new jerseys are navy blue with powder blue secondary coloring in the form of stripes on the sleeves, shoulder, and pants, and they have gold accents throughout. In addition, they feature the the igloo shoulder patch that has become popularized in recent years, offset detailing on the logo and the numbers, and the different colors of Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods on the bottom in-seam of the jersey — all in the unique style of '60s pop art to represent Pittsburgh native and artist Andy Warhol.
But the most noticeable and controversial element? The polka-dots on the yellow of the Penguins' logo and in the numbers, which is designed to be a comic-style design that brings out the pop art element and general graphic design elements from the '60s.
If you love Pittsburgh, here’s a new way to show it.
And, yes, the polka-dots do a lot to really bring the 60s pop art style to life, and they are quite a bit smaller and jump out in a different way than they did on the two-dimensional leaks that were circulating weeks ago. While the jersey is certainly representative of both the Penguins' history and of Pittsburgh's history, the opinion on the dots as well as the choice to go back to blue were controversial among fans and media.
Here are some of the social media reactions to the jerseys:
they are undeniably nicer in person. I was harshly skeptical, but i’m actually a fan https://t.co/OSWPlW4Nsn
Polka-dots aside, I have to say, the sublimation throughout — on the numbers, the logo, the letter — is all pretty damn cool 👌🏻🐧 https://t.co/zorRLOQ4Mq
i love that the pens went warhol themed considering they were founded in the 60s. which is the height of pop art. and brought back their 60s colors like that’s so awesome. and then you have the patch from the alternates for the 3 rivers + igloo and then you have the US steel
Personally, I love these. It's cool that the Penguins actually did something unique here and successfully incorporated both their team history and the city's history in a coherent design. Perhaps the only thing that's missing is a gold bridge on the socks or something.
If the captain approves, that's good enough for me.
Here is the full Remix jersey schedule for the Penguins:
- Nov. 3 vs. Vegas Golden Knights - Nov. 28 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs - Dec. 6 vs. San Jose Sharks - Dec. 18 vs. Seattle Kraken - Jan. 21 vs. Anaheim Ducks - Feb. 2 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning - Mar. 9 vs. Ottawa Senators - Mar. 25 vs. New Jersey Devils - Mar. 30 at Philadelphia Flyers - April 1 vs. New York Islanders
What do you think of the Remix jerseys? Sound off in the comments!
As for the game itself, there will only be one change in the Panthers lineup from their previous outing, a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.
Florida will welcome starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom back between the pipes after he was forced to miss the past five games.
Markstrom suffered an upper-body injury during practice on Oct. 19 but has been seen back on the ice in recent days, which signaled his imminent return.
So far this season, Markstrom holds a 5-1-1 record to go with a 2.21 goals against average and .897 save percentage.
He’ll be matched up against former Panthers puck-stopper Daniil Tarasov, who is expected to get the nod in net for the Red Wings.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Monday’s meeting with Detroit:
Frank Nazar get’s the first wear of the Chicago Blackhawks Hometown Remix jersey. Photo via Chicago Blackhawks X. 11-2-26.
Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks will meet for the first time in the 2026-27 regular season. The Avalanche come in on a two-game winning streak after victories over the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames last week. Conversely, the Blackhawks are on a two-game losing streak with losses to the Red Wings and Bruins. Will the Hawks buck the trend, or will the Avalanche stack another win, this time a divisional one?
now you can rep the spirit of Chicago in our brand new Hometown Remix jersey 💚 get yours now, in-store and online
The Avalanche got back to a relatively healthy lineup against the New Jersey Devils, but it lasted about 2 periods as defender Josh Manson struggled to leave the ice, and he was later announced as missing at least 8 weeks with a lower-body injury. Colorado has recalled Keaton Middleton from the Colorado Eagles, but Evan Rawal reports it’s strictly to have an extra defender for the back-to-back.
No injuries, Avs say. They want an extra defenseman for the back-to-back. https://t.co/ZHATMORvoX
Colorado has looked better since Nic Roy returned to the lineup, as his arrival has created a more balanced forward group. Moreover, the first power-play unit scored last time out on a nice shot from Martin Necas. The goal came with Necas inhabiting the flank that we are used to seeing MacKinnon on. Let’s see whether his staying on that dot is a focused approach or a one-off.
