Category: NHL

The Pittsburgh Penguins were back at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for another day of training camp on Sunday, and there was a big emphasis on special teams. 

Players from Groups A and B warmed up on separate rinks before scrimmaging for 45 minutes. Instead of the usual 5v5 scrimmage, each team rotated between having two-minute power plays. 

Ville Koivunen was one of the standouts during the power play scrimmage. He scored the first goal for Team Black when he banked it off a defender and in. He was later showcasing his strong vision with some of his passes in the offensive zone. 

He's had the opportunity to skate with some of the Penguins' top players at camp, including Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson, and confirmed after practice that he's starting to build some more chemistry with them. 

"Yeah, of course," Koivunen said. "I know how they play and what they want to do on the ice, so that's helped a lot." 

Koivunen got to spend time on Crosby's line to end the 2024-25 season and looked comfortable, notching seven points in eight games. He also got time on Evgeni Malkin's line, but appears more likely to at least start the season on Crosby's line.

Speaking of Malkin, he beat Sergei Murashov five-hole to give Team Black a 3-0 lead over Team Gold after Tommy Novak made it 2-0 a few seconds prior. Malkin had his legs during Saturday's 4-1 preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, and that didn't change on Sunday. 

Benjamin Kindel continued to show his strong hockey IQ and playmaking ability when he threaded a beautiful pass through traffic from the blue line to set up Danton Heinen for Team Gold's first goal. Kindel has looked more comfortable as training camp has progressed and had the opportunity to play with the NHL regulars on Saturday. 

'Inspiring': Penguins' Top Goaltending Prospect Reflects On Fleury, Game To Remember Marc-Andre Fleury's final game in Pittsburgh was an unforgettable experience for many, fans and longtime teammates alike. 

He never looked out of place and used his skating ability to get some quality chances, just as he did in two previous preseason games. It's still unlikely that he gets a nine-game tryout, but he's not super far away from being an NHL player. 

Defenseman Caleb Jones cut the lead to 4-2 at the end of the power play portion of the scrimmage before the format switched to 6-on-5. Both teams got to work with an extra attacker for the last few minutes of the scrimmage and it resulted in a 7-3 win for Team Black. 

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson were on PP1 for Team Black, while Tommy Novak, Justin Brazeau, Ville Koivunen, Anthony Mantha, and Kris Letang were on PP2. 

Team Gold's top power play consisted of Ben Kindel, Philip Tomasino, Tristan Broz, Filip Hallander, and Caleb Jones. The second PP unit featured Robby Fabbri, Valtteri Puustinen, Matt Dumba, Avery Hayes, and Broz. 

The Penguins will play their fifth preseason game on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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According to PuckPedia, former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ronnie Attard has been placed on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche. 

Attard, 26, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche back in July. This was after he posted seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points, and 80 penalty minutes in 66 American Hockey League (AHL) games split between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Bakersfield Condors in 2024-25. 

Today’s waiver wire:https://t.co/so7qgeK2D3pic.twitter.com/GKl3z6N1CO

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 28, 2025

Attard was selected by the Flyers with the 72nd overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In 29 games over three seasons with the Flyers, the White Lake, Michigan native recorded two goals, four assists, six points, 33 blocks, 49 hits, and a minus-1 rating. 

Attard's time with the Flyers organization ended when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers back in November of this past season in exchange for defenseman Ben Gleason. 

If Attard clears waivers, he will be eligible to be sent down to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. However, it will be interesting to see if another team claims the 6-foot-3 right-shot defenseman off waivers.

There’s a fun little paradox to K’Andre Miller’s move from the New York Rangers to the Carolina Hurricanes.

On one level, the big defenseman is going from The City That Never Sleeps – and the hyper-bustling borough of Manhattan – to the take-your-time, low-and-slow South. But on another level, he’s joining a Hurricanes team known for playing the game at such a high pace that it leaves most other teams strewn in their wake.

On both fronts, Miller is happy with his new home and team. “We always had great battles when I was on the other side in New York,” he said. “They have such a fast team and get up and down the ice in a fast motion. They do everything as a team. It’s a fun group to watch, and they’ve had a lot of success recently, so I’m excited.”

Miller also joked that he’s happy he no longer has to worry about getting hemmed in his own zone when playing against the Canes – he’ll now be a part of the relentless attack that has made Carolina one of the Eastern Conference’s best squads.

Now, the Hurricanes have yet to break through to another Stanley Cup final, but an effective summer by GM Eric Tulsky has Carolina once again threatening to make a run for the franchise’s second championship. Along with Miller on defense, Tulsky also brought in one of the top forwards available this summer when he inked erstwhile Winnipeg Jets left winger Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year contract.

