Connor McDavid made a bold claim ahead of the Amazon Prime Sports matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. He called Evan Bouchard the best defenseman in the NHL last season, saying, "He shouldn't have been a finalist last year; he should have won."

McDavid was, of course, talking about the Norris Trophy. Bouchard was overlooked after scoring the most points as a defenseman in the NHL during the 2025-26 campaign. The finalists were Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Werenski walked away with the honors. 

Bouchard, who led all NHL blueliners with 95 points (21 goals, 74 assists) and a +25 rating during the 2025–26 season, was snubbed. 

"He got off to a bad start, no question. Our whole team did, " said McDavid. "I did. Everyone did here in Edmonton. But he is a special player. Makes great plays with the puck. Nobody sees the game better than he does. Plays a lot of minutes. Plays on the kill. Does everything that's asked of him.":

"So as I said, he shouldn't have been a finalist. He should have won."

NHL superstar Connor McDavid is adamant that his teammate Evan Bouchard should've won the Norris in 2025-26. 🏆😤

Do you think Bouchard deserved to at least be a top-3 finalist?! pic.twitter.com/jQn3omHNOK

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) October 28, 2026

Given the start to Bouchard's 2026-27 season, one could make an argument he won't be ignored this season. It's early, but Bouchard is tied for fourth in NHL points. He leads all defensemen.

Bouchard's progression has been worth watching. He was once labeled an offensively elite d-man, but not defensively strong; he's since shaken that label. He's not just reliable and solid at both ends of the ice; he's being asked to bring other defensemen along. 

As the Oilers showed when they played the Red Wings and he paired with Shakir Muhkamadullin, Bouchard can carry less-defensive partners without hurting his own game.@bcurlok writes, "Coaches should bookmark that. Give the man the responsibility."

Is McDavid correct? Or, is this the case of a teammate being bias?

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Through 12 games of the Detroit Red Wings' season, a few players have broken out in a big way, and none more so than rookie Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. The 15th overall pick in 2024 has impressed in his first extended run at the NHL level, recording two goals and six assists for eight points in 12 games. 

His counting stats beyond scoring are just as strong with his 54 hits ranking sixth in the NHL, and his five takeaways are tied with Lucas Raymond and Emmitt Finnie for second on the team. The underlying numbers also look good, with 13 high-danger shots on net, twice the league average and good for the 92nd percentile.

His play has pushed the Norwegian winger into the top eight of the Calder Trophy betting odds on BetMGM. Toronto Maple Leafs winger and recent first overall pick Gavin McKenna leads the pack at +270, even though he is tied with Brandsegg-Nygård at eight points and has played two more games. 

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

Not far behind is Montreal's Jacob Fowler at +425. Fowler has broken out as the Canadiens' lead goaltender, going 6-1-0 with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage through seven games.

Brandsegg-Nygård sits at +1300 and trails other rookies like San Jose's Ivar Stenberg, Washington's Cole Hutson, Chicago's Roman Kantserov, Vegas' Trevor Connolly and Boston's James Hagens. 

He is ahead of several other elite rookies, however, including Chicago's Anton Frondell, Philadelphia's Porter Martone, who was among the preseason favorites, New York's Dylan Garand and Winnipeg's Viggo Bjorck.

It's safe to say the 21-year-old's start has been noticed, and the hope in Detroit is that he can keep it going all season long.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The Detroit Red Wings will play two straight home contests following a four-game road swing beginning on Thursday evening against the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena.

It will mark the return of former Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who departed the organization to rejoin the club that selected him first overall in 2007 and that he helped win three Stanley Cup championships. 

But while Kane will be back in Detroit on Thursday, the Red Wings will remain shorthanded.

According to head coach Todd McLellan, both Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton are still at least two weeks away from being able to play. Kasper hasn't played since the club's season opener against the New York Rangers on Oct. 2, while Appleton hasn't played since facing his former Winnipeg Jets teammates on Oct. 4. 

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

Meanwhile, the Red Wings did get forward J.T. Compher back in the lineup following a prolonged absence; he had also been unavailable since Oct. 4 against the Jets. 

