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.
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The 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
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.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The 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.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
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.
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?
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source.Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
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
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.
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.
On Wednesday, Detroit Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff made his stance clear on the standoff with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson.
That is good news for Red Wings fans, as the GM appears adamant about bringing back the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. The report builds on comments from several other insiders who have said Detroit's preference all along has been to retain the Swedish blueliner.
Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff says he has "zero interest" in trading Simon Edvisson. "Not something I'm entertaining. We want to sign him."
The organization has already checked one major contract off its list, with star winger Alex DeBrincat signing a seven-year extension carrying a $13 million cap hit. With that deal done, Edvinsson can become the franchise's focus, and the Red Wings can work toward getting him back into game action.
Detroit could certainly use the help as Edvinsson offers a rare blend of defensive skill and the occasional dose of offense, and the Red Wings are struggling at both ends of the ice.
They sit near the bottom of the league defensively, allowing 3.17 goals per game, while their offense is even worse, averaging 2.33 goals per game, which ranks in the bottom five of the NHL.
With the Red Wings having dropped five of their first six games, they need all the help they can get, and 30-point defenseman like Edvinsson would provide a subtle boost.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Buffalo Sabres, after going 3-2 on a five-game homestand, finish out the month of October with seven of the next eight games on the road, including an odd bit of scheduling that has them playing the archrival Montreal Canadiens twice in the span of five days.
The first match at the Bell Centre on Tuesday was a one-sided affair, where Les Habitants peppered Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with 38 shots, and Buffalo scored three times on 16 shots (including Olen Zellweger’s first two in a Sabres uniform) on Montreal rookie Jacob Fowler in regulation and overtime, but the Canadiens finally solved UPL in the shootout, as Cole Caufield, Alexandre Texier, and Zach Bolduc each scored in a 4-3 victory.
“We lacked a lot of play making and a lot of energy. Our goalie got us a point.” Ruff said after the game. “It was a night we didn’t make a lot of plays. That second period may have been one of our worst periods in a long time……we didn’t generate any chances, we handed them two goals.”
Owen Power has had a strong start for the Sabres this season
Buffalo is 0-1-1 on the road heading to Toronto for their first meeting with the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Head coach Lindy Ruff was interviewed on WGR 550 on Wednesday morning and indicated that it was doubtful that team captain Rasmus Dahlin will join the club after staying back in Buffalo after suffering a lower-body injury in Monday’s win over the Panthers. Dahlin is considered day-to-day, and Ruff did not say that definitively rule him out for the contest on Thursday.
Ruff also indicated that forward Tyson Kozak is dealing with an upper-body injury and is back in Buffalo, and that goalie Alex Lyon had a setback in his rehab of a shoulder injury and will be off the ice for a few days.
RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 13: Left Wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) of the Carolina Hurricanes fist bumps teammates on the bench to celebrate scoring during the NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on October 13, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We’re just over two weeks into the NHL season, and it’s already been wild. There’s a lot of hockey left to play, but some trends are emerging that look very, very good for some of the Stanley Cup hopefuls, while fans of other teams might be hovering their fist over the panic button, ready to smash it at a moment’s notice.
Two of the most stunning teams to watch are the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers, two teams who figured to be far removed from the playoffs are experiencing an incredible surge to start the season, though it remains to be seen if it can be sustained. Both teams crack the Top 10 after ranking 29th and 23rd, respectively, in our preseason rankings.
Here are the full rankings right now, then we’ll dive into this a little bit.
Rank
Team
Record
1
Carolina Hurricanes
6-1-1
2
Edmonton Oilers
5-0-1
3
Vegas Golden Knights
6-2-0
4
Winnipeg Jets
4-1-1
5
New York Rangers
6-2-0
6
Utah Mammoth
5-2-0
7
Boston Bruins
5-2-0
8
Seattle Kraken
5-2-0
9
Ottawa Senators
5-2-0
10
Colorado Avalanche
4-2-0
11
Tampa Bay Lightning
4-2-0
12
Minnesota Wild
4-2-1
13
Anaheim Ducks
4-2-0
14
Montreal Canadiens
3-2-1
15
St. Louis Blues
3-2-1
16
Washington Capitals
3-3-0
17
Pittsburgh Penguins
3-3-1
18
Toronto Maple Leafs
3-3-1
19
Buffalo Sabres
3-3-1
20
Florida Panthers
3-2-2
21
San Jose Sharks
3-3-0
22
New York Islanders
3-3-0
23
Nashville Predators
2-2-2
24
New Jersey Devils
3-3-0
25
Dallas Stars
2-3-1
26
Columbus Blue Jackers
2-3-0
27
Detroit Red Wings
1-3-2
28
Vancouver Canucks
2-6-0
29
Chicago Blackhawks
2-5-0
30
Los Angeles Kings
0-3-2
31
Calgary Flames
1-5-0
32
Philadelphia Flyers
0-5-3
The Carolina Hurricanes are even better, somehow
Logic typically dictates that the Stanley Cup Champion should take a step back, but there’s something in the water in Raleigh right now. The Hurricanes opened the season with a rusty two games, but have been a powerhouse ever since — winning six in a row, and beating some good teams along the way.
