The Calgary Flames are in a rebuild, a retool, or whatever term you want to use for the current stage of the organization.

Whatever the label, patience is going to be required at the NHL level.

The Flames are still trying to find consistency with their young NHL roster, but there are encouraging signs that the organization is building a deeper prospect pool behind it.

Calgary has invested heavily in the draft over the past few years while adding prospects through trades and other avenues. The result is a system that is becoming deeper and more interesting.

It is still far too early to make major declarations about where these players will ultimately end up, but several Flames prospects have gotten off to strong starts this season.

Here are a few new names worth watching.

Leading from the front 🫡#GoChiefsGo | @NHLFlamespic.twitter.com/7nxEmo4tmh

— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) October 6, 2026

Chase Harrington, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Harrington might be the most intriguing name on this list right now.

The Flames selected the forward in the second round, 36th overall, at the 2026 NHL Draft, and he returned to Spokane this season after being named captain of the Chiefs.

Through four games, Harrington has three goals and seven points with a plus-7 rating. He also leads the team in points, assists, penalty minutes and plus/minus.

His season began with a statement performance. In his first two games, Harrington recorded three goals, two assists and two fights, completing a Gordie Howe hat trick along the way.

He is also coming off a strong 2025-26 season, when he recorded 28 goals and 57 points in 61 games.

🔥Ethan Wyttenbach is back and off to a fantastic start — Here’s hoping this is the season he brings home the Hobey Baker!#Flamespic.twitter.com/8VxFV26Pms

— Flames Prospects (@BlastyProspects) October 5, 2026

Ethan Wyttenbach, Quinnipiac (NCAA)

Wyttenbach is another prospect who has given Flames fans plenty to be excited about.

Calgary selected him in the fifth round, 144th overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft, and the 19-year-old is back with Quinnipiac for his sophomore season.

Through two games, Wyttenbach has two goals and four points.

WHO ELSE?!#BobcatNation x #NCAAHockeypic.twitter.com/7qcE4Hmnxg

— Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey (@QU_MIH) October 2, 2026

That comes after an outstanding freshman campaign in which he recorded 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points in 40 games.

Now the challenge is doing it again.

A strong sophomore season would only add to the intrigue surrounding a player who has already exceeded expectations once.

Joe Iginla Ready to Write His Own Story with the Calgary FlamesDrafted into a legendary legacy, the son of franchise icon Jarome Iginla embraces the pressure of his surname while carving a unique path toward NHL stardom in Calgary.

Joe Iginla, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

There is obviously going to be additional attention around Iginla.

The son of Flames legend Jarome Iginla, Joe was selected by Calgary 65th overall in the third round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

The younger Iginla has returned to the WHL with Vancouver and has recorded one goal and three points through five games.

Iginla finished last season with 32 points in 59 games between the Edmonton Oil Kings and Vancouver Giants.

The name will naturally bring additional attention, but Calgary will ultimately be focused on his development.

For now, he has made a solid start.

Henry Mews, Michigan (NCAA)

Mews is entering his third season in the Flames organization after Calgary selected the defenceman 74th overall in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

The 20-year-old is playing at the University of Michigan, where he has two assists through two games to start the season.

Mews is coming off a shortened 2025-26 campaign in which he recorded nine points in 10 games.

Before making the jump to Michigan, Mews had a highly productive junior career, including an 82-point season in 68 games with Ottawa and Sudbury in 2024-25.

His ability to move the puck and contribute offensively makes him an intriguing defensive prospect for Calgary.

Breaking Down the Calgary Flames’ First-Round Picks in the 2026 NHL DraftThe opening round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is complete, and the Calgary Flames came away with two prospects who fit the identity the organization continues to build under general manager Craig Conroy.

Simon Katolicky, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Katolicky is one of the newest additions to Calgary’s prospect pool.

The Flames selected the Czech forward in the fifth round, 132nd overall, at the 2026 NHL Draft.

The 18-year-old made the jump to North America this season with the Sarnia Sting after playing in Finland with Tappara’s junior program.

Katolicky has two goals and three points through seven games with Sarnia.

At 6-foot-5, he brings an intriguing combination of size and skill, and his transition to North American hockey will be worth watching as the season progresses.

