After a day off on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins returned to practice Tuesday in anticipation of their next tilt Thursday, when they host the Utah Mammoth.

And, given what their injury situation was prior to the day off, there was a sight for sore eyes.

Center Ben Kindel, who experienced a vasevagal episode on the team plane shortly after takeoff from Salt Lake City International Airport on Oct. 20 that prompted an emergency landing, was back on the ice for practice. The 19-year-old was full-contact, and he was working on a second line alongside Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, who were also both out of the lineup for Saturday's 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators but skated Sunday.

It's only been one week since Kindel was hospitalized. Now, he is back on the ice, and he is grateful to be back.  

"I've kind of just been getting back to normal. Obviously, a couple of weird days, but it feels normal now just being back with the guys. So, just excited for the rest of the year."

Kindel said he started working out a day or two after returning to Pittsburgh that Wednesday and that he started more intensive training over the weekend. Tuesday marked his first day back on the ice, although he had ample opportunity to get off-ice work in.

In recalling the experience, Kindel didn't reveal anything that wasn't already known to the public through GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's press conference as well as the team's official press release. But he's ready to put it in the past. 

"I wouldn't say it's that tough. For me, it's in the past now," Kindel said. "It's out of my head. Can't control what happened, just got to move forward. That's where my head's at, just looking to move forward now. So, I'm definitely not dwelling on anything or have anything holding me back coming into this weekend."

Prior to his medical episode, Kindel had two goals and four points in nine games on the season, and he was a staple as the team's third-line center. Even in the two games that Kindel missed - Saturday's game and Thursday's 4-0 rout of the Florida Panthers - there was a fair amount of lineup shuffling that occurred, particularly within the middle-six. 

Dubas: Ben Kindel Had 'Vasovagal Episode' On Team PlanePittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas cleared up what happened during Ben Kindel's medical episode on the team plane Tuesday, which prompted an emergency landing and required hospitalization.

The Penguins were coming off of a four-game winless road trip before Kindel's incident, and they have won both games since. Hendrix Lapierre and Elmer Soderblom reentered the lineup, and young forwards Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes pitched in during Saturday's win. Lapierre centered the second line in both games, and he and Ville Koivunen have developed some chemistry and were, arguably, the team's best line in those two contests.

So, that's a combination that will likely stick Thursday on the third line. Tommy Novak has been working on the first line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell and has seen some success there, so Kindel took Novak's regular spot between Chinakhov and Malkin.

Of course, the Penguins practice again Wednesday, so these are not necessarily combinations that will stick. However, it is something to watch, given how the other lines have developed together in the games Kindel missed.

"You don't have a lot of these days where you get multiple practice days in a row, so it was an opportunity for us today to see some things," head coach Dan Muse said following Tuesday's practice. "We've still got to check some boxes in terms of some of the guys that are coming back, just in terms of how they're progressing, and I think that can dictate things a little bit for lines. 

"But that was a thing today. Obviously, Geno and Chinny have played together in the past. I think 'Lappy' and 'Koivy' have been playing well together - very well together - so you got some pairs there that we're looking at and building some lines off of, but we'll take it a practice at a time here."

'It Felt So Good': Takeaways From Penguins' Comeback Overtime Win Over PredatorsFueled by a late comeback, the Penguins earned two points in an overtime thriller against the Nashville Predators on Saturday as a follow-up to their best performance of the season.

Of course, some things could change over the next couple of days. Kindel does have a very small sample size playing with Chinakhov and Malkin from last season, and he did see a brief stint in the top-six on Crosby's wing as well. It seems he may finally be getting another opportunity to be elevated in the lineup, should the combinations stick and everyone be ready to go Thursday.

Regardless of how it all shakes out, however, Kindel is ready to pounce on the opportunity to get back out there and help the team continue to string some wins together.

"I'm just going try and do whatever I can to help the team," Kindel said. "Obviously, if I get an opportunity to play with Geno and Chinny, that would be awesome. They're both great players offensively, and hopefully, we can see what we can do, if that is a line. 

"Wherever they put me, I'm just happy to go out there and try and do my best wherever and help the team win."

Penguins' Young Defenseman Embraces 'Full Circle' NHL MomentPenguins' defensive prospect Chase Pietila - recalled from the AHL Saturday - is ready to take his game to the next level, and he's glad to be experiencing it with an old friend.

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On Tuesday, New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that the newcomer will make his season and team debut in a tough matchup against the red-hot Dallas Stars. 

It will be Hellebuyck's first start since April 13, when he made his final appearance as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in which he allowed six goals on 38 shots. The Stars enter Tuesday having won their last five straight games and will look to make it six versus the Devils.

The Michigan native has solid career numbers against Dallas, though they have soured of late. In 32 career meetings, Hellebuyck is 14-12-6 with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Over his last seven matchups with the Stars, however, the 33-year-old has just one win, with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .876 save percentage.