At practice on Wednesday, goaltender Daniil Tarasov was back on the ice after suffering an injury during the road trip; the expectation is that Michal Postava, who picked up his first career NHL victory on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, will be returned to the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins. 

And while Dylan Larkin was absent from practice, McLellan confirmed that it was just a maintenance day. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Buffalo Sabres needed to a way to get in the win column after losing three straight and a number of narrow losses in the opening month of the season, and goalie Colten Ellis provided that push with a 23-save shutout in a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. 

The Sabres goalie made an Olen Zellweger second period goal stand up, and Buffalo iced the win with Zach Benson scoring his first of the season late in regulation with Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov pulled for the extra attacker. 

“Put (Ellis’ performance) in the excellent category. We mishandled the puck early, about a minute and a half into the game, and he made a great save….making a save like that early, probably helps a goalie.” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “(Colten is) a competitive kid. He’s given us some good hockey games. Today he gave us an excellent game. He made some timely saves at really big moments, that could’ve generated some energy for (San Jose) and he took it away from them.”

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

The victory moved Buffalo into a tie with Detroit for seventh place in the Atlantic at 5-4-3 (13 points), with two games against Anaheim and Los Angeles left on their four-game Western road swing. The question will now be if the Sabres give Ellis another start after a good performance against the Ducks on Thursday. The club has struggled with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen over his five consecutive starts, allowing 30 or more shots in the four of his five straight starts and going 1-1-3.  

In other Atlantic Division news, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost winger Kirill Marchenko with a knee injury in a 5-2 loss in Calgary on Monday and on Wednesday it was announced that he will be out week-to-week. Marchenko had 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 14 games. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Senators placed defenceman Cameron Crotty on waivers Wednesday afternoon, a move that strongly suggests captain Thomas Chabot is ready to return from injury.

Crotty, the 27-year-old Ottawa native, has appeared in just three games for the Senators this season, recording no points, a plus-one rating and averaging 11 minutes and nine seconds of ice time.

With all the injuries, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound right-shot defenceman probably would have logged even more NHL playing time if not for an illness that briefly landed him on injured reserve.

If Crotty clears waivers Thursday afternoon, he's expected to be assigned to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League, where he'll have an opportunity to play more regularly.

Originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round, 82nd overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft, Crotty played his college hockey at Boston University before turning professional.

Crotty played six games for the Senators last season, collecting his first NHL point. He even made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Carolina Hurricanes last spring.

While Wednesday's news isn't good for the hometown boy, it does suggest that Chabot is ready to return to face the LA Kings on Thursday night.

Chabot has been out since suffering an upper-body injury during the Senators' 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on October 17. He's appeared in seven games this season, recording four points, along with a plus-five rating.

He opened the season with a goal and an assist in the Senators' 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, his first game since being named the club's new captain.

Chabot is coming off an injury-shortened 2025-26 season where he had 31 points in 57 games. While Jake Sanderson has emerged as the Senators' top defenceman, Chabot remains one of their most important players. .

The Senators have managed to get by during Chabot's absence, as they have with all their injuries this season. They're still without starting goalie Linus Ullmark, winger William Eklund, and as of Tuesday night, Warren Foegele, who suffered a knee injury in Vegas.

If Chabot returns on Thursday in LA, it'll be the first time all season the Sens have had their top six defensemen all healthy on the same night.

Naturally, that will allow the D to settle back in with partners, ice time and matchups that are more familiar and appropriate.

With the way the Sens' season is going injury-wise, it may not be long before Crotty is needed again. So, from that perspective, it's important to get him back playing again. Crotty hasn't suited up in almost two weeks and the return to Belleville will at least allow him to get back to playing meaningful minutes.

But now there are several roster issues at hand.

Will Crotty get claimed by another NHL club?

Which defenseman heads to the press box on Thursday? Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, Spence, and Kleven are all locked in. So either Olympian Nikolas Matinpalo or former first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk will have to come out.