The Bigger Picture

It is still early.

A strong September or October does not guarantee that any of these players will eventually become NHL regulars. Development rarely happens in a straight line, and every prospect has a different timeline.

But that is also the encouraging part for Calgary. The Flames are no longer relying on one or two prospects to carry the weight of the organization’s future.

There is legitimate depth developing throughout the WHL, OHL and NCAA, with players at different stages of development and with different skill sets.

Harrington is wearing a captain’s letter and producing offensively. Wyttenbach is coming off a 59-point NCAA season and has started this year at two points per game. Iginla is beginning to establish himself in Vancouver, while Mews is producing at a point-per-game pace at Michigan. Katolicky is adjusting to North American hockey after making the jump from Finland.

None of that guarantees future NHL success. But it does give the Flames something they have been trying to build for years: options.

As the organization continues working through its current NHL rebuild, those options could become increasingly important.

The Chicago Blackhawks are 1-3-1 after their first win of the season, which also came in their first home game. Before the puck dropped, Patrick Kane received a warm welcome as he played his first home game as a Hawk since 2023. 

Patrick Kane has a claim to be considered the greatest player in franchise history. There have been individual accolades in addition to an incredible amount of team success. Most of Chicago's roster were children when Kane was on Stanley Cup-contending teams.

Now, those same players who grew up watching him are skating alongside him, trying to get the franchise back on track. So far, it sounds like they really enjoy having him as a teammate and benefit from it in multiple ways. 

"The nice thing is that as a teammate, his demeanor and the way he carries himself, he's not a larger-than-life figure as a human being," Spencer Knight said of Kane. "He's a really nice guy, a normal guy, fun and easy to be around. With what he's done, it's pretty impressive on all levels."

Spencer Knight is a young goaltender who hasn't spent a whole lot of NHL time around Patrick Kane yet. However, it seems that Kane doesn't act like a guy who has won the Stanley Cup three times, the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Hart Trophy, the Calder Trophy, or any of his other prolific accolades.

To be a great leader on a young team, you have to be relatable. Kane, according to his newest teammates, is just one of the guys despite all of his success. 

"It's so cool to see the love and the passion that the fans have for him," Alex Vlasic said of Kane. 

Young guys need to see what they can become if they just win. Patrick Kane is as beloved as any athlete in Chicago's rich history of sports, and the young players are seeing firsthand what that could look like for them. 

After the game was over, especially because the Blackhawks won, there was a special buzz in the locker room. Everyone was fired up from the moment they were introduced until the final whistle. Obviously, the recognition of Kane played the biggest role in that. 

“I was like a little kid in the candy shop," Sam Rinzel said. "It was really cool to see, especially as an American, growing up watching him. It’s pretty special and really cool to see as kind of a younger kid. He's been unbelievable, and it couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

On the ice, there are a lot of youth on the side of Chicago. They play a sloppy game at times, and it is mostly due to players figuring out good on-ice habits that will eventually lead to winning. The pure skill is there, which was on full display against St. Louis, but they have to put it all together over the course of a full season to take advantage.

Kane learned how to do it, and he has the wisdom to help. He isn't doing it because he has to, either. He genuinely enjoys it. 

"I think it's great," Kane said about being a leader in the room filled with young players. "These guys are going to grow up together, play together, and develop chemistry on and off the ice. I think it's going to be a special group down the road. Right now, we want to be as good as we can. We're striving to be better than last year, find a way to keep ourselves in every game, get better and better as the season goes on. As the years go by, as these guys get more experience, it's going to be a pretty special group." 

Patrick Kane is not in his 20s or early 30s anymore. He is beyond the years of competing for scoring titles. However, being surrounded by the youth on the current edition of the Blackhawks will help him get more out of the late years of his career. This is shaping up to be a mutually beneficial situation. 

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Spencer Stastney from Edmonton in exchange for forward Filip Hallander.

The deal, announced Wednesday, gives the Penguins depth on the blue line.

Hallander, 26, was off to a promising start this season for Pittsburgh, scoring a goal to go with two assists in two games for the Penguins. The former second-round draft pick has struggled to gain a foothold in the NHL during his time in Pittsburgh, appearing in just 18 games across four seasons.

