The New York Rangers suffered a huge blow when superstar goaltender Igor Shesterkin went down with a serious injury, sidelining him for the rest of the season. With that, the Rangers are scrambling for depth in goal, especially after having a very good start to the year with a 6-2-0 record.
Rangers GM Chris Drury has looked to the Toronto Maple Leafs to help bandage New York's goaltending situation. Even with Shesterkin out, Joonas Korpisalo is also out of the picture for the next few weeks.
As a result, TSN's NHL insider Darren Dreger hinted on the Ray and Dregs Podcast that the Rangers have poked around Anthony Stolarz.
"I think they've actually kicked tires on Anthony Stolarz," Dreger said on Wednesday's episode when discussing the Rangers' goaltending options.
In the meantime, the Blueshirts have had no choice but to rely on Dylan Garand, and he's stood tall for the Rangers with a 4-1-0 record, a .951 save percentage and a shutout. Regardless, the 24-year-old Garand only has seven total games of NHL experience, and the hot hand can only last so long.
Stolarz is Toronto's backup netminder behind Sergei Bobrovsky, and his new contract just took effect this season. Stolarz is on a four-year agreement at $3.75 million per season and has a 16-team no-trade list on his deal.
In total, the New Jersey native has registered an .875 SP and a 3.32 goals-against average for Toronto.
Last year, Stolarz posted an .893 SP and a 3.28 GAA over 26 games. The year before that was one of the best of his NHL career, recording a .926 SP and a 2.14 GAA, which is where Stolarz earned his current contract.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 24: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Coming off a loss in Chicago to open their first major road trip of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins will now continue heading west and climb to a mile above sea level for a meeting with the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night to open a back-to-back set that will conclude on Saturday in Las Vegas against the defending Western Conference champion Golden Knights. The Penguins will then wrap up the trip with a stop in Salt Lake City to exchange pleasantries with the Mammoth.
Pens Points…
Tuesday night will not be remembered longingly by Sergei Murashov after his performance against the Chicago Blackhawks. His late game gaffe cost the Penguins at least a point, but those type of mistakes are commonplace for young goaltenders entering the league. [Pensburgh]
Coming off a forgettable start to the season, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were looking to make amends in their second weekend of action and they did so in a big way, outscoring the opposition 13-3 in blowout road victories over Hartford and Providence. [Pensburgh]
It doesn’t matter what contract Ville Koivunen signed over the summer, his roster spot is not guaranteed and he’s well aware of that. Every night will still be an audition for Koivunen with plenty of players ready and waiting to take his spot at any moment. [Trib Live]
Forward depth will not be an issue for the Penguins this season, having already traded one forward to ease some of the log jam. By adding Ryan Johnson from Buffalo, the Penguins added depth to the blue line which is never a bad thing over the course of a long season. [Penguins]
NHL News and Notes…
Simon Edvinsson and the Detroit Red Wings remain at an impasse, with the former having lodged a trade request away from the team. Despite the current status of the situation, the Red Wings remain steadfast and have no plans on moving the young defenseman. [NHL]
In a unique bit of hockey history, the Tkachuk brothers teamed up for an NHL first on Tuesday night. Brady Tkachuk scored a natural hat trick against the Columbus Blue Jackets with brother Matthew assisting on all three tallies, the first time that has happened in the NHL. [On Tap Sportsnet]
A whopping 320 NHL players currently have a No Trade Clause attached to their current contracts. That works out to roughly 60% of the league’s rostered players who are eligible for the NTC distinction and it’s a number that just keeps growing every year. [The Athletic $$]
All your proper ‘90s colors are in play. | Getty Images
The Islanders begin a short Ontario road trip with a visit to Ottawa tonight, followed by a second visit to Toronto on Saturday. The Senators are without Brady Tkachuk (who had a hat trick the other night) due to classic Sibling Envy. Speaking of brothers, they’re also without Eklund the Lesser after a foot/ankle injury.
But they still have red jerseys of their own, at least some nights.