Now Hellebuyck gets a fresh start in New Jersey. The Devils acquired him in a six-asset trade package that sent Dawson Mercer, recent 12th overall pick Alexander Command, depth center Nick Bjugstad, depth goaltender Nico Daws and a pair of draft picks to Winnipeg.

Hellebuyck finished his tenure with the Jets with a 345-208-55 record, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 625 games. He leads the franchise in nearly every major goaltending category, including games played, wins, losses, overtime losses, shutouts, time on ice, goals-against average and save percentage.

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DALLAS (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made his debut for the New Jersey Devils when the veteran goaltender started against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.

The start came four days after the 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy winner was traded to New Jersey after his suspension by the Winnipeg Jets for failing to report to training camp. His last NHL action prior to Tuesday came on April 13, a 6-2 loss at Vegas.

Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons with the Jets, including a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season in 2024-25, and helped the United States win gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics this year.

A fifth-round draft pick in 2012 by Winnipeg, Hellebuyck is fifth on the U.S.-born goaltenders list with at least 345 career wins. Among U.S.-born goalies with 300 or more career starts, his .916 save percentage going into Tuesday ranked fourth and 2.58 goals-against average ranked sixth.

“Sitting at home for so long was getting to me. For myself, I’m just really excited to play hockey again,” Hellebuyck said Saturday, when he spoke to reporters a day after the trade. “I’m joining a very skilled group. They brought me for a certain specific role. I’m really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.”

Hellebuyck was skating in Michigan before the trade was completed and went through one practice and Tuesday’s optional morning skate. He has five seasons left on a seven-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million.

He started Tuesday opposite No. 2 Dallas goaltender Casey DeSmith. The Stars’ No. 1 goalie, Jake Oettinger, was Team USA’s third-string goalie at the Olympics behind Hellebuyck and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and didn’t see any game action.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

It wasn’t that long ago that Alexander Georgiev was the guy in net for the Colorado Avalanche. He was winning games, made the All-Star Game and played a huge role for a team with Stanley Cup hopes.

Now he has no job.

Georgiev enjoyed some success in Colorado. He tied for the NHL lead with 40 wins in 2022-23, then led the league outright with 38 victories the following season.

Of course, the numbers weren’t always great. His save percentage dropped to .897 in 2023-24, and things plummeted the following year.

After struggling in Colorado, Georgiev was traded to the San Jose Sharks, hoping a change of scenery would help him get back on track.

It didn’t.

He finished his time with the Sharks with a .875 save percentage and a 3.88 goals-against average across 31 appearances.

After a brief stint in Buffalo, Georgiev eventually headed back to Russia and joined Spartak Moskva in the KHL. And honestly, he looked better.

He finished the regular season with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 24 appearances.

His playoff run wasn’t quite as successful, as he went 1-4 in five appearances, but he still managed to post a .918 save percentage.

So, it’s not like Georgiev completely forgot how to stop pucks.

The bigger question is whether NHL teams believe he can do it consistently over here again.

Is Another NHL Chance Coming?

The season is already a month old and Georgiev remains out of the picture. The New York Rangers might need an extra hand as well as the Edmonton Oilers, but Mike Babcock would likely have him run out of town if we’re being honest.

The end of his NHL tenure, as far as we know, was rather bad. So you can’t blame teams for wanting to avoid Georgiev like the plague or I guess if you want to use a recent example, COVID-19.

For now, the former Avalanche starter remains homeless in the NHL, and with the season already underway, the clock is ticking on his chances of getting back.

Things were looking up for the Philadelphia Flyers when Rasmus Ristolainen returned from a three-week absence, though the defenseman's comeback was ultimately short-lived. Fortunately, though, the Flyers just received some good injury news, and reinforcements are on the way.

With Ristolainen expected to miss approximately two more weeks with a re-aggravation of his previous injury, the Flyers played the Finn on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 24.

By creating a roster spot with that transaction, the Flyers paved the way for Cam York, who has been out since Oct. 8 with a hand injury, to return from injured reserve.

York, 25, had only played in five games for the Flyers this season and got off to a slow start, recording no points and stumbling to a -6 rating.

This hasn't been York's first rodeo with the injury bug, either. The Flyers' top-four defenseman played just 66 games in 2024-25, and 74 games last season.

But, now that he's back once again, it's a big boost for the Flyers, who need to reduce Travis Sanheim's workload at some point.

Flyers Strong Fit for Castaway Capitals 1st-Round Pick on NHL Trade BlockWith their roster deficiencies, the Philadelphia Flyers look like a really nice fit for Washington Capitals outcast Ivan Miroshnichenko.

Sanheim has been averaging a whopping 26:39 of ice time over the Flyers' last five games, playing top penalty kill minutes in addition to serving as the second unit power play quarterback with David Jiricek a healthy scratch for the last two games.

