The Chicago Blackhawks have had a heavy presence in college hockey over the last couple of years. They have used first-round picks on college hockey players or young men committed to the NCAA  frequently since Kyle Davidson took over. 

Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Drew Commesso, and Ryan Greene, amongst others, have all played in the college ranks at one point or another. 

This year will be no different. There will be a handful of Blackhawks prospects playing across the college hockey landscape, and their scouts will be watching all of the top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft with a close eye. 

At The Hockey News, our Ryan Kennedy ranked the top 100 NCAA players to watch in 2025-26. The Blackhawks and the players they will be scouting are all over the list. 

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XWe have one of the most highly anticipated college hockey seasons of all-time coming up! @THNRyanKennedy’s Top 💯 NCAA Players to Watch: https://t.co/9NNtvLKBiD

For one, forward Gavin McKenna of Penn State and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff of North Dakota are the undrafted players to watch if you're dreaming of drafting in the top two. For the Blackhawks, there is a chance that this is their reality in 2026. 

McKenna is the number one-ranked player on this list, and Verhoeff was fifth. Of course, although the latter is projected to be a great NHL player, the former is labeled as a generational talent. Getting their hands on him would be another franchise-altering draft pick for Chicago. 

Although the Blackhawks are incredibly strong when it comes to underage defensemen, it is hard to see them passing on Verhoeff if they had the second overall pick. In that instance, you may take the best player available if the gap between two and three is that large. You can address the surplus at the position for help in other spots later. 

As far as players already drafted, the Chicago Blackhawks have four players in this top-100 ranking. Those players are:

25. Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, U-Mass

Vaclav Nestrasill will head to U-Mass after being selected in the first round (25th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2025 NHL Draft. His game as a scoring winger in the USHL should translate to success in Hockey East, where he will prepare to become a contributor in the NHL.

32. Sacha Boisvert, C, Boston University

Sacha Boisvert was one of Chicago's first-round picks (18th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. He transferred to Boston University after an incredibly strong freshman year at North Dakota. Boisvert is a two-way center who should thrive in his development under BU head coach Jay Pandolfo. 

52. Julius Sumpf, C, Providence 

Julius Sumpf, a fourth-round (98th overall) pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is already looking like a solid selection by Kyle Davidson. Sumpf playing for Providence will make this an exciting team to watch. The program keeps adding talented players who want to play for them, which adds to the competitive balance taking place in Hockey East. 

83. Adam Gajan, G, Minnesota-Duluth

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Slovakian goaltender Adam Gajan with a second-round (35th overall) pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He is now entering his second season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Gajan didn't have a great year in 2024-25, so he is hoping that another year older will allow him to start looking like a highly drafted net-minder. 

This year's group of Blackhawks playing NCAA hockey might not be quite as strong as it was in recent seasons, but this is still a great group. All four of these guys will likely be given the opportunity to be Blackhawks one day, and playing well in college is a key to their journey to the top. 

The first weekend of the college regular season is coming up. For those looking to check out Gavin McKenna's Penn State debut, it can be seen on the NHL's YouTube or NHL Network. That is only one of many reasons to check out the game at this level. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The Philadelphia Flyers may have lost to the New York Islanders in Thursday night's preseason game, but their continued struggles on defense are of much greater concern.

With prospects like Emil Andrae and Helge Grans, at least temporarily, out of the picture, the Flyers have left themselves with Egor Zamula, Adam Ginning, Dennis Gilbert, and Noah Juulsen as their options to comprise the third defense pair.

If head coach Rick Tocchet prefers to keep eight defensemen and the Flyers oblige, then all four players will stick around.

Zamula, 25, is the incumbent in that battle, but his status might not last very long after a series of poor and uninspiring performances in the exhibition games.

On Thursday night, Zamula struggled greatly with unforced turnovers and stumbled to the tune of a 5-1 scoring chance differential and 17-8 shot attempt differential at 5-on-5 on Thursday night - both in favor of the Islanders - according to Natural Stat Trick.

Both Ginning and Zamula are 25 years old and on expiring contracts, but one player is clearly trending up and the other down.

Flyers Working to Turn Nikita Grebenkin Into 'A Force'While it's still early, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found themselves a hidden gem in winger prospect Nikita Grebenkin, who continues to impress in the NHL preseason and training camp.

Tocchet has taken notice of Zamula's struggles, too, and bluntly addressed them after the loss to the Islanders.

"Yeah, he's gotta pick it up," Tocchet plainly assessed. "Yup, definitely."

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement from your head coach with as many as three teammates battling with you for playing time, a place in the lineup, and, potentially, a place on the roster altogether.

Much to the chagrin of Flyers fans, the organization appears to have already made their final decision on Andrae until something changes, and we're left to wonder what a healthy Oliver Bonk could do with this competition had he been available to play.

As for the injured Ethan Samson, I spotted him sporting a brace or cast of sorts on his right hand in the elevator after the game, and he was declared out 6-to-8 weeks by the Flyers last week anyway.

This is all to say that the Flyers have what they have at this point, but if Zamula doesn't tread carefully, Tocchet's patience with him could run out sooner than later.

Last Minute Draft Strategies for the Upcoming NHL Season

The NHL season begins Tuesday, and while some of you have already had your drafts, this weekend will be the busiest time for poolies.

Maximizing Value with Elite Goaltenders and Blueliners

There are many different strategies for drafting a team. I enjoy going after positions of weakness first.  There are not many goaltenders whom you can rely on year after year. Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger and Ilya Sorokin come to mind as the best netminders -- I have discounted Sergei Bobrovsky due to his age and the amount of hockey he has played over the last three seasons -- I would wait on goaltenders after these five. One big thing to remember when drafting this season is that there will be an Olympic break. Since the Russians will not be in Italy, I would upgrade all Russian players -- especially Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin and Alex Ovechkin -- as they will be well rested while the remainder of the NHL's best will be tired coming off the gruelling two-week Olympic Games. That also goes for everyone who does not make their respective National Team, as they get a big break in the action.