When will the Islanders grasp Pete DeBoer’s system? (And what is that system? And do they even have the horses to…?) [Newsday]
Kyle Palmieri’s teammates were very happy for his two-goal burst on his long comeback from injury. [Post]
Palmieri knows how lucky he is to be back at his age, especially after watching Alex Romanov go down yet again. [NHL]
The Islanders made things difficult for themselves agains the Canucks. They should really try to not do that against bad teams. [Newsday]
The Skinny: “Schaefer is also the youngest defenseman (and third-youngest player) in NHL history with an assist in each of the season’s first four home games. Wayne Gretzky and Sam Gagner also did in four straight games, but neither earned an assist in their fifth game. The record for a teenager is 10 games, set by Ron Francis.” [Isles]
The Swedish Meatball and Palmieri received the team’s post-game locker room awards. [Isles]
Give us your personal info and we’ll let you do some Bo Horvat trivia. [Isles]
Elsewhere
Behind the new official full-time EBUGs, which DeBoer says sounds like a pretty good gig. [Sportsnet]
Struggling teams and their panic meter: it’s kind of wild and tremendously funny that the Flyers are still winless. [Sportsnet]
Who says the Red Wings are a sinking ship? Alex DeBrincat just signed on for seven more years and $91 million. [NHL]
They say they aren’t trading unsigned Simon Edvinsson, either. [TSN]
Brady Tkachuks’ hat trick was the “first natural hat trick with all three assisted by a brother” in NHL history. Not even the Stastnys, apparently… [Athletic]
In which the Tkachuks sing about how nice it is to play with each other, and seem to suggest all the Hughes should gather in Minnesota. [Athletic]
The Hurricanes are dealing with some injuries, first Jordan Staal for two months and now Taylor Hall, too. [Sportsnet]
Where is Connor Hellebuyck headed, and when? [Sportsnet]
Speaking of whom, this is mostly just meaningless early-season power rankings, but “Over the last five years, only one goalie has saved more goals above expected than Sorokin and he’s currently sitting at home.” [Athletic]
Not sure why the NHLPA even needs to defend no-trade clauses that were freely negotiated, but here we are. [Sportsnet]
Faust Arp Aatu Raty is on waivers with the intention of an AHL assignment. [Sportsnet]
DENVER — The NHL can’t seem to go a season without confusing its fans with controversial officiating decisions, and Wednesday night’s disallowed goal in the Colorado Avalanche’s loss to the Dallas Stars is the latest example of a league struggling to define—and consistently enforce—its own rules.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored Wednesday night, but he also had a goal taken away in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena. During the first period, Jaden Schwartz ripped a one-timer that bounced off Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith’s pads before deflecting off Landeskog just below his right knee and into the net.
NHL replay officials in Toronto overturned the goal, ruling that Landeskog had directed the puck into the net with a distinct kicking motion.
Credit: DNVR. Landeskog disagreed with the call.
First and foremost, this was a poor call by the officials. It’s not difficult to dissect the ruling and question the reasoning behind it. The definition of distinct is unmistakable or readily discernible. If the kicking motion was so distinct, why did it take so long to make the call? Why did it require an extended review of the replay?
Clearly, the call wasn’t as unmistakable as the rule’s wording suggests. If officials need that much time to scrutinize the footage, perhaps the motion wasn’t nearly as distinct as they ultimately determined.
After reviewing the replay several times, Landeskog’s skate does move forward. But is that really a kicking motion? Not necessarily. You have to consider the play in real time. How else was Landeskog supposed to react?
The game is faster than ever, and the players are more skilled than ever. Everything happens in a split second, leaving little time to process what’s happening, let alone consciously decide how to redirect a puck. Do we really think Landeskog had time to calculate some Jackie Chan-style maneuver to kick the puck into the net? Of course not. He was reacting to a play unfolding in front of him.
Landeskog himself seemed to share that frustration. When asked whether he felt the call was fair, the Avalanche captain pointed to the difference between watching the play in slow motion and seeing it unfold in real time.
“If you watch it in real speed, there’s no chance I can react to that and kick that puck,” Landeskog explained. “When you watch a slow-mo, it looks like a kick motion, maybe. But if you’re watching real time, there’s just, like, I have it lifted already, and I go to plant it, to skate.”
Landeskog acknowledged that the decision had been made and that it wasn’t the first time a goal had been overturned, nor would it likely be the last. Still, his explanation gets to the heart of the controversy: a movement that might look intentional in slow motion can appear entirely different at full speed.
That’s what makes this call so frustrating. There’s a difference between a player deliberately kicking a puck into the net and a puck deflecting off a skate as a player reacts instinctively. If the NHL wants to disallow goals in these situations, the distinction needs to be clearer. Otherwise, we’re left debating the same subjective interpretations that have plagued the league for years.
Maybe the NHL needs to rethink the wording of the rule. Perhaps it should remove the word distinct and simply refer to a kicking motion. At least then, the argument would be more straightforward. Landeskog’s skate moves forward as the puck makes contact just below his knee. You can make a case that there was a kicking motion, even if I disagree with the decision to overturn the goal.
But the word distinct matters. It implies something clear, obvious and unmistakable. And after watching the replay, I don’t believe the evidence meets that standard. What stands out most isn't the clarity of the kicking motion, but the inconsistency with which these types of plays seem to be judged across the NHL.
And I guarantee we’ll see another controversy like this soon. Much like goaltender interference, the distinct kicking motion could become another source of frustration for players, coaches and fans who are left wondering what the rule actually means from one game to the next.