This is a game the Colorado Avalanche should win (on paper), so it will be interesting to see how they come out, as the Avalanche have struggled to start on time, especially in road contests.
Artturi Lehkonen’s 12 goals in 14 games put him on pace for 66 goals this season. Obviously, the chances of that happening are slim to none, but it’s reasonable to track whether he reaches 30 goals for the first time in his pro career, and he’s on a torrid pace. Speaking of 30-goal seasons, Gabe Landeskog is also on track toward the third of his 13-year career.
Note: Tonight’s lineup is still hard to pin down. The Avs sent Gavin Brindley back to the AHL after the Calgary game, and Logan O’Connor out for personal reasons. It’s unclear if LOC made the trip, as he’s still listed as day-to-day with no word otherwise.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago will be without former Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram tonight, so he will miss out on rocking the new Hometown Remix kits officially announced this morning. Chicago’s is all green, and I know the history and all, but to me it just looks like a practice jersey.
#Blackhawks D-man Bo Byram will not play this evening against the Colorado Avalanche.
It looked like the addition of Byram, accompanied by the existence of Connor Bedard and the Patrick Kane reunion, might be enough to get Chicago back to being a playoff team, but with Byram unavailable for most of October and Bedard missing the first six games of the season, they haven’t been able to garner any early-season returns.
The Hawks felt like their last game was their best performance, that being the OTL to the Boston Bruins, so perhaps they are building toward something now that Bedard is back. The first overall pick in 2023 had a goal and an assist against the B’s and will have a tough test tonight against Colorado.
It’s looking like Mackenzie Blackwood vs. Spencer Knight, but only Spencer’s start has been officially confirmed. With Colorado on a back-to-back, the divisional game feels more important, so you go with your starter, Blackwood, who’s looked better and better as the season has gone on. How about that glove save against Calgary?
Spencer Knight is in the starter’s crease at morning skate. Blackhawks host Avalanche tonight.
The Colorado Avalanche have recalled defenseman Keaton Middleton from the Colorado Eagles, adding another option to their blue line ahead of a busy stretch of games.
According to Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette, there are no reported injuries prompting the move. Colorado is bringing Middleton up to have an extra defenseman available for its back-to-back, which begins Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks at 6 p.m. and continues Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 5 p.m.
The recall comes as the Avalanche continue adjusting to the loss of Josh Manson, who is expected to miss eight weeks with an ankle injury. Manson was injured during Wednesday's 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, going down near the Colorado bench late in the first period. He struggled to get off the ice and needed assistance from a trainer before heading down the tunnel. He did not return.
Manson's absence has already forced Jared Bednar to make changes to his defensive pairings. Against New Jersey, Colorado deployed Brent Burns alongside Sam Malinski for the first time, hoping Burns' experience and communication could help the young defenseman find his game. The early results were encouraging, particularly after the Burns-Manson pairing had struggled in recent games.
Noah Juulsen has since stepped into Manson's spot, while Middleton gives the Avalanche another defenseman to turn to if needed.
Middleton has appeared in 47 career NHL games with Colorado, recording three assists. He played in just three games with the Avalanche last season before spending most of the year with the Eagles.
Through his first 11 appearances with Colorado's AHL affiliate this season, Middleton has recorded one assist, seven penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating.
Last season, the 30-year-old defenseman finished with four goals and 10 assists in 66 regular-season games with the Eagles. He added six points (one goal, five assists) in 17 playoff appearances as Colorado advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
Middleton is also familiar with Burns, having spent considerable time training alongside the veteran defenseman during the offseason. Should Colorado need to use him, that familiarity could come in handy.
The Avalanche will have another defenseman available as they work through Manson's extended absence. With Juulsen currently filling the opening in the lineup, Middleton's recall gives Bednar a little more flexibility without necessarily signaling another change to the blue line.
The Chicago Blackhawks (4-9-1) played an excellent game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, but they still found a way to lose. The Bruins tied it with 10 seconds left in regulation before winning it in overtime.
Until that moment when the Bruins tied it, they had the game. They controlled play for most of the afternoon, forced turnovers, made plays in their offensive zone, and kept the Bruins’ attack at bay.
Now, the Blackhawks will look to build on their overall game in their next matchup. One of the powers in the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche, will be at the United Center, looking to make things incredibly difficult for the young Chicago team.
