The Toronto Maple Leafs have dropped their last couple of games against the Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken, and they're looking to clean up their game for their next opponent, the Vancouver Canucks, on Saturday.

Toronto has put up a 1-2-0 record on this Western Conference road trip, with this clash in Vancouver being the last stop. After that, they'll return to base for a six-game home stand, beginning on Tuesday.

Friday marked the second time the Maple Leafs were able to practice on this road trip. The only other time was in Calgary, the day before Monday's game.

"We've practiced maybe two or three times in the last month, so it's really, really been something that I believe has hurt our game," Leafs head coach Jim Hiller said after Friday's practice. "So we took some time today to go a little slower and work through some things. And November is going to set up pretty well for us that way. I'm not going to tell you what they were, but I think we made some progress in some areas that we've been struggling."

'Ready To Roll': Chris Tanev, Dakota Joshua To Join Maple Leafs' Lineup, Where Do They Slot In?The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to get back a couple of players for their next game against the Vancouver Canucks after being sidelined with injury.

The bench boss may not have shed some light on what needs to be improved by the team ahead of meeting the Canucks, but a couple of the players know what needs to be better.

"I think turning the puck over," defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson admitted. "I think we gave him a little bit too many easy looks that ended up in our net. So that's an area that I think we have to clean up. And if we do that, that will help us out. Obviously, going the other way, I think, playing with the puck a little bit more. But yeah, turning a little bit too many pucks over the last two games."

The Numbers Behind Maple Leafs' Offensive Talent Making Up For Glaring Defensive IssuesSergei Bobrovsky hasn't been hot for the Toronto Maple Leafs by any means, but the team's defense has been one of the worst in the NHL after 15 games. Here are the numbers behind the Leafs' struggles in their own end.

The Maple Leafs had 27 giveaways in the past two outings, nine of which were in the defensive zone, according to MoneyPuck. As of Thursday, Toronto are among the top 10 for the most giveaways to their opponent and giveaways in the defensive zone.

"I think there's something you can always change up," Troy Stecher said. "We didn't really sustain in the O-zone, but I think if you look at our season, you'd be like, 'oh, we score a lot of goals.' So it's like a catch-22."

'Not Doing Enough To Help Him': How Maple Leafs' Team Defense Is Costing Points In The NHL StandingsThe Toronto Maple Leafs haven't gotten great goaltending, but the lack of proficient team defense is the big-picture issue that is costing the team points in the NHL standings.

"I think we do need to improve offensively, neutral zone, I don't think we've been getting as many stops as we would like. It almost seems like we kind of default to our squad. And then defensively, I think any team in the league would always want to improve on their system just naturally. It's still early in the year, so I think we have a conscious effort of trying to improve in all aspects right now," Stecher added.

The Maple Leafs meet the Canucks, who are last place in the NHL and have allowed the most goals in the league to this point, with 68 goals against in 15 games.

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ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have recalled defenseman Theo Lindstein from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Friday afternoon. 

The 21-year-old, who was sent down last week, has played in two games with the Thunderbirds during his recent stint and recorded two points (one goal, one assist).

The first-round pick (No. 29) in the 2023 NHL Draft played in four games for the Blues this season and had one assist.

The Blues also have 2023 third-round pick Quinton Burns with the team and there is some question over the availability of Colton Parayko, who missed Friday's practice due to an upper-body injury, so perhaps getting Lindstein up is insurance.

The Blues (6-6-1) begin a four-game road trip on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.

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It has been long stated that disgruntled Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has no interest in choosing to play for the Philadelphia Flyers, but that may not stop the team from getting in on the action in the end.

Larkin, 30, has a full no-trade clause, allowing him to dictate which teams he would approve a trade to. The Flyers, by various accounts, are not one of those teams.

However, the Minnesota Wild are, and they are a team that has reportedly been in the hottest pursuit of the former Red Wings captain. Desperately attempting to retain Team USA teammate Quinn Hughes, the Wild are hoping to win now and give their roster a major boost down the middle with Larkin.

But, it's worth noting that Larkin has an $8.7 million cap hit, and the Wild have just $1.674 million in cap space while already exceeding the cap ceiling with goalie Filip Gustavsson on LTIR.

The Flyers, with the fifth-most cap space in the NHL, $12.88 million, are reportedly willing to help, but that service will cost the Wild a fee.