In Miller, Tulsky sees a player who will slot right in with what Carolina wants to do on the ice. “We think he’s a great fit for us,” Tulsky said. “He’s a really powerful skater who can close out effectively and take away time and space. The aggressive way we play will suit him very well. He’s also very strong in front of the net, which is also helpful and important. His skating and recovery speed will be effective for us. When we want guys to get up the ice, they need to be able to get back, too.”

Miller came to Carolina via trade on July 1, with Tulsky sending prospect defenseman Scott Morrow, a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional first-round pick in either ’26 or ‘27 to the Rangers. Miller, an RFA, then signed an eight-year, $60-million ($7.5-million AAV) deal with Carolina. Tulsky said talks between the two teams had gone on for a while. And based on all the rumblings that had surrounded the Rangers throughout the season, that’s not surprising. Before Miller, New York traded away Kaapo Kakko, who the team had selected second overall back in 2019, and Rangers lifer Chris Kreider. “There was a lot of noise throughout the season,” Miller said. “It was definitely in the back of my head that something could happen. I loved my time in New York, but I’m excited for what’s to come in Carolina.”

The Hurricanes Used A Unique Strategy To Acquire K'Andre MillerIn order to acquire K’Andre Miller, the Carolina Hurricanes used a unique strategy. 

And while Raleigh is hardly a backwater – that area of North Carolina is part of ‘The Triangle,’ a research-and-tech hub that has grown leaps and bounds in the past 20 years – there will be cultural differences from New York City, one of the most famous metropolises in the world. And that’s just fine with Miller. “I’m super excited for that aspect,” he said. “The style of living being a bit of a slower pace, I’m really going to like that. Being from Minnesota, I think it will be comparable.”

The biscuits and barbecue will certainly be better down there, even if the bagel quality takes a step back. But truly, Miller is there for the hockey. Playing for coach Rod Brind’Amour is another plus when it comes to the Hurricanes. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about Rod,” Miller said. “I can’t wait to get to know him and talk hockey. A number of guys reached out to me and said, ‘You’re really lucky to be in this position to have that coach and a team like Carolina supporting you.’ So, I’m super excited for the whole thing.”

Playing for Carolina isn’t for everyone. Famously, Mikko Rantanen lasted only 13 games with the Canes, and the team does play a very specific, structured system that requires maximum buy-in. But the payoff is obvious. Since Brind’Amour took over, Carolina has been a beast, reaching the conference final three times in his seven seasons as coach.

The problem recently has been pushing through to that Stanley Cup final. Carolina’s offense has dried up completely at the worst possible times in the post-season, and while it’s no shame to get shut down by the Florida Panthers, at some point, you need to score goals against good teams. Miller’s ability to make plays through the neutral zone and get pucks up to forwards will help that cause. And, at 25, he’s just starting to hit his prime as an NHL blueliner. Let’s not forget, the player he’s essentially replacing on Carolina’s back end is Brent Burns, who turned 40 last season.

However, still starring on the Hurricanes’ blueline is Jaccob Slavin, a two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner and a player who will serve as a potential partner and certainly a mentor. “He’s definitely one of the guys I’ve tried to model my game after the past couple of years,” Miller said. “He’s obviously a generational player on this team, and it’s going to be great sharing ideas and sharing the ice with him.”

So, it’s a remix of a lineup for the Canes heading into 2025-26, but it’s also one of the strongest units the franchise has put together in recent years. Is it enough to finally break through in the Eastern Conference? Slow and steady wins the race – even if Miller and Carolina will play fast in order to do so.

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This article appeared in our 2025 Meet the New Guys issue. The cover story for this issue features the newest Vegas Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, as he looks to shine in the desert. We also include features on new Jets forward Jonathan Toews, Canadiens D-man Noah Dobson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top 'new guys' from each NHL division.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The NHL saw several players hit the waiver wire on Sep. 28, and a few of them were former New York Rangers. This is because the Buffalo Sabres placed defenseman Zac Jones and forward Jake Leschyshyn on waivers. 

Jones became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer after the Rangers elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. From there, the left-shot defenseman signed a one-year contract with the Sabres. 

Today’s waiver wire:https://t.co/so7qgeK2D3pic.twitter.com/GKl3z6N1CO

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 28, 2025

In 46 games last season with the Rangers, Jones recorded one goal, 10 assists, 11 points, and 46 blocks. He also scored one goal in two games for the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, in 2024-25. In 115 games over five seasons with the Blueshirts, he posted four goals, 24 assists, 28 points, and a minus-10 rating. 

Leschyshyn also did not receive a qualifying offer from the Rangers this off-season and ended up signing with the Sabres. This was after he spent the entirety of this past season in the AHL with Hartford. In 69 games with the AHL squad in 2024-25, he had 13 goals and 24 points. 