Now, before this turns into an exercise in making excuses for the Avalanche, let’s give credit where it’s due: Wednesday night was an incredible game. Both teams played well, and Colorado and Dallas had plenty of opportunities to add to the score. Did the disallowed goal mathematically affect the final result? Of course. A goal changes the circumstances of a game, and nobody can say with certainty how things would have unfolded if it had counted.
But that doesn’t mean the call alone decided the outcome. Both teams contributed to a competitive game that ultimately went to a shootout, and either side could have found another way to win.
That’s precisely why the officiating deserves scrutiny on its own merits. This isn’t about pretending the Avalanche played a perfect game or suggesting that one decision explains everything. It’s about asking whether the NHL got a crucial call right and whether its rules are being applied consistently.
The NHL needs to be more transparent about how these decisions are made. Explain the standard. Show fans how the rule is being interpreted. Establish consistency so that players and teams know what to expect.
Because if a goal can be overturned based on a motion that remains debatable even after repeated reviews, then the league has a problem that goes beyond one game.
In my view, this was not the right call. And if the NHL doesn’t do a better job of clarifying and consistently enforcing the rule, it’s only a matter of time before we’re having this same conversation again.
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 14: Goaltender Casey DeSmith #1, Tyler Myers #57 and Lian Bichsel #6 of the Dallas Stars defend against Gavin Brindley #54 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at Ball Arena on October 14, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche took on the Dallas Stars for the second night of a back-to-back, and ultimately lost 3-2 in a shootout. It was a wild ride which saw two Avalanche goals called back, another shorthanded goal given up and another game against Dallas decided in a shootout.
Let’s take a look at all the action from tonight.
First Period
It initially looked like Colorado had scored at two different points, but one goal was called back due to being offside, and the other one was called back for the puck being kicked into the back of the net. Jaden Schwartz converted on another beautiful setup from Fedor Svechkov but it didn’t count, then the refs decided Gabe Landeskog kicked the puck. Therefore the first period would end in a scoreless tie and the Avalanche held a slight 9-7 shot advantage.
Second Period
After the first intermission the Avs finally got on the board (officially), with a goal that counted from Landeskog, who was able to put a great tip on the puck to deflect it past Dallas netminder Casey DeSmith for the 1-0 lead.
That was not all the scoring as Dallas would tie the game at 1-1 late into the second period, with a shot from Miro Heiskanen who was completely uncovered and beat Scott Wedgewood cleanly. Thus, setting up a big third period to come.
Third Period
The Avalanche had four power play chances in this game but Stars would take the lead early into the third period with a breakaway short-handed goal from Arttu Hyry, making it 2-1 in Dallas’ favor.
Brock Nelson was able to tie it up in regulation, as he was able to find the puck right near the goal, and put it past DeSmith to make it 2-2, and we would head to overtime after that.
Overtime & Shootout
Neither team would ultimately score in overtime with it being incredibly low event and the Stars getting the only shot on goal in the five minute period. Therefore a shootout was needed. First Jason Robertson converted on Scott Wedgewood but Nazem Kadri tied it up. Nathan MacKinnon couldn’t score as the last shooter in the third round but then Roope Hintz was able to get one in the fourth round and Dallas would take this game in the shootout by a score of 3-2.
Takeaways
Honestly, after a frustrating game (to say the least) like this, I’ll more than happily take a point. Coming out of a back-to-back with 3/4 points is good work, in my opinion, and if you were to tell me that would be the outcome at the beginning of this back-to-back, I would have been more than happy to hear that. Now, that doesn’t change that there were still some frustrations during the game, despite the overall outcome. Obviously, the two overturned goals were frustrating, and the special teams were also incredibly frustrating to watch tonight.
Giving up a shorthanded goal is not at all what you want to see, and yes, it’s early in the season; we’re at game seven right now, but I feel like something still needs to be done, and quickly considering that was the third shorthanded goal given up already. We were in this boat last season watching the power play, and we’re already back here early in the season. On a much more positive side, this was a game where the second line looked really solid; obviously, Landeskog had the first goal of the game, and Nelson was the one to tie the game up in the third period after the Stars scored a shorthanded goal. There was a ton of line blending as Bednar continues to try and find a top six mix that can consistently generate offense.
For those keeping tabs on the roster, Cale Makar did play after his wife delivered twin boys this morning. Nic Roy was a surprise scratch and the team said he’s healing with a lower-body injury. Zach L’Heureux is also still out with an upper-body injury. Gavin Brindley was recalled and the Avalanche still only had 11 forwards to dress. More roster news should be forthcoming in the coming days,
Upcoming
Next, the Avalanche welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to town on Friday, October 16. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. MT.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Tuch scored twice and added an assist and the Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on Wednesday night.
Jordan Kyrou had a goal and assist, Justin Holl and Ivan Miroshnichenko also scored and Charlie Lindgren stopped 26 shots to help the Capitals snap a two-game losing streak.
Josh Anderson scored twice and Lane Hutson and Nick Suzuki added goals for the Canadiens.