Scouting Colorado
The Colorado Avalanche (8-5-1) got off to a somewhat slow start, by their standards. Still, they are in a four-way battle with the Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth, and Dallas Stars for the top spot in the Central Division. It will be a battle until the very end.
Everything they do starts and ends with forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar. These are two of the five best players in the entire National Hockey League. Around them is a great supporting cast, most of whom have been there for a long time now.
Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Landeskog - Nelson - Roy
Schwartz - Kadri - Hughes
Kelly - Svechkov - Brindley
Toews - Makar
Kulak - Juulsen
Malinski - Burns
Blackwood
Wedgewood
Artturi Lehkonen and Marty Necas help MacKinnon run one of the most dominant lines in the league. Both of them are off to tremendous starts, and MacKinnon makes everyone better.
Having Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri down the middle behind a superstar like MacKinnon makes them incredibly difficult to play against. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is set to play on the second line with Nelson, and he is fully back to being a solid NHL contributor.
Devon Toews is the perfect partner for Makar. They are so good as a pair that Team Canada brought Toews with them to the Olympics to keep that pair together. They aren't as strong on the back end as they once were, but that top pair makes it easier to navigate. One player to note is Brent Burns, who is one of the oldest players in the NHL, but he's a former superstar who remains fun to watch in his final years.
Whether it's MacKenzie Blackwood or Scott Wedgewood, the Avalanche run out a high-end starting goalie in every game. They also play a great team game in front of the goalie, making it easier for them to perform.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks played one of their best games of the season against the Bruins on Saturday, but they are making one lineup switch. Teuvo Teravainen will rejoin the lineup in place of Jordan Greenway.
Kantserov-Bedard-Donato
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Mangiapane
Moore-Nazar-Kane
Smith-Greene-Teravainen
Vlasic-Cole
Kaiser-Levshunov
Del Mastro-Rinzel
Knight
Teravainen is set to play on the fourth line with Ryan Greene and Cole Smith. It's a line with some skill and speed, but it can also bring a bit of physicality.
Any line with Connor Bedard will create chances. Ryan Donato and Roman Kantserov will play with him once again. The notable line right now is Anton Frondell, centering Tyler Bertuzzi and Andrew Mangiapane. On Saturday, Frondell was incredible, and as a trio, they are looking to continue that run.
Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar, and Patrick Kane are starting to gain some chemistry as well. For now, they will remain together, as Blashill doesn't have any plans to break up those top two lines.
On defense, things will stay the same. Bowen Byram was not skating with the team during morning skate. Blashill said he's seeing a specialist to figure out how to get over the last hump before returning. Byram has not yet been cleared medically to play.
Spencer Knight finally had a game off on Saturday, but he'll be right back in against the Avalanche on Monday.
Hometown Remix
On Monday morning, the National Hockey League and Fanatics revealed the 'Hometown Remix' collection for every team. The Chicago Blackhawks will don a new, fully green sweater and gear.
The Blackhawks will wear the new uniform on Monday night against the Avalanche, which will be their first of six times wearing it.
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. It can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, you can stream it on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT.
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TORRANCE, CA — Erik Gustafsson played two NHL games last season. He spent the rest of 2025-26 in Grand Rapids, where he posted 37 points in 39 AHL games for Detroit's affiliate. That ended a nine-season run as an NHL regular across eight clubs, a stretch of 226 points in 474 games without a single stop in the minors.
On paper, Gustafsson and a Los Angeles Kings team desperate for a rebound looked like a poor match, especially since he was the sole signing brought in to bolster one of the most stagnant defense corps in the league last season.
Bewildering to most, Ken Holland had already doubled down on the Kings archetype defenseman with Joel Edmundson and then padded it with Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, all on a roster that already iced Mikey Anderson, a shutdown defenseman, and an aging stalwart in their newest captain, Drew Doughty. Brandt Clarke was the only true puck mover left from last season, a lone island in a sea of outdated archetypes after Jordan Spence’s departure.
After last season’s woeful results despite a caddy cornered divisional playoff gift, the Kings replaced the master and commander of their playing style and deployment with Peter Laviolette. With Gustafsson, they handed him some aging veterans, layering into the same personnel to run a new system.