NHL insider Anthony Di Marco shared in his latest report for Daily Faceoff, "Speaking with team sources, DFO was told that the Flyers would be willing to act as a third-party broker to help facilitate a trade between the Wild and Red Wings."

Di Marco specifically named winger Yakov Trenin, a Russian power forward with wing and center flexibility, as a potential cap casualty for Minnesota.

Trenin, 29, has two seasons remaining on his contract at a $3.5 million cap hit, with a 10-team no-trade list.

The former second-round pick enjoyed his second-most prolific season in the NHL last year, scoring 23 points for the Wild while playing in all 82 regular season games for the first time. This season, though, Trenin has just two points, both assists, in 15 games.

According to Flyers sources, they would be willing to absorb Trenin’s contract for the right price. [Center prospect Charlie Stramel] is a player that the Flyers have a level of interest in and would potentially be the cost of doing business for them to take on the remaining term on Trenin’s contract," Di Marco added.

"The Red Wings have the cap space to eat Trenin’s salary if they wanted to, as a Central Division executive pointed out to DFO, but the Flyers are willing to play a part in a deal if there’s a necessity for it."

How Charlie Stramel fits the Flyers

For Flyers fans unfamiliar with Charlie Stramel, the Wild center prospect was drafted 21st overall in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, though EliteProspects had ranked him 47th.

The challenge for the 21-year-old has been consistency, dating back to his pre-draft days.

"There was just so much promise coming into the year, and why not? Stramel had just capped off a distinguished, productive draft minus-one season spent bouncing between the USNTDP U18 and U17 squads with nearly a point a game at the U18s. If we’re drafting a year ago, he’s probably a top-15 pick," EliteProspects said of Stramel in their 2023 draft guide.

"Then he went to Wisconsin as a true freshman, and it was pretty much all downhill from there, with the exception of a solid showing in his country’s colours at the World Juniors. Thrust into a top-six matchup role in the nation’s top conference with little support and on a team that played with almost no structure, his results reflected as much."

In two years at Wisconsin between 2022-23 and 2023-24, Stramel scored just eight goals, 12 assists, and 20 points in 67 games, compiling a -14 rating over that span.

Then, the first-round talent packed his bags and turned things around at Michigan State, scoring nine goals and 27 points in 37 games in 2024-25, and 19 goals and 44 points in 37 games last season.

Notably, Stramel was teammates at MSU with Flyers prospects Porter Martone and Shane Vansaghi, which would assuredly be a factor in acquiring him in a potential three-way Dylan Larkin trade.

Flyers' Rebuild Isn't Ruined, But Time Is TickingThe Philadelphia Flyers are running out of time to save their fractured team.

Stramel fits what the Flyers have long been looking for in their lineup: a big-bodied, right-shot center.

Jacob Gaucher hasn't really been able to fill that role, and that's led to the Flyers giving more opportunities to aging vets like Noel Acciari and Luke Glendening over the last year.

Stramel has developed a ton since his draft year, evidenced by his scoring evolution at Michigan State, and now he's playing in the pro ranks, having produced a goal and two assists in 10 AHL games for the Iowa Wild this season.

In the long-term, Stramel is a worthy bet for the Flyers to take, especially for something as painless as taking on a bad contract to facilitate a trade; they're not giving up assets to do this.

And in the interim, we all know that the Flyers have been bleeding players at the AHL ranks. 

Gaucher has been up and down between the AHL and NHL like a yo-yo, and the Flyers have turned to players like Cole Knuble, Oliver Bonk, Jack Studnicka, and even Garrett Wilson at times to deal with a rash of injuries.

By adding a longer-term project like Stramel, the Flyers would give Jett Luchanko some support on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, given that he's the only top forward to have not been called up, and given that Danila Klimovich has played just two games this year.

The Phantoms need help and the Flyers need help, and potentially adding Stramel would support both clubs at different points in the timeline.

The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (8-5-0) at the Vegas Golden Knights (9-4-1)

The Time: 6:00 PM EDT

The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN, Scripps, NHL Network; Radio — Devils Hockey Radio Network

The Game Preview:Jackson had it this morning.

The Song of the Day: Vegas is a good place for the showbiz, right? Well, I don’t know if they have many tendencies to show Shakespeare at The Sphere (though reading it out like that makes me think they should), but hey…we’re out west. How about Patrick Stewart’s “Don’t Fence Me In” off of Patrick Stewart’s Cowboy Classics? Rest in peace to the Captain.

