The Vancouver Canucks are adding another former player to the organization. On Thursday, the Canucks announced that Alex Edler will be joining the player development department. As per the team press release, Edler will be "working closely with prospects throughout the organization."
Also included in the press release was a statement from GM Ryan Johnson, who wrote, "Alex knows first-hand what it means to be a Vancouver Canuck. His past experience in the NHL will really help in our players development, he understands the demands of what it takes to be a good pro both on and off the ice, while his skill set and communication will be a big plus when it comes to coaching and mentoring our prospects. Earlier this month we saw Alex’s hands-on approach at our Development Camp in Abbotsford, and the feedback we received about the job he did was excellent."
Edler played 1030 games in the NHL, which included 925 with Vancouver. He was part of the team's run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and ranks second all-time in franchise history for points by a defenceman with 409. In addition to his NHL career, Edler represented Sweden multiple times, including winning a Silver Medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Jan 16, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Vancouver Canucks defensemen Alex Edler (23) during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
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RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 11: Fans cheer for the goal during game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 11, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The National Hockey League released the schedules for their teams on Thursday. The World Champion, Carolina Hurricanes, will start things off with a match against the Florida Panthers on September 29, at 5 PM.
The Canes, who year after year need to have several away games during the annual October State Fair, will have four home games before they travel out west this season.
After Tuesday’s home opener, the Canes will face the Capitals at home on Friday night. Then they go on the road to face the Flyers and Habs. Check out the full schedule here:
It has been a quiet time the past week or so with even rumors drying up. In the meantime, Alexander Nikishin still needs a contract or will he be traded?
The team did announce recently that they signed William Hakansson to an entry level contract. The defenseman, who was drafted in the second round in the recent draft, impressed during his visit here while attending Carolina’s prospect camp.
The NHL schedule was released Thursday, and Buffalo Sabres fans likely looked at it with one date in mind – the return of now-former Sabres star right winger and new Washington Capitals sniper Alex Tuch. But while Buffalo plays the Capitals in Washington on October 24 and November 19, Sabres fans won’t be able to cheer or boo Tuch in Buffalo until the two teams clash for the third and final time on March 18 – eight full months from now.
That said, it’s this writer’s opinion that, when Tuch does return to Buffalo, Sabres fans should be giving Tuch a warm welcome.
The end for Tuch in Buffalo comes after he’s spent five seasons in Buffalo following a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights. And in those five seasons, Tuch delivered solid results, even when the Sabres team around him was unable to be a Stanley Cup playoff team. He generated at least 33 goals and 66 points in three of the past four seasons, at a very team-friendly $4.75-million-per-season salary.
While the Sabres team he was part of continued to struggle to make the playoffs, Tuch never complained or big-timed anyone. He was reliable and gave Buffalo a power forward that only a few teams can boast of employing, and he could’ve signed an extension with the Sabres long ago. So now, both the Sabres and Tuch made their own business decisions, and each side had every right to choose to move on. And that’s what’s happened here.
The salary cap is designed to redistribute talent, and that's what the Capitals have done by acquiring Tuch. Tuch gave the Sabres a lot of good years, even when the team has struggled. He could’ve asked out at any point in time, and he didn’t.
And Buffalo could’ve kept him for the long haul by re-signing him before he hit the open market this summer, but the Sabres chose not to. If you’re going to boo Tuch for that, you should be booing Sabres management and ownership just as much. And you can do that starting in Game 1 of their home schedule on October 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
But it’s easier to just lob raspberries at Tuch rather than the bigger picture in Buffalo, isn’t it? You can call a player ‘selfish’ for getting as much money as the market will bear, but we’re not going to do that. The Sabres had a roller-coaster season, but Tuch played his part, putting up 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games. And he deserves credit for that.