And how will they replace Foegele? Will it be Hayden Hodgson or will someone from Belleville get called up for a look?

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Headlines at The Hockey News Ottawa:

- How Brady Tkachuk's In-Game Chirp Motivated The Senators Last Week
- Senators Assign Veteran Forward To Belleville After Recovering From Injury
- Michael Andlauer Provides Update On Senators' LeBreton Flats Arena Plans
- Burakovsky And Ersson Address Their Very Slow Starts In Ottawa

In recent days, the Washington Capitals have reportedly been shopping forward Ivan Miroshnichenko and the Detroit Red Wings may be interested.

The 20th overall pick in 2022, who has been off to a slow start to his NHL season with six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 55 games. At 22, Miroshnichenko has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, despite seeing his role grow as high as the top line in Washington, but he has still been unable to break through with one goal but no assists through three games this season.

The Russian left winger could slot into Detroit's top six, where he could experiment in roles alongside Emmitt Finnie and Alex DeBrincat, or with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

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

Risk would be minimal adding Miroshnichenko as he carries a very manageable $925,000 cap hit this season and next, so he shouldn't cost much to acquire, and if it doesn't work out, Detroit could part ways with him without much trouble.

The Red Wings would not be alone in their interest. Several teams have reportedly already inquired about Miroshnichenko, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.

Detroit would be joining a loaded group and may have to outbid others for a chance to land him, but if successful could find a cheap solution and key piece to their lineup. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

It feels like the Florida Panthers aren't clicking at full power just yet. Whether it's due to injuries to Brad Marchand and Aleksander Barkov or simply because they are still looking for their best combinations, the feeling is they have more to offer.

Despite that, the Panthers are 7-4-2 and sit in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with 16 points. 

Their offense ranks 17th in the NHL, averaging three goals per game, and their defense ranks eighth, allowing 2.85 goals per game. Offensively, the Panthers have more to offer, and we are seeing it recently.

The Panthers won their last two contests, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 and the Winnipeg Jets 5-1, but the next handful of games offer an even better opportunity. 

The Panthers return to Sunrise after a four-game road trip for a three-game homestand. Those three opponents are the Jets, Detroit Red Wings, and Blackhawks. The Panthers have already beaten two of them, and the third sits in last place in the Atlantic Division.

After those three games, the Panthers face two difficult road matchups against the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins, challenging but not unbeatable teams.

After that, they face the Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, and St. Louis Blues.

Expecting the Panthers to win each of these games is unrealistic, but if they are striving for a spot near the top of the Division, they need to earn as many points as possible over the next stretch. 

After Troubling Start To Season, Florida Panthers No Longer Having Issues Scoring Early In GamesAfter weeks of chasing deficits, the Cats have ignited their offense. A sudden first-period scoring surge and revitalized power play are finally forcing opponents to play Florida's game.

There are plenty of things going right for the Panthers right now, despite numerous injuries. The Tkachuk brothers are on fire and at times carry the Panthers offensively. Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart have also been fairly potent, while Seth Jones is playing at a very high level.

At the same time, the Panthers need to improve in some areas. They aren't getting enough depth scoring. Sam Bennett has just three goals and six points in 13 games; Anton Lundell has scored just once and has only three points; Eetu Luostarinen has struggled; and outside of Lars Eller, their fourth line has produced little to nothing.

This stretch of games provides an excellent opportunity to do so.

---

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced a flurry of roster moves after Wednesday's practice. 

They placed forward Elmer Soderblom on injured reserve after listing him as day-to-day with an upper-body injury on Tuesday. He recorded an assist in the Penguins' 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

They also activated forward Justin Brazeau from injured reserve and have assigned him to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a conditioning stint. He got hurt during the pre-season and hasn't played since. 

Forward Avery Hayes and defenseman Chase Pietila have also been assigned to WBS.

Forward Justin Brazeau has been activated from Injured Reserve and assigned to @WBSPenguins (AHL) on a conditioning loan.

Forward Elmer Soderblom has been placed on IR.