Montreal got off to a quick start when Anderson, alone at the net front, buried a feed from Alex Newhook 4:56 into play. Minutes later, Kryou responded, cutting to the middle before rifling a quick shot past Jakub Dobes.
Roughly halfway through the first, Montreal regained the lead, as Hutson, playing against younger brother Cole for the first time, beat Charlie Lindgren on a quick shot from the slot. With 25 seconds to go in the period, the Capitals tied it 2 on a power play. Ivan Miroshnichenko’s backdoor feed to Tuch went off Anderson’s stick and in.
Washington took a 3-2 lead 6:16 into the second period, when Tuch had a short-handed goal. Anderson tied it again from close range.
Justin Holl broke the tie with 7:31 minutes to go, beating Dobes on a point shot through traffic. Tuch added an insurance goal minutes later for his fifth of the season.
STARS 3, AVALANCHE 2, SO
DENVER )(AP) — Roope Hintz scored in the fourth round of the shootout and Dallas beat Colorado in a game where the Avalanche had two early goals disallowed.
Hintz sent a wrist shot past Scott Wedgewood. Casey DeSmith secured the win by stopping Brock Nelson.
Miro Heiskanen and Arttu Hyry scored for the Stars, who split a back-to back set of games with the Avalanche. They lost 3-2 at home the night before.
Hyry nearly won it in overtime but sent a bouncing puck off the post. Hyry’s short-handed tally off a steal against Cale Makar gave the Stars a 2-1 lead early in the third period before Nelson tied it with 11:39 left.
The Avalanche had quite a night of disallowed goals and close calls. Jaden Schwartz saw his score overturned in the first period after the Stars successfully challenged for offsides. Later in the period, Gabriel Landeskog’s goal was taken off the board when it was ruled the captain made a kicking motion to knock in the puck.
In the third, Gavin Brindley thought he scored and even began celebrating with teammates. But the officials never ruled it a goal and replays showed it glanced off both posts and didn’t go into the net.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche have battled overturned goals, a flurry of penalties and a costly turnover, but they refuse to go away quietly against the Dallas Stars.
After Gabriel Landeskog finally put Colorado on the board in the second period, Dallas answered through Miro Heiskanen before Arttu Hyry capitalized on a Cale Makar turnover to give the Stars a 2-1 lead early in the third. But Brock Nelson came through with a timely rebound goal at 8:21, tying the game at 2 and reigniting the crowd as the third period continues at Ball Arena.
First Period
Colorado appeared to get off to a quick start when Jaden Schwartz buried a rebound just 1:55 into the game off an initial shot from Fedor Svechkov. However, Dallas challenged the play for offsides, and the goal was overturned.
The Avalanche soon found themselves shorthanded after Brent Burns was called for tripping Colin Blackwell. Colorado’s penalty kill came through, keeping the game scoreless.
Nazem Kadri following practice on Monday at Family Sports Center.
Things got chippy at the 7:24 mark when Jamie Benn reached down and pulled Artturi Lehkonen’s helmet off during a battle along the boards. The officials caught the move, sending Benn to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Colorado nearly paid for it anyway. Dallas turned the early stages of the power play into a 2-on-2 rush, with Arttu Hyry closing in on Scott Wedgewood, but the Avalanche goaltender shut the door with a glove save.
Colorado thought it had finally found the back of the net again moments later. Schwartz fired a one-timer that bounced off Casey DeSmith’s pads, and Gabriel Landeskog knocked in the rebound off his right skate. The officials ruled that Landeskog kicked the puck in, wiping away Colorado’s second goal of the period before the midway point.
The penalties continued when Brett Kulak dropped Tyler Seguin following a post-whistle slash, earning a roughing minor. Colorado killed that one off as well, then nearly took the lead when Sam Malinski fired a wrist shot through traffic, only for DeSmith to come up with a glove save.
Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen gave Colorado another power-play opportunity with a tripping penalty on Nathan MacKinnon with 5:50 remaining. The Avalanche couldn’t capitalize, but another penalty followed when Mikko Rantanen tripped Malinski after the two exchanged cross-checks.
Colorado finished the period scoreless, with 17 seconds remaining on Rantanen’s penalty.
Second Period
The Avalanche finally broke through at 4:55 of the second period, and it was a well-worked goal.
Malinski kept the puck alive at the point before sliding it over to Nazem Kadri, who found Landeskog in front of the net. The Colorado captain redirected the pass past DeSmith to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead.
After having two goals overturned in the opening period, Colorado finally had one that counted. The Avalanche now have the lead as the second period continues.
Dallas tied it with less than five minutes to go in the period after former Av Mikko Rantanen fed Miro Heiskanen, who snuck into the zone undetected in the low slot, with a one-timer that sizzled by Wedgewood.
We entered the third period with a tie game.