The NHL’s salary cap is designed to redistribute talent, and that's what the Capitals have done by acquiring Tuch. He gave the Sabres some of the best years of his career,’and in the end, both the team and Tuch have, of their own volition, chose separate paths. That happens sometimes, even in the best scenarios. And Tuch isn't the villain for making the best business deal he could.
By the time Tuch rolls into Buffalo in mid-March, Sabres fans will have three-quarters of the season to debate and discuss, so we predict that will take some of the anger out of Sabres fans when they see Tuch in person.
Tuch has accepted a deal that everyone would take were it offered to them. And we don’t believe he should be crucified for that decision. He’s now 30 years old, so Tuch has less road ahead of him than behind him. It’s natural he’d want to go to a team he thinks has the best chance at a championship. And the reconstituted Capitals certainly have an easier road to a Cup final than the Sabres do in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division.
In the end, Tuch took the best deal he could get in a businessman’s decision. You can be upset that he didn’t stay in Buffalo for the rest of his career, but there’s no question that Sabres ownership and GM Jarmo Kekalainen should also be targets of your anger and frustration.
When Tuch steps on the ice in Buffalo as a member of the Capitals, the right thing to do is to cheer him for the time he spent in Western New York. He didn’t win a Cup with the Sabres, but Tuch fought a good fight for Buffalo, and he deserves a happy sendoff as he and the Sabres move in their own preferred direction.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Connor McMichael has signed a six-year, $40.5 million contract with the St. Louis Blues.
General manager Alex Steen, who took over the job from Doug Armstrong on July 1, announced the deal Thursday. McMichael will count $6.75 million against the salary cap through the 2031-32 NHL season.
McMichael joined the team as part of the return from the Washington Capitals in the Jordan Kyrou trade last month. St. Louis also got a first-round pick and prospect Milton Gastrin.
This long-term contract more than triples McMichael's salary after he made $2.1 million each of the past two seasons.
The 25-year-old forward is coming off setting a career high with 32 assists and also scoring 14 goals in 78 games with the Capitals. He has 162 points in 333 regular season and playoff games since making his debut in the league in 2021 after getting taken with the 25th pick in the 2019 draft.
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues and Connor McMichael were destined to be matched up despite the clock ticking on an arbitration hearing.
The chances of the restricted free agent forward and the team reaching June 25 were slim to none, but nevertheless, the clock was still ticking.
Until Thursday when the two sides reached agreement on a six-year, $40.5 million contract that will pay the 25-year-old an average annual value of $6.75 million. It carries a three-team modified no-trade clause the final four years, including expiring Feb. 1 on the expiring year, according to puckpedia.com.
So it wasn't a question of if McMichael would get his contract but when.
"Just based off those first few phone calls, it seems like they're excited to have me and happy that they were able to acquire me," McMichael said of the Blues. "For me, that's all that matters is that this organization wants me and appreciates me. That's going to be a big thing.
"... It's a team that's looking to build and get better and better each year. There's quite a few guys the same age as me, so that's real exciting."
McMichael, acquired from the Washington Capitals along with a 2026 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round prospect (Milton Gastrin) for Jordan Kyrou, recorded 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) for the Capitals last season after putting up a career-best 26 goals and 57 points in 2024-25 over 82 games.
He joins a group as part of a young core of forwards that includes Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway Jake Neighbours, Dalibor Dvorsky, Jonatan Berggren and newly acquired Mason McTavish.
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The Chicago Blackhawks have released their schedule for the 2026-27 season, which is a slate of 84 games, up from 82. The full schedule came out on Thursday after every team announced its home opener on Wednesday.
The Blackhawks will visit every building in the NHL at least once, and every team will come to the United Center at least once. From late September to early April, these 84 games will see the Blackhawks attempt to take a step in their rebuild.
Every game will be something special in its own way, but some games stick out more than others when it comes to the "must-see" mentality. These are the five to circle right away on the calendar:
September 29th - @ Vegas Golden Knights
The Chicago Blackhawks will open their season on the road with a match against the Vegas Golden Knights, who happen to be the reigning Western Conference Champions.
