There hasn't been much for Vancouver Canucks fans to celebrate this season. Though the losses have piled up, five young players are giving fans something worth watching.

For Head Coach Manny Malhotra, those faces are familiar.

Malhotra spent two seasons coaching the Abbotsford Canucks, including during their 2025 Calder Cup championship run. Now he's in Vancouver, where Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Linus Karlsson, Max Sasson, defenceman Elias Pettersson, and Tom Willander are trying to establish themselves.

Karlsson helped Abbotsford win a championship while Pettersson earned Malhotra’s trust defensively and Willander only played five games in the AHL. Some spent years developing in the AHL, while others needed much less time. Each took something different from the experience that helped them reach the NHL. Now they have to prove they belong there for the long haul.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki: More Than Just a Shot

Lekkerimäki came to North America with a strong scoring résumé, having been selected in the first round by Vancouver in 2022, though he didn't end up playing in his first pro North American game until 2024. 

Finding the space to unleash that shot against NHL defenders was a different story.

Malhotra worked with Lekkerimäki on puck battles, attacking the middle, and becoming more reliable defensively.

From 2024-25 to 2025-26, Lekkerimäki scored 35 goals in 73 AHL regular-season and playoff games under Malhotra. Through the quarter mark of this season, he is one of the team’s top scorers.

After struggling to establish himself in the NHL, Lekkerimäki underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in February 2026. He entered the off-season with something to prove.

According to reporting by Patrick Johnston of Postmedia, Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson told Lekkerimäki before training camp that he would be a full-time NHL player, giving him an opportunity to develop without constantly worrying about making mistakes.

Lekkerimäki has responded with resilience, improving other parts of his game while rewarding the team's confidence with goals and points.

Lekkerimäki said in an interview with Canucks reporter Chris Faber in October that knowing what Malhotra expected helped boost his confidence. Malhotra acknowledged improvements in his puck battles and willingness to attack the middle, although more work remained.

His scoring seems to have paid off as of late, having strung together six goals and eight assists in his first 19 games of the season. However, creating opportunities consistently against defenders who give him little time and space will be his greatest challenge.

Linus Karlsson: Knowing What Works

Linus Karlsson isn't going to be winning many fastest skater competitions, but he doesn't need to be.

Karlsson’s best-known attributes are his abilities to protect the puck, win board battles, and find openings around the net.

Karlsson played the full 2025-26 season in the NHL, registering 15 goals and 35 points in 79 games. He was tied on the team for the most five-on-five goals (13) and had the highest amount of points by a Vancouver Canuck at even strength (31). The majority of those points came from playing in a bottom-six role.

In a May interview with HockeySverige.se done in Swedish, Karlsson credited winning the Calder Cup with helping his confidence. Vancouver inked him to a two-year extension worth $2.25 million annually.

Through Vancouver's first 18 games of 2026–27, the alternate captain has four goals and 10 points.

There’s no doubt his skating can improve, but how much more should he adapt when his strengths already produce results?

Malhotra saw Karlsson succeed without elite speed. He doesn’t seem like a player who needs to completely revamp his game.

Max Sasson: More Than a Breakaway Threat

Max Sasson's speed creates breakaways, but becoming a dependable NHL centre requires more than offensive opportunities.

In a February 2024 Canucks feature, then-Abbotsford coach Jeremy Colliton discussed Sasson's improvements in puck management and defensive responsibility. Sasson was also noted to have stayed after practice to work on faceoffs with Henrik Sedin and Jeff Ulmer.

He continued that work under Malhotra, although faceoff consistency remains a challenge.

Sasson played 29 games in the NHL in 2024-25 but had a career-high 13 goals in 66 games in the 2025-26 season.

He played with Karlsson and Drew O'Connor in the opening game of the 2026-27 season against the Edmonton Oilers. Their line contributed defensively against Connor McDavid, who finished without a shot on goal. Sasson also scored and assisted on Paul Cotter's overtime winner.

In a February 2026 feature by Jeffrey Kennett, then-head coach Adam Foote praised Sasson's defensive improvement. Sasson also discussed his work with the Sedins and wanting younger teammates to feel comfortable approaching him for support.

His speed remains a weapon. His defensive reliability could become equally important.

Elias Pettersson: Responding to Adversity

Defenceman Elias Pettersson is known for his physicality and skating ability. However, he struggled through the 2025-26 season. Pettersson watched some games from the press box and was sent down to Abbotsford on January 11th. He later returned to Vancouver on January 18.