Leschyshyn played in 14 games with the Rangers from 2022-23 to 2023-24, where he had zero points, 17 hits, and a minus-4 rating. 

The Chicago Blackhawks have made a roster move, as they have placed forward Dominic Toninato on waivers. 

Toninato played in five games this past season with the Winnipeg Jets, where he recorded zero points, seven hits, and an even plus/minus rating. He spent the bulk of the season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Manitoba Moose, however, posting 18 goals, 18 assists, 36 points, and 81 penalty minutes.

Today’s waiver wire:https://t.co/so7qgeK2D3pic.twitter.com/GKl3z6N1CO

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 28, 2025

The Blackhawks signed Toninato back in July to a two-year, two-way contract. The expectation then was that he would serve as a veteran forward for their AHL affiliate, the Rockford Ice Hogs. Now, assuming he clears waivers, he will do just that. 

In 189 career NHL games over eight seasons split between the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Winnipeg Jets, Toninato has posted 13 goals, 22 assists, 35 points, and a plus-12 rating. 

Marc-Andre Fleury's final game in Pittsburgh was an unforgettable experience for many, fans and longtime teammates alike. 

But there was one young Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect that had a front-row seat - and unique perspective - to all of it.

Goaltender Sergei Murashov, 21, was the other netminder who participated in Saturday's 4-1 pre-season win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. He manned the net for the first two periods of play, stopping 12 of 13 shots faced, and he had the best seat in the house to witness the third-period shutout performance by one of his childhood idols.

“Marc-Andre is a part of Penguins’ history, which I was watching growing up," Murashov said. "Yesterday on the bench, I caught myself, like, ‘Oh, it’s Malkin, it’s Crosby, Fleury, Karlsson, Letang, Rust… you know, all these guys are just playing, and I’m a part of all this.' So, it’s huge for me, and I’m grateful for it. Really, truly grateful."

Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) on XSergei Murashov: "Yesterday on the bench, I caught myself, like, ‘oh, it’s Malkin, it's Crosby, Fleury, Karlsson, Letang, Rust... all these guys are just playing, and I'm a part of all this.' So, it's huge for me, and I'm grateful for it. Really, truly grateful."

He also said that, despite some language barriers, he was able to converse with and learn from Fleury throughout the evening.

“It’s an honor. It’s definitely a great honor for me to be a part of this memory of life and I’m grateful for it' moment," Murashov said. "I was a couple of times confused how to speak with him, but he’s a nice guy, he’s great, so it was pretty easy to figure out. So, overall, it was definitely a great night, great opportunity for me to learn and to watch him. Of course, we talked for a bit, but even just watching him is awesome."

Penguins Oust Blue Jackets On 'Fleury Night' In PittsburghWhat a game, what a night, and what a player.

Fleury, 40, officially called it a career at the end of last season with the Minnesota Wild, and he signed a paid tryout (PTO) contract a few weeks ago to join the Penguins for one last practice and one last pre-season game - creating a storybook-type ending by coming full-circle on a long, successful career in and out of Pittsburgh.

He joined the Penguins for practice on Friday, and he also attended Saturday's morning skate ahead of the tilt against Columbus. It was only a few short days, but Murashov learned a lot from being around Fleury, even in that short time. 

“Yeah, I asked a couple questions of him," Murashov said. "So, I will keep it with me. Like, maybe, 20 years later, I will say the same thing to another young guy. But, it’s precious for me.”

'I'm Happy It All Worked Out': Fleury, Teammates Relish Chance To Share Ice One Last TimeNormally, NHL training camp is an all-business kind of affair, and that's exactly how it's been at Pittsburgh Penguins' camp this year.

Murashov was selected by the Penguins in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He has been - in simple terms - dominant at pretty much every level he's played, and that includes a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) rookie record-breaking 11-game win streak. He posted a .913 save percentage in 15 AHL starts and a .922 save percentage for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL last season, and that followed some remarkable play for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the MHL and KHL from 2021-24, when he never had a save percentage below .925.

His performance in training camp up to this point - as well as his track record - have led many to believe that he could be a long-term solution for the Penguins at the goaltending position, which has been a sore spot for the organization since their back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 2016 and 2017. Murashov has a long way to go in terms of getting there, but the potential is more than evident.

"I really like him," Fleury said of Murashov. "He's a young goalie but still poised, and he's got some good abilities - how quick he is, how he can move, how he understands the game. He'll be very good for a long time. 

The rookie and the vet 🫶 pic.twitter.com/ZhFIzCDt5T

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 27, 2025

In a lot of ways, having Murashov and Fleury take the net in the same game was poetic, as it offered a reflection of the past as well as a glimpse into the future at the position for the Penguins. Even the atmosphere itself had that kind of reflection, as the loud, sold-out house was simultaneously a relic of past success that involved future Hall-of-Fame players on the ice and a beacon of hope for the future with some of the young talent out there, too.

