Preseason Gamethread: Sabres @ Penguins
Talk about the preseason game with Pens fans here!
Game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh locally (and ESPN+ out of market) and is available via audio on the internet/radio from 105.9 The X.
"I Feel Like We Executed The Days The Way We Wanted It To': Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra Speaks Following 2026 Training Camp
After an intense few days on the ice, the Vancouver Canucks have wrapped up their 2026 training camp. The four days in Penticton featured plenty of battle drills and a first-hand look into how Manny Malhotra and his coaching staff plan on running the team. Overall, there were a number of intriguing moments, including when Malhotra and his staff joined the players for conditioning skates after practice was complete.
This year's camp was Malhotra's first as an NHL head coach. The 46-year-old was vocal throughout the four days and kept everyone on the same page. After the final on-ice session, Malhotra met with the media to share his thoughts on training camp in Penticton.
"I was really happy with the progress of camp from having gone through all the preparation work and watching videos and analyzing everything and wanting to structure practices a certain way," said Malhotra. "I feel like we executed the days the way we wanted it to. The guys were very adaptable. They picked up on all the concepts really quickly, and just even that game group. Skating, traveling, playing, traveling, skating again. They did an outstanding job of just not feeding into any excuse, and they just got the work done."
The organization has a very different vibe than in previous years. One example is the players' commitment level, as almost the entire team was in Vancouver for informal skates at the beginning of September. As Malhotra explained, the early preparation paid off as players were ready to go once training camp began.
"I think even just coming into it, they had a much better sense of urgency, knowing that they didn't have three or four exhibition games to get up and going. Just talking to them prior to camp, they had made the decision to come in early September to get those skates in and get those touches in, and it was noticeable. There was no delay out there. When I asked them to push and step on the gas, they did so. They responded well to the way practice is supposed to look."
Another big difference this year is the messaging from Malhotra, as well as the Sedins and Ryan Johnson. There is a real emphasis on ensuring that the team is hard to play against, regardless of the final score. When asked about the group's buy-in, Malhotra was happy to report that everyone appears to be on the same page.
"Very much so. Just in terms of the effort level, each guy pushing the next to do better and want to get better. Even in those corrective situations, when we're talking to guys, they're very receptive to the teaching and the corrections, and they want to get better. So from that standpoint, it's been really good as well."
Training camp also served as a learning opportunity for Malhotra. While he has attended plenty in during his career, this was the first time he was in charge of an NHL camp. As Malhotra explained, he is proud of the way training camp was run this year.
"When you look back on it, after each day, after each session, you kind of analyze how the drills went, how you could tweak them a little bit, timing-wise. Overall, yeah, it was a good experience. Having put everything together, realizing how much detail goes into every step, and obviously managing the number of bodies that we had, putting together game groups and practice groups, and trying to get every topic touched on was a pretty tall task, but our staff did a really good job of preparing for that in all aspects."
With training camp now complete, the Canucks head back to Rogers Arena as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. The next nine days will be busy as Vancouver plays three pre-season games and makes more roster cuts leading up to September 29. If training camp was any indication, Malhotra will have his players ready to go when they open the campaign against the Edmonton Oilers.
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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Former Sharks Defenseman Waived by Blackhawks
While the San Jose Sharks have yet to make any cuts to their training camp roster, teams around the league are getting straight to business. On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks placed former Sharks defenseman Derrick Pouliot on waivers with the intent of sending him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
The eighth-overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, there were once high hopes for Pouliot to be a game-changer at the NHL level. By the time he joined the Sharks organization for the 2022-23 season, those hopes had all been dashed and he had been solidified as a regular in the AHL and as a depth defenseman at the NHL level. He spent just one season in the Sharks organization, appearing in eight NHL games and registering two assists. He also played 37 games at the AHL level, recording 25 points from the blue line.
Pouliot had one more brief NHL stint after leaving the Sharks, appearing in five games for the Dallas Stars in the following season, but since then, he's been strictly playing at the AHL level. After time with the Syracuse Crunch and Hartford Wolf Pack, he's now rejoining the IceHogs for the second straight season.
