Penalties proved costly in a game where the Nashville Predators led the majority of the way. 

A late goal by the Lightning in the third period and a conversion in the third round of the shootout gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 win over the Predators on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena. 

"I didn't like our third period," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "Obviously, starting the game with a penalty didn't help anything. I thought we got going and had a great second [period]. In the third we were kind of waiting around a little bit." 

The Predators were scoreless in the shootout as Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault all missed on their attempts. Boris Katchouk scored the game-winning goal for the Lightning. 

Here are three takeaways from the Predators preseason shootout loss to the Lightning. 

Brady Martin nets first unofficial goals as Predator

 

Fans got a taste of what could be ahead of the Predators' 2025 5th overall pick, Brady Martin, as he scored twice in the second period, both from the same area of the ice. 

"It's the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of," Martin said. "It's pretty cool to score in front of a crowd like that and to hear them go wild is pretty cool." 

On the first goal, Martin scored from the right side of the slot off a pass from Matthew Wood, who was on the right side of the goal line close to the net.

His second goal came on the power play on the opposite side. Michael Bunting gave Martin a pass from just above the left side goal line and Martin one-timed it high into the net. The Predators' top prospect was due for a goal as he led the Predators in ice time after the first period.

Martin finished the night with those two points. He's been playing in a prominent spot in the lineup in these first two preseason games, centering the second line with Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault. 

This bodes well for Martin as he's looking to crack the Predators roster instead of heading back to Sault St. Marie for another season of juniors. 

"Playing with the veterans, they're leading me along the way," Martin said. "I think just playing with them is helping me a lot. Learning all different tips and tricks is going to hopefully help me in the future."  

Special teams went to work 

Brady Martin: Good at hockey 😮‍💨

The kid nets his second goal in less than three minutes! pic.twitter.com/ywJHVCTGds

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) September 24, 2025

The Lightning committed 20 minutes in penalties in their first preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. That carried over into Tuesday's matchup as they logged 12 penalty minutes. 

At the same time, the Predators committed 18 minutes in penalties, one of which was assessed before the game had officially started. Six seconds into the game, Fedor Svechkov was given a delaying game - Face-off violation for a hand pass. After he committed the penalty, the clock was reset to 20 minutes. 

"He [Svechkov] played with his hand right off the face-off and that's a penalty," Brunette said. "They [the officials] brought it back to center ice and reset the clock, because it wasn't a legal puck-drop. I didn't know the rule either." 

Another notable penalty came in the second period when Jonathan Marchessault was given a two-minute minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. Tampa's Grant Spada, who engaged with Marchessault on the penalty, was given a double-minor, putting the Predators on the power play. 

Marchessault was in the box again for roughing in the third period. 

What this all means is the Predators penalty killing and power play units got a lot of work. 

Nashville was on the power play five times for a 9:12 total minutes, and converted on 1-of-5 opportunities. It was on the penalty kill six times and had a 100% execution. 

The Predators took half of their six penalties in the third period, and while they were able to kill off each one, they were rarely on the attack and ultimately scored the game-tying goal. 

On paper, the Predators' special teams had a strong night, but they had constantly hampered themselves due to penalties.

Predators dropped game where they had statistical edge

On Tuesday, the Predators only top scorer from last season that did not play was Ryan O'Reilly.  

Meaning that Nashville had all of its firepower, including Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Jonathan Marchessault, Steven Stamkos and more. The top of its depth chart played Tuesday night.  

The Lightning did not bring at least nine of their top scorers from last season, which included Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Darren Raddysh was the only player who traveled and scored at least 30 points in a single game last season. 

Even it's goaltending tandem, Brandon Halverson played one game last season. 

On paper, this should've been a game that the Predators ran away with, similar to their pair of victories over the Panthers on Sunday. However, Nashville played into the penalties, and it ultimately cost them in the end. 

"The lucky thing is that game did not count, so we learn from it, go in tomorrow, practice hard and move on from it," forward Michael Bunting said. "It's just an unfortunate ending."

While it is the preseason and the results don't count, it is somewhat concerning that the Predators, at near full strength, struggled against the Lightning's prospects, AHL players, and a few regulars. 

It's not going to get any easier for the Predators as they will travel to Tampa Bay on Saturday and Carolina on Sunday, face those top squads and may be depleted in those games as their top players may not travel. 

One preseason loss is not the end of the world, as the Predators have three more games left before they open their 82-game slate against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 9 in Nashville. 

The Chicago Blackhawks opened up the preseason portion of their schedule with a road tilt against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

The Blackhawks used an incredibly young lineup, but it included players like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov, who all expect to impact the team when it counts. 

Carter Mazur opened the scoring with a power-play goal to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead. The Blackhawks' new-look penalty killing system under head coach Jeff Blashill looked good at first, but it had a bad ending. It will take some time to get used to being that aggressive and avoiding the mistakes it can create. 

