The former Wild netminder enters Columbus as the team's backup to Jet Greaves. With Elvis Merzlikins failing his physical and out to start the year, Talbot will be the Blue Jackets backup.
Talbot, 39, is 278-204-53 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and 33 shutouts in 567 regular-season games (533 starts) for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings and Red Wings.
In 82 games with the Wild from 2020-21 to 2021-22, Talbot posted a 51-20-9 record, a .913 save percentage, a 2.71 goals-against average, and five shutouts.
He is 16-18 with a 2.75 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and six shutouts in 36 Stanley Cup Playoff games (34 starts).
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The Montreal Canadiens recently re-signed defenseman Arber Xhekaj to a one-year prove-it deal.
Now that Xhekaj has gotten his contract signed, it is clear that he must have a hot start to the 2026-27 season for the Canadiens.
While Xhekaj has gotten his new deal, his long-term future with the Canadiens is still not set in stone. Because of this, he will need to prove to the Canadiens that he can be a mainstay on their blueline. This is especially so when noting that other defensemen like Jayden Struble, Adam Engstrom, and David Reinbacher will be competing for playing time.
Furthermore, with Kaiden Guhle sidelined for the start of the season, Xhekaj has an opportunity to show the Canadiens that he warrants more consistent playing time. If he does, it will help his chances of sticking in Montreal's lineup once Guhle is fully healthy and returns.
It is going to be very intriguing to see if Xhekaj can start the season off on the right foot for Montreal. It is a crucial year for the rugged defenseman, so time will tell if he can put together a strong campaign.
In 65 games last season for Montreal, Xhekaj posted one goal, four points, 116 penalty minutes, and 178 hits.
Sawyer brings nearly a decade of experience in the broadcast booth with the Winnipeg Jets, where he worked as a regional game analyst before making the move west to Calgary.
The 52-year-old also brings a perspective shaped by nearly a decade spent playing professional hockey.
Sawyer appeared in 110 NHL games over parts of six seasons, suiting up for the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim between 1995 and 2003. He finished his NHL career with three goals and six points, along with 403 penalty minutes.
His NHL career was built largely around his physical style of play. Sawyer spent his final three seasons with Anaheim, appearing in 97 games and recording 336 penalty minutes. He scored his first NHL goal during the 2001-02 season, when he played a career-high 57 games for the Mighty Ducks.
That experience will again translate to the other side of the game as Sawyer joins Jon Abbott and Brendan Parker for Calgary’s regional broadcasts.
This offseason, the Kings made monumental changes to their team. Is it enough to surpass the defending western conference champions?
Why the Kings Will Be Better
Although the Knights were the better team last season, that could change entirely this year. That is in large part due to Los Angeles being the better defensive team.
Last season, the Kings only allowed 2.9 goals per game while the Knights allowed 2.95 goals. Los Angeles also held a .899 save percentage, while Vegas had a .884 save percentage.
Defensively, the Kings should still remain competent and that could benefit from the new system. Coach Peter Laviolette is expected to elevate the Kings offense to its full potential.
If the offense of the Kings can take a step up, then that will pair tremendously with the top 10 defense from last year. Los Angeles has the better defense than Vegas, which could lead to them dethroning the West Champs this season.
Why the Knights Will Be Better
Speculation is only a part of the debate between the Kings and the Knights; the other part is results. When it comes to consistent seasons between these two teams, that heavily favors the Knights for this upcoming season.
Aside from the Knights making the Stanley Cup in 2026, they’ve had consistent playoff success. The Knights have made the second round three of the last four seasons and have won a Stanley Cup in 2023.
On the other hand, Los Angeles hasn’t made it to the second round since they won the Stanley Cup in 2014. The Kings haven’t won a playoff series in over a decade, let alone been a true title contender.
Vegas has proven to consistently be one of the best teams in the NHL while Los Angeles hasn’t. The Knights are expected to be contenders in 2027, while it’s a question if the Kings can take the next leap.
Overall Verdict
When it comes down to whom the best team will be in 2027, the clear answer is Vegas. The Knights have the more potent offense but can also step up on defense when it matters most.
During the playoffs, the Knights had a .907 save percentage and allowed 2.82 goals per game. Along with both defensive categories being improvements from the regular season, the offense was better in the playoffs too.
In the regular season, the Knights scored 3.22 goals per game, which ranked 14th in the league. During the postseason, Vegas scored 3.45 goals per game, which ranked 4th amongst playoff teams.
Regardless if it’s offense or defense, the Knights have shown to play at their best when it matters most. The Kings have not shown to play at their best in pivotal moments, hence why they brought in a new coach for better results.
Both offensively and defensively, the Knights have executed better than the Kings in crunch time. Therefore, Vegas is a more well-rounded unit and should be a better team than Los Angeles in 2027.
Martin Necas spent last season answering questions about whether he could become the player the Colorado Avalanche believed they were acquiring.
He answered them with 100 points.
Now comes the harder part: proving it wasn't a one-time breakthrough while dealing with everything that comes with becoming one of the NHL's most dangerous offensive players.
Nearly two months ago, The Hockey News examined the heightened pressure facing Necas as he prepared to enter his first full season with the Avalanche. At the time, the pressure centered largely around expectations. Colorado had acquired Necas to be a difference-maker, and after arriving midway through the previous season, he was finally going to have a full campaign to establish himself in an Avalanche uniform.
He did considerably more than that.