In the Canucks' Building Blue coverage, Malhotra discussed using Pettersson on the penalty kill, including five-on-three situations, and late in games protecting leads. He also praised his ability to disrupt attacks and move the puck out of danger.

He currently ranks fifth among NHL defencemen in hits with 44. 

During Vancouver's October 3 victory over the Calgary Flames, Pettersson scored the go-ahead goal after joining the attack. He credited Tom Willander with encouraging him to become more involved offensively.

Pettersson should never abandon his physical game. He should, however, make better puck decisions and recognize when to jump into the play so he could make himself more dependable.

His demotion was a temporary roadblock. Now he has another opportunity to earn Malhotra's confidence in Vancouver. So far, so good.

Tom Willander: Development Beyond Five Games

Tom Willander only played five games with Abbotsford before making his NHL debut in October 2025.

The Canucks’ 2023 first-round pick arrived from Boston University, giving him considerably less time under Malhotra, compared to other Vancouver prospects.

While some of his teammates spent years developing in Abbotsford, Willander made the jump after just five games. In a January 2026 interview with The Hockey News, he credited the experience with giving him the freedom and confidence to work on his game before joining Vancouver.

During a December 2025 Canucks Insider Podcast appearance with Chris Faber, Willander discussed building confidence and learning what worked in different situations. He also credited former Canucks defenceman Marcus Pettersson with helping simplify the game.

By the beginning of 2026–27, Willander was averaging more than 20 minutes per game.

In a May podcast appearance with Faber, he discussed the NHL's physical demands and the importance of improving his conditioning.

Other prospects could spend years in the AHL preparing for similar responsibilities. Willander is making those adjustments while already playing significant NHL minutes.

Reaching the NHL quickly was an achievement. Now maintaining his effectiveness across an entire season, then seasons beyond that will be his next challenge.

Different Players, Different Paths

Malhotra knows these five players from different stages of their careers.

He coached Karlsson through a championship, worked with Lekkerimäki on his offensive game and trusted Pettersson defensively. He also saw Sasson's development continue, while his time with Willander was much shorter.

So far this season, all five have remained regulars in Vancouver's lineup when healthy.

But Malhotra isn't the only reason they reached Vancouver. Jeremy Colliton, Adam Foote, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, veteran teammates and development staff have also contributed.

Winning the Calder Cup provided valuable experience, but AHL success doesn't guarantee a permanent NHL role.

Malhotra's familiarity with their games could help, but each player must continue earning their place.

Reaching the NHL is one thing. Staying there is another.

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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A former Buffalo Sabres forward has found himself right back in the rumor mill after being traded by the Atlantic Division club this off-season.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, former Sabres forward Jordan Greenway is "out there" in the trade market as the Chicago Blackhawks continue to struggle this season. 

"The Blackhawks have a lot of things out there," Friedman said. "They've been asked about some of their prospects. They've been asked about some of their guys that can play center. The other thing is, they've got Jordan Greenway out there. They've got Teravainen who's struggled out there. The Blackhawks are definitely active in terms of trying to help their team."

With Greenway being a pending unrestricted free agent and the Blackhawks being one of the NHL's worst teams so far this season, it makes sense that he is already creating chatter in the rumor mill. The former Sabres forward would have the potential to be a decent pickup for a playoff team that is looking for more size and physicality in their bottom six. 

Furthermore, the Blackhawks have young players in their system who could replace Greenway on their roster if traded. Thus, it would be understandable if Chicago moved the former Sabres forward if they are unable to get their season back on track.

In 16 games this season for Chicago, Greenway has posted one goal, 31 hits, and a minus-4 rating. This is after he had one goal, six points, and 57 hits in 40 games for the Buffalo Sabres last season. 

In 158 games over four seasons with the Sabres from 2022-23 to 2025-26, Greenway posted 18 goals, 28 assists, 46 points, 138 penalty minutes, and 326 hits.

The Hockey Hall of Fame will welcome the class of 2026 on Monday night in Toronto, and just for fun, we thought it might be interesting to see how the four NHL player inductees fared against the Senators over the years.

Not surprisingly, they did very well. They’re Hall of Famers after all. 

Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, Keith Tkachuk and Pekka Rinne combined for more than 4,800 NHL games, generally making life miserable for all opponents.

Bergeron and Price spent their entire careers in the same division as the Senators, making them very familiar to Ottawa hockey fans, while Tkachuk touches a nerve in this town for a very different reason.