There are any number of lessons that Murashov could have taken from Fleury over the couple of days he spent with him, but more than anything, the Penguins' legend served as a reminder of why the young goaltender decided to play the game in the first place.

“Obviously, the best word to describe it is ‘inspiring,'" Murashov said. "It was really inspiring how he showed up in these last couple of days. There was huge energy on the ice, off-ice, from him. I think everyone got this feeling of joy, feeling of having fun, as he’ll be playing, he’ll be smiling.

"I think it’s a reminder to just enjoy what you’re doing.”

Marc-Andre Fleury Steals Show For Penguins On Saturday It was Marc-Andre Fleury's night in Pittsburgh on Saturday as the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up their second preseason win. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by three, 4-1, thanks to two goals from Rickard Rakell, one from Sidney Crosby, and one from Ville Koivunen. 

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The Ottawa Senators continue their 2025 preseason slate on Sunday afternoon when they take on a split-squad New Jersey Devils team at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. It's the first of two preseason games in that city as the Sens try to build fan engagement in Nordiques country. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. ET.

For Ottawa, it’s the third game of their exhibition schedule after splitting a pair of matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs last week. Head coach Travis Green confirmed on Saturday that Linus Ullmark will start in goal on Sunday and is scheduled to play the full 60 minutes. The veteran netminder is looking for a sharper outing after surrendering three first-period goals in a 4–3 loss to Toronto’s “B” squad during his preseason debut.

The Sens injury list includes Drake Batherson, Nick Jensen, Lars Eller, and Tyler Kleven. Kleven and Jensen skated yesterday, and no one has been ruled out for opening night.

Only half of the Devils' training camp roster is in Quebec to face the Sens on Sunday. The other half have stayed behind to host the Washington Capitals at the same time at Prudential Center in Newark. While the rosters hadn't been released at publishing time, it's likely the Devils' higher-end players will suit up for Sunday's home game. And if that's the case, the Sens would get the Devils' B squad.

After the results of the Sens' first two preseason games, where the less talented rosters came out as the victors, we all got a good reminder not to take B squads lightly. What they lack in talent, they often make up for in motivation.

Ottawa Senators Preseason Promo Tour Rolls Into Quebec Nordiques CountryThe Ottawa Senators' six-day preseason trip to Quebec City has already been a whirlwind of bonding with that city's hockey community.

Both clubs are coming off similar seasons in 2024–25. New Jersey finished third in the Metropolitan Division with 91 points, while the Sens landed six points ahead in the standings and grabbed the final Eastern wild card spot. Each team was eliminated in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Devils’ attack last season was led by Jesper Bratt, who posted 88 points including 67 assists. Captain Nico Hischier paced the club in goals with 35. Like the Senators, New Jersey sought veteran stability in goal last year, acquiring Jacob Markstrom after four seasons in Calgary. The Swedish netminder went 26-16-6 with a 2.50 goals-against average, .900 save percentage, and four shutouts.

Ottawa’s own Swedish starter, Ullmark, put together a 25-14-3 record in 2024–25 with a .910 save percentage, 2.70 goals-against average, and four shutouts. Offensively, Tim Stützle topped the Senators with 79 points, including a team-best 55 assists. Captain Brady Tkachuk led the club with 29 goals.

New Jersey’s camp roster includes several former Senators, among them Connor Brown, Angus Crookshank, and Evgenii Dadonov, whose messed-up trade to Vegas in 2021 will cost the Sens their first-round pick next year. Stefan Noesen and Jonathan Gruden are both former Sens draft picks, while Calen Addison was at Sens camp last year.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have many young players looking to make the NHL roster out of training camp. Oliver Moore is undoubtedly one of them, and the 20-year-old forward certainly has the potential to. 

After signing his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks back in March, Moore played in his first nine NHL games and showed promise. During them, he recorded four assists and six hits. Overall, the 2023 first-round pick did not look out of place and produced decent offense. Now, he will be looking to earn a full-time role with the Blackhawks from here.

Moore certainly made a real case for himself for a spot on Chicago's roster with his preseason performance agianst the St. Louis Blues on Sep. 27. The young forward stepped up in a huge way for the Blackhawks, as he scored the club's game-winner at the 16:57 mark of the third period.

Moore showed off his excellent skill with this goal, too. After getting control of the puck in the neutral zone, Moore used his speed before beating Blues goaltender Will Cranley top shelf with a nice wrister.