Golden Knights Forward Suffers Undisclosed Injury Ahead Of NHL Roster Battle
Raphaël Lavoie’s push for an NHL roster spot has hit a temporary pause after the Vegas Golden Knights forward suffered an injury during the preseason.
Lavoie is considered day-to-day, with Vegas not disclosing the nature of the issue, according to Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The 25-year-old was injured during Saturday’s 4-2 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
The setback comes at an important time for Lavoie, who is looking to turn another dominant season in the American Hockey League into a more permanent NHL opportunity. He scored 30 goals and 56 points in just 45 regular-season games for the Henderson Silver Knights in 2025-26, continuing to show the offensive ability that made him a second-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2019.
Lavoie has now recorded 83 points in 87 games with Henderson, including 47 goals and 36 assists. That production has yet to translate consistently at the NHL level, however, as he has appeared in 10 games with Vegas without registering a point.
There is also a roster complication working against Lavoie. If the Golden Knights ultimately decide to send him back to Henderson, the forward would first have to clear waivers.
Lavoie’s journey to Vegas has been a long one. He played his junior hockey with the Halifax Mooseheads and Chicoutimi Saguenéens before Edmonton selected him 38th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. After signing his entry-level contract in 2020, he spent time in Sweden and eventually began establishing himself in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors.
He made his NHL debut with Edmonton in November 2023 before his career took an unusual turn the following year. Vegas claimed him off waivers in October 2024, only for Edmonton to reclaim him days later. The Oilers waived him again almost immediately, allowing Vegas to claim him for a second time.
Lavoie eventually made his Golden Knights debut in January 2025. Now, after another impressive season in Henderson and a new one-year contract, he is trying to prove he can become more than an AHL scoring threat.
That opportunity will have to wait until he is healthy enough to return to the ice.
Bad Blood: Senators Open Preseason Deep In Canadiens Territory
Two Atlantic Division rivals will renew hostilities on a new battleground Monday night.
The Senators will open their brief preseason against the Montreal Canadiens in the annual Kraft Hockeyville game at Colisée Vidéotron in Trois-Rivières. Face-off is at 7 pm on Sportsnet One and TVA Sports.
Although the matchup is officially listed as a neutral-site game, the Senators are under no illusions about where the crowd's loyalties will lie. Fans were invited to Monday morning’s practice, where a sea of red, white and blue greeted the Canadiens with chants of “Go Habs Go” before the home side had even taken the ice.
Last year’s memorable 5-0 preseason loss to Montreal was also played on supposedly neutral ground, and in another Quebec Videotron building. That one took place at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, where the crowd was also heavily behind the Canadiens.
It was a miserable night for the Senators all around. Beyond being shut out, they were drawn into several scraps that helped the two teams combine for 150 penalty minutes. Arber and Florian Xhekaj were at the centre of it all, with each Montreal brother fighting twice.
Three days later, Ottawa traded Zack MacEwen to the New Jersey Devils for heavyweight Kurtis MacDermid, adding one of the NHL’s most established enforcers.
MacDermid will not be available for Monday’s rematch, but that probably won't stop the two teams from being disagreeable.
The lineups should also help raise the competitive level. Based on the game-day skates, both teams are expected to dress a pile of established NHL players.
Trios des #Sens à l'entraînement à Trois-Rivières :
— Yanick St-Denis (@StDenisSports) September 21, 2026
Eklund Cozens Zetterlund
Cousins Pinto Amadio
Burakovsky Halliday Batherson
Blais Greig Hodgson
(Stützle, Tomasino, Boucher)
Hutton Spence
Kleven Yakemchuk
Bolduc Matinpalo
(Toure, Sanderson)
Meriläinen
Ersson
Parsons
The Senators will counter with a veteran-heavy lineup featuring Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, Jake Sanderson, Jordan Spence and their most notable off-season additions. Tim Stützle skated as an extra and won't play. Thomas Chabot and Linus Ullmark both stayed back in Ottawa.
