The 2025-26 NHL regular season is now one week away, and roster outlooks league-wide are becoming clearer.

With Mason McTavish signed and under contract for the next six seasons, the Anaheim Ducks now have a full top-nine forward group, with some likely combination of Jansen Harkins (when healthy), Ross Johnston, Ryan Poehling, Nikita Nesterenko, and Sam Colangelo making up the fourth line and healthy scratches.

The Ducks' goalie room is also full, with Petr Mrazek as the likely backup to Lukas Dostal, and Ville Husso potentially behind Mrazek.

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 Victory over the Sharks

Mason McTavish on His New Contract

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Drew Helleson Breakout Key to Unlocking Blueline

The outlook of the Ducks’ blueline is all but set, as it’s relatively clear who the starting six defensemen will be on opening night, barring injury. However, the one question that remains is who will fill the role of the 7th defenseman.

Following the last round of roster cuts on Sunday, the Ducks kept ten defensemen on their training camp roster: Jackson LaCombe, Radko Gudas, Olen Zellweger, Jacob Trouba, Pavel Mintyukov, Drew Helleson, Stian Solberg, Tristan Luneau, Tyson Hinds, and Ian Moore.

Of those ten names, the first six are assumed to have their opening night spots locked up. One of the latter four names will likely serve as the 7th defenseman, and another can be added if the team decides to start the season with 13 forwards and eight defensemen.

Working under the assumption that the Ducks open the season with the standard 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders, they’ll have to make a tough decision on who that 7th defenseman will be.

After Tuesday’s 3-2 preseason win over the San Jose Sharks, the Ducks may have a “leader in the clubhouse.”

In Tuesday’s win, Tyson Hinds (22) logged 16:41 TOI, killed penalties for 3:11, and notched a dazzling assist on Frank Vatrano’s game-winning goal, joining a rush, cutting back, and firing a dart to Vatrano on the far post.

“We like what we’re seeing,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said following the game. “I think he does some good things, I think he’s steady on the back end. He’s got some size to him; he’s got play recognition to a different level that we saw there.

“His goal the other night was pretty special as well. I think he’s helped himself in a lot of people’s eyes and minds. We’ll see how it all plays out, but certainly he’s been good.”

Hinds has a goal and two assists in three preseason games during this exhibition season and has translated his energetic defensive prowess while displaying subtle offensive details that have aided in clean breakouts and regroups for the Ducks.

“I'm just trying to prove my game, prove that I have a spot on the team,” Hinds said during his post-game scrum. “Just prove that I can play in the NHL. That’s what I want to do, and that's the goal.”

Luneau and Solberg are the two most high-profile defensemen in the Ducks' pipeline. Luneau notched nearly a point per game in his rookie AHL season, scoring 52 points (9-43=52) in 59 games. Solberg plays an easily translated brand of hockey and has been playing against grown men in Europe (and in North America at the end of 2024-25) for the past four seasons.

However, it seems Luneau and Solberg may be better suited to play consistent top minutes in the AHL rather than having to spend extended time in the press box, serving as a healthy scratch.

Similarly, Moore can be considered part of that group needing consistent minutes at a lower level due to being in the early stages of his professional career. Moore has only played 12 games of professional hockey (nine with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL and three with the Ducks in the NHL) following a post-draft year in the USHL and four in the NCAA.

A former third-round pick, Hinds (76th overall in 2021), has now played two full seasons in the AHL with the Gulls and has notched 28 points (6-22-28) in 142 games, spent 84 minutes in the penalty box, has regularly killed penalties, and assumed a heavy defensive role for the club.

He seems poised and ready to take the next step in his journey to regular NHL minutes, and that may come in the form of serving as the Anaheim Ducks’ 7th defenseman for at least the early parts of the 2025-26 season, playing however sporadically, and logging predictable, reliable minutes as the team looks to make a push for the 2026 NHL playoffs.

Ducks Sign Mason McTavish to Six-Year Extension

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on McTavish Extension

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Lukas Dostal an Underrated Benefactor of New Coaching Staff

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced on Tuesday that forward Brett Leason has been released of his professional tryout (PTO).

