With final NHL rosters submitted and the pre-season officially coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be an interesting team to watch for a plethora of reasons in 2025-26. 

For starters, they are having two teenagers in Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel debut on their NHL roster for the first time since 2006. They are also in the midst of a rebuild with an uncertain timeline and with some veterans on the brink of retirement. And, of course, they have a few players in contention for Olympic spots at the Milan games in 2026.

So what are some of the biggest storylines that figure to follow the Penguins in 2025-26?

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1. Who will be the first trade domino to fall?

It's no secret that three Penguins in particular - defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell - are garnering a lot of attention in the trade market. That has been the case since the trade deadline last season, and it will - more than likely - continue to be the case into the season. 

With Rust on the shelf for now with a lower-body injury - and Dubas seemingly most hesitant to deal the veteran forward - it stands to reason that, if a big player is to be dealt by the Penguins this season, it will probably be one of the other two first.

Karlsson enjoyed a healthy, solid pre-season and camp, and Rakell has been experimented with at the center position and on the penalty kill - seemingly showcasing his versatility. They're also both vying to play for Team Sweden in Milan, and they will actually have the opportunity to play in Sweden with the Penguins as part of the NHL Global Series on Nov. 14 and 16.

Will one of them go, or will the Penguins continue to hold out?

Update On Penguins' Rumor Mill - Community PostTHN's Lyle Richardson provides an update on where things stand as far as the rumor mill and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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2. Will the youth push affect the Penguins' standings position?

The opening night NHL roster is indicative of the Penguins beginning to usher in a youth movement. And, depending on what happens on the injury front, that could be even more true as the season bores on. 

With Brunicke, Kindel, and Ville Koivunen - as well as Filip Hallander - beginning the season in Pittsburgh, it's fair to wonder how far the young guys can take them. They also have guys like forwards Avery Hayes and Tristan Broz, defenseman Owen Pickering, and goaltender Sergei Murashov waiting in the wings at the AHL level and likely first in line for a mid-season call-up. Rutger McGroarty is also out indefinitely with an upper-body injury and figures to return at some point. 

Will the young guys make this team better, should they stick around? Do Kyle Dubas and the Penguins continue to hold out on most of their youth this season in hopes of a long Calder Cup run at the AHL level? Or do the young guys populate the roster more and more as the season goes on, potentially providing a spark of energy?

No one expects much from the Penguins this season, and with a generational talent waiting in the wings for the 2026 NHL Draft, it will be interesting to see how much runway the Penguins give their talented but unproven young guns.

Top Prospects Brunicke, Kindel Confirmed To Make NHL Debuts In Penguins' Season OpenerEven though rosters were trimmed to 23 on Saturday, there was no guarantee that the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to carry those exact 23 players into their season opener against former head coach Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

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3. Is this it for Evgeni Malkin?

Among all the noise this season will be a bittersweet storyline for Penguins' fans - and everyone across the NHL - to follow. And that concerns the future of Penguins' legend Evgeni Malkin.

Malkin, 39, is entering the final season of the four-year deal he signed in the summer of 2022. His production has been declining for the past two seasons, and last year, he posted just 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games - which, for a player of Malkin's stature, is underwhelming.

Dubas said that the Penguins will reconvene with Malkin over the Olympic break to discuss plans for his future and whether or not he plans to play another season. In an interview during training camp, Malkin indicated that he is still undecided in that department, and he also reiterated that he wishes to finish out his career in Pittsburgh - even if a player like Brad Marchand won another Cup after being dealt by his longtime employer. 

“I hope I stay here,” Malkin said. “Like Sid, Tanger, Penguins forever, for sure. I hope we play great. I want to stay here, for sure.”

Even if the ball is entirely in Malkin's court on whether or not he finishes his career in Pittsburgh, the season he ends up having could determine whether or not 2025-26 is his farewell tour. It will certainly be a storyline to keep an eye on as the season progresses, and Penguins' fans will just have to wait and see whether the future Hall-of-Famer has anything left in the tank.

Evgeni Malkin Makes Feelings Known About Staying In Pittsburgh - Community PostOn Friday, Pittsburgh Penguins' veteran center and future Hall-of-Famer Evgeni Malkin spoke with the Pittsburgh media about how, when, and where he envisions his career coming to an end.

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The NHL fined the Tampa Bay Lightning and coach Jon Cooper for their actions in Saturday's fight-filled friendly against the Florida Panthers.

Tampa Bay was fined $100,000, while Cooper was fined $25,000.

The money from these fines go to the Club Fine Fund to be used for charitable purposes, the NHL said.

These fines come after the NHL Department of Player Safety handed out more punishments to Lightning players.