Forward Avery Hayes and defenseman Chase Pietila have been re-assigned to WBS. pic.twitter.com/JIjtKM9eXM

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 28, 2026

Pietila didn't play in any NHL games during his brief stint with the Penguins, while Hayes played in Saturday's game against the Predators. Hayes looked good in that game, and it won't be long before he's in the NHL full-time. 

Rutger McGroarty is still with the team, despite not practicing on Wednesday. He's likely the 13th forward for now. 

The Penguins will return to game action on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

The Vancouver Canucks snapped their 10-game winless streak in dramatic fashion on Tuesday as they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-5 in overtime. It looked like Vancouver was headed for an 11th-straight loss, but a dramatic third-period comeback helped the Canucks pick up their first victory since October 3. With the win, Vancouver is now 3-10-1 with a -22 goal differential. 

When looking back on the first three victories of the season, all have featured a similar trend. That is the Canuck' ability to score at least three goals in the third period. Vancouver has also not held a lead heading into the third period in each of the wins, as they have trailed twice and been tied once after 40 minutes. 

What makes this trend interesting is that the Canucks have struggled to generate offence during the third period in almost every other game this year. In the three victories, Vancouver has scored 11 goals in the third period, compared to nine goals total in the other 11 games. As for total goals this year, the Canucks have scored 26 times in their wins compared to just 17 in their 11 losses. 

While these third-period performances like the one against the Ducks have been exciting, Vancouver needs to find ways to win games in conventional ways. There have been way too many nights where the Canucks don't show up in the third period, which is why their losing streak hit double digits. Ultimately, if Vancouver wants to become a more consistent team, they need to distribute their scoring more evenly and stop relying on chaotic third periods. 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

3 Standouts From Game #14: Canucks 6, Ducks 5 (OT)

Lekkerimäki Scores Twice, Canucks Snap 10-Game Losing Streak In 6–5 Overtime Win Against Anaheim

Canucks Center Elias Pettersson Is Closing In On A Unique Franchise Record

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

During the first few weeks of the NHL season, the Florida Panthers struggled in one particular, crucial area.

They weren’t scoring early in games.

It’s extremely difficult to win in the best hockey league in the world when you are constantly having to come from behind, and that’s the situation that Florida found themselves in during the majority of their opening schedule.

Entering Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, Florida had scored just eight first period goals through their first 12 games.

As jarring as that stat sounds, it still doesn’t really tell the full story.

Of those eight goals scored during the first period this season, six had come over the Panthers previous four games.

That means Florida scored only one first period goal through their first five games.

It gets worse from there.

In terms of scoring the first goal of the game, after winning 1-0 in overtime on opening night in Carolina, it wasn’t until game number nine that Florida held a 1-0 lead again.

That’s right, they went seven straight games allowing the first goal, though escaping with a respectable 3-2-2 record in those outings.

“Everybody plays slightly different when you’re chasing the game,” said Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. “You’re trying to win, so if you’re down by one or down by two, your game has to open up a little bit. I think we’ve been pretty strong at not having that happen.”

Needless to say, early scoring was not something that came easy for the Panthers during the early stages of this season.

But perhaps the tide has turned.

Last Saturday, the Cats scored three goals during the opening period against the Seattle Kraken.

They went on to score another first period goal the following game in Ottawa, and added two more opening frame tallies on Sunday in Chicago.

Now, after putting up a 3-spot during the opening 20 minutes against Winnipeg on Tuesday, it might be safe to say that Florida has moved past their slow start issues.

“It is very nice,” Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said of playing with an early lead. “We played coming from behind quite a bit to start the season, so any time we get that first goal, it just plays into the game that we want. We want them to take chances, we want to be solid defensively and to capitalize on their mistakes.”

It also helps that Florida’s power play has finally gotten going after a slow start to the season.

Since the Seattle game, the Panthers have scored nine first period goals over a five-game span.

Five of those nine goals have come on the power play, including two of the three first period goals they scored in Winnipeg.

“I think right out of the gate, we came out moving the puck well, putting pucks in deep and drew a couple power plays, and that helped getting the first one and getting a little lead there,” said Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. “We just took off from there.”