I also would take defensemen early, as there are not a bunch of high-scoring blueliners. I would tap Cale Makar as a top-five pick this season, taking Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Kucherov in front of him. There are some forwards who will outscore Makar, but by not a big enough margin to make them worth taking, as there are always plenty of forwards to choose from, especially in shallower pools.

There were 49 players who had at least 70 points in 2024-25, including just three defensemen, Makar, Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes. That's the importance of selecting blueliners. To make the point even greater, there were only five defensemen who had from 60 to 69 points. Rasmus Dahlin, Evan Bouchard, Victor Hedman, Josh Morrissey and Adam Fox. That's eight of the top 85 scorers.

If you play with forwards, rather than specific centers, left wingers and right wingers, I would load up with centers as they definitely get more points than wingers on average. If you play with those positions, I would wait on your centers, focusing on wingers, as there will be plenty of good centers available in the eighth round and later. I scored Jack Hughes three seasons ago in the eighth round, and he finished with 99 points. I also selected Nico Hischier in the same draft in the 17th and final round, and he managed 31 goals and 80 points in 81 games after missing Opening Night.

In most pools, there are between 160 and 225 players taken, including 20-28 goalies, 48-84 defensemen and 92-112 forwards. As mentioned earlier, 77 forwards managed to score at least 60 points. If you want players who scored at least 45 points in 2024-25, then add another 81 players to the list, including 10 defensemen. Of the top 166 players, you have 148 forwards (more than enough to fill all rosters and then some) and only 18 defensemen. While defensemen can help out in other categories, you can definitely see the importance of taking blueliners early and often while waiting on forwards.

Leveraging the Olympic Break for Fantasy Hockey Success

As previously mentioned, it's an interesting schedule this season due to the Olympics, as there is almost a three-week break in the schedule, from Feb. 6-26. There are four teams that play five games in a week. The Rangers play five games from Dec. 15-21, Carolina plays five contests from Dec. 29-Jan. 4, Edmonton has five games from Jan. 12-18 and most importantly, Pittsburgh plays five times from Mar. 30-Apr. 5. The Penguins' stretch will be during the head-to-head playoffs, and that will give a huge edge to a team. Don't forget to plan ahead, as trying to pick off some of these players may be difficult the Sunday before their big week.

If you are playing dynasty leagues, don't forget about players who are currently hurt, but may help you out long-term, either later in this season or next year. Aleksander Barkov (knee surgery) definitely comes to mind as he is likely out for all of the regular season in 2025-26, but will be worth his weight in gold next year, or perhaps even this season as trade bait if you are trying to improve your chances of winning this season. Others to consider are Matthew Tkachuk (groin surgery), who is expected to be out until at least Christmas and Zach Hyman (broken wrist), who is expected to return at the beginning of November. 

Navigating the NHL Schedule for Daily Transaction Pools

An important part of playing in daily transaction leagues is playing the schedule. For the most part, the NHL is a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday league with the majority of scheduled games slated for those dates. Edmonton and Montreal lead in those dates with 60 of their 82 games played on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Boston plays 58 times, while Ottawa is at 57 and Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay are at 55. At the other end of the schedule (and these are players on teams you should target near the end of the draft) are Anaheim at only 40, Utah at 41, Chicago with 42 and the Rangers and St. Louis at 45 games.

Artemi Panarin and Nick Suzuki each had 89 points last season. Panarin is a more valuable play this season as he plays 15 more games than Suzuki on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, less popular days on the NHL schedule. It's a lot easier to find players to play on the more common days; therefore, in daily transaction pools, Panarin should be selected a full round earlier than Suzuki. Other examples are Utah's Mikhail Sergachev ahead of the Penguins' Erik Karlsson, the Ducks' Jackson LaCombe ahead of Morgan Rielly of Toronto, and later in the draft, Brayden Schenn of the Blues ahead of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (unless you think Nugent-Hopkins is due for a huge comeback).

Don't be afraid to be the leader of the pack, rather than a follower. When there is a run on a position, be at the start of the run, not at the bottom. This way – using goaltenders as an example – when there is a slew of goaltenders taken in the middle rounds, it's better to take a Sergei Bobrovsky, rather than take a chance on Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Finally, here are some players I like near the end of drafts (around 180th and later) in alphabetical order: Ivan Barbashev (Vegas), Anthony Beauvillier (Washington), Zachary Bolduc (Montreal), Philip Broberg (St. Louis), Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles), Arseni Gritsyuk (New Jersey), Boone Jenner (Columbus), Anton Lundell (Florida), Matias Maccelli (Toronto), JJ Peterka (Utah), Sam Rinzel (Chicago), Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis), Logan Stankoven (Carolina) Danila Yurov (Minnesota) and Trevor Zegras (Philadelphia).

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues picked up their first win of the preseason with a decisive 7-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at Enterprise Center.

The Blues (1-3-1) came into the game one of two teams without a preseason win, and coach Jim Montgomery made mention of that earlier in the day following the morning skate, taking about that it was a point made.

They certainly got it, despite the Senators (2-3-0) only bringing a handful of experienced NHL players, including St. Louisan Brady Tkachuk.

“In a lot of ways, there was parts of our game where we played north, the way we stretched the ice, transitioned offensively,” Montgomery said. “I didn’t like our transition defensively as much. We gave too many odd-man rushes that thankfully our defensemen handled well and ‘Binner’ made a lot of big-time saves. We’re looking to continue to build towards 60 minutes of good hockey and I thought that that was 45 minutes of it.”

Five Blues had multi-point games, including defenseman Philip Broberg, who had two goals and an assist; Robert Thomas had a goal and two assists; Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist and Jimmy Snuggerud and Nick Bjugstad each had two assists.

“I think we’ve had a good training camp and I think we played pretty good today,” Broberg said. “I’m excited for the season to start.”

Here are tonight’s observations:

* Jordan Binnington doesn’t need any more work; he’s ready for Oct. 9 – This is the third straight start that Binnington has looked razor sharp.