Right winger Scott Sabourin was suspended for four games for delivering an ungloved sucker punch to the head of Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad less than three minutes into the game. He received a match penalty at the time.

In the department's video explanation, Sabourin initially delivered a clean bodycheck.

"Sabourin makes no effort to locate the puck or return to the play and instead engages Ekblad again with a high shove," the video said. "He then immediately continues to go after Ekblad, dropping his gloves and stick, grabbing Ekblad and delivering a forceful, ungloved punch directly to Ekblad's face that causes him to fall back to the ice." 

After a telephone hearing with Sabourin and the Lightning, NHL Player Safety determined Sabourin's actions were intentional with the purposes of retribution and message-sending. The teams had played two days earlier and combined for 186 penalty minutes.

J.J. Moser was also suspended for two games for boarding Panthers center Jesper Boqvist later in the first period. He was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct at the time.

While Boqvist changed his speed slightly to play the puck, Moser kept his speed and delivered a forceful, reckless check from behind that drove Boqvist into the boards, the video said.

On Sunday, Lightning teammates Roman Schmidt and Gage Gonclaves were fined the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement for separate cross-checks.

Schmidt cross-checked Carter Verhaeghe in the first period and received a major penalty and game misconduct. NHL Player Safety fined him $2,098.52.

Gonclaves cross-checked Evan Rodrigues in the second period and also received a major penalty and game misconduct. He was fined $3,125.

The money from those fines go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund, the league said.

In the 7-0 win for Florida over Tampa Bay, only four Lightning players didn't receive penalties, while the Panthers had six. Both teams combined for 322 penalty minutes. If it was a regular-season game, it would rank ninth for the most penalty minutes in a game between two teams.

Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand also received a match penalty on Saturday night, but he avoided supplemental discipline. The Panthers' Verhaeghe was ejected for boarding in the first period, but he also appears to have avoided a fine or suspension.

The first time Florida and Tampa Bay face off this regular season is on Nov. 15 in Sunrise.

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser has been suspended for two games for boarding Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist in Saturday's final pre-season game, and Scott Sabourin has been suspended four games for roughing Aaron Ekblad. 

The 25-year-old Moser was given a game misconduct 13:58 into the first period. Moser was an important piece of the Lightning's blueline last year, averaging 18:51 of ice time playing alongside captain Victor Hedman. In 54 games, Moser netted two goals and 14 points.

Boqvist was fortunately uninjured on the play and continued after the hit. He finished the game with two shots on goal and one hit in 21:40 of ice time. 

The 26-year-old played in 78 games last year, scoring 12 goals and 23 points. Although he didn't feature in many playoff games, recording two goals and five points in 13 games, Boqvist will play a more crucial role with the Panthers this year than he may have expected.

With Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek injured, Boqvist is skating on the third line with Mackie Samoskevich and Evan Rodrigues. 

Coach Paul Maurice wants to see his third line play with speed and use their feet to put pressure on their opponents. He understands the line lacks size and physicality, but believes they can be effective in other ways. 

Penalties consume Panthers preseason-ending win over Tampa; Aaron Ekblad leaves game earlyThe Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up their respective preseasons on Saturday night in Sunrise.

Sabourin is expected to play in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, but featured in the Lightning's final pre-season game as a physical force. The 33-year-old has played 47 games in his NHL career, notching two goals and eight points.

Ekblad was forced to leave the game after the altercation, but was a full participant in practice and is expected to play in the season opener tomorrow against the Blackhawks.

Former Red Wings goaltender James Reimer was released from his professional tryout with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ending his bid to return to the team that originally drafted him.

James Reimer’s attempt at reviving his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs has come to an end. On Monday, Toronto announced it has released the veteran goaltender from his professional tryout agreement.

Reimer signed the tryout deal with the Leafs on September 26, looking to earn a spot with the organization that originally drafted him. The move came in response to Joseph Woll’s personal leave, which opened up temporary depth in net. However, Toronto claimed goaltender Cayden Primeau off waivers earlier in the day, signaling a shift in their goaltending plans. Primeau joins Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby on the depth chart, leaving no room for Reimer.

Official: Multiple Rookies Make Red Wings’ Final CutDetroit Red Wings fans who wanted to see more of a youth movement in the upcoming 2025-26 NHL campaign, which officially begins for them on Thursday, have gotten their wish.

James Reimer! 🚫

His 38-save shutout last night is our @xfinity 10G game-changing moment! pic.twitter.com/dS8C92uSgf

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 18, 2024

Reimer played for the Red Wings during the 2023-24 season, where he appeared in 25 games and posted an 11-8-2 record along with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. Serving as the backup to Alex Lyon, Reimer brought consistency and experience to the crease, helping the team stay competitive throughout the season.

