It was one of the worst-kept secrets around the Colorado Avalanche.
Andrew Cogliano is officially moving up.
The Avalanche announced Tuesday that Cogliano has been promoted to assistant general manager, giving the former Colorado forward a bigger role in the organization just two years after he retired from a 17-year NHL career.
Avalanche forward T.J. Hughes training with Gabe Landeskog in late August.
Cogliano, 39, spent the last two seasons as special assistant to general manager Joe Sakic. His work included player development, professional and amateur scouting and spending time with the Colorado Eagles. He was also involved in evaluating T.J. Hughes, who impressed the Avalanche throughout training camp and earned a spot on the opening-night roster.
Now, Cogliano will work alongside Sakic across all areas of hockey operations.
There is plenty of history behind the promotion.
Cogliano joined the Avalanche at the 2022 trade deadline and became an important part of the team’s Stanley Cup run that spring. He played all 20 playoff games as Colorado defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, finally getting his name on the Stanley Cup after years of chasing it.
He played 172 regular-season games for Colorado, recording 39 points, and added 11 points in 31 playoff games.
Before coming to Colorado, Cogliano built one of the more durable careers of his generation. He played 1,294 regular-season games with five NHL teams and opened his career with an 830-game ironman streak, which ranked fourth in NHL history at the time.
Cogliano retired on June 21, 2024, and quickly transitioned into the Avalanche front office.
“He’s been a key member of our staff since he decided to retire as a player,” Sakic said.
Cogliano was originally selected 25th overall by Edmonton in the 2005 NHL Draft after two seasons at Michigan. He also won gold with Canada at the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships.
The new title gives Cogliano more influence inside an organization he already knows well. It could also be another step toward a larger future role in Colorado, potentially putting him in position to eventually follow Sakic as the person overseeing the Avalanche’s hockey operations.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Andrew Cogliano #11 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When we heard the news that former Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland would be heading to Nashville, many pointed to Andrew Cogliano as the replacement GM until Joe Sakic resumed his duties and took the title back this offseason. Well, fans and pundits weren’t too far off, as Cogliano was announced via Avalanche social media to take on the Assistant GM role for the Colorado Avalanche.
This is likely a step toward Cogliano becoming GM at some point in Colorado, which would make him the second former player to take on the role. We’ll see if that materializes.
Cogliano was, of course, a part of the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche. The story goes that Andrew had strong words of inspiration ahead of game six of that final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s widely respected in the league and among current Avalanche players and staff.
Joe Sakic had this to say in the NHL.com article announcing the promotion:
“Cogs is a great communicator, and that skill will be invaluable for our program. This is a well-deserved promotion.”
Let us know what you think of the promotion in the comments!
ESPN started its coverage of the 2026-27 NHL season by paying tribute to the broadcaster who helped grow the game in the United States.
The network remembered longtime analyst Barry Melrose, who died on Sept. 9, three years after retiring from broadcasting because of a Parkinson's disease diagnosis.
Melrose, 70, a former NHL player, had coached the Los Angeles Kings, going to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, before joining ESPN. He was known for his astute analysis, sense of humor, suits and mullet.
Steve Levy, who called games with Melrose, introduced the new ESPN hockey studio on Tuesday, Sept. 29. At the end, the camera panned to a caraciture of Melrose on the boards, featuring his mullet, goatee and trademark cigar.
ESPN is rolling out a fresh sheet for the '26-'27 #NHL season with its most technologically advanced studio yet@espnSteveLevy takes fans inside Studio W featuring real-time virtual environments, UHD capability & 148M pixels
"It's going to be a great season," Levy said as he kneeled. "Barry, we love you. We're going to miss you, pal."
After further video tributes to Melrose on "The Point," Levy said, "Hopefully, the NHL will do the right thing. Hopefully, a moment of silence in all those NHL buildings starting tonight to honor our pal and colleague."
While the Detroit Red Wings continue working on a new contract for RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson, they brought another Swedish blue liner into the fold.
Detroit claimed defenseman Andreas Englund off waivers from the Calgary Flames, adding a key depth piece to its blue line who is already familiar with head coach Todd McLellan from their time together with the Los Angeles Kings.
Englund practiced with the Red Wings for the first time Monday, wearing No. 24, a fitting number for him considering he has a penchant for dropping the gloves similar to that of the late former Detroit enforcer Bob Probert.