Early in the second period, however, the Blackhawks got the game tied with a power play goal of their own. Connor Bedard blasted a one-time shot into the net off a beautiful feed from Sam Rinzel. This connection may happen quite a bit with the man advantage in 2025-26, and it's off to a fine start. Frank Nazar collected the secondary assist. 

Just under two minutes later, the Red Wings took their lead back thanks to a goal scored by Nate Danielson. They held that lead for quite a while. 

At 6:26 of the third period, Aidan Thompson made a great feed to Wyatt Kaiser, who didn't miss with a wonderfully placed shot. Artyom Levshunov, who made a nice play to get it to Thompson in the first place, collected the secondary. 

The Blackhawks relinquished the lead to the Red Wings one more time when Emmitt Finnie scored the go-ahead goal. The 3-2 score stood as the final. 

The Blackhawks were lucky to even be in the game. It was the goaltending performance of Arvid Soderblom that kept them in it by making 40 saves on 43 shots. The Blackhawks only had 17 shots, which explains how lopsided the play actually was. 

Soderblom is expected to be the backup to goalie Spencer Knight this year. He's already in mid-season form based on his play against the Red Wings. If he had even played five percent worse, the Blackhawks would not have had a chance to win the hockey game. 

If any skater deserved extra praise, it is Connor Bedard. While wearing an "A" on his sweater, Bedard was more than just a goal scorer in this game. Just about every time he had the puck on his stick, especially early, he created a scoring chance. He looks faster, stronger, and more dialed in. 

When watching the game, it is clear that Jeff Blashill's defensive system is a bit complicated. The Blackhawks are going to take some time learning it, especially when they go against other teams. Inserting some veterans should help as the preseason goes along. 

Chicago's next exhibition tilt will come on Saturday when they hit the road again to take on the St. Louis Blues.

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

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The Montreal Canadiens beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in a shootout in their pre-season opener Monday night. However, Tuesday night, the Habs faithful got to see the Xhekaj brothers, Arber and Florian, suit up in the same jersey for the first time. 

It was a special night for the Xhekaj family. Their mom, Simona Xhekaj, made sure not to miss it, sharing a picture on X of her driving into Montreal ahead of the game.

The boys have no idea 🤫
I wouldn’t miss it for the world 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/iD6wMoUx1E

— Simona Xhekaj (@SimonaXhekaj) September 23, 2025

A special night called for a special moment. Younger brother Florian snapped home his first of the pre-season halfway through the opening period to make it 2-0 Montreal. 

Florian Xhekaj gets on the board in his Bash Bros debut with their mom in attendance 🚨 pic.twitter.com/BkGawDX5pk

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) September 23, 2025

Florian’s offense has developed significantly. He set a franchise rookie record with the Laval Rocket in the AHL last season with 24 goals, and became the first AHL rookie since the 2013-14 season to record 20 or more goals and accumulate 150 or more penalty minutes in a single season. 

Of course, like his older brother, he’s known for his physically abrasive style of play, so it wasn’t all that surprising to see him drop the gloves with NHL heavyweight Nicholas Deslauriers. Although I'm sure Mama Simona would have rather seen her son choose a lesser combatant.

Florian Xhekaj got a goal, and now he drops the gloves with Deslauriers 🥊 pic.twitter.com/7eDSVRRCG7

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 24, 2025

Arber also got in on the physical action in the second period, mixing it with Philadelphia Flyers forward Rodrigo Abols, but unfortunately, he took an extra roughing penalty on the altercation, and Philadelphia scored on the ensuing powerplay. 

Montreal won the hockey game 4-2, with Arber sealing the game with an empty-netter. What a night for the Xhekaj family. Brothers united together in the same jersey for the first time, and both get on the scoresheet with goals. 

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The Xhekaj brothers are products of the OHL, and both spent time with the Bulldogs organization. 

Arber spent three seasons in the league, spending most of his time with the Kitchener Rangers, recording 317 penalty minutes in 183 combined regular season and playoff games in his OHL tenure. 

The Bulldogs acquired the big, rugged blueliner to aid them in their pursuit of an OHL championship during the 2021-22 season. They gave up five draft picks and forward Navrin Mutter for Arber, and it turned out to be a terrific deal. He wasn’t just a driving force defensively. He led the Bulldogs in points with 16 and plus/minus with +15 amongst their defensemen. 

The 2022 OHL Final was one of the more exciting championship series the league has seen in the past five years. The Bulldogs defeated the Windsor Spitfires in Game 7 by a score of 6-1. Arber finished that game with two assists and a +4. 

Top NHL Draft Prospect Ryan Roobroeck Named To Team CHL For Upcoming Prospect Showcase Niagara IceDogs forward Ryan Roobroeck is one of the first three members named to Team CHL’s roster for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. 