Carolina’s brand of hockey has always put a premium on team play over star power, comfortably settling to exist in a zone where five or six guys finish the season with 60+ points, rather than a couple registering over a point a game. Thus far in 2026-27 they’re doing both, with Sebastian Aho sitting at 13 points in 8 games, with Andrei Svechnikov at 11 points. Both players have been criticized over their careers for underachieving, but it’s as if the cup transformed them into top-tier superstars over night, and they’re not only playing the best hockey of their careers — but some of the best in the NHL, period.
The Hurricanes currently have six players on pace to finish with over 60 points, with Aho, and Svechnikov trending towards having over 100 points on the season. It’s another gear this team has reached, and they look terrifying.
The Oilers are playing like a team on a mission
Everyone in Edmonton is well aware that there’s a very narrow window for them to truly make a run. Connor McDavid gave the team two years notice when he signed a new contract designed to send a message that the Oilers need to make a run now, or lose him in 2027-28. Time is running out, and Edmonton is doing its best to convince him it can be a contender for the rest of his career.
The undefeated Oilers are the best team in the west right now, and the emergence of Vasily Podkolzin as a goal scorer has added a dimension to the top lines that the Oilers have lacked in the past. A mixture of their stellar top talent in McDavid, Leon Draitsaitl, and Evan Bouchard — paired with young players making the jump makes Edmonton a team to watch.
The Stars are in trouble
Dallas is an excellent team defensively, but for whatever reason this team can’t score a goal to save its life. Getting just two goals apiece from Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson simply isn’t good enough considering how much they’re being paid while being defensive liabilities. Goal scoring is the one thing they are supposed to bring to the table, and it’s not happening.
Jake Oettinger is bailing this team out in goal, but despite having a .944 SV% and a 1.20 GAA, he’s still 2-2 on the season because nobody can find the back of the net. This needs to change, and soon — or it’s going to be a long season in Dallas.
Philadelphia is in hell
I really bought in to the idea that the Flyers would take a step forward in 2026-27 following their playoff run, with both Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov seeming poised to break out. Not only has that not happened, but Philadelphia is ATROCIOUS.
Nobody can’t score, their passing is mediocre, the defense is bad, and Daniel Vladar has taken a step back in goal. The Flyers are winless, sitting at a -21, while being 32nd in goals for, and 31st in goals against. There’s nothing left to say.
Throughout the off-season and now as the 2026-27 NHL season is in full swing, the St. Louis Blues have been interested in adding a young, NHL-proven defenseman.
They've long been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes' 25-year-old blueliner Alexander Nikishin, but nothing has materialized. Many insiders believe the Blues are the frontrunners to land Nikishin, but progress has stalled for quite some time.
But a new young stud defenseman has hit the trade market: Detroit Red Wings' Simon Edvinsson.
Like Nikishin, Edvinsson is a restricted free agent without a contract, and he, too, prefers a trade away from the team that holds his rights. The 23-year-old is a do-it-all defender with a very intriguing skill set.
Standing 6-foot-6, Edvinsson is a two-way defender who most believe has more to offer offensively. Through two full seasons, Edvinsson's career high is nine goals and 31 points. Despite owning a large frame, Edvinsson still ranks highly in many of NHL EDGE's skating speed stats.
He uses his footwork efficiently to defend against the rush and on puck retrievals. His reach helps him maintain effective gaps and recover defensively. He plays in all situations and is on a really strong path to becoming a top-pairing defenseman, if he isn't already considered one.
Whatever team lands Edvinsson is gaining a high-end defenseman, but it will definitely come at a cost.
His contract projection keeps rising as the salary cap grows and big contracts are handed out across the NHL. But the price to acquire him might be greater. The Red Wings are in an interesting spot. They have several skilled players like Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin (another player who has requested a trade), Alex DeBrincat, Moritz Seider, and John Gibson, as well as several young, enticing prospects.
With that, they hope to land an NHL-proven player among picks and prospects. Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon believes the Red Wings would prefer a promising young NHL center in return, suggesting Dalibor Dvorsky as an option.
This raises an interesting question for the Blues. They think highly of Dvorsky, who has now locked down a middle-six center role for the Blues. But is he truly untouchable?
The Blues are committed to Robert Thomas as captain, made a big move to land Mason McTavish, and drafted two centers, Tynan Lawrence and Maddox Dagenais, in the first round of the last NHL draft.