Now the Panthers will return to South Florida for a three-game homestand that will keep them local for over a week.

They’ll face the two teams they’ve most recently defeated, Winnipeg and Chicago, along with a divisional matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.

While the Blackhawks have allowed the third-most goals per game so far this season (3.67), the Jets and Red Wings are both in the lower third of the league in that department, with Winnipeg giving up an even three goals per game and Detroit allowing 2.92.

We’ll see if Florida can keep their offense humming along when they resume their schedule on Friday when they host a rematch with the Jets.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Carter Verhaeghe, Tkachuk Brothers Power Panthers Past Winnipeg

'Matthew Is Better This Year Than He's Ever Been': Panthers' Coach On Matthew Tkachuk's Playmaking Talent

Do The Florida Panthers Have A Discipline Issue?

Vilmanis, Tkachuk Score As Panthers Bounce Back, Earning Tough Victory In Chicago

Panthers Make Changes To Middle Six Ahead Of Matchup With Chicago

NHL Insider Reveals Florida Panthers' Offer For Connor Hellebuyck

Photo caption: Oct 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA;FloridaPanthersleft wing Sandis Vilmanis (95) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at United Center. (David Banks-Imagn Images)

Following an unsuccessful road trip to the East Coast in which the Anaheim Ducks only managed to notch two of a possible eight standings points, they returned to Southern California to host the basement-dwelling Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday at Honda Center. 

The Ducks, below .500, entered the game three points out of a wild card spot, while the Canucks had only tallied five points in 13 games to start the season and were the last-place team in the entire NHL, having failed to register a point in their previous ten games. 

Game #12: Ducks vs. Canucks Gameday Preview (10/27/26)

Adjustments the Ducks Made to Snap their Five-Game Losing Streak, What They'll Need to Continue

The Ducks elected to ice a near-identical lineup to the one that snapped a five-game losing streak of their own on Saturday, with the only change being shifting defenseman Tristan Luneau onto a pair with Tyson Hinds and inserting Drew Helleson next to Travis Mitchell on the third pair. 

Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:

Gauthier-Carlsson-Caulfield

Malott-Granlund-Sennecke

Nesterenko-McQueen-Killorn

Greer-Washe-Colangelo

LaCombe-Warren

Hinds-Luneau

MItchell-Helleson

Lukas Dostal got his ninth start of the season for the Ducks and stopped 27 of 33 shots. He was opposed by Leevi Meriläinen in the Vancouver crease, who saved 18 of the 23 shots he faced in this game.

“That was a terrible loss,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “5-2 and we were in a pretty good spot. (We) should have sealed the win. I think we do some things that come back to haunt us after a night like tonight.”

Game Notes

At 5v5, the game flow was somewhat even, and the Ducks showed encouraging and discouraging signs at both ends of the ice. Lack of discipline forced the Ducks to kill seven penalties as opposed to only drawing two, and overall team defense was lacking at critical moments of a game in which the Ducks needed to notch two points. 

Cycle: One of the encouraging signs from the game was the Ducks’ ability to drive and manufacture chances deep in the offensive zone, a problem area for them over the past handful of seasons. In this game, they were sending their high F3 to the blueline, between the point defensemen, which allowed those blueliners to involve themselves more offensively by activating down the half-wall and to the tops of the circles. 

It also cleared up space in the middle of the slot, as the opposing low defending forward was caught in no-man’s land, naturally drawn toward the top of the zone. This allowed the Ducks low forwards an easier path to the net to set up tips and screens, as well as win races to ensuing loose pucks. 

Breakouts: Forwards grew careless as the game progressed during breakout sequences. Early in the game, they made efficient decisions to keep pucks moving up ice and remained low in the zone to provide better outlet angles. They recognized when their young defensemen were in trouble against a Canucks forecheck, and they retreated in support rather than flying the defensive zone. 

As the Ducks built a lead, the forwards drifted further up toward neutral ice, allowing opposing defensemen to jump outlets and pinch successfully. They were also careless in their attempts to clear the defensive blueline, often leading to battles and even turnovers. 