He was a wall again, this time playing his first full game of the preseason after going two in the opener against the Dallas Stars (a 2-1 shootout loss) and a 4-2 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing just one combined goal in those games.

Binnington has played seven periods over three preseason games and will finish with a 0.86 goals-against average and .973 save percentage.

The Senators peppered Binnington with 37 shots and he stopped 36 of them, and making a number of those saves, even the high-danger ones look easy.

“It was fun tonight in that atmosphere, at home, we were scoring goals, playing hard,” Binnington said. “Nice to get a victory.

“I feel good right now. It is just preseason, a long way to go, but I’m just trying to focus on my process. That’s where my head’s at.”

* Logan Mailloux is ready for the NHL – Sometimes you have to get an extensive look at a young kid, particularly one that’s raw and one that was part of a hockey trade in which the Blues had to sacrifice one of their good, young players.

The Blues wanted to bring in someone they could build on their blue line that came with some good pedigree.

Logan Mailloux seems to fit the part, and each time inserted into the lineup, he’s passed the tests.

Mailloux had an assist and was a plus-2 in 22:50 of ice time with three shot attempts and three hits. He had one giveaway, but when put under duress against an aggressive Ottawa forecheck in this game, the 22-year-old managed to stay calm and make the right reads and right plays to transition pucks up ice. He used his stick well again in breaking up plays.

Bada bing, bada Buch. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/fjroVH2BAp

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 3, 2025

“I was really pleased with his ability with how he skates, how he makes plays, he’s a very confident offensive-defenseman, and I didn’t know how well he defended with his stick,” Montgomery said. “I did see tonight areas that we’re going to have to continue to work with him, but you expect that. As you start to watch your players more and more, you get used to them. You start to see obviously the positives. There’s so many positives with him.

“He’s a young defenseman. He’s going to play his first year full time in the league, and there’s going to be areas that we’re going to have to work with him. We’re going to see them as they develop. He was a dominant player in the American (Hockey) League and we know he’s going to be that in the NHL, but there’s going to be growing pains to get there, just like any player.”

When asked if he’s ready for the NHL, Montgomery said, “He’s ready. He’s ready to be an NHL player.”

* Broberg has ability to be strong offensive defenseman – Broberg’s two goals on Thursday came in a pair of varieties.

The first which put the Blues ahead 5-0 at 16:32 of the second period was off a Thomas pass, and Broberg showed the calmness and poise to outwait Senators goalie Leevi Merilainen to tuck home the forehand.

And then 27 seconds later at 16:59, Broberg recognizes a chance to jump in off the far side and take Buchnevich’s pass into the left circle and rip a dart top shelf:

Enjoy these two Philip Broberg goals, 27 seconds apart on the same shift. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/H1EfD5LKUY

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 3, 2025

Broberg, who had 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 68 games last season and was a plus-21 – all career-highs.

“I want to improve offensively for sure,” Broberg said. “I still want to be responsible defensively as well and be a two-way guy. I want to improve every day and just try and take steps.”

* Top line had chance to shine, and did – For the second time this preseason, the Blues had the opportunity to showcase the Buchnevich-Thomas-Snuggerud line and it combined for seven points (two goals, five assists) on the night.

“Their transition game was top notch and each has the ability to shoot, make pinpoint passes and plays at a top-notch rate.

“Really explosive tonight, dynamic,” Montgomery said. “Still a little too careless with the puck trying to force too much. Some of that’s dictated by the score, but we’re looking to get the good habits that are winning hockey. Unfortunately when the score gets to 4-, 5-, 6-0, your players tend to flaw. They take the foot off the gas pedal so to speak and that’s something we want to build into our game. Doesn’t matter, we just keep playing Blues hockey.”

Snuggerud is known as the shooter, but he picks up the loose change off a Justin Faulk miss and finds Thomas in front for the finish at 3-0 at 7:37 of the first:

Tommer's turn. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/9WUATLFdNW

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 3, 2025

“He’s a great player,” Thomas said of Snuggerud. “Obviously he’s got a great shot, but when he has the puck on his stick, he likes to make moves, he likes to pass, he sees the ice really well. There’s not just shooters anymore. He can do a lot of good things out there.”

* Blues utilize their opportunities to break out with stretch passes – Mathieu Joseph and Oskar Sundqvist got the Blues on the board Thursday, Joseph scoring on a breakaway at 3:53 of the first for a 1-0 lead, and Sundqvist making it 2-0 at 5:59, but those plays came off of things the Blues like and want to do: breaking up ice quickly with the wingers so the d-men can find them in transition.

We've got some good Mojo going already. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/ban5uZcGIY

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 3, 2025

A little ray of Sunshine for your day. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/FaAmOnwlWE

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 3, 2025

“As soon as we know we’re going to get possession, whether we can do examples like that, which are like the (Jordan) Kyrou (in the second period) one was a fortunate breakaway just like the Joseph goal. But that being said, it’s more having a five-guys-go mentality of we’re sprinting north when we’re getting possession. Sometimes it’s within your own zone, but the other team knows that if they don’t get back, we’re going to have numbers and we’re going to have speed coming at you.”

-- The Blues close the preseason on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, a game in which they will take a lot of their Springfield players to play, and Colten Ellis, Binnington’s backup Thursday, is likely to get the start in that game.

“It was fun tonight in that atmosphere, at home, scoring goals, playing hard, and nice to get a victory.”

Jordan Binnington, Robert Thomas and Jim Montgomery speak to the media after Thursday’s preseason win over Ottawa. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/HJcJPep9B0

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 3, 2025

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced the roster for their final preseason game on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. 

As expected, this game will serve as the "dress rehearsal" for the A squad, but not everyone on the roster will play. Friday's roster includes 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders. The morning skate at 10:30 a.m. ET will be pretty telling when it comes to who will be in the lineup. 