Necas delivered the best offensive season of his career, reaching the 100-point mark and establishing himself among the NHL's elite. But with that achievement comes a new reality: The target on his back has grown considerably.
The league has a way of humbling players who reach that level. One season can elevate a player into the conversation among the game's best; the next can bring an entirely different level of scrutiny. Jonathan Huberdeau is one example of how quickly circumstances can change after a career year.
For Necas, however, the challenge extends beyond simply maintaining his production. He is a dynamic offensive force with explosive speed, exceptional puckhandling ability and the creativity to make something happen whenever the puck is on his stick. But there has long been one vulnerability in his game: Necas can leave himself exposed to open-ice contact.
That tendency followed him from his days with the Carolina Hurricanes and remained an issue last season in Colorado. Last year, Necas absorbed several heavy hits, including Mikey Anderson's open-ice hit in Game 1 of the Avalanche's Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings.
Now, coming off a 100-point campaign, Necas is going to command even more attention from opposing teams.
And that means the hits are coming, too.
When a player establishes himself as one of the league's most dangerous offensive threats, opponents naturally look for ways to disrupt him. For Necas, protecting himself without sacrificing the speed, creativity and aggressiveness that make him so effective could become one of the most important challenges of his next chapter.
If the footage that surfaced during the offseason is any indication, Necas appears to understand that as well.
A video showed the Avalanche forward working out alongside Calgary Flames defenseman Adam Klapka and, perhaps more notably, Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl.
Hertl is the same player who delivered a devastating hip check on Necas in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, sending him down the tunnel and leaving Colorado without one of its most important offensive weapons as the Avalanche were ultimately swept out of the series.
Perhaps that experience helped reinforce something Necas already knew: At his level, being able to withstand the physical demands of an NHL season is just as important as being able to produce offensively.
And judging by how Necas spent his summer, it appears he put an emphasis on that side of his game.
When asked at training camp about his offseason preparation, Necas said he spent the summer working on his strength and power while also trying to become faster.
“Try to work a little on my strength, on my power, and, you know, get a little faster, get a little stronger,” Necas told reporters. “Lots of work on the ice.”
That makes the footage of Necas working out alongside Klapka and Hertl all the more intriguing. At 6-foot-8, Klapka is an imposing physical presence and the kind of player who immediately stands out on the ice. He is also the same defenseman who delivered a late-season hit on Cale Makar that sent the Avalanche star into the boards and left him with an upper-body injury.
Hertl, meanwhile, has built his career around a powerful, difficult-to-defend style, making the trio an especially interesting group to see training together.
Necas isn't suddenly going to become Superman, nor is he going to turn into the next Ivan Barbashev. That's not what this is about. But adding more strength and power to an already dangerous skill set could give Necas another weapon when opposing players try to close off his space, battle him along the boards or disrupt his ability to create with the puck.
Necas also said he felt good coming into camp after what he described as a “great summer,” adding that he was excited to return and “move myself a little higher again.”
That mentality is important. Necas isn't satisfied with reaching 100 points and stopping there.
He wants to get better.
And getting better may mean more than simply finding another level offensively. After establishing himself as one of the NHL's most dangerous forwards, Necas is going to have to deal with a different level of attention every time he touches the puck.
The open ice won't be as forgiving. The hits may come a little harder. Opponents will have even more incentive to make sure Necas doesn't have the time and space to dictate a game.
The 100-point season changed his status.
Now, Necas has spent his summer preparing for what comes with it.
The next step is showing that he can handle everything that comes with being one of Colorado's most important players — including the physical price that may come with it.
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to be without Connor Bedard for at least a little while longer. He is progressing well, but neither side wants to rush things and risk making it worse at any point.
For now, it seems Frank Nazar will center the top line alongside Patrick Kane and Roman Kantserov in Bedard's place. For both Nazar and Kantserov, playing with a legend like Patrick Kane is an incredible opportunity early in their careers.
As far as Patrick Kane is concerned, playing with youth is a great way for him to stay fresh as well. We've seen plenty of aging superstars keep it going for longer than they otherwise would have because they played on lines with younger players.
After the first training camp practice, Kane spoke about what he is seeing from both Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov, starting with the former:
"I think he's a competitive kid," Kane said of Nazar. "He wants to win; he wants to do well; he wants to win games in practice; he wants to do well as a line, score goals, have that presence of mind, be in the moment, especially in practice."
For Kane, playing with a centerman like Nazar will be a treat. Nazar is not afraid to backcheck or get to the dirty areas in the offensive zone, and, like Kane, he is not afraid to pass or shoot. Both of them will be hard to defend because of their unpredictability.
"[I'm] excited to play with him and develop chemistry with him," Kane said. "[We're going to] have a good year."
Although neither Kane nor Nazar is afraid to shoot, they would both be considered pass-first types, which is why Roman Kantserov is the perfect young player to put on the other side of the line. He was one of the best KHL goal scorers last year and is trying to bring that ability to the NHL in his rookie season.
"I think he's got a lot of skill," Kane said of Kantserov. "He's very smooth. He speaks very good English; he wants to communicate too. He wants to know certain things about the game, the drills we're doing, or what I'm seeing on the ice."
Patrick Kane has been on some incredible lines throughout his career. He didn't play with Jonathan Toews at even strength much (outside of one season), but he had incredible years with guys like Artemi Panarin, Brandon Saad, Brandon Hagel, Alex DeBrincat, and many others. Now, he wants that for this line.