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

Although his time in Detroit was limited to one season, Reimer made an impact in the locker room as a respected veteran and mentor. His professionalism and calm presence were valuable assets to the younger players on the roster.

The opportunity in Toronto marked a potential full-circle moment for Reimer, who was selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2006 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut with the team in the 2010-11 season and became a fan favorite during his time there. One of the highlights of his tenure came in 2012-13 when he helped Toronto reach the playoffs for the first time in the salary cap era, finishing the season with a .924 save percentage.

Since leaving Toronto in 2016, Reimer has played for six different NHL franchises, including San Jose, Florida, Carolina, Anaheim, Buffalo, and Detroit. He has appeared in over 500 NHL games and holds a career goals-against average of 2.88 with a .910 save percentage.

Final Form? Red Wings Hint At Opening Night Lines During PracticeThe Detroit Red Wings were back at practice this morning at Little Caesars Arena, and the lines they skated with could give a good indication as to what things could look like on Opening Night this coming Thursday.

In 2024-25, Reimer split time between Anaheim and Buffalo, recording a 10-10-2 record with a 3.04 GAA and a .897 save percentage. After going unsigned during the offseason, he was hoping to extend his NHL career with the Maple Leafs but now finds himself back on the market. While his future remains uncertain, Reimer’s contributions in Detroit and throughout his career have left a lasting impression.

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With injuries to key forwards, Winnipeg Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov lands the best opportunity of his career with a top-six role to start the season. 

The Winnipeg Jets have been making headlines as of late but not for the right reasons. After a glowing 2024-25 season, the hopes were that they can build upon and second round exit and finally make a push towards the Stanley Cup. It'll be challenging to position themselves to start the season however, as they've lost three key players to the injury reserve. 

It has already been known for some time that captain Adam Lowry would be sidelined with several injuries after last seasons playoff run but joining him unexpectedly is key blueliner Dylan Samberg, who is slated to be out for nearly two months and top-six forward Cole Perfetti, who was labelled by Jets head coach Scott Arniel as week-to-week. Both players have vital roles on the team and replacing them with be tough. The Jets defense has finished top of the league for two straight seasons so the loss of Perfetti on the offense is a more serious loss. 

Jets Cut Ville Heinola Again - Former First Round Pick Dangled on WaiversThe Winnipeg Jets are nearing final cuts. 

Stepping in for now is prospect Nikita Chibrikov, who made a strong first impression by scoring in his NHL debut. He built on that momentum the following season, adding three points in four more NHL appearances while continuing his development in the AHL. With a near point-per-game pace over five games, it's hard not to be intrigued by the kind of player Chibrikov could become. He’ll get a prime opportunity with top-six minutes, skating alongside high-end veterans Jonathan Toews and Gustav Nyquist, both of whom can bring out the best in young talent. 

Chibrikov, 22, signed a two-year extension on Monday with the Jets at a cap hit of $875,000 over the next two seasons, meaning if Winnipeg can have him breakout while operating in his new role near the top of the lineup, he could be an exceptional bargain. The Russian import has a real opportunity to make an impact and establish himself as a key contributor, even with Cole Perfetti expected to return to the lineup. If he can take advantage of this chance, he may be able to earn a regular spot.

Still, it's been difficult to get a true sense of what kind of player Chibrikov can be at the NHL level. With limited minutes and only brief preseason appearances, his full potential remains unknown, making him a possible boom-or-bust case. During the preseason, he showed flashes of his offensive skill, including a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Flames. However, there were also defensive lapses, like intercepted passes that led to chances against, raising continued questions about whether he's fully ready for a regular NHL role. 

There's added pressure with several Jets prospects like Brad Lambert, Parker Ford, Brayden Yager, and Colby Barlow continuing to rise and inch closer to NHL roles. They are likely eyeing the opportunity Chibrikov has been given and If he gets off to a slow start or fails to find his footing, it could mark the end of his time with the team at this level, as there are simply too many players ready to pass him by.

With the Manitoba Moose, Chibrikov was an immediate impact player as a rookie with 47 points in 70 games with his NHL debut later that season. He followed it up last season with 18 points in 30 games before being sidelined with injuries. Chibrikov is being given the chance now and whether he pops off or flames out will be answered quickly as the Jets take on the Dallas Stars in their season opener on Thursday.

New Reports of Salary Cap Surge Could Be What Winnipeg Needs to Stay a ContenderNHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reports the salary cap could rise more than expected in coming seasons, giving the Winnipeg Jets, who need cap flexibility more than most teams, much-needed room for future roster moves.

A major storyline to follow this upcoming summer will be Cale Makar’s availability for a contract extension. Currently in the second-to-last year of his six-year, $54 million contract, which carries a cap hit of $9 million per season, his upcoming extension could break records based on his performance during his current contract.