A position that was once a need is now a strength for the Blues, which could help them acquire a player like Edvinsson or Nikishin to address another need.
Losing Dvorsky would be a tough pill to swallow. He's proven to be a reliable defensive center with strong offensive traits, highlighted by a heavy, accurate shot. If there were one downside to Dvorsky's game, it's his skating speed. The question is whether it's enough for the Blues to feel comfortable moving on.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source.Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 13: Sergei Murashov #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins deflects a shot on goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at United Center on October 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I am not going to say the Pittsburgh Penguins played a perfectly clean, crisp game on Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Because they didn’t.
They were sloppy at times, some of their puck management and puck support was bad, and they did not capitalize on enough opportunities against a Blackhawks team that was, to be fair, probably even worse.
And that last part really is the main point here. The Penguins weren’t great. But neither was the team that beat them. The Penguins have reason to be disappointed and frustrated with the way they played (and they should be), but they controlled enough of that game at 5-on-5 that it was probably a passable enough performance to walk out of their with two points.
One of the main reasons they didn’t is the simple reality they just didn’t get enough saves.
For as good as Sergei Murashov was in Columbus on Friday, basically stealing them a point against the Blue Jackets, he was that bad on Tuesday in Chicago, probably costing them at least one point.
As sloppy as the Penguins were, I’m not sure they were four goals against (excluding the fifth goal, an empty net goal) bad. Chicago didn’t have THAT many chances, and every publicly available piece of data suggests the same thing.
The fourth goal was an absolute crusher, not only by how bad it was, but because it came in the final five minutes after the Penguins had fought back from a two-goal deficit. It’s simply a shot that can’t go in, from that spot, from that angle in that moment. Or any moment. It can’t. Historically, it doesn’t (MoneyPuck had that shot at 0.01 expected goals).
But here’s the other thing about this game — I keep seeing that you can’t really fault him for the other three goals because they weren’t necessarily his fault. Maybe they weren’t entirely his fault. But “not entirely his fault,” and “no chance to be stopped,” are two very different things.
Sometimes your goalie does have to make a stop they are not fully expected to make.
The first goal? That’s just bad hockey by the Penguins.
The third goal is a tough cross-ice pass that you’d like to see not get through.
But I don’t think the second goal is unstoppable. The fourth goal certainly isn’t. Beyond that, I’m not sure there were *that* many shots that he was asked to make overly challenging saves on. He didn’t even have to face 20 shots. Even when the team in front of him was guilty of bad puck management or puck support, they rebounded and did not always allow a shot or chance. The scoring chance numbers were heavily tilted in the Penguins’ favor.
Again: they weren’t great. But probably weren’t all that good. But they should have been good enough given what the opponent was also doing.
This isn’t meant to sound overly critical of Murashov from a big picture perspective. I like him a lot. You should, too. None of this means you stop playing him, or send him down, or that he’s bad and going to be bad. He might be the highest ceiling young player the Penguins have, at a position that can significantly change a team’s timeline to contend and its chances to contend (both short-term and long-term). But as I’ve said in the past here, while all of that is very true, the reality is that all of the upside and potential is coming from the most volatile position on the ice in terms of performance and projected performance.
That’s especially true for young players at the position.
You’re going to get games like Friday in Columbus from him.
You’re also going to get games and moments like Tuesday in Chicago.
It’s just something you have to be ready for.
It’s seven games, and that’s far too early to really know what type of team you have or what it is capable of. That is true across the league. But I said at the start of the season that goaltending will be the biggest determining factor in whether or not this is a playoff team or a lottery team. I am sticking with that.
More quick Penguins thoughts
1. As frustrating as I found Murashov’s performance on Tuesday to be, there was another big factor in the Penguins losing that game.
Their power play.
They have now gone five consecutive games without scoring a goal, and have not found the back of the net since the second game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens. That’s not good enough. What’s even worse than the lack of goals is that the unit is back in one of those ruts where it’s not even close to scoring.
The last two attempts on Tuesday were better in terms of puck movement, and they at least seemed to adjust to the pressure teams have been applying to them, but special teams was the other big factor on Tuesday.
An 0-for-4 night on the power play and only 1-for-2 on the penalty kill is a good way to lose a winnable game to a bad team. Or any team, for that matter.
2. Rickard Rakell is playing more minutes per game than he ever has in his career. Almost 20 per game. More than two minutes more per game than he has averaged over his career.
He has zero goals and two assists.
Prior to Sidney Crosby’s two goals on Tuesday, the top line has consistently been one of the Penguins biggest problems this season. Bryan Rust has shown some flashes and at least scored a couple of goals. Maybe Tuesday was the jumpstart Crosby needed. Still waiting on Rakell.