A New Reminder:Engage with All About the Jersey’s gamethreads from your phone with the new SB Nation app. Commenting and interacting with your communities is easier than ever before with the Game Chat feature. The app is available currently in the U.S. on iOS and Android devices.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

All any team can do is beat the teams in front of them. It has been fortuitous for the Buffalo Sabres, in the midst of their struggles to start the season, that their schedule took them to California to face two struggling talented clubs in the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, and the Los Angeles Kings, who won their first home game against Ottawa on Thursday.  

Buffalo followed up a win over the Sharks in which they clinged to a 1-0 lead until Zach Benson’s empty-net goal with a chaotic 7-6 victory over the Ducks at the Honda Center. The Sabres continued their trend of falling behind, trailing 3-1 in the first period after surrendering a pair of power play goals, but rallied with six straight goals, including a natural hat trick from Tage Thompson.  

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The Sabres came dangerously close to blowing a four-goal lead, as Cutter Gauthier, Tristan Luneau, and Beckett Sennecke narrowed the lead to one, but the Ducks ran out of time to score the equalizer on Colten Ellis, who made a sprawling save with seconds remaining to preserve his second straight victory.

“I didn’t like the way we started the game, I didn’t like our discipline for the type of penalties we took early, but then you’ve got to like the middle 50 minutes, you’ve got to like the fact that our power play scored a couple,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “All you need to do is concentrate on playing good defense,  and you are going to get more offense. Your rush coverage, read where guys are going, we’re better than that.”

 The win moved Buffalo to 6-4-3 and into a tie with Detroit and the NY Rangers, just one point behind Florida for the second Eastern Conference wildcard spot. Sam Carrick returned to the lineup and had an assist on Tyson Kozak’s first period goal, taking the place of injured rookie Konsta Helenius. 

Helenius sustained an upper-body injury in San Jose on Tuesday, and was sent back to Buffalo to be evaluated. 

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One of the newest names to hit the trade rumour mill is Washington Capitals winger Ivan Miroshnichenko. The 22-year-old has struggled to get ice time with the Capitals and has dressed for just three games this season. Initially drafted 20th overall in 2022, it appears that the best option at this point is for Washington to find Miroshnichenko a new home. 

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Vancouver Canucks are one of the teams reportedly interested in Miroshnichenko. As for Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff, he reported the price being "at least a first-round pick." The question now is whether the Canucks should send the Capitals at least a first-round pick for Miroshnichenko. 

The short answer is no. While Miroshnichenko is a talented young player, Vancouver is not in a position to send a first-round pick and potentially another asset for a player who has struggled in the NHL. For reference, the Russian winger has played 55 games so far in his career and recorded 14 points. 

Now, in Miroshnichenko's defence, he hasn't been given many opportunities in the NHL either. He has spent the majority of the last four years in the AHL and has yet to play more than 22 NHL games in a season. That said, he has yet to show Washington he's earned a full-time spot in the lineup, which is why the situation has unfolded as it has. 

Capitals Open the Door to an Ivan Miroshnichenko TradeSeeking a significant return for the former first-round pick, Washington grants the young forward permission to seek a fresh start as they weigh potential offers against roster needs.

Ultimately, while Miroshnichenko fits the Canucks' current rebuild timeline, the price of at least a first-rounder is too high. If he were a 20-year-old defender or center, the conversation would be different, but unfortunately, that is not the case. In the end, at this stage of the rebuild, Ryan Johnson and his team should be focused on acquiring as many picks as possible, rather than trading them away. 

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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The Calgary Flames have recalled two players from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers ahead of Saturday night’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken.

Following injuries to goaltender Devin Cooley and forward Brennan Othmann during Wednesday’s Battle of Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames announced Friday that goaltender Arsenii Sergeev and forward William Stromgren have been recalled.

Stromgren has been off to a strong start with the Wranglers, recording three goals and eight assists for 11 points through 11 games. His point total currently ranks tied for fourth in the AHL.

The Flames selected Stromgren in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut last season, appearing in three games during his recall.

Sergeev has also put together a solid start in the AHL, posting a 4-2-0 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage through six appearances.

A seventh-round selection (205th overall) by Calgary in 2021, Sergeev made his NHL debut last season and picked up his first career NHL victory in the process. He turned aside 27 of 28 shots in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on April 16, 2026, in the Flames’ regular-season finale.