Sportsnet Insider and Co-Host of the “32 Thoughts The Podcast” Elliotte Friedman discussed on “FAN Hockey Show” about how the Avalanche are preparing for this upcoming extension and how it could play out.

“Elliotte Friedman: Re Cale Makar extension: Colorado's been preparing for this, that's one of the reasons the Rantanen situation unfolded the way it did, is because they were looking into the future at Makar's money"- FAN Hockey Show (9/30/25)

Most notable of this topic is the recent issues the Avalanche had with trying to extend Mikko Rantanen. With a plethora of news and rumors surrounding his camp, the Avalanche’s management and more discussed the “internal cap”, how much the Avalanche was willing to sign him, and how much Rantanen and his camp were asking. This ultimately led to him being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for a package centered around Martin Necas. Rantanen was moved once again from the Hurricanes to the Dallas Stars for a package centered around Logan Stankoven.

Ideally extending Rantanen would have been great for the organization but recently this team has struggled getting their depth lines to contribute offensively, feeling like if the top-line doesn’t contribute night in and night out, they struggle to get anything else going, thats why it was essential to use the pieces and the cap space from the Rantanen trade to flush out a deep roster.

Have the Colorado Avalanche Improved Their Bottom-Six Lineup Enough?With Brock Nelson signing his extension this summer, the top six is basically set to start the season and, on paper, has looked its best since the 2021-22 championship season. However, is the bottom six deep enough? There haven't been any signings in free agency; instead, there have been re-signings. With Logan O’Connor out to start the season, does the bottom-six need more work to be done before the season begins?

An issue that needs to be addressed before Makar is available for an extension is Martin Necas, whom they acquired from the Hurricanes in the Rantanen deal. In his final season with a $6 million cap hit, what is his asking price? With the cap continuing to rise significantly over the coming seasons, there will be more room for Makar's new contract. However, going from a $6 million cap hit to a $9-$10+ cap hit will have a greater impact on the team, considering how much Makar will be eligible for.

The biggest question is what Makar is going to ask for and how high the Avalanche are willing to go. In his four years under his current contract, he has scored 96 goals and recorded 238 assists for 334 points, finishing as a finalist in Norris Trophy voting all four years and winning it twice, making four all-star appearances, and earning two All-NHL First-Team selections.

Top Colorado Avalanche Prospects to Watch in 2025–26With the 2025-26 NHL season shortly underway, some minor leagues have already started for some Colorado Avalanche prospects. Their prospect pool might not be as "promising" with the recent regular season success of the Avalanche and drafting at the end of rounds, and them trading away their remaining prospects and draft picks to try and win another Stanley Cup, they still have some key names you should keep an eye on this season. Colorado Avalanche Stalwart Erik Johnson Announces RetirementAnnounced on Wednesday, October 1, long time tenured defenseman Erik Johnson has announced his retirement from the NHL

A handful of NHL veterans found themselves on the other side of the waiver wire in the past week.

As NHL teams trimmed their rosters ahead of opening night on Tuesday, players who haven’t appeared in the AHL in more than five years could end up back there for games.

Here are five of those veterans who cleared NHL waivers during the pre-season.

Ryan Graves, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL career stats: 433 GP, 32 G, 86 A, 118 PTS
2025-26 pre-season stats: 4 GP, 0 PTS, 8 PIM, 9 S

In 2022-23, Graves recorded more than 25 points for the third time in four seasons and at least 150 blocked shots for the second time.

At his best, Graves plays an effective defensively focused game at even strength against top competition and on the penalty kill.

On July 1, 2023, in one of his first moves as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas signed Graves to a six-year contract worth $4.5 million per season.

In the third year of that contract, with a 12-team no-trade list, the 30-year-old Graves cleared waivers.

Last season, he had four points in 61 games, with 73 blocked shots and an average ice time of 14:48. He did have a 50.77 expected goals percentage at 5-on-5 while starting just 36.14 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, according to naturalstattrick.com. That suggests he still has value on defense, but Pittsburgh seems set to start the season with Parker Wotherspoon, Ryan Shea and Caleb Jones on the left side.

Graves last played in the AHL in 2018-19.

Erik Gustafsson, D, Detroit Red Wings

NHL career stats: 515 GP, 47 G, 193 A, 240 PTS
2025-26 pre-season stats: 3 GP, 0 PTS, 5 S

Gustafsson is an offensive-minded defenseman who drew attention in 2018-19 when he posted a whopping 60 points in 79 games with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 33-year-old has featured on the power play in each of his nine NHL seasons, recording 73 points on the man advantage.

