Category: NHL

Welcome back to another Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 season series preview. In this article series, The Hockey News - Canucks site previews Vancouver’s team series matchups for the season in chronological order. Last time, we looked at what the Canucks will face in the Ottawa Senators. In the final instalment of this series, let’s preview their season matchups against the Vegas Golden Knights.  

2024–25 Season Stats 

Team Stats: 

Record: 50–22–10 

Points: 110

Standings placement: 1st in Pacific Division 

PP%: 28.3% (2nd) 

PK%: 75.7% (26th) 

Goals: 

Pavel Dorofeyev (35)

Tomáš Hertl (32)

Jack Eichel (28)

Ivan Barbashev / Brett Howden (23)

Mark Stone (19)

Assists: 

Jack Eichel (66)

Shea Theodore (50)

Mark Stone (48)

Alex Pietrangelo / Noah Hanifin (29)

Ivan Barbashev (28)

Points: 

Jack Eichel (94)

Mark Stone (67)

Tomáš Hertl (61)

Shea Theodore (57)

Pavel Dorofeyev (52)

Goaltenders: 

Adin Hill 

Record: 32–13–5

GAA: 2.47

SV%: .906

SO: 4

Points: N/A 

Akira Schmid 

Record: 2–0–1

GAA: 1.26

SV%: .944

SO: N/A

Points: N/A

2025 Free Agency Rundown 

The Golden Knights ended up netting the big fish of free agency as they conducted a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire star winger Mitch Marner. The deal pays Marner an average of $12M per year for the next eight seasons, keeping him a core member of Vegas’ offence for the foreseeable future. They also brought back pending free agents Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad, both of whom chipped in on Vegas’ offence in depth roles in 2024–25. Other additions include Jeremy Lauzon, Colton Sissons, and Jaycob Megna. 

2025–26 Season Series Preview

Vegas is easily the scariest team in the Pacific Division heading into the 2025–26 season. The combination of Marner and Eichel on their top line will be deadly for the opposition to match — and that doesn’t include forwards such as Dorofeyev, Hertl, and Barbashev, all of whom scored 20+ goals last year. While the Edmonton Oilers may give them competition, Vegas is easily the top team in the Pacific Division this season. 

The Canucks don’t have a great track record against the Golden Knights. They’re currently on a four-game losing streak, scoring more than one goal only once in that span of time. Vancouver has only won three times in their past 10 matchups against Vegas, the last of which was back in April of 2024. The Golden Knights are the last team Vancouver will take on before the 2026 Winter Olympics break; after that, they’ll have to face them two more times before the end of the regular season. 

2025–26 Games Against Vancouver

Game 1: February 4, 7:00pm PT @ T-Mobile Arena

Game 2: March 30, 7:00pm PT @ T-Mobile Arena

Game 3: April 7, 7:00pm PT @ Rogers Arena 

Season Series Preview Articles  

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs

Seattle Kraken

Boston Bruins

New York Islanders

New Jersey Devils

Buffalo Sabres

Detroit Red Wings

Utah Mammoth

Los Angeles Kings

San Jose Sharks

Anaheim Ducks

Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Winnipeg Jets

Colorado Avalanche

Columbus Blue Jackets

Minnesota Wild

New York Rangers

Montréal Canadiens

Nashville Predators

Pittsburgh Penguins

Washington Capitals

Chicago Blackhawks

Dallas Stars

St. Louis Blues

Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

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

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Abbotsford Canucks 2025-26 Season Preview: Defending The Cup, Developing The Future

Vancouver Canucks Kick Off 2025-26 Regular Season With 5-1 Victory Over The Calgary Flames

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After weeks of hints and teases, the Pittsburgh Penguins finally revealed their new third jerseys.

L.A. Kings-style, the Penguins took to the ice for their home opener Thursday against the New York Islanders in their brand-new gold jerseys. Like the Kings, the Penguins dropped the jerseys simply by wearing them as a slight surprise during game action.