Right off the bat, the Blackhawks have as tough a test as they will face. The Golden Knights will kick off their 10th season in the NHL with this game, and the Blackhawks will be hoping to catch them at a vulnerable time to kick off their 101st season with a win.
October 6th - vs St. Louis Blues
After playing Vegas, the Blackhawks have two more road games against the Utah Mammoth and Buffalo Sabres before coming home to face the St. Louis Blues in their home opener on October 6th.
It is always a special time for the players, organization, and fanbase to return to the United Center for a fresh season, which is why this game is worth circling on the calendar.
October 10th - vs Carolina Hurricanes
On October 10th, the Chicago Blackhawks will welcome the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes to the United Center for their first and only visit. Like Vegas, the team that Carolina defeated in the Final, this is a great test for the young Blackhawks early in the season. All of the games up to this point will be played without Connor Bedard.
December 18th/20th - vs Ottawa Senators in Germany
The Chicago Blackhawks will face the Ottawa Senators for two games in Germany this season as part of the NHL Global Series. This initiative allows fans from across the world to see NHL hockey in person, and the Blackhawks are one of the teams this year. Connor Bedard should be back by this point.
January 30th - @ San Jose Sharks
The last game for the Chicago Blackhawks before their 10-day break for the All-Star Game will be in Northern California against the San Jose Sharks. This will be Connor Bedard's first meeting of the season with his friend and player rival Macklin Celebrini.
The funny thing is that their return game following the break is also against the Sharks in San Jose. Then, later in the season on March 16th, the Sharks will make their one trip to the United Center.
Before long, this is going to be a premier rivalry in the Western Conference because both teams are on the come-up at the same time, and it will be a treat to witness the matchup in 2026-27.
Potential For More
All of these are relatively early in the season. If there is going to be more intrigue later in the campaign, it would likely mean that the Blackhawks were having a good season, causing these games to be more exciting. If people are circling more games on their calendar late in the year, that means the team (or someone on the team) is doing big things.
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The Detroit Red Wings closed the book on one of the most significant eras in franchise history on Wednesday, as Steve Yzerman stepped down from his role as general manager and executive vice president of Hockey Operations, transitioning into a senior advisory role.
The move brings an end to what was ultimately a lackluster stretch for the organization, one defined by a lengthy rebuild that never fully delivered.
Yzerman, who spent 22 seasons as Detroit's captain during his playing days, left the Red Wings organization years ago to build a winner elsewhere, taking the reins of the Tampa Bay Lightning and constructing an eventual Stanley Cup contender.
His roster reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, and with additional tweaks from successor Julien BriseBois, that same core would go on to win back to back championships. While it's difficult to measure exactly how much credit belongs to Yzerman versus BriseBois for those titles, Yzerman had already proven he could build a winner from the ground up.
That track record made him an obvious target when the Red Wings came calling, and Yzerman returned to Detroit in April of 2019. What became known around the league as the "Yzerplan" was billed as a methodical, multi-year approach built on drafting and developing young talent while making calculated additions along the way, eventually forming a true contender.
Instead, the plan never fully materialized, and the Red Wings missed the playoffs for a tenth consecutive season this past year.
In many ways, the approach mirrored the Philadelphia 76ers' infamous "Process," banking on years of difficulty in exchange for sustained future success. Now, with Yzerman's tenure as GM officially over, it's worth looking back at some of the moves that defined his time running the franchise, for better and for worse.
Best: Locking Up Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond
Signing elite young talent never comes cheap, but Yzerman's belief in Seider and Raymond paid dividends. Seider has developed into one of the league's premier defensemen, and his $8.55 million cap hit through 2031 already looks like a bargain. The same goes for Raymond, who signed for $8.075 million through 2032 and has since become a point-per-game player.
