Two highly ranked prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft went head-to-head on Tuesday night. On one side was standout forward Ivar Stenberg. On the other stood Viggo Björck, who finished last season by breaking the all-time scoring record in Sweden’s junior league. Also in Djurgården’s lineup were 2025 third-overall pick Anton Frondell and another former first-rounder, Victor Eklund.

Ivar Stenberg was asked about his journey to this point prior to the game.

“It’s about building on last year’s playoffs. There were things that were good and that I wanted to carry forward, even though it’s difficult,” said Ivar Stenberg to TV4 before the game.

Is there any part of your game you still need to develop further?

“It’s about getting better with the puck and in decision-making. I want to be stronger on the puck and know when to make certain decisions. Mostly, it’s about becoming more mature in my game and a bit more grown-up.” He continues: “The coach wants me to play my game and do the things that define me,” said Ivar Stenberg before the game.

The game between Frölunda and Djurgården was the only matchup of the day and drew major interest. The all-time attendance record for an indoor hockey game in Sweden was set, with 13,950 fans packing Avicii Arena in Stockholm.

Victor Eklund created the game’s first big chance. He battled his way to the puck and fired a low shot, with Anton Frondell lurking for the rebound. But Frölunda goalie Lars Johansson was there to turn it aside.

It took until the 18th minute for the first goal to arrive. Buffalo Sabres’ 2019 fifth-round pick Filip Cederqvist capitalized on a rebound after a scrambled sequence in front. It all started with a breakaway from Erik Thorell that Magnus Hellberg stopped but couldn’t control the rebound on, allowing Cederqvist to score his second goal of the season. Before the period was over, Max Friberg made it 2–0 for Frölunda, who went into the intermission with a two-goal lead.

Filip Cederqvist snappar upp pucken och ger @frolunda_hc ledningen i Avicii Arena! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/vM7oXc0g0O

— SHL.se (@SHLse) September 23, 2025

During the first intermission, Islanders first-rounder Victor Eklund of Djurgården wasn’t satisfied with the game.

“We’re cutting corners a bit. We’d rather take a wide turn instead of stopping and chasing the puck. That’s what we need to work on.” He continues: “We’re not working at 100%, and that’s something we have to fix before the second period,” said Victor Eklund to TV4 during the first intermission.

Frölunda goal scorer Filip Cederqvist, on the other hand, was much more positive during the intermission.

“Djurgården came out really strong, which was expected on their home ice. They pushed us back, but we kept them fairly well to the outside. Then it was nice to get two goals at the end of the period.” He went on to describe his goal: “I saw that Thorell was open, then the puck bounced out and I was in the right place,” said Filip Cederqvist to TV4.

A strong start to the second period from Anton Frondell

Djurgården struck early in the second period. Chicago’s third-overall pick Anton Frondell worked the puck down into the offensive corner before sliding a slick pass back to Albin Grewe, who fired it into the top corner. Strong plays from both the goal scorer Grewe and the playmaker Frondell.

Albin Grewe sätter reduceringen för @DIFHockeyse tidigt i den andra perioden! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Mn9PirhtHI

— SHL.se (@SHLse) September 23, 2025

Midway through the second period, Frölunda restored their two-goal lead through Filip Hasa. Holding the puck confidently at the blue line, Hasa ripped it high past Magnus Hellberg in the Djurgården net. Just a minute later, Frölunda added another goal to lead 4–1.

Before the period was over, Djurgården’s August Berg fired a shot from the blue line to make it 4–2. That gave Djurgården a glimmer of hope, but it was short-lived as Frölunda extended their lead to 5–2.

Stenberg picks up two assists in the third

Frölunda wasted no time getting on the board in the third period. Just 55 seconds in, Filip Cederqvist carried the puck in and set up Jere Innala, who shoveled home the 6–2 goal. The assist gave Cederqvist his fourth point of the game.

A seventh goal followed for Frölunda, with Ivar Stenberg carrying the puck into the zone before moving it along to Theodor Niederbach, who set up Max Lindholm to make it 7–2. Frölunda piled on four more goals to finish with an 11–2 win, while Djurgården looked every bit the newly promoted SHL side. Stenberg picked up another assist on the power-play tally that capped the scoring at 11–2.

Ivar Stenberg picks up a secondary assist🍏 good middle lane drive after dishing the puck wide. #Frölunda#NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/aC8XM1zDpb

— HockeyWithZak (@HockeyWithZak) September 23, 2025

Among the young players, Ivar Stenberg and Anton Frondell stood out the most. Frondell had a strong second period, creating a scoring chance and picking up an assist on Albin Grewe’s goal. Stenberg was a constant threat, showing majestic puck control throughout the game. He was rewarded with an assist for carrying the play that led to Frölunda’s 7–2 goal. He also picked up an assist on the final goal after being involved in the power-play setup.

Fans who made their way to the Bell Centre to watch the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night got to see Ivan Demidov and new defenseman Noah Dobson. On Tuesday, they’ll see the top line: Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky, the second pair of defensemen, which consists of Kaiden Guhle and Lane Hutson, and both Xhekaj brothers. For the first time, Arber and Florian Xhekaj will be suiting up for the same team.

Alex Newhook, Samuel Bolduc, and Joshua Roy will be forming the second line. This is a big opportunity for the St-Georges native. Unlike Oliver Kapanen, who only served as a placeholder for Kirby Dach on Monday, Roy will be skating in a role that’s actually available. After a great summer of training, Roy shed 16 pounds and, as a result, he’s much faster on his skates.