The Penguins teased debuting the new threads during the home opener in social media posts on Oct. 7.

The color that connects us. pic.twitter.com/CHdCktLCef

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 9, 2025

With the theme, "A legacy stitched in gold," the Penguins opted to go with the all-gold uniforms and black trim to pay homage to the rich sports history of the city. The uniforms include a shoulder patch design that has three waves to represent the three rivers that converge in Pittsburgh - the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio - as well as an igloo to represent the old Civic Arena, which was given the nickname "The Igloo" when the Penguins called it their home from 1967 to 2010. 

The jersey also features a loop label with a bridge on it, as Pittsburgh is known as the "City of Bridges" for its 297-plus bridges within city limits. 

Pittsburgh will don the alternate sweaters for 11 home games this season - including the home opener - the next of which is Nov. 6 against the Washington Capitals. 

We know you’ve been wondering… here’s when the alternates hit the ice next ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/OgeV8OkNZM

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 10, 2025

On A Night Of Firsts, Penguins Defeat Islanders, 4-3It was a night of firsts for several Pittsburgh Penguins' players in Thursday's home opener against the New York Islanders. 

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The Hockey News Big Show breaks down the opening week of the NHL season so far and more big storylines.

Reacting To Jonathan Toews' Jets Debut by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and former pro player Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

01:20: What are reasonable expectations for Matthew Schaefer after his NHL debut?

04:50: How many points will Schaefer end up with?

06:30: Are the Pittsburgh Penguins being underestimated?

07:40: Thoughts on Jonathan Toews' debut with the Winnipeg Jets?

11:00: Are the Boston Bruins back to being a competitive team?

13:00: Did the Toronto Maple Leafs make a mistake letting go of Fraser Minten?

14:30: How much should the Detroit Red Wings worry about the goalie situation after Thursday’s 5-1 loss?

17:00: What have you liked about the start of Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights?

20:20: How much will Pavel Dorofeyev benefit from the new-look Golden Knights?

21:40: Is Nathan MacKinnon the favorite for the Hart Trophy? 

24:00: Will the Maple Leafs benefit more from depth scoring this year?

26:00: How much will having Brandon Carlo for a full season benefit Morgan Rielly?

27:15: Who are the early favorites for the Jack Adams Award?

31:30: Which pending free agent will have extension questions hanging around them throughout the season?

36:20: What team are you most interested in watching after seeing their start to the season?

39:00: Who’s the biggest sleeper team early in the season?

41:00: Which player will make the biggest jump this season?

Watch the full episode here.

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Matias Maccelli made his Toronto Maple Leafs debut on the club’s first line alongside star center Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, and the results were mixed. Although the Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 on Wednesday, the line only had an expected goals share of 36 percent at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

Before Friday's practice, ahead of the club’s road opener in Detroit, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube summoned Maccelli for a discussion.

TikTok · David AlterCheck out David Alter’s video.

“I just talked to him about his game a little bit, discussed some things that I saw as good, and there are other things that I want him to feel more confident,” Berube said of the talk. “He's a good player, he's got abilities, so just play with that confidence. Use your skills, use your skill set”.

Maccelli began camp on the first line but moved to the third line after a lower-body injury to Max Domi necessitated a move. Days after Domi returned, Maccelli was moved to the third line with Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy. A lower-body injury to Scott Laughton in the final home pre-season game forced an adjustment of Domi from wing to center, putting Maccelli back in the spot. Perhaps the constant shifting has stalled Maccelli’s chemistry with his linemates, but it certainly wasn’t a great first game together.

Matias Maccelli's Motivation Is The 'Highest It Has Ever Been' Ahead Of First Season With Maple LeafsMatias Maccelli is ready to put the summer workouts and informal skates behind him and get into Toronto Maple Leafs training camp.

“We got the job done and got the points and that's all that matters,” Maccelli said following practice on Friday. “I think we had a couple of good shifts, a couple of good looks. Still early, first game, so we're working on it today. We'll talk about it more and maybe watch some video and get better”.