Montreal’s group includes Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and both Xhekaj brothers
Today's lineup for the Habs:
— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) September 21, 2026
Caufield-Suzuki-Newhook
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Texier
Berard-Xhekaj-Pastujov
Engstrom-Dobson
Hutson-Reinbacher
Struble-Xhekaj
Monty
Dobes #goHabsGo
Monday will provide the first game action in a Senators uniform for William Eklund. He is expected to skate on the left side of Cozens, opposite his close friend and former San Jose teammate Fabian Zetterlund.
Head coach Travis Green has kept the trio together throughout training camp, but Monday will provide the first meaningful opportunity to see whether their apparent chemistry carries over from practices and scrimmages.
According to Senators' host Jackson Starr, Andre Burakovsky, another new addition, is expected to play with Stephen Halliday and Batherson.
Samuel Blais will also make his Senators debut in familiar surroundings after signing as a free agent this summer. Blais had 5 points in 13 games for the Canadiens last season and 38 points in 35 games for their AHL team in Laval.
Samuel Ersson is expected to wear the Sens jersey for the first time in a game after being acquired from Toronto during the off-season. Leevi Meriläinen and prospect Jackson Parsons were the other goaltenders on the ice Monday morning.
It may be only the first game of a very short preseason, but there should be no shortage of reasons to watch. And if the past two preseasons are any indication, the “friendly” part of this exhibition game may not last very long.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:
- Travis Green Wastes No Time Reuniting Eklund and Zetterlund
- Senators Add Local Veteran Ben Hutton On Professional Tryout
- Camp Begins: Shorter Preseason, No Fitness Tests, And Very Few Jobs To Be Won
- ‘I Didn’t Want To Be Anywhere Else’: Batherson Explains Eight-Year Commitment To Senators
Former Penguins' Forward, Beloved In Locker Room, Announces Retirement
Shortly after the end of his Pittsburgh Penguins' tenure, a former NHL forward has decided to call it a career.
After playing in just five KHL games and registering no points to begin the 2026-27 season, former Penguins' forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement from professional hockey. The 34-year-old center signed a free agent deal with KHL team Ak Bars Kazan this offseason after failing to secure an NHL contract in light of his previous seven-year deal expiring at the end of last season.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Hayes registered 185 goals and 446 points in 805 career NHL games, including 17 goals and 31 points in 92 games with the Penguins from 2024-26.
After 861 games in NHL and 5 games in KHL, Kevin Hayes 🇺🇸 announced his retirement.
— KHL (@khl_eng) September 21, 2026
"I have decided to end my hockey career. I can no longer play at the level I am capable of because my body does not allow me to perform at my best. And I cannot accept not being in top form." pic.twitter.com/ItcQb18FA0
"I have decided to end my hockey career," Hayes said in a statement. "I can no longer play at the level I am capable of because my body does not allow me to perform at my best. And I cannot accept not being in top form."
Throughout his Penguins' tenure - and especially during the 2025-26 season in which Pittsburgh made the playoffs - Hayes often found himself on the outside looking in, frequently a healthy scratch and playing in just 28 games last season. He was acquired on Jun. 29, 2024, along with a second-round pick and 50 percent retention by his previous team in the Philadelphia Flyers, from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations.
Two Penguins' Forwards Out Week-To-WeekTwo Pittsburgh Penguins forwards got injured during training camp.Although the former All-Star could not get the on-ice results he wanted in Pittsburgh, he was a revered teammate and was loved by just about every guy in the locker room.
"Oh, he was an amazing person. Obviously, an amazing teammate," defenseman Kris Letang told Pittsburgh media after Monday's morning skate ahead of the team's first pre-season tilt. "A guy that everybody wants to hang around. He loves talking, loved to be in the dressing room. And just the stories after stories, it's just fun to be around him."
Congratulations on an incredible career, Hayesy! pic.twitter.com/6FwL9LhOmZ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 21, 2026
Hayes began his NHL career with the New York Rangers during the 2014-15 season and spent parts of five seasons there before being dealt to the Winnipeg Jets during the 2018-19 campaign. He was traded to Philadelphia the summer after and signed his seven-year extension worth $7.14 million per year there, and he was an All-Star in a career-best 2022-23 season. He spent one season in St. Louis after yet another trade before coming to Pittsburgh.