With Cooley’s availability uncertain following Wednesday’s injury, Sergeev could be in line for an opportunity with the Flames once again.

Calgary will look to get back on track Saturday night when they host the Seattle Kraken at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Following their 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins, the St. Louis Blues assigned top prospect Otto Stenberg to the AHL.

Stenberg was recalled on Oct. 18 and played three games in his call-up stint. He recorded one assist, two shots on goal, three hits, and one block while averaging 10:31 of ice time. Stenberg last played on Oct. 24 against the Carolina Hurricanes, serving as a healthy scratch for the previous two games.

The 21-year-old has now played 35 NHL games, tallying three goals and 11 points.

Stenberg returns to the AHL, where he's scored one goal and four points in six games, tied for third on the team in points behind Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and T.J. Tynan, and tied with Justin Carbonneau.

 The return to the AHL was coming. Alexey Toropchenko returned from his injury on Oct. 27, and Ross Johnston is expected to be back soon. Not only would they not have the roster space, but sitting in the press box is not what's best for Stenberg's development.

He needs game action. In the AHL, he'll play higher in the lineup and in more goal-scoring situations than in the NHL, where he played on the fourth line in a checking role. 

The Thunderbirds are 3-3-2 to start the season and sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. However, they rank fifth by points percentage. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League after one month of play. At 4-9-0, they are in last place in the Central Division and second-to-last in the entire league. 

Chicago ranks dead last in goals for with 27. They've also allowed 48, giving them a -21 goal differential. Their defensive system forces them to step back before they step forward, and the players are getting hemmed in their own end as a result. Against good teams especially, they have a hard time breaking the puck out when they do get possession. 

Heading into the next month of NHL action, it is going to be incredibly difficult for the Blackhawks to gain any ground within the division. Their next five games are at the Boston Bruins, home vs the Colorado Avalanche, at the Florida Panthers, at the Tampa Bay Lightning, at the Carolina Hurricanes, and home vs the Buffalo Sabres. Those teams have a combined record of 42-18-7. 

The Central Division standings look as follows:

1. Minnesota Wild: 9-3-3, 21 points

2. Utah Mammoth: 9-5-0, 18 points

3. Colorado Avalanche: 7-5-1, 15 points

4. Dallas Stars: 7-5-1, 15 points

5. St. Louis Blues: 6-6-1, 13 points

6. Nashville Predators: 4-4-5, 13 points

7. Winnipeg Jets: 4-6-3, 11 points

8. Chicago Blackhawks: 4-9-0, 8 points

As you can see, the Blackhawks are four points behind the Jets after 13 games played. Winnipeg had a good start to the season, but are currently on a 3-game losing streak. The Blackhawks have a win against them, and it looks like they will be competing for last in the division all year. However, none of Winnipeg's losses have been as non-competitive as some of Chicago's losses. The Jets have a better goal differential by 11. 

The rest of the division already looks out of reach for Chicago. The Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues are solid teams, even if they aren't as good as the division's top four. 

The Minnesota Wild are obviously off to the hottest start of the bunch, but they have the Quinn Hughes issue hanging over their head. Is he going to stay, or is he as good as gone in free agency? Will they trade one of the five best players in the world if he doesn't commit to them by the deadline?

The Utah Mammoth came into the season with mixed expectations. They were less proven than the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, or Colorado Avalanche, but they gave the Vegas Golden Knights (who ended up winning the conference) a tough test in the first round of the playoffs last year. Now, it looks like they are the real deal with a great young core. 

By their standards, Dallas and Colorado have been just okay so far, but the number of elite players who reside on those two rosters is unbelievable. By the end of the year, they are certainly going to enter the playoffs as Stanley Cup contenders. 

The Blackhawks are 2-2-0 within this division, but the two losses are against top-four Central teams (Utah, Dallas), while the two wins are against the lower half (St. Louis, Winnipeg). It may be difficult to find wins within the division early in the season, unless a change they make turns things around. 

Without Connor Hellebuyck and an aging roster, it is hard to see the Jets making much noise, but they are certainly better equipped than the Blackhawks. However, the rest of the division will play meaningful games until the very end. 

Both the Central and Pacific Divisions may send one Wild Card team each, but there could be a world where 5 of these Central teams make it. It likely depends on how the Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks finish their seasons. Overall, the Pacific is worse than the Central from top to bottom. 