The Maple Leafs acquired Maccelli in a trade this summer with the Utah Mammoth. The forward underperformed last season with eight goals and 10 assists in 55 games. Now he’s being asked to fill the spot vacated by star player Mitch Marner, who completed a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 30. In Maccelli, the Leafs are hoping he can replicate the offense he showed with the Arizona Coyotes, where he received Calder Trophy votes.

Maple Leafs Trade for Matias Maccelli: Why Toronto Acquired Winger From Utah MammothThe Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027, which will convert to a second-round draft pick in 2029 if Maccelli record at least 51 points in the 2025-26 NHL season.

Most of the success of Toronto’s first line will come down to Matthews, who likes the “give-and-go” style from a winger in that spot.

“It's just going to continue to get better," Matthews said. "The more repetitions we get together, getting those game-like situations or game-situations, the better and more comfortable we’re going to be together”.

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The NHL has started an early crackdown on cross checks to the face. 

New York Islanders' forward Jonathan Drouin has been suspended for one game following a cross check to the face of Pittsburgh Penguins' forward Connor Dewar on Thursday.

The infraction happened at the Penguins' net-front late in the third period, and the Penguins ultimately ended up the 4-3 winners.

.@NHLPlayerSafety has emphasized over a couple seasons now that cross-checks to the face will not be tolerated. https://t.co/iMU1LVkphipic.twitter.com/4YaPG05u94

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 10, 2025

Do you think the suspension was adequate? Let us know below. 

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

The Colorado Avalanche have posted on X of what could be the third jerseys they will use this season, the Quebec Nordiques jerseys that was used before they relocated to Denver Colorado

A new look for practice today 👀 pic.twitter.com/rAM4YCHcJL

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 10, 2025

Before the season started, the Avalanche organization was entering its 30th year as an NHL franchise and unveiled the 30th Anniversary Logo that will be displayed at center ice throughout the season. Now, they aim to further celebrate this organization's heritage by bringing back their old team jerseys.

Colorado Avalanche Unveil 30th Anniversary Logo On Historic Franchise DayThe Colorado Avalanche have revealed their 30th Anniversary Logo, which will be at all home games this upcoming season.

While nothing is official yet, the post on X with the caption "A new look for practice today" appears to tease an imminent official announcement, with media being given a first look at players wearing the new uniforms at practice before their match against the Dallas Stars on October 11.

The Quebec Nordiques' final season in the NHL was the 1994-95 season, before they relocated to Colorado. The Avalanche has previously featured alternate third jerseys with a Nordiques logo in an Avalanche style. Still, it appears the organization is going full baby blue this time, from the jersey to the gloves and pants.

Wedgewood’s 31 Saves Propel Avalanche to 2-1 Win Over MammothThe Colorado Avalanche defeat the newly introduced Utah Mammoth 2-1 in regulation. It was a bumpy road for the Avalanche offensively, going through multiple shot droughts but timely goals and great goaltending from Scott Wedgewood made sure they picked up the two points.

The start of the Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 regular season could not have gone any worse on Thursday. The club was shutout 4-0 by the New York Rangers and goalie Igor Shesterkin in front of a sellout crowd at KeyBank Center and late in the third period lost center Josh Norris to an upper-body injury. Norris was taking a faceoff, fell to the ice, struggled to get back to the bench and did not return to the game.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after practice on Friday before the club departed for Boston that Norris was being evaluated, but his tone reflected it could be something that could keep him out long term. 

“(Norris is) being evaluated (by) the doctors right now, so we'll have an update later this afternoon," Ruff said. "I know that he's not dealing with it very good, he's pretty disappointed with where he's at with this injury."

Other Sabres Stories

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 The 26-year-old center was acquired by the Sabres in a deal that sent Dylan Cozens last March. Injuries have been a constant presence for Norris in his six-year NHL career. The former San Jose first rounder played the full 56-game COVID-shortened season in 2020-21, but since has missed 148 games with an assortment of injuries.After the trade, Norris played just three games for Buffalo and was out the rest of  the season.. 