Younger brother Florian played two seasons in the OHL, both with the Bulldogs organization: one during their last year in Hamilton and the other in their first year in Brantford after relocating.

In just two seasons in the league, he followed in his older brother’s footsteps, becoming an intimidating, physical threat in the league who fought and was a punishing hitter. Florian accumulated 184 penalty minutes in 143 combined regular season and playoff games. Offensively, he scored 98 points (51 goals, 47 assists). 

We all know the OHL is known for its incredible development and churning out players to the NHL level. The story of the Xhekaj brothers makes it even better. Neither was ever drafted into the OHL. Arber made Kitchener's roster and Florian made the Bulldogs' roster as free agents.

They are the definition of what putting your blood, sweat, and tears into something truly means. Their journey to the NHL is a testament to what being determined truly means and why everyone should persevere through setbacks to achieve their dreams. 

With how quickly Florian has been developing, don't be shocked if we see the two enforcers suit up for the Canadiens in a regular season game in the upcoming NHL season. 

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Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Latest OHL News:

Vancouver Canucks Sign Two Star OHL Players A couple of OHL players returned to their respective club teams after attending the Vancouver Canucks training camp, but they are both coming back with NHL contracts.  Former London Knight Impressing Maple Leafs Organization & FanbaseThe majority of NHL teams have kicked off their pre-season this past weekend, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Training camp and pre-season are opportunities for younger players in the system to impress coaches and management and make a name for themselves.  Ottawa 67’s 2024 Fifth-Round Pick Excited To Debut For Hometown Team Following NCAA Eligibility ChangeThe NCAA ruling on CHL-player eligibility last November turned the junior hockey landscape upside down. Prior to the November ruling, any player who joined a CHL team became ineligible to play NCAA hockey. The change created an environment where the CHL is now a viable destination for elite young players who want to preserve the option to secure an education while they develop as hockey players in the NCAA. 

The New Jersey Devils earned their first victory of the preseason with a 6-2 win over the New York Islanders.

In his first preseason game, Dougie Hamilton gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at the 13:52 mark of the first period. Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer picked up the assists on the power-play goal. 

With four minutes remaining in the opening frame, Emil Heineman tied the game on the Islanders' first shot on Devils' goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

Only 44 seconds after the puck dropped for the second period, Nico Hischier hit the back of the net with his team on the man advantage for a 2-1 lead over their division rivals. Hughes picked up his second assist of the night, while Jesper Bratt picked up his first point of the preseason. 

Connor Brown and Mercer scored at even strength about one minute apart to extend New Jersey's lead to 4-1. Through 40 minutes of play, New York had nine shots on goal. 

In his second preseason game, rookie defenseman Ethan Edwards scored four minutes into the third period. Luke Glendening, who is on a professional tryout, was credited with the primary assist, while defenseman Brett Pesce earned the secondary. 

New Jersey's third power play goal of the night came from Evgenii Dadonov, whose wrist shot beat Islanders' goaltender Tristan Lennox. 

New York responded with their own power play goal by Calum Ritchie, but New Jersey's NHL-heavy lineup was too much for Patrick Roy's group. 

Hamilton, Hughes, Mercer, and Meier each finished the game with two points. 

The Devils' next preseason game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26, when the club travels to UBS Arena for a rematch against the Islanders. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes

Hischier's Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He's Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied'

This off-season, Tyson Barrie announced his retirement from the NHL. The BC-born defenceman played 822 games during his career, scoring 110 goals and recording 508 points. Barrie was also a star in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets, winning Defenceman of the Year in 2010 and guiding the Rockets to the Memorial Cup tournament in 2009. 

Now that Barrie is retired, he is appearing on podcasts and radio stations to discuss his NHL career. This includes Sportsnet 650, where the 34-year-old spoke about almost being traded to the Canucks. According to Barrie, trade negotiations between Vancouver and the Colorado Avalanche got to the point where his agent called him ahead of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. 

"I was actually in New York City at a bachelor party that I'd planned, and we were at a Yankees game, and my phone rang, said Barrie. "It was my agent. He goes, Hey, Tyson, oh, you're in New York. I don't usually bother you with this stuff, but there's a chance you're gonna go to the Canucks here at the draft. He's, like, it sounds like it's close, and we won't know until they announced the pick. But stay tuned. So I was just watching the Yankees game, thinking I was getting traded to the Canucks, which I was like, you know, obviously I love Colorado, but I kind of knew I was going to get traded. So to be able to go home to Vancouver, in a way, would have been really cool, but obviously didn't materialize. So I talked to Sakic after, and he said it wasn't actually that close, so it kind of shows you the business you're in a little bit."

According to reports, Barrie would be headed to the Canucks in exchange for Jake Virtanen and a first-round pick. In the end, the trade never happened, and instead, Barrie was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Alexander Kerfoot and a 2020 sixth-round draft pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for centre Nazem Kadri, defenceman Calle Rosen and Toronto’s 2020 third-round pick. Barrie would play one year in Toronto before signing as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers in 2020. 