The Wild had signed both defenseman Jack Johnson and Leason to PTO's for training camp. When Leason was signed to a PTO the thought was he had a great chance to make the team out of camp.

Leason, 26, has played in 220 NHL games over the last four seasons. He spent one year with the Washington Capitals and three with the Anaheim Ducks.

After playing in every preseason game, Leason just hasn't showed the Wild enough. He has now been cut from his PTO and is now a free agent.

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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.

ST. LOUIS -- It’ll be the first true test for the St. Louis Blues this preseason when they entertain the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (stlblues.com, Blues app, ESPN 101.1-FM).

The Blues (0-2-1) will see a Stars squad (3-1-0) that will resemble quite a bit of their opening night lineup, which includes Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz, among others.

“You’re getting toward the end of camp, so you’re seeing more and more NHL players in everybody’s lineup,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “I think for guys who are battling for spots, whether to make the team, whether to establish themselves in some roles, there’s some guys, this is an important game for them.”

The Blues will put to the test three players seeing their first preseason action, including the debut of Pius Suter, who will center Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou to see if this is a fit for the start of the season.

“Looking forward to seeing them playing together,” Montgomery said. “Suter’s biggest strength is his brain and his puck support offensively and defensively. He seems to come up with pucks or be available for pucks from teammates, and I think that ability to connect a line is going to lead to more possession time whoever he plays with. But we look forward to seeing him with Holloway and Kyrou.”

Kyrou and defenseman Justin Faulk will also be making their preseason debuts.

- - -

With the Stars bringing a loaded lineup, this will be a tremendous test for some of the younger guys trying to either earn a job or establish footprints for when they do get the call up down the road.

That includes Otto Stenberg, the No. 25 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, who will play on a line with Jake Neighbours and Nick Bjugstad.

“It’s been fun,” Stenberg said. “Game is so much quicker, like all the players I play against, it’s so much better and the D’s are heavier.”

Montgomery has really come to appreciate the forward’s game throughout camp.

“I have found in the beginning he complemented (Robert) Thomas and (Jimmy) Snuggerud well and now he seems to be complementing everybody well,” Montgomery said of Stenberg. “I have really grown to like him more and more throughout camp.”

“I think it’s always been my type of game,” Stenberg said. “I think I can play in different roles on the team and different lines (and) execute it pretty well. I think I can change my game if I’m playing fourth line or first line. I think that’s one good thing. You can battle for a spot on four lines instead of I guess one line or two lines.”

Also, fellow 2023 first-round pick, Dalibor Dvorsky, the No. 10 overall pick who scored his first preseason goal on Saturday in a 4-2 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks, he’s continued to impress.

“I think he’s gotten better and better,” Montgomery said. “I thought last game was better than the first two, and I think in practice he’s become more noticeable to understanding to how we’re wanting to play and he’s playing faster.”

- - -

Tonight, it’ll be Mathieu Joseph’s turn to take a crack on a line at center.

Joseph, who primarily plays wing, will center Alexandre Texier and Milan Lucic.

“If you have the ability to play all three forward positions, that puts you definitely in a little bit of an advantage,” Montgomery said. “’Mojo’ has that ability, Texier has that ability, Stenberg looks like he has that ability, (Aleksanteri) Kaskimaki comes to mind as well. That just gives you more flexibility as a coach so you can plug and play a guy. And if you have the hockey sense and the determination to play up, say, on the second line or the third and fourth, that adds to your value to the team.”

- - -

Speaking of Neighbours, who has been Brayden Schenn’s wing man throughout camp, he’s getting himself caught up after missing the first few days due to personal reasons and will play his second straight game.

“I think it’s been long enough now where you get your footing back, your timing back, things like that,” Neighbours said. “Obviously game speed’s a whole another level. Looking forward to being back in the lineup tonight and continuing to build off the first one.”

And where does he put his game currently?