Worst: Trading Jake Walman for Future Considerations
On June 25th, 2024, Detroit shipped defenseman Jake Walman to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations, a deal widely attributed to cap clearing amid reported friction between Walman and the organization.
The trade has aged poorly, as Walman broke out with San Jose, posting 32 points in 50 games as an offensive defenseman. The Sharks would later flip him to the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional 2026 first-round pick, a return Detroit could have used for themselves, not to mention losing a talented piece on their blue line.
Best: The Alex DeBrincat Trade
On July 9th, 2023, the Red Wings sent Dominik Kubalik, Donovan Sebrango, a 2024 conditional first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alex DeBrincat.
The move paid off in a big way, as DeBrincat has been one of Detroit's top offensive weapons over the past two seasons, leading the team with 66 goals to go along with 71 assists for 137 points, third-most on the roster in that span.
Meanwhile, Kubalik was eventually moved to Chicago, Sebrango has made little impact at the NHL level, the fourth-rounder became winger Javon Moore, and the conditional first eventually became forward Dean Letourneau, who is now in the Boston Bruins system.
Worst: The Justin Holl Signing
Heading into the 2023 offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs were more than happy to part ways with underperforming defenseman Justin Holl, who they had been paying $2 million per season.
Detroit not only added a player who had struggled against one of their fiercest rivals, but gave him a raise with a $3.4 million cap hit over three seasons. The deal played out largely as expected, with Holl managing just 13 points in 111 games over the first two seasons before spending the final year of his contract entirely in the minors, eventually being dealt to the St. Louis Blues as part of the Justin Faulk trade.
For a young and developing roster, adding a veteran presence like Patrick Kane proved to be an ideal fit. Over three seasons in Detroit, Kane helped mentor younger players like Lucas Raymond while still producing on the ice, tallying 57 goals and 106 assists for 163 points in 189 games.
Worst: The Justin Faulk Trade
At the 2026 trade deadline, Yzerman sent Justin Holl, prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick to the St. Louis Blues for rental defenseman Justin Faulk.
The move was widely criticized after Detroit stumbled to a 6-10-3 finish, missing the playoffs and surrendering a valuable first-round pick in the process. Faulk remains under contract for next season and could still provide value as a veteran mentor for young defensemen like Seider, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Simon Edvinsson.
But if the Red Wings miss the playoffs again next season, the trade will go down as the final costly misstep in Yzerman's tenure.
Best: First Five First-Round Picks (2019-2022)
Drafting and developing talent worked out early and often for Yzerman. His first five first-round selections as GM, Seider (sixth overall, 2019), Raymond (fourth overall, 2020), Simon Edvinsson (sixth overall, 2021), Sebastian Cossa (15th overall, 2021) and Marco Kasper (eighth overall, 2022), all look like hits.
All are already making an impact at the NHL level, aside from Cossa, who is expected to get his opportunity with the Utah Mammoth next season. Tasked with rebuilding the Red Wings with essentially only Dylan Larkin as a foundation, Yzerman quickly unearthed multiple franchise cornerstones.
Worst: Trading Sebastian Cossa for J.P. Hurlbert
It's still too early to fully judge the long-term impact of a trade made less than a month ago, but the optics are far from favorable. Despite Detroit's deep goaltending pipeline, Cossa looked like the franchise's presumptive goaltender of the future.
Instead of using him to bring back immediate help, Yzerman moved him to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd overall pick, a selection lower than where Cossa himself was drafted, along with prospect J.P. Hurlbert.
If Hurlbert fails to develop into a full-time NHL contributor and Cossa emerges as Utah's franchise goaltender, this deal could end up looking like one of the final missteps of Yzerman's Detroit tenure.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 01: An exterior view of PPG Paints Arena before the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 1, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced the end of their longtime agreement and affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers.
The announcement was released Thursday afternoon and Kyle Dubas said in a statement that the team is grateful for the Nailers being partners with the Penguins for the last 29 years.
