Yegor Chinakhov, Jake Christiansen, Kent Johnson, and Dante Fabbro provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 24 of 25 Pens shots in the 4-1 CBJ win on Wednesday night. 

Jet Greaves got to play the entire 60 minutes and played really well at times, flashing his lightning-quick glove more than a few times. 

Head Coach Dean Evason raved about the play of defenseman Jake Christiansen's play the last two nights. Evason said, "We just had a lengthy conversation about how well he played yesterday and today, how hard he played, how detailed he played, how gritty he played." Kent Johnson also said that although he has an offensive side to his game, he knows his role in the NHL and does it well. 

Jake Christiansen is going to make Don Waddell and Dean Evason's jobs hard. 

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Yegor Chinakhov scored his first goal of the preseason and had an assist.
• Jake Christiansen scored his first goal, which was on the power play.
• Kent Johnson scored a power play goal.
• Dante Fabbro scored a shorthanded empty net goal and had an assist.
• Zach Werenski recorded two assists.
• Kirill Marchenko had an assist.
• Charlie Coyle tallied his first assist.
• Jet Greaves made 24 saves on the night.

Team Stats

• The Jackets power play went 2/7 on the night.
• The Columbus PK stopped all five Penguin power plays.
• Columbus won 52% of the faceoffs.

Up Next: The Blue Jackets travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday night to take on Marc-André Fleury and the Pens. 

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- These days when entering the St. Louis Blues locker room, veer to the right and there’s defenseman Tyler Tucker, low-keyed as usual.

But there’s a difference these days: there’s smiles and laughter to go along with it, and for good reason.

For the first time in his NHL career, the 25-year-old can finally feel a bit comfortable with his surroundings; he can feel comfortable what he’s doing and most importantly, he can finally feel at home.

The NHL has always been the destination, but it’s been quite the journey for the Blues’ seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

This is Tucker’s eighth training camp, and in the previous seven, it’s always been about proving himself. There’s never been a guarantee he would land a job in the NHL.

But that’s all changed in the past year or so, so much so that instead of chasing after someone else’s job, now other’s are chasing Tucker’s position, and that’s OK with him. Because since he arrived at his first Blues training camp in 2018, it’s been quite the ride.

“It’s been a long journey but well worth it,” Tucker said.

The 6-foot-1, 204-pound left-handed shot is healthy again after the most unfortunate of injuries, a right knee injury late in the third period of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Winnipeg Jets and part of the Blues’ top six and most likely in the opening night lineup.

Through ups and downs, learning on the fly and good and bad play, recalls and options back to the American Hockey League to exceptional play, especially last season under Jim Montgomery and when inserted into the playoffs, Tucker has arrived on the scene as one of the boys.

“I feel like I’ve obviously taken a lot of steps and then had a little setback,” Tucker said. “Just kind of keep on proving throughout the camp and into the preseason and what not. Just trying to get better every day is big for me, and playing with confidence.”

Confidence. It’s a word players often speak of, but it’s so vital to one’s success. Tucker’s confidence has obviously soared within the past year and he felt the momentum on his side finally. And instead of shying away from it, he’s looked back on seven-plus years of blood, sweat and tears and learned to embrace the pot of gold.

“He definitely has worked for everything he’s got, and he’s done it the hard way,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said of Tucker. “The hard way is fighting guys, blocking shots and playing a hard game, obviously which he needs to play. And then a little bit of up and down and up and down. You can tell he feels more comfortable and I think you’re going to get a really good ‘Tucks’ this year. He’s one helluva teammate and normally me saying it, the majority of the guys in this locker room would say you’d take Tyler Tucker as a teammate every single day of the week.

“He actually has one of the best sticks of getting guys, and getting in guys’ faces and just being reliable with his body and his stick and breaking up plays and he’s very good at it.”

Tucker’s momentum built with a strong showing with Springfield of the AHL last season when he put up 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 games and a plus-6. When he got recalled on Dec. 19, 2024 and Montgomery was hired a week later on Dec. 25, there was no turning back. He played 38 games in the regular season and put up seven points (three goals, four assists) averaging 14:35 minutes per game but a steady, reliable skater on the Blues’ third pairing.

“I got to play a lot of games with a very experienced D-partner in (Ryan) Suter, and that was a big help,” Tucker said. “I feel like you learn a lot of little things. Not the flashy things or anything, but just simple, little things that you take and they go a long way, I feel like, throughout a series or throughout multiple games. So I think that’s the biggest thing. Other than that, confidence is one of the biggest things for me.”

Tucker didn’t open the series against the Jets but entered it in Game 2 and had he not been injured, likely would have stayed in the entirety of that series. His style of play helped change the complexion for the Blues that ultimately turned it into a seven-game series after losing Games 1-2 on the road.

“He played to his strengths. He knows who he is,” Montgomery said. “He was physical, but also, he’s a hockey player. He’s around the puck. His instincts take him to where the puck’s going to be. So he’s either ending plays defensively or offensively, he’s keeping pucks alive for us.”

But when Tucker’s right knee buckled toe-picking a check in the D-zone corner against Brandon Tanev, his playoff and season ended in a snap.

“Obviously tough,” Tucker said. “I felt like I was playing real good hockey towards the end. Tough to go down, obviously kind of in a meaningless game towards the end of the period. Just sucks, but happy to be back, happy with all the rehab and what not, hard work, stuff I did in the summer paid off and just happy to be back on the ice.”

Tucker is healthy, and barring any change in tactics, he will open the season on the third D-pairing with newly-acquired Logan Mailloux.