Here's the full roster: 

Forwards

Sidney Crosby

Evgeni Malkin

Rickard Rakell

Filip Hallander

Justin Brazeau

Blake Lizotte

Tommy Novak

Connor Dewar

Anthony Mantha

Ville Koivunen

Philip Tomasino

Noel Acciari

Ben Kindel

Avery Hayes

Defensemen

Ryan Shea

Matt Dumba

Ryan Graves

Parker Wotherspoon

Harrison Brunicke

Caleb Jones

Erik Karlsson

Kris Letang

Connor Clifton

Goaltenders

Tristan Jarry

Arturs Silovs

Sergei Murashov

All 26 of these players practiced with the main NHL group on Thursday at Noon ET. The practice lasted for 90 minutes and was intense and competitive, just like the other training camp practices. 

There will be a morning skate before Friday's game at 10:30 a.m. ET in Cranberry at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Puck drop from PPG Paints Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. 

Fans in Pittsburgh can watch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh+ or listen to it on 105.9 'The X.'

---

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

The Philadelphia Flyers’ preseason “dress rehearsal” game at Xfinity Mobile Arena looked, at times, like a team ready for Opening Night. At others, it looked every bit like a group still wrestling with new systems and the occasional self-inflicted wound. 

In the end, the Islanders capitalized on late mistakes and handed Philadelphia a 4–3 loss—a result that matters less than the patterns behind it.

For Rick Tocchet and his staff, this was less about the score and more about the sharp contrasts on display: moments of speed and promise counterbalanced by costly breakdowns that NHL teams will never forgive.

When Preseason Mistakes Become Costly

The decisive sequence that led to the Islanders' game-winning goal encapsulated the problem. What should have been a manageable defensive read spiraled into a freebie for New York.

“There’s a couple of mistakes,” Tocchet explained postgame. “First of all, [Matvei Michkov] has to get out there and he got beat up the ice. He was ahead of the guys. I think [Adam Ginning]—he’s either got to go or he has to back off. He was caught in between. He’s just buying time, just stay in the middle of the ice, let the guys back there.”

This, for Tocchet, wasn’t about punishing individuals but stressing principles. The Flyers’ new system will take time to master, but these lapses—players caught in between, failing to sort assignments—are the kind of breakdowns that giftwrap goals.

“It’s a new system,” Tocchet said. “We’ve gotta go through these things. But if you communicate that stuff…yeah, that has to be better…There’s just freebies. You might get about three freebies a month; you can’t give them two or three in a game. It just can’t happen. You can’t give free goals in this league.”

Egor Zamula, too, earned a pointed critique after a night in which he failed to distinguish himself. “Yeah,” Tocchet admitted bluntly. “He’s got to pick it up. Definitely.”

That’s preseason in a nutshell: mistakes become teaching tools, but they’re also data points when roster spots hang in the balance.

Grebenkin’s Speed and Fearlessness

On the brighter side, Nikita Grebenkin continued to make himself impossible to ignore. The 21-year-old winger didn’t just look fast—he looked fearless, attacking gaps and creating chances through sheer tenacity.

“He’s a sticky guy,” Tocchet said postgame. “He comes up with loose pucks. You always need those corner guys that come up with pucks, and we can continue to teach them to play that way—grab pucks, a whole lot of pucks. In the first [period], he had that burst of speed and split the D—that’s good stuff. We want that from them.”

Tocchet once again highlighted Nikita Grebenkin’s “sticky” game. Sounded very positive about how Grebenkin played tonight vs. NYI.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) October 3, 2025

In a camp that has seen several young players fade in and out of relevance, Grebenkin has been consistently noticeable, consistently disruptive, and consistently effective. His game screams “NHL-ready,” even if the Flyers weren’t expecting it.

A Line Worth Building Around

For Owen Tippett, last season’s frustration wasn’t about production—it was about never finding a true home on a line. He was shuffled often, always the useful part but rarely the centerpiece, and it showed in his inconsistency. If tonight was any indication, that narrative may be shifting.

The line of Tippett, Trevor Zegras, and Michkov flashed serious potential. Their skillsets don’t just complement each other—they stretch defenses in ways that few Flyers trios have in recent years. Tippett’s straight-line explosiveness, Zegras’ flair and playmaking, and Michkov’s uncanny ability to create offense out of slivers of space give the unit a balance of speed, creativity, and finishing touch.

It’s early, and chemistry can’t be declared off of one night. But if this line clicks, it solves two problems at once: it gives Tippett the stability he’s been craving and provides Michkov with linemates who can keep up with his vision.

Ersson’s Final Tune-Up

Between the pipes, Sam Ersson played the full 60 minutes in his final tune-up before the regular season. The 25-year-old wasn’t flawless, but he was steady, tracking pucks through traffic and making a handful of highlight stops to keep the Flyers alive.

“There were some point shots, there were a couple of double screens in front, and he made some good saves, a couple of gloves there. I don’t know how he saw that,” Tocchet said. “I thought he was solid. He definitely wasn’t the reason why we lost the game.”

Rick Tocchet said that he thought that Sam Ersson had a solid game. Highlighted that he made saves that Tocchet himself didn’t even see. Ersson said that he feels like his game is in a good place as preseason winds down.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) October 3, 2025

Ersson himself echoed the confidence. “[I feel] pretty good,” he said. “I think we can get better and better. There’s obviously always going to be small situations in a game, but overall…everything is in a good spot. I liked my game today.”

The Flyers’ goaltending picture remains a work in progress, but Ersson’s performance reassured both staff and fans that the crease is in capable hands.

Dvorak’s Understated Influence

Christian Dvorak isn’t the flashiest forward in orange and black, but nights like this underline his value. His backhand setup for Travis Sanheim’s opening goal was a thing of vision and touch, threading the needle in traffic.

🚨 SHG! 🚨

Dvo with the dish, Sanny with the finish. #NYIvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/O9Kf6czyas

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 2, 2025

Beyond the highlight, he was engaged, reliable, and quietly effective in both ends.

“I feel pretty good,” Dvorak said. “I think I’ve had a good start so far. I had some good chances that I’d like to bury. Just gotta keep working on that in practice and get better at it.”

