The Columbus Blue Jackets have 12 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #12. 

Let's take a look.

Ted Drury - 2001 - Drafted by Calgary in 1989.

Drury played a single game for the Jackets during the 00-01 season. He never played another NHL game after Columbus and retired in 2007 after playing five seasons in Germany.

Ted is the brother of former New York Rangers Captain and current President and General Manager of the Rangers, Chris Drury.

Sean Pronger - 2002 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1991. 

The brother of Hall of Famer Chris Pronger played 104 games in Columbus and had 17 points. He retired in 2005 after playing in Germany.

After his two seasons in Columbus, he played for Vancouver and then left for Germany, where he played one season before retiring. 

Mathieu Darche - 2003 - Undrafted out of Saint-Laurent, Quebec.

Darche played 24 games for the CBJ over their first three seasons, totaling two points. Darche played until 2012, retiring with the Montreal Canadiens. 

He was the Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Ops for the Tampa Bay Lightning for 6 years before being named the GM and executive VP of Hockey Ops and General Manager for the New York Islanders last season. 

Jiří Novotný - 2008-2009 - Drafted by Buffalo in 2001. 

Novotný played 107 games for the Jackets and had 29 points. He never played another NHL game and left for Europe, where he played until 2023.

Novotný spent time in Russia, Czechia, and Switzerland until he retired. He is now the Sports Manager for HC Motor České Budějovice.

Elite Prospects said about Novotný, "Novotný is a center with a sound two-way game. With good vision and passing ability, he is more of a playmaker than a shooter. Handles the puck and skates well, too. Can kill penalties and win faceoffs."

Mike Blunden - 2010-2011 - Drafted by Chicago in 2005. 

Blunden played 41 games with the Jackets and totaled 4 points.

He retired in 2020 after playing the last two years of his career in Germany and Italy. He finished his NHL career playing in 127 games. Blunden has been a Pro Scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last four seasons. 

Ryan Craig - 2014-2015 - Drafted by Tampa Bay in 2002. 

Craig played 8 games for the Jackets and had zero points. He was also the Captain of both the Springfield Falcons and the Cleveland Monsters. He retired in 2017 and went into coaching for the Vegas Golden Knights. He was hired this summer to be the new head coach for Vegas.

Owen Sillinger - 2025 - Undrafted out of Regina, Saskatchewan. 

Sillinger has played one career NHL game and has zero points. The older brother of Cole has spent his career playing for the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. In parts of five seasons, he has a total of 148 points. 

Owen will be looked at as a vet on an otherwise very young Monsters team. 

One scouting report said of Sillinger. "Sillinger is a pure sniper. He might be the best shooter in this draft class. His wrist shot is powerful and accurate. He has quick hands and is able to get the shot off quickly. Sillinger also does a good job of changing the angle on his shot, fooling goaltenders. His snapshot is also very good and features a similar quick release. Sillinger also has a knack for getting open for a one-timer, especially on the power play. His slap shot is also very good. He can even score with a good backhand. Sillinger has the hands to get deflections and pounce on rebounds in front of the net. His lateral agility and hands allow him to move laterally to open up shooting lanes."

Another scouting report said of his defensive game, "Sillinger also needs work in his own end of the ice. He can become too focused on the puck away from the play, losing his man and getting out of position. He also seems to take risks at times, leaving the zone early and trying to create offence. Sillinger could improve by using his size and strength to help contain in the cycle game but is not always committed to working down low in the defensive zone. These are areas where he will need some strong coaching in helping out his defense."

There are 12 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. 

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Opportunities presented themselves for Oskar Sundqvist to depart St. Louis one more time to prolong his NHL career in a guaranteed fashion.

But that’s not what the 32-year-old wanted, because St. Louis is where his heart is, and the St. Louis Blues organization means so much to the Boden, Sweden native.

Sundqvist, who has spent eight of his 11 NHL seasons in St. Louis and met his wife here, has been through it all at this level, including reach the pinnacle of winning the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019. But this is somewhat uncharted territory, and when he signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 NHL/$300,000 AHL, there was reasoning behind it: his love for this city and franchise.

“Obviously everything. This is where I want to be, this is where I wanted to sign the whole time,” Sundqvist said Friday. “There’s never really any thought anywhere else. It is different, but like I said for me, I love being here, I love being in this organization, I love ‘Monty’ and those guys and obviously ‘Otter’ too. It was an easy decision and obviously how much I like this organization and this city.

“It’s different, but it doesn’t change anything for me. This competition is very healthy for especially the bottom six. This is the tightest it’s been in my years since I’ve been here to grab a spot. All that’s healthy and you’re just pushing each other to be the best version of yourself every day and every play you make out there. For my own sake, I’m just looking at this positively and just trying to do the best I can every day.”