Last season, Gustafsson recorded nine power-play points in 60 games. His 18 points overall were a 13-point drop from his 31 with the New York Rangers in 2023-24 and a 24-point decrease from his 42 in 2022-23 between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs.

In the second season of a two-year contract worth $2 million annually, Gustafsson could end up playing AHL games for the first time since 2017-18. But he did make the Detroit Red Wings’ opening-night roster on Monday.

Wherever Gustafsson ends up, he will look to prove he can still be an effective depth producer on defense in the NHL.

Justin Holl, D, Detroit Red Wings

NHL career stats: 396 GP, 13 G, 82 A, 95 PTS
2025-26 pre-season stats: 3 GP, 0 PTS, plus-1, 2 S

On July 1, 2023, Holl signed a three-year contract with the Red Wings that carries a $3.4-million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade list. Before that time, Holl once averaged at least 20 minutes of ice time with the Maple Leafs while getting around 20 points and handling difficult assignments.

In the last two seasons, Holl’s had 13 points in 111 games, including eight points in 73 outings last year. He averaged 14:48 of ice time and blocked 78 shots.

Holl actually led Detroit’s defensemen in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5 last season at 51.65 percent, meaning the Wings produced higher-quality chances than their opponents when he was on the ice, according to naturalstattrick.com. That said, he started nearly 59 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, compared to 36.88 percent with Toronto in 2022-23.

With Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman adding Travis Hamonic and Jacob Bernard-Docker in free agency, the team assigned the 33-year-old Holl to AHL Grand Rapids on Monday. The last time he played AHL games was in 2017-18.

NHL Waivers: Leafs Claim Former Habs As Sabres And Lightning Add PlayersThree teams claimed players off NHL waivers on roster cutdown day.

David Kampf, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Career stats: 536 GP, 48 G, 95 A, 143 PTS
2025-26 pre-season stats: 2 GP, 1 A, plus-2, 2 S

Kampf, 30, is a penalty-kill specialist, logging at least two minutes of PK time per game in six of his eight career seasons.

In his first two seasons with Toronto, Kampf put up a then-career-high 26 points in 2021-22 and then got 27 points in 2022-23.

Last year, Kampf had 13 points while averaging a career-low 12:24 of ice time, and he only played in one playoff game.

Toronto has other options for their fourth line and penalty kill, even with Scott Laughton injured, including Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz. If they want someone to produce offense in a depth role, Nick Robertson averaged more points per game than Kampf last season at 0.32 to 0.22. The Leafs even claimed winger Sammy Blais off waivers on Monday.

Kampf is in the third season of a four-year contract with a $2.4-million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade clause. He last played in the AHL in 2017-18.

Danton Heinen, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Career stats: 566 GP, 96 G, 145 A, 241 PTS
2025-26 pre-season stats: 4 GP, 0 PTS, minus-2, 3 S

Heinen, has been on three NHL teams in the last two seasons: the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Penguins.

The 30-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Canucks on July 1, 2024, with a $2.25-million cap hit and 12-team no-trade clause. He was coming off a 36-point season in his second stint with the Bruins. During his first stint with Boston, which drafted him 116th overall in 2014, he put up a career-high 47 points in his rookie campaign in 2017-18.

In 51 games with Vancouver, the British Columbian put up six goals and 18 points. Vancouver included him in a trade package to the Penguins in exchange for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor on Feb. 1. He finished the season with 11 points in 28 games for Pittsburgh.

With 29 points in 79 games last season, Heinen can still be a depth scorer if any team wants to absorb that cap hit this season. But the Penguins are focused on shifting toward a youth movement, which didn’t leave room for Heinen. That means he could play an AHL game for the first time since 2017-18.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially submitted their 23-player regular season roster.

NHL clubs had until 5 p.m. ET to comply under the $95.5 million salary cap. The Leafs made a couple of moves, including claiming goaltender Cayden Primeau and forward Sammy Blais off waivers on Monday. The Leafs also released goaltender James Reimer from his professional tryout.

In adding Primeau, the Leafs get some insurance behind goaltenders Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby, with Joseph Woll absent from the team for personal reasons with no timeline for a return.

But Primeau had to be on the roster, while Hildeby could be sent to the Marlies, freeing up the cap space to get Toronto to the NHL-maximum of 23 active roster players.

Toronto opens up its regular season on Wednesday, October 8, against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.