When evaluating the Eastern Conference divisions, the Atlantic Division is the best in the NHL right now. The Metropolitan Division is not bad either, but the Central Division has been much better over the first month.

The Blackhawks are the team in the division that everyone is looking forward to playing, and that won't change until they make a change, whether it be roster, coaching staff, or front office-related. 

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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From the inaugural 2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights season onward, they were all in. In the spirit of Las Vegas, they pushed the chips into the middle of the table and pushed to win the Stanley Cup every season. 

It’s led them to three Stanley Cup Final appearances and a title in 2023. The Golden Knights are in their 10th season of existence, and a regression is expected. Yet, they remain one of the best teams in the Western Conference and on the shortlist of Cup contenders in the Pacific Division. 

They set the tone and a template for going all-in and making aggressive moves to win it all. In the modern NHL, with a salary cap and free agency, it’s more difficult to remain at the top. Yet, the Golden Knights proved to teams like the New Jersey Devils how it’s possible.

 

The Power Play & Other Issues The Devils Are Looking To Address After One MonthThe Devils saw their winning streak end on Wednesday night with a 5-2 loss to the Avalanche, but the streak is a reminder that many factors are working in their favor.

While the Devils weren’t always operating with that mindset, things changed when general manager Sunny Mehta took over. He’s running the Devils with a similar mindset to how Kelly McCrimmon runs the Golden Knights. 

The Drive To Build A Superteam

When the Golden Knights made the 2018 Cup Final, they weren’t the star-studded team that they are now. They were a team built on depth, on a remarkable expansion draft haul where cast-offs from Alex Tuch, Jame Neal, and Jonathan Marchessault became key players. But that team wouldn’t win a Cup, and McCrimmon pivoted.  

It’s led to tough decisions, from letting go of Marc-Andre Fleury to Ryan Reeves, two fan favorites. There were some regrettable trades, including acquiring Max Pacioretty from the Montreal Canadiens for Nick Suzuki. It also led to some moves that built the champion team in 2023 and the team that made the Final last season, including some of the big ones below.

• Acquiring Mark Stone ahead of the 2019 trade deadline.
• Signing Alex Pietrangelo in the 2020 offseason.
• Acquiring Jack Eichel in the middle of the 2021-22 season. 
• Signing Mitch Marner in the 2025 offseason.
• Acquiring Rasmus Andersson at the 2026 trade deadline. 

A common perception in front offices is that it’s best to build through the draft and then develop prospects. Trevor Connelly became the first Golden Knights first-round selection to make his debut with the team. He was drafted in 2024 and made his debut this season.

Mehta got to work from day one when he took over the Devils this offseason. While none of the moves he made were splash additions, they added depth and set the table for big moves. Then came the big swing when the Devils landed Connor Hellebuyck in a blockbuster trade. 

Devils GM Mehta Takes Calculated Risk In Hellebuyck Trade With JetsPushing not quite all-in to acquire Connor Hellebuyck instantly elevates the New Jersey Devils, hurts their divisional opponents, and creates a new perception around the team. As for the Winnipeg Jets? Well, the less said, the better.

Now, the Devils are set on the next big move, whether it’s Dylan Larkin, Quinn Hughes, or another star player. “We’re never done. We’re never done,” Mehta stated during Hellebuyck’s introductory presser, and it’s the message that he’s willing to embody. He won’t stop making moves until the Devils are a super team. 

The Non-Conventional Way Of Adding Depth

When the Golden Knights made moves for Eichel, Stone, and Andersson, they depleted the farm system and gave up draft picks. By default, they became a top-heavy team and lacked depth. 

However, they didn’t add depth through the draft. Most of the time, it came through under-the-radar signings, whether it was Paul Cotter, Michael Amadio, or Adin Hill, who, like many Golden Knights, was a castoff who became the starting goaltender during the 2023 Cup run. 

4 Bright Spots From The Devils' Four-Game Winning StreakThe Devils saw their winning streak end on Wednesday night with a 5-2 loss to the Avalanche, but the streak is a reminder that many factors are working in their favor.

The Devils similarly are adding depth through trades and free agent signings. Anthony Mantha, Evan Rodrigues, and Jesper Boqvist make up their third line. All three were acquired in the offseason. They allowed Mehta to trade Dawson Mercer, a middle-six winger, in a Hellebuyck deal. Likewise, Luke Evangelista, who was acquired this summer, has turned into a top-six winger, and it allows the Devils to move other depth players in a blockbuster deal. 