York, who scored a career-high seven power play points last year, could jump right back into that role to replace Sanheim if he's feeling up to it in his first game back. and Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet and assistant coach Todd Reirden will have more options at their disposal with York entering the lineup for Tuesday night's game against Columbus.

In another move at least partially related to injury, the Flyers recalled forward Jacob Gaucher from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Gaucher was assigned to the AHL on Sunday; Owen Tippett, who has been day-to-day since Oct. 15, could have returned, but he's not quite close enough to returning to action. Tippett has been skating away from the rest of his Flyers teammates as of late.

The Chicago Blackhawks (3-8-0) had a better showing against the Florida Panthers on Sunday afternoon, but they still managed to skate away with nothing in the standings. 

Now, the Blackhawks will end their 7-game home stand by welcoming the Los Angeles Kings (3-5-2), who haven’t been doing much better. The Kings have played one fewer game than the Blackhawks but still slightly edge them out in the overall league standings. 

The Kings are closer to the Blackhawks in overall talent than some of their previous (and future) opponents, which should allow both sides to gain some confidence in certain areas of the game. 

Scouting Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Kings are coming into this game after playing the night before. They defeated the New York Rangers 6-3 at Madison Square Garden and now have to play the Blackhawks after a long night of travel from New York. 

Last season, captain and franchise icon Anze Kopitar hung up his skates after a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Now, with Drew Doughty finishing out his playing days as the team’s captain, they are retooling on the fly. They don’t like being one of the worst teams in the Pacific so far, but it’s the reality of the situation until they pull themselves out of it. The Kings expect to be in the playoffs every year. Most of the time, they get their wish. 

Panarin - Laferriere - Kempe

Moore - Byfield - Ward

Laughton - Haula - Armia

Lee - Helenius - Perry

Gustafsson - Clarke

Edmundson - Doughty

Anderson - Dumoulin

Forsberg

Darcy Kuemper started in goal for the Kings against the Rangers, so the Blackhawks are likely to see Anton Forsberg in this one. They will be without Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Fiala, and Alex Turcotte, who are all working their way back from injuries. 

At forward, the Kings don’t have Kopitar anymore, and a few guys are on the IR, but that doesn’t mean that they have no talent. This group is led by former Blackhawks star Artemi Panarin, who brings a dynamic ability to generate offense as well as anyone.

On defense, Doughty is still a notable player, but Brandt Clarke is their new number-one guy. Having the elder future Hall of Famer on the same team is quite helpful. If the young Blackhawks want to beat the Kings, pushing the pace against their aging group is one of the keys. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks are right there with the Kings at the bottom of the NHL standings. They've lost 3 straight games, and a couple of them have been lousy efforts. Now, they have a chance to bounce back against a team that should be less fresh than they are. 

Kantserov - Bedard - Greene

Bertuzzi - Frondell - Donato

Moore - Nazar - Kane

Smith - Greenway - Teravainen

Vlasic - Cole

Kaiser - Levshunov

Korchinski - Rinzel

Knight

Spencer Knight is going to make his 7th start in a row, and his 12th start out of Chicago's 12 games so far. Jeff Blashill said he is going to find time to play Arvid Soderblom at some point, but there have been no back-to-backs yet. That has allowed them to keep going with Knight, who gives them the best chance to win. 

The lines are in a blender again. Ryan Greene, who scored his first goal of the season last time out, is going to be on the top line with Connor Bedard and Roman Kantserov. Greene spent a lot of time with Bedard last season, and it was a decent line. Jordan Greenway will go down and be the fourth-line center in Greene's place. 

Patrick Kane is moving down to play with Frank Nazar. Oliver Moore will be the third forward on the line as he returns from being a healthy scratch. Andrew Mangiapane comes out for Moore. 

On defense, Bowen Byram is not ready to come back yet. He has been skating in a non-contact sweater, but won't play against the Kings. Kevin Korchinski played well enough to earn another game, but it was fair to wonder if Jeff Blashill would agree to do it. Well, Korchinski is going to be in on Tuesday night with another chance to prove himself. 

Chicago's Power Play

The Blackhawks are going to try the 5-forward top power play unit again. It hasn't worked well for multiple reasons, but Jeff Blashill is sticking with it. The two units will look like this to start the game on Tuesday:

Unit 1:

Bertuzzi

Kane-Kantserov-Bedard

Teravainen

Unit 2:

Greene

Nazar-Donato-Frondell

Rinzel

The change that Blashill made to address the issue is flipping Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard. If that doesn't get the top unit going, it will be time for them to make more changes to the personnel within the units. 

If they don't get out of the basement of the power-play rankings, it is going to be incredibly difficult to turn their season around. After going 0/7 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday, look for them to work hard to finally get one. 

Blackhawks Won't Turn Season Around Without Fixing Power Play ResultsThe Chicago Blackhawks will not turn their season around unless they fix the issues that plague them on the power play.

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. It can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, you can stream it on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT. 