“It is only because of very unique circumstances that we must say goodbye at this time,” the statement read.
“The Nailers have run a first-class operation for many years, and any organization would be fortunate to have them as an affiliate,” the team’s statement read.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announce end to long and successful ECHL affiliation agreement with the Wheeling Nailers. pic.twitter.com/i4QigXbJWO
“We wish the city of Wheeling, the Nailers, and all of their fans continued success as a great ECHL franchise,” the statement read. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Wheeling.”
It’s unclear when an official announcement might be made to confirm the team’s new partnership with the Florida Everblades.
Like many teams, Toronto rolled out a humorous social media video to announce its schedule. As part of the skit, two Leafs employees sorted through a fictional lost-and-found, cataloguing items supposedly left behind by other NHL teams before shipping them back.
The collection included plenty of familiar stereotypes, including Buffalo wing sauce for the Sabres, steamies for the Canadiens, and a bag of clam chowder for the Bruins.
But when it came time to reveal the Leafs' games against Ottawa, the item pulled from the lost-and-found was Brady Tkachuk's podcast microphone, still attached to its boom arm.
One of the actors asked, "Do you think we have to send this to Florida now instead?" before slapping a Panthers sticker over top of the Senators logo on the shipping box.
It was a playful jab in the Battle of Ontario, but the Leafs probably could have gone much harder.
After all, just eight days ago, Daniel Alfredsson, the greatest player in Senators history, left Ottawa to join Toronto's coaching staff. Mocking that move might have stung even more than chirping the Sens about Tkachuk's exit. But perhaps the video had already been completed by then.
In any event, the Leafs won the social media exchange on Thursday, but the games that matter begin on Oct. 3, when Toronto hosts Ottawa in the Senators' season opener.
This former Colorado Avalanche goaltender is heading back to Russia.
Ivan Prosvetov has signed with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, ending his latest stint in North America after spending the 2025-26 season with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL.
While his time in the Avalanche organization was relatively short, Prosvetov became an important depth piece during a season when Colorado’s goaltending situation was suddenly tested.
The Avalanche acquired Prosvetov off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes in October 2023 after veteran backup Pavel Francouz was sidelined with an injury. At the time, Colorado needed insurance behind Alexandar Georgiev, and Prosvetov quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff.
The 27-year-old made his Avalanche debut on Oct. 26, 2023, replacing Georgiev in a loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Just days later, he received his first NHL start and delivered one of the best moments of his brief Colorado tenure, stopping 28 shots in a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
With Francouz eventually ruled out for the remainder of the season, Prosvetov stepped into the backup role behind Georgiev. He appeared in 11 games for the Avalanche, earning four wins while providing Colorado with stability during a difficult stretch.
However, as the season progressed, his opportunities became limited. After the All-Star break, the Avalanche placed Prosvetov on waivers and assigned him to the Colorado Eagles.
The move ended up being a turning point.
Prosvetov immediately found his confidence in the AHL, putting together a dominant run with the Eagles. He won eight straight games, earned AHL Player of the Week honors and was recognized as the league’s Goaltender of the Month in February.
He remained with the Eagles through the remainder of the season before returning to the Avalanche as a playoff reserve.
After leaving Colorado, Prosvetov continued his career overseas, signing with CSKA Moscow in the KHL for the 2024-25 season. He later returned to North America with the Calgary Wranglers, where he posted an .887 save percentage last season.
Now, he is making another trip back to Russia to continue his career with Avangard Omsk.
The move is unlikely to have a major impact on the Avalanche’s current plans in net, but Prosvetov remains an interesting “what if” from Colorado’s recent past.
He showed flashes of being a reliable NHL goaltender during his time with the Avalanche, but consistency and opportunity ultimately determined his path. Now, he’ll look to continue his career overseas and carve out a new chapter in the KHL.
The 2026-27 NHL schedule has been released, with all 1,344 games now public knowledge. Every team will play 84 games this season, up from 82 to accommodate recent expansion.