Gustafsson has already quintupled his NHL games from last season. Laviolette has paired him with Clarke, and the Kings finally have a puck-moving, offensive pairing they missed for all of last season. A defenseman who spent 98 percent of last season in the AHL now plays over 20 minutes a night, at or near the top of the corps. He started the season as the seventh defenseman.
Give him his due. He is posting his highest average ice time since 2022-23, and he has seized the opportunity with aplomb. His lone goal came on the power play, a semi-breakaway born of his own skating and creativity through the breakout, something completely unimaginable for four of their defensive regulars. Beyond his lone goal thus far, he brings an element this corps simply did not have outside of Clarke.
This is not the 2018-19 Blackhawks Gustafsson who posted 60 points in 79 games, and nobody signed this version to be a top pairing defenseman, yet over his brief tenure he has become somewhat like that, someone to throw out on a powerplay unit and deploy in offensive situations.
As much as this is a hat tip to Gustafsson, it raises the obvious question: how does an AHL defenseman blitz past practically the entire Kings blue line in a month? The answer says far more about the blue line than it does about him, and about a franchise that has glossed over major holes through the Rob Blake and Holland eras, running into a wall that gets harder to climb every season.
Doughty has turned back the clock lately with multiple three-point games, passing Gustafsson in production, but a hot stretch does not change his inevitable decline, his pending next contract, or the presence of Cody Ceci, with whom the Kings have yet to win a game while dressed this season.
The pairing data makes the case on its own. Five Kings pairings have cleared 50 minutes together this season, and only one holds a positive expected goals share. You have probably already guessed it: Clarke and Gustafsson at 60.7 percent (23rd best pairing in expected goals for). Among 136 NHL pairings with 50 minutes together, Edmundson and Doughty (48.1 percent) rank 77th, Anderson and Dumoulin (44 percent) rank 99th, and Anderson and Ceci (35.3 percent) rank 125th. Every pairing outside of Clarke and Gustafsson carries more expected goals against than goals for, and Anderson's pairings with Ceci or Dumoulin sit a full goal or more underwater. It is early, but a gap between 60.7 and 35.3 percent is not noise, and no small sample caveat explains it away.
Corsi tells the same story, with shot attempts cratering the moment Gustafsson and Clarke leave the ice. The fifth and sixth defensemen are not supposed to be a team's Achilles' heel, but when the third through sixth defensemen all statistically buckle in their minutes, one has to wonder what management had in mind.
There was a time when right-shot defensemen were the most coveted commodity in this league, and the Kings still roster like that time never ended. Ceci's right shot is the strongest case for his $4.5 million, and handedness balance does matter, but it all comes down to the impact a player makes on the ice, and Ceci's impact sits 125th of 136 pairings. That outdated thinking has seemingly lived risk-free in Los Angeles until now. A $4.5 million defenseman sits in the press box while a defenseman who spent nearly all of last season in the AHL plays over him and drives more offense than as many as three of the six defensemen deployed.
Ran their team's power play, rostered in under 30% of leagues (Oct 31):
Kasperi Kapanen EDM 64% of the PP (7:18) Corey Perry LAK 74% of the PP (6:27) Erik Gustafsson LAK 55% of the PP (4:48) Kyle Palmieri NYI 51% of the PP (4:32) Brayden Schenn NYI 51% of the PP (4:31) pic.twitter.com/N2nK38cIzD
It is a black eye for an organization whose gaping holes, once again, are papered over with parchment. What is happening with Gustafsson proves exactly what this roster needs: legitimate puck movers. Alexander Nikishin was the fish that fit this exact category of change, and adding a puck mover of his caliber, or anywhere close, fundamentally changes the ceiling of this wavering franchise.
If one AHL defenseman can climb to the top of this corps in a month, imagine what a true top-four puck mover would do.
For a franchise that has spent near the cap, management's capacity for change and control is dubious at best when the team rests in the cellar of the league. As much as 'the move' is as obvious as it gets, which includes a center hunt, the franchise has proven far more stubborn under Holland than expected in addressing glaring red flags.
Teams that spend to the cap are typically in their contender phase. It doesn't take a magician to prove that this is a mirage in Los Angeles.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are once again throwing things back to their days wearing blue for an alternate uniform.
The team unveiled its kits that will be part of the broader NHL Hometown Remix series on Nov. 2.