And he left an impression on just about everyone in the room, including the coaching staff - especially given his situation in Pittsburgh.
"What an incredible career," head coach Dan Muse said after Monday's skate. "What an incredible person, too. There's certain people that will always stand out in your mind when you're a coach, and he's definitely going to be one that I remember throughout the rest of my career.
"Just the way he handled himself last year, the teammate that he is, the person that he is. It was a real honor just to be around him for a year."
Buffalo Sabres At Pittsburgh Penguins Preview: Lineups, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will play the first of four preseason games this week. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Golden Knights Make First Major Training Camp Cuts, Send 16 Players Packing
The Vegas Golden Knights have begun trimming their training camp roster, sending 12 players to Henderson for the start of AHL camp while returning four more to their respective junior clubs.
Brandon Hickey, Lucas Johansen, Jett Jones, Jordan Gustafson, Riley McKay, Samuel Mayer, Pavel Moysevich, Bronson Ride, Shane Smith, Sloan Stanick, Trent Swick and Alex Tracy have been assigned to the Henderson Silver Knights.
Dylan Allie, Matthew Minchak, Conor Walton and Vann Williamson have also been returned to their respective junior teams for the start of the season.
The moves leave Vegas with 51 players remaining in camp as the organization continues narrowing its roster ahead of the regular season.
The Golden Knights still have 29 forwards in camp, including established NHL veterans, offseason additions and prospects competing for roster spots. Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Tomas Hertl, Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner headline the group, while Nic Dowd and Victor Olofsson are among the notable additions still in camp.
Vegas also has 17 defensemen remaining, led by Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb. Younger players including Lukas Cormier, Viliam Kmec and Antti Tuomisto remain in the mix.
The goaltending group has been reduced to four: Carter Hart, Adin Hill, Carl Lindbom and Cameron Whitehead.
Vegas will continue evaluating its remaining players throughout the preseason. The Golden Knights are scheduled to practice Monday at City National Arena before traveling to San Jose on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. PT matchup with the Sharks.
The team will then return home for preseason games against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday and the Sharks on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
With the first round of cuts complete, Vegas has taken another step toward assembling the roster that will open the 2026-27 season.
Were there any cuts that surprised you or caught you off guard?
Chicago Blackhawks Send 9 Players To Rockford IceHogs
On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks made some decisions on roster cuts during training camp. 9 of their players have been sent to the Rockford IceHogs to begin AHL camp.
The following players were loaned to the IceHogs:
- F Gavin Hayes
- F Paul Ludwinski
- F Samuel Savoie
- D Ashton Cumby
- D Jake Furlong
- D Taige Harding
- G Stanislav Berezhnoy
- G Adam Gajan
There is also defenseman Cavan Fitzgerald, who was released from his NHL PTO so he can be sent to Rockford as well. All 9 of these guys are going to be regulars in the IceHogs lineup as they look to further their pro careers. On paper, it is shaping up to be a playoff-caliber AHL squad.
Chicago’s camp roster is now down to 38 players. That includes 24 forwards, 11 defensemen, and 3 goalies. The Hawks will use an all-NHL lineup against the Minnesota Wild on Monday night, but they have options for the final two preseason games - a home-and-home series with the St. Louis Blues.
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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St. Louis Blues' Tyler Tucker Injures Knee, Will Be Re-Evaluated In A Couple Days
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Tyler Tucker is the first injury casualty of this training camp.
The St. Louis Blues defenseman injured his knee in practice on Sunday and was not on the ice for practice on Monday prior to the Blues departing for their second preseason game on Monday night against the Dallas Stars, who beat the Blues here on Saturday 2-1.
Blues coach Jim Montgomery confirmed the injury on Monday and said it happened on a play where Tucker was making a play going into the corner; he limped off the ice afterwards.
"It's more than day to day, but we don't have a timeline yet because we think he'll be re-evaluated in a couple days," Montgomery said.
The Blues' non-game group had just five defensemen on the ice, including Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, Brandon Carlo, Theo Lindstein and Calle Rosen.
Depending on the severity of Tucker's injury, it could open up a roster spot should the fifth-year defenseman miss any prolonged period of time for someone like Adam Jiricek, the 16th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, to become the seventh d-man on the roster.