“Maybe a six out of 10, but that’s why you have preseason,” Neighbours said. “Just continue to get better. It’ll be a good test tonight. I think Dallas is bringing a pretty good lineup. It’ll be an NHL-type game and I’m excited for that. You’ve just got to keep building and ultimately have your game where it needs to be by October 9th. Just continuing to work towards that.”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Dylan Holloway-Pius Suter-Jordan Kyrou

Jake Neighbours-Nick Bjugstad-Otto Stenberg

Alexey Toropchenko-Dalibor Dvorsky-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Milan Lucic-Mathieu Joseph-Alexandre Texier

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Theo Lindstein-Matthew Kessel

Leo Loof-Hunter Skinner

Joel Hofer is projected to start and play two periods; Colten Ellis will be the backup.

- - -

Stars Projected Lineup:

Jason Robertson-Roope Hintz-Mikko Rantanen

Sam Steel-Matt Duchene-Tyler Seguin

Justin Hryckowian-Wyatt Johnston-Mavrik Bourque

Oskar Back-Radek Faksa-Nathan Bastian

Artuu Hyry could be the extra F

Esa Lindell-Miro Heiskanen

Thomas Harley-Nils Lundkvist

lian Bichsel-Ilya Lyubushkin

Vladislav Kolyachonok could be the extra D

Casey DeSmith is projected to start in goal; Remi Poirier would be the backup.

Every season, NHL teams go through some adversity, whether that’s a loss of personnel from injury or a trade that sends a key roster player from a falling team to a contender.

Nonetheless, there will be a handful of players who will be given a bigger role than their team might’ve planned for.

Here are three NHL players who will likely become more important to their teams than they initially expected this season.

Anton Lundell, C, Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers have already encountered a couple of obstacles, and the regular season is yet to begin.

Earlier in the off-season, news surfaced that left winger Matthew Tkachuk would be out until December-ish with a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia.

That wasn’t the last of bad news that the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions would receive before opening night.

Over the weekend, the Panthers announced captain Aleksander Barkov suffered MCL and ACL injuries during practice and is expected to be out for seven to nine months.

With Barkov likely being sidelined for the regular season, there is a grand opportunity for Anton Lundell in Florida’s top six. The Finnish center has been a solid two-way pivot on the Panthers’ third line ever since he entered the NHL in 2021-22.

He’s been a consistent player who can score between 40 and 50 points next season, or even more in an elevated role. He put up a career-high 45 points in 79 games last season while averaging 16:43 in ice time.

NHL Goalies Who May Be More Important To Their Teams Than ExpectedAnything can happen during a season in any sport. In an NHL season, players go through injuries, dips in form, off-ice issues and other instances that can affect their campaign.

Zayne Parekh, D, Calgary Flames

It’s no secret the Calgary Flames are considering moving defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Even Flames captain Mikael Backlund said he’s getting traded.

Considering Calgary is projected to miss the playoffs in the final season of Andersson's contract, he could be dealt for futures, including draft picks, or young players who may not be ready to be a full-time NHLer.

Nonetheless, if Andersson gets traded, someone else will have to step up on the blueline. That could be 19-year-old D-man Zayne Parekh.

Aside from MacKenzie Weegar, Parekh is the brightest spot on Calgary’s defense. He only featured in one NHL game last season, but he scored a goal and finished the evening with a plus-three rating and 20:31 of ice time.

With one goal in three pre-season games so far, Parekh has drawn positive reviews and could earn a full-time spot in the NHL lineup. If Andersson gets moved, the fellow right-handed Parekh could even be relied upon to produce from the back end.

At any rate, the rookie blueliner could become a lot more important than he expected for the Flames this season.

Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Like Parekh, Ivan Demidov is entering his rookie campaign for the Montreal Canadiens this season. He was exposed to the NHL last year for two regular-season games and the first round of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals.

Demidov showed great promise offensively, scoring four points during his short stint last season. Building on that campaign, Demidov is set to start this season on the second line.

The right winger will likely be accompanied by center Kirby Dach and left winger Patrik Laine, which may lead to Demidov’s workload being a little heavier than expected.

Dach has struggled with injury issues during much of his career so far, and he had 22 points in 57 games besides starting last season on the second line. While Laine is a veteran goal-scorer and is effective on the power play, he isn’t as consistent during 5-on-5 play, scoring just five times at even strength in 52 games last year.