Adding depth works twofold for contenders. It helps the team right away with players who round out the roster, and it allows the GM to flip them or other depth players for stars. The Golden Knights proved it time and time again, and the Devils are doing the same. 

Ultimately, It Keeps These Teams Competitive, It Certainly Did With Vegas

The Golden Knights are a decade into their existence and show no signs of slowing down. Eventually, they might regress, and they’ll be forced into a rebuild. However, they’ve managed to replace the top-end talent over the years. 

It’s largely because they’ve become a destination. The outside factors play a role, with Vegas being in a tax-free state with great weather. That said, they’ve built up a perennial winner, and it’s made them attractive. 

The message that a blockbuster trade sends to the room is that the front office is willing to do what it takes to win. The players respond by doing their part. The Devils saw the jolt that Hellebuyck provided and the energy shift in the room after the splash. 

Likewise, an aggressive front office is noticed around the league. Players heading to free agency want to join a team that’s willing to spend and make a push for a Cup. It’s how the Golden Knights landed top free agents in the past and how the Devils are starting to become an attractive spot for players looking to win. 

“You just look for an organization that’s willing to do whatever it takes,” Hellebuyck stated in his introductory presser when asked why the Devils were a team he wanted to lift his no-trade clause to play for. Mehta is willing to make the aggressive moves, and players have noticed. 

Nevada Day is getting a little extra gold, silver and hockey this year. The Vegas Golden Knights are turning Friday’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils into a full-on celebration of the Silver State, with specialty merchandise, signed jerseys up for auction and plenty of reasons for fans to show up in white.

The Golden Knights announced Tuesday, Oct. 28, their plans for the annual Nevada Day game, set for 3 p.m. PT Friday, Oct. 30, at T-Mobile Arena. The game, presented by Travel Nevada, honors the state’s admission to the Union on Oct. 31, 1864. Vegas will take the ice in its white jerseys, and fans are encouraged to match the look by wearing white to the game.

There will be more than hockey happening around the arena, too.

Fans heading to Paramount+ Plaza will get the first chance to shop the latest Golden Knights x VANS collection, with sales beginning at 10 a.m. PT. Additional co-branded VGK x VANS merchandise by Violent Gentleman will also be available.

For fans looking to take home something a little more exclusive, specialty signed Nevada Day jerseys will be up for auction. Bidding opens at 1:45 p.m. PT on Friday and closes at 5 p.m. PT. Fans can register and place bids at VGKNevadaDay.givesmart.com or by texting VGKNevadaDay to 76278.

Want a closer look before placing a bid? The jerseys will be on display along the concourse near sections 11 and 12. Proceeds will benefit the VGK Foundation and support its ongoing programming with the Clark County School District.

Nevada Day merchandise won't stop at the arena, either. T-shirts, pucks and other commemorative items will be available for purchase at The Arsenal at City National Arena.

Travel Nevada has already helped kick off the celebration with its "Ultimate Hockey Experience" sweepstakes. One lucky winner and three friends scored tickets to Friday's game, official Golden Knights jerseys, premium transportation to and from T-Mobile Arena and an exclusive opportunity to attend the postgame press conference.

With a holiday crowd, fresh merchandise and some one-of-a-kind jerseys up for grabs, Friday's game is shaping up to be more than just another afternoon at the rink. And with the Devils coming to town, the Golden Knights will have a chance to give Nevada fans one more reason to celebrate.

The Buffalo Sabres did not remedy the offensive gap created by the departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram last summer. The club was minus 44 goals from last season, and appeared to be relying on the internal development of youngsters Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich to make up the difference. 

Early returns have proven that to be a miscalculation by GM Jarmo Kekalainen, as these four forwards have combined for just six goals, and before their breakout 7-6 win in Anaheim on Thursday, the Sabres were averaging 2.75 goals per game and were 25th in scoring.  ,are moving forward with goalie Connor Hellebuyck now with the New Jersey Devils, but details continue to filter out as to what the club offered to acquire the 33-year-old Hart and Vezina Trophy winner before the NHL Draft last June. 

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Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Kekalainen is looking to add some scoring help, but unless Buffalo is looking for a temporary solution, such as a scorer on an expiring contract, it will likely cost the Sabres one of their top prospects. Timing could be an issue for Kekalainen, since teams who may be sellers at the deadline, like the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames or Chicago Blackhawks, are probably not ready to move players until they get overpaid or the calendar is closer to the trade deadline. 

