In a very short period of time, the Philadelphia Flyers will have to make some very important roster decisions based on some limited training camp and preseason viewings. It's an unprecedented situation for players and front offices alike, but every team has to deal with it the same.

At the forward position, the Flyers are more or less set, depending on the health of Nikita Grebenkin and whether or not they want to go with 14 forwards and seven defensemen or 13 forwards and eight defensemen.

But, more than anything else, that decision will be made by the Flyers' defensemen, and especially the younger ones.

Regardless of who makes the roster, veteran newcomer Simon Benoit figures to slot in as the rotational No. 7 defenseman, but Ty Murchison, Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, and David Jiricek are all fighting for places as the No. 6 defenseman on the roster and, potentially, the No. 8 defenseman.

Jiricek, 22, is the early in-house favorite to win the race.

The former No. 6 overall pick has the offensive capabilities the Flyers covet and need from their defense, and losing his status as a waivers-exempt player adds another wrinkle the Flyers will consider in their final roster calculus.

The messaging from GM Danny Briere and the Flyers this summer has been that they believe Jiricek is ready to seize a full-time NHL roster spot and help the Flyers become a better and more talented team in the long run, but both Jiricek and the Flyers know that it ultimately comes down to how he performs.

"As you said, fresh start. New system for me, so, trying to get used to it and just go day-by-day, watch the tape, be good on ice, off ice, and let's see," Jiricek said after the second day of training camp on Friday.

"Offense is there, so just gotta play defense, right? How easy is that? Sounds easy, so, yeah, be good on defense, don't make mistakes. Obviously everyone makes mistakes, right? But try to do it as less as you can, and that's gonna be fine."

Another advantage the 6-foot-4 Jiricek has over his peers battling with him for a roster spot is his experience.

Across four NHL seasons, Jiricek has played in 85 regular season games, scoring two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points, with none coming on the power play due to his limited role.

The Flyers and Jiricek both believe the next step is right around the corner.

"It's as Danny said, it's up to me. Everyone's watching, you guys watch practice, same as Danny, same as coaches. So, try to make him feel like I'm ready and I'm here to take a spot," Jiricek added.

Does the support of the front office give him confidence as a player heading into a pressure situation like this one?

"Hockey memory is really short, to tell you that. You could have confidence. You could know someone's pushing you. But it's, end of the day, it's up to you how you play. If you play badly, you aren't gonna play. If someone likes you, no. Just be ready, and I know it's a business, so the best players play."

Jiricek has been off to a good start in training camp thus far, drawing stick-taps from assistant coach (and defense specialist) Todd Reirden for scoring on Carson Bjarnason in a rush drill, then again for rotating with defense partner Cam York, vocally calling for the puck in the open corner, and clearing the zone from the forecheck.

In the next drill, which featured 5-on-5 cycle work, Jiricek crept up to the left circle on his weak side and whistled a one-timer by Bjarnason's right ear for a goal in the top corner of the net.

The Flyers will scrimmage on Saturday, enjoy a day off on Sunday, and play their first preseason game on Monday. If Jiricek can keep doing what he's been doing, he'll be in a good spot going forward.

After the New York Rangers acquired Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights over the offseason, the biggest question quickly became who Dorofeyev will play alongside. 

Pairing Dorofeyev with the right center is critical if the Rangers want to maximize his potential as a goal scorer, as his back-to-back 30-plus-goal seasons with Jack Eichel as his primary center made clear.

After two days of training camp, the Rangers have taken an extensive look at Dorofeyev on a line with J.T. Miller. 

While Mika Zibanejad may feel like a better fit for Dorofeyev, playing alongside Miller has its benefits.

The year in which Miller recorded a career-high of 103 points with the Vancouver Canucks, he primarily played with Brock Boeser at his wing, who scored 40 goals, so Miller has a track record of propelling his wingers to high-level offensive production. 

“He’s a great player,” Dorofeyev said of Miller. “He competes hard. That’s something you can learn from him. It will take some time to become predictable with one another, but we will get there eventually.”