“I’ve played against him in the minors,” Tucker said. “Obviously see what he did in junior. Very, very talented player. Big guy with a lot of skill. Those are very hard to come by. Obviously just try and get him the puck and he’ll do good things with it. We’ve spent a lot of time here in the last month or so. I feel like I know him pretty well. He came in and we’ve been friends right away. It’s been nice. He’s super easy to get along with. I’m sure everyone can tell you it’s been a real easy transition for him.

“I feel good, really good. Obviously a long summer, a lot of rehab, a lot of boring stuff. I feel ready to go. Obviously first game in a while in Columbus there (last Sunday), but it felt good. Everything with the knee is going well.

“It definitely took some time. Probably two-, two-and-a-half months before I kind of started back to regular training and what not. Obviously I was in the gym, but doing more so rehab and knee-specific exercises and trying to rebuild my muscles and what not rather than just lifting with the other guys, team aspect of the gym in the summer. It went well. Obviously very thankful for the team to help me get back.”

The Blues know who Tucker is, big, strong, physical and willing to drop gloves. But what about his offense? Did he show something last season that can help putting pucks into the net on a more frequent basis? This shot against Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets that turned out to be the game-winner in Game 4 speaks volumes:

“I think it’s very underrated because the things he did offensively last year, I don’t know if he had three or four goals, but he had opportunities to have a lot more and he gets pucks through and we had a lot of almost-tips,” Montgomery said. “He’s looking for sticks and stuff. Very underrated offensively.”

“Whenever I’ve gotten the opportunities to be an offensive guy, I like doing that,” Tucker said. “It’s kind of how I played in juniors, but I’m just worried about taking care of my own end first and then if those opportunities present themselves, I’ll take them.”

Now the big question: how does Tucker build off that strong momentum gained last year? If he can find that success again, his ceiling is waiting.

“I think just continue where I left off,” he said. “Towards the end of the summer, I felt like I was a little behind. So just trying to ramp things up, keep getting better every day, trusting myself and playing with confidence is a big key for me. I thought especially down the stretch last year, that was a huge thing in my game is I felt confident with the puck, playing and doing things … not to say I normally don’t feel comfortable with but not as comfortable. I think just building and keep going in the right direction, trusting myself, trusting my instincts, just simple things. Obviously when you get hurt, you feel like you’re a long ways out. But I feel like I’m right around the corner.”

The Blues hope so.

Pius Suter "Did The Homework," Feels He Found Right Fit With St. Louis BluesMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the initial floodgates to free agency opened on July 1 and NHL teams had their checkbooks out, sometimes there would always be someone that would fall through the cracks, perhaps not making a hasty decision and wanting to take some time to contemplate one’s next destination. Blues First-Round Pick Snuggerud Injured In Practice, Lucic Also Hurt; Each Day To Day MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues were hit with a bit of their first injury bug during training camp. Blues Coach Praises Jordan Kyrou For Maturity And Defensive HabitsSt. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou is entering his sixth full season as an NHL player, and the book is out on his skill, but the talented forward has matured and improved on other aspects of his game, according to coach Jim Montgomery. 

The New York Islanders are two weeks away from their 2025-26 season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. 

Despite four preseason games remaining, several questions have been answered. 

No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer will be making the team -- there's no if, and's or but's about it. 

He'll at least start with veteran defenseman Scott Mayfield, who has been communicating tremendously with the 18-year-old, whether it's during a drill in practice or during a preseason game. 

How quickly will Schaefer force head coach Patrick Roy's hand into playing more minutes?

Islanders Mathew Barzal Makes Bold Prediction About No. 1 Overall Pick Matthew SchaeferThere's been tremendous hype around the New York Islanders' No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, and it's been well deserved. 

It may just come down to Schaefer needing to play higher in the depth chart -- maybe with Ryan Pulock, given how much of a game-changer he can be, immediately or soon after. 

The Islanders elected to move Mathew Barzal back to center after a few seasons on Bo Horvat's wing, and so far, so good for No. 13. He looks tremendous in training camp, as going back to center "is like riding a bike", per Barzal. His chemistry with team captain Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri is strong.

The Islanders' top line of Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov is likely to remain intact over the next two weeks. Still, we need to see a bit more from the European free agent signing, who is working extremely hard to acclimate to the speed of the NHL game. 

When it comes to the Islanders' third line, Anthony Duclair has really impressed in camp. Despite still working his way back from a torn groin, his skating looks sharp, and he looks more like the guy who played the first five games with the Islanders to start last season, not the player who returned too early from the injury. He, alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom, is another line that's sticking.

As for the fourth line, Emil Heineman seems to have won a job. The question is, has Maxim Tsyplakov won the spot to Casey Cizikas's right?

Tsyplakov is currently day-to-day (maintenance) and, like Heineman, has Marc Gatcomb, Kyle MacLean, and Calum Ritchie breathing down his neck.

Speaking of Ritchie, he looks like a kid on a mission to make this team, whether it's at center or wing. I think he needs to be a center -- Roy certainly agrees -- but unless Barzal is moved back to Horvat's wing or Cizikas is being shifted to the wing, as we saw in 2024-25, Ritchie will likely start in Bridgeport. 

As for the defense, the six starters seem to be locked in:

Alexander Romanov-Tony DeAngelo

Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock

Matthew Schaefer-Scott Mayfield

It seems that Adam Boqvist will serve as the seventh defenseman, but Isaiah George is certainly right there. Ideally, the Islanders don't want George not playing, as it makes more sense for him to be in Bridgeport playing big minutes than serving as a seventh defenseman. 