3. I love what the Nicholas Robertson-Blake Lizotte-Connor Dewar line is doing. It’s steamrolling teams in tough minutes, and that’s good. But how much longer can you keep Robertson on the fourth line? Especially when the first line has at least one guy at the moment that’s not doing anything? Robertson has, in my opinion, been one of their best players over the past two games, and he keeps scoring goals. On a per-60-minute basis, he’s been one of the best goal-scorers in the league the past few years. He is showing why. When do you move him back up and give him a little bit of a longer leash?
4. Egor Chinakhov has not scored a goal since the season-opener, but I do not think he has been as invisible as some have suggested. I think he’s close.
The win snapped the Canucks' perfect 5-0-0 record inside UBS Arena, making them the final team to lose for the first time in New York's new home.
One big story from last night quickly became the debut of Islanders' defenseman Matthew Kessel.
Kessel, 26, signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Islanders on July 1. The Islanders signed Kessel, a righty, to fill the gaps in their depth and give Head Coach Peter DeBoer another option for the lineup.
Kessel came into camp on the outskirts of the roster, with the expectation he'd be the team's 8th defenseman, behind Isaiah George and Scott Mayfield for the final spots.
Instead, George did not make the team, while Kessel played so well the Islanders kept him. Still, New York signed Logan Stanley, seemingly blocking his path.
The Islanders instead kept all 8 defensemen, minus George, and thus the season began.
Alexander Romanov tore his ACL in the third game of the season. Scott Mayfield played the next two games, but did not solidify his role.
Insert Kessel for his 100th career game, a solid milestone to start off his Islanders' career.
Kessel did not disappoint. He played 13:31 in the win Tuesday night, with one assist.
Islanders' Head Coach Pete DeBoer praised him postgame.
Pete DeBoer on Matthew Kessel making his #Isles debut:
“Based on his camp, probably deserved to have been in there even earlier than that.”
With Romanov injured, DeBoer expects to use all seven defensemen and rotate players throughout the year.
The Montreal Canadiens are giving one of their top prospects another chance on their NHL roster.
The Canadiens announced on Wednesday morning that they have called up defenseman David Reinbacher from the AHL's Laval Rocket.
Reinbacher being called up to Montreal's roster comes with defenseman Mike Matheson is out. In addition, it is rumored that Matheson has sought a second opinion about his injury. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis is also expected to provide an update on Matheson on Wednesday.
With Reinbacher being one of the Canadiens' top prospects, it is certainly notable that he is joining Montreal's roster. The 2023 fifth-overall pick will be looking to make an impact with Montreal from here.
Reinbacher has played in four games this season with Laval, where he has recorded two assists, 14 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating. This is after he had five goals, 24 points, and a plus-18 rating in 57 games for the Rocket in 2025-26.
Reinbacher also appeared in his first two career NHL games last season for the Canadiens, where he recorded one assist.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks “3 Standouts From The Game.” In this recurring series, The Hockey News’ Canucks team will do a deep dive into three standouts from Vancouver’s last game. This article will focus on the Canucks’ most recent 3–2 loss to the New York Islanders.
Leevi Meriläinen
Leevi Meriläinen has been one of the most consistent Canucks since the start of the season. His effort in yesterday’s game was no exception. The goaltender made a handful of sharp saves against some of the Islanders’ top players, such as defenceman Matthew Schaefer, and only surrendered three goals on 38 shots faced from New York.
Had it not been for the play of their goaltender, last night’s score could have looked very different from how it did. Meriläinen had to remain sharp early on while also keeping the crease calm during a frantic string of chances for the Islanders during the third period. After last night’s effort, Meriläinen is now up to 2.40 GAA and .926 SV%.
Max Sasson
With his speed, Max Sasson is often a very noticeable player for the Canucks. The forward used his speed to score the Canucks’ opening goal of the game on Tuesday night, tearing into the Islanders’ zone and shooting right after a line change. After this, Vancouver was able to gather momentum and attempt to mount a comeback.
On top of his goal, Sasson also drew a key penalty near the end of the second period to put Vancouver on the power-play at the start of the third period. He finished the game with a total of 11:40 minutes played as well as a block.
Liam Öhgren
Liam Öhgren may not have made it on Vancouver’s scoresheet in Tuesday’s 3–2 loss, but with the hustle he exhibited, he very well could have. The forward made himself noticeable against the Islanders, putting up a flurry of chances off-the-rush on New York goaltender Ilya Sorokin. He finished the game with the most scoring chances-for of Canucks that produced more than they allowed (10–8).
Adding to his strong chance production is the fact that Öhgren drew the penalty that led to Brock Boeser scoring Vancouver’s game-tying goal. Öhgren also ended up on the receiving end of a cross-check from Ondřej Palát that went uncalled.
Oct 13, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Liam Ohgren (92) and New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (77) battle for control of the puck in the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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.
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.