"As a line, we got more and more chemistry as the day went on," Kane said. "Things got better and better. I'm excited to keep building with them."
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The Vegas Golden Knights possess championship-caliber top-end talent with Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, but a projected total of 103.5 points demands more than star power. It requires Vegas to produce sustained regular-season excellence with one of the NHL’s oldest and most injury-sensitive cores.
Stone remains highly productive when available, delivering 73 points in only 60 games last season, but his recurring injury history makes projecting a full campaign dangerous. Vegas must also carefully manage veterans such as Alex Pietrangelo and William Karlsson, while Eichel, Marner and Tomas Hertl will be asked to carry an enormous offensive burden. It may take only one extended absence from that group to turn several regulation victories into overtime losses—or wins into losses.
Last Season’s Record Creates a Warning Sign
The Golden Knights finished 39-26-17 with 95 points last season, despite winning the Pacific Division and advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. Their 17 overtime and shootout losses were the most in franchise history, showing how often Vegas struggled to finish close games in regulation.
That postseason run may now be inflating the market’s evaluation of a team that was far less dominant throughout the regular season. Vegas caught fire following its late coaching change, closing 7-0-1 under John Tortorella before carrying that momentum deep into the playoffs. Replicating that short-term surge across an entire 82-game schedule is a much more demanding assignment.
Clearing 103.5 would require at least 104 points—a nine-point improvement from last season. That is a considerable jump for an aging roster entering another transition under Ryan Craig, who must establish his system, manage veteran workloads and maintain the urgency that followed Tortorella’s arrival.
Scoring Depth and Goaltending Remain Concerns
Vegas must also replace Pavel Dorofeyev’s team-leading 37 goals. Losing that production creates a significant hole beyond the established stars, particularly if Stone, Eichel or Hertl misses time. The Golden Knights should remain dangerous on the power play, but their five-on-five depth could become a problem when the schedule compresses or injuries force younger players into larger roles.
Goaltending presents another source of volatility. Vegas allowed 250 goals last season and lacked a clearly established No. 1 capable of consistently stealing games. Average goaltending may be enough for this roster to qualify for the playoffs, but surpassing 103.5 points likely requires above-average performance in net and better results in the numerous one-goal games that defined last season.
The Pacific Division should also offer fewer soft landing spots. Edmonton remains a contender, Los Angeles is difficult to play against, and improving teams in San Jose and Anaheim should reduce the number of seemingly automatic divisional points available to Vegas. A deeper conference also makes it harder to survive ordinary stretches without surrendering valuable ground.
The Golden Knights can finish approximately 47-28-7 for 101 points, comfortably reach the playoffs and remain a legitimate Stanley Cup threat while still cashing the Under. That projection already represents a six-point improvement over last season.
This is not a bet against Vegas’ postseason ceiling. It is a wager against an older, injury-sensitive roster improving by at least nine points while replacing its leading goal scorer, adjusting to another coach and receiving more dependable goaltending over six demanding months. The Golden Knights may again become extremely dangerous in April, but asking them to produce 104-plus points before then is setting the regular-season bar too high.
The Connor Hellebuyck trade saga took another turn Thursday, as it was reported that the Carolina Hurricanes remain interested in acquiring the star goaltender, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Per the report, Carolina has offered a package built around a first-round pick and standout young defenseman Alexander Nikishin, and that offer could still be on the table. Nikishin's situation adds an intriguing wrinkle to any potential deal.
The 24-year-old Russian defenseman remains unsigned as a restricted free agent and did not attend the first day of Hurricanes training camp after requesting a trade from Carolina this offseason, following a diminished role as the Stanley Cup playoffs wore on.
A former third-round pick in 2020, Nikishin wasn't considered a can't-miss prospect on draft day, and that history may be part of what's giving Winnipeg pause. He flashed real upside this past season, on pace for 30-point production, but the question for the Jets is just how low his floor could be if that offensive game doesn't translate consistently at the NHL level.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff made clear he isn't in any rush to finalize a deal, saying "I just want to get this right."
He also didn't shut the door on a potential Hellebuyck return to Winnipeg.
"Look, no doors are closed," Cheveldayoff said. "In my estimation, he's a player that's under contract for five years, but at the end of the day, that'll be his choice."
Cheveldayoff went a step further, reiterating that the organization still views Hellebuyck as one of their own regardless of how the situation unfolds.
"Connor Hellebuyck is a part of our family until he's not a part of our family," Cheveldayoff explained.
On paper, Nikishin is an appealing add as a six-foot-three, left-shot defenseman, who just finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting, but a top-four defenseman isn't necessarily what Winnipeg is looking for.
The Jets have consistently been among the league's best defensive teams in recent years, and their more pressing need is on the other side of the puck, specifically a top-six forward, a hole that's existed since they lost Nikolaj Ehlers to Carolina in free agency last offseason.
With five years remaining on Hellebuyck's contract, a resolution that keeps him in Winnipeg is still very much in play. But if Hellebuyck continues to push for a trade out of town, the Nikishin package is one that Cheveldayoff and the rest of Jets management are said to be discussing seriously.
There's also a secondary piece that could sweeten the pot for Winnipeg in goaltender Brandon Bussi. The late-career breakout at 28 years old, who recently signed a team-friendly three-year extension carrying a $1.9 million cap hit also has no trade protection. If Bussi were attached to a deal alongside Nikishin, it could make the return significantly more appealing for a Jets team weighing its options in net and along the back end.