When it comes to the Islanders' goaltending situation, Ilya Sorokin is the clear starter, and David Rittich seems poised to be his backup. However, Marcus Hogberg is trying to prove he should be the No. 2, with both looking strong in their first preseason showings, each playing half the game. 

Rittich has looked stronger in training camp, but Hogberg impressed a tad more in his preseason slate. 

The Islanders face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night before a quick turnaround, hosting the New Jersey Devils on Friday night at UBS Arena. 

Ben Danford is getting more and more confident as Toronto Maple Leafs training camp rolls on.

After the 19-year-old missed the entirety of last year’s camp with a concussion, which he suffered during Toronto’s rookie camp, he’s entered this season with the belief that his game has taken a step forward.

Danford has played four games thus far, dating back to the Prospect Showdown in Montreal. And after every game, the coach (Marlies bench boss John Gruden or Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube) has spoken glowingly about his play.

“I thought Danford played a good, solid hockey game,” Berube said after Toronto’s opening pre-season win against the Senators on Sunday. “It’s not a flashy game by any means, but it’s just, first-pass, defending well, plays a hard game. Pretty much mistake-free. It was impressive.”

Danford’s last appearance came in Toronto’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators on Tuesday night. The defenseman had 15:55 of ice time, the lowest among players on the team’s back-end. However, he was playing with the Maple Leafs’ regulars, including Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev, whom Danford got to train with this summer.

“He just had a good attitude. He worked hard, and he’s a great skater. He was just doing everything that I was doing, and it was a good skate,” Rielly told The Hockey News of skating with Danford. 

“I think it’s nice when you've got a guy like that that’s motivated and has something on his mind that he wants to go out and prove. And I mean, he looks great, so I think he’s doing an outstanding job.”

Maple Leafs See Big Growth In Easton Cowan As Craig Berube Praises His Simplified GameHas Easton Cowan done enough through two preseason games to warrant serious consideration for the club’s opening lineup? While it may be too early to judge, Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect is making a strong case by doing all the right things.

Danford hasn’t been shy to voice that Rielly and Tanev are players he admires. “I’ve looked up to (Tanev) for quite a few years now. I feel like that’s someone I can really learn off of," the young defenseman said.

To skate with those players during a summer training is one thing. To get into game action with them during the pre-season is another. It’s a huge step for Danford, and he understands that.

“Last year, I didn’t get the full experience, so to get into a game with all those guys was really cool,” Danford said on Wednesday. “Last year, I didn’t really get to be around them that much, just having the injury. So to get to know them, play in a game with them, be on the ice with them in practice, they’re all great guys.”

'We're All Here For Him': Maple Leafs React To Joseph Woll Taking A Personal Leave of Absence, Lend SupportThe Toronto Maple Leafs revealed some unexpected news on Tuesday when they announced that goaltender Joseph Woll had stepped away to deal with a personal family issue.

There’ll be plenty of memories from Danford’s first game inside Scotiabank Arena. The fans and the atmosphere will surely be the number one thing. He’ll also remember returning to the bench and hearing the positive feedback from the Maple Leafs’ top defenders as well.

“All the guys I played with on the back-end (Rielly, Tanev, Brandon Carlo, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson), you come off for a shift and you had a good one, and they’ll make sure to let you know,” Danford said. 

“They’re really good at being positive. That definitely helped last night. They were really positive when I made a good pass. That definitely helped my confidence throughout the game. They did a great job, and I look up to them.”

On Wednesday, Rielly reflected on when he was a young defenseman trying to make a name for himself in the league. He earned a full-time role with the Maple Leafs in the fall of 2013, following a season which was split between the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

“It’s a strange feeling. You come in here and you’re trying to make the team. You’re essentially trying to take someone’s job and trying to prove yourself and start your career,” the 31-year-old said. 

“It can be a little bit strange. You don’t have a ton of communication with the coaching staff, just because there’s lots happening. And so you just try to come in every day and work hard and perform and execute and do what’s asked of you. And I think all our young guys are doing that, so it’s been good to see.”

'My Goal Was To Leave No Stone Unturned': How Morgan Rielly's Summer Could Set Him Up For Success With Maple LeafsShortly after the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in May, Morgan Rielly and general manager Brad Treliving sat down to review the year.

As Rielly watches Danford, he sees a younger version of himself: a prospect with plenty of upside, who’s just trying to navigate the early goings of his hockey career. And even when Rielly is preparing for a massive season ahead personally, he sees the importance of guiding Danford along.

“I think you just want to support your teammates. But also for a young guy, you want him to build confidence, and you also want to make him feel good about himself. It’s not easy being in that position. I’ve been there,” Rielly said. 

“I’ve had relationships with guys that are very supportive, and I’ve had relationships with guys that are kind of s****y to you. You look back at those, and I don’t want to be one of those guys. I want to be someone that can support the young guys, and he’s doing a great job for us. I think all of us, between O (Ekman-Larsson), myself, Caber (McCabe) and Tany (Tanev), we’re just really impressed with him, so I think it’s worthwhile to tell him.”

Danford added, “I’m just trying every day here at training camp. Trying to put my best foot forward, not overdo things. Just take it day by day. And to hear that, it’s obviously great feedback, but I just got to keep rolling, just keep taking it day by day, keep getting better every day.”

'The Issue Has Been The Number': Maple Leafs, Anthony Stolarz's Camp Reportedly Continue Going Back And Forth In NegotiationsWith just over two weeks until the beginning of the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz’s camp are reportedly still grinding away at getting a deal done.