(9-21-26) Blues-Stars Gameday LineupBlues starting to take more polished players in abbreviated preseason schedule; first power-play unit will get look in Dallas; top line will be on display with Holloway, Thomas, Snuggerud; McTavish makes debut; Hofer gets first start
Special Teams Must Make Marked Improvements For St. Louis Blues To Elevate In StandingsAdding McTavish, McMichael to power play will give team new looks; team worked extensively on PP, PK on Sunday
St. Louis Blues Assign Seven To AHL, Return Pair Of Draft Picks To JuniorPekarcik, Stancl, Robertsson, Buchinger, Fischer, Gaudet, Gahagen head to Springfield; Danegais, Proskurin go back to respective junior clubs in Quebec, Victoria
Maddox Dagenais Has Left Good First Impression On St. Louis BluesFirst-round pick in 2026, who many considered a surprise pick at No. 16, has had solid first camp, played in first preseason game against Dallas Stars on Saturday, wants to make good on St. Louis investing in him
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"My Goal Is To Make The Team": Michael Brandsegg-Nygård Eyes Full-Time Jump To Red Wings
Training Camp for the Detroit Red Wings has officially wrapped up, and they'll be skating in their first preseason game on Monday evening against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena (7:00 p.m. ET).
Detroit held a brief morning skate at BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena before making the short trip to Ohio, and based on their line combinations, forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is getting a chance in the top-six.
Brandsegg-Nygård, Detroit's first-round (15th overall) pick from the 2024 NHL Draft, initially made the regular-season roster last fall before eventually being returned to the American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Following the skate on Monday, he explained that while he didn't fully expect to make last year's roster out of the gate, his mindset is different this time around.
"Yeah, of course," he said. "This year, my goal is to make the team. Last year, it was more to, like, just do whatever I can and see what happens. But this year, it's my mindset to try and make the team."
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He played in nine regular season games with the Red Wings, registering a single assist before being returned to the Griffins; he would later play five additional games in the NHL near the end of the campaign.
However, Brandsegg-Nygård was a force for the Griffins throughout the regular season, tallying 44 points in 60 games and later reaching eight points in as many Calder Cup Playoff games.
MICHAEL BRANDSEGG-NYGÅRD🚨
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) May 20, 2026
OT WINNER #LGRWpic.twitter.com/cmxFLXcgBk
In the eyes of Griffins head coach Dan Watson, Brandsegg-Nygård is "ready" to make the jump to the NHL while also saying he was their best playoff performer in the spring.
"He should be ready, in my opinion," Watson said earlier this month during the Prospects Tournament. "He was our best player in the playoffs, and he has the ability to play physical hockey. He's got a great shot.
For Michael, it's going to be consistent on the IQ side of it, the thinking side of it, the pace side of it that he showed when he was sent down until the end of the year. Like I said, he was the best player in the playoffs."
Andrew Copp: Red Wings "Can't Accept Anything Less" Than Playoffs Entering his contract season, the goal and mindset for Detroit Red Wings forward Andrew Copp hasn't changed. The Norwegian-born forward took it to heart when he was returned to the AHL, and according to Watson, used it as serious motivation.
"He took everything seriously, whether it was the skill sessions, the skating sessions, or practices," Watson continued. "He was dedicated to all of it, and he took it seriously. He wants to play in the NHL, and he was very competitive in practice, driving our compete level up. I can't speak highly enough about him."
When told of what Watson had to say about him, Brandsegg-Nygård indicated it would be a major confidence boost.
"That means a lot," he said. "It's going to boost my confidence and belief in myself that the head coach in G.R. that I had last year believes in me that much."
Meanwhile, Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan is already noticing a major difference in his demeanor this fall compared to last.
"He’s willing to talk and have a conversation," McLellan said. "He knows teammates, knows trainers, knows the system and the structure. He’s one year stronger, physically and mentally. He should be as confident as he’s ever been."
One aspect the Red Wings want to improve this year is their physicality, and they're hoping Brandsegg-Nygård can be part of that solution.