The linemates should complement each other, but Demidov may have to be a serious line-driver in his first full NHL season instead of being the supplementary piece.

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.

The Ottawa Senators continue their preseason with the second of two neutral-site exhibition games in Quebec City on Tuesday night. After a 2-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, this time the Sens face the Montreal Canadiens. This game will  have English TV coverage on TSN2, RDS, and TSN5 at 7 pm.

Part of the reason the Senators are in Quebec City for these games is to build a fan base with people who lost their beloved Nordiques 30 years ago. It will be interesting to see where the crowd's allegiances lie.

The Habs are disliked by many in Quebec City, but they've likely won over some of the under-35 crowd who, other than history books or old highlights, have had no exposure to the Nordiques or the rivalry. Given that Montreal is two hours closer to Quebec City than Ottawa, it's also likely that a few more Montrealers bought tickets and made the trip.

The Senators' lines this morning suggest that they'll go with a roster on Tuesday split right down the middle between vets and hopefuls, though morning skates in the preseason aren't always reliable predictors of what we'll actually see at game time.  But let's work with what we have.

The top six forwards – Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Claude Giroux, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, and Michael Amadio – are all locked in and tuning up for opening night. Meanwhile, Olle Lycksell, Stephen Haliday, Arthur Kaliyev, Zack MacEwen, Jan Jenik, and Hayden Hodgson are hoping to squeeze onto the NHL roster as the 13th man or an injury replacement.

On the back end, Carter Yakemchuk, Nik Matinpalo, Donovan Sebrango, and Jordan Spence continue to try to impress. Spence will be on the team, but Travis Green hasn't had many opportunities to evaluate him in live fire action, so he's still trying to determine where he fits in as Spence learns the team's systems.

Sens lines this morning, as reported by the Coming in Hot podcast.

Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
Greig - Pinto - Amadio
Lycksell - Halliday - Kaliyev
MacEwen- Jenik - Hodgson

Sanderson - Zub
Sebrango - Spence
Yakemchuk - Matinpalo
Thomson

Merilainen

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators Fans
Ullmark Sharp In Senators Victory, Embraces The Struggle
Stephen Halliday's NHL Stock Continues to Rise
Former Senator Josh Norris Embraces New Opportunity To Prove Himself
Will This Be Shane Pinto's Breakout Year With The Senators?
Drake Batherson Joins Ottawa Senators List Of Preseason Injury Concerns
After Two Broken Clavicles, Kaliyev Targets Capital Comeback

Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka is one of the most intriguing prospects that the Detroit Red Wings have at their disposal, and he's been getting valuable experience and playing time thus far in Detroit's pre-season schedule. 

Monday night's setback against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena was Sandin-Pellikka's latest introduction to play at the NHL level, and he's held his own, having already logged heavy minutes. 

In his first preseason game, a 3-2 Detroit win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sept. 23, Sandin-Pellikka led all Red Wings skaters with 22:36 of ice time. He was literally seconds from leading all skaters in ice time in the next game, another 3-2 victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres, finishing just 13 seconds behind Moritz Seider. 

He also ranked first and second in total ice time in Detroit’s most recent games, against the Sabres in Buffalo and on Monday night against Pittsburgh, respectively.

During each of the aforementioned games, he's seen ample time on Detroit's power-play, living up to his reputation of being, as goaltender John Gibson called it, "an offensive defenseman." 

'Yeah, tonight was really my first night playing with him," Gibson said. "In Traverse City, I was going against him the whole time. You can definitely tell that he's an offensive defenseman. He's joining the rush, shooting the puck. He looked solid out there tonight." 

Following Detroit's choppy 2-1 setback against the Penguins on Monday, head coach Todd McLellan bluntly said that multiple players who were on the ice needed their performances to improve, but that Sandin-Pellikka was not one of them. 

"I Wasn't Impressed": Todd McLellan Speaks Bluntly After Red Wings Play Flat In 2-1 Loss To Penguins The good news for the Detroit Red Wings is that their 2-1 setback at Little Caesars Arena against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins is that it won't count against them in the standings, as it was the fifth pre-season game of their schedule.