The Penguins will be Stastney's third team in less than a year. He was traded from Nashville to Edmonton last December, then signed a one-year deal with the Oilers in July.

The 26-year-old Stastney has four goals and 15 assists in 117 career games for Edmonton and Nashville.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

As per a release by the Edmonton Oilers, the organization has acquired forward Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Spencer Stastney. 

Edmonton was rumored to be looking around the trade market in the hopes of trading a depth defenseman for a forward. Speculation was that they had a deal in the works for a young Eastern Conference center with upside, but who was still unproven.

Filip Hallander, a 26-year-old left-shooting centre (6'2", 207 lbs), has made an immediate impact with the Penguins this season. In two games he has a goal and two assists and is a +4.

Born in Sundsvall, Sweden, Hallander was drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft. He was traded to Toronto in 2020 and returned to the Penguins in 2021, then made his NHL debut in 2021-22. Over four seasons he has played 18 NHL games, scoring two goals and adding five assists while averaging 12:04 of ice time per game.

Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer writes, "He finished 2nd in SHL scoring with Timra in 2024-25 (26-27-53/51 GP). He can play multiple forward positions. Oilers save over 650K on the cap with the deal."

He has spent most of his time in the AHL, where he put up 26 goals and 36 assists for 62 points, along with 44 penalty minutes, in 107 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

TRADE 🔄 The #Oilers have acquired forward Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Spencer Stastney. pic.twitter.com/aKWKdvL8j7

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 7, 2026

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NHL insider gives latest update on Bruins' extension talks with Zacha originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins will eventually have to make a decision on Pavel Zacha’s future with the franchise.

The veteran center is in the final year of his contract and eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has publicly expressed a desire to get an extension done with Zacha, but nothing has materialized to this point.

How close are the two sides to making a deal? The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday an update on the situation.

“As far as I can tell, though, the Bruins haven’t been close in talks with his camp over the past three months on what an extension should look like,” LeBrun wrote. “I think they had some sticker shock in June when they heard what the player might be looking for. But as the summer has gone on and salaries skyrocketed around the league, I bet that number doesn’t seem as high.

“The sides have kept the dialogue going, which is good. So there’s still a chance the Bruins eventually extend Zacha. But in the meantime, teams are naturally calling about him. So few centers ever become available.”

Zacha tallied career highs of 30 goals and 65 points last season. He has yet to tally a single point through four games this season, but assuming his production doesn’t take a nosedive, he should have plenty of value around the league if the Bruins get to a point where a trade makes the most sense.

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

There are pros and cons to re-signing Zacha.

The Bruins need his offense. They don’t have a ton of quality goal scorers, and he’s a good bet to score 20-plus times each season if healthy. The Bruins also aren’t super deep at center. Elias Lindholm has been a massive disappointment since signing in free agency back in the summer of 2024. Fraser Minten has a lot of potential, but he’s not a traditional top-six center at this stage of his career. James Hagens could be a top-six center in a few years, but he’s still a rookie with fewer than 10 games of NHL experience.

Zacha will be 30 when his next contract begins. Giving a long-term deal and/or more than $10 million per season to a player 30-plus years old carries plenty of risk. LeBrun also noted, “I think the Bruins are worried about a long-term commitment and how it will age — perhaps sensitive to living with the Elias Lindholm contract already.”

If the Bruins haven’t worked out an extension by the time the March 1 trade deadline rolls around, and they’re not close to a playoff spot, then a trade would make the most sense. The real dilemma would be if the Bruins are in a playoff spot, or close to one, at the trade deadline and there’s no extension.

The Bruins cannot afford to let Zacha walk for nothing. Extend him or trade him. Those are the only options that make sense for the team.

There were plenty of eyes on the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night in Buffalo.

More than 20 scouts and NHL personnel were listed in the press box for the Wild's 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

Among the names in attendance was one that should catch the attention of Wild fans: Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper.

Considering everything that surrounded Dylan Larkin and the Wild this offseason, Draper's presence is at least noteworthy.

Larkin requested a trade from Detroit following last season, something then-Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman publicly confirmed in June. Larkin, who owns a full no-trade clause, provided Detroit with a short list of teams he would be willing to join, with Minnesota reportedly among his preferred destinations.