For a team in flux, players like Dvorak are invaluable—not just for the points they produce, but for the stability they bring to a lineup that leans young.

Final Thoughts

The Flyers’ 4–3 loss to the Islanders was the kind of preseason game coaches circle in red ink. 

It revealed flaws that need cleaning up—poor reads, gaps in execution, lapses in focus. But it also revealed a few pieces of genuine promise: Grebenkin’s spark, Ersson’s calm, and a line combination that could unlock Tippett in ways we haven’t seen before.

Tocchet is right—mistakes are inevitable when implementing a new system. The key is whether they shrink in frequency as the real season begins. The Flyers don’t need perfection yet. What they need is direction, and for all the bumps, there were enough signs tonight to suggest they’re moving the right way.

While it's still early, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found themselves a hidden gem in winger prospect Nikita Grebenkin, who continues to impress in the NHL preseason and training camp.

Grebenkin, 22, has begun to understand his role as a support player and power forward of sorts, and even admitted last week that he "didn't understand" his coach in the KHL.

"I go here and Coach Tocc [tells] me, 'It's your game, tough game, you're a big guy, hard-working, it's good for you. You get points and you score here', Grebenkin had said. "I don't want to stay long time behind the net, but now I understand. It's good for me. It's my game."

Grebenkin got to the net again against the New York Islanders on Thursday night, screening superstar goalie Ilya Sorokin on Travis Konecny's second-period one-timer goal to help give the Flyers a 2-1 lead.

And, although the Flyers did ultimately lose by a narrow 4-3 margin, Grebenkin again proved that he can hang with players like Konecny and Sean Couturier and make plays.

"He made that goal, and he's a sticky guy. He comes up with loose pucks, support. You always need those corner guys that could come up with pucks," Tocchet said of Grebenkin after the loss. "If we can continue to teach him to play that way, he can be a real force out there.

"I think in the first period, he almost split the D. That's good stuff. We want that from him, so I hope he continues to do that."

Flyers Roster Prediction 1.0: Nikita Grebenkin Secures Big OpportunityFollowing multiple roster cuts on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers have only a handful of decisions to make before they reach their final roster for the start of the regular season.

Grebenkin finished Thursday's exhibition game with three shots on goal in a relatively modest 14:07 of ice time, and this was a game where the Flyers had only one power play opportunity.

We've seen the blossoming Russian wreak havoc in the crease to create a goal more than once this preseason, and that tool should be equally or more useful with the man advantage as the Flyers' coaching staff grows more and more comfortable with him.

At this point, we can consider Grebenkin a virtual lock to make the Flyers' final roster, with a few players still left jostling for a roster spot. Jett Luchanko and Rodrigo Abols, however, have not done enough consistently enough to leave Grebenkin in limbo on this roster.

Also of note: Owen Tippett played alongside Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov on Thursday night, and all three forwards stumbled to an unproductive outing that saw them each finish with -2 ratings.

Grebenkin played with those two in the first preseason game of the slate, and it could be a look the Flyers return to if Zegras and Michkov can't find chemistry with Tippett soon.

The opportunities are there for the taking, and should Grebenkin continue on this upwards trajectory, he could easily be a pleasant surprise for the Flyers in the top-nine forward group.

The Pittsburgh Penguins practiced on Thursday, and the players were split into two groups. The first one consisted of many players who are expected to be in the AHL this year, while the second was the main NHL group. 

It came one night after the Penguins secured their fourth-straight preseason win. They beat the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo, 5-3, thanks to goals from Filip Hallander, Matt Dumba, Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, and Avery Hayes. They'll play the Sabres again on Friday in their final preseason game before the regular season starts next week. 

Speaking of the regular season, here's a look at a few observations from Thursday's practice and where some players currently stand.

---

- Owen Pickering and Tristan Broz were in the first practice at 10:30 a.m. ET, a sign that they could be starting the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Both have been competing for spots on the NHL roster during training camp, but the competition is fierce. 

- Sebastian Aho, Danton Heinen, Philip Kemp, Joona Koppanen, Filip Larsson, and Valtteri Puustinen were also practicing with the first group before being placed on waivers at 2 p.m. ET. If all of them go unclaimed, they will be eligible to be reassigned to WBS. 

- Top prospects Benjamin Kindel and Harrison Brunicke were practicing with the main NHL group starting at Noon ET and are trying to secure at least nine-game trials to open the 2025-26 season. Brunicke was skating a lot with Connor Clifton during practice, but also got some time with Ryan Shea. Kindel was skating with Tommy Novak and Philip Tomasino, while Filip Hallander also rotated on that line. 

Kindel continues to look better and better in each preseason game he plays in, and has really impressed Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. 

"He's got a lot of poise with the puck, a lot of speed. Those two things probably stand out the most," Crosby said after Thursday's practice. "I think he's using his speed well, he's finding guys. He distributes the puck really well and he seems like he's confident. It doesn't seem like it's been too fast for him or anything like that to this point. He's done a great job, so, sometimes it takes time to adjust to all of that, but it seems like with every game he's getting more and more comfortable."

With Bryan Rust on the mend for a minimum of two weeks, there's an opportunity for Kindel to get a taste of NHL action if he can finish the preseason in style.  

- Caleb Jones has continued to be paired with Kris Letang during practice, and there's a chance that could be the second pair to open the season. Jones and Letang started getting reps together when training camp opened, and the two have continued to be a pairing in scrimmages, other practices, and on September 21, when Marc-Andre Fleury played the third period of the Penguins-Jackets preseason game. 

Jones played in only six NHL games last season and has played a total of 31 NHL games over the past two years. He and Letang are on the roster for Friday's preseason finale against the Sabres, so we'll see if they get some more game reps before the Penguins open the regular season on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. 

Penguins Make Wave Of Roster Cuts, Place Six Players On WaiversWith each passing day, the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster is coming more and more into focus. 

- Parker Wotherspoon and Erik Karlsson were also a pair during practice again, and it appears those two will be on the top pair to open the season. They also played together during the September 21 preseason game and have already formed some solid chemistry.