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The Vegas Golden Knights are on a three-game skid and will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday. They host the Ottawa Senators at T-Mobile Arena.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST.

The Golden Knights last played on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. They tied it up less than seven minutes after Columbus pulled ahead, and kept the game close for the remainder of regulation. Shea Theodore took a penalty early in overtime; the Blue Jackets scored on the ensuing power play, and the Golden Knights fell 2-1 in overtime.

The Senators last played on Saturday against the New York Rangers. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead, fought off New York’s comeback attempt, and scored two empty-net goals to secure a 7-4 win.

Carter Hart left morning skate early with an apparent injury. Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig said that Hart is being evaluated and that Adin Hill will start in goal. Hill has a 4-1-0 record and an .882 save percentage in five games played this season.

Samuel Ersson is projected to start in net for the Senators. Ersson has a 0-3-0 record and an average save percentage of .835 in five games played this season.

The Golden Knights have lost their last three games and are looking to shake things up. Jonas Røndbjerg and Ville Heinola will enter the lineup for Raphael Lavoie and Dylan Coghlan.

Golden Knights Lines

Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Mark Stone

Brett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner

Trevor Connelly — Tomáš Hertl — Braeden Bowman

Marc Gatcomb — Nic Dowd — Jonas Røndbjerg

Defense

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore

Jeremy Lauzon — Noah Hanifin

Ville Heinola — Rasmus Andersson

Goaltenders: Carter Hart / Adin Hill

Projected Senators Lines

Fabian Zetterlund — Tim Stützle — Claude Giroux

Warren Foegele — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson

Ridly Greig — Shane Pinto — Michael Amado

Nick Cousins — Stephen Halliday — Andre Burakovsky

Defense

Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub

Tyler Kleven — Jordan Spence

Nikolas Matinpalo — Carter Yakemchuk

Goaltenders: Samuel Ersson / Jonas Johansson

Special Teams

VGK power play: 24.4%, 9th

VGK penalty kill: 67.7%, 28th

Senators power play: 11.5%, T-29th

Senators penalty kill: 79.1%, 17th

Game Notes

Last season, the Golden Knights dropped both games against the Senators, finishing 0-1-1. They are 12-2-2 against Ottawa all time.

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is on a seven-game point streak against the Senators. Stone has four goals and 12 points in eight career games against his former team.

Jack Eichel leads the Golden Knights in scoring this season with 19 points in 12 games. Eichel has 15 goals and 35 points in 25 career games against the Senators. 

Tim Stützle leads the Senators in scoring this season with 16 points in 12 games. Stützle has two goals and 10 points in 10 career games against the Golden Knights. 

Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart has a 2-3-0 record and an average save percentage of .900 in five career games against the Senators.

Senators goaltender Sam Ersson is 1-0-0 with a .960 save percentage in one career game against the Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights are 5-2-0 at home this season; the Senators are 3-2-0 on the road.

On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman appeared on the FAN Hockey Show and provided a new update on the situation between the Detroit Red Wings and restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson. 

The 23-year-old has reportedly grown tired of the organization and the prolonged delay in getting a new contract, having been eligible for over a year. It sounds increasingly like Detroit is looking to move on from the issue and potentially trade the sixth overall pick from 2021. 

"There's a lot of interest in Simon Edvinsson," Friedman said, noting that Detroit is asking a fairly high price. He added that he thinks "the talks there are really picking up."

Friedman also spoke about Edvinsson and Detroit's other player on the way out, center Dylan Larkin, on Saturday during Rogers Saturday Night Hockey.

"The Red Wings continue to take calls on both players; we have heard...they have been asking about young centers either in the NHL or not yet there," Friedman said on his Saturday Headlines segment.

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Insider Reports Rule Out Some Suitors in Dylan Larkin SweepstakesAs trade rumors swirl around Detroit’s star center, new reports reveal why Philadelphia, Boston, and Utah are fading while Minnesota and Montreal emerge as the primary front-runners.

Several clubs have reportedly shown interest in Edvinsson, including the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Utah Mammoth, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, and each has some intriguing pieces Detroit could target. 

The Blues have Dalibor Dvorský, a top-ten pick in 2023, while the Flyers have a pair of young center prospects in Jack Berglund and Jett Luchanko. The Mammoth could offer marquee center prospects Ethan Belchetz and Caleb Desnoyers. 

The Maple Leafs are not deep at center but have top-six forward Easton Cowen and center prospect Tinus Luc Koblar. The Bruins may have the most options of all, with Fraser Minten, Dean Letourneau and Dans Ločmelis.

Detroit has plenty of options, and acquiring a reliable forward in return could also help open up the team’s defensive rotation, creating more opportunities for players who aren’t seeing regular minutes, such as Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

The Red Wings still have time to reach a decision, but Edvinsson must sign a new contract before the December 1 deadline for restricted free agents. Otherwise, he would be ineligible to play for the remainder of the season. If Detroit cannot reach an agreement by then, it could mark the beginning of the end for Edvinsson’s time with the organization.