The Wild and Red Wings were subsequently linked in trade discussions throughout the offseason, but nothing ultimately materialized.

That makes Draper's presence in Buffalo interesting and particularly interesting on a night when Danila Yurov scored his first goal of the season.

Yurov has been one of the young Wild players whose name has surfaced in speculation surrounding what Minnesota could potentially offer Detroit in a deal for Larkin.

The 22-year-old center is one of Minnesota's most valuable young assets and would make sense as a player Detroit would have interest in if trade conversations were ever revived.

With Draper watching from the press box Tuesday, Yurov gave him a pretty good look.

The former first-round pick opened the scoring at 13:53 of the second period on the power play. Jared Spurgeon found Yurov in the right circle, where he ripped a one-timer past Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis for his first goal of the season.

Danila Yurov 🏒 (1)

Jared Spurgeon 🍎 (2)

Blake Coleman 🍎 (1)#mnwildpic.twitter.com/75SfpLvYRj

— Kevin White (@KWoo2814) October 7, 2026

"I think Yurov and Shabanov are two guys that we need to step up and play well for us," Wild coach John Hynes said after the game. "I think they have."

Yurov finished the night with the goal, two shots and 14:21 of ice time. Minnesota eventually built a 2-0 lead before Buffalo scored twice in the third period and won 3-2 in overtime on Owen Power's goal with 37.4 seconds remaining.

Draper's attendance certainly doesn't mean the Red Wings were specifically scouting Yurov, nor does it mean trade talks between Minnesota and Detroit have restarted.

NHL teams routinely have scouts and executives attend games throughout the league, and Detroit was just one of many organizations represented Tuesday.

Larkin's trade request has not simply disappeared. He reported to Red Wings training camp in September, but said conversations about his future would continue once Detroit's new leadership was in place. He has five years remaining on his contract at an $8.7 million cap hit.

Minnesota was also reportedly one of the destinations Larkin was willing to waive his no-trade clause to join.

So when a high-ranking Red Wings executive shows up to a Wild game, and one of Minnesota's most intriguing young trade assets happens to score, it's difficult not to take notice.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have made their first roster move since signing veteran winger Michael Bunting on Tuesday, sending Alex Bump down to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to clear a roster spot and a place in the lineup.

The move doesn't exactly come as a surprise by the Flyers, as Bump, 22, had just four shots on goal in three games this season, and was benched in Game 2 against New Jersey, finishing with just 8:18 of ice time.

Bump was a healthy scratch for the Flyers for Monday's 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet opting to dress the now-healthy Denver Barkey instead.

With Barkey healthy for the first time since the early stages of training camp and Bunting now in the fold, the Flyers have decided that, rather than having Bump waste away in the press box, the promising young forward will instead get game time and reps down in the AHL with the Phantoms.

Presumably, Bump will immediately assume a top-line role with the Flyers' farm team, reuniting with good buddy Cole Knuble, who enjoyed a fantastic training camp, and top center prospect Jett Luchanko.

Flyers Signing Michael Bunting Is Admission of Cracks in the ArmorBy signing Michael Bunting, the Philadelphia Flyers are cranking up the pressure on their underperforming roster.

The 22-year-old winger scored five goals, four assists, and nine points in 17 games with the Flyers last season, and added two goals in six playoff appearances.

The NHL can be unpredictable, as has been established amid the Flyers' woeful 0-2-2 start, and there is a very real possibility it may not be long before Bump finds himself in the NHL again.

An underwhelming training camp and preseason slate didn't work in his favor, and the dire state of the Flyers as currently constructed left them in a difficult position.

For now, Bump returns to the AHL with the Phantoms, for whom he scored 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points in 36 games last season before earning his promotion to the NHL ranks with the Flyers.

The New York Islanders announced Wednesday morning that the team signed defenseman  Vladimir Dravecky to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The #Isles just signed Vladimir Dravecky to his ELC.

“He’s unreal and seems like a steal of a pick.” — Cal Ritchie

More on the 2026 fifth-rounder from an NHL scout, teammates + my exclusive Q&A with the young D-man @TheElmonters ⤵️https://t.co/MfUKhNvi02

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 7, 2026

The Islanders drafted Dravecky, 18, in the fifth-round of the 2026 NHL Draft with the 141st overall pick.