For now, the situation remains fluid, with Cheveldayoff signaling patience while acknowledging that all avenues, including one that sends Hellebuyck to the defending Stanley Cup champions, remain open.
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Lost amid the fact that Chris Kreider spent his first practice with the Montreal Canadiens on the first line and that Oliver Kapanen was back on the second line was the fact that Team B's players face a lot of uncertainty. Martin St-Louis could have gone for all-veteran lines for that squad as well, but he chose not to, and that might be for a couple of different reasons.
He may want to give a real audition to a player like Florian Xhekaj, who finds himself skating on a line with Josh Anderson and Phillip Danault, who will be on the opening-night roster, no questions asked. Jake Evans and Alex Newhook have their spot guaranteed as well, but it would be rather surprising to see their linemate Brett Berard make it; at this stage, he looks like a placeholder.
St-Louis might also have wanted to send a message to the players who are, for now at least, likely to be the fringe players. That’s hardly likely to be Zach Bolduc, who’s fresh off signing a 4-year, $4.2 million cap-hit contract. The ones who will really have to fight for their NHL spots are likely to be Alexandre Texier and Kirby Dach. The former is under contract for two years at $2.5 million per year, while the latter could only get a one-year deal at $3.6 million from the Canadiens.
The Habs' unwillingness to sign Dach to a $4 million qualifying offer should have already sent a clear message to the Albertan. They did tender him the qualifying offer, but by making it a two-way contract, they essentially forced him not to accept it, and the message was clear: so far, you haven't shown us you are worth $4 million a year.
In the first round of the playoffs last season, Dach faced some serious backlash after one of his mistakes cost the Canadiens a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. St- Louis came to his rescue, refused to give in to the pressure to scratch him, and even publicly said he wouldn’t give up on a player who hasn’t given up on himself. The big winger repaid him with a tremendous performance in the next game, but then faded away, and by the end of the playoffs, he was on the fourth line.
At this stage, Dach shouldn’t take anything for granted; he needs to show the coach and the team that he hasn’t given up on himself. It would be rather surprising if GM Kent Hughes didn’t try to find a new home for the winger this past summer; it feels like he did but couldn’t find a trading partner, and if that’s the case, the Habs may be tempted to send an even louder message to Dach by sending him down to Laval, much like they did with Joel Armia when his performances weren’t up to scratch. Armia was 30 years old then, though; Dach is only 25 and was picked third overall in the 2019 draft, which may ultimately save him. Hughes may not be willing to roll the dice on losing a player he acquired at high cost, sacrificing Alexander Romanov to do so.
As for Texier, he didn’t cost anything to acquire, and when he signed with the Habs after agreeing to terminate his contract with the St. Louis Blues, he had to go through waivers. His debut with the Canadiens was impressive, and he spent time on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, while Juraj Slafkovsky skated alongside Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen; now Kreider is there.
The Canadiens have a legitimate top six, and the only spot that could open up is the second-line center role if a better option than Kapanen emerges, but Texier cannot play center. Where does that leave him? He doesn’t exactly play with the grit you’d want from a bottom-six player, and he’s not an energy guy either. At this stage, it very much feels like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, but we’ll see what he can show in this express training camp.
Of course, Montreal can always just stick to the 13 forwards that have an NHL contract, but if the younger Xhekaj shows that he’s ready to take the next step and that he could bring some of that grit, that sandpaper that was missing in the playoffs, the team may be forced to make a tough decision.
Florian Xhekaj semble avoir de réelles chances de percer l’alignement du Canadien cette saison. 👀
Il semble avoir pris du coffre tout en gagnant en rapidité. Il protège également très bien la rondelle, comme on peut le constater sur cette séquence. 👀⬇️
All eyes were on Matvei Michkov as Philadelphia Flyers training camp opened up on Thursday morning, and the Russian phenom delivered in ways even we reporters didn't foresee in advance.
Much has been made of the language barrier between Michkov, 21, and his teammates and coaches, dating back to his rookie year in 2024-25 with John Tortorella.
Teammate Egor Zamula and Flyers skating coach Slava Kuznetsov served as the de facto translators for Michkov that year, and Ivan Fedotov, and briefly, Andrei Kuzmenko, were the only other Russian speakers on the roster at the time.
Last season, the Flyers had a new head coach with Rick Tocchet, Fedotov was traded in the offseason, and Egor Zamula was jettisoned in January. Michkov did have Nikita Grebenkin with him, but Grebenkin is equally inexperienced and can't be relied on as a mentor the same way Zamula was with all his experience in North America.
Heading into a very important third NHL season with the Flyers, the language barrier and English-speaking ability were outstanding question marks for Michkov, but the youngster surprisingly put those concerns to bed out of the gate.
Michkov was requested for media availability from the Group A skaters on Thursday, and we were informed that the 21-year-old would speak only in English and draw on Kuznetsov, who stood off to the side, when needed. A surprise, to be sure, but it ended up being the biggest bright spot of the day by far, and it didn't even happen on the ice.
Michkov acknowledged the difficulty of speaking English during his availability, but it didn't deter him from giving honest answers and showing off some of his personality.
"I feel good, good summer. I work all time. Work and fun, 50-50," Michkov said with a smile. "I feel really good right now, and I think me ready in season."