For Miller, his offensive production has regressed since his 103-point 2023-24 season, but having Dorofeyev by his side could help the Rangers captain recapture his offensive game. 

“It’s exciting for me,” Miller said of playing with Dorofeyev. “Try to stay out of his way, try to make room for him. I like playing on the forecheck and playing below the goal line. So hopefully, I can make some room for him.”

Over the first two days of training camp, Dorofeyev has played on the right side, with Oliver Bjorkstrand playing on the left side. 

Because of Dorofeyev’s versatility, Sullivan confirmed that he plans to try out Dorofeyev at both right and left wing, giving the Rangers more flexibility to test different line combinations.

“I know he can play both,” Sullivan said of Dorofeyev. “From talking to him, talking to some of his former coaches, I know he can play both sides. I think a lot of it is going to come down to what we think is the best fit based on the combinations that we put together. 

“So we're going to explore different options to figure out how we can create the balance that we think is necessary to win consistently, but also to set players up for success, him included. I would anticipate probably seeing him on both sides throughout the course of the next couple of weeks.”

Dorofeyev shared the same sentiment as Sullivan, confirming that he’s open to playing at either wing. 

The addition of Dorofeyev will not only help elevate the Rangers’ five-on-five play, but he makes the power play more lethal and fills the void left by Artemi Panarin, although the two Russians play completely different games. 

In Vegas, the 25-year-old forward was usually positioned at the right flank, where his shot was heavily utilized, as he led the Golden Knights last season with 20 power-play goals. 

“Wherever coach sees me, I’ll be there for him,” Dorofeyev said of his power-play role. 

If trading two first-round picks didn’t raise expectations for Dorofeyev in The Big Apple, the seven-year, $77 million contract he signed with the Rangers certainly did. 

That comes with a lot of pressure, something he wasn’t exposed to with the Golden Knights despite his impressive offensive production. 

Even with heightened expectations and an increased role, Sullivan expressed his confidence in Dorofeyev’s ability to handle the pressure moving forward.

“I think he understands what the expectations are,” Sullivan said. “In the short time that I’ve gotten to know him, in the conversations I’ve had with him, and just observing him and how he carries himself around his teammates, I think he’s a confident kid. He’s got a quiet confidence about him. I think he’ll handle it fine.”

By-and-large, the Buffalo Sabres had a great 2025-26 season, finishing atop the Atlantic Division, then beating the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series. That was manna from heaven for Sabres fans – and now, their appetite has been whetted. 

Meanwhile, here at TheHockeyNews.com, we’re analyzing the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series called “Know Your Enemy”. In each file in this series, we’re breaking down how Buffalo played against each East team, in addition to how they’re likely fare against the team this year. And in this file, we’re turning our attention to the New York Rangers.

The Rangers have one of the biggest markets in the league to try and satisfy, but there’s no assurance they’ll be better enough this year to challenge for a playoff position. Here’s this writer’s perspective on how the Sabres will do in their three regular-season showdowns this year:

BUFFALO SABRES VS. NEW YORK RANGERS

NEW RANGERS PLAYERS: Pavel Dorofeyev (RW), Joonas Korpisalo (G), Marcus Pettersson (D), Sean Durzi (D), Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW), Joe Veleno (C)

2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Islanders 1-2-0

2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: November 25 at Buffalo; February 15 at Rangers; March 6 at Buffalo

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Sabres took two out of three games against the Rangers last season, but this is a significantly-changed Blueshirts roster, as GM Chris Drury is under all sorts of pressure to get his team back into the post-season after two calamitous years of constant letdown. And by THN.com’s standards, the Rangers did have one of the better off-seasons of any NHL team.

So, the Rangers team Buffalo takes on this year will be considerably different than the one they saw last season. And the biggest area of improvement – other than adding former Vegas Golden Knights sniper Dorofeyev – is on defense, where Drury picked up Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks, and Durzi was acquired from Utah in the trade that sent veteran center Vincent Trocheck to the Mammoth. 