Naturally, with so many iconic Swedish players having suited up for the Red Wings over the years, Englund is already familiar with several of them, including former captain Nicklas Lidstrom and assistant captain Niklas Kronwall; Englund has particularly modeled his own style of play after Kronwall.
"For sure, Lidstrom is one of the greatest defensemen of all time," Englund said. "He's a legend in Sweden; so is Kronwall. His game was a little more like mine; I liked watching him stepping up on people. Definitely, Kronwall was a big guy (for me) growing up."
As far as his own style of play, Englund prides himself on being a physical force on the ice.
"I'm a defensive type of guy, I like to box out and keep the net clear, bring a presence on the ice, and bring a little physicality," he said.
As of right now, Englund has been designated immigration non-roster player while sorting out his visa situation.
However, the chances of him appearing with the club are higher right now thanks to the uncertainty surrounding defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who remains a restricted free agent and ineligible to play without a new contract.
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The Buffalo Sabres practiced at Key Bank Center on Tuesday, and one surprising sight was goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on the ice. The 27-year-old left the ice early in the third period of the Sabres preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, with what head coach Lindy Ruff described as a lower-body tweak.
On Tuesday, Luukkonen was in the starter’s net for most of the hour-long practice, which could be an indicator that he will be between the pipes for the club’s season opener in Columbus on Thursday. The veteran netminder indicated that he left the game just to make sure that the discomfort he felt was nothing serious.
"I don't think it was necessarily anything; it was just more just precautionary," Luukkonen said. "I didn't want anything to get worse, kind of thing."
Noah Ostlund signs an eight-year deal with Buffalo
The Sabres had the opportunity to place a claim on a number of goaltenders placed on waivers on Sunday, but injuries to Luukkonen and Alex Lyon appear to be not as severe as once feared, but it is still possible that third-stringer Colten Ellis could get the call on Thursday.
"(Luukkone) had a good day, and we'll see what tomorrow brings. But he had a good day today," Ruff said. (Lyon 's) doing good. I would anticipate within days that he'll be back up there."
On other injury updates, defenseman Olen Zellweger is still considered day-to-day after suffering a concussion. Mattias Samuelsson may practice on Wednesday, but Ruff hinted that if he is not ready, the Sabres may make a roster move to have seven defensemen on the road. Conor Timmins is still be evaluated for a lower body injury,
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The 2026-27 NHL season begins tonight and the New York Rangers have a blank slate in front of them with 84 chances to improve on the last two seasons.
The Blueshirts are set to open the season on the road against their Original Six rival, the Boston Bruins, tonight, Sept. 29.
Last season, the Rangers finished with a 34-39-9 record overall, missing the playoffs for the second season in a row. This year, the team is embarking on this new season with a retooled roster and new expectations.
“I think the expectation is more inward than results,” captain J.T. Miller told The Post during training camp. “I think if we have high expectations for each other on a daily basis, on and off the ice, we’re going to be a better hockey team, and we’ll just leave it at that.”
The team added Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights fresh off their Stanley Cup Final appearance, where Dorofeyev scored the most goals in the postseason (12), and subsequently signed him to a long-term extension. Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson were brought in to aid the defense and former Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo is the Rangers’ new number-two guy behind Igor Shesterkin.
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18-year-old rookie Alberts Smits, who was selected fifth overall in the 2026 Draft, also made the Rangers’ opening night roster after an impressive first training camp.
Here’s how to watch the Rangers season-opener if you don’t have cable.
Rangers vs. Bruins start time
Puck drop at tonight’s (Sept. 29) Rangers vs. Bruins game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch Rangers vs. Bruins for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to tune in to tonight’s Rangers game.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for trying live TV for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes ESPN as part of its 125+ channels.
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If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription and just want to tune into today’s matches, you can try a Sling TV Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN.
Rangers schedule 2026
The NHL has expanded the regular season to 84 games beginning this season. You can check out the full 84-game slate here, but below, we’ve listed out some key matchups, including the Blueshirts’ first game against each Metropolitan Division rival.
Home opener: Oct. 1 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET (MSG) – get tickets
Oct. 6 vs. New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Vincent Trocheck returns to MSG: Oct. 4 vs. Utah Mammoth, 6 p.m. ET (MSG)
Oct. 9 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET (MSG, NHL Network)
Oct. 15 vs. New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. ET (MSG)
Oct. 17 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET (MSG)
Nov. 5 vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. ET (MSG)
Nov. 22 vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 12:30 p.m. ET (MSG)
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
The Buffalo Sabres prepped for their 2026-27 regular season opener in Columbus later this week with an hour-long practice at Key Bank Center on Tuesday after a two-day, team bonding getaway. The club got down to 23 players on Monday by placing four players on injured reserve,
Aside from minor leaguers Jack Rathbone and Topias Leinonen (who was injured in offseason training), the club placed forwards Conor Sheary and Jason Zucker, along with defensemen Mattias Samuelsson, and Conor Timmins on IR. On Tuesday, Sheary was placed on waivers to be sent down to AHL Rochester.