Wotherspoon is the Penguins' best player on the left side of their defense and can help cover for Karlsson if he's pinching in the offensive zone. The Penguins signed Wotherspoon to a two-year contract when free agency opened on July 1.

The players that are on the roster for Friday's preseason game will skate at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex at 10:30 a.m. ET before playing the Sabres at 7 p.m. ET. Fans in the Pittsburgh area can watch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh+ or listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

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

The preseason continued for the Florida Panthers on Thursday night in Tampa, but it felt very different than any of the Cats’ previous exhibition games.

That’s because for the first time, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice dressed a lineup made up of only NHL regulars.

It was that roster, which could very well end up looking the same for Opening Night (minus Sergei Bobrovsky, who did not dress on Thursday), that faced off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.

Considering the familiarity between the two teams, it comes as no surprise that the first period was full of contentious play and penalties, with the Cats and Bolts combining for 30 PIMs.

Nearly half of those belonged to A.J. Greer after he picked up a double minor for roughing Tampa’s Darren Raddysh along with a ten-minute misconduct.

With just over eight minutes left in the period and Florida once again shorthanded, Eetu Luostarinen beat two Tampa players to the puck just inside the Lightning blue line, and since one of those players was goaltender Brandon Halverson, it left Eetu with a wide-open net to fire the puck into, giving the Cats a 1-0 lead.

Yet another Tampa Bay power play, their fourth of the period, led to Jake Guentzel finishing off a give-and-go with Nikita Kucherov to tie the game at one during the final minute of the first period.

Those 30 first period penalty minutes turned out to be only an appetizer because the Cats and Bolts took things completely off the rails during the middle frame.

A minor penalty nine seconds into the period by Tampa’s Dominic James set the stage for a Seth Jones power play goal that appeared to deflect off Brad Marchand in front, but was ultimately awarded to the defenseman, to give Florida a 2-1 lead.

From there, the parade to the penalty box was fast and furious.

Another 82 penalty minutes were handed out, including three misconducts, as the two inner-state rivals seemed to forget that they were only playing in a preseason game.

Doesn't matter if it's preseason, the Battle of Florida will always be pure chaos 🥊 pic.twitter.com/tJz3UfM2a1

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 3, 2025

The night’s first even-strength goal came late in the period when Brayden Point finished off a failed 2-on-1 by picking up the puck in the slot while Cats’ goaltender Daniil Tarasov was out of position at the side of the crease.

Arrival of the third period brought more penalties and extracurricular activities, but it also led to a pair of Tampa goals that gave the home squad a 4-2 lead before the first commercial break.

When all was said and done, a total of 186 penalty minutes were called and Tampa came away with a 5-2 win. 

One thing to keep an eye on after the game is the status of Anton Lundell, who did not come out after the second intermission.

Tampa Bay and Florida wrap up their respective preseasons on Saturday night when they face off one more time in Sunrise.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers Agree To Eight-Year Contract Extension With Niko Mikkola

Florida Panthers remove 33 players from training camp roster as Opening Night nears

Panthers bring Stanley Cup to Epic Universe during day off in Orlando

Florida Panthers captain Sasha Barkov spotted on crutches visiting Miami Heat training camp practice

Panthers' Ryan McAllister Healthy Again; Impressing In Pre-Season

Photo caption: Oct 2, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers break out in a fight in the second period at Benchmark International Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The New York Islanders have been seeing Maxim Shabanov do the little things effectively through his first NHL preseason. 

While the little things continued, the 24-year-old Russian signing found the back of the net in the Islanders' preseason finale. 

After an on-the-money backhand pass from Simon Holmstrom to spring Maxim Tsyplakov over the Flyers blue line, No. 7 hit Shabanov right on the tape, before he quickly redirected the shot over Flyers netminder Sam Ersson's blocker for the goal. 

Do we have a Russian connection On Long Island?

Tsyplakov to Shabanov with the “silky mitts” on the power play. pic.twitter.com/Q3FFsRrhX8

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) October 3, 2025

While Shabanov continues to get adjusted to the NHL game, expecting flashiness on every shift, his ability to find space and alter his positioning to get certain shots off is what's going to lead to him having success. 

Sportico released its NHL team valuations this week. It now has the average value for NHL teams at $2.1 billion. Check it out to learn more.

The Hockey News owner W. Graeme Roustan shares his NHL team valuations every year in the Money & Power hockey business annual. In Money & Power 2025, the average team valuation was at $2.03 billion.

It's no wonder the NHL's salary cap is rising quickly. It's also no wonder that any expansion team would probably cost at least $2 billion to enter the league. Which potential expansion city do you think could easily pay that price?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to finish their 2025-26 training camp, and as it happens, the Maple Leafs are very deep at every position -- but certainly, the most depth they've got is on the wings. And as we'll exploain, we're telling you this because the Buffalo Sabres should be looking into acquiring into one of a few veteran Leafs wingers in particular: right winger/center Calle Jarnkrok, and left-wingers David Kampf and Nick Robertson.

Let's be clear -- we're in no way aruging Robertson, Jarnkrok and Kampf are going to be big-time difference-makers for the Sabres if Buffalo acquires one of them. These are fringe, not foundational players. But there could be something to the Sabres improving their bottom-six group of forwards, and that should get Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reaching out to Leafs counterpart Brad Treliving and inquiring about the asking price for each of the three. Indeed, the price can't be much at all, other than the cap space Toronto is looking to build up.

Now, the Sabres don't have any obvious holes, so a player like Jarnkrok or Robertson would have to work their way into being a Sabres regular. But they'd be closer to a bona fide opportunity in Buffalo than any of the trio woulde if they remain in Toronto. And only Kampf is signed beyond this season, so it would be a low-risk, decent-reward acquisition if the Sabres were bold enough to make it.

If the move pans out, voila -- you've acquired a veteran for next season at a bargain price. Those are the type of moves no GM can afford to turn down. At a time in league history when it's all but impossible to acquire high-end talent, every team should be aiming to improve its bottom-six group of forwards, and that's what Buffalo would be doing by picking up Jarnkrok, Kampf or Robertson.