Strong Goaltending Display Leads To Shootout Win
Canadiens: Fowler Cool As A Cucumber
Canadiens: Lineup Shows St-Louis Means Business

Samuel Blais, Joe Veleno, and Austrian winger Vinzenz Rohrer will form the third line while the younger Xhekaj will center Luke Tuch and Tyler Thorpe, a line that could do a lot of damage in Laval, should the three start the season there.

On the blue line, the older Xhekaj and Alex Carrier will be the second pairing behind Guhle and Hutson, and David Reinbacher will suit up with Tobie Paquette-Bisson. While some would probably like to see Reinbacher get a chance in the NHL this season, the youngster isn’t ripe for the show yet. The knee injury he sustained last year didn’t help his development, even though the Canadiens kept him involved in team meetings and video sessions; there’s nothing like actually playing the games.

In net, Jakub Dobes and Kaapo Kahkonen will split the games like Samuel Montembeault and Jacob Fowler did on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. As for the visiting Philadelphia Flyers, they won’t be dressing Russian-born Matvei Michkov, who played in Sunday’s game and featured in the highlight reels for the wrong reason when first-overall pick at the last draft, Matthew Schaefer, stopped him on a breakaway.

Just an absolutely insane defensive backcheck from Matthew Schaefer on Matvei Michkov 😱

In the first overall pick’s first NHL game too 😳

(via @OSulr81) pic.twitter.com/CqRBhSJOdg

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 22, 2025

There will be at least a couple of familiar faces wearing orange, though. Christian Dvorak, who left the Canadiens in free agency this summer, will return to his old stomping ground, and another former Hab, tough guy Nicolas Deslauriers, will also be in the lineup. Other big names who will suit up for the Flyers include Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett, and Travis Sanheim.

If Deslauriers wants to rough someone up, he can expect plenty of opposition; the Xhekaj brothers, Thuch, and Thorpe all play with a physical edge. It’s been some time since a pair of brothers suited up for the Canadiens; the last ones to do so were Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn in 2007-08.

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With the NHL pre-season having kicked off, there are already several big-name young players stuck in limbo. New Jersey Devils’ Luke Hughes, Anaheim Ducks’ Mason McTavish and Nashville Predators’ Luke Evangelista are the three notable RFAs left without an NHL deal as training camp is well underway. In addition, former first-round picks Alexander Holtz and Rasmus Kupari are also in need of a new contract.

Fans and the media have learned that there is a pattern when players and teams have lengthy standoffs in contract negotiations. A trend has formed over the years where players would miss camp and sometimes part of the season due to negotiations, only to underperform once an agreement had been made.

In the previous article, The Hockey News looked at how some of the most notable contract holdouts of the pre-salary cap era fared. However, with the 2004-05 lockout bringing in unrestricted free agency for long-tenured NHLers, restricted free agency was left to younger players. Furthermore, a Dec. 1 deadline for RFAs and the potential for offer sheets has made it so that fewer teams are willing to sit a player out the entire season due to negotiations.

William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The Kyle Dubas-led Toronto Maple Leafs were entangled in two major RFA negotiations that spiralled. William Nylander was coming off back-to-back 60-point, 20-goal seasons. He showed plenty of flashes of skill, but at that point, he hadn’t elevated his game to that of a true star.

The Swede hit the closed market in July 2018, and over the next months, anxiety began to build within Leafs Nation as ‘Willy’ remained without a contract.

He would stay in Europe, practising with the Austrian team Dornbirner EC. With just minutes remaining before the Dec. 1, 5 p.m. deadline, Nylander’s six-year, $6.9-million extension was processed.

The short-term return on investment was bleak. Nylander only skated in 54 games that season, notching just seven goals and 27 points. Even after that disastrous campaign, Nylander picked up right where he left off before the contract dispute.

It was only in the last few seasons of the deal that it truly became a steal for the Leafs as Nylander finally became the superstar that the team knew he had in him. To this day, Nylander remains an integral piece of the Leafs and a fan favourite.

Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Just one season after the Nylander saga, Mitch Marner became an RFA in July 2019. He had just recorded a career-high 94-point season — the most since Mats Sundin’s 90-point campaign in 1996-97. Negotiations were incredibly tense, with his agent reaching out to the Swiss league’s ZSC Lions that August as the two sides couldn’t come to a deal.

Marner would sign a six-year deal just after training camp began, which would eat two years of UFA eligibility, but with a no-move clause on the last two years of the deal, preventing any trades without Marner’s express permission.

On the ice, Marner’s production took only a minor dip during the following two shortened pandemic-impacted seasons, while also working on his defensive game. He would then surpass his prior production, even reaching the 100-point mark just last season.

However, the damage was done. The tough negotiations turned the hometown kid into a punching bag for the fans, which would eventually become one of the causes for his departure from the team to the Vegas Golden Knights this past summer.

Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa Senators

When Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk became an RFA at the end of the 2020-21 season, and was in a similar situation to Nylander. Tkachuk had eclipsed the 20-goal mark twice, but he had only had a career high of 45 points at that time from his rookie season.

Despite the stagnant production, then-GM Pierre Dorion knew that he had a star-in-the-making. However, Dorion’s negotiation tactic of signing young players to long-term deals over bridge contracts while offering little to no bonus money made the unproven Tkachuk’s negotiations difficult, forcing Tkachuk to miss camp and pre-season.

Eventually, the two sides settled on a seven-year deal at just over $8.2 million per season, announced at the team’s home opener. He missed three games before finally stepping into action, and just 22 days later, the rebuilding Senators entrusted him as the team’s captain at 22 years old.