That improvement will almost certainly help star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, but if Shesterkin is injured for any significant stretch, and the Sabres are playing the Blueshirts during one of those stretches, the Rangers’ new backup – former Bruins and Ottawa Senators veteran Korpisalo – Buffalo will need to take advantage of that matchup.

Otherwise, the Rangers will be a tougher opponent for the Sabres than they’ve been for a while now. Drury still desperately needs some internal improvement and young players to step up and evolve into difference-makers, but he’s been given a mandate by Rangers ownership to retool instead of rebuild. That may be a decision the Blueshirts come to regret, but for now, at least, the Rangers will be harder to knock around for Buffalo. 

And while we still expect the Sabres to win the season series against the Rangers this season, it’s going to take a stronger effort, and a consistent thrust from Buffalo to get the job done and keep the Rangers out of the playoff picture yet again.

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The Detroit Red Wings are in the full swing of Training Camp as they prepare for the 2026-27 NHL season, and while Dylan Larkin has not been skating and defenseman Simon Edvinsson has participated in on-ice work but not scrimmages as an unsigned RFA, the Red Wings are also without another familiar veteran presence.

Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane, who had been with the Red Wings since December 2023, ended his time in the Motor City when he signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

In doing so, he returns to the club that selected him No. 2 overall in 2007, where he spent the majority of his career and won the Stanley Cup three times.

While it initially appeared that Kane was open to returning for another season in Detroit, circumstances changed over the summer.

For his now-former Red Wings teammates he leaves behind, it represents a noticeable void in their lineup. 

"Unbelievable hockey player, great person, great mentor for a lot of guys in this room," said J.T. Compher. "We wish him the best, obviously going back to an organization that he means a lot to... he'll be missed." 

Defenseman Moritz Seider acknowledged that while Kane's departure was difficult for the Red Wings, he understands why the veteran forward ultimately chose to return to Chicago. 

"Hard, but obviously I can't really blame the guy," Seider said. "It's an unreal contract he got offered, and I'm really happy for him. It's really cool for me personally to see him back in his original colors, but I think he took a lot of time to think about coming back, and it just shows how much this organization means to him, and how much the locker room meant to him.

"Of course we're going to miss him, but we've got great additions and a really good team." 

Prior to Kane's departure in late July, Detroit signed forward Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year contract after he scored 25 goals last season with the divisional rival Boston Bruins, and will be looking for him to replace a significant portion of the 57 points Kane recorded last season.

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

"He's Patrick Kane," said coach Todd McLellan. "He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer; he's a winner. He does things a certain way; he practiced as hard as he could, and he was really good in the locker room. He was a tremendous teammate. That's why he keeps prolonging his career. Chicago wanted him back, and good for him and good for Chicago to recognize that."

McLellan noted that Kane isn't the only veteran presence no longer in the Detroit room, following the departures of James van Riemsdyk, Travis Hamonic, and David Perron, none of whom were offered a contract extension.

"Waiting For It To Happen": Todd McLellan Pulls No Punches On Red Wings' March Collapse Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan opened up about the club's collapse last season in March, saying that it felt as though the entire dressing room was essentially waiting for it to happen.

Naturally, those voids will now have to be filled by players once viewed as the team's younger generation who have since taken on veteran leadership roles.

"That's a lot of years and a lot of experience that people, players, even coaching staff, leaned on and looked to," McLellan said. "It's time for some change and time for Razor (Lucas Raymond), (Alex) DeBrincat, Mo (Moritz Seider), Simon (Edvinsson) - these guys to take more of it on."

They're the veterans now; they're done being kids. They're men, and they need to take more of it on. We need to have a group of people pushing that from the level that we're at right now, plus from underneath. And we hope we're going to get that from the group."

Kane will return to Little Caesars Arena with the Blackhawks on Oct. 29, and he'll almost certainly be given a video tribute and a positive reception from Red Wings fans. 