Sundqvist has been part of Group B at the start of training camp, meaning he’s with all the prospects that are likely Springfield-bound or with guys like Nathan Walker, Jack Finley, Dillon Dube, Otto Stenberg, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and perhaps Dylan Peterson vying to win the remaining two spots (Nos. 13 and 14) on the opening night roster.

If Sundqvist, who had 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 52 games last season and has fought his own injury demons that have included a pair of torn ACL’s, doesn’t win out a roster spot, he is prone to waivers and if unclaimed, head to Springfield and play for the time being under Steve Ott.

That’s why he understands he’s in a fight for his livelihood to stay in the NHL and with the Blues.

“Play my game and be consistent and show that I want one of those spots, show that I can do what they’re asking me to do and be consistent and be reliable and play my game,” Sundqvist said. “I lost it a little bit last year I feel like the second half especially. It’s more just getting back to where I was and how I was playing and obviously getting the speed up. It’s different skating. It doesn’t really matter how hard you’re trying before training camp starts. It’s a different breed. Just these two days, now we’re back up to speed I feel like and just keep working on it.”

What does Sundqvist, who has played in 545 regular-season NHL games in his career with the Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild, have going for him more than anything? Health.

Blues brass and the coaching staff know more than anyone who Sundqvist is, but coming into a training camp completely healthy for the first time since 2024 has its benefits.

“Just that he has the capability of handling more ice time, he has the capability of not breaking down, his body’s not breaking down,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “There’s a lot of games last year where he was playing and he was playing on a leg and a half, and that’s not the case right now. It’s just to see how much energy he has.

“It says how much he loves being a Blue (signing a two-way contract). I think that’s the simplest thing it says and I think he’s willing to fight for his way into the roster. I do know that this is the best that he’s felt physically in four or five years because it’s the second summer in a row where he hasn’t had to have a surgery. Chronologically, he’s not old, like even for a hockey player.”

Sundqvist said he’s grateful to finally feel healthy again, something that hasn’t been the case for prolonged stretches of his career.

“I talked to Ray (Barile) and he knows about it too and (Ryan) Podell, especially when you have ACL surgeries and knees and stuff like that,” Sundqvist said. “It usually takes two years before it’s fully healed. Last year, you go into a third period and your knees are hurting pretty bad. This summer and these skates that we’ve had a couple week before this and now these two (training camp practices), it’s probably been pain free in the knee. It feels much better and it feels like you can take your stride out a little bit more and push off of it more. It feels really good actually. I’m happy to feel this way.”

And when was the last time he felt this way?

“Right before my second ACL surgery, so that was 2.5 years ago probably,” Sundqvist said. “It’s been a while. It’s good to be totally pain free and feel like I can keep up with guys out there and not limping around.

“It’s nice now, these two days have been a great test for it. It’s been a lot of skating and a lot of moving out there and I haven’t had any problems. It’s been a good test and I’m really happy I don’t have any pain.”

St. Louis Blues Defenseman Cam Fowler Feels There's More To His Game Than What Was On Display Last SeasonVeteran, acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in 2024 and burst onto the scene with a high success rate in St. Louis, feels he "let a lot of people down" with his play last season

Blues Open Training Camp With In-Season Mode Drills Due to Shortened, More Compacted ScheduleJim Montgomery divides up players to resemble one that looks more like an NHL roster, one that has veterans competing for limited roster spots

'I Want To Be Here ... I Love This City' -- Jimmy Snuggerud Wants To Be Part Of Long-Term Future With St. Louis Blues2022 first-round pick didn't sign maximum eight-year extension by Tuesday's CBA deadline before new one kicked in that allows max contracts to be seven years, feels process will work itself out when time is right

Ryan Reaves, A St. Louis Blues 2005 Draft Pick, Announces Retirement From The NHLFifth-round pick in the 2005 NHL Draft was one of top enforcers in game during his 16-year career, of which first seven years was spent with Blues

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The NHL's new collective bargaining agreement expanded the 2026-27 regular season from 82 games to 84.

As a result, the 2026 preseason will be shorter.

Training camps opened on Sept. 17 and the first preseason games will be on Saturday, Sept. 19. The preseason schedule will end one week later.

Each team will play four games, except for the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, who are playing five. Those teams are taking part in the annual Kraft Hockeyville game on Sept. 21.

Here are the dates, times and locations for the NHL preseason schedule before the 2026-27 regular season opens on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Before training camp even started for the Pittsburgh Penguins, there was a fair amount of conjecture regarding their logjam at the forward position.