While it was a nice goal, Moore's teammates on the ice did not notice at first, as they were in a scrum with the Blues players. 

a lot going on at the moment✨ pic.twitter.com/Tm7iX8g1H0

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 28, 2025

With Moore looking to make the NHL roster, scoring a goal like this certainly came at a good time for him. He will now look to build off it from here. 

As of Sunday, the Toronto Maple Leafs have not made a significant roster cut to get closer to the 23-man roster limit. They'll need to trim the roster down before their regular-season opener on Oct. 8 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Maple Leafs have two more exhibition games, both against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday and Saturday. This gives Leafs GM Brad Treliving and coach Craig Berube a bit more of a sample size to decide whether top prospect Easton Cowan will make the NHL straight out of the OHL, or start his professional career with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. 

The 20-year-old’s resume is close to being impeccable. He was named MVP of the OHL regular season and playoffs in 2024, featured in two World Junior Championships for Team Canada and was the MVP of the 2025 Memorial Cup with the London Knights to end his junior career. Additionally, Cowan led the Memorial Cup in scoring in both campaigns.

However, there is a school of thought that Cowan would benefit from easing into the focal point of the hockey universe in Toronto with the Marlies. That would avoid him being the center of attention with the Leafs in the aftermath of Knights alumni Mitch Marner leaving for the Vegas Golden Knights.  

Cowan has not seemed out of place playing with NHLers in the first three pre-season games. Last Tuesday, he set up Bobby McMann for a power-play goal in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

In the next game on Thursday, he registered an assist and a plus-four rating on the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton in a 7-2 win over the Canadiens.

The young winger had played every pre-season contest until Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Habs. 

“(Easton) did a lot of good things. He was physical, he played direct, got some opportunities on net. Overall, I liked his game,” Berube told reporters after Toronto's loss to Ottawa.

“I think the conversations I had with him before camp, he is doing those things. Simplified hockey, using his speed. Obviously, he has abilities out there with making plays and things like that, which he showed me tonight. But they were the right plays at the right time, which is important. I thought that he played direct all game and he worked and hounded, back checked, did a lot of good things.”

Why Craig Berube Can't Yet Answer Whether Easton Cowan Will Make The Maple Leafs Out Of CampEaston Cowan is going to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs at some point this year. It’s just a matter of when.

The Leafs do not have many roster spots up for grabs in training camp. With two goaltenders and likely carrying eight defensemen to start the season, Berube will be limited to 13 forwards to start the season.

Furthermore, with the addition of center Nicolas Roy and left winger Dakota Joshua as bottom-six checkers over the summer, Toronto has to decide on two players from a group of five forwards in Cowan, Nick Robertson, David Kampf, Michael Pezzetta, and Calle Jarnkrok to play on the fourth line and as an extra forward.

The advantage Toronto has with Cowan is that he is waiver-exempt and can go down to the AHL freely, whereas the other four would have to clear waivers to be sent down to the Marlies.

Cowan logically would seem to be destined to start the season at Coca-Cola Coliseum, but not because of his performance so far. The Leafs have to determine whether playing him in a feisty bottom-six role in the NHL is more beneficial to his future than playing top-line minutes and both special teams in the minors to start the season.

Sending him down would buy Treliving more time to see if there is a trade market for Robertson, who would likely get claimed if waived - Jarnkrok, or Kampf, but if Cowan continues to impress in the remainder of the pre-season, he may force the Leafs' hand and earn at least a nine-game look to start the year. 

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The Vancouver Canucks’ center depth has changed throughout the course of recent years. Only two of the team’s opening-night centres from last season have returned, while Elias Pettersson remains the only one from opening night of the 2021–22 season. With many players looking for an elevated position this year, let’s take a look at the Canucks’ full center depth chart heading into 2025–26. 

Roster Players

Elias Pettersson

Despite a down year last season, Pettersson is still the Canucks’ top center and could even push for a Selke Trophy when on his A-game. The forward has been capable of putting up 100-point seasons while locking down the opposition and putting up decent numbers in the faceoff dot. Many have seen promising things from him during the pre-season — but Pettersson will need to translate these to the regular season for Vancouver to have a successful year. 

Filip Chytil

Since being acquired by the Canucks back in February, lots of conversation has surrounded Chytil. His injury status and concussion history is something that has many fans worried, though the forward insists that he’s feeling better heading into the 2025–26 season and that he’s planning on taking things day-by-day. For what it’s worth, Chytil has also been one of the Canucks’ standouts throughout training camp and pre-season, showing off that speed and skill that could make him a very dangerous player for the opposition to face.  

Teddy Blueger

Blueger is currently entering his last season of a two-year contract with the Canucks that he signed back in 2024. A bottom-six dynamo, the forward has previously meshed well with players like Conor Garland and ex-Canuck Dakota Joshua. He’s capable of chipping in a little offence while primarily working on the defensive-side of being a forward. He has tallied back-to-back 25-point seasons with the Canucks while remaining one of the team’s most consistent penalty killers. 