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Trevor Connelly is just 20, but the Golden Knights rookie is already giving fans something to get excited about. He has four goals so far and is on pace for 26 this season. Not a bad start for the kid. 

Vegas hosts Ottawa Tuesday at 7 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena, looking to shake off Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Columbus. Tomas Hertl scored for the Knights, with Connelly and Braeden Bowman picking up assists, but Adam Fantilli ended things in overtime.

Ottawa won’t exactly be arriving quietly, either. The Senators just put up seven goals in a 7-4 win over the Rangers, their highest-scoring game of the season.

Eichel and Stone Have History Against Ottawa

Jack Eichel leads Vegas with 19 points, including six goals and 13 assists. He’s also had the Senators’ number over the years, scoring 15 goals in 25 career games against them. In his last eight matchups with Ottawa, he’s added five goals and five assists.

Mark Stone has eight goals and 15 points this season, and he’s picked up six points in his last four games against the Senators. Vegas will need its top guys to deliver if Ottawa’s offense gets rolling again.

And then there’s Connelly. Four goals already have him tied for the rookie lead, and his 26-goal pace is something Golden Knights fans can dream about. Of course, keeping that up for an entire season is another story, but the early returns are promising.

Can Vegas Slow Down Stützle?

Ottawa’s Tim Stützle is coming in hot, with 16 points on eight goals and eight assists. He’s scored in three straight games and has a point in four consecutive outings.

Vegas can’t afford to give him too much room, especially after what the Senators did to New York.

The Knights have a strong history against Ottawa, going 12-2-0 all time. A win Tuesday would be the 410th regular-season victory in franchise history and give Vegas a chance to get back on track at home.

After letting one slip away in overtime, the Golden Knights will be eager to make this one count.

The Los Angeles Kings thought bringing on an almost 40-year-old player would spark their offense, but instead, that player’s body has been sparked out twice by injuries.

Mats Zuccarello has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the Kings announced Monday. He will miss the team’s matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, with head coach Peter Laviolette offering no further details about the injury.

The timing is unfortunate for Zuccarello, who spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career in New York and became a fan favorite. Monday’s game offered another chance to return to his former home, but he’ll have to wait for another opportunity.

Another Setback for Zuccarello

The 39-year-old already missed three consecutive games earlier this month because of an undisclosed injury. He returned to the lineup last Tuesday against the Washington Capitals and appeared in each of Los Angeles’ next three games before this latest setback.

His most recent appearance came Saturday, when he logged 13:20 of ice time in a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Unfortunately, the offensive numbers haven’t been encouraging either. Zuccarello has recorded just one assist through six games and has gone without a point in his last four appearances. He’s posted a plus-one rating while averaging 16:23 of ice time per game.

Los Angeles signed Zuccarello to a one-year, $1 million contract this summer after several injury-plagued seasons with the Minnesota Wild.

The move offered relatively little financial risk, but the potential reward was significant. Zuccarello had recorded at least 50 points in each of the previous five seasons, making him an appealing addition for a Kings team searching for more offensive production.

So far, staying healthy has been the biggest obstacle. Los Angeles needs its veteran addition available consistently, particularly when the offense is struggling to find its footing.

Kings Face Another Challenge

Los Angeles enters Monday’s matchup with a 2-5-2 record, sitting seventh in the Pacific Division despite winning back-to-back games last week.

Without Zuccarello, other forwards will need to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility against the Rangers.

For the Kings, the hope is that Zuccarello’s latest absence will be a short one. On the bright side, things are looking a little more encouraging between the pipes, giving Los Angeles at least one reason for optimism.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published on September 4.

EA Sports’ latest installment in their hockey franchise, NHL 27, is predicting the Utah Mammoth will win the Stanley Cup in 2026-27.

According to an in-game season simulation conducted by The Hockey News, Utah will defeat the New York Islanders in a seven-game series to capture the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

This means Pete DeBoer would be handed another heartbreaking loss on the biggest stage. In real life, DeBoer previously reached the Stanley Cup Final as head coach of the New Jersey Devils in 2012, only to fall to the Los Angeles Kings.

This time, he would come up short with the Islanders.

Clayton Keller led the way for Utah and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after recording 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 26 postseason games.

Dylan Guenther was right behind him, finishing the simulated playoff run with 10 goals and 10 assists in 26 games. Vincent Trocheck, who was acquired by the Mammoth during the off-season, also made a significant impact, tallying seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 26 games.

Karel Vejmelka could have easily taken home the Conn Smythe himself.

The Utah goaltender posted a spectacular 15-4-4 record during the post-season, along with a 2.23 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and two shutouts.

The Utah Mammoth ranks fifth in TheHockeyNews.com’s NHL off-season ranking. Here’s why we rated Utah’s off-season as the NHL’s fifth-best.