Here's a look at their accomplishments and how they did against the Sens.

Patrice Bergeron – Boston Bruins

Few players were more consistently difficult for the Senators to play against than Patrice Bergeron.

The longtime Bruins centre played 19 NHL seasons, collecting 427 goals and 1,040 points in 1,294 games. He won the Stanley Cup in 2011, two Olympic gold medals with Canada and a record six Selke Trophies as the NHL's best defensive forward.

Bergeron was also extremely productive against the Senators.

In 80 career regular-season games against the Sens, Bergeron recorded 29 goals and 40 assists for 69 points.

His combination of offensive production, defensive awareness and faceoff dominance made him one of the NHL's premier two-way forwards.

The Senators did get the better of Bergeron and the Bruins in their 2017 first-round playoff series, winning in six games on their way to the Eastern Conference Final. Clarke MacArthur’s OT goal to eliminate Boston that year won’t soon be forgotten in Ottawa.

Carey Price – Montreal Canadiens

Like Bergeron, Carey Price spent his entire NHL career playing for one of the Senators' divisional rivals.

Price appeared in 712 regular-season games over 15 seasons with Montreal, recording 361 victories, 49 shutouts, a 2.51 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

His finest season came in 2014-15, when he captured the Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and William M. Jennings Trophy.

Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

He also won Olympic gold with Canada in 2014 and led Montreal to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

Against the Senators, Price had an excellent record of 28-13-7 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.39 goals against average. 

The Senators faced Price and the Canadiens in two memorable playoff series.

In 2013, the Senators eliminated Montreal in five games in the opening round. Two years later, shortly after the Hamburglar run ended, Price and the Canadiens returned the favour, eliminating the Sens in six.

Price finished his career as Montreal's all-time leader in goaltending victories, and as every hockey fan knows, there have been more than a few greats who’ve come through that locker room.

Keith Tkachuk – Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers

Keith Tkachuk's induction carries an obvious Senators connection.

The father of former Senators captain Brady Tkachuk enjoyed an outstanding 18-season NHL career, scoring 538 goals and adding 527 assists for 1,065 points in 1,201 games.

Known for his combination of physical play and scoring ability, Tkachuk surpassed the 50-goal mark twice and led the NHL with 52 goals in 1996-97, becoming the first American-born player to lead the league in goals.

He was also a member of the United States team that defeated Canada to win the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

Tkachuk spent most of his career in the Western Conference, meaning his opportunities to face the Senators were considerably more limited than those of Bergeron and Price. He had 21 points in 24 games against the Sens and just 16 penalty minutes.

Although he never won a Cup, Tkachuk finished his career among the highest-scoring American-born players in NHL history.

Pekka Rinne – Nashville Predators

Pekka Rinne was one of the NHL's most dependable goaltenders during his long career with Nashville. His No. 35 became the first jersey retired by the Predators.

Originally selected in the eighth round of the 2004 NHL Draft, Rinne went on to play 683 regular-season games, posting 369 victories, 60 shutouts, a 2.43 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2018 and helped Nashville reach its first Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

Like Tkachuk, Rinne spent his career in the Western Conference, limiting his appearances against the Senators compared with the two Atlantic/Northeast lifers.

He did play 11 games against the Sens, going 8-3-0 in his career. His goals against average in those games was 2.73 and his save percentage checked in at .908.

He never faced the Senators in a playoff series, but if Chris Kunitz hadn't scored for Pittsburgh in double overtime in 2017, he would have been waiting for the Sens in the Stanley Cup Final.

The four NHL players will officially enter the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night, joining women's hockey pioneer Cindy Curley and longtime NHL executive Brian Burke who enters as a builder.

Burke's strongest link to the Senators is a painful one. He was GM of that Anaheim Ducks team that beat the Sens in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final.

Curley has an Ottawa tie as well, captaining Team USA in the first official Women's World Hockey Championship in 1990 at the Ottawa Civic Centre. The Americans lost to Canada in the final, but Curley put on a show with an outrageous 23 points in five games in the tournament.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

A former Buffalo Sabres goalie is a free agent again.

This is because former Sabres netminder James Reimer has mutually terminated his contract with the New York Rangers.

Reimer was just placed on waivers by the Rangers earlier this week with Joonas Korpisalo returning from injury for New York. Now, instead of heading to the AHL, Reimer will be a free agent instead. 

Reimer's time with the Rangers certainly did not go the way that he had hoped it would.  He made just one appearance for the Rangers on Oct. 26 against the Los Angeles Kings, where he allowed three goals on just eight shots. He was also pulled during the first period of the matchup.