Norris said at the start of training camp that he had an injury-free summer and was able to workout to prepare for his first full season with the Sabres, centering the top line between Tage Thompson and Zach Benson, and in the preseason he and Thompson seemed to click, tying for the club lead in scoring with seven points. The Sabres have recalled center Josh Dunne from AHL Rochester to fill Norris’s roster spot, and Jiri Kulich has been moved up to center the top line against the Bruins on Saturday.   

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

New York Islanders left winger Jonathan Drouin is suspended for one game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

Drouin will sit out the Islanders' home-opener on Saturday against the Washington Capitals after he delivered a high cross-check on Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar on Thursday night. He received a major penalty and game misconduct as a result.

As the department's video explanation discussed, Drouin and Dewar engaged in light stickwork after the whistle as a scrum developed around the net. Drouin slashed Dewar, while Dewar shoved Drouin in return.

Drouin then raised his stick with both hands and delivered a high, forceful blow with the stick that hit Dewar in the face and caused him to fall to the ice. NHL Player Safety noted that Drouin said he did not intend to hit Dewar in that manner.

"It is important to note that while sticks occasionally ride up an opponent's body or equipment and land higher than intended during a net-front battle, this is not such a case," the video said.

The cross-check was after the whistle and was not considered a hockey play, and Drouin chose to raise his stick that high, the video said.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, Drouin will forfeit $20,833.33 of salary. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

This is Drouin's first time being suspended. He was previously fined $5,000 in 2022 for cross-checking while he played for the Montreal Canadiens.

Drouin also scored against the Penguins in the season opener, a 4-3 loss. In 608 career games, the 30-year-old has 108 goals and 267 assists for 375 points. He also has 27 points in 43 playoff games.

Drouin signed a two-year contract with a $4-million cap hit with the Islanders on July 1 after spending two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.

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.

EAST MEADOW, NY --New York Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin has received a one-game suspension from the NHL's Department of Player Safety after cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Connor Dewar on Thursday. 

I’m told that #Isles Jonathan Drouin's hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety is over the phone, which carries a max suspension of five games.

Here’s the play. pic.twitter.com/0v6GSsl9PG

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 10, 2025

Drouin, 30, has never been suspended before, but he did receive a $5,000 fine for cross-checking Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin during the 2021-22 season, when he was a member of the Montreal Canadiens. 

He will miss their home opener against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night and will be eligible to return on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets. 

Here's the league's reasoning for the one-game suspension:

 

Drouin suspended one game | NHL.comNew York Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin is suspended one game for cross-checking against Penguins forward Connor Dewar

The Islanders will skate on Saturday morning before the game, so we'll see who gets into the lineup. Marc Gatcomb is likely to draw in, as he and Kyle MacLean are the only two extra forwards on the roster. 

Every NHL team clearly wants to avoid a bad start to the season, but there's more on the line for some.

Some squads need to prove their roster and blueprint works, because otherwise, they'll have more of a reason to start trading away veterans instead of keeping them around and hoping they'll drive the team toward success.

The Nashville Predators, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins are in different stages of the cycle, but after down seasons in 2024-25, they can't – and likely won't – stick with what they have if they struggle again in the first half of this year. Here's why.

Nashville Predators

The Predators took a risk by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei in the summer of 2024. One year earlier, they brought in center Ryan O'Reilly.

What looked like a squad set to become a Stanley Cup contender finished third-last. 

Now, all those veterans joined Nashville for a reason, but given that all three are between 31 and 35 years old, they may not want to battle for a playoff spot and miss out year after year. 

Stamkos and Marchessault have full no-move clauses, and Skjei has a 15-team no-trade list. O'Reilly doesn't have trade protection, but GM Barry Trotz treated him as if he did last season.

Last fall, Trotz suggested the team needed to reset, but he emphasized that the Predators aren't in a rebuild and selling off pieces.