Tkachuk’s story is one of the best cases among fraught negotiations in terms of performance. In the campaign following the contract debate, he put up his best season yet with 30 goals and 67 points. Now, Tkachuk is a bona fide star, leader and fan favourite.

Jeremy Swayman, G, Boston Bruins

While players have shown varying degrees of success after missing camp, pre-season or even regular-season action because of contractual impasse, Jeremy Swayman’s case shows that the outcomes for goaltenders can be significantly worse. Simply put, the Boston Bruins botched Swayman’s negotiations from the get-go.

In 2023-24, the Anchorage, Ala. native split the crease with Linus Ullmark, who was coming off a Vezina Trophy-winning season. Swayman had marginally outplayed the veteran goaltender in the regular season, posting a .916 save percentage to Ullmark’s .915.

However, in the playoffs, Swayman would go on to take the reins with a .933 SP over 12 games. As the off-season began, the team decided to prioritize the younger goaltender who had better results.

The B’s could have easily kept Ullmark around as a stake to drive Swayman’s asking price down, as Swayman had no clear runway to become a bona fide starter in the short-to-medium term with Ullmark around.

However, the Bruins rushed an Ullmark trade to Ottawa, giving Swayman’s camp leverage to increase their asking price. At that point, it was clear that Boston needed Swayman as their No. 1 netminder.

As the weeks turned to months, Swayman and the Bruins struggled to come to terms until just ahead of the regular season, where the parties convened on an eight-year deal, $8.25 million AAV—the same price as Ullmark’s extension with the Senators but at twice the length.

The rust was very evident once Swayman stepped foot into NHL action, as it felt as though he became the worst version of himself, with accentuated weaknesses and inconsistency. He would post a .892 SP and 3.11 goals against average while starting 58 games.

Those were far from the numbers Boston was hoping for from a goalie fresh off a top-10 Vezina Trophy finish. Now with a full camp, one can expect that in his sixth year, the 26-year-old goaltender can bounce back into form and live up to the price tag and expectations of a legit starter.

Bruins Star's Revenge Tour Starts NowWith training camp here, all eyes are undoubtedly on Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman.

Already with several negotiations dragging into pre-season play, these examples serve as reminders that when players miss training camps due to negotiations, it can lead to major slumps in the short term, and worse, fractured relationships in the long term.

Luke Hughes may be willing to put water under the bridge once he signs, thanks to playing with his brother Jack, and McTavish might be able to as well, with the Ducks potentially eyeing him as a future captain, making his situation not too dissimilar to that of Brady Tkachuk’s.

As the saying goes, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. However, what happens in negotiations stays with the players.

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In a trade announced Tuesday between KHL Eastern Conference teams Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Ak Bars Kazan, two ex-NHL players are changing addresses. American center Alexander Chmelevski, 26, is heading to Kazan and Canadian defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk, 28, is heading the other way.

Chmelevski is in his fourth KHL season while it’s Kalynuk’s first.

“Chmelevski is one of the best centers in the KHL, possessing a unique set of qualities,” Kazan GM Marat Valiullin said about his team’s newest acquisition. “He can play on the power play, win faceoffs, lead rushes and finish plays himself. He's fully adapted to the league, speaks excellent Russian, and will quickly fit into any system.”

Born in Huntington Beach, Cal., Chmelevski played junior hockey for the Sarnia Sting and Ottawa 67’s of the OHL. He was chosen in the sixth round, 185th overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and recorded 10 points in 26 NHL games with the Sharks before heading overseas in 2022.

Internationally, Chmelevski has represented the USA at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and at the 2021 World Championship.

Former Shark, Canuck Claimed Off Waivers In KHL Russian winger Nikolai Goldobin, 29, has been claimed off KHL waivers by SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL website announced on Monday. He had been waived by Spartak Moscow, the club for which he’d played the past two seasons.

“We wish Wyatt Kalynuk the best of luck,” Valiullin said about the player he traded away. “He’s a good player that we were interested in, but the market dictates its own terms.”

Kalynuk was born in Brandon, Man. and played three seasons at the University of Wisconsin, captaining the team his last season. In that same 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Kalynuk was taken in the seventh round, 196th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kalynuk was a member of several NHL organizations but only played in the show with the Chicago Blackhawks, recording nine points in 26 games over two seasons.

Alexander Barabanov returns to the KHL Russian winger Alexander Barabanov has signed a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan, the KHL club announced on Thursday.

The KHL season has already begun and both players played some games with their previous clubs before the trade. Chmelevski had three points in six games for Ufa, while Kalynuk had no points in two games for Kazan.

Kazan’s roster includes ex-NHLers Dmitrij Jaškin, Alexander Barabanov (a former San Jose teammate of Chmelevski), Alexei Marchenko and Grigori Denisenko, as well as Mitchell Miller, the one-time Arizona Coyotes draft pick who was convicted of assaulting and bullying a classmate.

Other than Kalynuk, the only ex-NHLer on Ufa’s roster is Canadian Jack Rodewald. Ufa had reigning KHL MVP and scoring champion Josh Leivo under contract long-term before terminating the deal in August.

OFFICIAL: KHL MVP Josh Leivo Signs With New Team Canadian winger Josh Leivo, 32, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL website announced on Monday.

The New Jersey Devils are preparing to play their second preseason game on Tuesday night, hosting the New York Islanders. 

While some players like forwards Arseny Gritsyuk, Brian Halonen, and defenseman Ethan Edwards will get a second game of action, 21-year-old Seamus Casey remains out of the preseason lineup. 

During his pregame media availability, head coach Sheldon Keefe shed some light on Casey's status. 