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NHL Awards Odds, 2026-27 Anaheim Ducks
The 2026-27 NHL season begins on Sept. 29, but the Anaheim Ducks won’t play their first game until Oct. 2, on the road against the defending Western Conference Champion Vegas Golden Knights. They’ll play their home opener two days later against the Florida Panthers.
After perhaps the most eventful offseason in franchise history, the team ends the offseason with more question marks than they started with, despite seemingly putting an end to their elongated rebuild last season by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and winning their first playoff series since 2017.
Takeways from the Ducks 6-2 Preseason Win over the Sharks
Ducks Sign Tim Washe to Four-Year Extension
Betting odds aren’t necessarily indicative of how likely an event is to occur, but rather how companies feel the public will wager. That said, betting odds are a glimpse into what the public views are, so here are BetMGM’s odds for Ducks’ futures and NHL Awards, and we suggest gambling responsibly:
Stanley Cup: +3500 | Western Conference: +1500 | Pacific Division: +750
Rightfully, the odds of the Ducks hanging another Division, Conference, and/or Stanley Cup banner in the Honda Center rafters are low. Though they won a playoff round a year ago against a Cup-favorite Edmonton Oilers team, the Ducks core pieces are still in their early-to-mid twenties, and they lost several name-brand veterans from both the forward and defensive groups.
The Ducks finished third in a historically poor Pacific Division last season with just 92 points, but still three points behind the first-place Knights. This season feels similar in that there are two teams, on paper, who are the class of the division (Edmonton and Vegas). A lot will have to go right for the Ducks to overtake those powerhouses and fend off the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks to take home a division title.
If the Ducks qualify for the playoffs again, anything is on the table, but when the West has been shrunk to eight teams, five can likely be considered true Cup contenders (Vegas, Edmonton, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars), and it would be rather difficult for the Ducks, regardless of internal growth and how hot Lukas Dostal can become by spring, to defeat multiple contenders en route to a potential Stanley Cup Final appearance or championship.
Hart Trophy | Leo Carlsson: +20000
If there was ever an extreme long shot on which to place a minuscule amount of cash, this one may make some sense. Carlsson brought considerable pressure on himself, as he’ll enter the 2026-27 season as the NHL's highest-paid player after signing an $18 million AAV offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, which the Ducks then matched.
Carlsson, who seems to only be improving, with a ceiling still well beyond sight, produced at an MVP rate to kick off the 2025-26 season, scoring 25 points (10-15=25) in his first 15 games before the production slowed (only slightly); he sustained an injury, attempted to play through it, and was ultimately shut down after undergoing surgery for six and a half weeks.
He finished the year on a pedestrian scoring pace with 12 points (6-6=12) in his final 15 games, but upped those numbers when the games mattered most, scoring 11 points (4-7=11) in 12 playoff games. Carlsson will need to remain healthy for a full 84 regular season games and sustain most of his early-season production from a year ago to insert himself into Hart candidacy. He has the talent and motivation to do so, but now the book is mostly out on him, and he won’t be catching anyone off guard this season.
+20000 odds place him in a tier along with Brady Tkachuk and Lane Hutson. If the Ducks return to the playoffs, it will likely be on the back of Leo Carlsson, and if his production matches his on-ice importance and impact, there’s a real shot he finishes the year in the top ten of Hart voting.
Norris Trophy | Jackson LaCombe: +3500
LaCombe finished the 2025-26 season 16th among defensemen in scoring, with 58 points (10-48=58) in 82 games, a 15-point jump from his breakout 2024-25 campaign. He’s the team’s true No.1, all-situations defenseman who, if the Ducks load up a top power play unit in the upcoming season, will run the point behind Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, and Troy Terry (when he returns from injury).
Opportunity will be there for LaCombe, especially if he continues to improve within Joel Quenneville’s up-tempo system. However, as talented a play-driving force he’s become from the blueline, it’s going to take an astonishing season to threaten the point-per-game realm seemingly necessary to find oneself in if one is to finish the year as a Norris Finalist in 2026-27.
He has the 11th-best odds to win the Norris, just behind Jake Sanderson (+3000) and just ahead of Miro Heiskanen (+5000).