The Czech defender's been off to a hot start with the Guelph Storm, posting one goal and four points in four games for the Storm. His skating is one area that already looks better than it did in his draft year.

Dravecky posted nine goals and 28 points in 58 games last season while with an elite Brampton Bulldogs team, as well as three assists in 11 playoff games.

He's also posted 7 points in 4 games with the Czech u20 team this year, building off his World Juniors appearances for the Czech junior team.

At the time of the draft, people felt the Islanders landed incredible value with his work ethic and potential upside.

Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee, who coached against Dravecky last season, in that camp. Then, rookie camp started, and Dravecky blew the doors down. He excelled in all situations, and even had a strong showing with his one NHL preseason game. 

"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said during Rookie Camp.

McKee continued with effusive praise for the right-shot defenseman.

"Vlad is a very highly skilled, offensive-minded defenseman. Just saying, he's one of the best practice players I've ever coached or even played with," McKee said. "He's intense. He does everything with a purpose. Snaps his passes. He's got an active stick. He's a very, very talented player. You know, like all of them [the prospects]. There's areas of improvement, but his potential and his upside is very high."

The Islanders could use the depth in the prospect pool, especially for the right side of their defense.

The hope is that Dravecky, along with fellow 2026 draftee Lincoln Kuehne and Hamilton youngster Ryan Healey, can fill those gaps.

The Islanders have some time, but continued development is paramount for success. Kuehne will spend this year with Arizona State. Healey, meanwhile, gets his first taste of professional hockey.

Dravecky will spend this year in the OHL with the Guelph Storm and look to build on that incredible first impression next season.

Dravecky turns 19 in December, and its unclear what his developmental path will be following this season in the OHL.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins kicked off their season in the AHL with a 0-1-1 week.

Quick game recaps from WBSPenguins:

Saturday, Oct. 3 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Springfield 3 (OT)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opened its 2026-27 season in front of an excited, passionate crowd in Northeast PA. However, Springfield scored payback after being eliminated by the Penguins in last year’s playoffs. Atley Calvert scored both of the Penguins’ goals, including a shorthanded tally midway through the second period. The Thunderbirds won 1:50 into overtime.

Sunday, Oct. 4 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hartford 3
The Penguins seized an early lead a mere 86 seconds into the contest when D-man Jake Livanavage notched his first AHL goal. The Wolf Pack flipped the game in the middle frame, scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. Hartford ran its lead to 3-1 late with its second man-advantage marker of the day, but Avery Hayes quickly buried an extra-attacker goal to pull the Pens within one.

The Pens used 11 forward + seven defensemen lineups in both games. Ideally from the AHL perspective the crowded house in Pittsburgh with a couple forwards on IR will eventually lead to a quality player at this level dropping down, like David Gustafsson did in time for the second game lineup here.

Maleek McGowan makes his AHL debut tonight!

Catch the action on AHLTV on FloHockey: https://t.co/oFOWvR0WAhpic.twitter.com/XXjEvEdipi

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 4, 2026

Overall on the week there weren’t a lot of standouts with the team scoring four total goals and losing both games, though it wasn’t for a lack of trying with the team piling up 85 shots over the two games. Atley Calvert continues to impress, he scored a pair of those goals. The goalies posted identical stat lines over the two games, with both Joel Blomqvist and Taylor Gauthier stopping 20 shots on 23 attempts for an .870 save percentage. Blomqvist picked up the overtime loss, Gauthier fell in regulation.

The slow start continues this weekend, WBS plays only two games in the upcoming week with Saturday and Sunday matchups scheduled on the road for a tour of New England. The Penguins will be in Hartford on Saturday night then turnaround quickly for a Sunday afternoon game in Providence.

The New York Islanders dropped their game against the New York Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday night inside Madison Square Garden. Though it looks like a blowout, the game was effectively 3-2 until Alexis Lafreniére potted not one but two empty-net goals to seal the win for the Rangers. 

The story became about two other things for the Islanders as the night evolved.

First, Alexander Romanov suffered an undisclosed injury, and is still being evaluated. An update is expected at some point Wednesday.