It’s not often you get a defensive prospect who makes this much of an impression at camp, especially at his first. He has another year of junior under his belt after being picked in the first round (31st overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. But still, it usually takes a defender several years to develop into a meaningful player at the NHL level.

Danford might have another season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals coming up, but he might be a step closer to the NHL than previously thought.

“Hockey IQ and feet,” said Berube, of why Danford has fit so seamlessly into the team’s game. “I watch him play; he just knows what he’s doing. He knows where the puck’s going. He’s simple. He doesn’t overcomplicate it. 

“I’m not saying he doesn’t ever, but for the most part, he sees the outlet, makes the play, and he’s a good defender. He plays with a little bite, too, like he’s a physical guy and plays with some edge. But I love his feet, and I love that his head’s up all the time seeing the play, and he’s a pretty smart player.”

Maple Leafs' Nick Robertson Credits John Tavares For Lessons On Recovery Nick Robertson had a standout performance in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first scrimmage on Saturday, scoring the only two goals of the session. While it may have been just a scrimmage, this kind of success is a welcome boost for the 24-year-old, who is fighting to earn a consistent spot in the lineup.

At such a young age, how has the defenseman made such a strong impression on the entire organization?

“I think a big one is I’m keeping it simple out there, not overdoing things. I think my play style is just not overdoing things on the blue line, the offensive blue line,” Danford said. 

“I’m having a really good first pass. I’m playing hard defense. I’m not trying to be that flashy player because that’s not who I am. I’m a guy that’s going to lock down the back-end, so that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

How long Danford stays with the team remains to be seen. Usually, with prospects who are destined to return to junior, teams like to give them a couple of games to gain an understanding of the pro game.

Danford is different than the other prospects who are heading back to junior. He’s a player who’s put himself in the conversation of being a legitimate part of the Maple Leafs over the next few years.

“I mean, this training camp has been a really good experience so far. I just want to stay here as long as I can. Just keep putting my best foot forward, and we’ll see what happens.”

Latest stories:

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Maple Leafs See Big Growth In Easton Cowan As Craig Berube Praises His Simplified Game

THN’s Jason Chen just released his latest article on the NHL power rankings, and he has the Montreal Canadiens in 16th place. Given the fact that they made the playoffs but were eliminated in five games, faster than anyone else, it makes sense to see them in that spot. Mind you, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New Jersey Devils also bowed out of the first round in five games, but are ranked 11th and 14th, respectively, ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who lost their first-round series in six games.

There have been some changes in Montreal since that loss in five games to the Washington Capitals, though. Out are Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, David Savard, Emil Heineman, Cayden Primeau, and Logan Mailloux. In are Noah Dobson, Zack Bolduc, Joe Veleno, Samuel Blais, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Ivan Demidov are in from the start. Youngsters Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, and Florian Xhekaj are knocking on the door.

Canadiens: Demidov Shuts Down Michkov Comparisons
Canadiens Return A Prospect To His Junior Team
Canadiens: The Xhekajs Have Got The X Factor

The penalty kill took quite a hit, but on the other hand, the power play got quite a helping hand. Kent Hughes went talent hunting and found some, which will give Martin St-Louis something he hasn’t had on the man-advantage since he first took charge of the Canadiens: options.

On paper, Hughes has made significant changes, and they look good, but you don’t win games on paper; you win them on the ice. So far, the Canadiens have won their two preseason games, but neither of the teams they faced had a full NHL lineup, and even if they did, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are not expected to be contenders this year.

As the regular season gets nearer and cuts start happening, we’ll get to see, slowly but surely, how good Hughes’ moves really were. There’s another unknown in the equation, though: surgically repaired Kirby Dach will be getting yet another kick at the second center can, and this time, he’s done everything he could this summer to get ready.

Drafting power rankings is always a complex exercise, but even more so when there are so many unknowns around the league. Let’s check in those rankings after a week of regular season, when we’ll at least have some answers to the big questions.

---

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It may only be two games of NHL preseason action, but this former Philadelphia Flyers goalie has been dominant in limited ice time.

Ex-Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov, who was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2026 sixth-round pick back on Sept. 14, has been nearly perfect in parts of two preseason games for his new club.

Fedotov, 28, made his Blue Jackets debut against the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 21, starting the game and playing two full periods.

Across 40 minutes, the former Flyers draft pick stopped 14 of 15 shots (.933) and was credited with the win, as he was still in the game when the game-winning goal was scored by forward Luca Del Bel Belluz.

Two days later, on Sept. 23 against the Buffalo Sabres, Fedotov put together another masterclass, starting for the Blue Jackets again and making 24 saves on 25 shots (.960) in 40 minutes across two periods.

Overall, Fedotov earned one 4-1 win over the Blues, partook in a narrow 2-1 loss to Buffalo, and stopped a total 38 shots on 40 attempts in four periods of action (.950).

Again, it is preseason, and Fedotov has shown these flashes in a Flyers uniform before without backing it up with any kind of consistency.

As for the Flyers, they've enjoyed some solid performances from Aleksei Kolosov in their two exhibition games so far, and newcomer Dan Vladar has yet to take the ice for the Flyers in the preseason.

But, if Fedotov can continue this scintillating run of form, this might be a conversation worth revisiting in the near future.

The Vancouver Canucks beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 in Abbotsford, BC in NHL preseason action.

This group of players did not consist of the veterans or star players that played the night before and it showed.