Now, Reimer is a free agent again less than two weeks after signing with the Rangers. It will be interesting to see if the 38-year-old netminder can find another opportunity or if this could be the end of his NHL career.

Reimer spent one season with the Sabres in 2024-25. In 22 games with Buffalo during that campaign, he posted a 10-8-2 record, a .901 save percentage, and a 2.90 goals-against average.

The Chicago Blackhawks were blown out by the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in Raleigh. It wasn’t a typical blowout, either. They were down early, had no chance of coming back at any point, and eventually fell 9-2. 

The defending Stanley Cup champions are a well-oiled machine, but they don’t drop 9 on just anyone. The Blackhawks were truly lousy, and the Hurricanes took advantage. 

Now, the Blackhawks have a handful of days off before their next game, which will come on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres at the United Center. Before the puck drops for that one, some sort of change must be made. 

The Blackhawks already made one moderately big move by placing Arvid Soderblom on waivers. He is likely going to be replaced as the backup goalie in the coming days. That can't be it for Chicago. There have to be more changes made if they want to stop being blown out in every game.

The first option, which is the easiest and the path of least resistance, is to fire someone. Whether that’s head coach Jeff Blashill or GM Kyle Davidson is a decision in its own right, but these things happen when NHL teams underachieve. 

The second option is to make a roster move. Is there a trade out there that makes the team better? Teuvo Teravainen and Jordan Greenway are on the block, but could more players be sent packing? You can’t fire players, but you can move them for a different look in the locker room. There aren’t many players out there who could fix this, but a change could help get the room back in a better place. 

The third option, and perhaps the most difficult, is to try making a change to their defensive systems. Right now, the Hawks defend with a 2-1-2 strategy, and opposing teams expose it on a nightly basis. The Blackhawks clearly don’t have the personnel to play this style. 

It is incredibly hard to change styles in the same season, but anything is better than what they are doing. You can’t give up 2-on-1s the way the Blackhawks do and keep running out there with the same system night after night, loss after loss. 

All a new coach would do is implement his systems anyway, so Jeff Blashill may as well try it before he gets let go. That’s his most logical move forward if he isn’t let go sometime during the week. Is there a clear system that would make the most sense for this group? No. That would be for the powers that be to figure out before this season really goes off the rails more than it already has, and it impacts the development of young players. 

Whether it's the systems or personnel, some form of a wake-up call is needed. The organization must make one of these moves to try to stop the bleeding. At 4-13-1, all options are being considered. 

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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New York Islanders defenseman Logan Stanley has been fined $3,586.98 for his slash against New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier in the second period of Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss:

Gets a fine. No suspension. #Isleshttps://t.co/K6wgIGMSqA

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) November 8, 2026

Here's the video of the play:

Here’s the sequence by Logan Stanley that should have been a major penalty.

After the scrum, the #NJDevils netted one (1) penalty — a minor. Stanley was assessed a two-minute minor for the slash and two for roughing in the scrum itself. pic.twitter.com/1mIzHv7YdD

— JP Gambatese (@jp_gambatese) November 8, 2026

This is the second time in Stanley's career where he's received supplementary discipline from the NHL's Department of Player Safety. 

He was suspended for one game for roughing Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk on Jan. 3.

Stanley signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Islanders on Sept. 27 and has played primarily alongside 2025-26 Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer on the top pair while playing key minutes on the penalty kill. 

This weekend, six new individuals will be inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame for 2026. This year’s class includes former Vancouver Canucks General Manager Brian Burke, as well as former pro hockey players Patrice Bergeron, Cindy Curley, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, and Keith Tkachuk. 

Four of these six individuals played against the Canucks at various times throughout their NHL careers — this is how they fared. 

A 20-year NHL veteran, Bergeron skated in a grand total of 1294 NHL games throughout his career, all with the Boston Bruins. During this span, he amassed 427 goals and 613 assists, good for a points per game pace of around 0.8. This falls in line with his career averages against the Canucks, as the skilled centre posted seven goals and 13 assists in 25 games against Vancouver. Most notably, Bergeron was part of the 2011 Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup against the Canucks. 

Tkachuk, father of current NHLers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, spent his 1201-game NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Atlanta Thrashers, and the St. Louis Blues. His 538 goals ranks 36th in NHL history, while his 2219 penalty minutes sits at 41st throughout the league’s history. Tkachuk found decent offensive success against the Canucks throughout his career, scoring 27 goals and adding 36 assists in 65 games.  