The other main storyline is the unbelievable, surreal return for Semyon Varlamov from partial double-knee replacement surgery.

For a 38-year-old goaltender, you'd not be surprised in the least to think that would be it for his career.

Instead, Varlamov rehabbed and worked hard for two years, and returned for his first NHL start in 676 days. Varlamov just enjoyed the moment Tuesday.

“I was having a lot of fun out there," Varlamov said postgame. "[It was] a little bit emotional in the beginning, especially during the warm-up.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results today," The veteran netminder continued. "But the whole experience was awesome.”

Unfortunately for the Islanders and Varlamov, the team did not play their best game. The Islanders coughed up far too many Grade-A chances, and the Rangers took advantage.

“Considering the circumstances, I thought he was a warrior for us out in there today," Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer said postgame. "I give him full marks for what he’s gone through to come back, and this is the first step for him.”

The trouble started from the first shot of the game. Oliver Bjorkstrand was left entirely unmarked from a dangerous position.

Bjorkstrand sniped it top shelf, burying it over Varlamov's glove

."The first shot was a great shot," Varlamov said. "He did surprise me a little bit on that one. Short side goal. That's not how you wanted to start a game.

"But you know it is what it is," Varlamov continued. "I gave up the the first first goal, the first shot, but I was trying to just not to think about it too much, and then kind of like move on quickly, and then continue to just stay focused on the game."

Varlamov's composure was key, as the Rangers fired off high-danger chances one after another.

Lafreniére's first of his hat trick came on a partial breakaway just 25 seconds into the second period, sniping one over Varlamov's glove.

The ESPN broadcast pointed it out, and made it out to be a potential weakness.

Varlamov proceeded to make multiple big glove saves from then onward, not allowing another goal to beat him on that side.

The Islanders clawed back from down 2-0 to tie the game, but a late second period penalty spelled doom.

The Islanders completely lost their assignments on a puck battle, and when the Rangers emerged with it, Bjorkstrand stood all alone on the opposite side of the rink, waiting for a pass.

The pass came, and the sniper rifled it home over Varlamov's blocker, a shot he had no chance at.

The Islanders then could not do much of anything in the third period with the puck, but Varlamov kept them in it til the very end. Varlamov made 10 third-period saves to keep the Islanders alive, until the empty-net goals.

That was all she wrote, and the Rangers won 5-2. Postgame, Varlamov physically felt 100%.

“Everything feels great," Varlamov said. "Everything feels 100%. Nothing holds me back. I felt like I finished the game strong, and then did not have any issues.”

The Islanders' next three games are all at home, followed by a two-game road trip to Ontario to see the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Varlamov' next start will likely be one of those two games, if not the home game next Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.

Darcy Kuemper finally looked like himself again. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Kings, it still wasn’t enough.

The former Colorado Avalanche goaltender and 2022 Stanley Cup champion stopped 26 of 28 shots Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, but the Kings lost 2-1. After giving up eight goals to Colorado in the season opener and then watching Anton Forsberg get the start against San Jose, Kuemper was back in net and gave Los Angeles a much-needed performance.

Kuemper was solid from the start and made several big saves as the game went on. It was a much different showing from the season opener, and for a night, he looked more like the goaltender who was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2024-25.

The Kings gave him an early lead to work with.

Alex Laferriere made it 1-0 late in the first period, putting home a rebound after Erik Haula created the chance from behind the net. Los Angeles had a chance to add another goal in the second when Florida took two penalties, including 66 seconds of five-on-three, but the Kings couldn't score.

That ended up hurting them.

Just six seconds after the final penalty expired, Seth Jones tied the game for Florida. From there, the Kings had trouble generating much offensively. They finished 0-for-5 on the power play, while their penalty kill went 6-for-6.

Florida eventually took the lead in the third period. A turnover in the neutral zone sent the Panthers the other way, and Matthew Tkachuk beat Kuemper with 8:40 remaining. Los Angeles pushed for the equalizer and pulled Kuemper late, but Florida held on.

Kuemper played well enough to win. He just didn't get enough help in front of him.

Through two starts, Kuemper is 0-2 with a 5.11 goals-against average and a .825 save percentage. Those are rough numbers, especially for a goaltender who is trying to get his starting job back.