NHL Off-Season Rankings: No. 5, Utah Mammoth

While the Mammoth ultimately lifted the Stanley Cup, the Islanders received a huge contribution from an unexpected source.

Mikael Granlund, who was traded by the Anaheim Ducks to New York in the simulation, led the Islanders offensively with six goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 23 playoff games.

Avalanche Superstars Predicted To Lead Individual Awards

As for the individual awards, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon continued his reign atop the NHL’s scoring hierarchy.

MacKinnon captured his second consecutive Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy after scoring 55 goals during the regular season. He added 61 assists for 116 points in 83 games. The 116-point campaign was also enough for MacKinnon to claim his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer.

Colorado wasn’t done collecting awards, either.

Cale Makar finished his final season before his new eight-year, $163.2-million extension kicks in with his third Norris Trophy. Makar recorded 12 goals and 84 assists for 96 points, narrowly missing out on a 100-point season.

EA Sports’ upcoming release of NHL 27 will be bringing back a new online experience with its Connected Franchise game mode. What new features can players expect to see?

EA Sports Deep Dive Reveals New Features For NHL 27 Connected Franchise

Connor McDavid was a good sport as he picked up the Lady Byng Trophy. The Edmonton Oilers superstar had a down year by his standards, but plenty of players would love to have his version of a slump.

McDavid finished the regular season with 40 goals and 64 assists for 104 points. He also added eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 14 playoff games, although the Oilers came up short once again.

Philadelphia Flyers youngster Porter Martone won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, while 37-year-old Jacob Markstrom kicked off his tenure with the Florida Panthers by winning the Vezina Trophy.

For the second straight season, there were two winners of the William M. Jennings Trophy, and both came from the Tampa Bay Lightning: Andrei Vasilevskiy and Dennis Hildeby.

Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov won the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s most outstanding player, earning the honor for the second time in the last three seasons.

Nashville Predators defenseman Brady Skjei was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Lane Lambert won the Jack Adams Award as the head coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success, leading the Seattle Kraken back to the playoffs in this simulation.

At 39 years old, Sidney Crosby proved he can still play elite two-way hockey, winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy. Crosby posted a 40-goal campaign with 56 assists for 96 points.

While the individual awards are impressive, none would be more surprising than the one Utah ultimately took home.

If NHL 27’s simulation is any indication, the 2026-27 season could be one for the history books — with the Utah Mammoth sitting at the center of the biggest surprise of them all.

P.S. This game was horrific.

Not since Dominik Simon has there been a more polarizing figure in a Pittsburgh Penguins sweater than Ville Koivunen.

He’s always been an analytics MVP, and when he has been on the ice, good things have generally happened. It has just never really turned into individual results for him, and the eye-test has not always been passed.

While he has struggled to produce for himself at the NHL level, his AHL play has always been really, really solid, while he has always looked like a confident, engaged player. Getting that to translate to the big leagues has been the problem.

Then the Penguins went and did something completely unexpected this offseason and signed him to an eight-year, $32 million contract that instantly shocked everybody. Given some of the other deals that were signed around the NHL this offseason with comparably unproven players, it became obvious that teams were willing to take bets on potential in the hopes that they get a long-term steal under the salary cap. They struck before the eight-year term limit went away, and they struck while there is a more reasonable buyout for players under the age of 25 in the event the gamble does not pay off.

I get it.

I see the logic.

It’s the type of move a lot of Major League Baseball teams make with unproven young talent.

There is also the reality that, given where the salary cap is going, Koivunen does not need to reach that high of a level for the contract to pay for itself and be a steal.

He still has to get there, and he still has to prove he can be an NHL player.

Over the past few games, you are really starting to see some signs that maybe, just maybe, he is figuring it out and everything that he was doing at the AHL is starting to translate over to the NHL.

The numbers are still painting a strong picture from a team perspective. When he is on the ice, good things are still happening for the Penguins. They are outscoring teams, out-chancing teams, and the play is generally in the correct end of the ice. He is getting some soft deployments and a lot of help in that regard, but they are still taking advantage of it.

He is also starting to be more noticeable in making contributions to that success.

With his overtime goal on Saturday, he is up to five points in 10 games this season, with three points in his past five games. While that may not seem like anything special, that’s still a 40-point pace, and it’s still useful production for a player on that cap hit, in this cap environment. Especially when combined with the positive underlying numbers.

He and Hendrix Lapierre have also seemed to develop a nice chemistry, and their numbers together have been outstanding in a very limited sampling. Outscoring teams 5-0 in 45 minutes of 5-on-5 ice-time, controlling over 80 percent of the expected goals share, and generally looking dangerous offensively. That goal against Florida on Thursday night was a thing of beauty. They were everywhere that night, and again on Saturday.

What really stands out about Koivunen so far is that he just looks like a more confident, engaged player.