The Russian phenom revealed in a recent interview that he's shed 30 pounds from this time last year, coming into training camp 2025 at 205 pounds, but coming into this year at 176. Michkov already feels the difference.
"I think this is so good for me. You know, I feel right now lighter, lighter right now on ice, and more speed. Every skill, more speed, better speed. This is hard work, too," Michkov added. "I eat right now just good food, but no fast food. You know, no sugar, but no... little bit, maybe day off. I like chocolate, but day off, just day off!"
That personality, even in broken English, will connect Michkov with fans and doubters alike just by organically communicating through us in the media.
He's able to, more or less, say what he really thinks, and on his own terms.
Michkov cleared a major mental and social hurdle
Matvei Michkov celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn images)
You can tell that Michkov listens intently and seeks to understand, even when he knows he may not.
For example, I asked Michkov what his experience was like training with Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev in Russia this summer. He recognized the players' names and nodded his head to show he understood, and asked Kuznetsov what "experience" meant.
"This is a good experience for me. Thank you Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev, messaged me, and so good guys, so good players," Michkov answered. "Just NHL guys who from in Russia, and we work the same. Hands, skills, a little bit skating, and this is good for me, too."
Michkov concluded his interview acknowledging his progress from Year 1 with Tortorella and the Flyers to today.
"I know now a little bit better English. My first years so hard for me. I stay in Philly zero level English, second year a little bit better, now a little bit better more," Michkov assessed. "This is my first interview in English. This is hard for me, guys, sorry. I feel much better now. You know, I think Philly, this is my second home, and I feel the same. My first and second home, I feel the same, same good, so good. Thank you everybody for support and the atmosphere."
It was a long time coming for Michkov, who braved the cameras, the language barrier, and the uncertainty to try something new.
This was a social hurdle Michkov needed to clear on his own terms, and doing so would only benefit him on and off the ice. He can communicate with his coaches and teammates better and ask questions when needed.
As a reporter, I've been there, too, learning to ask questions and assert myself. It's still a work in progress, so I can empathize.
But you can always control your effort and what you do, and Michkov put forth his best effort Thursday on and off the ice, impressing teammates, coaches, and media all the same.
"I think that's a big step for him. We encourage him to come out. I don't think he needs a translator all the time. We want to take the safety net out under him and I think he did a hell of a job," Tocchet said of Michkov after practice concluded.
"Going up to coaches on his own and things like that, we got to create that culture for him. He doesn't need people around him to tell, I think he knows. And it's the only way to learn, and he wants it. He wants to learn that way, too. It's good for us."
Earlier in the day, during the skating portion to end the Group A session, Michkov appeared to ask Denver Barkey and Jack Studnicka to lead off the second lap, and he did so keeping pace with his peers the whole way, even after blowing a tire on a tight turn around one of the nets.
"It's just the first day," Tocchet said. "But you can tell he's lighter and he looks stronger skating, like the stride's longer. You watch the laps, when guys start getting tired, their stride is choppier, and his was still elongated. That's a good sign."
By all accounts, Michkov passed his first tests of Flyers training camp with flying colors.
Of course, with only four preseason games and a shorter training camp overall, it will be up to Michkov to keep it going into the season and make his progress count for something, but a major breakout for the Flyers seems likelier than ever after Day 1.
As the players get ready for Day 2 of camp, some news and notes to know!
The Penguins are looking to repeat last year’s success of making the playoffs but know it won’t come easy. [Tribune Review]
This power ranking isn’t buying in, Pens check in at No. 23. [Sportsnet]
It’s going to be an uphill climb for youngsters like Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes and Owen Pickering to crack the opening night NHL roster but all are going to put their best foot forward in hopes of earning a spot. [The Athletic $]
More notes and observations from yesterday’s first day of camp. [Post-Gazette]
All the best wishes and vibes for Dave Molinari, who had a positive piece of news in a recent update in his ongoing battle with cancer. He’s been brave to document it all and put his story out there, we’re all hoping he gets to write a very happy ending. [Substack]
Sidney Crosby sent in a video about Marc-Andre Fleury that was touching for Fleury’s QMJHL Hall of Fame ceremony. [Reddit]
Crosby is about to become the longest tenured captain in NHL history in his 20th season. [Reddit]
Jason Spezza confirms 20-year old defenseman Tomas Galvas will get a look in training camp and head back to Czechia for the season if he doesn’t make the NHL roster. [X – Pens Inside Scoop]
Elmer Soderblom got bumped to the last practice group after being late yesterday. We’ll have to see how long he stays there. [X – Josh Yohe]
Up in Toronto, 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna started training camp on a line with William Nylander and John Tavares. Sounds decent. [NHL]
David Pastrnak didn’t have to rehab anything this summer for a first time in a while, which could lead to an even bigger season than normal. [NHL]
The family of Arizona State player Matthew Mayich, now on life support after a team workout gone wrong, is speaking out with frankly more strength and grace than I’d have in the situation. They’re asking for visibility and prayers, so that’s the least we can do. [Sportsnet]
Jets players sound a lot more sad than angry about Connor Hellebuyck deciding to leave them high and dry. [TSN]
Five long-time NHL officials have retired and won’t be back this season. Profiling them here. [Scouting the Refs]
Columbus coach Rick Bowness didn’t mince words with his displeasure about two unnamed players coming into camp in subpar shape after very directly being told what programs they were supposed to work over the summer. [TSN]
Day one of training camp is in the books for the New York Rangers, and after months of speculation, we got our first breadcrumbs about what the opening-night roster could look like.