Well, that is an ongoing dialogue. It's true that the forward battle is next to impossible, as the Penguins likely have 11 spots already locked down, leaving the final few up for grabs by Justin Brazeau, Elmer Soderblom, Hendrix Lapierre, Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Filip Hallander, Atley Calvert or Tristan Broz.

Realistically, there's very little chance that the Penguins elect not to keep 14 forwards when final NHL rosters are submitted because of the sheer volume. That makes sense. 

However, what's being vastly overlooked is the logjam on defense. And if the NHL club only keeps seven defensemen, it could pose an issue at the lower levels. 

As is the case on the forward unit, most of the defensive corps is pretty much set. Six spots are all but a guarantee for Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Kaedan Korczak, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Sam Girard, and Declan Carlile. As for that final spot? It will be a legitimate battle between Ilya Solovyov, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Jake Livanavage, Harrison Brunicke, and Owen Pickering. And Pickering and Brunicke, in particular, look pretty polished and ready in this camp. 

But, regardless of who earns the spot, it pushes the other guys down. And, all of a sudden, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) blue line looks a little bit too crowded. If, say, Solovyov earns the final spot, there's:

Left side
Pickering
Livanavage
Graves
Jones
Maleek McGowan
Daniel Laatsch
David Breazeale

Right side
Brunicke
Phil Kemp
Finn Harding
Chase Pietila

'I Still Love The Game': Malkin Contemplates Penguins' Future, ContractSigned to a one-year extension this summer, Malkin offered thoughts on what lies ahead after Friday's training camp practice.

All 11 of these defensemen, McGowan aside, saw time at the AHL level last season. Of course, sending guys like Laatsch and Breazeale to the Penguins' new ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, isn't the end of the universe, but it does stunt growth.

And McGowan? He's showed some potential between camp and the preceding Prospect Tournament, and if he appears AHL-ready, it hardly seems fair to bury him in the ECHL. 

Extending further, that still trims WBS to eight. It's difficult to imagine Graves and Jones not getting regular playing time, and same goes for WBS captain Phil Kemp. But Pickering, Livanavage, Brunicke, Harding, and Pietila also all need to be playing regularly so as not to stunt their development and allow them to keep building on the tangible progress they have made up to this point. 

5 Predictions For 2026 Penguins' Training CampThe Penguins have a lot of questions and intrigue heading into camp this year.

Simply put, the NHL club keeping seven defensemen very much complicates things for young players in need of consistent reps. To an extent, a similar thing risks happening on the forward front in WBS if the Penguins elect to keep eight defensemen, but there are some AHL forwards who can probably seamlessly be relegated to the ECHL. 

This logjam is a symptom of a larger conundrum within the Penguins' organization, as the NHL roster keeps adding on outside talent despite a large chunk of its internal young talent being on the cusp of NHL readiness. The balance of creating competition and making young players earn their spots is part of the this discussion, which will be tabled for a later time. 

If the Penguins are serious about developing their young players - and, in this case, their young blueliners - they need to find a way to strike that balance between players earning their opportunities and doors actually being open for them to, realistically, do so. And the only way to ensure five to six NHL-upside defensive prospects get regular AHL minutes is if the NHL roster keeps eight defensemen. 

'It's New For All Of Us': Penguins Presented With New Challenges In Shortened Training CampPittsburgh, like all other NHL teams, are navigating fresh pre-season rules with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Again, this is unlikely to happen, which means that someone like McGowan or Pietila is bound to end up in the ECHL, even if they should be playing a level above. 

So, the Penguins will have some tough decisions to make before they submit those final rosters. Even if 14 forwards may seem like the most logical solution, the Penguins have backed themselves into a corner - and the logjam on the blue line proves that solution isn't that simple.

Crosby, Karlsson, Penguins' Assistant GM Spezza Give Updates On ExtensionsWith both players eligible for extensions but remaining unsigned heading into training camp, some clarity was given on both situations Thursday.

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

Two years after failing to make the Islanders out of camp despite being on a long-term NHL contract and having missed all of last season following hip and ankle surgeries, it is on Pierre Engvall to prove his worth to the franchise. 

Whatever time and dollars he has left on his contract — four years and $12 million, to be exact — is no longer going to factor into the decision to have him on the roster, if it ever did.

If it wasn’t already clear that Engvall would need to fight for a spot on the 23-man roster by his placement on a line with Daylan Kuefler and Mitchell Chaffee, coach Pete DeBoer made it more explicit Friday. 

“There’s a big group of other forwards there, Engvall included, that are trying to make a case for themselves,” DeBoer said. 