The first period started off poorly as the Canucks scored two goals by the first 7:12. Calgary couldn't get shots on target, looked messy and by the end of the first period, Vancouver outshot Calgary 9-4.

The Flames did come back in the second period strongly. However, a foolish roughing penalty by Joel Hanley at the 12:42 mark put the Canucks on the power play for the third time in the game.  Filip Chytil would proceed to score a mere 25 seconds later, putting Vancouver up 3-0. At the 14:02 mark, the Flames would get some relief as the home team was called for a penalty for too many men. Connor Zary scored on the ensuing power play, reducing Calgary's deficit by two.

Vancouver kept pressing hard on gas pedal in the third and there was no coming back for Calgary.

The Canucks outshot the Flames in every period. The overall was 30-19.

The defensive pairings looked disoriented and not in quality shape. I will add Etienne Morin stood out amongst the blueliners.

Vancouver skaters pressured Calgary into producing giveaways and the home side capitalized on the opportunities. The Canucks were more aggressive and played more physical.

It didn't help that Vancouver fill-in goalie Nikita Tolopilo absolutely robbed Calgary of a goal with a terrific save in the middle of the third period that drew audible "Ooohs" from the crowd.

Coming into this game, the Flames were 7-for-7 on the penalty-kill and that became their undoing. They conceded two power play goals, ultimately going 2-for-4 on the penalty kill.

As mentioned earlier, Zary scored Calgary's only goal, going 1-for-5 in the Flames power play.

Calgary goalie Ivan Prosvetov made 27 saves, registering a save percentage of exactly 0.900.

Chytil was designated player of the game for his two points.

The Flames next preseason game will be on Saturday against the Jets in Winnipeg.

The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night in their second of four preseason matchups between the Southern California rivals.

The Kings took the exhibition opener on Sunday in Ontario, CA, by a score of 3-1, but lineups in this game featured far more projected NHL roster players.

Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report - 09/24/25

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth

Both the Ducks and Kings iced a full top-six forward group and potential top-four defensemen.

Lukas Dostal got his first action of the preseason, as he started this one and stopped 17 of 18 shots before he was pulled halfway through the second period, as was reportedly planned.

Dostal was replaced by Calle Clang, who stopped 10 of the 12 shots he faced in the second half of the game.

In the Kings’ net stood Darcey Kuemper, who earned the shutout by saving all 14 shots he faced in this one.

“Whether it was a power play, whether it was five on five, the puck wasn’t our friend tonight,” Joel Quenneville said after the game. “That’s got to be a strength going forward. There’s some things that we’re trying to work on. Just like the penalty kill and establishing certain things, it all starts with having the puck, and starting with the puck, and that didn’t occur too much.”

Here are my notes on this game (once again, it’s preseason, so everything is to be taken with a grain of salt):

Defensive Zone Coverage-While the Ducks didn’t get the early kills they are striving for in their new systems, they didn’t allow much penetration to the middle of the zone or second chance opportunities. When they were hemmed, and they were hemmed often, it remained nondisastrous.

Lukas Dostal-Dostal was in mid-season form early in this game. As stated, the truly dangerous chances were limited, but he was able to track pucks through traffic, as is becoming his trademark, and his rebound control was spectacular, deflecting those distance shots to the corners of the ice.

“Sometimes you have games where the puck sticks to your chest better than other games, but that’s been something that I’ve worked on this summer,” Dostal said after the game. “The last two seasons in the NHL showed me the guys are crashing the net quite a lot, so it’s something that I worked on this offseason to eliminate the rebounds and something I really focused on.”

Jacob Trouba-Trouba had a tough start in his first action of the exhibition season. He was directly involved in all three Los Angeles goals against; his gaps were too sizable, his closing speed wasn’t there, and he uncharacteristically struggled to properly box out Fiala on LA’s third goal.

The Ducks have a few days off, after which, they will next head to Bakersfield to take on the Kings again on Saturday for their fourth of seven preseason games.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Right Shot Defense Position Battle

After a hard-fought 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens in their pre-season opener on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins looked to carry some of that momentum into their tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, they couldn't get much going for them.

Zach Gallant scored in the first period, but the Penguins allowed four unanswered goals in the aftermath and fell to the Blue Jackets, 4-1. Yegor Chinakhov, Jake Christiansen (PPG), and Kent Johnson filled the net for Columbus, and Dante Fabbro scored into the empty net to seal the deal with three minutes left in regulation.

Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs surrendered two goals on 14 Columbus shots during the first half of the game, while Filip Larsson allowed one goal on eight shots to close it out for Pittsburgh. Blue Jackets' goaltender Jet Greaves was outstanding, surrendering just one goal on 25 shots. 

The game was a tough one, as there were a lot of special teams, and the Penguins spent a lot of time in the box. But they very easily could have gotten a different result if they were able to capitalize on some of the momentum swings that landed in their favor.

"I thought there were some momentum swings both ways," head coach Dan Muse said.  "There were some times there where I didn't feel like, you know, we were in our zone a little bit longer than we'd like to be, maybe didn't get the change that we wanted, tired bodies on the ice... but then, I also feel like it was a little bit back-and-forth, and obviously, in the third period, it was a lot of special teams."

He also added that the lack of flow to the game made it hard to create scoring chances.

"It was a game where it did feel like it was a little bit hard to generate," Muse said. "It came a little bit in waves. There would be some shifts where, maybe, you get one or two, and some of those looks, too, they're not connecting. We're trying to do the right thing, we're trying to make the right play, and maybe it just doesn't connect the way that we want to, and maybe it doesn't lead to an actual scoring chance. But, some of the things we were looking for, we saw. And I think this is still a game where we're going to take some positives from."

Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season ShootoutOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins' hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season.

Here are a few thoughts and observations from this one.

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- I want to cut right to the chase and talk about the Penguins' best player tonight. And that was Ben Kindel. 

No, he wasn't the goal-scorer, and he didn't factor in on the lone goal. But Kindel was everywhere on Wednesday. He got some good looks on the power play, he was helping create offense when the opportunity arose, he had a breakaway opportunity that he failed to capitalize on, and he blew right by opponents on several occasions when skating with the puck and driving the net.

"Just kind of trying to play my game," Kindel said. "Just have confidence in my game, and just leave it all out there. You might not get many opportunities, so whatever opportunity I get, just go out there and do whatever I can."

I do not think Kindel has much of a shot at the opening night NHL roster, especially with some more NHL-ready, seasoned talent ahead of him. But what I will say is that he has exceeded my expectations during this camp. He's one of those guys who you don't notice as much in practice but stands out in a game setting. And I'm particularly impressed by his skating, which is something that a few scouts and analysts knocked him for pre-draft.

Kris Letang’s Hat Trick Highlights Penguins’ First Training Camp ScrimmageThe Pittsburgh Penguins held their first scrimmage of training camp on Wednesday. 

Yeah, his skating isn't an issue. Not even a little bit. He's an above-average skater in terms of speed, and his edgework is phenomenal.

I think he's earned himself another pre-season game. We'll see what happens, as some roster cuts may come as early as tomorrow. But he's been impressive through two games. 

- Both goaltenders were fine tonight. Neither Silovs or Larsson were forced to make ridiculous saves akin to what Sergei Murashov did on Monday, but they got the job done when they were called upon, and none of the three goals against were really on them.

"I thought there were some big saves in there.," Muse said. "Some plays into the slot there that we'd like to prevent from happening, but he was there when they did."

With Joel Blomqvist out day-to-day, it will be interesting to see how the goaltending battle shakes out. I suspect Silovs has the inside track right now, but don't count out Larsson, either. 

'My Goal Is To Take Another Step': Penguins' Goaltender Battles For Positioning In CampGoaltending has been an interesting topic of discussion around Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this season, and understandably so. 

All I know is that it's nice to be talking about the Penguins having excess goaltending depth in their system. It's a refreshing change of pace.

- I thought a few members of the Penguins' defensive corps played a solid game, namely Jack St. Ivany, Alexander Alexeyev, and Caleb Jones. St. Ivany and Alexeyev worked on a pairing together, while Jones - who blocked four shots - was on the left side of Connor Clifton. 

St. Ivany and Alexeyev were routinely able to shut down and stymie Columbus's transition game and their breakouts, and they also notched a few in the shot block department. Alexeyev's physicality was also apparent throughout the game.

The defensive battle - once again - is one to watch at camp, and I wouldn't count any of these guys out of the mix, especially on the left side. It will also be interesting to see whether or not Muse is willing to let any of these guys play their off-side.

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The goaltending battle for the Pittsburgh Penguins will be one of the big stories to watch this season.

And, unfortunately, one of their young netminders is facing an injury setback early on in the pre-season.

On Wednesday, the Penguins announced that goaltender Joel Blomqvist is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Blomqvist started the Penguins' pre-season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, and he exited halfway through to make way for Sergei Murashov to finish the game, which was the plan beforehand.

Blomqvist, 23, had two NHL stints last season, seeing success in the first one and struggling with inconsistency in the second. He finished the NHL portion of his 2024-25 season with a 4-9-1 record and an .885 save percentage, and he put up an 8-7-3 record with a .914 save percentage at the AHL level.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound netminder is one of several goaltenders fighting not only for a spot on the NHL roster, but also a spot on the AHL roster. Tristan Jarry, Sergei Murashov, Filip Larsson, and Arturs Silovs are also competing for the net in camp, and GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has reiterated that camp performance - and developmental needs, to a smaller extent - will dictate the two goaltenders who are on the NHL roster out of camp.

'My Goal Is To Take Another Step': Penguins' Goaltender Battles For Positioning In CampGoaltending has been an interesting topic of discussion around Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this season, and understandably so. 

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Other injury notes:

- Forward Noel Acciari - who has been out since the beginning of camp with a core muscle injury - took part in Wednesday's morning skate wearing a white non-contact jersey. There is no official update to his status, and head coach Dan Muse said it's part of his recovery process.

- Forward Tanner Howe - out since April after getting surgery to repair a torn ACL - skated on the injured ice this morning with Acciari.

- Forwards Joona Koppanen (lower-body) and Mathieu De St. Phalle (upper-body) as well as defenseman Scooter Brickey (lower-body) are all day-to-day and did not practice Wednesday.

- No update was provided on the status of forward Rutger McGroarty, who is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury and has not yet skated.

McGroarty Out Indefinitely With Upper-Body InjuryThere is some bad news on the injury front for the Pittsburgh Penguins and one of their top prospects.

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According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, Carter Hart is still considering signing with the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and one or two more unnamed teams.

The NHL announced earlier this month that it was reinstating the five players including Hart who were acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in 2018 when they were members of Canada’s world junior team, and that they will be eligible to sign a contract Oct. 15 and take part in games Dec. 1.

“It’s getting down to decision time for Carter Hart, obviously a free agent ever since the NHL earlier this month cleared him and his teammates from the Hockey Canada trial for reinstatement into the league,” Johnston said. 