Here’s all you need to know from the first day of training camp
Gabe Perreault, Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière reunite:
Mike Sullivan went back to a winning formula on Thursday, reuniting Gabe Perreault, Mika Zibanejad, and Alexis Lafrenière on a line.
For a stretch late in the 2025-26 season, these three forwards found success playing alongside each other and provided the Rangers with consistent offensive production they had not gotten all year long.
Perreault is slated to take on a larger top-six role as he heads into his first NHL season and by the looks of the team’s first practice, it appears as if he’ll indeed start the season as a top-six forward.
“We thought they had pretty good chemistry, so I think just from a common sense standpoint, it would make sense to maybe see where it goes,” Sullivan said.
The case to pair Zibanejad with Pavel Dorofeyev is certainly enticing and could be explored as camp progresses, but the fact that he started training camp playing with Perreault and Lafrenière may be a sign of things to come, and Sullivan confirmed that he wants to keep the same lines and defensive pairings for at least a couple of days.
“I'd like to give them a couple of practices, maybe a couple inter-squads, and see where it goes. I think it's obvious we started there for a reason,” Sullivan said. “We'll learn along the way, and we'll figure out based on what we see, based on some of the conversations we have with the players involved, we'll get their feedback also, and then we'll try to make the best decisions for the team.”
J.T. Miller centers line with Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand:
After thriving playing alongside Jack Eichel in Vegas, Pavel Dorofeyev opened up camp with J.T. Miller as his new center.
Miller fluctuated from the wing to center last season, but playing his natural position down the middle is more beneficial to him, and having Dorofeyev on the wing could help him recapture his offensive game.
“J.T. is a versatile guy,” Sullivan said. “I think his playmaking ability is probably undervalued. He sees the ice pretty well, I think he has an ability to distribute the puck. I think J.T. brings a physical element to the downlow-grind game that I think he can drag his linemates into a little bit, so they can create some offense in different ways.
“I think Pav is a guy that could obviously score goals, and so we wanted to see what that looks like.”
Oliver Bjorkstrand, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Rangers this offseason, complimented Miller and Dorofeyev, as Sullivan praised Bjorkstrand’s ability to score goals.
While Dorofeyev played on the right side during Thursday’s practice, Sullivan has plans to try out Dorofeyev at both right and left wing.
“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.”
Will Cuylle Set To Play A Third-Line Role:
The Rangers’ third line on Thursday consisted of Will Cuylle, Noah Laba, and new addition Eeli Tolvanen, with Taylor Raddysh also filling in.
Sullivan felt that last season Cuylle played his best hockey in a third-line role playing alongside Noah Laba, and now that the Rangers have added more depth to their top-six forward unit, it gives them the ability to utilize Cuylle on the bottom six, a position that he’s better suited to thrive in.
“I thought Will Cuylle played some of his best hockey with Laba last year,” Sullivan emphasized. “When you put a guy like Will on the third line, so to speak, it creates I think, a scoring threat, a physical presence, more balance through our lineup that makes us harder to play against. You potentially get more advantageous matchups. I think there are advantages to having balance. Will Cuylle with Laba, it strengthens that top nine as opposed to that top six.”
Tolvanen signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Blueshirts late in the offseason, and he provides an element of speed and physicality to a line that is centered around those two traits.
This newly assembled line brought a strong physical presence on Thursday, specifically shown on a hit delivered by Cuylle on Lafrenière.
Joe Veleno and Tye Kartye create a speedy fourth line:
Sullivan looks to be prioritizing speed on the fourth line with a duo of Joe Veleno and Tye Kartye.
The Rangers went out and signed Veleno to a one-year, $1.2 million contract, and based on the team’s first practice, it appears as if he’s the frontrunner to land the fourth-line center role.
Kartye mostly played on the third line after being claimed off waivers in February, and he provided an instant spark to the team.
Sullivan noted the increase in speed to the bottom-six forward unit, specifically provided by Veleno and Kartye.
“I think we got faster in the bottom six in particular,” Sullivan said. “Veleno, he can really skate. We added Tye Kartye at the end of the year. Tye could really skate, he’s a dog on the bone with the puck.”
Jaroslav Chmelař and Matt Rempe rotated for that last fourth-line spot.
Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson make up the second defensive pairing:
When the Rangers acquired both Durzi and Pettersson this summer, it was widely speculated that they would be paired together.
That was the case on Thursday. Durzi and Pettersson made up the Rangers’ second pairing behind Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov.
Sullivan and Chris Drury emphasized the Rangers’ need for a puck-moving defensemen that is exactly what Durzi and Pettersson provide.
“You look at our defense core, adding Marcus Pettersson, adding Durzi. We tried them together out there today, and I thought they looked really good,” Sullivan said. “I think both of them have an ability to move the puck, go tape-to-tape, I think that is really going to help us.
“Exiting out of our end, maybe getting out a little bit cleaner. If we can get the puck in motion, if we can get the puck with speed, I think it should help us off the rush. I think these guys are good players that will make our group stronger back there.”
Alberts Šmits being given a real shot to make the NHL roster:
During Wednesday’s press conference, Sullivan made it abundantly clear that Šmits will be given a real opportunity to make the Rangers’ opening-night roster.
"Yes, he has a chance to make the team,” Sullivan said of Šmits. “We have to make sure that we do the right thing for him.”