"He was supposed to play on Sunday (against the Rangers)," he said. "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."

Casey is entering his second professional season, having played 14 games in the NHL and 30 games in the American Hockey League (AHL). He will be one of a handful of players competing for a spot on the Devils' blue line, as Johnathan Kovacevic will miss an extended period of time and is out indefinitely.

"I was happy with last year, but that's last year," Casey shared on Monday. "You want to build on it and get better. It doesn't matter what you did the year before; you have to get better. If I played the way I did before, that is not really good enough. You have to keep getting better and better."

Casey practiced with the non-game group on Tuesday afternoon, and if all goes to plan, he will play at UBS Arena on Friday night when the Devils take on the Islanders at 7:00 p.m. 

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

The Philadelphia Flyers will face the Montreal Canadiens for their second preseason game of 2025 with an entirely different roster, with the exception of two players.

Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed Tuesday morning that goalie Sam Ersson will start and play the whole game against the Canadiens, with Aleksei Kolosov serving as the backup.

As for the skaters, only Rodrigo Abols remains from the 3-2 shootout win against the New York Islanders on Sunday night.

"I love big guys that can skate. Can he fit a role? When you get a guy like that, I want to see how you can play two, three games in a row," Tocchet said of Abols. "I think it's an important game for him to see if he can be real consistent for us, and you never know. I just wanted to see him. That was kind of my call."

Joining Abols at the forward position will be veterans like captain Sean Couturier, star winger Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, and Bobby Brink.

Center Christian Dvorak, the club's top free agent addition this offseason, will also be making his Flyers debut.

Flyers Stock Up, Stock Down Heading into Training Camp Week 2Heading into the second week of Philadelphia Flyers training camp, a number of key players have boosted their stocks and chances of making the NHL roster. Others? Not so much.

Three roster hopefuls are set to take the ice for the Flyers, too, in what will be a crucial game for them early on in training camp.

Winger Alex Bump is set to make his Flyers debut, partaking in a preseason game (and an NHL training camp) for the very first time.

Is he nervous? Is it a big moment for him in his fledgling career?

"Not really," Bump said sheepishly Tuesday. "The bigger moment would be the real season debut."

Flyers fans tuning into Tuesday night's game against the Canadiens will also want to keep an eye on 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who was interestingly listed on the game roster as a right wing instead of center, and defenseman Helge Grans.

Luchanko is in a precarious position as a player who will have to fight for an NHL spot or return to the OHL for another season, so showing growth in a competitive game setting will be key for his prospects of suiting up for the Flyers in October.

As for Grans, real opportunity exists at his position, but he has work to do in order to beat out players like Egor Zamula, fellow countrymen Emil Andrae and Adam Ginning, and newcomer Noah Juulsen, among others, for a place on the team.

Flyers Training Camp: Potential Defensive Changes Could Be for the BestIf the first few days of training camp are anything to go by, the Philadelphia Flyers could have a new-look defense under first-year head coach Rick Tocchet.

"When you're trying to make something, you got to separate yourself from other guys," Tocchet said of Grans and the other roster hopefuls. "Ideally, three rights [defensemen], and three lefts."

What Tocchet does with Travis Sanheim regarding playing the left or right side could improve or reduce Grans's chances, but the best thing the 22-year-old can do for himself is to start the preseason off with a strong performance against the Canadiens.

The same is true for Bump, who is perhaps facing unexpectedly strong competition from Nikita Grebenkin on the left wing. Luchanko and Denver Barkey are certainly in the mix, too.

Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky are all expected to play on Tuesday night, so a tough challenge is certainly in store for the young Flyers.

As the Ottawa Senators get set for their second game of the preseason on Tuesday night in Toronto, they'll ice a much different lineup than they did in Sunday afternoon's 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs. As the Senators take a look at some other players, only five men who played on Sunday – Arthur Kaliyev, Nick Cousins, Olle Lycksell, Donovan Sebrango, and Nik Matinpalo – will return for the rematch at Scotiabank Arena.

As the Leafs did on Sunday, the Sens will give a lot of their big guns the night off. Only 7 of the 18 skaters on Tuesday's roster are a lock to be in Ottawa this season. Based on morning practice, this is the group and the combinations we'll see in Toronto.

Forwards
Arthur Kaliyev-Dylan Cozens-Fabian Zetterlund
Nick Cousins-Shane Pinto-Michael Amadio
Olle Lycksell-Stephen Halliday-Tyler Boucher
Zavier Bourgault-Garrett Pilon-Hayden Hodgson

Defense
Jake Sanderson-Carter Yakemchuk
Tomas Hamara-Artem Zub
Donovan Sebrango-Nikolas Matinpalo

Goalies
Leevi Merilainen
Hunter Shepard

The Senators are giving Yakemchuk, their top prospect, every chance to succeed. The 20-year-old is expected to make his preseason debut alongside the 23-year-old Sanderson, the Senators' best defenseman. If things go according to Hoyle, those two will anchor this club's blue line for most of the next decade. But Yakemchuk still has work to do and heads to turn. He'd like to start by replicating last fall's preseason performance when he finished as the Sens' top scorer with 7 points in 4 games.

And the last time he played an NHL preseason game in Toronto, almost a year ago to the day, he did this:

"Get Carter" Yakemchuk #58 scores a highlight real goal to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in OT! pic.twitter.com/n9t1yChEAK

— Coming In Hot (@ComingInHotSens) September 23, 2024

Kaliyev and Lycksell are both candidates for the 13th forward this season, and both helped their cause when they each scored a goal in the Sens' preseason opener.