"I thought that Axe was, overall tonight, was certainly one or two on our blue line, as far as tonight's game went," McLellan said. "I thought he played a pretty solid outing. In our end, he handled the pressure and made plays from the red line in, he was dynamic and moved pucks around." 

"He was a factor. He wasn't someone I walked into the coach's room after the game and talked about or worried about, other than the positive side." 

That wasn’t the case for several other players who, although not mentioned by name, surely heard about it from McLellan behind closed doors.

"There were some others back there that need to get better," McLellan said.

Sandin-Pellikka chose to wear jersey No. 44, becoming the first Detroit defenseman to do so since Christian Djoos, who appeared in 36 games during the 2020-21 season. Before Djoos, the number had been worn by Anders Eriksson, later traded for Chris Chelios in 1999, and by Russian Five member Viacheslav Fetisov, who eventually switched to No. 2. 

The Montreal Canadiens made it back into the playoffs during the 2024-25 season, and a big reason for it was the incredible play of defenseman Lane Hutson. The 21-year-old cemented himself as a legitimate star during his rookie year, as he posted six goals, 60 assists, and 66 points in 82 games. With this, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. 

Hutson's offense from the point during his rookie year was very impressive, and he has now been rewarded for it. 

Sportsnet recently released their rankings for the top 50 NHL players heading into the 2025-26 season, and Hutson just made the cut by grabbing the No. 50 spot.

When noting that Hutson had such an awesome rookie season, it makes all the sense in the world that he has been included in Sportsnet's top 50 players rankings. There is no question that he made a big impact in 2024-25, and he should only get better as he continues to gain more NHL experience. 

A few players who were ranked just ahead of Hutson on Sportsnet's list include Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning), Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars), and Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils).

It will now be interesting to see what kind of year Hutson has in 2025-26 with the Canadiens from here. If he takes another big step forward in his development, it would not be surprising in the slightest if he lands a higher ranking from Sportsnet next year. 

A former Philadelphia Flyers forward is available for the taking, as Nicolas Aube-Kubel has been placed on waivers by the Minnesota Wild. 

Aube-Kubel signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild in free agency back in July. This was after the 6-foot forward recorded one goal, one assist, 19 penalty minutes, 40 hits, and a minus-5 rating in 22 games this past season split between the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. 

Aube-Kubel was selected by the Flyers with the 48th overall pick of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he played in his first four NHL seasons with the Flyers from 2018-19 to 2021-22, where he recorded 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points, 69 penalty minutes, 233 hits, and a minus-4 rating in 102 games. 

Aube-Kubel's time with the Flyers ended when he was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Avalanche during the 2021-22 season. This ended up benefiting Aube-Kubel quite well, as he won the Stanley Cup during his lone season as a member of the Avalanche. 

Since his time with the Flyers, Aube-Kubel has had stints with the Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Sabres, Rangers, and now Wild. It will be interesting to see if another team claims him off waivers or if he clears them from here. 

The Chicago Blackhawks will take on the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night in their fourth preseason game out of six. It will be the first of three home games at the United Center to close out the exhibition season for Chicago. 

This is the second time that the Blackhawks will face Detroit, but this one will feature many more NHL-ready players on both sides. 

Chicago's roster for this game will be as follows: 

After another big roster trim on Monday, it is not surprising to see this roster filled with players who will be playing on opening night in Florida. 

There are still a couple of battles taking place in camp, however. If Colton Dach has secured his spot on the team already, which is likely but not guaranteed, that means that Lukas Reichel, Oliver Moore, and Ryan Greene are the ones fighting for a final spot at forward. 

Although Sam Lafferty is likely to make the team, he could be someone who is scratched often in favor of a young player who makes the team. He won't play in this game so others can get a chance to play. 

Moore has been the most notable of the three, but Reichel has been good, and Greene wins a ton of face-offs, which has been a problem for the Blackhawks in recent years. Of the three, Greene and Moore will go in this one. 