But again, why would any player who has won Stanley Cups – such as Stamkos, O’Reilly and Marchessault – want to end their playing days with no chance of winning on a team they haven't been on for very long? If the Predators are struggling, those who want out will almost certainly be granted their wish, and the team can't just keep adding players just to miss the post-season.

New York Rangers

The Rangers already made huge moves this past year, with GM Chris Drury hiring coach Mike Sullivan and trading away veterans Chris Kreider, K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba.

But if the Blueshirts wobble out of the gate this season, Drury may sense a familiar dread about the state of this team and really take out the scalpel to do some serious roster renovations.

The Rangers don’t have many pending UFAs, but they are intriguing. One is star left winger Artemi Panarin, and another is backup goalie Jonathan Quick.

Panarin and his $11.6-million salary are the primary concern, but if the Rangers want to ease the pressure on star goalie Igor Shesterkin, they’ll need to pay more money than the $1.15 million they’re paying 39-year-old Quick. They don't have a ton of room to pay Panarin more money.

The Metropolitan Division is going to be more competitive than it was last year, and that means the Rangers could miss the playoffs for the second straight season. That would be indefensible, and surely, Panarin wouldn't be pleased with that. If there’s a foreboding in Drury by or before this year’s trade deadline, it wouldn’t shock anyone if he pulled the chute on this group.

Five NHL Veterans Who Cleared Waivers Years After Their Last AHL GameA handful of NHL veterans found themselves on the other side of the waiver wire in the past week.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have missed the playoffs three straight times despite having likely first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and maybe Erik Karlsson.

The Penguins finished seventh in the Metro last season, and they didn't really do anything to improve for 2025-26. In fact, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is leaning more toward bringing in younger players to develop in the NHL. There's less room for veterans now.

Pittsburgh did win its first two games, but the team will likely miss the playoffs again this year. Pens GM Kyle Dubas can still move veteran wingers Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, who have little or no trade protection. If the Penguins underachieve, it’s more probable than not that Pittsburgh’s lineup will look significantly different.

The Penguins need all hands on deck to beat the odds and get into the playoffs, but if the odds beat them, there will be plenty of changes to their future and present.

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.

Easton Cowan is staying patient for his NHL debut.

The 20-year-old made the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp, but was a healthy scratch for the team's season-opening 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Cowan was an extra on the ice again on Friday as the Maple Leafs prepared for a trip to face the Detroit Red Wings the next day.

Despite being one of the forwards on the outside of the lineup, there were a couple of signs during Friday's practice that suggest maybe Cowan does make his debut against the Red Wings.

The young forward rotated through Toronto's third line of Dakota Joshua, Max Domi, and Nick Robertson. If there's anyone Cowan would swap places with in the lineup, it'd be one of Robertson or Calle Jarnkrok.

Jarnkrok found the back of the net, while Robertson was a minus-one in 10:40 of ice time.

Maple Leafs lines in practice:

Knies - Matthews - Maccelli
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Joshua - Domi - Robertson
Lorentz - Roy - Jarnkrok
Cowan, Blais

Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Tanev
Benoit - Ekman-Larsson
Myers

Stolarz
Primeau pic.twitter.com/pzukANlmbe

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) October 10, 2025

Cowan also rotated into the Maple Leafs' second power play unit in practice on Friday. The player he swapped places with was Robertson.

"Yeah, it's been great. I mean, you're on an NHL team, so it's pretty cool, especially your hometown team," Cowan said after making the Maple Leafs out of camp. "Just enjoying every day and just keep trying to get better each and every day."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wouldn't reveal much after Friday's practice about whether Cowan would play in Detroit or not. Berube did mention, though, that the young forward is "close" to making his NHL debut.

"He's got a great attitude, he works hard, he had a good practice today. That's decisions that we have to discuss and make, and right now we'll see what happens tomorrow."