The Sabres roster has 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies. Timmins was injured in the preseason finale against Pittsburgh on Saturday and was not on the ice on Tuesday. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff had hopes that Zellweger might be available for the opener against the Blue Jackets, but the blueliner also did not appear, but was optimistic about Samuelsson, who skated prior to practice.
Sheary, 34, a veteran of 655 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Washington, Tampa Bay, the NY Rangers, and a 55-game stint with Buffalo in 2019-20, signed a one-year, $850,000 deal with the Sabres on July 1, and is expected to play most of the season in the AHL unless injuries hit the NHL club.
Minnesota Wild and U.S. Olympic defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after having surgery for a fracture to his skull.
Faber suffered the injury on Friday, Sept. 25 when he was hit in the head by a puck during the team's preseason game. He played the remainder of the period but didn't play in the third period.
Faber had surgery on Sunday, general manager Bill Guerin told reporters.
He said that Faber is resting at home. There's no timetable for his return.
“The biggest thing is he's doing well," Guerin said. "Sometimes, you just have to put the hockey aside and worry about the human being, and that’s kind of what we’re doing here now.”
“Sometimes you just have to put the hockey aside and worry about the human being, and that’s kind of what we’re doing here now.”
🗣️ Bill Guerin shares that Brock Faber is doing well following successful surgery Sunday for a skull fracture.#mnwildpic.twitter.com/JyzMyVT7Zy
Faber is entering his fifth season in the NHL, all with the Wild. He averaged a little less than 25 minutes per game last season and set career highs with 15 goals and 51 points.
He won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics and also played in the 2022 Olympics and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
We still have a couple of days before the San Jose Sharks take the ice for their season opener against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, but the NHL's regular season kicks off tonight with five games. For Sharks fans, it may be difficult to decide which game to watch, so let's see which teams have former members of Team Teal in their lineup.
Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes:
The Panthers have one former Shark on their roster, Jonah Gadjovich, but he's currently out indefinitely with an injury. As a result, there are no former Sharks participating in this game, but the Sharks open the season against Florida in two days, so could be a good scouting opportunity for Sharks fans.
Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs:
No former Sharks.
New York Rangers vs Boston Bruins:
Vincent Iorio is technically a member of the Rangers organization, but he's currently on the injured reserve and was placed on waivers earlier this morning. The Bruins do have one former Shark as well though, Michael Eyssimont, who will likely be a healthy scratch.
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers:
There are three former Sharks on the Oilers blue line: Jake Walman, Ty Emberson, and the newly acquired Shakir Mukhamadullin. Walman and Mukhamadullin are expected to play against Vancouver, while Emberson is likely going to be a healthy scratch.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights:
The final game of the night will feature the only battle of former Sharks. The Chicago Blackhawks have Ryan Donato, while the Vegas Golden Knights have Tomas Hertl and Adin Hill on their roster. Both of the former Sharks forwards are expected to play, while Hill likely won't be between the pipes for Vegas.
Utah’s plans for its blue line have taken a significant hit before the regular season even begins.
Maveric Lamoureux is expected to miss the next four to six months after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, the Utah Mammoth announced Monday.
The 22-year-old defenseman suffered a shoulder dislocation during training camp and underwent a procedure to repair the injury Monday, according to general manager Bill Armstrong. The recovery timeline puts Lamoureux on track to potentially return around the All-Star break.
Lamoureux had been competing for a full-time NHL role and was viewed as one of the young defensemen pushing for a spot on Utah’s opening-night roster. Instead, he’ll begin the season on injured reserve.
The 6-foot-6, 196-pound right-shot defenseman was originally selected No. 29 overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was the third first-round selection made by Arizona that year, joining Logan Cooley and Conor Geekie.
Lamoureux turned professional shortly after the Coyotes relocated to Utah, making his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season. He has spent much of his development with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, where he appeared in 65 games last season and recorded five goals and 20 points.
He also appeared in five NHL games for Utah in 2025-26, registering one assist.