Matinpalo and Sebrango are both probably standing outside of the Sens' top six, but both could be right there as the next man up. Matinpalo could step in if Nick Jensen isn't ready, or if there's a new injury on the right side. Sebrango might be the top left side fill-in.

On that note, Tyler Kleven wasn't at practice on Tuesday after an awkward collision with the end boards on Sunday. Kleven left the game in the third period and didn't return, but Sens head coach Travis Green said on Tuesday that it isn't serious and expects him back soon.

As the Sens did on Sunday, the hometown Leafs will go with primarily an NHL-calibre lineup on Tuesday night. It's the first time in many years that you'd describe a Toronto lineup that way without the presence of Mitch Marner – now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Based on their lines today, here's how Toronto will lay out their chess pieces, according to THN's David Alter.

Forwards
Knies-Matthews-Maccelli
McMann -Tavares - W. Nylander
Joshua - Haymes - Robertson
Lorentz-Laughton-Cowan

Defense
Rielly-Carlo
McCabe-Tanev
OEL-Danford

Goalies
Hildeby
Akhtyamov

Faceoff is set for 7 pm (TSN 4/5).

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Senators Send Prospect Gabriel Eliasson And Two Others Back To Junior
After Two Broken Clavicles, Kaliyev Targets Capital Comeback
Senators Lose 2025 Preseason Home Opener To Toronto
Senators Winger Fabian Zetterlund Ready To Prove Himself This Season
Ranking the Senators' 10 Best Prospects
Senators GM Steve Staios On Why He Brought Back The Same Group

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced their 2025 Hall of Fame class on Tuesday morning. 

Scotty Bowman, Eddie Johnston, Kevin Stevens, and Ron Francis were named to the Penguins' Hall of Fame and will be honored with a special on-ice ceremony before the Penguins' game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 25. 

Bowman started as the Penguins' Director of Player Personnel during the 1990-91 season before transitioning to head coach for the next two seasons. He helped guide the Penguins to their second Stanley Cup in franchise history during the 1991-92 season.

Johnston has spent nearly five decades with the Penguins, holding numerous roles. He has served as the head coach, general manager, assistant general manager, and senior advisor throughout his time with the franchise. As the GM, he selected Mario Lemieux with the first overall pick in the 1984 NHL Draft and traded for Paul Coffey and Kevin Stevens. 

As the Penguins head coach, Johnston compiled 232 wins, which ranks third in franchise history behind Mike Sullivan and Dan Bylsma. 

Stevens played for the Penguins from 1987-95 and later from 2000-02. He helped the Penguins win back-to-back cups in 1991 and 1992, and finished his Penguins tenure with 260 goals and 555 points in 522 games. His best individual season of his career came with the Penguins in 1991-92 when he amassed 54 goals and 123 points in 80 games. 

Francis spent eight seasons with the Penguins after being acquired from the Hartford Whalers in 1991, and helped the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups. He won the Selke Trophy as a member of the Penguins during the 1994-95 season and appeared in 533 games with the Penguins, finishing with 164 goals and 613 points. 

He's currently the president of hockey operations for the Seattle Kraken and is fifth on the NHL's all-time points list with 1,798. 

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 20 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #20. 

Let's take a look.

Martin Špaňhel - 2001-2002 - Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1995.

Špaňhel played 10 games for Columbus during the first two years of the franchise and scored two goals. He never played another game in the NHL after leaving for Europe in 2002, playing in Czechia, Denmark, and Norway. 

He returned to North America in 2011 and played in the ECHL but then retired soon after. Nowadays he's the Commissioner of the Columbus Adult Hockey League.

Lasse Pirjetä - 2003-2004 - Drafted by Columbus in 2002. 

Pirjetä played 108 games and had 31 points for the Jackets. He played his final NHL games with Pittsburgh after being traded on March 10, 2004. 

He retired in 2008 after playing in Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland. He was also an asst. coach in Finland for various levels. 

Mike Rupp - 2006 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1998, and then the New jersey in 2000. (re-entry)

The Cleveland, Ohio native played 39 games for the Jackets in 2005-06, scoring four goals and totaling six points, after being traded to Columbus on on October 8, 2005. 

Rupp famously played for the Danbury Trashers during the lockout of 04-05 in the UHL. If you haven't watched that documentary on Netflix - DO IT! He retired in 2014. 

Nowadays he can be seen on The NHL Network as an analyst. He was also a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 8 years.

Curtis Glencross - 2007-2008 - Undrafted out of  Kindersley, Saskatchewan.

Glencross played 43 games as a Jacket and had 12 points. He was traded to the CBJ from the Anaheim Ducks on January 26, 2007. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2008 in exchange for Dick Tärnström. 

He finished his career playing for the Flames and Capitals and had some very good years. On October 20, 2015, Glencross retired. 

Kristian Huselius - 2009-2012 - Drafted by Florida in 1997. 

Huselius played 189 games for Columbus and had 142 points, after signing a four-year, $19 million contract with the CBJ. 

The ending of Huselius' career was a bit controversial. Huselius said that the Blue Jackets rushed his recovery, and that he was not given ample time to recover from a chest muscle injury. He said that he was forced into game action too early, which resulted in him pulling his groin muscle, and forcing him to miss the rest of the season with a slow recovery.

On 8 January 2013, Huselius retired from hockey. 

Tim Erixon - 2013-2015 - Drafted by Calgary in 2009. 

Erixon came to Columbus in the deal for Rick Nash. He only played 52 games as a Jacket and had 11 points. He was traded to the Blackhawks in December of 2014. 