'I Was Sprinting Through The Airport': Inside Cayden Primeau’s Wild 24 Hours After Being Claimed By Maple LeafsCayden Primeau's last 24 hours have been a whirlwind.

If Cowan does get into Saturday's game against the Red Wings, he'll have plenty of family in attendance (20-30 people, he said). Being from around the London, Ontario, area, he also joked that it's probably easier for his family to get to Detroit than downtown Toronto.

"Yeah, it might be better with the traffic," he smiled.

Being a healthy scratch for Toronto's first game of the season, Cowan got a chance to gain a birds-eye perspective of the NHL game. He noted that the NHL is very different from junior, where you have plenty of time to make plays and decide where the puck is going.

"If you get a chance, you've got to be able to bear down, so it all starts in practice," he said. "That's what I've been trying to do, just work on in-tight scoring and stuff like that, and it’ll translate to the game."

'I Know What He Expects From Me': Why Maple Leafs' Sammy Blais Is Excited For Opportunity To Play Under Craig Berube AgainSammy Blais is back playing with head coach Craig Berube.

Cowan has already learned a lot in his first few days with the NHL squad. But if there's one thing he's picked up from a teammate, who's it from, and what did he learn?

"Probably from Auston (Matthews)," he said.

"Just watching the way he leads on and off the ice. I mean, he's so dialed in, works hard in the gym, and then on the ice, he's special. I mean, you see the plays he makes, like today in practice. He's looking to the inside, he goes outside like that. So super cool, and just try to learn from him a lot."

A player making their NHL debut is an incredible moment, but it should come at the right time. Berube cited on Friday afternoon that while it might be important to get Cowan into the lineup, he's thinking about the team first.

"I love Cowan, and we all do. He's going to be a good Leaf, I'll tell you that. He's going to be a good hockey player, and he is a good hockey player," Berube said. "But the team is the most important thing, and we've got to make decisions. They don't always please everybody."

Maple Leafs Believe ‘Things Are Progressing Well’ With Joseph Woll And An Updated Look At Toronto's Goaltending Situation One day before the Toronto Maple Leafs' regular season opener, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving provided an update on goaltender Joseph Woll, who has been absent for most of training camp to tend to a personal matter.

There'll be several decisions over the next 24 hours for Berube, such as adjustments that need to be made ahead of their matchup against the Red Wings. However, there'll be no bigger decision than whether he puts Cowan in the lineup or not.

"You know, that’s out of my control," Cowan said when asked what it's like waiting for his name to be called. "I'm just trying to do my thing, and that's work hard each and every day, have good practices, good scratch skates, just getting better, and as soon as I get in, I know I'll be ready."

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We’re only two games into the NHL regular season, and yet it's already evident that the Los Angeles Kings have a few glaring weaknesses. Sure, there are still 80 games left to go, and we shouldn’t hit the panic button yet, but this is a big issue that could cost the Kings a playoff spot. 

Against the Colorado Avalanche and the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Kings’ biggest problems on the ice were committing too many penalties, poor defense, and neutral-zone turnovers.  

These costly mistakes nearly derailed them to a 0-2 start to the season. Thankfully, they pulled out a miraculous win last night against the Golden Knights after getting embarrassed at home against the Avs, but they need to make adjustments heading into their next games. 

Anton's first win as a King 🤴 pic.twitter.com/dVnaCVHFEm

— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 9, 2025

Penalties Continue to Hurt 

In the season opener against Colorado, the Kings played so bad that it was offensive to watch. Los Angeles took seven penalties, putting constant pressure on their penalty-kill unit. 

The key moment came when the Avalanche capitalized on one of the Kings' penalties and scored in the power play by Martin Necas from the right side of the ice. There was a lot of poor discipline from the Kings in that game, which led to extended time in the defensive zone and disrupted LA’s offensive momentum. 

Against Vegas, the Kings performed much better in terms of penalties and looked more effective offensively, but some of their other problems got much worse. One of their major penalties was when Alex Turcotte committed midway through the second period, which completely shifted the game's tone. 