Through 107 career AHL games, Lamoureux has seven goals, 33 points and 123 penalty minutes. He has added four points — one goal and three assists — in 20 NHL appearances, along with 44 penalty minutes.
With Lamoureux now sidelined for a large portion of the season, Utah will have another opening to fill on defense.
Andrew Peeke and Nick DeSimone could see increased opportunities, while 2023 first-round pick Dmitri Simashev will have another chance to establish himself. Prospects Tomas Lavoie, Artem Duda and Gregor Biber are also looking to make the jump from Tucson to Salt Lake City.
The Mammoth open their 2026-27 season Oct. 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 20: Gabriel Landeskog #92 and Taylor Makar #16 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate their 4-1 win against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on September 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images)
To celebrate the start of the 2026-27 season, we are recording our final thoughts and predictions as we are set for the first Colorado Avalanche puck drop tomorrow night. Will any of our predictions come true?
Let’s start easy: Who will score Colorado’s first goal of the season?
Jackie: I feel like this is going to be a big year for Cale Makar, so he’s going to be the one to start the team off.
Matthew: I think Brock Nelson scores the first Avs goal this season.
Brennan: It would be perfect to see T.J. Hughes score the first goal, with as much work he has put in over the summer.
Jess: I’ll throw Nazem Kadri out there; seeing him score the first goal after being traded back to Colorado last season would be so much fun.
Adrian: My original answer was Logan O’Connor, but he won’t be playing in game one. Since that was my unconventional pick, I’ll pivot to the most conventional pick. It will be Nathan MacKinnon, but I’ll make it bold by saying it comes on the first power play of the season.
Which trophies (if any) will the Avalanche win in the 2026-27 season?
Matthew: Nathan MacKinnon will win another Rocket Richard Trophy, much to the chagrin of Montréal Canadiens fans (again).
Jess: I think Makar has a good shot at another Norris this year, and I agree with MacKinnon winning the Rocket Richard as well.
Jackie: Continuing the theme of a big year for Cale Makar would mean he’s in line to win his third Norris trophy.
Brennan: I agree with Jackie have to say that Makar will get the Norris.
Adrian: I predict that Brock Nelson will, in fact, win the Selke this year and that the goalie tandem will repeat as Jennings winners as well. All of that, minus major scoring and MVP awards, will mean Jared Bednar finally earns a Jack Adams this time.
Which youth movement candidate will score the most points in burgundy and blue?
Matthew: As much as I want to believe it’ll be T.J. Hughes, I’m going for Fedor Svechkov.
Brennan: If Zachary L’Heureux can stay in the lineup and stay healthy, I think he is shaping up for a career year.
Jess: I’ve been impressed by T.J. Hughes through camp and preseason; I think there’s a good chance he’ll score quite a bit this season.
Adrian: I’m gonna say T.J. Hughes for most points from the youth movement, especially considering he’s seemingly going to get power-play opportunities. L’Heureux for most penalty minutes.
Jackie: I’m going real bold and believe it will be Taylor Makar.
Surprise team to make and/or miss the playoffs?
Matthew: Choosing one team from each conference on this question – Chicago and Columbus make the playoffs, while Anaheim and Florida miss the playoffs.
Brennan: Ottawa will make the playoffs, and just in the Wild Card, but in the top three of the Atlantic with Brady gone. Nashville is in a position to make a jump into the playoffs with six former Avalanche players on the roster as well.
Jess: I think Utah will finally get into the playoffs this year, by way of either a Wild Card spot or the third spot in the Central Division. I think there’s a chance the Kings miss the playoffs, but I also don’t see them bottoming out and being as bad as some other bottom teams in the Western Conference. Out in the Eastern Conference, I think the Islanders make it this year, and the Senators end up missing.
Adrian: I think the Blackhawks will steal a wildcard spot, but mostly because of how bad the Pacific will look, in my opinion. I think the Central will earn both wild-card spots by year’s end.
Jackie: The New York Rangers will make the playoffs and the Buffalo Sabres will miss.
Guess a big-name player who will get traded in-season?
Matthew: Connor Hellebuyck gets his wish and finally gets traded out of Winnipeg…and lands in Utah.
Brennan: Hellebuyck, but he will go to an Eastern Conference team based in the U.S.
Adrian: Quinn Hughes is headed to New Jersey, right?
Jess: Not to jump in and give the exact same answer, I think Hellebuyck gets traded this season and lands in Buffalo; that’s the location that’s been widely talked about when discussing him getting traded since the NHL draft.