He kept getting chances during the 2025-26 season, and when they would not go in he always seemed like he was on the verge of snapping a stick in half mid-shift. He had the world’s worst poker face and would obviously get down on himself. When he would get the puck in prime scoring areas, there always seemed to be a slight hesitation that would give defenders an opportunity to close on him and either take away the shot opportunity, or block it, or just get a stick on it to harmlessly deflect it away. There always seemed to be more thinking than reacting.

Right now? He simply looks more confident. He is more engaged with the action and not afraid to mix things up a little bit. He doe not look as consistently frustrated. Maybe finding the back of the net a couple of times early in the season is helping with that. He is also demonstrating the vision and playmaking that should be the focal point of his game.

The latter skill has always been there. Teammates always talk about how smart of a player he is and the way he can see the ice. We know he can play at a reasonably high level in the AHL, and they just needed him to figure out a way to make it work in the NHL. He might be taking steps toward doing that. It is still early, and there is still a lot of hockey to be played this season, but he had to start somewhere. Right now he is at least looking like a player that belongs in the NHL on his own merits and not just because the team made a reasonably large investment in him. There are a lot of positive signs. He needs to keep building on them.

The New Jersey Devils have had a core in question for years. Are the right pieces in place, and can they win with the stars leading them? With only two playoff appearances in five years and three in the past eight, the team's top-end talent was second-guessed. 

With the Connor Hellebuyck acquisition, the core is different. Now, the Devils have three forwards (Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt), plus defenseman Luke Hughes and elite goaltender Hellebuyck to build around. 

This gives the Devils a core that can go up against any team in the NHL. This road trip against the Dallas Stars (Oct. 27), Colorado Avalanche (Oct. 28), and Vegas Golden Knights (Oct. 30) will test how good it is, especially if Hellebuyck is geared up and ready. 

The Stars, Like The Devils, Have An Underrated Core

The Stars are a well-built team and have been for years. Their general manager, Jim Nill, provided them with depth, but elite talent leads the way, even among some of the overlooked players in the league. 

5 Lessons From The Connor Hellebuyck TradeThe following is an excerpt from this week's Devils Notebook. For more on the Hellebuyck trade and all things Devils from the past week, make sure to check it out on Devils team site at The Hockey News!

Wyatt Johnston often goes unnoticed as a young center in a non-traditional hockey market. However, he’s not only one of the best scorers in the NHL, but he’s also scoring at a surprising pace to start his career. Johnston is off to a slow start with only two goals this season, but he has 136 games and is only 23 years old. 

At this rate, Johnston can hit 400 goals by the time he’s 30. Moreover, the way he finds the back of the net is tough to stop as he gets to the net and the slot and powers the puck in or scores with his quick shot. It’s a skill set that ages well and will make him a consistent threat on the power play. 

The Stars also have their version of an elite defenseman in Miro Heiskanen. He hasn’t won the Norris Trophy and doesn’t stand out on the offensive end, but he is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the game, with 36.9 defensive point shares in his nine seasons in the league. If the NHL had an award for the best defensive defenseman, he would be a perennial finalist for it. 

Mikko Rantanen is the power forward who is tough to play against. Likewise, Jason Robertson has been in the news in recent years because of his point production, yet he was left off the USA Olympic team and has struggled to sign a long-term deal. However, the Stars' core goes beyond the core and is tough to handle.

Devils Notebook: Hellebuyck Trade Lessons, Larkin, Upcoming Road Trip & MoreEvery Sunday of the NHL season, Mike Fink empties the notebook with some thoughts, quick hits, and anything in between on the New Jersey Devils.

It’s similar to the Devils core, which has its stars who garner the headlines, notably Hughes and Bratt, who are highlight-reel players. However, whenever the Devils are competitive, fans start noticing Nico Hischier and what he brings to the lineup. 

Devils Have Another Look At The Avalanche Core

The Oct. 20 game at home against the Avalanche was a test that the Devils handled. They saw firsthand how skilled Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are, yet held them in check for a 4-3 win. 

The Avalanche are looking to even up the score and, more importantly, rebound from a slow start. The Presidents’ Trophy winner last season is 6-5-1 and sits in fourth place in the Central Division.

Connor Hellebuyck Addition Puts The New Jersey Devils In Win-Now Mode The acquisition of the three-time Vezina Trophy winner makes the Devils one of the teams to beat in the Metropolitan Division and the NHL.

The Devils will get MacKinnon and Makar playing with an edge. “These points are going to be points you wish you had at the end of the year, and you don’t want to give them up,” Makar stated after the 4-3 loss to the Devils. 

Both Makar and MacKinnon know the Avalanche must snap out of this slow start that’s weighing them down. It’s why they will give the Devils, who will play the second game of a back-to-back, a tough game on Wednesday night

Where The Devils Have The Edge

The Devils, thanks to the moves GM Sunny Mehta made this summer, enter these matchups with more depth. They have the advantage outside of their core and particularly on their third and fourth line, with forwards who can check, defend, and score. 