“And where Hart has been since then is working through the available options. He’s down to about three to four potential teams at this point in time, two of those teams I can tell you are the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes. And the expectation here is in the coming day or two or maybe three, he will start to rule out some of those remaining teams, obviously pick where he is going.”

The Hurricanes are going into the season with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov as their main goalies.

Only one NHL team has a longer current postseason drought than the Detroit Red Wings, and it's the Buffalo Sabres, who last played beyond the 82nd game of the regular season in April 2011. 

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

The Red Wings have yet to host a playoff game at Little Caesars Arena, and haven't experienced postseason hockey since Dylan Larkin's rookie season of 2015-16. 

Both Andrew Copp and Larkin himself have said in the days leading up to the new 2025-26 NHL season that the playoffs are the goal for the club. 

Will Little Caesars Arena host its first Stanley Cup Playoff game in the spring? 

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Players in the National Hockey League have almost always gone by nicknames, and the Detroit Red Wings are no exception.

Mention names like "Larks", "Cat", "Showtime", and "Razor", and fans immediately know that one is referring to Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, and Lucas Raymond. 

There's a new nickname to be added to that list - Elmo. 

That's how 6'8" forward Elmer Söderblom is referred to by head coach Todd McLellan, who is set to begin his first full season behind the Red Wings' bench after being hired last December.

Söderblom is the tallest player in Red Wings history, and that's before his height increases after putting on his pair of skates that almost look as if they were custom made for Shaquille O'Neal.

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Due to a higher center of gravity, skating can sometimes not be a strength for taller players. During practice at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, McLellan directed Söderblom to move his feet quicker during an on-ice drill in resounding fashion. 

The good news is that McLellan doesn't believe that the skating of Elmer Söderblom - or Elmo, as he calls him - is an area of his game that needs work but that he can get caught up in his thoughts during specific practice situations. 

"I think sometimes when Elmo is playing the game and he's not thinking, he does move his feet," McLellan said. "In practice when we're working on specific moments and situations, I think he thinks it a little bit, so it slows him down. I'm not too worried about his feet in a game situation, but I'm just trying to push him in practice." 

"It's Time": Dylan Larkin Lays Out Clear Goal For Red WingsThe city of Detroit hasn't hosted a Stanley Cup Playoff game since April 2016 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Joe Louis Arena, who at that time were overseen by general manager Steve Yzerman.

"In that moment, he was thinking probably, 'Am I in the right spot, am I in the wrong spot?' And he didn't skate," McLellan continued. "I just caught him there and it was a gentle reminder. I don't think his skating is bad, but I think if he does chug into people and push, he's a big load to handle. His feet moving, it's a good thing for him." 

Söderblom has been getting looks playing on the top line alongside Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin in the absence of free-agent signing James van Riemsdyk, another candidate who could take that spot but has yet to officially skate with the Red Wings because of an ongoing family situation. 

Last season, he was called up from the American Hockey League and ultimately scored four goals with seven assists in 26 games in what was his second prolonged stint at the NHL level. 

If Söderblom plays well enough this season for the Red Wings, expect to see a lot more love for his new nickname. 

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The Carolina Hurricanes suffered a third-period collapse Wednesday night at Lenovo Center, losing 4-2 to the Florida Panthers in their second preseason contest despite outshooting them 49-16.

It was clear that the Hurricanes outclassed the Panthers' NHL regular-less roster through 40 minutes, but the Canes decided to start packing it in early after going up 2-0 and you can't really do that.

After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Nikolaj Ehlers and Sebastian Aho spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:

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Rod Brind'Amour

On his first impressions of Nikolaj Ehlers in game action and on the top line: I thought they were good early. Had some buzz and then as the game went on, it kind of wasn't great. But I think it's tough to play in these games, I get it. But you can see that they generated a bunch early. Hopefully that will continue.

On Bradly Nadeau: He had some chances, one near the end Svech set him up. Again, he's a young kid still trying to figure it out. We'll keep giving him opportunity. 

On it being a community game: I think it's very important. The fanbase and the Hurricanes, we have a good relationship and I think anything we can do to show our appreciation is special, so I'm glad that we do it.

On Givani Smith: There's not much not to like about the way he's played. You always want to know when you ask about a player, 'What does he do and what can he provide?' and it's pretty obvious if you watch.

On seeing Dominik Badinka and Ivan Ryabkin in game action for the first time: They did fine. For a young kid, it wasn't NHL players they played against, but it's still men and I thought [Ryabkin] did well and Badinka isn't much older. He's a young guy too. The key is to not look out of place, right? If you can fit in and then all of a sudden, they did. They looked right at home there. So I think that's real positive.

On if he considered giving Frederik Andersen the full 60 minutes: Nah. Really, I think originally we were thinking maybe just go half, but it didn't feel like he even had to make a save. But it's not really about that either. It's more like, 'Okay, we got through it without any incidents, let's get him out of there.' That's kind of what the decision was.

On Mike Reilly: I thought he was good tonight. Again, those are guys that could be really, really important at some point or maybe even right away. You don't know how it's going to shake out. Those guys that are new like that, I think it's important for them to get acclimated to what we're doing. Now we have clips and things we can teach off of to get everybody up to speed even more so.

On having a learning moment from how the game ended: It sucks to play a game like that and then lose, but there's a reason we lost too. We could have walked out of that game 5-2 and still didn't have a very good segment in there, but now it's obvious. So we can hammer home the point a little more. It's great that the game doesn't count, let's put it that way.