Team Defense: Much has been made over the lack of experience among the Ducks’ young defensemen this season. They’ve had their ups and downs when it comes to the details of defending at the NHL level in elevated roles. However, much as has been a theme for the majority of the early part of the season, their forwards aren’t aiding them in any meaningful way on the defensive side of the puck. 

In this game, only one goal (Vancouver’s second) can be pinned on the blueline. For the remainder, backchecking errors and man-advantage coverage hiccups, in which poor puck-watching habits were prevalent, were the primary faults. 

6v5: Vancouver scored two goals with Merilainen pulled late for an extra attacker. The Canucks were able to spread the Ducks’ wingers wide on the perimeter, which allowed them to outnumber the center and defensemen in front of Dostal 4 to 3. With multiple responsibilities, defensemen were unable to commit to tying up a net-front forward, and when they failed to block shots, Dostal was left with no field of vision in which to make a save. 

Wingers either need to restrain themselves from pressing too high in the defensive zone and collapse toward the hashmarks to aid their defensemen and goaltender, or those defensemen have to put forth a riskier, vigilant effort to block those outside shots while limiting the ability of the net-front attacker to get a tip on said shots. 

The Ducks will look to return to .500 on Thursday, when they’ll host the incoming Buffalo Sabres, who are hoping to remain above that .500 mark on the young season.

How Much have the Ducks Missed Ryan Poehling?

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-2 Loss to the Rangers

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-2 Loss to the Bruins

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-2 Loss to the Flames

Remember when it felt like Semyon Varlamov might never play in the NHL again?

For nearly two years, that looked like a real possibility. Multiple knee surgeries and a long recovery kept the former Colorado Avalanche goaltender away from the game, and with every month that passed, a return seemed a little less likely.

Well, Varlamov is back.

The 38-year-old returned to regular-season action Tuesday night, helping the New York Islanders beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in a shootout. After everything he’s gone through just to get back in the net, picking up a win in his first game back makes the night even sweeter.

Look at the emotion of this team as they celebrate with Semyon Varlamov.

Truly a family, special stuff. #Islespic.twitter.com/chDgcDVSP8

— Isles Rumor (@IslesRumor) October 28, 2026

And if you watched Varlamov during his eight seasons in Colorado, you know this is pretty cool to see.

Varlamov hadn’t played an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024. Heading into training camp, Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche called his progress “almost a miracle,” although he was quick to point out how much work the veteran had put in to get to this point.

Now, he has another NHL win to his name.

The Islanders made things interesting Tuesday, to say the least. They built a 3-0 lead against Nashville before the Predators battled back to tie the game and force overtime. Varlamov stopped both shots he faced in the extra period, and New York eventually got the job done in the shootout, with Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat scoring.

Not exactly the stress-free return you might draw up, but a win is a win.

The victory was the 290th of Varlamov’s NHL career. It’s a pretty remarkable number considering how uncertain his future looked not that long ago.

Avalanche Fans Know This Feeling

If Varlamov’s comeback sounds familiar, there’s a good reason.

Avalanche fans watched Gabriel Landeskog go through his own incredibly difficult journey back to the ice after missing nearly three full seasons with a serious knee injury. Plenty of people wondered whether Colorado’s captain would ever play again. Then he finally made his return during the 2025-26 season.

Varlamov’s situation isn’t identical, but the uncertainty surrounding both players was hard to ignore. At some point, you start wondering whether the next update will be the one that confirms a career is over.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for either of them.

Varlamov spent eight seasons with Colorado from 2011-12 through 2018-19, playing 389 games and posting a .913 save percentage with a 2.79 goals-against average. He later moved on to the Islanders, but plenty of Avalanche fans will remember the years he spent holding down the crease in Denver.

He’s now played 621 NHL games in his career, with a .916 save percentage and 41 shutouts.

Tuesday also gave Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer a place in the history books. He became the first player in NHL history to play the entire five-minute overtime period.

That’s quite a night for New York, but Varlamov’s return is what really stands out here.