FORWARDS (14)

Blais, Sammy – POS: F, HT: 6-2, WT: 206, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Montmagny, QC, DATE: 06/17/1996, 2024-25 CLUB(S), Montreal Canadiens, ACQUIRED: 2025 Waivers

Quillan, Jacob #26 - POS: F, HT: 6-1, WT: 204, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Dartmouth, NS, DATE: 02/02/2002, 2024-25 CLUB(S), Toronto (AHL)

Domi, Max - #11, POS: F, HT: 5-10, WT: 208, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Winnipeg, MB, DATE: 03/02/95, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2023, Free Agent Signing

Järnkrok, Calle - #19, POS: F, HT: 6-0, WT: 193, S: R, BIRTHPLACE: Gävle, Sweden, DATE: 09/25/91, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2022, Free Agent Signing

Joshua, Dakota - #81, POS: F, HT: 6-3, WT: 218, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Dearborn, MI, DATE: 05/15/96, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Vancouver (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2025, Trade with VAN

Knies, Matthew - #23, POS: F, HT: 6-3, WT: 232, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Phoenix, AZ, DATE: 10/17/02, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2021 NHL Draft, Round 2 (57th)

Lorentz, Steven - #18, POS: F, HT: 6-4, WT: 219, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Kitchener, ON, DATE: 04/13/96, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2024, Free Agent Signing

Maccelli, Matias - #63, POS: F, HT: 5-11, WT: 187, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Turku, FIN, DATE: 10/14/00, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Utah (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2025, Trade with UTA

Matthews, Auston - #34, POS: F, HT: 6-3, WT: 215, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: San Ramon, CA, DATE: 09/17/97, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2016 NHL Draft, Round 1 (1st)

McMann, Bobby - #74, POS: F, HT: 6-2, WT: 217, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Wainwright, AB, DATE: 06/15/96, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2022, Free Agent Signing

Nylander, William - #88, POS: F, HT: 6-0, WT: 200, S: R, BIRTHPLACE: Calgary, AB, DATE: 05/01/96, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2014 NHL Draft, Round 1 (8th)

Robertson, Nicholas - #89, POS: F, HT: 5-9, WT: 180, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Pasadena, CA, DATE: 09/11/01, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2019 NHL Draft, Round 2 (53rd)

Roy, Nicolas - #55, POS: F, HT: 6-4, WT: 200, S: R, BIRTHPLACE: Amos, QC, DATE: 02/05/97, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Vegas (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2025, Trade with Vegas

Tavares, John - #91, POS: F, HT: 6-1, WT: 217, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Oakville, ON, DATE: 09/20/90, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2018, Free Agent Signing

DEFENCEMEN (7)

Benoit, Simon - #2, POS: D, HT: 6-4, WT: 210, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Laval, QC, DATE: 09/19/98, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2023, Free Agent Signing

Carlo, Brandon - #25, POS: D, HT: 6-5, WT: 227, S: R, BIRTHPLACE: Colorado Springs, CO, DATE: 11/26/96, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Boston (NHL)/Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2025, Trade with BOS

Ekman-Larsson, Oliver - #95, POS: D, HT: 6-2, WT: 190, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Karlskrona, Sweden, DATE: 07/17/91, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2024, Free Agent Signing

McCabe, Jake - #22, POS: D, HT: 6-1, WT: 210, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Eau Claire, WI, DATE: 10/12/93, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2023, Trade with CHI

Myers, Philippe - #51, POS: D, HT: 6-5, WT: 221, S: R, BIRTHPLACE: Moncton, NB, DATE: 01/25/97, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL)/Toronto (AHL), ACQUIRED: 2024, Free Agent Signing

Rielly, Morgan - #44, POS: D, HT: 6-1, WT: 219, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Vancouver, BC, DATE: 03/09/94, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2012 NHL Draft, Round 1 (5th)

Tanev, Chris - #8, POS: D, HT: 6-2.5, WT: 200, S: R, BIRTHPLACE: Toronto, ON, DATE: 12/20/89, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2024, Trade with DAL

GOALTENDERS (2)

Primeau, Cayden- POS: G, HT: 6-3, WT: 205, S: L, BIRTHPLACE, Farmington Hills, Michigan, DATE: 08/11/199, 2024-24 CLUB(S): Montreal (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2025, Waivers

Stolarz, Anthony - #41, POS: G, HT: 6-6, WT: 248, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Edison, NJ, DATE: 01/20/94, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2024, Free Agent Signing

IR (3)

Laughton, Scott - #24, POS: F, HT: 6-1, WT: 190, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Oakville, ON, DATE: 05/30/94, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Philadelphia (NHL)/Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2025, Trade with PHI

Rifai, Marshall - #83, POS: D, HT: 6-2, WT: 211, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Beaconsfield, QC, DATE: 03/16/98, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (AHL), ACQUIRED: 2023, Free Agent Signing

Woll, Joseph - #60, POS: G, HT: 6-3, WT: 212, S: L, BIRTHPLACE: Dardenne Prairie, MO, DATE: 07/12/98, 2024-25 CLUB(S): Toronto (NHL), ACQUIRED: 2016 NHL Draft, Round 3 (62nd)

Latest stories:

'No Decisions Have Been Made': Why It Looks Like Easton Cowan Is On The Outside Looking In For Maple Leafs’ Opening Night Lineup

Why The Maple Leafs Claimed Cayden Primeau And Sammy Blais Off Waivers

'That's Still Up In The Air': Maple Leafs Weigh Options With James Reimer as Dennis Hildeby Shines at Training Camp

After a long summer of patiently waiting, a new hockey season is finally upon us!