On defense, you know the five who are locks to play if healthy. There is also Louis Crevier, but he is almost a lock to make the team, so he doesn't have to be put on waivers. A team would almost certainly claim him. 

In this game, Alex Vlasic will miss due to a lower-body injury. He is day-to-day and won't practice on Tuesday. 

You'll see Ethan Del Mastro play and compete for the job. He can be sent down without the use of waivers. There is also Matt Grzelcyk, who is a veteran looking to make an NHL team out of camp. Nolan Allan, who played against the Wild on Sunday, is not in the lineup. He is the fourth guy competing for the final roster spot. Allan is also waiver exempt.

There are upsides and pros to keeping any one of these players on the team early in the year. By the end of the season, all of the young players will have at least played a few games. 

In net, the Blackhawks are dressing Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom. In the regular season, Knight will be the starter and Soderblom the backup. We will wait to see how they handle their duties in this game vs Detroit. 

Outside of a few more roster battles, as mentioned before, this is what the group will look like on opening night. Preseason NHL hockey is looking more and more like the real thing with each passing day. 

How To Watch

Those looking for the game in the Chicago area can find it on CHSN. Out-of-market viewings can be found on ESPN+. The puck will drop at the United Center at 7:00 PM CT.

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

ST. 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.

8 MORE YEARS OF THE THRILL

🗞️ Full details » https://t.co/M3RiI5ylvMpic.twitter.com/uezQzj3ntX

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) September 30, 2025

The Wild originally offered Kaprizov an eight-year deal worth $128 million ($16 million AAV) but he rejected that offer.

A few weeks later, the Wild upped the offer by one million a year and Kaprizov has accepted the offer.

Kaprizov, 28, has 185 goals, 201 assists, 386 points, 62 power-play goals, 27 game-winning goals, 1,129 shots, a 20:24 time-on-ice per game average and a plus-71 rating in 319 games played across five NHL seasons, all with Minnesota.

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 Make Cuts, Training Camp Roster Down To 31 PlayersST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced on Monday some cuts to its training camp roster. The roster is now down to 31 players.

- 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 Minnesota Wild and superstar Kirill Kaprizov have agreed on an NHL record-breaking contract extension.

Kaprizov signed an eight-year deal carrying a $17 million average annual value, the team announced following reports from ESPN's Kevin Weekes, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic's Michael Russo.   

That $136-million contract, which runs from 2026-27 through 2033-34, is the most expensive in NHL history. The previous high, in terms of total value, was Alex Ovechkin's 13-year, $124-million contract he signed with the Washington Capitals in 2008.

Kaprizov's cap hit is also the richest in NHL history, being a $3 million increase over the $14 million Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl agreed to last September.

This new contract for the Russian left winger comes weeks after he reportedly rejected a $128-million deal, which was likely spread out to $16 million across eight years, earlier in the month.

Kaprizov is entering his sixth NHL season with Minnesota. He’s never played a full 82-game campaign as he battled injuries over the last few years. However, he’s proved to be one of the best offensive minds in the league.

Last season, Kaprizov played 41 games and scored 25 goals and 56 points. Despite only featuring in half the season, he was still the third-highest scorer on the Wild, just four points behind second-place Marco Rossi and two goals behind leading scorer Matt Boldy.

After missing some time, Kaprizov made it back before the Stanley Cup playoffs. He led the way for the Wild, scoring five goals and nine points in six games during a first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The 28-year-old has proven his value to the Wild, and he's received Hart Trophy votes in four of his five seasons to date. His best finish in Hart Trophy voting was in 2021-22, when he recorded a career-high 47 goals and 61 assists for 108 points in 81 appearances. The then-sophomore finished seventh in the Hart race.

Kaprizov has the third-best odds of winning the Hart Trophy this upcoming season, according to  sportsbook BetMGM. Sitting behind Connor McDavid of the Oilers and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, Kaprizov’s odds are set at 9.00 (+800).

Despite only being a member of the Wild for five seasons, Kaprizov owns a few franchise records, including the most points in a season (108 in 2021-22).

He is also fifth in all-time scoring for the Wild. Going into the 2025-26 season, Kaprizov has 386 points as he chases Mikko Koivu's franchise-leading 709 points.