Third Period
After Rantanen committed his second penalty of the game early in the third after tripping Nazem Kadri, Cale Makar made a $20.4 million turnover as he was stripped of the puck by Arttu Hyru, who beat Wedgewood on the breakaway to give Dallas a 2-1 lead.
And Gavin Brindley had everyone fooled. He fired what appeared to be a goal, but it rang off the post as 18,000 fans roared only for reality to strike moments later when no celebratory goal horn ensued.
Colorado's luck finally turned around at the 8:21 mark when Brock Nelson was just in the right place at the right time to capitalize on a rebound off a howitzer one-timer from Artturi Lehkonen and knocked in the rebound to tie the game at 2. Credit goes to Nazem Kadri as well, who took a big hit along the boards as he got the pass of to Lehkonen.
Nadeau, 21, has appeared in 15 total NHL games, registering three goals and four assists in that span.
The 2023 first-round pick has been a prolific goal scorer throughout every step in his career, having scored over 60 goals in the AHL across the past two seasons.
Beyond the scoring touch though, Nadeau has continued to grow his game, focusing more on his two-way play and his physicality.
While he didn't make the team out of training camp, he was one of the final cuts and he looks ready to be an NHL regular. The only roadblock was the Hurricanes depth, but this could be the opportunity he needs to prove himself.
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The Vancouver Canucks have placed center Aatu Räty on waivers. If cleared, the 23-year-old will be eligible to be assigned to the AHL. This season, Räty has played four games and recorded one goal.
Räty has struggled to get into the lineup so far this year. In his four games, he has averaged 10:10 of ice time and recorded four shots on goal. As for his faceoffs, that is an area where Räty continues to excel in, posting a win percentage of 56.8%.
If cleared, Räty will most likely be assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks. He has not played in the AHL since the 2034-25 season. In 140 career games with Abbotsford, Räty has scored 37 goals and recorded 104 points.
Oct 3, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Aatu Raty (54) celebrates his goal against the Calgary Flames in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The New York Islanders and former General Manager Lou Lamoriello made a blockbuster trade that changed the franchise four seasons ago, on January 30, 2023.
That day, the Islanders acquired then-Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat for Anthony Beauvillier, top prospect Aatu Räty, and a first-round pick.
Horvat has become the Islanders' captain and leads the franchise in goals since the day the trade was made.
Horvat's been nothing but a perfect Islander in every sense, and been worth every piece of that deal.
Beauvillier bounced around the league for a couple years after the trade, eventually settling in with the Washington Capitals.
The Canucks flipped the first-round pick for Filip Hronek.
Räty, a second-round pick for the Islanders, was seen as the coin flip that would decide the trade and who won it. He was a 20-year-old forward that broke out into the NHL just two years after getting drafted.
Wednesday afternoon, the Canucks placed Räty on waivers, with the intention of assigning the 23-year-old forward to the AHL.
While it's unlikely the forward gets claimed, it shows where he currently fits into the rebuilding Canucks' future.
Back on the day the trade was made, Räty had surged into being the Islanders' top prospect, and made his NHL Debut, and looked good as an NHLer.
He played 12 games with the Islanders before the deal. Since then, he's struggled to consistently break through with Vancouver.
Räty has shown flashes throughout his career to be a contributing bottom-six forward. His 60% face-off win percentage makes him valuable depth for any team.
An early bite from the injury bug has forced the Philadelphia Flyers to tap into their prospect pool and lean on depth players, but one top prospect, in particular. is making an early case to remain with the team even when everyone is healthy.
Defenseman Oliver Bonk, called up by the Flyers in the wake of the injury to Rasmus Ristolainen, has been pressed into action on the top pair next to Travis Sanheim. His season debut against Carolina was rough, stumbling to a -3 rating in the 4-1 loss, but Bonk bounced back in a major way in his second game of the season against Seattle on Tuesday night.
Bonk, 21, handled exactly 20 minutes in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to Seattle, adding an impressive assist on a solo rush towards the end of his shift and adding a shot on goal to boot.
In Bonk's 18:40 of ice time at 5-on-5, the Flyers controlled 61.29% of the shot attempts (19-12) while out-chancing the Kraken 8-7, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Of course, it wasn't all perfect for Bonk, who made a bad line change that eventually led to a Jordan Eberle breakaway and subsequent penalty shot.
Flyers goalie Dan Vladar made the stop, and Bonk just kept playing after that. The former first-round pick's mentality is something that has impressed head coach Rick Tocchet thus far.
"He knew he screwed up, and I watched him, and he just kind of was breathing through it and didn't it faze him. I thought he even played better after it. I love that about a young guy," Tocchet said of Bonk after Wednesday's practice.
"He didn't let that moment get to him, and then you know you saw him make that rush play to the goal to [Christian Dvorak]. So that's a big step, to see a young guy do that."