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At just 20 years old, 2024 Vegas Golden Knights first-round pick Trevor Connelly can’t order a drink in the US or rent a car without getting hit with an underage driver’s fee. But when he’s on the ice, he plays with a maturity that far exceeds his age. 

It’s been two years since the Golden Knights selected Connelly with the 19th overall pick. However, because of a string of bad injury luck, he’s just now attending his first training camp.

His energy is contagious.

“It’s exciting,” beamed Connelly following Thursday’s skate. “[There are] a little bit of nerves with it being the first time, but it’s exciting. It’s so fun to be out there on the ice. It’s great energy and a great group. It’s a lot of fun.”

The nerves Connelly spoke about weren’t evident on the ice. Of course, it probably didn’t hurt matters that the young winger opened camp skating on a line with two established veterans in Tomáš Hertl and Victor Olofsson. 

“It’s an incredible experience playing with [Hertl] and Olofsson,” Connelly gushed. “With it being my first camp, having those guys talk to me between drills and stuff helps a lot… There were different times on the ice today where Hertl was giving me little tips on things that will work better at the next level. I’m just trying to be a sponge around these guys and listen and learn from them.”

Hertl and Olofsson aren’t the only players to go out of their way to make Connelly feel comfortable.

“This whole room [has helped],” said Connelly. “There are so many great leaders in this room; Nic Dowd is one of them. He’s a louder guy, and he’s always coming to check on guys. You see it every day in the gym; he says hi to everybody. He’s a guy I feel really comfortable around, and he’s definitely helped me a lot.”

Connelly is fresh off a summer where he focused on bulking up. That has certainly helped– on Thursday, he told the media that he’s put on “about 12 pounds since Development Camp,” and it shows– but he’ll never wow you with his size. Instead, he commands attention with his pure, raw talent and playmaking abilities.

“[I’m trying to] just be myself,” said Connelly. “[I want to] play the game that I’ve always played and be smart, use my IQ. I look to make my teammates better, and, when I get a chance, put the puck in the back of the net. And I’ve worked a lot on my 200-foot game and my compete over the years as well.”

Connelly is an exciting player, and he’s the most talented prospect that the Golden Knights have had in their system for quite some time. Both general manager Kelly McCrimmon and head coach Ryan Craig said as much in their separate media availabilities on Thursday.

“Trevor is different from any player in our organization,” McCrimmon said on Thursday. “Elite hockey sense, elite talent. What he did last year in the American Hockey League as a 19-year-old… his ceiling is tremendously high.”

“Trevor has a skill set that he brings to our group that not a lot of people in our organization have,” Craig agreed. “I saw it firsthand last year in Henderson; I thought he took big steps as a player, a person, and a teammate.”

In Kelly McCrimmon’s eyes, it’s not a matter of if Connelly will become a mainstay in the NHL lineup, but when.

“It’s going to be a matter of what the timing is. Does he kick the door down immediately, or does it take a little more time? Those are the things that we’ll watch play out,” said McCrimmon. “I think he’s going to be an exceptionally good player. It’s just a matter of what the timeline looks like between now and then.”

As for Connelly, he’s just taking things day by day.

“Every day, practice or game, I try to go out there and give it my best effort,” said Connelly. “Don’t try to do too much or too little; just go out there and try to be confident in my game.”

Anybody hoping Kirill Marchenko might provide clarity about his desire to play for the Blue Jackets beyond this season should temper those hopes.

In fact, go ahead and shelve them for the foreseeable future. The Jackets' top goal scorer isn't interested in explaining why either agent Dan Milstein or somebody who works for Milstein told ESPN studio analyst Kevin Weekes on June 26 during the NHL draft that Marchenko isn't interested in signing a long-term extension with Columbus.

Marchenko, 26, met with reporters after practice Sept. 18 at Nationwide Arena.

Facing a line of questions requesting insight on why Marchenko appears to want a change of scenery, the jovial Russian forward rolled out a song-and-dance routine the likes of which hadn't been seen around the building since Artemi Panarin launched into a similar one with the help of a translator provided by Milstein in 2018-19.