Kuemper has been here before, though. He was in net for Colorado when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, and he followed that up with a Vezina Trophy finalist finish in 2024-25. The Kings signed him expecting that version of Kuemper.

So far, they haven't gotten it consistently.

His situation became even more interesting last season when he lost the starting job to Forsberg down the stretch. Forsberg went on to start every game of the Kings' first-round playoff series, which ended with Los Angeles being swept by Kuemper's former team, the Avalanche.

Now Kuemper is trying to get his crease back.

Tuesday was at least a step in the right direction. He stopped 26 of 28 shots and kept Los Angeles within a goal until the final minutes. The Kings couldn't find enough offense to get him the win, but this was the kind of performance Kuemper needed.

The challenge now is doing it again.

The Utah Mammoth are having a strong start to the season, as evidenced by their 3-1-0 record so far.

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Schmaltz is a big reason behind Utah's good start the campaign, as he has been excellent for them.

In four games so far this season with the Mammoth, Schmaltz has recorded five goals and seven points. His five goals are currently at the top of the entire NHL, so there is no question that the former Blackhawks forward is impressing right now.

Schmaltz has scored at least one goal in each of his first four games of the season. He is also not showing any signs of slowing down, as he had one goal and three points in Utah's most recent game against the New Jersey Devils.

Schmaltz was selected by the Blackhawks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, 20th overall. In 162 games over three seasons with the Blackhawks from 2016-17 to 2018-19, he posted 29 goals, 62 assists, 91 points, and a plus-7 rating.

Luke Schenn has never ordered room service from a hotel when on an NHL road trip. Not a single time in his 1126-game NHL career. 

As the Vancouver Canucks prepare to embark on one of their longest road trips throughout the 2026–27 season, Schenn is looking at keeping things that way.  

The act of rallying teammates together for a dinner on the road is something known throughout the NHL as a custom for team-bonding. It serves as a good means of spending time in different cities after practices and team-obligations wrap for the day. 

“That’s the best part about the NHL, is getting out there and getting to know your teammates,” Schenn told The Hockey News ahead of Vancouver’s trip out east. 

The Canucks’ upcoming road trip will push the team through six different games in the span of a little less than two weeks. After facing the Carolina Hurricanes on October 8, Vancouver will head to New Jersey and New York to face the Devils, Rangers, and Islanders on the 10th, 11th, and 13th respectively, before heading down-south to Florida to play the Panthers on the 15th and the Tampa Bay Lightning on the 17th. 

It’s the first long road trip for the Canucks during the early stages of the 2026–27 season, which means this trip will be when things like team-dinner organizers and airplane seatmates are sorted out. 

Given his experience throughout the league, the role of the team’s rallying figure is usually something Schenn takes on. 

“I would say 70 percent [of the time], probably. Decent amount,” he said. “When you’ve been around a long time, you kind of know the spots to go, and it’s easy to get a group together — throw it in the group text, and get some guys together and have some fun, have some laughs.” 

Those 1126 games have seen Schenn take on roles with 10 different teams throughout the NHL — the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and, of course, the Canucks. Through these experiences, he’s seen how the road-trip team-bonding culture has changed. 

“I think probably few guys that meet up for a beer a little more often, probably when you get into a city, that’s just kind of the old school environment of how the NHL used to be, I would say [...] now, obviously, with the speed of the game and the schedule, it’s a lot more recovery, I would say.” 

It’s still early in the season, which means Vancouver still hasn’t quite gotten the opportunity to do their fair share of team-bonding on the road other than their short one-game trip to open the season against the Edmonton Oilers. While they also went up to Penticton for 2026 training camp, due to the hectic schedule and large groups of players, there wasn’t much room for the players themselves to organize their dinners on their own. 

“[It’s] just a little bit different now to have the group together.” 

The road trip team-bonding experience is an essential part of the NHL experience, according to Schenn. Back at home, there are personal and familial elements to life that keep players busy off the ice. Things are different on the road.   

“I always say, I don’t remember a lot of games, good or bad, guys have had, or a lot of plays along the way. But I remember getting to know the guys and stories along the way, and some of the best memories are just getting to know your teammates.” 

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.

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