Sullivan put his words into action, placing Šmits on the third defensive pairing alongside Braden Schneider.
If this is an indication of anything, it is that the 2026 fifth overall pick is seriously being looked at to fill a roster spot come Sept. 29 in Boston to kick off the regular season.
“I thought he had a pretty strong first day. I think the thing that jumps out at me right away is just his physical stature. He's big and strong, winning puck battles, but when he passes the puck, he snaps it hard, which I think is a very evident thing with NHL players.That’s one thing I noticed right away being on the ice with him, he snaps pucks. It's on and off his tape. We obviously had him paired with Schneids today. I thought he had a good first day. I thought he didn’t look out of place by any stretch.”
Matthew Robertson, who’s Šmits’ main competition for that third-pairing left-handed defensemen spot, was paired with Scott Morrow as alternates, but given Robertson’s role with the Rangers last season, all indications point toward him still having an edge over Šmits for now.
Rangers Open To Carrying Three Goalies To Start The Season:
The Rangers’ backup goaltending position is up for grabs, with Dylan Garand and Joonas Korpisalo competing for that spot.
The retirement of Jonathan Quick left a void for the backup spot behind Igor Shesterkin, and despite Dylan Garand making a strong impression when he was called up from the American Hockey League at the tail end of the 2025-26 campaign, the Rangers still went out of their way to acquire Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins.
While there still may be a competition between Garand and Korpisalo for the rights to backup Shesterkin, Sullivan hasn’t ruled out carrying both goalies on the roster to open up the season.
“Is that an option that is on the table for us, yes,” Sullivan said of the Rangers potentially carrying three goalies on the roster. “It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. I think it's very manageable in the short term. I don't think it's in the best interest of the guys in the long term for obvious reasons.”
Korpisalo practiced with the Rangers’ main group, consisting mostly of NHL players on Thursday, while Garand practiced with most of the players expected to play for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
It's no mystery that Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson are eligible to sign extensions, and each player may have a vastly different path in front of them.
But regardless of what those eventual paths are, the Penguins are not too worried about neither player being signed up to this point.
After day one of training camp Thursday, Penguins' assistant general manager Jason Spezza spoke on a variety of topics, including Crosby and Karlsson. Like general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas emphasized in the spring, Spezza said the situations for both players will sort out in due time.
"We've communicated with [Karlsson] where we're at as a team, and we want to continue to see growth. And I think he wants to see that as well. So, there's been great conversation transparency around his situation.
"We think a lot of Erik. I think he's enjoyed his time here, and we've enjoyed having him. So, those situations will play themselves out as the year goes."
As for Crosby, who is entering his 22nd season and is currently on one of the best bargain contracts in the NHL at $8.7 million average annual value?
"With Sid, I think it's a unique situation, but it's also a situation other great players at his level have gone through," Spezza said. "And, at his age, he probably wants to see how he feels. I think Sid is going to play for a long time if he continues to see things this way. Where that falls into the contract, I think it's less of a concern for us internally and, probably, for him at this point. And he probably wants to see how he feels.
"And I can understand it as a guy who played later into my career. You want to kind of see how you feel, and you want to play at a certain standard. And I think that's probably where Sid is at right now So, there's not really a concern on our end or on his at this point, and like I said with Erik, we try to be transparent with the guys and have conversations with them. And I think everyone knows Sid's situation here. So, he's gonna make sure he's feeling good before anything gets done."
During season ticket deliveries Tuesday, Crosby clarified the situation with his contract, saying that he's letting Dubas and agent Pat Brisson handle it. He also said that he feels good but, realistically, knowing when to hang up the skates is different for every player, and trying to project when that will be is a futile exercise.
"I wouldn't say there's a hard timeline," Crosby said to reporters covering the event. "I think it's something that I'll let them discuss. And, at this point in my career, it's hard to project how long I'm going to play for, but I think it's just something that I'll see what happens there."
While Crosby's contract situation with the Penguins feels certain to resolve with an extension at some point, the same is not the case for Karlsson.
When asked about his future Thursday, Karlsson offered some clarity with a dash of uncertainty woven in, specifying that extension talks have not occurred between him and the Penguins up to now. But he also implied that he's comfortable entering the season and seeing where the team is at before coming to any final determination on his future with the Penguins, who are in an interesting position organizationally.
"I think that the situation is pretty given on what it is and what it's not," Karlsson said. "I have one year left. Our team is in a weird stage, I think. So, we'll see how it goes this year."
He added: "I'm enjoying my time right now, you know? I'm 36 years old, feel really good. Got a lot of years left in me. The future is not something that I've really thought about.
He added: "I know where I'm at. I know I feel good enough that it's not something that I think I have to worry about. I'm going to stay in the present. I'm very focused on what I can control in the moment right now, and I'm looking forward to that."
The Buffalo Sabres were one of the NHL’s best teams last season, finishing first in the Atlantic Division before beating the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series. Buffalo lost to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2, but long-suffering Sabres fans wanted to see them end their decade-and-a-half playoff drought, and they did that..
And here at TheHockeyNews.com, we've been breaking down the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series we call “Know Your Enemy”. In each of these files, we’re focusing on how Buffalo played against each East team, in addition to how they’re likely to fare against the team this season. And in this file, we’re analyzing the New York Islanders.