On Tuesday, the NHL will lift the curtain on its 2025-26 campaign, with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers getting things started.

Florida will raise their second straight Stanley Cup banner to the rafters at Amerant Bank Arena ahead of a 5 p.m. puck drop against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Then, after the sun goes down, two more marquee matchups will take place on Tuesday, followed by another four on Wednesday.

Opening Night’s primetime matchup will feature two longtime divisional rivals who are both looking to bounce back after failing to make the playoffs last season as the New York Rangers will host the Pittsburgh Penguins, then the nightcap will feature a pair of Western Conference playoff teams from a season ago looking for better postseason results when the Colorado Avalanche visit the Los Angeles Kings.

Wednesday will bring another four fun matchups, as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens, the Washington Capitals welcome the Boston Bruins to our nation’s capital, then we’ll get the battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames before the Vegas Golden Knights start their season by hosting the Kings, who get a fun back-to-back set to start their season.

With the pre-Opening Night excitement hitting its peak, The Hockey Show co-hosts, Roy Bellamy and David Dwork from THN Florida, have put out some fun predictions for the first games of the season.

You can check out their picks in the video below. Let us know in the comments which you agree and disagree with!

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So Connor McDavid, the best hockey player on the planet, willingly chose to give himself a zero percent raise and give himself the third-highest cap hit in the NHL when he could have blown everybody out of the water.

Think about that for a minute. And if you're a fan of the Edmonton Oilers, thank your lucky stars that this McDavid drama didn't go into the season and that you'll have him in your lineup for at least the next three seasons.

NHL superstars looking to cash in won't like the looks of this deal, but McDavid said from the start of all this that winning a Stanley Cup was his No. 1 priority, and he backed up his words. Big time.

But he also put the Oilers on the clock here.

He's given them everything in his power to build a Cup-winning team – not a Cup-contending team – around him. And if they fail to do that, he'll go to try to win a Stanley Cup somewhere else.

Watch today's video column for the full reaction to McDavid's two-year, $25-million contract extension, and share your thoughts.

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.

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have set their opening night roster, and the big question heading into it was whether they'd sign veteran Milan Lucic to a contract and have him on the opening night roster.

The answer, initially at least, is no.

The 37-year-old has been in training camp on a professional tryout and was not initially on the opening night roster, which had to be submitted by 4 p.m. (CT) on Monday.

That doesn't mean he can't at some point sign a contract, but at least for the time being, Lucic remains in St. Louis, either signing a contract or the Blues releasing him from his PTO, something as of 3:30 p.m. (CT) did not happen.

It does mean that Alexandre Texier and Mathieu Joseph have made the roster cut and will begin the season in St. Louis. Joseph played his way into the mix and all indications pointed to him being safe with his omission from the final preseason game this past Saturday, a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, but Texier on the other hand seemed to be in limbo. That is not the case now.

The opening night roster for the #stlbluespic.twitter.com/FOKjHaPwMK

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) October 6, 2025

There will also be the question of Oskar Sundqvist, who sustained an undisclosed -- appeared to be a lower-body -- injury to the right leg at practice on Sunday. The Blues did not practice on Monday and coach Jim Montgomery didn't have any updates post-practice on Sunday.

The Blues were able to get down to the 23-man opening night roster by assigning defenseman Hunter Skinner to Springfield of the American Hockey League, and they also lost goalie Colten Ellis, who was claimed off waivers Monday by the Buffalo Sabres.

Skinner was in a battle for the seventh defenseman with Matthew Kessel.

The Blues open the regular season at home on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.

Sabres Claim Blues Goalie Colten Ellis Off Waivers; Skinner ClearsST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues lost goalie Colten Ellis, who was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

 The Toronto Maple Leafs have claimed goaltender Cayden Primeau and forward Sammy Blais off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens respectively, the team announced Monday. 

Primeau was dominant in the AHL last season but had difficulty at the NHL level. He had a 21-2-3 record with a .927 SP and 1.96 GAA with the Laval Rocket and a 2-3-1 record with a .836 SP and 4.70 GAA with the Canadiens.

His performance in the AHL earned the Rocket and Syracuse Crunch the Harry "Hap" Holmes Award as Best Goaltending Duo. 