Reserves/Battling For A Spot

Aatu Räty

Räty may have been one of the most talked-about players heading into training camp this year. The forward had an impressive 33-game stint with the Canucks last year, scoring seven goals and four assists, and is looking to lock down a full-time NHL role before the season starts. He worked on a lot of things during the off-season to make himself a better all-around player, his skating being a notable thing, but will face a lot of competition with fellow centers such as Max Sasson and Nils Åman also vying for a spot. 

Max Sasson

Sasson made his NHL debut in the 2024–25 season and looks to only be going up from there. The forward spent 29 games with Vancouver last year, posting three goals and four assists. He then headed back to Abbotsford to help the AHL Canucks clinch their first Calder Cup in franchise history, with this run cementing Sasson as one of the team’s most noticeable players due to his energetic style of play and high shot on goal totals. He is currently on the hunt for a full-time NHL role and is one of the favourites to claim one. 

Nils Åman

Åman’s history with the Canucks stretches back to the 2022–23 season, where he first made the team’s opening lineup. Since playing in 68 games that season, his NHL game count has decreased little by little, with the forward only playing in 19 games last season partially due to injury. Even so, he’s been one of the more-reliable bottom-six call-ups for the Canucks throughout his tenure, which could make the team more eager to keep him on the roster for longer periods of time. 

*In theory, you could also include Linus Karlsson and Joseph LaBate in this category, though neither has played in a center role much as of late, so it may be best to consider them wingers for now.  

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Braeden Cootes

If it weren’t for a boatload of nuances, Cootes would likely make the Canucks’ roster out of training camp and pre-season. The 18-year-old has impressed insurmountably since donning the Canucks colours in the middle of September, doing so while paired up with players such as Kiefer Sherwood, Evander Kane, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki. Cootes has earned an NHL opportunity, but unfortunately is unlikely to get it unless Vancouver is willing to move on from other players in their system via waiver wire. With Cootes likely returning to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL as captain, an extra season of marinating may be what the center needs to become the next Bo Horvat of the Canucks. 

Why Braeden Cootes Should Start The 2025-26 Season With The Vancouver CanucksAs the Vancouver Canucks head towards the 2025-26 season, one of the big debates revolves around 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes. After a strong showing at training camp, as well as in Vancouver's first pre-season game, debates have already started surrounding whether the 18-year-old should be on the NHL roster when the season opens. While there are positives and negatives to Cootes beginning the year with the Canucks, giving him a spot on the opening night roster could be beneficial for both the organization and the player. 

Ty Mueller

The 2024–25 season was Mueller’s first in the AHL, having come off three NCAA seasons spent with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. As a rookie, Mueller earned himself heavy defensive minutes — including during high-stakes Calder Cup Playoff games, a stint at the AHL All-Star Classic, and the trust of Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra. With one — or a few — AHL Canucks likely graduating to the NHL this season, Mueller will end up with more minutes down in Abbotsford, giving him room to showcase his skills and potentially build up an NHL campaign for the coming seasons. 

Riley Patterson

Patterson, a 19-year-old drafted 125th overall in 2024, enters his third OHL season with a new opportunity. Having previously spent two years with the Barrie Colts, Patterson is now a member of the Niagara IceDogs and currently has four assists in his first two games played. He made a great impression during the Canucks’ Prospects Showcase in mid-September, particularly during the team’s second game, after filling in on the team’s top-line after an injury to Cootes. While Patterson does still need some time to grow, the center could be a positive surprise for the Canucks in the coming seasons. 

Promising Futures

Kieren Dervin

Dervin, a prospect drafted 65th overall by the Canucks this year, is beginning his first full season in the OHL this year, but will move to the NCAA come 2026–27. A strength of his is his ability to play on both sides of the ice while chipping in a little offensively — though the level of his offensive talents will likely be explored more this year. The speedy center is still only 18, meaning he has lots of time to fully flesh out his game before looking to the NHL. 

Matthew Perkins

Perkins is a fourth-round pick from the 2023 NHL Draft. He has spent the past two seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA, and is embarking on a new opportunity with Northeastern University starting this year. Perkins will need to work on his game a little more in the coming years, though his hockey IQ seems to be a promising point in his playing style. 

Matthew Lansing

Lansing was the Canucks’ final selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, going 207th overall in the seventh round. The center’s experiences include stints with the USHL, NTDP, and OJHL, though he’ll be starting this season with Quinnipiac University of the NCAA. Lansing is known more for his defensive game and will try to showcase this more in his first NCAA season. 