BC local and career Montréal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price played some of his best hockey against the Canucks. The 15-year NHL veteran played in a total of 712 games for the Canadiens, winning 361 and registering 49 shutouts. His career numbers also include a 2.51 GAA and .917 SV%. Compared to the rest of the NHL, Price has one of his biggest win-to-loss differentials against Vancouver, having won 17 of 24 matches against the Canucks and lost only two in regulation. He also had a .929 SV% and 2.26 GAA against Vancouver, as well as three shutouts.   

Like Price, Pekka Rinne spent the entirety of his NHL career with only one team. For him, that was the Nashville Predators. He played in 683 total games for Nashville from 2005 to 2021, posting 369 wins and 60 shutouts. 14 of these 369 wins came against Vancouver, while one of his 60 shutouts were against the Canucks. Rinne’s record against the Canucks is split very evenly, as he also recorded 14 regulation losses and two in overtime. Statistcially, he logged a .905 SV% and 2.81 GAA against Vancouver — both higher than his career-averages of .917 SV% and 2.43 GAA. 

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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The Montreal Canadiens have a clear trade candidate with goaltender Samuel Montembeault.

With the Canadiens having Jacob Fowler and Jakob Dobes, it would make sense if Montreal moved on from a pending UFA netminder like Montembeault. 

When looking at potential trade destinations for Montembeault, the New York Rangers are only continuing to stand out more. 

On Saturday, the Rangers placed goalie James Reimer on unconditional waivers for the purposes of contract termination. While New York recently got back Joonas Korpisalo from injury, it would not hurt for them to add another experienced goalie with Reimer's contract being terminated. Thus, Montembeault could make a lot of sense for New York as they aim to make the playoffs. 

If the Rangers acquired Montembeault, he would give them another proven NHL goalie to work with. This would especially be the case if he bounced back in New York after his tough 2025-26 season with the Canadiens. 

Montembeault is also continuing to make progress with his injury recovery, as he skated on Saturday. 

Ultimately, Montembeault could be a solid pickup for a team like the Rangers. The Canadiens could also benefit by trading the 30-year-old, as they would move on from his $3.15 million cap hit.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Canadiens and Rangers link up to make a Montembeault trade from here. 

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The Detroit Red Wings are a team that isn't going to be known for a high-powered offense. That, combined with a subpar penalty killing percentage, made for an unfortunate result against a club that boasts multiple dangerous offensive threats. 

The Colorado Avalanche got two goals and an assist from Martin Necas, while Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar also scored as part of their 4-0 win over the Red Wings at Ball Arena on Saturday evening.

Three of Colorado's goals were with the man advantage.

The setback was Detroit's fourth in their last five regulation games, and knocked them back below the .500 mark. 

It was an especially disappointing result considering how well they played in the first period, getting multiple high-danger scoring chances and outshooting Colorado by a comfortable margin. 

But once they started getting into penalty trouble in the second period, they were made to regret it. 

As forward Andrew Copp would say afterward, he and his teammates have to show more tenacity around the net while also spending less time in their own zone, which would lead to less penalties against. 

"Those second-chance opportunities feel like we’re a little one-and-done around the net right now," Copp said afterward. "And whether that’s the forwards not getting there or pucks not getting through to the net, whatever the combination is, we just got to get a little hungrier around that net."

The Red Wings have now dropped regulation contests against the Blues, Lightning, Golden Knights, and Avalanche. In two of those contests, they had a third period lead, but couldn't finish things out. 

Right now, they have no choice but to find more offense. 

"We’re playing some really good teams right now, but that shouldn’t be an excuse. We've got to find a way to just concentrate on the positives of the good things we’ve done, a lot of good 5-on-5 defense today and in the Vegas game, and then we just got to find a way to get some offense going," Copp said. "But the quicker we end plays in our D zone, the more time we'll spend in the offensive zone."

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

For head coach Todd McLellan, he felt that the club losing control of their emotions, which led to multiple penalties against, ultimately did them in. 

"We were called for five penalties in 10 minutes, and that really changed the game, obviously," said McLellan. "We had to overuse guys. Other guys sat there cold. Their star players got a lot of touches, and they moved the puck around well. Obviously, scored.

So, it was it was frustrating that way, and we didn't deal real well with our emotions, I didn't think. So, we're going to get nights where the other team is better, sometimes the officials won't go in our favor, but we're gonna have to deal with it." 