"I think, you know, had I ended up in Vancouver, I probably would have been able to step into a bit of an extension and, you know, find a home. But instead, I went to the Maple Leafs on a kind of a one-year, almost tryout, and that didn't go super great. So it just goes to show you, you know where you land and you know who's trading for. You just can kind of alter the trajectory of your career and obviously your life."

​​Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Looking back, it is intriguing to think what Vancouver's team would have looked like had Barrie been traded to the Canucks. While Vancouver had a strong blue line that featured Quinn Hughes, Alex Edler, Chris Tanev, and Tyler Myers, having a defenceman who could put up close to 40 points a year would have been beneficial, especially in the playoffs. Unfortunately, as Barrie pointed out, the deal never happened, meaning he never got the opportunity to play for Vancouver during his NHL career. 

In the end, Barrie had a very underrated NHL career. His 508 points rank 10th among defenders since his debut during the 2011-12 season, while he ranks tied for 17th among defencemen in game-winning goals with 21. Barrie also competed for Canada multiple times during his career, which included winning a Gold medal at the 2015 World Championship.

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.

Bump shows flashes as Flyers drop to Canadiens in preseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers fell to the Canadiens, 4-2, in preseason action Tuesday night at Bell Centre.

Anthony Richard and Owen Tippett provided the Flyers’ goals. Travis Sanheim nearly tied the game in the third period on a shorthanded breakaway, but the defenseman was denied by Montreal netminder Kaapo Kahkonen.

The Canadiens’ fourth goal came with the Flyers on a power play and their net emptied.

The trip to Montreal was the second of seven preseason games for the Flyers, who are 1-1-0 so far. They beat the Islanders, 3-2, Sunday night in a shootout.

• Alex Bump made his preseason debut Tuesday night and played a real noticeable game.

The young roster hopeful didn’t score, but he was active and you could see his ability to complement NHL talent.

In the first period, he stripped a Canadien and got a shot on net. In the third period, he had a nice move on a semi-breakaway, but couldn’t quite finish.

Bump did take a couple of hits on the night, but popped back up each time.

The 21-year-old winger didn’t hurt his chances at making the Flyers’ season-opening roster.

Jett Luchanko, another youngster trying to open eyes, made some subtle, effective plays.

• Samuel Ersson played the first period and surrendered two goals on nine shots.

The first was a Cole Caufield blast as Montreal flipped a Sean Couturier turnover into a 3-on-2 opportunity. The second was a Florian Xhekaj shot that Ersson probably knows he can stop.

The plan all along was for Samuel Ersson to play just one period, not the full game, according to a source. Rick Tocchet just misspoke this morning when he said Ersson would play full game.

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 24, 2025

Aleksei Kolosov converted 12 saves on 13 shots over the final two periods. The 23-year-old has made 27 saves on 30 shots through two exhibition outings.

• Rick Tocchet gave Rodrigo Abols a second straight look after the 29-year-old forward impressed in the preseason opener.

“I really liked his first period last game, I thought he was really good,” the Flyers’ head coach said Tuesday morning. “He’s a big guy who can skate. I don’t know him, but from watching him, I love big guys that can skate like that.

“Can he fit a role? When you’ve got a guy like that, I want to see how he can play two, three games in a row. The hardest part, I find, for the guys that come up from the minors, they give you a good game and then they fall off.”

Abols fared well against the Canadiens. He played with physicality and had a team-high three shots.

Richard, who’s pushing for a bottom-six job like Abols, showed off a great burst of speed to put the Flyers on the board in the second period.

• Tippett drew the Flyers to within 3-2 in the middle stanza when he didn’t hesitate to fire a shot from the circle on the power play.

“Whatever the team gives you and it’s a Grade A, you take it,” Tocchet said last Friday. “We’re not looking for tic-tac-toes. If they’re there, take it. To me, be aggressive. The best power plays are the teams that break pressure and they attack, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

• Dennis Gilbert, who is vying to be the Flyers’ sixth or seventh blueliner, played a reliable game. He picked up an assist on Richard’s goal and delivered some hits.

“You notice him out there even when you coach against him,” Tocchet said last Saturday. “He’s a physical guy, he’s not afraid to stick up for his teammates. If he can play a solid game for us, the way we want him to play, I think he has got a good shot at making our team.”

• The Flyers will be on the ice Wednesday in Voorhees, New Jersey before they resume preseason action Thursday against the Capitals at Giant Center (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).

Niagara IceDogs forward Ryan Roobroeck is one of the first three members named to Team CHL’s roster for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. 

Roobroeck is projected to be a top ten pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, with many outlets ranking him in the top five of their preliminary rankings. The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy had him as high as the second-best prospect, right behind the projected unanimous first-overall pick Gavin McKenna. 