In 2019, he left for Sweden, where he would play for the Växjö Lakers HC for two seasons, and then with the Timrå IK, where he still plays today. He is currently listed as out indefinitely due to a herniated disc.  

William Karlsson - 2015 - Drafted by Anaheim in 2011.

It's a common misconception that Karlsson was drafted by the CBJ. Taken by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, he was traded to the Jackets in March 2015. He played 165 games for Columbus and had 47 points, mostly as a fourth-line grinder and penalty killer.

He was chosen by Vegas in the expansion draft of 2017 and has been there ever since. His career in Vegas has been up and down, but he's managed to get 396 points playing for Vegas. In 2018, he won the Lady Byng, and in 2023, he helped his team win their first Stanley Cup. 

Brandon Saad - 2016-2017 - 

Saad played 160 games as a Jacket and had 106 points. Saad came to Columbus on June 30, 2015, in a trade with Chicago. On June 23, 2017, Saad was sent back to Chicago, along with Anton Forsberg for dynamic winger Artemi Panarin, Tyler Motte, and a sixth-round draft pick in 2017. 

He currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights, and is signed through 25-26. 

Riley Nash - 2019-2021 - Drafted by Edmonton in 2007.

Played 179 games for the Jackets. He scored 10 goals and 33 points during his time in Columbus. He was traded to Toronto in 2021 and has bounced around since, playing for Winnipeg, Tampa Bay, Arizona, and New York. 

He announced his retirement on July 8, 2025 after suffering a season ending knee injury that caused him to miss the entirety of 2024-25.  

There are 20 days left until opening night at NWA.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Let us know what you think below.

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More From THN Columbus 

Blue Jackets Prospect Eyeing Opening Night Roster SpotWith NHL training camps in full swing, the Columbus Blue Jackets have a big season in front of them. The offseason did not bring a ton of changes, but it still feels like there is room for a few prospects to push for an opening-night spot. And even if they do not make it right away, there is one player in particular fans should be watching closely. Blue Jackets Forward Named Among Best Under-The-Radar SigningsThe Columbus Blue Jackets could have one of the league’s best under-the-radar signings from this past offseason. Yegor Chinakhov Open To Staying in Columbus?Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov has been on the minds of CBJ fans everywhere since it came out that he didn't want to play in Columbus anymore. All summer long, all Blue Jackets wanted to know was if young Chinakhov would have his request granted and get traded. 

The Winnipeg Jets play second preseason game Tuesday in an all-Canadian matchup versus the Edmonton Oilers. 

The Winnipeg Jets look to rebound after a loss in the preseason opener when taking on a Canadian rival in the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The Jets have made a habit of slow starts, losing five of their last six preseason openers. They’ve had recent preseason success against Edmonton however, holding an 3-0-1 record over their last four exhibition matchups. 

The most notable storyline heading into Tuesday is the Jets debut of hometown native Jonathan Toews. He will be playing with his future linemates during the season in Cole Perfetti and Gustav Nyquist. 

More hockey to be excited about 😎

📺 TSN3
📻 @680CJOB, @power97wpg

🎟️ https://t.co/mynyf0qFrjpic.twitter.com/99aotIShZs

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 23, 2025

In their 3-2 overtime loss to the Wild on Sunday, Winnipeg blew a 2-0 first period lead and with Morgan Barron and Danny Zhilkin scoring the Jets goals. It was a tough night for recent AHL signee Phillip Di Giuseppe, who was a -2 on the night and will be looking to redeem himself over the next few preseason games in hopes of earning a spot back on an NHL roster. 

Jonathan Toews will play for the #NHLJets tomorrow against Edmonton.

Salomonsson, Yager, Lambert, Chibrikov, Duehr, and Miller will play in their second preseason game. pic.twitter.com/rZFuN3HJy2

— Mitchell Clinton (@MitchellClinton) September 22, 2025

A name to look out for as a possible contender to be on the Jets main roster is Elias Salomonsson, who was the primary assist on Barron's goal but still suffered a -1 rating on the night. He'll need to bounce back as he has a real chance to make the main roster and work in as a seventh defenseman. Salomonsson could even earn regular minutes if he slots in behind the 35-year-old Luke Schenn and the veteran gets injuried. 

brb just admiring this whole sequence 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fHXH7ohzuO

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 21, 2025

The dynamic duo of Kevin He and Zhilkin was a sight to see in the opener as the two combined on a highlight reel goal and got fans excited about what the future may hold with the two young prospects. He was optioned back to the OHL to play with the Niagara Icedogs but Zhilkin will continue to get an extended look. The Russian winger has made a name for himself after recording two goals and two assists through two prospect games last week in Montreal. 

At training camp, Zhilkin was placed in a group with the likes of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi, which is a good sign as many have noted that Zhilkin is a curious player that is always looking to improve his game and will ask questions with few better players to ask then the Jets elite top line trio. The Jets former third round pick in 2022, has since posted just 17 points in 97 games over two years with the Manitoba Moose but his continual desire to improve has made him a favorite among the coaching staffs. 

“[Zhilkin]’s had some conversations with people within our organization, not only (Moose head coach) Mark Morrison, but [Kevin Cheveldayoff], Jimmy Roy, different people have talked to him,” Arniel said following the preseason opener “That’s got him thinking about what it takes to play at this level, I watched that game in Montreal and I saw the highlights of the second game and he was one of our best players there and again, he was good tonight.”

Jets Make Six Roster Cuts, Send Kevin He Back to JuniorThe Winnipeg Jets announced six roster transactions on Monday afternoon. 