The Islanders didn’t have an impressive off-season, but they still have some excellent pieces – most notably, young stud defenseman Matthew Schaefer. How will the Sabres fare against the Isles? Here’s this writer’s best guess:
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: January 20 at Islanders; February 3 at Buffalo; March 21 at Islanders
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The short answer to this question is a firm ‘yes, absolutely the Sabres should beat the Islanders – and they should sweep them as they did last season’.
Why? Because, for starters, Buffalo’s lineup is far deeper and more talented than the Isles’ is, as the Islanders are still trying to transition into a new era for the team. Isles GM Mathieu Darche has made some inroads in building a new team for a new generation, but there’s still plenty of work that needs doing on Long Island, and we don’t see the Islanders making the playoffs in 2026-27.
The Sabres have all of their games against the Isles in an eight-week period, and two of those games will come on the road for Buffalo. At that point in the year, the Sabres will have no excuse for not taking it to the Islanders. They need to snuff out any possible signs of life from the Isles, and they need to do it with authority.
Otherwise, we’re going to get to the end of the regular season, and Buffalo will be looking up at the standings, wondering why they didn’t finish with home-ice advantage – or why they may miss the playoffs altogether this year. The difference between standings position can come down to only two or three teams, and if the Sabres are squandering points against teams they ought to beat every time out, they could come to rue the day they took their foot off the gas and squandered their season.
The Islanders aren’t a pushover by any means, but their lack of depth and their aged players aren’t going to carry them to the top of the league. Thus, the Sabres should be beating the Isles each and every game, and that includes beating them in their three clashes this season.
J.T. Miller will captain a Rangers squad that has undergone a number of roster changes over the past few months.
J.T. Miller was measured. Thursday, after all, was just the first day of training camp for the Rangers, and it’ll take weeks’ and months’ worth of games to change the franchise’s trajectory. There were no playoff declarations. No bold proclamations that the Blueshirts are better than last year after an offseason of change. No dissection of roster moves by the front office to overhaul parts of the roster, even.
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“We’re not gonna get ahead of ourselves,” Miller, now back in his old No. 10 jersey, said.
But, Miller admitted, this all “seems like a nice reset for us.” A time for the Rangers to “turn the past from last year.” His injury-filled campaign of 2025-26 started in the preseason and continued with three stints of missed time — and two trips to injured reserve — during the regular season. His 17 goals and 53 points marked his fewest in both categories since 2018-19 with the Lightning. And it all unfolded during his first year as captain, stepping into the elevated role and trying to not force himself to do more than he normally would.
This year, the Rangers will get a chance to move past their dismal 77-point campaign of last year. It’ll be different from the start, with no Vincent Trocheck (traded in the offseason) and no Artemi Panarin (traded before the Olympic roster freeze) here at this training camp. But at the crux of it all, of course, will be Miller, who gets a chance to move past his own woes of 2025-26 while occupying a critical role as the second-line center — skating alongside dynamic acquisition Pavel Dorofeyev for now — with Trocheck now in Utah.
New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) shoots on goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“It was a lot last year,” Miller said. “Just a little bit of distraction everywhere, it seemed like, around our team. Obviously with The Letter coming out, I was hurt a lot of the year, I was at the Olympics — just a busy season, and I feel like it’s kinda hard to evaluate.
“But certainly not satisfied and saying that that’s the standard for myself. I mean, we didn’t get to where we want to be, and I took a lot of ownership of that. I just feel fresh right now. I feel good. And I’m excited that we get another crack at it this year with a fresh slate.”
The stakes will always be high for Miller. That’s the pressure that comes with the “C” sewn on his chest, just as it did for Jacob Trouba and Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Callahan and Mark Messier and all the other past Blueshirts captains. Miller said he expects more from himself as a leader this year. He said he learned from mistakes last season, which quickly spiraled into selling at the trade deadline and a reality where president and general manager Chris Drury dropped The Letter 2.0.
Miller spent time at both center and wing last year in the 68 games he did appear in, and when the Rangers’ first group — with mostly NHL players — skated Thursday, Miller, 33, was positioned between Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Dorofeyev collected more than 30 goals the past two seasons with the Golden Knights. He was the draft-day splash by the Blueshirts, the hyped acquisition during a public retool who could be the missing piece that tips the Rangers toward being a playoff team in April.
J.T. Miller will captain a Rangers squad that has undergone a number of roster changes over the past few months. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Head coach Mike Sullivan said that Miller’s play-making ability with the puck is “probably undervalued by some,” and Sullivan expressed a belief in Miller being able to serve as the Rangers’ second-line center, indirectly doubling as a belief that his skill set can complement Dorofeyev if they break camp still paired together.
“He has the ability to distribute the puck,” Sullivan said of Miller. “I think J.T. brings a physical element and a down-low game, a grind game that I think he can drag his linemates into a little bit so they can create some offense different ways. I think [Dorofeyev is] a guy that obviously can score goals, and so we wanted to see what that looks like.”
That role will only add to the pressure facing Miller this season. To the expectations that he can avoid the struggles from last year reappearing again and becoming a norm for his second Blueshirts stint. For one day, those stakes faded with the arrival of a new training camp, where “vibe” and “excitement” and anything else that described palpable energy were the buzzwords of his press conference that captured the emotion of the Rangers’ entire session.
“I feel very hungry,” Miller said. “I mean, after a year like last year, I just think in general I think I’m naturally competitive — I’d like to be better, I want the team to play better, I want better results.”