The jerseys will be primarily a darker shade than the baby blue throwbacks they deployed starting in 2008. Those were designed to mimic the uniforms they wore upon breaking into the league in 1967.
These, apparently, drew similar inspiration as the team celebrates its 60th anniversary season, according to its announcement. Even as they look closer to the jerseys they used starting in 1972 that were a deeper shade of blue.
"This Hometown Remix jersey draws from the offset compositions, halftone textures, and unmistakable graphic style of the ‘60s," the team wrote. "The crest gets a pop art treatment that gives the Penguins mark a fresh, modern pulse. The shoulder patches deliver the same offset aesthetic: the igloo for the much-loved old Penguins’ arena, the triangle for the three rivers. On the hem, Pittsburgh’s unique neighborhoods are represented through glorious colors, grounding the jersey in hometown warmth and cultural pride. The numbers on the back leave a lasting impact, with halftone and offset detailing that mirrors the crest’s pop art language. The palette feels both classic Penguins and unmistakably iconic. A tribute to a city that isn't afraid to be bold and make it count."
The uniforms will debut for the Nov. 3 home game against the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena. Fans will be able to see them at nine more regular season home games in 2026-27.
The Penguins started wearing black and gold in the 1980s to align themselves more closely with the Pirates and Steelers, who themselves drew inspiration from the city’s crest and flag that use those colors.
They’ve done so mostly uninterrupted since. The baby blues returned for a brief interlude around the first-ever NHL Winter Classic against the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium back in 2008.
Sidney Crosby scored one of his iconic goals that day, beating Sabres goalie Ryan Miller for the winner in the shootout that broke a 1-1 tie after regulation and overtime.
For that reason, fans have maintained a soft spot for the color blue since. It’s not uncommon to see a blue Crosby jersey in the stands for games at PPG Paints Arena, nearly 20 years later.
It will be interesting to see if these catch on in a similar way, considering their origin is a leaner period of team history before the arrival of icons including Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr beginning in the 1980s.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL have unveiled their Hometown Remix jerseys by Fanatics.
The jersey has a beige or off-white base color, with navy blue accents on the arms around the elbow area, as well as one strip on the waist. That design continues on the socks and gloves, with navy blue pants.
On the chest, Toronto has a new logo, matching the crest that has been designed at center ice of Scotiabank Arena to begin this season.
The Maple Leafs will wear these jerseys six times this season, with the first instance coming on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, with the new look making its debut. On top of the uniform making its first appearance in an NHL game, it will also be Hockey Hall of Fame night.
Nov. 19 against the Los Angeles Kings would be next on the Hometown Remix schedule, with an 80s night theme. On the 30th, the Maple Leafs will host the Philadelphia Flyers for 70s night, which rounds out the dates in November.
On Dec. 19, Toronto will see the Tampa Bay Lightning for 90s night. And the final day comes on Feb. 16 against the Carolina Hurricanes for '100 years of the Leaf."
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Along with the 31 other NHL teams on Monday morning, they showed off their new Hometown Remix sweaters that are meant to "celebrate the fans, fabric and culture of Ottawa."
Senators
Along with their usual home blacks and road whites, the Sens already have a third jersey that's primarily red with black and gold trim, letters and numbers.
The remix will be the club's fourth jersey in 20 games this season. They'll wear this one nine times in 2026-27, beginning on Nov. 12, when they host the Colorado Avalanche at Canadian Tire Centre.
It arrives just in time for Christmas, starting at $225. If you want a name and number, it's $355, and if you want the authentic pro version, it's $580. Youth sizes go for $130 and toddlers at $105.
“This jersey represents several elements that are unique to our region and history,” said Peter Shier, Senators VP of Marketing in a club press release. “We are confident that our fans will appreciate the subtle touches that ensure they are representing the fabric of Ottawa-Gatineau every time they put this on.”
Here's the full league view (graphic from NHL/Sportsnet) of all 32 Hometown Remix jerseys.
The Winnipeg Jets are bringing the Northern Lights to the ice this season.
On Monday, the Jets, the NHL and Fanatics officially unveiled the team's new Hometown Remix uniforms, featuring a design inspired by the Aurora Borealis and Manitoba's night skies.
The special edition jerseys are part of a leaguewide initiative involving all 32 NHL clubs, with each team's design celebrating the history, culture and identity of its hometown.