The Red Wings are back in action on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, looking to avenge their loss on Halloween in Detroit. 

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NEWS & NOTES 

Columbus Blue Jackets Injury Report: November 2, 2026The Columbus Blue Jackets were hit by preseason injuries but have remained healthy through the first month of the season.

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

• Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 12 Games Missed

Columbus Blue Jackets And Fanatics Announce New Controversial Alternate JerseysWhenever NHL teams get a new jersey, fans are usually split 50/50. Some traditionalists hate the idea of jersey colors that differ from the norm, while others love that the NHL, jersey makers, and teams come up with all kinds of styles. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Fanatics have announced the 2026-27 "Hometown Remix" jerseys for this season, and this one is sure to be controversial. A lot of people think the gray contradicts the entire meaning of the Blue Jackets.   

Zach Werenski Pushing His Way Up To The Top Of Another Blue Jackets Stat Category<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> defenseman Zach Werenski continues to work his way up in just about every stat category the franchise has. This time it's shots. 

Werenski has 36 shots so far through 13 games this season. At this pace, he'd hit 233 shots at the end of the season. Many people think he's not shooting because he's not scoring, but that's simply not true. He currently sits second in shots behind Adam Fantilli, who has 40. 

2 Blue Jackets Placed On Waivers After Big Win Over AvalancheTwo Blue Jackets have been placed on waivers.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Blue Jackets have placed defenseman Emil Andrae and forward Danton Heinen on waivers.   

Blue Jackets Recall Two Forwards After Win Against Dallas Stars The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> have recalled a pair of Cleveland Monsters after tonight's game against the Dallas Stars.

Steven Lorentz, who was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Kirill Marchenko deal, will be joining the Blue Jackets. In 9 games this season for Cleveland, he has 7 goals and 9 total points. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 218 lbs, he adds more size to an already heavy forward group. Lorentz has played 381 NHL games and has 80 total points. 

Is Kent Johnson One Of The Best Ever At The Shootout? He's Getting There!Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson is having a bounce-back year, and it was desperately needed. He's on pace for 42 goals and 84 points. Will he finish with those numbers? It's possible. 

With last night's shootout winner against the Stars, Kent Johnson is now third all time in shootout %. He now sits at 63.2%, which is 1.1% behind Blues forward Mason McTavish. Another former CBJ, Petteri Nummelin, sits #1 all time, scoring on 8 of 10 tries.   

Johnny Gaudreau's Mother Jane Discloses What Team He Wanted To End His Career WithOn November 5th, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> superstar Johnny Gaudreau was posthumously inducted into the <a href="https://philadelphiasportshalloffame.org/athlete/johnny-gaudreau/">Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame</a> as part of the Class of 2026.

"His goal was always to end his career, somehow, playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. He would say to Guy, Kristen, Katie, and I, that even if he had to go and sign one day, he was going to end his career as a Philadelphia Flyer. Because he thought that every young person growing up should be able to play for his home team."

Former Blue Jackets Goalie Is Impressing With New TeamThis former Blue Jackets goalie is playing some strong hockey with the Red Wings.

While Tarasov has a 2-2-2 record, his stats show that he is playing very well for the Red Wings right now. His .929 save percentage is currently the second-best in the NHL for goalies who have played at least five games. He also has an impressive 1.79 goals-against average, which is the third-best in the NHL.

GAME PREVIEWS & RECAPS

Columbus Blue Jackets (10pts) vs. Colorado Avalanche (19 pts) Game PreviewThe Blue Jackets are 24-41-1-5 overall, and 12-19-1-3 at home vs. Colorado.

Series History vs.Avalanche           

• The Blue Jackets are 24-41-1-5 overall, and 12-19-1-3 at home vs. Colorado.  
• Columbus went 0-2-0 in 2025-26. 
• Columbus has earned points in 11 of the last 20 games of the series overall (10-9-1).

Blue Jackets Blast Avalanche Led by Charlie Coyle's Four PointsThe Jackets are now 6-7-0 on the season

Mathieu Olivier(3), Ivan Provorov(1-PPG), Jake Christiansen(2-GWG), Cole Sillinger(4), Charlie Coyle(2-PPG, 3), and Val Nichushkin(2) powered the Blue Jackets past the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena.   

Columbus Blue Jackets (12 pts) vs. Dallas Stars (19 pts) Game PreviewThe Blue Jackets are 35-36-7 overall, and 19-16-5 at home vs. Dallas.