Daimon Gardner 

Gardner was selected back in the 2022 NHL Draft, going 112th overall in the fourth round to Vancouver. He spent the past two seasons in the NCAA, going from a six-point season in 29 games with Clarkson University to a 14-point year in 32 games with St. Cloud State University. He’ll look to build on this offensive progression this year, in his second season with St. Cloud State. 

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

The Chicago Blackhawks started the day by cutting their roster down to 38 players, including 21 forwards, 12 defensemen, and five goaltenders. Jackson Cates, Gavin Hayes, Martin Misiak, and Stanislav Berezhnoy are all being assigned to the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs. 

On Sunday evening, the Blackhawks have a quick turnaround with a game against the Minnesota Wild. Their game day roster is as follows

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xback in action in Minnesota!👊 🆚 @mnwild 📍 Grand Casino Arena ⏰ 5:00 PM CT 📺 @CHSN__ 📰 https://t.co/He0CBe8q6t

This lineup looks a lot closer to the one that will go against the Florida Panthers on the NHL’s opening night of the season. 

In particular, Ryan Greene, Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, Ashton Cumby, Oliver Moore, AJ Spellacy, and Nick Lardis will all skate with this NHL-caliber roster to see how they fit in. 

Drew Commesso and Arvid Soderblom will be the two dressed goaltenders. Spencer Knight appears to be ready for the role of a number-one goalie, and these two will make solid backups.

The Minnesota Wild are dressing a handful of veterans who will be in the opening night lineup, but their roster for this evening is largely filled with young players and roster hopefuls looking to make the team. This is Chicago’s first chance as a mostly NHL group to face a test like this in the preseason. 

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 Grand Casino Arena (Formerly Xcel Energy Center) at 5:00 PM CT.

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

The Ottawa Senators' six-day preseason trip to Quebec City has already been a whirlwind of bonding with that city's hockey community.

The Sens held a red-carpet event with fans before their first practice at the Videotron Centre, where fans were invited to stay and watch the two on-ice sessions on Saturday morning. They held a long meet and greet with fans, signing autographs and posing for photos. They visited La Bouchée Généreuse, a foodbank in Quebec City, to help sort food donations and scrub and wash  the donation bins. Former Senators Patrick Lalime and Antoine Vermette visited Centre mère-enfant Soleil at the local children's hospital to spend time with the patients and their families.

On Sunday, they'll play the first of two preseason games in Quebec, hosting the New Jersey Devils (3 pm) before taking on the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. 

It's all very nice, of course – really nice. But it begs the question, why are they pouring this love into a neutral site? Why not just play preseason games as usual at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, where your season ticket holders live? 

It comes down to this. The Sens see opportunity in the Quebec City market. They would love to recruit Nordiques fans who entered free agency when their NHL team left town. Remarkably, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Nordiques bolting for Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche.

"I'm of the generation that had the Nordiques growing up, and the rivalry was alive and well," Sens owner Michael Andlauer said on the day the Quebec City games were announced. "If you loved the Nordiques, you didn't like the Montreal Canadiens.

"And for me, it's an opportunity to relate to the city of Quebec, as Ottawa, and continue that rivalry."

Team President Cyril Leeder echoed those comments on TSN 1200 radio.

“It’s a move on our part designed to help us expand our broadcast footprint, especially with francophone fans. Our broadcast territory goes from Kingston to Newfoundland.

"So this has been in the works for us to help grow that footprint and that fan base.”

There's no question that Quebec City remains a hockey hotbed. And if the Senators are right, and Quebec City's NHL fandom remains available to some degree, it probably won't be for much longer. With the Battle of Quebec lying dormant for 30 years, there's now an entire generation of francophone fans who didn't grow up with the rivalry, so it's quite likely that the Habs have begun to win some of them over, much to their parents' chagrin.

That will never happen with the 40-and-over crowd, of course. They remember the fierce rivalry of the Battle of Quebec, and their favourite team is now, generally speaking, the team that's playing the Habs on any given night.

But will Quebec City's fans turn out for the Sens promo tour this week because they're really interested in becoming Ottawa Senators fans, or because they want to show Andlauer and the NHL that their city and arena remain a great alternative if things ever go sideways in the capital, as they have at times in the past? 

It's probably a little from column A and a little from column B, and that's okay. The latter option is never happening, and when the Sens accounting department totals up this week's gate receipts, there's no column in the ledger for buying motivation.

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The Chicago Blackhawks had a far quieter off-season this year than they did this past summer. While this is the case, they still brought in a few new players.

One of the Blackhawks' new players is forward Dominic Toninato, as the Central Division club signed him to a two-year, $1.7 million contract in free agency.

Toninato is expected to play in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs and be a prime call-up option for the Blackhawks when injuries arise. 

Toninato certainly stood out for the Blackhawks in their most recent preseason contest against the St. Louis Blues, as he put together a multi-point performance.