At 38, after multiple knee surgeries and almost two years away from an NHL game, he could have called it a career. Instead, he kept working until he got another chance.

And now he’s back in the win column.

For those of us who remember watching Varlamov in an Avalanche uniform, it’s hard not to be happy for him.

The Buffalo Sabres have struggled for most of the month of October, whether it has been falling behind early in contests, to struggling on special teams, to inconsistent scoring and goaltending, the club held a .500 record prior to their 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. 

GM Jarmo Kekalainen was unable or unwilling to meet the Winnipeg Jets price for goalie Connor Hellebuyck prior to his trade to New Jersey last week, but there have been some hints that the Sabres GM is still big-game hunting. The first to suggest a pivot after Hellebuyck to another big name was Expected Buffalo’s Chad DeDominicis, who stated that the Sabres should and have approached the Detroit Red Wings about disgruntled center Dylan Larkin.  

Larkin, who was a teammate of Tage Thompson on Team USA’s gold medal winning Olympic squad, requested a trade from the Wings after the season and provided them a very narrow three-team trade list, which has recently been broadened to 10 teams. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Clubs that are in desperate need of a first or second line center, such as the Montreal Canadiens, are not on Larkin’s list, and the Sabres are also not on it. The 10 teams seem to be exclusively perennial playoff clubs and top contenders for the Stanley Cup (Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Utah, Vegas, and Washington).

Montreal has made the playoffs two years in a row, but there appears to be little chance that Larkin would approve a deal to a Canadian club. Buffalo may have a better chance, but their slow start after snapping their 15-year playoff drought may be pouring cold water on their chances, since the whole purpose of leaving Detroit is to improve his chances of winning a Stanley Cup. The Wings have not made the postseason since 2016. 

The Sabres appear to have the right ingredients for a Larkin trade, as the Wings reportedly are looking for young centers, and Buffalo has them in abundance in Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich. The question is whether Kekalainen is willing to trade one of them instead of names like Josh Norris or Ryan McLeod, and whether Larkin is willing to expand his list. 

It is thought that the Devils, with the addition of Hellebuyck, and the growing possibility of Quinn Hughes joining his brothers in Newark next summer, could be the dark horse in the race for the 30-year-old.    

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

The Minnesota Wild remain persistent in their pursuit of a top-six center, and in order to find one, they're going to have to be comfortable selling the necessary assets.

The Athletic’s Chris Johnson believes the player is Danila Yurov; in his most recent NHL trade board, Yurov appeared at No. 17.

The 22-year-old is skating in his sophomore season and has posted four goals and five points in 14 games so far. He's seen ice time on various lines, at times skating with Kirill Kaprizov, but mostly with Yakov Trenin and Maxim Shabanov. 

While no reports indicate the Wild are shopping Yurov, it makes sense that he would be considered a trade candidate if the Wild want to move for a player like Dylan Larkin. Beyond Yurov, the Wild’s under-23 tradeable assets include Charlie Stramel, David Spacek, Adam Benak, Riley Heidt, and Ryder Ritchie. None of those players have Yurov’s value.

The Wild would likely hope to keep Yurov and still acquire a top-six center, but it seems they have to come to the understanding that there are limited paths to do so without trading him.

"The Wild have dangled Yurov as part of packages aimed at landing bigger fish," said Johnston. "He’s in his sophomore NHL season and has demonstrated deft stickhandling skills and strong instincts while lining up as a third-line center in Minnesota. Yurov is a shifty player with upside who is cost-controlled, with an entry-level contract covering this season and next. It’s an attractive set of attributes."

'He’s Going To Be A Top-Two Line Center’: John Hynes Praises Young Center Danila YurovWild head coach John Hynes believes Danila Yurov will be a top-six center in the NHL. With three goals in four games and trade rumors swirling, his emergence presents Minnesota with an interesting decision.

Yurov wasn't the only Wild player on this list, as defenseman Quinn Hughes landed at No. 10.