"I forget all English ... in Russia," Marchenko said, smiling. "I know only words about hockey right now. Let's go."

OK, so where you do want to play hockey?

More: Columbus Blue Jackets open camp with Kirill Marchenko's future hazy

Kirill Marchenko was asked if he wants to play hockey in Columbus.

“I want to play hockey. It’s all I can say right now.”

Video below. #CBJpic.twitter.com/XRiO6Adv1e

— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) September 18, 2026

"Whoa ... on the ice," Marchenko said. "On the ice, where I can play. On the ice. Puck, not ball. Puck hockey. Ice hockey, and, we'll see."

Asked about the ESPN report at the draft, Marchenko tried to play coy.

"Really?" he said. "I didn't see that."

The smile he flashed a second later begged to differ.

"No, guys, it's ... I don't know, my goal, I told you, I play hockey," Marchenko said. "I can talk only about hockey. It's not my side. Business side, it's on [Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell] and Dan [Milstein], and they figure out everything. My goal [is] to be ready, on the ice."

After agreeing that ultimately he makes the call about where he'll play, Marchenko again deflected a direct question about whether he wants to play in Columbus.

"It's too many good questions right now," he said. "I want to play hockey. That's what I can say right now, and I don't want to give you guys a lot of things. I just love [my] teammates, I love to enjoy the practices and enjoy the hockey. It's my favorite thing in the world, and I just do my job."

Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Kirill Marchenko dodges questions about future with Columbus Blue Jackets

The San Jose Sharks kicked off their 2026 Training Camp on Thursday, and didn't wait long to make a major announcement. Yesterday afternoon, the Sharks announced that they have signed head coach Ryan Warsofsky to a multi-year contract extension, but didn't elaborate any further.

Warsofsky was heading into the final season of his current contract and his status has been a major topic of debate on social media over the summer. Now, the Sharks have committed their future to the 38-year-old bench boss. Of course, as we saw with the Edmonton Oilers, there's little job security for an NHL head coach as they relieved Kris Knoblauch of his duties before his new contract even started. While the Sharks made it clear they think Warsofsky is their guy, results will be as important as ever moving forward.

Through 164 games as an NHL head coach, Warsofsky has a record of 59-85-20 for 138 points of a possible 328. 

The Chicago Blackhawks were on the ice for day two of training camp on Friday. They continued to keep the NHL group separated from the non-NHL group.

They are also starting to get some strategies in order ahead of their first preseason game, which will come on Saturday night when they take on the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena. 

One of those things that they worked on was the power play. Chicago struggled in this department in 2025-26, but they added a handful of players who will be able to help them with the man advantage. 

The first unit to get reps was the exact unit that you'd expect to see, knowing that Connor Bedard can't be a part of it due to his continued recovery from shoulder surgery. 

Tyler Bertuzzi 

Patrick Kane - Roman Kantserov - Anton Frondell

Bowen Byram

A few weeks ago, the Blackhawks started to hint at the idea of Kantserov getting some time at center. Well, he hasn't played the position yet at even strength in practice, but he is getting chances there on this top power-play unit. 

Tyler Bertyzzi is the net-front man, as he was elite at it last year; Bowen Byram is operating the point, and Patrick Kane and Anton Frondell are working the half-walls. Kane is a lot more creative with the puck when he has the time and space, but Frondell has a wicked one-time blast that he can bring from the dot. 

When Bedard comes back, either Roman Kantserov or Anton Frondell will come off and move to the second unit, which will likely feature guys like Nick Lardis, Frank Nazar, Ryan Donato, and Teuvo Teravainen, amongst others. The depth that this team is capable of having on the power play should give their overall percentage a boost. 

Although the new additions up front (Kane and Kantserov) are nice, it is Bowen Byram who will make the biggest difference. A puck-moving defenseman with his skills should open things up for every other player on the ice in that man-advantage situation. This is also his first opportunity to quarterback a number one unit in the NHL regularly, so there is motivation there.