Photo courtesy of Fanatics
Winnipeg's newest look features a dark, night-sky-inspired base with blue and light-green accents representing the Northern Lights. The sleeves incorporate a blue-to-green gradient, while the bottom of the jersey features a full aurora scene.
The team's familiar crest has also received a makeover, with colours and highlights intended to reflect the glow of the Northern Lights. Player names and numbers feature a blended effect, giving the appearance of being illuminated against the darker background.
“We wanted this jersey to reflect something that is uniquely connected to Winnipeg and Manitoba, and the Northern Lights felt like a natural choice,” said Dorian Morphy, Senior Vice President, Brand and Chief Marketing Officer.
“They’re something that makes our province so special, and we saw an opportunity to bring that to life in a unique way for our team and our fans.”
The Jets will wear the Hometown Remix uniforms eight times throughout the 2026-27 regular season, beginning Tuesday, Nov. 17 against the Ottawa Senators at Canada Life Centre.
Winnipeg's eight scheduled Hometown Remix games:
Nov. 17 vs. Ottawa Senators
Nov. 21 vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Nov. 23 vs. Utah Mammoth
Dec. 10 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Jan. 19 vs. Minnesota Wild
Jan. 21 vs. New York Rangers
March 23 vs. Seattle Kraken
March 25 vs. Colorado Avalanche
The collection was developed over two years through a collaboration between the NHL, Fanatics and its member clubs.
For Winnipeg, the design also carries a deeper connection to the city's hockey history, recognizing a franchise that departed in 1996 before NHL hockey returned to Manitoba in 2011.
“Few symbols in sports carry the history, pride, and emotional connection of an NHL sweater,” said Brian Jennings, NHL Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Partnerships and Club Strategy Officer.
“Hometown Remix builds on that legacy in a fresh and authentic way, celebrating the fans, culture and communities that make each NHL market unique.”
Alongside the jerseys, the Jets have released a corresponding collection of apparel and headwear, including hoodies, T-shirts, fleece and outerwear.
Both Authentic Pro and Premium versions of the jerseys are available beginning Monday through True North Shop, Jets Gear locations, NHLShop.ca and Fanatics.
The new uniforms will make their on-ice debut in just over two weeks when Winnipeg welcomes Ottawa to Canada Life Centre.
The Utah Mammoth dropped their Hometown Remix jerseys on Monday morning, and surprisingly, it’s what most fans expected and wanted, despite the jersey being one of the only ones not leaked before the release date and time. This will be the Mammoth’s fifth jersey in franchise history and their first-ever alternate uniform.
All 32 NHL teams worked with Fanatics to release jerseys that connect to their hometown roots and symbolize their cities. It is the first league-wide jersey collection since Adidas’ second Reverse Retro drop in 2022.
“Few symbols in sports carry the history, pride, and emotional connection of an NHL sweater,” Brian Jennings, NHL Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Partnerships and Club Strategy Officer, said. “Hometown Remix builds on that legacy in a fresh and authentic way, celebrating the fans, culture, and communities that make each NHL market unique. Together with Fanatics and our Clubs, we’ve created designs that are rooted in local identity and tell a story about the cities and fans they represent. We’re incredibly excited to bring the program to life and see that passion reflected both on the ice and in the stands.”
For the Mammoth’s part, they went with a Mountain Blue jersey, a color fans have nearly begged the team to use as a main color on a jersey. So much so that fake jerseys using the color have been commonly spotted being worn by fans in the Delta Center concourses. This will be the Mammoth’s first jersey that isn’t black or white.
The main crest is the Mammoth’s alternate “U” logo with a tusk going through the middle of it. It’s the same logo the Mammoth have on their pants on both their home and away jerseys. The logo does have raised embroidery features included inside it.
The Mountain Blue is complemented by unique white and black striping. The white striping, in particular, is textured to look like snow and is shaped like an actual mammoth tusk. A very cool detail indeed.
Perhaps the coolest part of the jersey is the hemline. Printed on it is “Utah,” surrounded by the iconic Wasatch Front. The final detail on the back is the italicized numbers and name bar.