Again, you have to consider the price here if you're a Sabres fan hearing this idea for the first time. You're only taking the money off Toronto's hands. And for giving the Leafs that luxury, you wind up with a player who can contribute positive things for you as you push to end a 14-year Stanley Cup playoff berth. To quote TV's Breaking Bad: "Everybody wins."

Sabres' Second Line Must Lead The Way For Buffalo's Forwards This YearThe Buffalo Sabres need a lot of things to go right for them to be a Stanley Cup playoff team this coming season. They need their goalies to pan out with strong performances. They need star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to put on a defensive clinic and carrry Buffalo to a strong defensive game. And one thing could also be the difference between the Sabres missing or making the 2026 playoffs -- namely, the play of Buffalo's second line of forwards: center Ryan McLeod, and wingers Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker.

The Sabres have $5.3-million in salary cap space, so they can absorb the full contract of either Robertson, Jarnkrok or Kampf and still have sufficient cap space to make other acquisitions during the coming season. But they'd be setting a new bar for their forwards by trading for one of Toronto's surplus wingers

Adams can't bank on acquiring true needle-movers during the year. But what he can do is recognize a solid gamble when he sees one, and move quickly to improve the Sabres' overall depth and add the experience that Jarnkrok, Kampf and Robertson would bring to the organization.

Sabres' Defense Corps Could Be The Difference Between Buffalo Making And Missing Out On PlayoffsYesterday, we put forth our opinion that the Buffalo Sabres need a big year out of star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin if they were going to contend for a Stanley Cup playoff berth (and end their 14-season playoff drought. And 24 hours later, we're sticking with that notion. But this column is an addendum to yesterday's column. Because while the Sabres need Dahlin to spearhead a defensive renaissance for this franchise, Buffalo isn't going to be a playoff team unless something else happens in addition to Dahlin being very difficult to play against particularly in their own zone.

It might not work, but at least you could say you more or less spent every penny available to you under the cap  by spending these last few millions on a veteran or two to be an improved team. Remember, you don't accrue cap space year after year. So there's really no excuse for not emptying the coffers and investing all the salary you can.

It could wind up being the difference between making and missing the post-season. And if you're a Sabres fan, you should be happy with an improved team to cheer on, regardless of how that improvement takes place. And there are options in Leafs Land that can help Buffalo with its playoff push.

The NHL season is upon us. 

In a week, the Nashville Predators will open up their 2025-26 campaign, taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets Oct. 9 at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST. 

Last season was statistically one of the worst in Predators franchise history as the team finished in seventh in the Central Division with a 30-44-8 record and 68 points.

The season followed a free agency period in which Nashville acquired notable names like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. 

With a new season on the horizon, Predators fans shared their expectations, thoughts, opinions and ideas for this year. 

Fans on r/predators on Reddit were given a survey to gather their thoughts on the last season, this coming season, and specific opinions they may have. Answers were logged anonymously, and not every question was required to be answered.

Here are the results of that survey. 

Who is your favorite current player? 

1. Filip Forsberg

2. Juuse Saros 

3. Roman Josi 

4. Ryan O’Reilly 

5. Fedor Svechkov

What was the biggest thing you took away from last season? 

Struggles with the defense and center depth seemed to be the biggest concern for Predator fans last season. 

We definitely need high-caliber centers if we want to really be competitive.

-

Need a playmaking center and to shore up the backend.

-

While center depth remains a concern for the Predators entering this season, they have addressed this issue by making a handful of acquisitions on the back end, trading for Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nic Hague and signing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix. 

One fan mentioned that goalie Juuse Saros could've had a better season if the defense in front of him had improved. 

Juuse Saros is an incredible goaltender, but he can't steal games without more stability in the D-Core. Nashville famously has incredible defense and historic goaltending, but never an explosive offense. Now, it seems we've even lost that defensive piece.

-

Coaching was also cited as a concern from last season. In his second year, after reaching the playoffs in his first season as head coach, Andrew Brunette had a massive sophomore slump.

It's put him in a difficult position coming into this season as he has the highest odds to get fired first according to BetMGM. 

Need better coaching. I think the system prevented the players from achieving success and becoming a winning team.

-

What is something you think the Predators can realistically achieve this season? 

Every hockey fan wants their team to win the Stanley Cup every season, but for the Predators, right now, that isn't the most realistic goal. 

Many Predators fans believe that a true, realistic goal for the team is to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Central Division is deep, but fans think this team has a chance to squeak its way into the playoffs. 

I think there is a shot that the team competes for the last playoff spot in the conference/division. The new talent, a refreshed year brings that potential.

-

Other fans were a little bit more skeptical, saying that playoffs are still out of reach. 

I would like to believe the playoffs are possible, but that’s a stretch that may be just beyond realism.

-

Some fans want to see general improvement, that being a higher finish in the standings than last year, more consistent play and possibly an identity change focused on a rebuild. This will be a critical year in deciding if the Predators want to continue with their current model or start from scratch. 

I believe the Preds can realistically be a middle of the pack team this year. I'm not one of the Preds doomers wanting us to tank, I want to see effort and improvement.

-

Settle in craft a new identity. The Preds have played gritty dump-and-chase hockey for as long as I've watched. That may be Brunette's system too, but our aging veterans can't play to that intensity for the entire season. We need to take a step back, analyze strengths, then adjust the system and settle in."

-

Who will benefit the Predators the most this season? 

This is where the answers started becoming a little bit more open ended. 

Fans were asked back-to-back questions about individuals. Who was going to benefit the team this season, and who wasn't? 

Let's start with the positive. The bulk of the Predators fans who answered believe that there's a lot of potential in future prospects, and the team can start benefiting from that talent now.

"n general, our younger talent as a whole can have the biggest benefit. Going out there and hustling, forcing contact, and trying new things can really help the team open up scoring chances. Out of that group, [Zachary] L’Heureux has my eye for being a key driver of this.