The non-NHL group will travel to Minnesota, so this unit will have to wait to get some game action, but expect to see them at the United Center on Monday.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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With a new Vancouver Canucks season coming soon, it is time for the prospects to show off the skills they developed in the off-season. While these players are most likely headed to the AHL, it shouldn't be long before they make their way to the NHL. Here is a list of AHL-bound prospects to watch during the 2026-27 season.  

Braeden Cootes  

Braeden Cootes impressed the organization last season, becoming the first 18-year-old to play for the Canucks on opening night since 1990. As the 15th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Cootes came on strong. With a pre-season goal against the Seattle Kraken, Cootes made his mark early on. After a few pointless games, he was sent back to the WHL to keep working on his craft.

A year later, Cootes has the chance to remind the organization why they selected him for the opening-night roster in 2025. The chance to play for the Abbotsford Canucks can provide more professional minutes and better insight into what is expected of a top-calibre prospect. Ultimately, Cootes could be set for an impressive campaign. 

Ty Mueller  

Ty Mueller is another young player looking to break into the NHL. He made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild in 2025. During the game, he played over 10 minutes and recorded a shot on goal.

With so many injuries in Vancouver last season, Mueller was called up for six regular-season games. With a pass from former teammate Curtis Douglas, Mueller got his first NHL goal on April 16 against the Edmonton Oilers. He ranked third in goals for Abbotsford, with a career-high 16 goals. If Mueller keeps this momentum, he could become an important call-up for the Canucks and possibly a regular for the 2026-27 season. 

Kirill Kudryavtsev  

Kirill Kudryavtsev has now established himself as a solid defenseman with the AHL Canucks. With 20 points in 44 games last season, the young defender is beginning to feel at ease on the ice. He suited up for Vancouver three times in 2025-26 and recorded his first two career assists.

During his call-up, Kudryavtsev looked confident on the blue line. He must keep delivering smooth passes to his teammates, poke-checking to win the puck back, and closing lanes to force opponents into mistakes. Kudryavtsev has the skills to impress the organization, making him an excellent choice for the Canucks to call up throughout the campaign.  

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.

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CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Evgeni Malkin remains as passionate as ever about hockey as his 21st season with the Pittsburgh Penguins begins.

Whether it's his last, be it in Pittsburgh or anywhere else, only his body knows. And right now, it's not telling the 40-year-old Russian star anything.

“I mean it’s a hard question,” Malkin said Friday. “We see what’s going on during the season, you know. And right now I won’t say yes.”

He also won't say no, though he has one very clear metric that will play a massive role in whatever happens beyond this season.

“If I not feel hundred percent, I’m not playing,” Malkin said, adding that if he's not helping the team to win, “I'm retired.”

Malkin was able to turn the clock back a bit last year, posting 19 goals to go with 42 assists despite missing time with injuries. He averaged over a point per game for the first time since 2019-20 and seemed fueled by the desire to prove to Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas he was still worth the investment.

Dubas played his cards close to the vest until after Pittsburgh's first-round playoff exit to Philadelphia. He praised Malkin's effort and about a month later, negotiations that appeared a little tense outwardly resulted with Malkin signing a one-year deal to remain with the club where he's won three Stanley Cups, two scoring titles and an MVP during a career that will almost certainly end in the Hall of Fame.

The deal also extended the partnership between Malkin, captain Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang to 21 years and counting, the longest three teammates have ever played together in major North American professional sports history.

Though Malkin believes it's production, not nostalgia, that has kept them together.

“It’s not we're just here because we win three Cups, you know,” he said. “I hope we’re here because we still play good.”

The Penguins are banking on it. Pittsburgh largely kept together the roster that finished a surprising second behind Carolina in the Metropolitan Division, including re-signing forward Egor Chinakhov, a Russian who blossomed while playing alongside Malkin after being acquired in a trade with Columbus.

There are now four Russians on the team, allowing Malkin the chance to serve as a mentor in the same way former Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar did for him two decades ago.

“Any advice, any like ‘Go to dinner,’ you know, we just do it. “I'm the old guy here and I just have the experience.”