Power-Play Defense Collapse

The Kings held a 3-1 lead heading into the second period, but two major power-play goals turned that lead into a 3-5 deficit just like that, looking like the Kings were going to have a meltdown of a game.

It was really against Vegas that the power play looked weak and lacked cohesion. A Golden Knights team that was one of the best on the power play last season, it was no surprise that with Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel, they would look even better this season. 

The breakdowns from the Kings weren’t just about not being in the right place at the right time; it was slow rotations and late reactions. Vegas exposed those gaps to move the puck freely and find open looks, exposing the Kings' defensive unit that was looking completely lost out there. 

It’s only two games into the season, and it’s clear the Kings’ Achilles’ Heel lies in their undisciplined penalties, inconsistent power-play defense, and neutral-zone miscues. This is how the games will look for Los Angeles this season, ending in shootouts and high-scoring thrillers. 

But if the Kings are going to contend in this tough division, they must clean up those areas quickly. 

Kings game morning hangover recap

- Bet we’ll see a lot of games like that one this season. 🫠

- Superstar performance from Q.

- Clarke needs to play more than 15:20.

- We should stop the trade Moore talk.

- I’m over the 2-5 pairing.

- 10:30am pt on Sat @ WPG#GoKingsGo

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) October 9, 2025

Four NHL stars signed new contracts in the past two weeks.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid signed a two-year deal worth $12.5 million annually on Monday, while Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov signed the richest deal in NHL history at eight years and a $17-million cap hit.

On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets re-signed Kyle Connor for eight years at $12 million per season, and the Vegas Golden Knights re-signed Jack Eichel for eight years at $13.5 million annually.

Kaprizov’s new deal is a prime example of how NHL players' compensation is changing with the increase in the salary cap.

Some were under the impression that McDavid would become the highest-paid player in the league, given his reputation and the boatload of Hart Trophies, Ted Lindsay Awards and more individual honors he’s won over the years.

In any case, it may have to be a different player who overtakes Kaprizov in terms of average annual value before McDavid's contract extension expires following the 2027-28 campaign.

Some incredibly talented players will require new contracts before then. This raises the question: who will be the first NHL player to earn a $20-million cap hit?

Nikita Kucherov, Auston Matthews, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are among several other high-caliber players who will be requiring contract extensions in the near future. 

Kucherov and Matthews have noteworthy individual awards to their name, including a Hart Trophy each, Art Ross Trophy wins for Kucherov and 'Rocket' Richard wins for Matthews. Due to their unique abilities and results offensively, they could earn themselves a big ticket, especially Matthews, who is a center, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and located in a high-taxed environment.

When Matthews signed his four-year contract worth $13.25 million per season, he took 15.06 percent of the salary cap. According to the NHL, when his contract expires following the 2027-28 season, the salary cap is projected to be $113.5 million.

This means if Matthews were to sign a contract that paid him $20 million per season at that projected cap number, he would receive about 17.62 percent.

Richest Contracts In NHL History: McDavid Doesn't Break Kaprizov's New RecordKirill Kaprizov’s new contract is an NHL history-maker, and Connor McDavid chose not to break it one week later.

Makar and Hughes are two superstar defenseman who provide a sense of offensive dominance from the back end that is rarely seen in NHL history. Both blueliners earn a cap hit of under $10 million, and many would believe they’re underpaid.

Each negotiation for every player is different, including the demands and motives of signing a new contract. However, there is a possibility that these two D-men could get massive raises on their next contracts.

When the Colorado Avalanche failed to re-sign star right winger Mikko Rantanen, they traded him and found a replacement who performs nearly as well for less money. They'll be hard-pressed to find anyone available who can do anything close to what Makar does. The same goes in Vancouver with Hughes, who demonstrates valuable leadership qualities on top of his play.

It's possible that in the summer of 2028, these players will deserve not only double their current cap hits but potentially $20 million a year as well.