On his assist, Bonk dove to his stomach to sprawl out and break up a 2-on-1 Kraken scoring chance, then took it upon himself to scramble up the left side boards, motoring into the zone before flinging a backhand pass across the middle of the ice.
Tyson Foerster, who was cutting up the gut, dummied Bonk's pass for Christian Dvorak, who slammed the puck past an unsuspecting Philipp Grubauer, giving the Flyers their first goal of the game and pulling them within one.
It was a play like that where a young guy, like Bonk, took it upon himself to make a play, and it may very well have been the play that spurred the Flyers to go on and earn a point in the overtime loss.
Just over a minute later, Sanheim followed suit during a sequence of 4-on-4 play, driving up the ice before peeling back to find Trevor Zegras as the trailer, who coolly slotted past Grubauer in the top left corner to tie the game at 2-2.
The offensively-starved Flyers, who are also without top-six winger Travis Konecny, need all the help they can get from a defense core that has long been greater than the sum of its parts.
"We definitely need the fourth guy. I mean, you can't win in this league or get chances if you don't have that fourth wave," Tocchet assessed Wednesday afternoon.
Despite the strong outing from Bonk and Sanheim, the Flyers still rank 29th in the NHL in scoring amongst defensemen, getting eight points in eight games from their rearguards.
That output, as low as it may be, still accounts for 28.6% of points by Flyers players this year, which is the ninth-highest percentage in the NHL.
This is all to say that players like Sanheim, Bonk, Jamie Drysdale, and even Cam York and David Jiricek have needed to carry the load for a sputtering group of forwards, and they themselves have not been infallible.
One thing is clear, though: Bonk is making a legitimate case to stay with the Flyers at the NHL for the long run, even if and when Ristolainen returns.
The Finn won't join the Flyers in Detroit for Thursday night's game against the Red Wings, which will provide at least one more opportunity for Bonk to show the Tocchet and the Flyers they can rely on him in big minutes or small, regardless of the situation.
Made in London
Denver Barkey has been enjoying his first real NHL run with longtime teammate Oliver Bonk. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
Forward Denver Barkey, who made the surprise leap to the NHL level in his first professional season last year, has established himself as a fixture for the Flyers' middle-six.
Bonk, who was drafted with and teammates with Barkey in London, could be following suit in short order.
"It's all you can really hope for from your friends, especially here, someone to lean on, someone to give you advice who's already been here for a year," Bonk said of Barkey. "It's great, seeing where we came from in London to here. It's really special to see."
Added Barkey: "It's been cool. We've grown up together since we were 15 years old. We've been in London together, watching each other grow, and this has always been our goal. So, to be living it together, living the dream, it's cool, but we want to continue to grow, establish ourselves as full-time players, and just continue to do this."
Barkey's comments are an important reminder of what the Flyers' rebuild is and where it's supposed to be headed, built on youth and culture.
The 0-5-3 start to the season has clearly left a sour taste in everyone's mouths, from the front office downstream to Tocchet, the players, and the fans, but the early opportunity for someone like Bonk could be the first silver lining to what has otherwise been as glum a start as any NHL team can have.
In the early goings of this 2026-27 NHL regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have shown that they are a strong offensive team that is never truly out of any game, no matter the deficit. They completed a comeback from 3-0 against the Nashville Predators, winning in overtime, and nearly came close to achieving something similar against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday.
But one area that isn't up to code for a team that wants to be competitive beyond making the post-season is their defence. On paper, it's a fairly average D-corps when healthy. But now that Chris Tanev is injured and has had health issues in the past, it's hard to rely on what they currently carry on the back end.
The Maple Leafs don't have many valuable assets left in the system that could bring back a hefty package. However, GM John Chayka may not be interested in giving up Easton Cowan, Ben Danford or Gavin McKenna, and neither should he.
But there are some mid-tier prospects, as well as second-round picks for the next three drafts, a conditional first-rounder for 2027 from the Colorado Avalanche, and their 2029 first-round pick.
Therefore, Toronto won't be blowing anyone out of the water with a top-pairing defenseman. But a bottom-four defenseman capable of a second-pairing role is certainly possible.
With that, here are five NHL defensemen that the Maple Leafs could consider down the road to improve their blueline.
5. Brenden Dillon, New Jersey Devils
Brenden Dillon is a defenseman who would cost very little for the Maple Leafs to acquire. He's 35 years old, which isn't ideal given how old Toronto's defense already is. But he's had a long NHL career and is serviceable based on his experience.
Dillon is a physical D-man who constantly sticks up for his teammates and lives to kill penalties and block shots.
Over the last two seasons, the veteran accumulated 393 hits, which ranked fifth in the NHL among defensemen. He was also heavily relied on by the New Jersey Devils in that span while shorthanded. Jonathan Kovacevic ranks second on the team in shorthanded ice time with a total of 255:50 of ice time, but Dillon dominates those numbers with 402:11 of time on the penalty kill.