-

Youth movement. Need to see legit performance from [Luke] Evangelista, L'Heureux, [Joakim] Kemell. Would like to see [Spencer] Stastny bounce back but I think that's unlikely. Give [Brady] Martin his games because he looks comfortable enough to play them.

-

Fedor Svechkov and Tanner Molendyk were two other names, alongside the ones mentioned, that fans believe could have a significant impact. 

As for the veterans, fans believe that Roman Josi and Saros can have "bounce back" seasons. Josi missed the final few games of last season due to a Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) diagnosis and spent the entirety of the offseason recovering. He has already returned for training camp. 

Saros just had a down year compared to the previous seasons. Signed to an extended contract, this is going to be a big year not just for him, but for the front office that signed him to the extension 

Josi is a make-or-break season. If he's in form, the team can win.

-

If Saros is back to form, then his impact could change everything.

-

Who will benefit the Predators the least this season? 

These answers centered around mainly two things: Barry Trotz and aging players. 

Trotz, the Predators' first-ever head coach, returned to the organization in 2023 as general manager. His tenure has been complicated, to say the least, as he tries to stick to the Predators' "Smashville" identity while building toward the future in a more offensively focused NHL. 

A handful of acquisitions, or lack thereof, this offseason have left fans uneasy heading into this season. 

GM Barry Trotz. He’s a coach who has no business being a GM. He’s been taken advantage of in trades and has handed out some really awful contracts that have hamstrung the team financially.

-

Barry Trotz. Continues to sign and play players that seem not to fit the coaches’ preferred schemes.

-

The other concern comes around older players in core roles. Specifically, Brady Skjei, who is 31 years old, is entering the second year of a seven-year contract. Since joining the Predators in the 2024 offseason, his production has gradually declined. 

Skjei. I would love to see him have a breakout season, but he can be a weak aspect that really hinders the team's ability to stay consistent across every shift.

-

Honestly, I'm kind of worried about Skjei. He gets a lot of flak, and I tend to cut him more slack than that, but now we have so many defensemen, it feels like he and his huge contract are just in the way, and I still am not convinced he will turn it around yet. Would rather have a younger guy in his spot.

-

Older talent in general is becoming an issue for fans, and there is a growing need to get the next generation of Predators players to Nashville. 

We can't double down on getting more 30+ year old forwards that won't help the team now nor be part of the core in the long term.

-

Fans' prediction for Predators' 2025-26 season

The majority of fans who took the survey believe that the Nashville Predators will not make the playoffs, with the "no" vote making up 55.3% of the poll. 

When it comes to placement in the standings, fans averaged that the Predators would finish 23rd in the NHL and sixth in the Central Division.

Compared to the 2024-25 standings, that would be a seven-spot improvement in the league standings and a one-spot improvement in the divisional standings, but still 14 points outside of a Wild Card spot. 

Final thoughts

Trotz is getting a lot of hate, some of it is deserved, but I am on his team for now. I love his draft picks and think we need to give him another 3 years or so before we start to judge him, not only for his past decisions but to give him time to grow in a position he hasn't done before. Few people can step into a new role like that and immediately be successful, or even "average", at it.

-

Future outlook isn't as bad as some outlets say, but this team is still missing top-line talent on forward and defense. Lots of good prospects in the system with Martin, Surin, Molendyk, Svechkov, Wood, Lee, etc.

-

Getting fans a 3rd jersey (it's been 14 years).

-

It feels like the Preds are wanting their cake and to eat it too. The team feels devoid of identity and direction.

-

We need a direction other than just playoff edge, even if it’s a full rebuild, and we need to draft and develop way better.

-

Go Preds!

-

Puckpedia announced on Thursday that Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Daemon Hunt was placed on waivers for purpose of American Hockey League (AHL) assignment.

Hunt, 23, was drafted by the Wild with the 65th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He spent parts of five seasons in the Wild's organization before he was traded to the Blue Jackets.

The 6-foot-1 defenseman played 13 NHL games with the Wild the last two seasons. He was traded with a first round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, third and fourth round picks in 2026 and a second round pick in 2027 for David Jiricek and a fifth round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Hunt played 48 games for the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL last year after the trade. He recorded two goals and 14 points.

Defenseman Daemon Hunt Placed On WaiversDefenseman Daemon Hunt has been placed on waivers per PuckPedia.com.

The Wild are in need of a left-shot defenseman and are familiar with Hunt. It would not shock me if Hunt is claimed, but also by the Wild. 

Jack Johnson is on a PTO right now and hasn't been signed yet. Zach Bogosian is a right-shot defenseman and played on the left-side last game and will again on Friday.

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.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

Minnesota Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An 8-Year Contract ExtensionST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced on Tuesday an eight-year contract extension worth $136 million ($17 million AAV) for its superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov.

- Hunter Haight Continues To Make An Impression At Training Camp.

- What Is New On The Kirill Kaprizov Contract Situation.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Will Be Out For "A Little While"

- Is It Time To Panic: Kirill Kaprizov Contract Extension Situation.

- Former Minnesota Wild Defenseman Retires From NHL.

The NHL had several players hit the waiver wire on Oct. 2. One of them was former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Riley Stillman, as the Edmonton Oilers placed him on waivers.

Stillman joined the Oilers this off-season by signing a two-year, two-way contract with them in free agency. The expectation is that he will be a depth defenseman/call-up option for the Oilers' organization. However, before he can be sent down to the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, he must clear waivers.

Stillman played in five games this past season with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he recorded zero points, one block, seven penalty minutes, eight hits, and a minus-1 rating. However, he primarily spent this past season in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. In 35 games with the Wolves in 2024-25, he posted three goals, six assists, nine points, 58 penalty minutes, and a minus-9 rating.

Stillman was traded by the Florida Panthers to the Blackhawks during the 2020-21 season. From there, he played two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2020-21 to 2021-22. In 65 games as a member of the Blackhawks over that span, he recorded three goals, 10 assists, 13 points, 88 blocks, 159 hits, and a minus-5 rating.