Odds are starting to trickle out for season openers, and I've assembled my favorite early NHL picks and leans below.
See why my NHL season opener predictions are taking the Rangers to beat the Bruins on Tuesday, September 29.
Bets to make following NHL schedule release 2026-27
Pick
Odds
Panthers moneyline
+115
Canadiens moneyline
-110
Rangers moneyline
+110
Panthers moneyline
+115 at Caesars
The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will commence the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, September 29 against the next-most recent Stanley Cup winner, the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers know from first-hand experience how tough it can be to defend a title. They did it successfully in 2024-25, but 2025-26 was a disaster as they missed the playoffs altogether.
Injuries did a number on Florida, with captain Aleksander Barkov missing the entire campaign after suffering an injury in the preseason. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who is now with the Maple Leafs, fell off a cliff in his age-37 season, posting the lowest SV% of his career (.877).
But the Panthers re-tooled this summer, bringing in Brady Tkachuk as well as Radko Gudkas. Newly-acquired netminders Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid form as good a one-two punch in net as any team.
I'm happy to back Florida at +100 or better as they attempt to kick off what should be a bounce-back campaign in style.
Time: 5 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Canadiens moneyline
-110 at Caesars
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have had the "louder" offseason compared to the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens', but that doesn't mean it was the better one.
New netminder Bobrovsky looked over the hill last year, yet his three-year contract might age better than the seven-year one dished out to defenseman Darren Raddysh, who rose from obscurity to post 22 goals for the Lightning last year at age 30.
Toronto overhauled their forward depth, but the biggest impact player of the bunch was the one-dimensional Jack Roslovic.
Montreal hasn't bought in any big new names this summer, but they didn't really need to after making the Eastern Conference Final last season. This is still a team loaded with young talent that I'll happily back to -125.
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: SN
Rangers moneyline
+110 at Caesars
The New York Rangers had a 100th season to forget last year, as they shipped Artemi Panarin to the Kings at the trade deadline and finished last in the Eastern Conference. However, they've made some interesting offseason moves, and they could pay immediate dividends vs. a Boston Bruins team that has more-or-less stood pat this summer.
New York's biggest acquisition was Pavel Dorofeyev, who scored a career-high 37 goals in 2025-26. Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joe Veleno have also climbed aboard to provide some much-needed offensive depth, and Gabe Perreault stands to benefit from a full year of seasoning.
The Rangers' strong top-line defensive pairing of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov will now be backed up by well-respected puck-moving defenseman Sean Durzi, and the stay-at-home Marcus Pettersson.
World-class goalie Igor Shesterkin should be between the pipes on Opening Night, and he gives his team a chance to win every time he suits up.
The Bruins' big offseason acquisition was JJ Peterka, who will be playing for his third team in as many seasons, and he scored 25 goals last season. But Viktor Arvidsson, a 25-goal scorer in 2025-26, has left Boston for Detroit.
Play to -110.
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
A year ago, the Montreal Canadiens had two goaltending prospects in The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler’s top 20 drafted goaltending prospects: Jacob Fowler, who stood at number two, and Jakub Dobes, who was at number 19. Unsurprisingly, only Fowler remains on the list since Dobes is no longer eligible, now being an established NHL netminder.
Fowler still occupies the top spot in the rankings after a convincing rookie season at both the AHL and the NHL level. A third-round pick in 2023, Fowler is the most exciting goaltending prospect the Canadiens have had since Carey Price, even though the former face of the franchise was the fifth overall pick at the 2005 draft. There’s another Montreal goaltender who did just fine after being drafted in the third round: Patrick Roy. Saint-Patrick was taken 51st overall at the 1984 draft.