At the 10:58 mark of the third period, Toninato scored the Blackhawks' first goal of the game to cut St. Louis' lead to 2-1. This goal proved to be important, as it was the start of the Blackhawks' third period comeback.

Toninato did not stop there, either, as he then recorded the primary assist on Gavin Hayes game-tying goal at the 11:25 mark of the third period. Toninato showed off his playmaking skill, too, as he beautifully set up Hayes. 

Overall, this was a good game for Toninato. It will be intriguing to see how he builds off it from here. 

NHL coaches are always looking to find new tactics or philosophies to improve their teams and get the upper hand. 

Years ago, the standard power play consisted of three forwards and two defensemen, just like a regular lineup. These days, it's the status quo to deploy four forwards and one defenseman on the man advantage. Nonetheless, teams have recently introduced a five-forward power-play unit. 

Throughout the history of the game, the power play has seen coaches attempt to be creative and improve their efficiency. We’ve seen several setups and different teams take advantage of the power play in several ways.

The umbrella and overload were the popular setups teams used, but those approaches have seen tweaks to improve their effectiveness. Now, most teams are looking to work the puck around to set up a one-timer.

Others prefer to use players on their strong sides to almost skate into a shot, a tactic Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs previously utilized.

Coaches have also introduced different ways to enter the offensive zone, with most teams using the sling shot or drop pass to generate speed and make clean offensive zone entries.

During the 2024-25 season, the Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings used the five-forward power-play unit, and did so with success. The Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens, too, have previously attempted to use the five-forward unit.

The Minnesota Wild had briefly tried it out, but with 19-year-old D-man Zeev Buium set to become a full-time NHLer, he'll likely be given the keys to the power play.

With the Leafs, Mitch Marner quarterbacked the power play with Matthews and William Nylander on the flanks, John Tavares in the bumper position and Matthew Knies as the net-front presence.

The power play's effectiveness escalated far more than it was with defenseman Morgan Rielly at the point because Marner was a greater threat to shoot the puck, his skating ability, and was just an overall better playmaker.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Leafs scored six power-play goals in six games, all of which came from the top unit. For a large part of the regular season, the Leafs used the five-forward unit and clicked at 24.8 percent, equalling the Colorado Avalanche for eighth-best in the NHL. 

The Kings, who also adopted the five-forward power play when Andrei Kuzmenko arrived in Los Angeles, found plenty of success in their first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, single-handedly keeping them in the series, converting at 40 percent across six games.

For the Kings, their setup saw Adrian Kempe quarterbacking the unit, with Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar on the flanks, Kuzemenko as the net front and Quinton Byfield in the bumper. 

"Confidence is the main thing," Kempe said after Game 2. "We got (Kuzmenko) at the deadline, and he's been great since he got here. Whether it's 5-on-5 or 5-on-4, you can tell that he's a guy that's been playing that role there before, he's skilled and makes a lot of plays."

"He's been working with the puck and without the puck, and he's been getting rewarded, and everyone on the team is happy to have him. He's been a big factor why the power play has been a lot better, too," the Swedish right winger added.

The Kings will likely continue to use this setup, but the Leafs, on the other hand, are forced to move on, at least for now.

With Marner now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, the Leafs will be starting the season with Rielly at the point. The Leafs do have forwards like Matias Maccelli and Max Domi who have the playmaking prowess to run quarterback a power-play unit. But with little to no experience doing so, the Leafs, at the very least, will be starting the season with Rielly.

The Golden Knights are experimenting with Marner at the point, doing so in his lone pre-season appearance. Shea Theodore, a defenseman with plenty of experience running the Golden Knights' power play, still features on the man advantage, but does so on the opposite flank of Jack Eichel.

Vegas were able to capitalize on the power play with Marner at the point in their 3-2 overtime win against the Utah Mammoth.

Whether that changes when the regular season starts is unknown, but it wouldn’t be unlikely to see coach Bruce Cassidy throw a five-forward unit with the likes of Marner, Eichel, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev.

It’s far too early to come up with a verdict about whether the five-forward unit is more effective than the other setups, but as teams become more confident using it, a clearer answer will emerge. The Leafs were hesitant to make the change, reverting to Rielly after the initial attempt.

“Like, five forwards is tricky,” Berube said after a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 11. “And, you know, teams are going to look at that and they're going to attack all the time on it. That's going to be their mindset to penalty kill. And it's not that I don't like five forwards. They move the puck well in the zone and do some real good things. I don't like when it goes the other way.”

If teams that use five forwards on their power play continue to click at a high percentage, teams will follow. Hockey, and sports in general, are very ‘follow the most recent trend,’ and if five forwards increases the likelihood of scoring, coaches will give it a go.

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