He carries a $4-million salary cap hit - which may be a little high - and is in the final year of his three-year contract. But because of that, as well as only averaging 14:26 of ice time this season and being an older player, it likely wouldn't cost Toronto much more than a mid-round draft pick. Or if the Leafs give a little more, New Jersey may be obligated to add a sweetener.
Dillon isn't the most ideal candidate, which is why he's ranked at No. 5. But he's still serviceable enough to contribute to the team's defense depth.
Nick Perbix is a middle-pairing defenseman for the Predators, but on the Maple Leafs, if Tanev is healthy, he'd be a bottom-pairing D-man.
Perbix, 28, is a bit better at handling the puck compared to Troy Stecher. He's also got the size advantage (6-foot-4) over Stecher, as well as Nick Blankenburg, if those are the two defensemen that Perbix would need to get in the lineup over.
He's not a game-breaking blueliner, and probably won't show up on the scoresheet like Darren Raddysh and Morgan Rielly do, but Perbix is a serviceable defenseman on a good team, as long as his role isn't more than he can handle.
In the first three years of his NHL career, he was a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, averaging 15:45 of ice time per game and scoring two goals and 24 points in what was his highest-scoring campaign (2023-24).
Now, between this season and last year with Nashville, Perbix plays around 19:05 of ice time per game.
He costs $2.75 million against the cap in what is his final year of that two-year deal. He's another defenseman who wouldn't cost the Leafs very much in terms of assets to be dealt to the Preds, on top of still being a No. 4 or 5 on the defensive depth chart.
3. Carson Soucy, Columbus Blue Jackets
Carson Soucy almost didn't sign with an NHL team ahead of this season, inking a one-year, $1.15-million contract on the day the regular season kicked off. However, that doesn't mean the 32-year-old is no good or isn't an NHL defenseman.
He's played 446 games across what is now a nine-year NHL career. Soucy is a button-four D-man who is good for either the middle or bottom pair.
In the last two seasons, Soucy has been traded a few times in instances where playoff contenders wanted some reinforcement on the back end, and Toronto could execute the same idea with a player who is used to that usage. And the last two trades he was involved in saw the team that dealt him away receive a third-round pick. So it can be assumed the price would be similar, if not slightly lower, given aging and a decreasing role.
Last season, Soucy split his time between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers, playing 76 games in total and averaging 16:31 between both clubs. So far with the Columbus Blue Jackets this year, he's recorded one assist and a minus-three rating while averaging 15:47 of ice time in five appearances.
The Philadelphia Flyers are off to a horrid start in the NHL this year, and with how their season is trending, they may be sellers in just a few months. If that's the case, one of the prime trade candidates coming from the Flyers would be 31-year-old defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
It should be noted that Ristolainen has seemingly been trade bait for Philadelphia over the last few years, which may not be a good sign. But the fact is, Ristolainen is capable of playing 20 minutes a night, and did so last season (21:23 per game). The Finnish D-man has also provided some scoring in the past, notching four straight 40-point campaigns from 2015-16 to 2018-19.
Ristolainen would be more of a conservative option in the sense that he'd be a regular in the Leafs' lineup if he ended up there. The only recurring issue with him is that he has a history of injuries, featuring in 44 games last year, and is on IR after the first three games of this season with an upper-body injury.
So far, he's scored one goal and averages 18:17 per game. And even though he hasn't played much, he has an even plus-minus rating, which is the joint best on the team. He played 17:40 of ice time in the Flyers' season opener, which was a 7-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and walked away with a minus-one.
Ristolainen carries a $5.1-million cap hit, which is a little pricey. But if Flyers GM Danny Briere is willing to play ball, he could retain some of that salary, as Ristolainen is in the final year of his contract and Philadelphia have two more available retention spots.
Zach Whitecloud would be the most ideal candidate for the Maple Leafs in terms of upgrading their defense.
First, Whitecloud has experience playing for a highly competitive team. He was a member of the Vegas Golden Knights for parts of eight seasons and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2023, playing an important role.
The 29-year-old has played 405 NHL regular-season games so far in his career, and averages 18:09 of ice time through it all. At the very least, Whitecloud can play the middle and bottom pairs for Toronto if acquired.
In fact, since joining the Calgary Flames in January, the undrafted defenseman has averaged 22:22 of ice time. He's also the go-to guy for the penalty kill, averaging 3:04 of ice time while shorthanded in Calgary. He was also a key penalty killer for Vegas, on a team that had Alex Pietrangelo, Noah Hanifin, Brayden McNabb and more.
There's no denying he'd be a huge help to any back end that he gets added to, wherever he goes, if the struggling Flames decide to move on from him later this year.