As ever, Engvall’s frame and skating ability make him a compelling talent, if only he could put it all together. 

But the Islanders have a crowded room of forwards. Victor Eklund is knocking on the door. Ondrej Palat, Anthony Duclair and Kyle MacLean are trying to keep their spots. Chaffee, who played under Mathieu Darche in Tampa, has NHL experience. Getting to 14 — or perhaps to 13, should they choose to carry three goaltenders — is going to require hard choices. 

“It’s obviously tough to be out of the team for that long,” Engvall told The Post on Thursday. “Just every day, rehab can be tough. I had a good team around me that helped me. Made it good for me, so I’m just glad to be back.” 

The Islanders scrimmaged on just the second day of camp Friday, a sign of how the shortening of training camp from 21 days to 13 will mean condensing every part of the operation, with Bo Horvat and Eklund both scoring in a 1-1 intrasquad tie. 

“If I’m going to make an error — and there’s no right answer for it, I don’t think anyone knows — we’re going to make an error on trying to get into as many competitive situations as we can here before we get up and running,” DeBoer said. 

DeBoer has focused a lot of his energy on systems work, and he acknowledged Friday that there will be less experimenting with lines than previous years might have featured. In such a short period, everything has to be intentional. 

“We’ve got to get to power play and penalty killing, too,” DeBoer said. “That’s the challenge for us. In the short camp, the small number of games, small number of practices we have, we’ve got to try and get up to speed as quickly as possible.” 

Kuefler left the Islanders’ scrimmage injured, with no weight on his right leg. There was no update on his status afterward. 

Quinn Finley continues to practice in a red non-contact jersey.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pavel Dorofeyev comes to New York fresh off a run to the Stanley Cup Final, having scored the second-most goals (12) in the postseason — and after signing a seven-year, $77 million deal with the Rangers, who gave up three draft picks (two first-rounders) for the rights to a rising star who won’t turn 26 until next month. 

Dorofeyev has gone from Las Vegas, one of the league’s smallest media markets, to Broadway, essentially to replace the perennial leading scorer (Artemi Panarin) of a spotlight franchise that has missed the playoffs in back-to-back years and finished 23rd in the league in scoring last season. 

No pressure, kid. 

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

The Russian wing — one of 12 players to score 35-plus goals in each of the past two seasons — has had nearly three months to prepare for the change brought by the draft-day trade. He has had all summer to embrace the opportunity ahead. 

“As soon as I [learned] I was traded, I felt a lot of different feelings, but in the end I’m grateful for the opportunity that I have to be in an organization like the Rangers,” Dorofeyev said. “It was a short summer, busy, a lot of changes, but at the same time it’s a great experience. I’m just having fun, and I’m happy to be here. 

“I’m just looking forward to starting the season.” 

Just two practices into his first training camp with the Rangers, Dorofeyev’s new teammates already have a newfound appreciation for the sniper who might first be approaching his prime. 

“Lethal shooter,” Mika Zibanejad said of Dorofeyev. “You can tell he’s strong on the puck and he puts himself in positions to shoot. … The way he’s been finding guys, too, and the way he can finish, he’ll add to the goal-scoring for us, which is going to be huge. 

“I think also it adds another threat that maybe teams haven’t seen in the same way from our power play in the past.” 

Last season, Dorofeyev finished with 20 goals — plus 10 assists — on power plays, ranking behind only Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston. 

“If it is him and Mika on those flanks, that’s two shooting threats to kind of pick your poison there,” defenseman Adam Fox said Thursday. “Having a goal-scorer on the power play, I think that’s one of the biggest threats you can have, and he’s obviously one of the best at it. It’s definitely a nice addition for us.” 

Dorofeyev has opened camp on the second line, alongside J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand, though Sullivan said he plans on playing Dorofeyev at both wings until deciding where he fits best. 

The future has just begun. 

“It feels better each day, getting comfortable,” Dorofeyev said. “We have a lot of skill guys, a lot of talented guys that can make great plays. I just have to be ready for the opportunity.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BUFFALO SABRES VS. NEW YORK RANGERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His energy is contagious.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OK, so where you do want to play hockey?

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

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

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

Video below. #CBJpic.twitter.com/XRiO6Adv1e

— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) September 18, 2026

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

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

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

The smile he flashed a second later begged to differ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tyler Bertuzzi 

Patrick Kane - Roman Kantserov - Anton Frondell

Bowen Byram

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

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

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

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

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

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

Braeden Cootes  

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

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

Ty Mueller  

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

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

Kirill Kudryavtsev  

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

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

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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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.