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Nikolaj Ehlers

On his impressions from his first game as a Hurricane: I like the way we played in the first two periods. We put a lot of pressure on them, gave them nothing. I've played against this team enough to know that that's the identity of this team and we did that for 40 minutes. 

On the impact of game action over practice: You want to lay a foundation in practice, but ultimately, it's the games that you find that chemistry in and where you learn how to play with each other. I think we did a lot of good things today, but there were also a lot of shifts where there was really nothing happening at all, but that's a part of playing in the NHL. We got some work to do.

On putting on the jersey for the first time and playing in front of the Lenovo Center crowd: It was really cool. The jerseys were looking pretty nice. Lots of fans out there, which is always nice. You want to play in front of a lot of fans. Felt good. Obviously it sucks to lose, always does, but it was a good first game. Got some game legs in you, but there's a lot better in this room. 

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Sebastian Aho

On the team's performance: Obviously a brutal third period, but at least we got a lesson on how not to play hockey. Obviously this time of year doesn't really matter, but I guess the good thing is we can get some clips and talking points out of the third period, but obviously we had plenty of chances to put the game away, but obviously that last... You play a real game, you do whatever you can, the last little step to put the puck in. But I guess it was a good day to miss all those and save them for the regular season and the real games.

On building chemistry with Nikolaj Ehlers: I think that's the good part about the preseason. You bring a new guy in and there's probably a thousand little details that you have to soak in all at once and then when you play a game, you really see and feel how each situation goes. I know already that we're going to build a lot better chemistry just buying in and doing the little details the right way. Every team has different tendencies and like I said, that's why the preseason is good when you're trying to learn a new system and new guys and all that.

On getting reps with the full PP1 unit: Obviously when we start in a couple of weeks, that's a big part of hockey right now. Special teams, a lot of times, dictate how the games go and obviously we did some good things and had some good looks. We'll build here in the preseason so we can be as sharp as possible when we start.

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Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vegas Golden Knights draft pick David Edstrom stands with Knights staff after being selected with the thirty second pick in round one of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

When David Edstrom’s name was called in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, he just so happened to be in Nashville.

The draft was held in Bridgestone Arena that year, but Edstrom wasn’t selected by the Predators. He was picked 32nd overall by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Fast forward to just over two years later. The 20-year-old Swedish center found himself in Bridgestone Arena again, this time in a Predators uniform. He scored the final goal of the Preds’ 5-0 victory against the Florida Panthers in the pre-season opener last Sunday.

Funny how things come full circle. After being selected by Vegas, Edstrom spent the next season playing for the Swedish World Junior Team, recording three assists during the tournament before appearing in 44 games with Frolunda HC (SHL).

When the Golden Knights traded for San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl in March 2024, Edstrom was part of the deal that also included a first-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft.

After he informed the Sharks of his intention to play in Sweden, Edstrom was shipped to the Predators five months later. Nashville sent goalie Yaroslav Askarov, forward Nolan Burke and Colorado’s third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Along with Edstrom came goalie Magnus Chrona and the Golden Knights’ conditional first-round pick in this year’s draft to Nashville.

Now, Edstrom is in Predators’ training camp fighting for a roster spot. It’s been quite a journey for the 6-foot-3, 190-pound native of Goteborg, Sweden, but he’s just happy to be in this position, for however long that may be.

“I’m just trying to learn new stuff each day, trying to get better,” Edstrom said during media availability Wednesday. “There’s a bunch of good guys here, so I’m just soaking it in every day, just trying to get better.”

Proving His Worth

Edstrom has shown some flashes of his talent during the first week of camp and in pre-season play. With the Predators leading Florida 4-0 late in Game 1 of their split-squad doubleheader, Edstrom took a feed from Brady Skjei after the puck ricocheted off a Panther defender. Edstrom then fired a wrist shot that went behind Florida netminder Brandon Bussi for the Preds’ final goal of the night.

“I thought he had a heck of a game against Florida,” Preds head coach Andrew Brunette said of Edstrom on Wednesday. “He seems to be getting better every time I see him.”

Last season, Edstrom collected 19 points (7-12-19) in 39 games with Frolunda HC and had a brief stint with Milwaukee in the AHL. He appeared in four post-season games for the Admirals but did not collect a point.

As eager as he is to get to the NHL, Edstrom knows he still has some things to learn.

“I think it’s been really good for me to get back to Milwaukee last season to end the year there, to meet all the coaching staff and players, to get a bit more of American hockey,” Edstrom said. “That’s something I’m trying to soak in during the summer and been working on a lot.”

Finding A Mentor

One of those “good guys” Edstrom mentioned earlier is Ryan O’Reilly, the Predators’ top-line center. Edstrom credits the 34-year-old veteran for helping him adjust.

“He’s a really good role model for me, his game, every detail,” Edstrom said of O’Reilly. “He’s a good guy to look up to.”

Edstrom is a long shot to make the final roster out of training camp. The Hockey News ranks him as the Preds’ No. 3 prospect and projects his NHL arrival in 2026-27.

Along with O’Reilly, Edstrom is competing with the likes of Steven Stamkos, Fedor Svechkov and Michael McCarron. The exceptional play of Brady Martin and Matthew Wood make the battle for forward spots even more intriguing, especially with Luke Evangelista not in camp as he attempts to negotiate a new contract.

Edstrom will most likely start the season with Milwaukee once again. In the meantime, he’s keeping his head down and working on his game.

“I’ve been working a lot on explosiveness this summer,” Edstrom said. “That is something I need to keep working on. Be more explosive in the gym, and it will translate into my game. Also faceoffs, be more explosive, skating and the skill stuff.”