Series History vs.Stars           

• The Blue Jackets are 35-36-7 overall, and 19-16-5 at home vs. Dallas. 
• Columbus lost to Dallas on 10-31.
• Columbus has won three of the last four games in the series, outscoring Dallas 13-8 since Feb. 25, 2025.

Werenski Scores First Goal, Cam Talbot Is Spectacular In Shootout Win Against DallasThe Blue Jackets' record now sits at 7-7.

Zach Werenski(1) scored the only goal in regulation to help the Blue Jackets upset the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday night. Val Nichushkin and Kent Johnson scored on Casey DeSmith in the shootout to give the Jackets a 2-1.   

Columbus Blue Jackets (14 pts) vs. Buffalo Sabres (17 pts) Game PreviewThe Blue Jackets are 15-9-0-3 at Buffalo and 30-17-1-3 overall vs. Buffalo.

Series History vs.Sabres            

• The Blue Jackets are 15-9-0-3 in Buffalo and 30-17-1-3 overall vs. Buffalo.
• Columbus beat Buffalo 6-3 on 10-1. 
• The Blue Jackets have won 5 of their 7 meetings with the Sabres over the past two seasons (5-2-0).

Blue Jackets Beat By Buffalo, Lose Monahan, Voronkov To InjuryThe Blue Jackets are now 7-8-0 this season.

Kent Johnson(8) and Zach Werenski(2-PPG) scored the goals for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves gave up 5 goals in what seemed like a scheduled loss for Columbus.   

Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back at home on Tuesday to face the Florida Panthers.

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If you watched Saturday night’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs and paid attention, you might have noticed something weird in the first period. After a stoppage in play, it looked like one of the referees was offering Jacob Fowler a green apple, but that wasn’t the case.

Jacob Fowler confirms that a fan threw a green apple at him in the 2nd period.

He said he joked with the official to see if he would have called back a goal on said play.

Fowler thought it was hilarious after the fact,but not so much during the play.

— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) November 8, 2026

After the game, the Canadiens’ netminder was  asked what that moment was about, and it turned out to be something else altogether. During play, a fan threw an apple at the Habs’ goaltender. According to Marco D'Amico, the interaction caught on camera was Fowler joking with the ref about whether he would have allowed a goal scored when the goalie was hit by the apple.

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While the Montreal goaltender thought it was funny in the post-game scrum, he didn’t have the same opinion during the game, and that’s understandable. The question he asked the ref was valid: what would have happened if a goal had been scored when he was hit by the apple? If the goal was allowed to stand, Canadiens fans would have screamed bloody murder; if it was taken away, Leafs fans would have done the same. It would have been enough to launch a full-blown scandal; I can already see the headlines: Habs vs. Leafs game rocked by Applegate.

Can I offer you an apple in this trying time? 🍏

📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/qAjIlD26Mnpic.twitter.com/UFu7ltqXq8

— NHL (@NHL) November 8, 2026

Referees should not be put in a position to make that call, and the incident will be reported to the League. Don’t be surprised if security checks are heightened when you attend a game. One fan’s foolish decision could affect the integrity of the game, and that’s something that must be taken seriously. Bags are searched when you enter an arena for a reason. If worst comes to worst, the NHL could ask fans to bring only what fits through a small, see-through plastic bag, as the NFL has done in the past. Furthermore, if that fan was identified, they should be banned from attending the game. It’s one thing to throw an octopus on the ice in Detroit during a stoppage of play (those were the good old days), but it’s quite another to try and disrupt the game.

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The Bruins are back in action this afternoon as they begin a four-game homestand against the Florida Panthers with puck drop at 1 p.m.

The B’s are looking to keep their streak alive tonight as the Panthers look to bounce back from a loss yesterday.

The Bruins are 55% on the face-off, the 3rd best percentage in the league. A big part of that has been Elias Lindholm who individually is 60.2%, leading the NHL with 195 face-off wins, according to the Bruins.

Discuss!

The Vegas Golden Knights have won two in a row and picked up five out of a possible six points on their Eastern Conference road trip. They’ll look to close it out on a high note today against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. 

Puck drop is scheduled for 12:38 p.m. PST. 

The Golden Knights last played on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. They struggled to score, but stuck with it when Detroit pulled ahead. Two young stars struck in the third period, and the Golden Knights won 2-1.

The Sabres last played on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. They scored early, and rode a strong second period to a 5-2 victory. 

Carter Hart is projected to start in net for the Golden Knights. Hart has a 5-3-2 record and an average save percentage of .900 in 10 games played this season. 