The cost for the Sabres on a rental with an expiring contract would likely be a high draft pick, but if Kekalainen is looking for a forward with term, such as Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust, it could cost Buffalo a pick and an excellent prospect, such as 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, or NCAA prospects Adam Kleber or Brodie Ziemer. 

If Buffalo is looking for a scorer with significant term remaining, such as Vancouver's Brock Boeser, it could cost them a forward like Doan, Benson, or Ostlund, who are younger and also signed to long-term deals, or Helenius, who is 20 years old and in the first year of his entry-level contract.

The need for a move will depend on where the Sabres are in the standings come the end of November, when clubs begin to take stock of where they are.       

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The Florida Panthers gave us a sneak preview at their Hometown Remix uniforms on Friday.

When the Panthers took the ice for their morning skate at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, the Cats were wearing equipment to go with the soon-to-be-released specialty uniforms.

That includes the goaltenders, who had pads and gloves showing off the pink, dark blue and gold colorway that the new uniforms will feature.

Even the goalie masks were specially painted, with Jacob Markstrom featuring some hot pink popping off the cage and Akira Schmid prominently featuring the Hometown Remix logo on the crown.

As for the players, their new colored gear consisted of dark blue gloves, pants and helmets with gold numbers and lettering.

Mornin’ 🌅👀 pic.twitter.com/lcc5hSCag7

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 30, 2026

The Panthers are going to officially release the Hometown Remix gear on Monday at 9:54 a.m. at Pantherland in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs, as well as on their official website.

Later that evening, Florida will debut their Hometown Remix uniforms when they host the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena.

They’ll also wear the flashy uniforms the following home game, Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The eight additional games that Florida will feature the Hometown Remix gear will be on Nov. 26 vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dec. 19 vs. the Calgary Flames, Dec. 26 vs. Tampa Bay, Jan. 2 vs. the Montreal Canadiens, Jan. 16 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights, Feb. 13 vs. the Dallas Stars, March 6 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs and March 27 vs the Philadelphia Flyers.

You can check out footage of Florida wearing the Hometown Remix gear during Friday’s morning skate in the video below:

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It should have been a storybook night for Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel.

In his most recent game, at Utah, it ended with him being robbed on a last-second shot that would have tied the game and sent it to overtime. Then he had a medical episode that resulted in him spending what were almost certainly a couple of stressful days in a Utah hospital, then missing two games in a row.

He returned on Thursday night, against Utah, and helped jumpstart a sluggish Penguins offense with a goal and an assist.

The goal, with 20 seconds to play in regulation, should have been the game-winner.

It seemed almost impossible to believe that they could give up a tying goal, with a neutral zone face-off, and only 20 seconds to play.

But these are the Penguins, and surrendering baffling, unacceptable goals in the closing seconds is kind of their thing. And then they did. And then they could not control the puck in overtime, taking part in a four-minute comedy of errors that eventually ended with Mikhail Sergachev’s game-winning goal.

It was a point against a contender, but it should have been more.

There are a few things that should be incredibly frustrating about that result for the Penguins.

The obvious is, well, that it happened.

The second is that it was an opportunity for them to do something they have not done anywhere enough of this season and actually won a game in regulation. They have now played 13 games, and even though they have five wins, only two of them have come in regulation. That was a chance to secure a regulation win, against one of the better teams in the league, and they squandered it. There are only four other teams in the league that don’t have at least three regulation wins at this point: San Jose, Columbus, Los Angeles and Vancouver. It’s not the type of company you want to be keeping.

The third is that it is a continuation of their inability to close out games. It is already the third time this season they have allowed a team to tie a game in the final minute, with the other two coming against the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. They were able to salvage the first two with wins in overtime/shootout, but could not do the same Thursday.

It’s a rough look for everybody involved that it keeps happening this frequently.

But it is an especially rough look for the coaching staff, especially given some of the deployment decisions.

In all three instances it was the fourth line on the ice, but with Sidney Crosby inserted in on the first two occasions (yesterday Lizotte maintained his spot). Declan Carlile has been on the ice for two of them.