With that, he is the most expensive trade target on this list in terms of what the team will ask for in a deal. Being in his prime years, having championship experience, and the low price of $2.75 million against the salary cap are all factors in that.
However, he isn't much of an offensive threat, and isn't a blueliner who plays in all situations, so it shouldn't be a back-breaking ask from Calgary if they made Whitecloud available.
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Kirill Kaprizov has been among the NHL's elite for quite some time, but he hasn't won any hardware since winning the Calder Trophy in 2020-21 as the best rookie.
Despite that, Kaprizov is widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the NHL, and his stats back it up.
Kaprizov has scored at least 40 goals four times in his six-year NHL career. He's also recorded point totals of 108, 96 and 89. The only seasons he didn't hit at least 80 points were his shortened rookie season and two other seasons where he faced injuries.
The 29-year-old is as consistent an offensive threat as you'll find in the NHL, and in 2026-27, it finally looks like Kaprizov can compete for some deserved hardware.
Through seven games, Kaprizov has scored an NHL-leading eight goals. He's also poured in 11 points, but that ranks him tied for eighth in the NHL and six points behind Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, who is off to a historic start.
Kaprizov's strong goal-scoring start isn't surprising, as we've seen the Russian sniper go on runs like this before, but it's a positive sign that he is starting the season this way.
He's scored eight goals on 20 shots, a 40 percent shooting percentage. Those numbers are unsustainable, but no one expects Kaprizov to score above a goal-per-game pace.
The numbers that are intriguing, aside from the goal tallies, are what make Kaprizov's case to remain in the Rocket Richard Trophy case so strong.
According to Mike Kelly, Kaprizov ranks second in expected goals with 4.99, trailing only New York Rangers' Alexis Lafreniere. According to MoneyPuck.com, Kaprizov is tied for third in expected goals at 4.8.
According to NaturalStatTrick.com, Kaprizov has had seven high-danger chances and 16 scoring chances at 5-on-5. On the man advantage, he's had three high-danger chances and nine scoring chances.
NHL EDGE ranks Kaprizov in the 94th percentile for shots from high-danger areas and the 76th percentile from the mid-range.
By all accounts, Kaprizov has done everything in his power to put himself in good scoring situations and areas of the ice.
Beyond Kaprizov's skill set and play in the first seven games of the season, another important element is Quinn Hughes's inclusion and playing alongside him for the full 2026-27 season. Of Kaprizov's eight goals, Hughes has assisted on three of them.
His skating and puck control in the offensive zone create space for his linemates, and with Kaprizov's lethal one-timer, it's a dangerous partnership.
Kaprizov has ranked in the top 10 in goals scored three times, but this season, could the chips finally fall into place and help him win the Rocket Richard Trophy?
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Zeev Buium has had a less-than-ideal start to the 2026-27 season. The Vancouver Canucks defender has just one point in eight games and was recently demoted to the third pair. While it is still early in the campaign, as well as the rebuild, some are starting to get concerned about Buium.
One of the driving concerns when it comes to Buium is his upcoming contract. He is still on his entry-level contract, but he signed an eight-year extension that carries a cap hit of $9.38 million starting next season. Even though he does have this massive contract upcoming, it does not make sense to worry about his performance once the deal kicks in at this stage of the campaign.
As for Buium's on-ice play, there is reason to be a little concerned at this point. While the team is still generating chances with him on the ice in the offensive zone, his play in the defensive zone has not improved from last year. While turnovers aren't the best statistic, as they can be tracked differently depending on the area, it should be a concern that Buium has given the puck away 12 times already, according to the NHL.
Buium is also getting caught out on the ice for long periods of time. While he is not the only reason this happens, there have been quite a few sequences where Vancouver can't clear the zone, and the opposition is able to continually cycle until a scoring chance is created. Even though Buium may not be the one to cause the giveaway, he has struggled to break up plays along the wall as well as win battles in front of the net.
Despite some of Buium's struggles, there is no need yet to slam the panic button. It is important to remember that he is still 20, and that younger players struggling in their second year is something that happens across the sports world. The other reason is that this season is only eight games in, and the team is still adapting to Manny Malhotra's system.
Rebuilds are supposed to be difficult by design. Mistakes are going to happen, and players are going to struggle. While he has a high pedigree, Buium is no different than most young players, as it is going to take time for him to adjust to life in the NHL.
Going back to the initial question, fans should not be in a panic over the way Buium is playing. Yes, he is struggling, but it is way too early in the campaign and his career to start hitting the panic button. What is worth following, however, is the way he plays over the next few weeks and whether he can find his footing before the calendar flips to 2027.
Oct 4, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (8) makes a pass against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Second-Period Rush Goals, Anthony Stolarz Struggles Doom Maple Leafs in UtahA four-goal second period and five rush tallies proved too steep a hill to climb for Anthony Stolarz and the Maple Leafs, rendering a furious third-period rally moot in Salt Lake City.