Rocket Richard Trophy | Cutter Gauthier +3500
Gauthier eclipsed the 40-goal mark in just his second NHL season, at the age of 22. Like Carlsson, Gauthier will enter the year with enormous pressure as his role within the Ducks franchise increases along with his now-top-five cap hit in the NHL ($13.5 million AAV).
He finished the year with 41 goals, the 11th-most in the NHL despite averaging just 17:15 TOI/game and 2:48 TOI/game on the power play, fifth-most among Ducks forwards. Both of those numbers will very likely increase this season, as should his 11 power-play goals.
Gauthier finished last season second in the NHL in goals/60 minutes (1.88) and shots/60 (12.95), while leading the league in shot attempts/60 (25.58). He shoots the puck a ton, and yet his 14.5% shooting percentage seems low and a number he can eclipse in his third year, with increased ice time and an increased role.
Despite those factors, he has just the 16th-best odds of winning the Rocket in 2026-27, putting him in a tier with Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Guenther.
Vezina Trophy | Lukas Dostal: +3000
Dostal’s numbers in 2025-26 were the worst in his three-year NHL career from a traditional numbers perspective (.888 SV%) and the second-worst from an analytics perspective (-2.9 GSAx).
However, most of modern goaltending is a product of environment when it comes to evaluating goalies in Dostal’s tier, which is, on talent, the tier below the likes of Logan Thompson, Ilya Sorokin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Igor Shesterkin, etc.
The environment in which Dostal played a year ago was, in fact, not one many could have thrived in. He faced an onslaught of high-danger chances on a nightly basis as he and the team in front of him adjusted to a brand-new defensive zone coverage system, and those underlying, advanced, strictly shot-based numbers don’t take into account aspects like pre-shot puck movement, screens, tips, odd-man rushes, etc.
With a blueline that lost a lot of veteran name-brand talent, on the surface it would seem Dostal is in line for another busy year in the Anaheim crease. However, it can be argued that the Ducks’ current blueline is more conducive to Quenneville’s system and that the pieces they lost were significant contributing factors to the team’s poor defensive metrics as a whole.
In a second year playing in the system and with a better understanding of where pucks will be coming from and how plays will develop in front of him, Dostal’s numbers could improve greatly. Could they improve to the point where he’s a recipient of Vezina votes? That’s a taller order and likely outside of the realm of likelihood.
Dostal has the 12th-best odds of winning the Vezina, placing him ahead of Sergei Bobrovsky (+3500) and behind Jakub Dobes (+2800).
Calder Trophy | Roger McQueen: +5000
McQueen is one of two potential rookies in the Ducks organization with an opportunity in training camp to earn a sizable role on the depth chart heading into the season. The other is Nikita Klepov, who, as of now, is ineligible for wagers from BetMGM.
With Troy Terry out and the departures of Mason McTavish and Chris Kreider from the top six, the Ducks are in need of secondary production aside from Carlsson, Gauthier, and Sennecke. McQueen has an NHL frame and habits, but hasn’t played much hockey since before he was drafted last year (10th overall in 2025). He produced 27 points (11-16=27) in 36 NCAA games last season at Providence College, which was good enough for third on his team in a defensive system, but his offensive game could potentially use exploratory reps before making the jump into a full-time NHL role.
Based on early returns from training camp, Klepov is the more likely Ducks rookie to receive a significant NHL role this season and Calder votes, but again, he is ineligible for wagers at this time.McQueen, a higher-profile prospect than Klepov, has the 12th-best odds to win the Calder Trophy, just ahead of Victor Eklund (+5500) and just behind Jacob Fowler (+4000).
Jack Adams Award | Joel Quenneville: +3500
In his first year behind the Ducks’ bench, the second-winningest coach in NHL history led Anaheim to their first playoff appearance since 2018 and their first series win since 2017. That season was only good enough to receive two third-place votes, so for him to win this award for the second time in his career seems far-fetched at this point in time.
However, the narrative surrounding the Ducks remains that they are due for a step back in the upcoming season from their success last year, so though the path to this award likely requires a near-President’s Trophy season from Anaheim, a top-five finish in league standings will be buoyed by a favorable narrative for Quenneville.