Salomonsson and many others will look to bring their best when hosting the defending back-to-back Western Conference Champions. Click Here if you want to check out more expanded storylines on the Jets training camp roster. 

Flyers want Zegras (and the power play) in attack mode originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — With fans huddled around the boards last Saturday for the Flyers’ training camp scrimmage, Trevor Zegras had everyone’s attention as he skated into a 2-on-1 opportunity alongside Matvei Michkov.

Zegras, a talented playmaker who loves to facilitate, pumped the brakes a bit and looked for Michkov. Eventually, the Flyers’ new center had to shoot, ripping one into the goalie’s leg pad.

While Rick Tocchet likes all the skill in Zegras’ game, he would have liked some decisiveness there, too. Maybe even some selfishness.

When asked about Trevor Zegras, Rick Tocchet brought up this 2-on-1 with Matvei Michkov.

The coach wanted Zegras to attack more. But he said that's why it's training camp. Tocchet said Flyers' staff is excited about Zegras' tools and his skating ability. pic.twitter.com/1WVBAkTjan

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 20, 2025

“I know he wants to pass to Michkov, he’s waiting, he’s waiting and at that point, he puts himself out of [space]. He has got to attack,” the Flyers’ new head coach said last Saturday. “I’ve got to get him to attack because he’s such a good little player. But that’s why we have training camp at the start of the year. He has got a lot of tools that we can work with, which excites our staff.

“But there are certain parts of the game, he has got to attack a little bit more inside, and he will. I’ve had him for three days, so I’m not worried about it. I will give him a lot of credit, he’s skating really well out here, really well, and it seems like he’s in pretty good shape.”

The Flyers made a headline-grabbing trade in June to acquire Zegras from the Ducks. The 2019 ninth overall pick was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy in 2021-22 and then scored a career-high 65 points the following season.

But he became a change-of-scenery candidate with Anaheim over the last two seasons. His production dipped, he battled injuries and he bounced to the wing. To open this season, it sure looks like the Flyers want to give him a shot at being a top-six center.

“I’ve played center my whole hockey career up until last season,” Zegras said last Thursday, “so I definitely feel a little bit more comfortable through the middle of the ice.”

To be more effective at center, the 24-year-old knows he’ll have to improve his game in the dot. He has a 40.1 career faceoff percentage. His new teammate Sean Couturier is one of the better faceoff guys in the league.

“I was laughing with him, I was playing the new video game (NHL 26) and his X factor is faceoffs,” Zegras said, “so I went right to him and was like, ‘What do you got for me?'”

Some extra work for Trevor Zegras and Garnet Hathaway. pic.twitter.com/XjcRREMajB

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 23, 2025

The Flyers are hoping Zegras’ high-end vision and skill give them a significant boost on the power play. The club has sported an NHL-worst 13.7 power play percentage over the last four seasons combined.

New assistant coaches Yogi Svejkovsky and Jay Varady will team up to run the power play.

“They’re great communicators, excellent at teaching concepts,” Tocchet said last Friday. “We’re not about plays, we’re about concepts. … You don’t want to make these guys robotic. Sometimes power plays are robotic. Football, it’s like, ‘You’re going here.’ It’s a little different. If the [penalty kill] does this, what is your concept from that? … I think we’ve got to let these guys be carefree, but there are also concepts.”

At the start of last Saturday’s scrimmage, the Flyers worked on their power play. The first unit consisted of Zegras, Couturier, Michkov, Travis Konecny and Jamie Drysdale. The second unit had Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, Owen Tippett and Travis Sanheim on it, while Cam York and Christian Dvorak rotated in for some reps.

Similar to what he wants to see from Zegras, Tocchet will look for the Flyers’ power play to be assertive.

“You beat pressure, we have to attack the interior,” he said. “I didn’t see that much last year. You have to be able to take those shots from the middle of the point to open up power plays. You’ve got to take that shot, so we’ve got to make sure whoever’s up there, he’s going to bomb away if that’s what the team’s going to give us.

“Whatever the team gives you and it’s a Grade A, you take it. 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.”

The Florida Panthers have trimmed down their exceptionally large training camp roster.

Florida opening their 2025 Training Camp last week in Fort Lauderdale with an eye-popping 72 players on the roster.

On Sunday, the Panthers played their preseason-opening doubleheader against the Nashville Predators.

The following day, Florida began to move some of their signed and unsigned players either to AHL Charlotte to their respective junior clubs, and on Tuesday morning the Cats formally announced the moves.

As it stands, the Panthers camp roster now consists of 55 players: 33 forwards, 16 defensemen and six goaltenders.

Here is a breakdown of Florida’s roster moves:

Forwards Riley Hughes, Robert Mastrosimone, Cristophe Tellier and Nicholas Zabaneh, defensemen Mitchell Vande Sompel, Eamon Powell and Dennis Cesana and goaltender Michael Simpson were assigned to the AHL Charlotte.

Additionally, forwards Daniel Walcott and Josh Lopina and defensemen Phip Waugh and Andy Welinski were released from their professional tryouts (PTO) and are expected to report to Charlotte, while defenseman Cole Krygier was released from his PTO.

The Panthers also sent forwards Shea Busch and Shamar Moses and defenseman Carson Cameron to their respective junior clubs.

Florida will be back on the ice Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale ahead of their next preseason game, which takes place Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

You can check out Florida's updated training camp roster in the images below:

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Photo caption: Sep 19, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice speaks to his players during training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Red Wings open up their preseason Tuesday in an original six matchup versus the Chicago Blackhawks. 