In his first complete pro season, Fowler featured in 27 AHL games and kept a 19-7-2 record with a 2.23 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage, and he blanked the opponent three times. The circumstances in Montreal led to his call-up in December, and while he was still very green, he did well with the big club. So much so that some wondered if Dobes might be sent to Laval once Samuel Montembeault was back in the fold, however, it was Fowler who was sent back down, only to come back up when Montembeault faltered again. The youngster was called back up in March and finished the season with the Habs, serving as Dobes's backup in the playoffs.
In his 17 NHL games, Fowler kept a 9-6-2 record with a 2.43 GAA, a .908 SV and one shutout. Those are the numbers of a goaltender who’s ready to play in the NHL, and if the Canadiens cannot move Montembeault this offseason, they very well may have a problem in net.
Wheeler raves about Wheeler in his rankings and has no qualms saying he has a legitimate shot at being a top NHL goaltender. The positioning, the rebound control, the angles, the reflexes- The Athletic’s journalist essentially says that Fowler has it all. While he mentions that the Canadiens and their fans are deservedly high on Dobes right now, he still believes that Fowler is the starter of the future, and you won’t find many people who are ready to argue with him on that one.
The three-year and $5.357M cap hit contract the Habs gave Dobes is a sign that they are not fixed on who will hold the main job long term; it leaves room for Fowler to take over if that’s what his performances eventually dictate or for Dobes to get another contract extension if he’s still in the driver’s seat in four years (his contract doesn’t kick in until the 2027-28 season) or to break the bank in free agency if he so desires.
On Wednesday, the NHL announced the home openers for all 32 teams, with the Calgary Flames, who begin their final season at the Scotiabank Saddledome, welcoming the Seattle Kraken to town on October 1 for a 7:00 pm MT contest.
The league did not take the opportunity to let either of the Flames' biggest rivals, the Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Canucks, be the final home-opener opponent in Saddledome history, instead opting to give that honor to the Pacific Division's newest club. Interestingly, Calgary will begin and end October with the Kraken, who make their final appearance in the Dome on October 30th.
Meanwhile, the league announced the remainder of the 2026-27 schedule today, giving Flames fans plenty to talk about regarding the 2026-27 campaign. After missing out on a rivalry game to open the season, the NHL did give the Canucks the final regular-season home game in Saddledome history, a Saturday night contest on April 10, which will most likely be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet.
Moreover, fans hoping to see Connor McDavid and the Oilers one final time in the Dome will need to wait until March, when Edmonton comes to town on March 3 and again on March 23.
Regarding Original Six matchups, the Detroit Red Wings come to Calgary on October 24, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 26. The Chicago Blackhawks, led by Connor Bedard, visit on November 21 and March 5, while the New York Rangers play their final Saddledome contest on Remembrance Day on November 11.
Finally, the Montreal Canadiens pay their final visit to the place where they battled in the 1986 and 1989 Stanley Cup Finals on January 28, and the Boston Bruins will be the second-to-last Original Six team to play at the Dome on February 17.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, visit early in the season with a matchup on October 18.
Throughout the season, the Flames will host several multi-game homestands, with the longest running from January 5 to January 16, featuring several Eastern Conference teams from Florida, New York (Islanders), Tampa Bay, Columbus, followed by San Jose and Los Angeles. Overall, Calgary will host teams for three or four home games in a row eight times, with a couple of them featuring Pacific Division rivals.
According to NHL.com, the Flames are 909-549-109-93 at the Saddledome, which will close for the final time at the conclusion of the 2026-27 NHL season.
The Winnipeg Jets released their full 2026-27 schedule on Thursday, giving fans their first look at a historic 84-game campaign, the longest regular season in NHL history.
From an opening night showdown to an outdoor spectacle and a pair of late-season clashes that could shape the playoff race, this year's slate has no shortage of highlights.
While every one of Winnipeg's 84 games will carry its own storylines, a handful of matchups stand out above the rest as the ones fans will want circled on the calendar well in advance. Here's a look at the five best matchups on the Jets' schedule this season.