“Hometown Remix represents the most exciting initiative our team has designed and delivered with our partners since we hit the ice with the NHL in 2024,” Dom Fillion, Vice President of Creative Design for Fanatics, said. “What makes this program so special is the collaboration with each club and together leaning into the history, culture, fabric, and identity of every city and fan base to make sure these felt as authentic and personal as possible. We can’t wait to see them worn by the teams on the ice and the fans in the stands all season long.”
The Mammoth will wear these jerseys at least five times this season, beginning on Thursday when they visit the Montreal Canadiens. They’ll wear them for the first time at home on Nov. 12 vs. the St. Louis Blues.
The schedule for the Mammoth’s Hometown Remix is as follows:
The Hometown Remix jerseys will go on sale beginning Monday morning. Fans will be able to purchase them at both the Delta Center and the Select Health Ice Center Mammoth team stores. Blank jerseys will retail for $224.99, while numbered jerseys will retail for $274.99.
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues, NHL and Fanatics unveiled the club’s Hometown Remix uniform, a special edition look that celebrates the fans, fabric and culture of St. Louis. Part of a leaguewide program featuring all 32 clubs, the Blues uniform was designed in collaboration with Fanatics, the League’s on-ice uniform provider, and the NHL and marks the culmination of a two-year development process.
The Blues will wear their hometown remix uniforms ten times during the 2026-27 season, beginning on Nov. 17, when they host the Anaheim Ducks. The Blues will wear their Hometown Remix uniforms on the following dates, nine of which are home games at Enterprise Center:
Each Hometown Remix uniform was designed around its respective city and fanbase. Design details throughout the collection draw on local landmarks, motifs and culture, grounding each look in something recognizable to fans.
Featuring black and silver in a team uniform for the first time in team history, along with a stylized update of the circular crest from the team’s navy blue alternate uniform worn from 2008-16, key design inspiration for the Blues Hometown Remix uniform includes:
Blues. It’s our team. It’s our music. It’s our way of life. And it’s all represented in the St. Louis Blues Hometown Remix jersey, with a tribute to what physically brings us together: the Gateway Arch and the river that flows beneath. Inspired by the dark waters of the Mississippi, black makes a striking appearance as the primary jersey color. Honoring our roots, the crest updates a beloved mark, now cut with three river‑wave lines. The sleeves carry a debossed wave pattern representing the flow and energy of the city. The hem drops you under the Arch, framing the city name from that iconic vantage point. The numbers get a new beveled look, echoing the arch’s metallic finish. Blues fans, this is your jersey of unity, progress, and strength. Wear it proudly.
“The new Hometown Remix sweater developed in conjunction with Fanatics and the NHL gives Blues fans a fresh look with bold design elements that are uniquely St. Louis,” Brenda Wilbur, St. Louis Blues vice president of brand, retail and creative services, said in a statement. “Our navy alternate jersey featuring the circular crest and drawstring collar remains a fan favorite. We expect incorporating those elements with a striking new color scheme will make Hometown Remix gear tremendously popular with our fans.”
“Few symbols in sports carry the history, pride, and emotional connection of an NHL sweater,” Brian Jennings, NHL senior executive vice president and chief partnerships and club strategy officer, said in a statement. “Hometown Remix builds on that legacy in a fresh and authentic way, celebrating the fans, culture and communities that make each NHL market unique. Together with Fanatics and our Clubs, we’ve created designs that are rooted in local identity and tell a story about the cities and fans they represent. We’re incredibly excited to bring the program to life and see that passion reflected both on the ice and in the stands.”
“Hometown Remix represents the most exciting initiative our team has designed and delivered with our partners since we hit the ice with the NHL in 2024,” Dom Fillion, vice president of creative design for Fanatics said in a statement. “What makes this program so special is the collaboration with each club and together leaning into the history, culture, fabric and identity of every city and fan base to make sure these felt as authentic and personal as possible. We can’t wait to see them worn by the teams on the ice and the fans in the stands all season long.”
Hometown Remix jerseys – both the on-ice Authentic Pro and Premium versions - and a cutting-edge assortment of headwear and men's and women's fan gear, including hoodies, tees and brand new fleece and outerwear styles, are available beginning today across the Fanatics network of sites, including STLAuthentics.com, NHLShop.com, NHLShop.ca and Fanatics.com, as well as the STL Authentics Team Store at Enterprise Center and the NHL Shop NYC flagship store.
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