The Niagara star forward is one of the most exciting prospects coming up, due to his combination of size, high-end offensive skills, and an elite goal-scorer’s release, which forecasts him as someone who could tuck home 30 goals year-round in the NHL. He exploded for 87 points (41 goals, 46 assists) in 64 games last regular season, and was a major factor in Canada’s gold medal victory at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship (9 points in 7 games). 

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Roobroeck was drafted second overall in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection by the IceDogs. When he was drafted, he was listed at 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds. He has bulked up and grown over the last couple of years, currently standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 215 pounds. Every scout at a Niagara game this year will be watching the London, Ontario native. 

Offensively, he has impressed at the junior level already. Continuing to be that dominate threat this year in the OHL is of course important, but scouts are more focused on the development of his all-around game and play without the puck, which can be lackluster at times. 

The showcase between the top draft-eligible CHL prospects and the U.S. National U18 Team is set to take place on Nov. 25 and 26 in Calgary and Lethbridge. The inaugural event was held last November in London and Oshawa and was a resounding success. Of that 2024 team, five OHL players went on to get selected in the top ten of the 2025 NHL Draft: Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Brady Martin, Porter Martone, and Jake O’Brien. 

Defensemen Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants in the WHL and Xavier Villeneuve of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL were the other two players named to Team CHL’s roster. 

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Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Latest OHL News:

Vancouver Canucks Sign Two Star OHL Players A couple of OHL players returned to their respective club teams after attending the Vancouver Canucks training camp, but they are both coming back with NHL contracts.  Former London Knight Impressing Maple Leafs Organization & FanbaseThe majority of NHL teams have kicked off their pre-season this past weekend, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Training camp and pre-season are opportunities for younger players in the system to impress coaches and management and make a name for themselves.  Reversal Trade? OHL's Flint & Niagara Swap Players 13 Months Later Here’s a trade you don’t see too often. The Niagara IceDogs have reacquired defenseman Artem Frolov and forward Hayden Reid from the Flint Firebirds, two players who were traded from Niagara to Flint 13 months ago in a massive three-team deal involving those two teams and the Barrie Colts. 

One of the biggest names to watch for the New Jersey Devils ahead of the 2025-26 season is Seamus Casey.

The 21-year-old defenseman, a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has been working toward securing a permanent spot with the team.

Last season, Casey split time between the NHL and the AHL. In 14 games with the Devils, he recorded four goals, four assists, and eight points. With the Utica Comets, he tallied three goals and 18 points with a plus-1 rating over 30 games.

At five-foot-ten, Casey isn’t the biggest blueliner, but his strong two-way play has stood out. He impressed at the Prospects Challenge this fall and continues to build on the momentum he created last year. In the 2024 preseason, Casey made his NHL debut in Prague, where he scored his first career goal in just his second game.

Offense has always been a key part of his game. Speaking with the Comets before training camp, Casey said:

“I love to play offense too and help out whenever I can. I love to play with the puck on my stick and in the offensive zone with my teammates. Things went well on the offensive side last year and I’m looking to keep that up, but you have to be a complete player around all sides of the puck.”

Casey opened camp strong but is currently dealing with a minor injury. Head coach Sheldon Keefe provided an update Monday:

“He tweaked something in that practice Saturday. He’s doing a lot better. I just felt giving him a couple more days would be the smart thing to do. I would expect to see him Friday if he continues on the path that he is here now.”

"He tweaked something in that practice Saturday. He's doing a lot better. I just felt giving him a couple more days would be the smart thing to do. I would expect to see him Friday if he continues on the path that he is here now."
- #NJDevils Sheldon Keefe re. Seamus Casey

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) September 23, 2025

Despite the setback, Casey’s mindset hasn’t changed. He’s determined to prove he belongs in the lineup:

“Not being one of the biggest defensemen out there, there’s always room to focus on being more physical. I never want there to be any doubts there. It’s just about being as consistent as I can be in all areas, which comes back to the help of the coaching staff and some of the older guys. Those daily habits on the ice might seem trivial, but you have to be able to do the little things right.”

Casey won’t dress for tonight’s game, but Keefe expects him back Friday. When he returns, he’ll have another chance to show the organization why he deserves a full-time spot on the Devils’ roster.

We’ve nearly made it to the start of the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve worked our way through our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Buffalo player this coming year.

We’ve moved through Buffalo’s players at all positions. And in this file, we’re wrapping up the series with an examination of winger Zach Benson. The 20-year-old has been consistent in his first two NHL seasons, but as we’ll explore below, more is going to be asked of him in ‘25-26.