The Detroit Red Wings kick off their preseason on Tuesday with a classic Original Six showdown against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Red Wings have made a habit of strong starts, winning each of their last six preseason openers. 

They’ve also had recent preseason success against Chicago, holding an 8-4 record over their last 12 exhibition matchups. It'll be the third time over the last five pre-seasons that Red Wings opens up against the Blackhawks and fans could see some big names take to the ice for the first time this season. 

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XTonight's lineup vs. Chicago. ⤵️

Detroit is coming off an impressive showing during the Prospect Showcase with the Dallas Stars in which they split the two-game series with some of their younger players making an impact. The most notable names out of the bunch were Shai Buium, who scored in each game along with dishing for an assist, and Amadeus Lombardi, who scored once and recorded four assists for a team-best five points. Both players will be looking to make their presence felt once again on Tuesday. 

"Unbelievable Atmosphere": Red Wings Play In Front of Sold Out Crowd in Grand Rapids The annual Detroit Red Wings Red & White game, which is typically played at Center I.C.E. Arena in Traverse City, Mich., was moved to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. for the first time since 2011.

On Sunday, the Red Wings played in their signature split squad game called the Red and White Game in Grand Rapids and led to some impressive performances. Elmer Söderblom burst onto the scene after netting a pair of goals meanwhile former seventh round pick Emmitt Finnie, who has been quickly rising up the prospect rankings, scored while playing on the team's top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. 

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

The battle for the top-line left wing spot remains one of the key storylines to watch, with no clear frontrunner emerging. Elmer Söderblom and Emmitt Finnie have both been tested in the role, but head coach Todd McLellan is expected to keep shuffling pieces as he looks for the best fit. 

"It's Getting Better and Better": Elmer Söderblom Beams After Two-Goal Performance The annual Red & White game for the Detroit Red Wings was played in a non-traditional location this time around, as it was moved from Center I.C.E. Arena in Traverse City, where the Red Wings hold Training Camp, to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, the home of their AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins. 

Other potential options include veterans in James van Riemsdyk or Andrew Copp as two steady options that could add some grit and netfront presence, or Marco Kasper, although the team may prefer to keep him centering the second line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane after their impressive showing during camp. Lastly, they could try audition more prospects like Carter Mazur or Nate Danielson in the role, despite Danielson being more of a natural center. It'll be a tightly contested battle with no answer guaranteed during pre-season and could see the coaching staff continue to look for a solution into the early regular season. 

McLellan and the Red Wings coaching staff also haven't reached a decision yet with naming a No. 1 starting goaltender despite the team trading for a former all-star netminder in John Gibson. The former Ducks goaltender appeared in 29 games (28 starts) and posted a lesser record than Talbot at 11‑11‑2 while playing for a weaker team in the Ducks but posted a better goals against average (GAA) at 2.77 and a better save percentage at .912 compared to Talbot's GAA at 2.93 and his .901 save percentage.

Click Here if you want to check out more expanded storylines on the Red Wings training camp roster. 

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Training camps for the Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils, and Nashville Predators have been open for nearly a week. However, there's no sign that those clubs are any closer to re-signing their key RFAs.

Ducks center Mason McTavish has been skating with the OHL's Ottawa 67s while negotiations continue. Devils defenseman Luke Hughes continues to prepare for the season on his own, while Predators right winger Luke Evangelista left Nashville and returned to Canada to continue his training.

All three are RFAs coming off their entry-level contracts, with Hughes ineligible to sign an offer sheet with another team. There is no indication that McTavish or Evangelista will be getting offers from other clubs.

So what's holding up new contracts for this trio of promising young players?

How The Biggest Contract Holdouts Fared In The NHLs Pre-Salary Cap EraWith the NHL pre-season having kicked off, there are already a number of big-name young players stuck in limbo. The New Jersey Devils’ Luke Hughes, Anaheim Ducks’ Mason McTavish and Nashville Predators’ Luke Evangelista are the three notable restricted free agents left without an NHL deal as training camp is well underway, with former first rounders Alexander Holtz and Rasmus Kupari being the other two.

Writing for The Athletic, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Ducks and McTavish's agent haven't been able to agree on term or average annual salary. He also stated that the 22-year-old center hasn't requested a trade and wants to stay in Anaheim.

LeBrun's colleague, Eric Stephens, reported the two sides are "at an impasse," but it's unclear how wide the gulf is. He speculated that the McTavish side could seek something comparable to the $7.75 million AAV that Matthew Knies received on a six-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It's been reported that clubs have contacted the Ducks about McTavish. However, GM Pat Verbeek isn't interested in moving him. 

Last Tuesday, LeBrun said that Devils management and the Hughes camp continue to grind away on a new contract. The 22-year-old defenseman will wind up with a long-term contract, prompting LeBrun to wonder about Dougie Hamilton's future on the Devils' blueline. “How many power-play quarterbacks do you need in the modern NHL?” he asked.

A report emerged last month claiming that the Devils sought an eight-year contract while Hughes wanted a five-year deal, meaning his new contract would expire at the same time as his brother Jack's deal. Meanwhile, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now speculated that Hughes' agent, Pat Brisson, sees his client as a future No. 1 defenseman and wants him to be paid as such.

TSN's Darren Dreger reported the Predators and the Evangelista camp have discussed a two-year bridge deal. However, they remain far apart on the money. LeBrun stated that Predators GM Barry Trotz isn't contemplating trading the youngster, with the two sides staying in constant contact.

These situations could be resolved quickly if one side or both are willing to make concessions. For now, however, there is no indication that these standoffs will end soon.

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