Season Opener vs. Boston Bruins – Friday, October 2nd
The Jets kick off their season on home ice at Canada Life Centre against the Boston Bruins. Season openers always carry a bit of extra buzz, and this one is no different as Winnipeg looks to set the tone early in a historic 84-game campaign.
Just over two weeks into the season, the Jets get their first crack at the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes when they host them at Canada Life Centre. It marks the first of two meetings between the clubs in a three week span, giving Winnipeg an early measuring stick against the team that hoisted the Cup last spring.
2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic vs. Montreal Canadiens – Sunday, October 25th
Without question the marquee event of the season, the Jets will host the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium as part of the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic.
It will be Winnipeg's first all-Canadian matchup of the year, and the outdoor spectacle will be preceded by a 2026 Alumni Game between the two franchises' alumni squads on October 24th at Canada Life Centre.
The Jets' second game back from the Christmas break brings a personal storyline for one of their newest additions. Winnipeg heads to San Jose, where defenseman Mario Ferraro spent seven seasons with the Sharks, recording 114 points in 490 games. The matchup figures to be an emotional night for Ferraro as he skates back, this time wearing a Jets sweater.
Home-and-Home vs. Colorado Avalanche – Wednesday, March 25th and Friday, March 27th
Late season, the Jets and Avalanche square off twice in a span of three days, with Winnipeg hosting on March 25th before heading to Colorado on March 27th.
These two games, the 77th and 78th of the Jets' season, come at a critical point in the schedule and against a fierce divisional rival. With playoff positioning likely still being sorted out, both matchups could carry major weight in the final stretch and prove to be a pivotal turning point in Winnipeg's season.
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The NHL's new-look schedule is out with 84 games per team and a September start.
The league already announced on Wednesday, July 15, that the 2026-27 season would start on Sept. 29 with five games. It also announced the home openers for every team.
The NHL announced the full schedule on Thursday. Because of the extra two games, every team will play four games against division opponents.
The schedule includes the Carolina Hurricanes raising their Stanley Cup banner on Sept. 29 before they face the 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers. There will be games in Finland and Germany, three outdoor games and the All-Star Game will return after a two-year hiatus. More Monday afternoon games will be played so Europeans can watch in prime time.
The 2026-27 NHL season starts on Sept. 29 with the following five games:. There will be an ESPN tripleheader in the United States and a Sportsnet doubleheader in Canada.
All times p.m. Eastern
Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 (ESPN): A meeting of the last three Stanley Cup winners. Carolina will raise a Stanley Cup banner for the first time in 20 years. Both teams lost their longtime goalies (Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, Carolina's Frederik Andersen) to free agency.
The Washington Capitals' Oct. 7 home opener will be against the rival Penguins. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are in their 22nd season and their contracts expire after this season.
The @NHL announced today the 2026-27 regular season, expanded to 84 games with the addition of two more divisional contests per team, will open on Tuesday, Sept. 29. In addition, the League announced each team’s home opener.
The Golden Knights host the champion Hurricanes on Dec. 20. Carolina will host Vegas on Jan. 17.
When is the Winter Classic?
The Winter Classic will be on New Year's Eve at University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche, starting at 6 p.m. ET.
When are the other NHL outdoor games?
The Winnipeg Jets and Canadiens will play in the Heritage Classic on Oct. 25 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
The Dallas Stars and Golden Knights play in the Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 20.
When is the NHL All-Star Game?
The NHL All-Star weekend will be Feb. 5-6, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The skills competition is on the 5th and the All-Star Game will be on the 6th. There are new formats this season.
When does Sergei Bobrovsky return to Florida?
The two-time Stanley Cup winner, who signed with Toronto in the offseason, will return on March 6.
When does John Carlson return to Washington?
The Capitals' all-time top-scoring defenseman was dealt to Anaheim last season and will return with the Lightning on March 15.
When the 2026-27 NHL season end?
It will end on April 10 with all 32 teams in action.
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