That said, let’s move on to our breakdown of Benson and what’s fair to expect from him this year:

Player Name: Zach Benson

Position: Left Wing

Age: 20

2024-25 Key Statistics: 75 games, 10 goals, 28 points, 14:49 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$950,000

2025-26 Expectations: If there’s one thing you can’t fault Benson for, it’s consistency. In his first year in the NHL, Benson played 71 games and generated 11 goals and 30 points while averaging 14:31 of ice time; in his second year, Benson slightly regressed, putting up 10 goals and 28 points while averaging 14:49 of ice time. 

To be sure, those aren’t horrible numbers for a secondary scorer on the fourth line. But Benson is currently slotted in as Buffalo’s first-line left winger. And that means expectations on Benson this season are going to rise significantly.

Earning slightly less than $1-million per-season, Benson could prove to be a great bargain, even if he fails to live up to the standard associated with being selected 13th-overall by the Sabres in 2023. He’s entering a contract season, but Benson showed enough last season to be given a bigger opportunity by coach Lindy Ruff. And Benson’s doggedness on the puck could be just what projected top-liners Tage Thompson and Josh Norris need to thrive and generate sufficient offense to win games.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer D-Man Jones Has Opportunity To Estalish Himself As Everyday NHLerThe NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is nearly here, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re approaching the end of our player-by-player series in which we break down expectations for each Sabres player this coming season.

Benson had to make a huge jump from the Western League to the NHL in 2023, but he stuck the landing because of his hockey instincts and determination. Now comes the harder part for him – establishing himself as a top-six forward and one who deserves a major raise when he becomes an RFA next summer. 

Benson will be playing with above-average talent in center Norris and right-winger Tage Thompson to start the season, and he needs to respond with an above-average performance. Buffalo has a slew of young wingers they could turn to as an alternative to Benson if he doesn’t do well out of the gate, so Benson’s opportunities could fall off a cliff if he doesn’t produce.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Will Fourth-Liner Kozak Assert Himself As A Full-Time NHLer?The NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is just about here, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re almost done with our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Buffalo player this coming season.

Benson is now in his third NHL season, and although he still isn’t old enough to drink in many NHL areas, the pressure on him is going to be intense. The Sabres clearly have to see something promising in him as a developing young player that should get first-line time. But the catch is that promise has to be realized.

Otherwise, Benson is going to be the latest in a long list of players who couldn’t make it work in Buffalo.

It was a busy day on Tuesday at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale as training camp continues for the Florida Panthers.

On Wednesday, the Panthers will head up to Raleigh for a preseason matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.

Making the trip to North Carolina for the Cats will be group that will not feature any of the team’s returning NHL regulars, a similar situation as to over the weekend when Florida played a preseason doubleheader in Nashville against the Predators.

The players who will participate on Wednesday in Raleigh were on the ice for a formal camp practice Tuesday afternoon.

For many, it’s all about trying to make a good impression and prepare yourself for the season to come, but at the end of the day, as long as the effort is there, the coaching staff understands that it’s a long road to the NHL.

“That's really what I'm looking for,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “If any of these young guys that came out and, let's say, I thought they were all fine, you know, real good idea of, like, either why we drafted them or why we brought them to camp. But if they're young, and they had a tough camp, I won't think about them again. I won't assess them, because they’ve got years before (they’re expected at the NHL level). So if a guy had a tough camp, that doesn't mean his career is over at all. He's just got to go back to play junior, or if it’s his first year pro, or whatever that is, get another year, and then you come in. So you really do go through the stages here, especially because we haven't drafted a high, first round pick that comes in has a legitimate chance to make our team. We don't have those players. All our first-round picks are playing on our team.”

Roster-wise, it will be a similar situation when Florida’s next road preseason game arrives, which will be next Tuesday when the Cats face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Orlando.

For that matchup, expect the Panthers to bring another mostly-young group to the neutral site showdown with Tampa.

However, the night before, when Florida hosts Carolina on Monday in Sunrise, we’ll get our first look at some of the NHLers expected to be on the Opening Night roster.

It’s all part of the process as Maurice and his staff evaluate everyone, new and returning, to see exactly where the players shape up as they prepare to mold a new roster for the upcoming season.

“All of the new guys, I'm just trying to learn their game, trying to find out what I think they do for a living,” said Maurice. “What are they good at? That's a really important question to ask. What's that guy good at? How do I fit him in? The returning players that we've had year over year, I'm just trying to anecdotally measure how much better they are. Do I think they're fitter? Are they stronger? Are they grasping what we've done? We're looking for progression and trying to measure that. And then there are a band of players that you're looking at saying, okay, that guy's a potential call-up, how would I play him? First of all, can I make him better? Can I help him get better? Early on, I just want them to learn our game, try to play it, and see if you can, and then we'll shape you a little bit. You've got to be more physical. You can be less physical. You're running around. We need to get the little details, where you take each individual player and try to shape them into our team.”

Before Tuesday’s formal workout in Fort Lauderdale, a large group of the Opening Night Panthers held a skate and scrimmage.