Quenneville has the 22nd-best odds of winning the Jack Adams, tied with Marco Sturm, just ahead of Andrew Brunette(+4000), Jim Montgomery, and Scott Arneil, and just behind Travis Green (+3000), Todd McLellan, Rod Brind’Amour, and Jeff Blashill.
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Blues' Tyler Tucker Tweaks Knee In Practice; Will Be Re-Evaluated In A Few Days
The first St. Louis Blues player injured during training camp this year is defenseman Tyler Tucker, who tweaked his knee in practice, according to coach Jim Montgomery.
Montgomery said Tucker's knee ailment isn't day-to-day, and he'll be re-evaluated in the coming days. He couldn't provide a timeline right now.
The 26-year-old defender is competing for a top-six spot in the Blues' opening-night lineup, and before his injury he was on the outside looking in, as Theo Lindstein was skating with Colton Parayko instead of Tucker.
With the injury news and update, it appears Tucker might not even be healthy for the first game of the season against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 2.
Tucker is four years into his NHL career, but hasn't really been able to lock down a full-time role. He's seen most of his Blues tenure as either a seventh defenseman or as call-up. In 2025-26, due to injuries Tucker played in 69 games, recording four goals and 17 points.
At 5-on-5, Tucker posted a goals-for percentage of 45.74 percent but an expected goals-for percentage of 51.34 percent. In the first pre-season game, Tucker recorded 18:52 of ice time, throwing one shot on goal and two hits.
Originally a 2018 seventh-round pick of the Blues, Tucker is a 6-foot-1, 209-pound left-handed defenseman who plays a safe game while maintaining a physical level.
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Dahlin Listed In Top 20 Of NHL Players By NHL Network
The Buffalo Sabres are hoping to build on their success last season, and reach the postseason for the second straight year. That will require some of their young talent to fill the void left by the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, and their core group continuing to play at a high level.
Team captain Rasmus Dahlin persevered through personal adversity to score a career-high 74 points and led Buffalo to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, earning nominations for the Bill Masterton and Norris Trophies.
Earlier this month, in their annual rankings of NHL players, The Athletic slotted Dahlin in the top tier, tied with Florida’s Aleksander Barkov, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini, Boston’s David Pastrnak, and 2026 Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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A career year sees Rasmus Dahlin (@BuffaloSabres) move up 13 spots on NHL Network's Top 50 Players Right Now list! 🦬
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) September 21, 2026
📺: #NHLTopPlayers on NHL Network pic.twitter.com/jwGXvLJOt1
In NHL Network’s rankings of the Top 50 players, Dahlin was ranked 17th, while Werenski was ranked just outside of the top 10 at 11. Multiple Cup winners Sidney Crosby and Andrei Vasilevskiy were #12 and #13, Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov was at #14, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was #15, former Leaf Mitch Marner is at #16, followed by Dahlin; Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck is #18, followed by fellow Finnish members of the Dallas Stars, Mikko Rantanen (#19) and Miro Heiskanen (#20).
It may be possible that Dahlin is the only Sabre in the Top 50, although Sabres leading scorer Tage Thompson, who has scored 40 or more goals three times in the last four years, has not been listed as of yet.
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NHL Network ranks Crosby 12th best player in NHL right now
Sidney Crosby has been listed as the 12th best player in the National Hockey League, according to the NHL Network’s “Top 50 Players Right Now” series.
Ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 NHL season, the NHL Network is releasing its annual ranking of the top players in the league, and once again, Crosby is near the top of the list.
Crosby, who turned 39 last month, and is entering the final year of his contract with the Penguins, was listed no. 7 in last year’s rankings and no. 11 in last year’s rankings.
“We’ve loved watching him play for 21 years,” said former NHL goaltender and current NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider. “It’s incredible the way he’s shown up since he stepped foot in this league and has been one of the best players in the league. This is unheard of.”
Last season, Crosby secured his 21st straight year with a point per game average or higher, an NHL record.
The Penguins will take the ice tonight for the team’s first game of the preseason when they host the Buffalo Sabres. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.