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A closer look at Montreal’s five goals in Thursday’s victory over Detroit and an assessment of how many can truly be pinned on John Gibson. 

The Detroit Red Wings had a troubling start to the season of Thursday as they found themselves down 3-1 early in the first period. They saw their chances in the second and third but never were able to crack the Habs defense and young goaltender Jakub Dobes. Montreal ended up prevailing 5-1 as the Red Wings were booed off the ice in their very first game of the season. 

John Gibson Pulled In Red Wings Debut As Part Of 5-1 Loss To Canadiens The Detroit Red Wings have seen it all through 100 years of history in the National Hockey League, and have delivered multiple cherished memories for their legions of fans across the world. 

Every facet of the Red Wings’ game came under scrutiny, the offense struggled to finish, the defense blew key assignments, and newly acquired goaltender John Gibson couldn’t come up with the saves Detroit needed. While the forwards generated a decent number of chances, it wouldn’t be fair to pin the loss solely on Gibson. Most of Montreal’s goals were avoidable, but defensive breakdowns turned them into easy opportunities for the Canadiens.

Take the Habs first goal for example. The Canadiens opened the scoring with a quick and efficient passing play. Brendan Gallagher, positioned along the boards, spotted a streaking Zach Bolduc breaking up the ice. After receiving a pass from defenseman Mike Matheson, Gallagher immediately sent the puck ahead into open ice, perfectly placed for Bolduc to collect.

Boldy a des ailes!

Forget 6 7, we're all about 76#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/FmW6gbPjfD

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 9, 2025

Bolduc blew past Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic and forward Michael Rasmussen, creating a clean breakaway. He finished the play with a low blocker-side shot past goaltender John Gibson for the first goal. 

Breakaways are difficult for any goalie to stop, but the Red Wings’ defensive struggles continued on Montreal’s second tally. The pairing of Hamonic and Albert Johansson was again caught out of position. Johansson was caught deep in the offensive zone, allowing Canadiens forward Oliver Kapanen to slip behind him. A quick pass found a charging Alex Newhook, setting up a two-on-one rush.

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

Eh bin, comme hier!

If you're Kappy and you know it clap your hands#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/BbzNtVdotV

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 9, 2025

Newhook fed Kapanen across the slot, and although Gibson managed to get a piece of the shot, it wasn’t enough to prevent Kapanen from burying it into the open net. 

"We Earned Those": Todd McLellan Says Red Wings Deserved Fan Boos After 5-1 Loss Throughout his first Training Camp as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, Todd McLellan emphasized the importance of mental fortitude and responding the right way when things inevitably go wrong over the course of an 82-game season.

Montreal’s next two goals came off unfortunate deflections, one off Ben Chiarot’s stick and another off Johansson, continuing Detroit’s defensive woes. The fifth goal was likely the only one Gibson could have handled better. On a Canadiens power play, Cole Caufield fired a point shot that Gibson initially stopped but failed to control. The rebound kicked directly into the slot, where Juraj Slafkovsky pounced and fired it home. 

🪽 À VOUS LES AILES 🪽

FREE WINGS > RED WINGS#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/DJZYx1bnLr

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 10, 2025

Ideally, Gibson would have directed the rebound to the corner or toward the side boards, keeping it away from a dangerous netfront chance. While the shot itself was difficult to handle, better rebound control or a quicker defensive response from Detroit could have prevented the goal.

Gibson was eventually pulled for Cam Talbot in the third, who finished the game with saves on four shots. Gibson's final stat line was just eight saves on 13 shots with five goals allowed but the game tells a very different story as many of the goals he never had a chance on. 

The Red Wings management team took a big swing grabbing Gibson and he likely has more to prove than what was showed on Thursday. There’s no word yet on who will start Saturday against the Maple Leafs, but if Gibson gets the nod again, the hope is that he’ll have a better chance to showcase his abilities, rather than being left in no-win situations where he’s forced to make highlight-reel saves on odd-man rushes and breakaways.

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