On the ice were Brad Marchand, Evan Rodrigues, Sam Bennett, Eetu Luostarinen, Dmitry Kulikov, Sasha Barkov, Niko Mikkola, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Uvis Balinskis, Mackie Samoskevich, Carter Verhaeghe, A.J. Greer, Gus Forsling, Jesper Boqvist and Jeff Petry.

They are all expected to join the regular camp practices later this week ahead of Monday's game against Carolina. 

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Photo caption: Sep 19, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice speaks to center Gracyn Sawchyn (59), forward Tyler Motte (14) and forward Noah Gregor (18) during training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

When in the early stages of NHL training camp, it's not often wise to read into too much.

There are a lot of players at training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. Talent is spread out among groups. Players typically get reps with a lot of different people in the earlygoing. When there is an entirely new coaching staff, that means new systems are adapted, and it's difficult to discern much early on.

But one thing that has remained consistent throughout camp practices - and carried into Monday's pre-season-opening 2-1 shootout loss against the Montreal Canadiens - is the defensive pairing of prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke.

And if folks have been paying attention to the Penguins' prospect pool within the last calendar year, this very well could be a pairing to keep an eye on as the Penguins move toward the future. 

On Monday, Pickering and Brunicke suited up on the third pairing for the Penguins, and they did not disappoint. Brunicke quarterbacked the second power play unit and registered the secondary assist on Tristan Broz's power play goal in the first period, and Pickering made some key defensive plays throughout the evening. 

Head coach Dan Muse was happy with the pairing's performance.

"That pair… I thought you saw a lot of good things on both sides of the puck," Muse said. "In the offensive zone, you can see that both guys can get moving a little bit, which creates confusion for the opponent. And there [were] some shifts there where they were really able to do that, some of the shifts where we were able to extend time there in the offensive zone. Also, the puck movement, the breakouts… I think at the beginning of the game, the breakouts were really good, and they were a big part of that.”

Pickering, 21, was selected 21st overall by the Penguins in 2022. He surprised many last season when he earned an unexpected NHL call-up in November after putting on a solid performance to kick off his first full season in professional hockey. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound blueliner registered a goal and three points in 25 games with the big club before being re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) in January.

Pickering has aspirations of remaining on the NHL roster this season for good, and it's something that was the ultimate goal for him all summer long. The same goes for Brunicke, too.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound young defenseman turned heads in training camp last season - just 18 years old and fresh off his 44th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft - with his top-of-the-line skating ability, hockey smarts, and two-way prowess. His high level of play earned him a stay through the end of training camp, and he may just have gotten that nine-game trial had it not been for the injury situation on the forward front.

Same fivesome as yesterday with Crosby, Koivunen, Brazeau, Brunicke, and Pickering. #LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/bNk5dlixDX

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) September 20, 2025

Now 19, Brunicke is partaking in a crucial camp for his development, as he wants to avoid the binding assignment back to junior hockey by cracking the NHL roster this time around. And part of what has helped both he and Pickering is that they have seen much of their camp repetitions alongside guys like Sidney Crosby and Ville Koivunen and against guys like Erik Karlsson.

"Me and Owen have spent a lot of time with Sid, Koivy, [Justin] Brazeau, all those guys," Brunicke said. "So, it’s cool to be a part of that, and we’re learning each day and taking it step-by-step."

As mentioned earlier, Pickering and Brunicke have been paired together consistently from the onset of camp, and the duo is something that goes back to last season. At the conclusion of his junior season with the Kamloops Blazers - where he put up five goals and 30 points in 41 games - Brunicke was awarded an AHL stint with WBS. In 10 regular season games, he registered two points - he also put up a goal and two points in two AHL playoff games - and he saw some time with Pickering then. 

Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season ShootoutOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins' hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season. 5 Observations From First Week Of Penguins' Training CampOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins officially opened training camp for the 2024-25 season. And through three days, there has been a lot of action. For One Penguins' Top Prospect, New AHL-CHL Rule Could Prove CrucialOn Tuesday, the NHL released its transition schedule for the new rules under the Collective Bargaining Agreement that is set to take full effect during the 2026-27 season. 

Pickering's size, reach, transition game, and shutdown ability complement Brunicke's ability to activate, skate with the puck, and use his skating ability to create offensive opportunity. But neither of their skillsets are limiting, as each of them have a pretty strong two-way game and are able to both generate chances and stymie opposing breakouts.

Both players alluded to how well they read off of each other, and their off-ice friendship has also led to on-ice chemistry.

"I think we play well together, complement each other," Pickering said. "We’re also just good friends and understand the other pretty good. So, yeah, we’re having fun.”

Brunicke echoed that sentiment, adding that they are learning from each other as well.

"We’re taking it each day, just learning and growing together," Brunicke said. "So, it’s been a lot of fun. We’re creating some chemistry here, and we’ll look to keep progressing.”