Kaprizov was one of the NHL's top pending UFAs in the summer of 2026. He skips the free-agent market, while McDavid has yet to sign a contract extension with the Oilers. Other pending UFAs include the Golden Knights' Jack Eichel, Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor, New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin and the Capitals' Ovechkin.

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.

The Florida Panthers' hopes for a Stanley Cup three-peat were dealt a significant blow last week when captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a serious knee injury during training camp.

Barkov is expected to miss the entire regular season, and there's no certainty he'll return for the playoffs.

Barkov's injury generated conjecture over how the Panthers intend to replace him. With their captain out for the season and left winger Matthew Tkachuk sidelined until December or January, they have plenty of cap flexibility once both players are placed on long-term injured reserve to bolster their roster.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski cited a rumor circulating that suggested the Panthers target Evgeni Malkin. The 39-year-old center is eligible for UFA status next summer.

Kingerski debunked that rumor, pointing out that it was tied to comments made by Malkin that were misunderstood when he was asked if he would consider a trade this year. He mentioned Brad Marchand's trade to the Panthers last season worked out for the former Boston Bruins captain, but he didn't know how he would react if the Penguins attempted to move him.

If Malkin were willing to accept a trade, Kingerski believed the Panthers could be a good fit.

For now, the Panthers intend to look to within their roster and their system to offset Barkov's absence. If they do go the trade route at some point, they might have younger targets than Malkin in mind, preferably someone who plays a solid two-way game like Barkov.

Like Sidney Crosby, Malkin Deserves To End Career On His TermsThere are certainly a lot of stories coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp in 2025, even if the pre-season is still in its infancy. 

In Chicago, Blackhawks left winger Lukas Reichel was the subject of recent trade speculation. On Sept. 7, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Timesreported Reichel thought he would be traded to the Edmonton Oilers at one point during the summer.

Chosen in the first round of the 2020 draft, Reichel has struggled to establish himself as a top-six winger. On Sept. 11, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said it was understood that the Blackhawks could move the 23-year-old if they found a suitable trade partner. He added that Reichel understood it might be time for a chance.

On Monday, Scott Powers of The Athletic reported the Blackhawks had informed teams that Reichel is available. However, he isn't certain if the young forward will be traded, demoted or remain on the roster when the season opens next week.

In the past, the rebuilding Blackhawks could afford to be patient with Reichel's development. However, with several promising youngsters in their deep prospect pool pushing for NHL spots, it may be time to move him to a club where he'll have a second chance to reach his potential.

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I shudder to think what the Knights may do with a top-five offense that added Mitch Marner, a perennial 100-point threat with excellent playmaking and defensive ability that you can play in any situation.

It does make a lot of logical sense to play Marner and Jack Eichel, a worthy MVP candidate last season, on separate lines given their ability to drive play themselves. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, at least early in the season, with the Knights toying with the idea of stacking their top line. It’s not something they’ve ever had the luxury to do; while they’ve gone after some big names, an Eichel-Marner combo would be the best they ever had, and arguably a top-five duo in the league.

That Marner cost them nothing but cap space should push the Knights offense to an even higher level. To date, only one team in the cap era, the 2021-22 Panthers with Jonathan Huberdeau (115 points), Aleksander Barkov (88 points) and Sam Reinhart (82), has ever averaged more than four goals per game. Can the Knights do this? On paper, I think it’s totally possible. THN Yearbook & Fantasy Guide projects Eichel and Marner to combine for 199 points this season.

It won’t cost the Knights a balanced lineup, either, considering Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson are as good as you can get with your No. 2 and 3 centers. Mark Stone is still a fantastic Selke-level winger when healthy, and Pavel Dorofeyev (35 goals in 82 games), Ivan Barbashev (21 even-strength goals) and Brett Howden (22 even-strength goals) can provide scoring from the other lines. The Knights can throw out three scoring lines on a nightly basis no matter how they configure their players.

There are no shortage of quality fantasy options here with Eichel and Marner both worth first-round picks in standard 12- or 14-team leagues, and then having a minimum of three others – Dorofeyev, Hertl, Theodore – worth rostering even in the shallowest of leagues.