Malkin begins the year with 1,407 career points, just 14 shy of surpassing Hall of Fame center Adam Oates to climb into the top 20 on the NHL's all-time list.

He's done it while serving as the emotional ‘yin’ to Crosby's more reserved ‘yang.’ If Malkin had ended up somewhere else, maybe he'd had been the face of the franchise. He's long made peace with the trade-off. If this is his final season, it's been a great ride. But he's not quite ready to head off into the sunset just yet.

“I think last year I showed my good games, and I am excited to be here,” he said. “And again, like, I’m here to win.”

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

New York Islanders prospect Victor Eklund has the best chance of any youngster to crack the opening-night lineup.

He dominated during rookie camp, but the big question is how he'll look in main camp. 

Not only does he look the part, but after scoring in day two's scrimmage, Eklund has now scored in every game.

In the first rookie showcase game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center, he rifled a slingshot high blocker side.

In the second rookie showcase game, also against the Devils, Eklund hopped on a loose puck in front of goal.

And his latest was a beauty, as he knocked down a Matthew Schaefer point shot before scoring on Vitek Vanecek, who had been sliding to stop the initial shot.

He played in Friday's scrimmage alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman, which has been his linemates over the first two days of training camp. 

"Well, he looks good," Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said. "You don’t want to get out in front of it too far. I think we’ve still got a lot of runway here, and he’s going to play some exhibition games against NHL teams, which is important.

“But he’s scored in every game that we’ve stuck him in — the two rookie games, today in the scrimmage — so he’s just got to continue on that path. But again, it’s early, and that’s what you want. You want young players to make those decisions as tough as possible.”

Eklund will likely play in at least three of the four preseason games, starting with Sunday afternoon against the Devils at The Rock. 

The Calgary Flames have brought Brennan Othmann back into the fold, signing the forward to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

Signed, sealed, and delivered!

We have signed forward Brennan Othmann to a one-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $975,000!

📄: https://t.co/gBEer791Jopic.twitter.com/1sGGAjBE1M

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 18, 2026

Othmann joined the Flames late in the 2025-26 season after Calgary acquired him from the New York Rangers on March 6. The 23-year-old appeared in two games with the Flames, picking up two points, while also playing 14 games with the Calgary Wranglers.

The Pickering, Ontario native spent the early portion of last season moving between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, before the trade sent him to Calgary.

Contract Details

• Position: Left Wing

• Contract: One year, two-way

• AAV: $975,000

• Drafted: 16th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2021 NHL Draft

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When Cam Fowler stepped to the podium last week, there was no sugar-coating. There was no hiding from what he considered the harsh reality of facts.

“Last year it’s no secret, it was a difficult season for me personally,” the 34-year-old defenseman said succinctly. “I’ll be the first one to say that I wasn’t anywhere near the player that I expect to be.”

This is a player with 16 years’ worth of experience and 1,124 regular-season NHL games. You take him at his word for it. And you wouldn’t expect anything less than the honest truth, but watching a step back, Fowler isn’t off with his assessment.

When the St. Louis Blues acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 14, 2024 for minor league defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, it was a steal of a deal. Fowler came to St. Louis and made an immediate impact.

After having just four assists in 17 games with the Ducks, he flourished with 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists) and a plus-19 in 51 games for the Blues, helping them go on a tear and reach the Stanley Cup playoffs to face the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets, and Fowler had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in a seven-game series ultimately won by Winnipeg.

The Blues were so impressed with the return they got from a player that thrived playing with Colton Parayko, they signed him to a three-year extension at $6.1 million average annual value that carries a full no-trade clause until Jan. 29, 2027, to which it becomes a 15-team NTC.

Fowler played in all 82 games last season, but there was something missing; he did finish with 30 points (four goals, 26 assists) but was a minus-11 averaging 21:05 time on ice per game after averaging 21:42 the previous season.