The 26-year-old has 55 games of NHL experience with a 13-23-7 record and 149 AHL appearances with an 84-4-14 record.

The Farmington Hills, Mich., native was placed on waivers after Carolina claimed goaltender Brandon Bussi yesterday. This move will likely allow Dennis Hildeby to play for the Toronto Marlies while Joseph Woll is away from the team.  

Blais recorded 40 points in 51 regular season games and finished third in Calder Cup Playoff scoring with 19 points in 23 games, helping the Abbotsford Canucks win the championship last season. He also led the playoffs with 77 penalty minutes. 

The 29-year-old has 27 goals and 71 points in 257 career NHL games. He was a member of the 2019 Stanley Cup winning St. Louis Blues team coached by Craig Berube. 

The Maple Leafs have claimed F Sammy Blais off waivers from Montreal and G Cayden Primeau off waivers from Carolina.

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) October 6, 2025

A sixth round selection of the Blues in 2014, Blais has 145 points in 199 career AHL games and won the gold medal with Team Canada at the 2023 World Championship.

The Montmagny, Q.C., native could be in line for fourth line minutes with Scott Laughton out week-to-week. 

Blais would count as a veteran against AHL rules if he makes it through waivers again and is sent to the Marlies. 

The Hockey News' Toronto Maple Leafs team site covered how this move impacts Easton Cowan and the rest of the NHL lineup here. 

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.      

For the second straight season, Ottawa Senators 2024 first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk has been caught up in the final wave of roster cuts. The Senators announced this afternoon that Yakemchuk has been loaned to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League to begin his professional hockey career. He’ll be joined there by Arthur Kaliyev, Jan Jenik, Hayden Hodgson, Mads Søgaard, and Lassi Thomson, who all cleared waivers on Monday for the purpose of being loaned to Belleville.

Senators head coach Travis Green said after practice on Monday, a few hours before the final cuts, that the club was being very careful to do what’s best for both Yakemchuk and the team.

"It's never an easy decision when you're talking about a young guy that we feel has a bright future in the NHL, and making sure that we can put him in the best place to succeed," Green said. "It's a delicate question and answer. So we've got to make sure that we put him in the right spot.

"At the end of the day, it's about what's going to help our team and what's going to help him. And combining both into the right answer."

The Senators had until 5:00 p.m. to submit a maximum roster of 23 players. But they slapped it down to 22, as the club also placed both Tyler Kleven and Drake Batherson on injured reserve on Monday. Both were injured in training camp, but neither injury is terribly serious, and both are said to be close to returning.

So Donovan Sebrango will remain in Ottawa for now as the 7th defenseman, and Olle Lycksell will stick around as the 13th forward while Kleven and Batherson continue to heal up.

Lycksell cleared waivers on Monday, so he's waivers-exempt for the next 30 days or 10 NHL games. It's possible he may see some action in a game where they feel like Kurtis MacDermid's services aren't required. On the blue line, the Sens might opt to go with Sebrango as Kleven's natural left-side replacement, or have one of their excess righties move over and play on their wrong side.

Here’s the Senators’ 2025–26 roster as of now:

Forwards (13): Amadio, Cousins, Cozens, Eller, Giroux, Greig, Lycksell, MacDermid, Perron, Pinto, Stützle, Tkachuk, Zetterlund IR: Batherson

Defensemen (7): Chabot, Jensen, Matinpalo, Sanderson, Sebrango, Spence, Zub IR: Kleven

Goalies (2): Meriläinen, Ullmark

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Senators Land A True NHL Heavyweight In A Deal With The Devils
More Senators Broadcast Changes: Marc Methot Out At TSN
Reviewing Four Of The Nastiest Moments From Senators–Canadiens Game On Tuesday
Brady Tkachuk On Starring In Prime Video Show: 'I'm An Open Book To Begin With'
Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators FansSens Goalie
Linus Ullmark Says He Enjoys The Struggle

The New York Rangers have signed Conor Sheary to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal is worth the league minimum.

During the offseason, the Rangers signed Sheary to a Professional Tryout Agreement as he looked to compete at training camp for an opening-night roster spot. 

Sheary spent multiple seasons playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he was coached by Mike Sullivan and won two Stanley Cups. 

Sullivan’s past relationship with Sheary led to the Rangers giving the veteran forward a chance to compete for a roster spot at training camp.

Throughout training camp and the preseason, Sheary has played a third-line and power-play role, indicating Sullivan always had a plan for Sheary.  

Conor Sheary Inching Toward Earning Roster Spot With RangersAll signs are pointing toward Conor Sheary earning a contract and roster spot with the New York Rangers. 

The 33-year-old forward has played in 10 NHL seasons for the Penguins, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, and Tampa Bay Lightning.