Where the Knights will certainly feel a hit, however, is the absence of Alex Pietrangelo due to injury. There’s no replacing a player of his caliber and it puts a lot of emphasis on their current top trio, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb and Noah Hanifin, to pick up the slack. Zach Whitecloud joins the top four, but the jury’s still out on a defensemen entering his age-29 season who has never averaged more than 18 minutes per game. Jeremy Lauzon, who will likely anchor their third pairing, is worth noting due to his significant potential for hits, who played himself into banger league relevance after leading the league with 386 hits in 2023-24.

Goaltending is somewhat dicey if only because the Knights have zero depth behind Adin Hill. At one point they had a parade of capable backups, but Akira Schmid played in just five games last season and through four seasons has started just 36 games. Hill is coming off the first season in which he appeared in at least 50 games, and his play held up a lot better than I thought, but there’s little margin for error. At least with Ilya Samsonov last season, he brought plenty of experience and still had stretches where he was very reliable, including a perfect 4-0-0 in December last season with a .948 SP and 1.25 GAA.

Prediction:

Even with some question marks regarding their depth on defense and in net, the Knights win their third division banner in four seasons with an outstanding offense. Even with a new team, Marner acclimates himself well with the Knights in the Western Conference, where he can live with relative anonymity compared to being the hometown franchise savior in Toronto.

A looming free agency for Eichel has very little cause for concern given how well he’s fit on the Knights. With plenty of deals expiring this season and the next – Karlsson, Stone, Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Jeremy Lauzon among them – the Knights have the cap space and plenty of proof they can be a contender for season to come, making it easy to convince Eichel to stay.

As the Central Division teams beat each other into oblivion with the divisional playoff format, the Knights will have a clear path to the conference final and beyond. Their main rival remains the Oilers, who don’t offer as much depth as the Knights and have even bigger questions in goal.

All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.

Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to record-breaking $136 million extension originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Kirill Kaprizov can skate to the bank.

The Russian forward signed a record-breaking contract extension with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday worth $136 million across eight years.

The deal is the richest in NHL history in total money and average annual value ($17 million). Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin held the previous record for total money ($124 million) and Edmonton Oilers All-Star Leon Draisaitl held the previous record for AAV ($14 million).

Kaprizov will play the 2025-26 season on the final year of the five-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Wild in 2021. His new extension will kick in with the 2026-27 season.

The eight-year deal will be one of the last in the NHL, as the league’s new collective bargaining agreement will limit players re-signing with their own teams to seven-year maximums. Free agents joining new teams can sign for a maximum of six years.

The Wild selected Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in January 2021 and went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. In 2021-22, he set team records in single-season goals (47) and points (108) and earned the first of three straight All-Star appearances.

Kaprizov notched 25 goals and 31 assists across 41 games in 2024-25 before a lower-body injury cut his season short.

The Wild open the 2025-26 regular season against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Oct. 9, as they look to win their first playoff series since 2014-15.

Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to record-breaking $136 million extension originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kirill Kaprizov can skate to the bank.

The Russian forward signed a record-breaking contract extension with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday worth $136 million across eight years.

The deal is the richest in NHL history in total money and average annual value ($17 million). Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin held the previous record for total money ($124 million) and Edmonton Oilers All-Star Leon Draisaitl held the previous record for AAV ($14 million).

Kaprizov will play the 2025-26 season on the final year of the five-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Wild in 2021. His new extension will kick in with the 2026-27 season.

The eight-year deal will be one of the last in the NHL, as the league’s new collective bargaining agreement will limit players re-signing with their own teams to seven-year maximums. Free agents joining new teams can sign for a maximum of six years.

The Wild selected Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in January 2021 and went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. In 2021-22, he set team records in single-season goals (47) and points (108) and earned the first of three straight All-Star appearances.

Kaprizov notched 25 goals and 31 assists across 41 games in 2024-25 before a lower-body injury cut his season short.

The Wild open the 2025-26 regular season against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Oct. 9, as they look to win their first playoff series since 2014-15.