“I went home this summer, reflected on a lot and really just got back to basics,” Fowler said. “I really had an emphasis on working hard this summer and making sure that I’m ready to go, and that’s mentally as much as it is physically. They know what they’re getting from me. I’m happy to slot into the lineup wherever they feel is the best opportunity for me. I’m looking forward to getting back to some competitive hockey and getting back to the player that I know I can be because I just felt like I let a lot of people down last year in that regard. I don’t want that to happen again.”

At the outset, the Blues are pairing Fowler with fellow veteran Brandon Carlo, acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on the second day of the 2026 draft for two 2026 third-round picks. It looks like it could be a good match, but in order to get the Fowler of old back into the fold, Blues coach Jim Montgomery likely paired Carlo with Fowler to put a reliable, stable, defensive-minded guy there so that Fowler can get back to doing what he does best: jump into the offense and make his mark there.

“It’s a guy that’s taking the puck and skating,” Montgomery said of Fowler’s best attributes. “He was in a 4-on-2 and a 3-on-2 today. He almost tipped in a backdoor pass. It’s him getting in and out and it’s him dictating plays going north. When he’s playing on his toes offensively, the rest of the game takes care of itself.”

Perhaps adding a familiar face should help Fowler get back to his top-end game again with the addition of former Ducks coach Greg Cronin, who the Blues hired as an assistant that will work with the defensemen and who coached Fowler in Anaheim in 2023-24 and 24-25 prior to being traded here.

“Obviously I have a good relationship with ‘Crow,’ playing for him in Anaheim,” Fowler said. “I think anyone that spends time with him knows he’s a hard-nosed guy that demands a lot but also is fully transparent with his players and wants us to be the best version of ourselves. He’s going to push us every day. I think he wants us to be uncomfortable in the things that we’re doing to help push us to be better players, but he does have a soft side to him. He really does care about us as people and our families. I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to working with him again.”

Perhaps making a veteran feel uncomfortable may be the best medicine Fowler can get, and get him back to the 2024-25 Blues version.

“It was definitely something that was unique for me the first time I met (Cronin), some of the things that we were working on in training camp there in Anaheim,” Fowler said. “I can honestly say the way that he approaches the game, especially from a defensive mindset and working with the ‘D’, that stuff, if we get more and more comfortable with it will help us defensively as a team and individually. There are times, if you guys are watching, you’ll see some of the things that we’re doing, it’s definitely unique to hockey but it’s a lot about body position, making sure that our shoulders are staying square and that we’re in between the player and the net and making sure that we’re not giving up easy opportunities. Those are big, key factors for him and something that we’ll really be working on in training camp.”

A more well-polished Fowler and Carlo third pairing behind Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux along with Parayko and Theo Lindstein can really balance out this Blues defensive unit.

“We understand that there’s going to be wins and losses along the way but it’s about the approach that we have and the process of what we’re doing that’s most important to us,” Fowler said. “I don’t feel like we did a good enough job of that last year and that’s everyone, myself included. There’s definitely an emphasis on that this coming season.”

Blues Open Training Camp With In-Season Mode Drills Due to Shortened, More Compacted ScheduleJim Montgomery divides up players to resemble one that looks more like an NHL roster, one that has veterans competing for limited roster spots'I Want To Be Here ... I Love This City' -- Jimmy Snuggerud Wants To Be Part Of Long-Term Future With St. Louis Blues2022 first-round pick didn't sign maximum eight-year extension by Tuesday's CBA deadline before new one kicked in that allows max contracts to be seven years, feels process will work itself out when time is rightRyan Reaves, A St. Louis Blues 2005 Draft Pick, Announces Retirement From The NHLFifth-round pick in the 2005 NHL Draft was one of top enforcers in game during his 16-year career, of which first seven years was spent with BluesTen St. Louis Blues Players To Keep An Eye On As 2026-27 Training Camp Opens ThursdayFrom Mason McTavish to Connor McMichael to Robert Thomas to Jordan Binnington to Adam Jiricek, plenty of storylines to unfold with the Blues looking to get back into the Western Conference playoff mix

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