What makes Thursday’s so baffling is that they could have, in theory, put any player and defense pairing on the ice that they wanted. Utah argued the go-ahead goal for more than a minute. There was a delay while the play was reviewed. Then Utah called a timeout. Everybody was rested. Everybody was fresh. The entire bench was at your disposal. Muse responded by sending out a defense pairing of Carlile and Kaedan Korczak, a pairing that had only played two minutes together on Thursday. And then Carlile committed about every possible mistake imaginable in trying to secure the lead. When the puck was pinned against the wall, he dug it free. He lost his man. He then let his man have a free whack at the puck in front of the crease.

At that point, just tackle him. Who cares if you commit a penalty. There are three seconds left.

Leave the puck pinned against the wall.

Do anything other than what you did.

A few other quick Penguins thoughts….

1. If we get to game 20 and Crosby still looks like this, you have to start having a discussion about where his season is going to go, and by extension, where the Penguins season is going to go. He has seven points in 13 games. The only other time in his career that he’s had less than 11 points through 13 games was the start of the second Mike Johnston year, and we all know how bad that was (for everybody, not just Crosby). He’s had some slow starts in recent years, but never this slow, and honestly, never this bad. And that’s not an inappropriate word to use. He’s been bad. Something just looks … wrong. His line is consistently one of their worst ones every night, and it has been getting buried defensively more than any other. We are far enough into the season that you should be paying attention to it. Maybe not fully worried. But certainly paying attention. They are getting solid play from every other line at times. Maybe not as consistently as you would like in some cases, but a lot of solid play. They are not getting anything from his line. Certainly not enough. You can make the argument that he would have a few more assists if Rickard Rakell had some better finishing early on, and that’s certainly true, but the lack of chances from him and just how pedestrian he looks are eye-opening.

2. I am trying to be generous with Andrei Kuzmenko given, *gestures hands* what he went through before the season */gesture hands*, but it’s not working right now. If there’s somebody that is going to come out for a healthy Elmer Soderblom, or to get an Avery Hayes or Rutger McGroarty back in the lineup, or Justin Brazeau when he returns, that is pretty obviously the guy at this point.

3. I think you have to sit Carlile for a game or two. I liked the signing and the mindset behind it. I liked the gamble. I am certainly not giving up on it. But right now he is struggling a bit and I don’t love some of the decision-making. The end of Thursday’s game was shocking.

4. I am not overly concerned about the lack of playing time for Sergei Murashov at this point. He needs to play. He will play. I don’t think it’s damaging his development to sit for a bit here while Arturs Silovs played well. Especially given the way his past two starts went. Sometimes a reset and a chance to watch is helpful.

When making an appearance on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast this past week, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman explained that Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin wanted to leave things on the right note with his hometown team. 

Larkin appeared to be public enemy number one during the home opener, when he sat on the bench undressed as the team introduced its lineup and the Detroit crowd rained boos down on the former captain.

It made sense, based on what Friedman said, as Larkin returned to the lineup on October 6, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a win over the Ottawa Senators. He played the way a captain should, with heart, sticking up for teammates and acting as the team's motor, with minutes on both special teams units.

He earned some respect back, to the point where the crowd offered more cheers than boos when he came back out as the game's first star. However, that has all changed as just ten games into his season, as Larkin appears to have lost everything he gained.

On Thursday, Larkin's agent announced that the 30-year-old would not play another game for the Red Wings, citing how long the process of finding a trade has taken. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff promptly suspended Larkin without pay.

Parts of the hockey world had fun at the expense of former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, counting the money he lost while serving his own suspension. Now fans have turned their attention to Larkin, creating a website called "Larkin's Losses" that tracks how much money he is losing. 

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On Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit fans made their feelings clear with colorful chants aimed at Larkin, even though he was not in the lineup.

As in the Hellebuyck situation, the Red Wings could take their time and wait for the best offer to appear. The longer Larkin sits out, the more his value as a player could fall, and the harder a return to game action becomes.

Trade talks reportedly picked up on Thursday with the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes, who are all on Larkin's trade list, reaching out and expressing interest. Others not on the list, including the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues, have reportedly expressed interest if he eventually adds them. 

Teams on his list that are reportedly not interested, or that once were but no longer are, include the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth and the Washington Capitals.

It appears to be an unfortunate end to the Dylan Larkin saga as it appeared to be potentially ending on a positive note with his return to the lineup, however he quickly soured his stance with Red Wings fans once again and will make for a memorable night when he makes his eventual return to Little Caesars Arena.

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