The Avalanche and Stars are also starting to show their age and lose a step. They aren’t the juggernauts in the Western Conference that they were in previous seasons. The Devils, meanwhile, are a younger team, and it’s reflected in their play. 

Plus, if Hellebuyck is playing at a high level, the Devils can beat anyone. It’s unlikely that happens right away, as the goaltender has yet to see NHL action and will need time to prepare for the season ahead. However, the expectation is that Hellebuyck will return to that elite form at some point, and it gives the Devils an edge regardless of who they play. 

What is on your mind as the Devils begin this road trip? Comment below!

Last Friday, when the Chicago Blackhawks had the Montreal Canadiens in town, there were a couple of people in the press box acting as “scouts”. One of them was Keith Jones, who is the current President of Hockey Operations for the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Currently, the Flyers are 3-7-3 through 13 games played. That is good for the worst points percentage in the Eastern Conference and 4th-worst in the entire NHL. This comes one year after not only making the playoffs, but also winning a series.

Is Keith Jones out scouting? Are any of his other scouts or executives flying around to take a look at certain players across different leagues? We’ll see how quickly they become aggressive sellers if the losing continues. 

Was Jones there to see the Hawks or the Habs? Well, the Montreal Canadiens are a lot closer to contending. The Flyers have a few pieces that may be worth acquiring for future assets if you’re Montreal and looking to win now. 

With that said, the Flyers may also be a great trade partner for the Blackhawks at this stage. When it comes to executives in Philadelphia, there is no true hot seat right now. However, they may be feeling some heat in Chicago after their 3-8-0 start.

Some teams make changes to the coaching staff whenever these things happen, but would they really fire Jeff Blashill right now? It doesn’t make a ton of sense. Instead, a big trade could help them get back on track. The Flyers have veterans who could help this young Blackhawks group. 

The most notable of the bunch is Travis Konecny. He is a veteran forward who has had 7 seasons in which he scored 20+ goals. In 2 of them, he eclipsed 30. In most of those 20-goal seasons, Konecny has had 50+ points as well. There is also an edge that he plays with, which can be extremely difficult to go up against. If there is any sort of issue going on between the Flyers and this player, he could be moved sooner rather than later. 

Owen Tippett, Cam York, and Rasmus Ristolainen are a few other names that could find themselves in trade rumors down the line as well. As long as those guys get healthy, they make sense for a Blackhawks team looking for a spark. 

Whether it's getting Connor Bedard another linemate at even strength or on the power play, or adding a veteran who can help calm the waters, nothing should be off the table. 

The Hawks are not in a position to be considered a buyer, or even close, but they need something to spark change within their group. They can’t keep getting blown out whenever they play a good team. If one of these guys can help, it’s worth considering. 

What might the Flyers want from the Blackhawks? Well, young players that the Blackhawks don't feel will be part of the long-term future could be in play. Is Kevin Korchinski going to stay in the press box forever? All of the forwards they like on the NHL and AHL roster can't play for Chicago at once. There are plenty of moves that could be made. 

Matvei Michkov Makes Perfect Sense For Blackhawks To ConsiderThe Chicago Blackhawks could consider Matvei Michkov if he is available for trade.

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

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The New York Islanders acquired forward and then-captain of the St. Louis Blues, Brayden Schenn, at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.

However, the Islanders almost never got the chance to land the veteran forward.

Elliotte Friedman revealed back in January on the 32 Thoughts Podcast that the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Blues reached a deal for Schenn.

The Leafs would've sent their-then top-two prospects, Easton Cowan & Ben Danford, along with a first-round pick in exchange for Schenn.

The story recirculated social media in the last 24 hours, as Easton Cowan has lit the NHL: aflame with six goals and 13 points in 14 games to start the season with Toronto.

Danford, meanwhile, continues to impress in the AHL

The trade the Leafs and Blues discussed would've gone done at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, with Toronto then in place to contend.

One year later, the Islanders acquired Schenn in exchange for a first-round pick (Colorado's), goaltender prospect Marcus Gidlof, Jonathan Drouin, and a 2026 third-round pick (New Jersey's).

The Blues bought out Drouin over the summer.

That package is significantly lighter than what the Leafs would've sent. The Leafs essentially sent a Brock Nelson-level package. A top prospect, first-round pick, and more.

Schenn, 35, has posted three goals and eight points through the season's first 11 games.

In 19 games after the trade deadline last season, Schenn notched six goals and 11 points. 

Schenn has been a great add for the team's offense, producing at a solid top-six rate, while also serving as a leader. He is one of the Islanders' rotating alternate captains for the 2026-27 season.

That he then waived his no-trade clause for the Islanders after refusing to for the Maple Leafs?

It says a lot about the Islanders as an organization, a true destination, thanks to Matthew Schaefer.