Of course, the path to the NHL roster for both of them isn't exactly going to be easy. The Penguins have a lot of defensemen on both sides vying for few spots, and even if GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's comments on youth earning roster spots are to be taken at face value, there's still a lot of veteran movement that would have to happen in order for both of them to make the roster.

In an ideal world, though, they both would. This is a pairing that could very well be a large part of the Penguins' future and their hopes of contending for another Stanley Cup championship, and playing at the NHL level now may just be what is best for their development moving forward. Pickering's left side is a bit more open a battle than Brunicke's right, but - either way - they want to make decisions difficult for Penguins' brass when final roster cuts are being made.

And, for Pickering, it all comes down to staying within himself and putting his best foot forward.

“I feel good," he said. "I'm just trying to compete and, hopefully, make the team.”

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

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St. Louis Blues PTO attendee Milan Lucic exited practice early today after tweaking his groin and has been given a 50/50 chance of participating in tomorrow's practice, per Jeremy Rutherford.

Lucic skated in the Blues' second pre-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording an assist and two hits in 15:26 of ice time.

Lucic was brought into St. Louis on a PTO with the possibility of joining the team as a physical presence. The 37-year-old comes with plenty of NHL experience, scoring 233 goals and 586 points in 1177 games. 

Lucic hasn't played much hockey recently, last playing in the 2023-24 season, where he recorded just four games with the Boston Bruins. The Blues have plenty of options for their bottom six, but none have the skillset Lucic can provide, which is a 6-foot-3, 236-pound frame and several NHL fights under his belt. 

It's not a forgone conclusion that Lucic will sign with the Blues, but GM Doug Armstrong has stated that he is open to giving players a second chance, and if Lucic can snag it, he'll give it to him.

Milan Lucic Latest In "Second Chances" For St. Louis Blues Under Doug ArmstrongMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues have been down this road before, and general manager Doug Armstrong is quite familiar with them.

The Chicago Blackhawks have several young players eyeing NHL jobs with the 2025-26 regular season right around the corner. One of them is Colton Dach, as the 22-year-old forward is a candidate to earn a bottom-six spot in Chicago's lineup at the start of the season. 

Dach played in a career-high 25 NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he recorded two goals, seven points, and 86 hits. Overall, the 6-foot-4 forward undoubtedly demonstrated that he is not afraid of the physical side of the game and did provide a little offense along with it. Thus, the possibility of him getting more chances on the Blackhawks' roster this season should not be ruled out.

Dach will be in the lineup for the Blackhawks during their Sep. 23 preseason contest against the Detroit Red Wings. With this, Dach will certainly be looking to stand out with a strong night, as it could very well increase his odds of making the NHL roster out of camp. 

It will be very interesting to see what kind of performance Dach can put together for the Blackhawks against the Red Wings from here. He is undoubtedly one of the youngsters to keep an eye on during this contest. 

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced its starting goaltender for Sunday's game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas

Cal Petersen will get the start between the pipes for Minnesota in Dallas for the Wild's first preseason game. The Stars are playing a very heavy veteran lineup tonight. It should be a good test for Petersen.

Petersen, 30, was signed on a one-year deal worth $775,000. He went 13-15-3 with a 3.14 goals-against average (GAA) and .885 save percentage (SV%) in 31 games last season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL.

The native of Iowa has played in 106 NHL games in his career across six seasons. He is 46-44-10 with a 2.96 GAA, .903 SV% and has four shutouts.

He was signed as some extra insurance if Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt get injured. Gustavsson will back him up on Tuesday in Dallas.

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The Montreal Canadiens have several young players looking to earn spots on their NHL roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. Among the Canadiens' most notable prospects looking to impress is forward Owen Beck.

Beck just completed his first full professional season during the 2024-25 campaign. The 21-year-old forward spent the majority of the year down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Laval Rocket, where he recorded 15 goals, 29 assists, 49 points, and a plus-10 rating in 64 regular-season games. He also played in 13 playoff games for Laval this spring, posting two goals and six points.

Beck also played in 12 games for the Canadiens during the 2024-25 season, where he recorded one assist and 23 hits. Overall, while he did not break out offensively, he still showed promise. As a result, he is a candidate to watch for the Canadiens' opening night roster and will be looking to have a big preseason.

Beck certainly got off to a good start with that in the Canadiens' recent preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as he scored at the 2:36 mark of the third period to tie the game up at 1-1. Beck worked very hard for his goal, too, as he kept jamming the puck in front before scoring.

Il lui a cloué le beck!

WE ARE SO BECK

PIT 1, MTL 1#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/YN7xd1WdpM

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 23, 2025

While Beck's goal was not the flashiest, this is exactly the kind of play that the Canadiens are hoping the exciting prospect can provide for them. It will be interesting to see how he builds off his solid start to the preseason from here.

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