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is projected to start in net for the Sabres. Luukkonen has a 5-3-3 record and an average save percentage of .878 in 11 games played this season.

Golden Knights Lines

Brett Howden — Jack Eichel — Mark Stone

Ivan Barbashev — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner

Trevor Connelly — Tomáš Hertl — Victor Olofsson

Marc Gatcomb — Nic Dowd — Braeden Bowman

Defense

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore

Jeremy Lauzon — Rasmus Andersson

Noah Hanifin — Dylan Coghlan

Goaltenders: Carter Hart / Adin Hill

Projected Sabres Lines

Zach Benson — Peyton Krebs — Tage Thompson 

Josh Doan — Noah Ostlund — Jack Quinn

Jiri Kulich — Josh Norris — Jason Zucker

Beck Malenstyn — Tyson Kozak — Sam Carrick

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson — Rasmus Dahlin

Olen Zellweger — Owen Power

Conor Timmins — Zach Metsa

Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen / Colten Ellis

Special Teams

VGK power play: 27.8%, 7th

VGK penalty kill: 75.0%, T21st

Sabres power play: 15.1%, 29th

Sabres penalty kill: 69.6%, T25th

Game Notes

Last year, the Golden Knights lost both games against the Sabres for an 0-2-0 record. They are 7-8-1 against Buffalo all time.

Jack Eichel leads the Golden Knights in scoring this season with 23 points in 18 games. Eichel has six goals and nine points in seven career games against his former team.

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring this season with 19 points in 16 games. Thompson has four goals and six points in 13 career games against the Golden Knights.

Carter Hart, who is projected to start in goal for the Golden Knights, has a 4-2-0 record and an average save percentage of .906 in nine career games against the Sabres. 

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is projected to start in goal for the Sabres, has a perfect 4-0-0 record and an average save percentage of .939 in four career games against the Golden Knights.

We’re on Milestone Watch! Brayden McNabb is one point away from 200 career points.

We’re on Milestone Watch! Mitch Marner is two points away from 100 as a Golden Knight. 

The Golden Knights are 5-2-2 on the road this season; the Sabres are 4-4-0 at home.

Jacob Fowler has faced plenty of oddities in his young NHL career, but tracking a green apple sailing toward his crease mid-play was a first.

During the second period of Saturday’s Original Six matchup at Scotiabank Arena, a fan launched a small green apple, later confirmed to be fake, from the stands, sending it skidding onto the ice right in front of the Montreal Canadiens goaltender while play was live. Referee T.J. Luxmore collected the object, pocketed it, and later produced it during a stoppage, holding it up near Fowler in a moment that left the broadcast booth and viewers doing double-takes.

“I was pretty dialled in but I saw an apple come on the ice right in front of me. I’m used to tracking a black puck not a green apple,” Fowler told Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas afterward, laughing. “I saw that one and (Luxmore) told me he would have blown the play dead if they had gotten in the zone so thankfully they didn’t get one there.”

The 21-year-old American, who stopped 26 shots in Montreal’s 4-2 victory, confirmed to reporters that a fan had thrown it directly at him. 

I hoped this was referee JT Luxmore's own apple from his pocket, but, unfortunately, that's not true.

Was thrown on the ice https://t.co/p9gjiAESZx

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 8, 2026

“It’s the first time that’s happened to me. It was thrown right at me,” he told reporters in the visiting locker room.

Fowler, still relatively new to the league’s quirks, handled the moment with the same poise he’s shown throughout a strong start (8-1-1). He joked with the official about the hypothetical.

"It's so surreal. I still feel like a little kid every time I get to put on the gear. It's so special to play in this organization."

Jacob Fowler joined @sportsnetkyle after a 26-save performance in the Canadiens' win over the Maple Leafs. pic.twitter.com/JVmDYENkbS

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 8, 2026

“As a young player, I try to stay in the good graces of the referees. I always ask them how it’s going. He showed me what it was. I asked him if the goal would have counted if they scored. He said, ‘We’ll see!’” Fowler recounted.

The incident occurred amid a game in which the Canadiens extended their point streak to 10 games. Alex Newhook scored twice, Chris Kreider and Zachary Bolduc added goals, and Fowler held firm after Toronto cut a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 early in the third. William Nylander and Gavin McKenna scored for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped four of five.

The incident didn’t help Toronto in any manner as they continue to struggle to find a way to play their game for a full 60 minutes.

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