The Wild hope to reach a contract agreement with Hughes instead of trading him. Still, the longer this stalemate goes on and the closer the trade deadline gets, the louder the noise will be.

It would be catastrophic for the Wild to lose Hughes in free agency after sending three NHL-ready prospects to the Vancouver Canucks just a year ago. Trading Hughes would be a last-resort move, but it warrants consideration. 

---

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Many thought that once Steve Yzerman was cast aside, the Detroit Red Wings could trade their former captain more quickly. However, the former GM isn't the only one who doesn’t like being backed into a corner, and the Wings aren't the Ottawa Senators. Dylan Larkin’s initial trade list included just four teams: the Florida Panthers, the Minnesota Wild, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Las Vegas Golden Knights. But those teams didn’t have what Detroit wanted, so he added more options: the Colorado Avalanche and the Washington Capitals. He added more options not long after: the New Jersey Devils, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Utah Mammoth. With a 10-team acceptable team, Larkin remains stuck in Motor City because the Wings are not getting the kind of offer they want from those teams.

Lots of scouts tonight #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/srIqtaVPxe

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) October 20, 2026

Although the Montreal Canadiens aren't on that list, assistant general manager Kris Draper has attended three of the Habs’ last four games, scouting them relentlessly. Visibly, there are players there who could form an interesting package for the Atlantic Division rival. In Tuesday’s game, Adam Engstrom took Arber Xhekaj’s spot, which could indicate that he’s one of the players Detroit wanted to watch. I also think Oliver Kapanen, who has been catapulted to first-line center duty since captain Nick Suzuki was injured, may be another. What better window than a first-line role? If Detroit trades its second-line center, it only makes sense that they’d want a pivot included in the return.

Canadiens' Fowler Blanks The Blues
Could The Rangers Circle Back To The Canadiens?
Caufield’s Big On Canadiens’ Fans And Market

Why scout the Habs if Larkin hasn’t agreed to go there, though? Perhaps because the Wings hope the player will be desperate enough to leave Detroit and agree to a move to Montreal. Of course, that would be a reluctant move for the 30-year-old, and it would likely raise concerns that he wouldn’t be in it for the long haul. After this season, his $8.7 million cap-hit deal remains valid for four more campaigns, and one can wonder whether he won’t ask for another trade soon, especially if his family wasn’t keen on a move to La Belle Province in the first place.

Kris Draper scouting the Habs again… #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/4BoEXNzdpP

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) October 23, 2026

But if he did that, asking for another trade so soon, what team would be willing to roll the dice on him? Asking out of Detroit after 11 years of struggle and seeing the playoffs only once may be understandable. Asking out from a team seen as a contender with a great young core committed long-term would be quite another. That would earn him the label of “player who gives up on his team”. It would ruin his reputation and make it clear his word is worth little, because if Kent Hughes makes a sizeable offer to acquire the top-six center, you can be sure he will have done his due diligence and asked for assurances.

If Larkin agrees to a move, his family will see just how well the organization treats their member, and they won’t have to look far to see it. Just at the Heritage Classic recently, no matter how many guests, friends, or family members a player asked to bring, the Canadiens agreed and brought them out, covering the expenses. All wives, girlfriends, and kids got custom-made gear to keep them warm and had a great time at the post-practice family skate on Saturday night.

It goes beyond the organization; just like the Habs, their significant others are a tight-knit bunch, judging by all their social media posts. It’s not rare to see them gather for a watch party when the guys are out of town, and their Bell Centre attendance always comes with plenty of pictures of them having a whale of a time.

The truth is, it’s been four months since Larkin asked to be traded, and he hasn’t gone anywhere. Detroit won’t be forced to make a deal they don’t like, and ultimately, if he really wants out, it seems it’ll be on the team’s terms, not his, as it really should be. That’s why Draper is piling up frequent-flyer miles to watch Montreal. Make no mistake, though; that doesn’t mean the Habs are the only ones with a good offer. Draper has also been scouting at least one other team: the St. Louis Blues. They do say there’s no smoke without fire…Interestingly, Larkin is not on the ice at practice this morning...

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.