Jackie: Now that things are moving in Columbus, I’ll say the Blue Jackets revisit the Zach Werenski situation that was supposedly smoothed out over the summer and trade him by the deadline.
Who will win the Stanley Cup?
Matthew: After sixty years, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally end the drought, and the jeers of “1967” will be replaced with cheers of “2027”!
Brennan: Do I dare say the Canes repeat (and of course I would love to see the Avs take it).
Jess: I’ll be an unashamed homer and take Colorado; for a more fun, underdog pick, seeing Buffalo go all the way would be really fun
Adrian: The Colorado Avalanche will win the Stanley Cup on the back of a dominant commitment to defense and netminding. Defense wins championships.
Jackie: For some reason, I’m feeling the Washington Capitals.
What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments!
The Ottawa Senators have their new captain, and in a lot of ways, they couldn't have made a more fitting choice.
The Senators announced Thomas Chabot as their new captain at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, handing the "C" to the longest-serving player on the roster and someone who has been around for the organization's long climb back to relevance.
Chabot takes over the captaincy left vacant when Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in June after requesting a move. Tkachuk had served as the Sens' captain for the previous five seasons.
There were certainly other strong candidates.
Jake Sanderson has already emerged as Ottawa's No. 1 defenceman and figures to be one of the faces of the franchise for years. Tim Stützle is entering his seventh season in Ottawa and is one of the club's most important players. And Claude Giroux brings more leadership experience than just about anyone in the NHL.
All three of those men will wear the A as alternate captains this season, but Chabot's connection to this organization runs deeper than anyone else's.
The 29-year-old has played his entire NHL career with the Senators. He has appeared in 569 regular-season games, scoring 78 goals and adding 257 assists for 335 points. Last season, Chabot had seven goals and 31 points in 57 games.
He may no longer be Ottawa's No. 1 defenceman, pounding out 30 minutes of ice time every night, but Chabot is still a very important No. 2 and a major part of the Sens' top four.
More importantly, nobody on this roster has lived through more of the Senators' ups and downs than Chabot.
He was here before the rebuild began. He was here through the messiest parts of it, when playoff hockey seemed a long way off and the Sens were regularly near the bottom of the NHL standings.
And when there wasn't much tangible evidence that better days were coming, Chabot bought in anyway.
In September 2019, at age 22, he signed an eight-year, $64-million contract to remain in Ottawa. At the time, the Senators were coming off a 64-point season and had just finished 31st overall.
Chabot didn't wait for the rebuild to succeed before committing to it. Chabot set a template for other young players in the core.
He then stayed through all of it: the losses, the coaching changes, the ownership change and all the seasons when spring hockey was something other teams played.
Now he's still here as the Senators prepare for a third consecutive playoff push.
Chabot's ability to communicate well in both English and French gives the Senators a captain who can comfortably represent the organization on both sides of the Ottawa River. That's significant for a franchise that has long talked about strengthening its connection with hockey fans in Gatineau and western Quebec.
Chabot will succeed past captains Laurie Boschman (1992-93), Gord Dineen, Mark Lamb and Brad Shaw (1993-94 rotation), Randy Cunneyworth (1994 to 1998), Alexei Yashin (1998-99), Daniel Alfredsson (1999 to 2013), Jason Spezza (2013-14), Erik Karlsson (2014 to 2018) and Brady Tkachuk (2021 to 2026).
If there's one question attached to Tuesday's announcement, it's what happens beyond the next two seasons.
Chabot is entering the seventh season of the eight-year contract he signed in 2019. His $8-million-a-year deal runs through the 2027-28 season, after which he can become an unrestricted free agent at age 31.
The Senators have had more than their share of captains leave the organization over the years, and they've just watched it happen again with Tkachuk.
The last thing they would want is to name Chabot captain in 2026 and find themselves facing another major captaincy decision two years from now because he's headed elsewhere. That suddenly becomes a little more interesting when you're putting the "C" on his sweater.
Chabot was asked about that on Tuesday and said that Ottawa feels like home, speaking with pride about settling in as a member of this community.
“We’ve always said it. Ottawa feels like home,” Chabot said. “We bought our first house here. We started our family here. Becoming captain here is a huge honour.”
While there's no guarantee of anything this far away from Chabot's next contract, you'd have to think the Senators wouldn't have made this decision without feeling comfortable about Chabot's desire to remain in Ottawa beyond his current deal.
And Chabot's own words earlier this month certainly sound like those of a player who remains invested in what has been built here.
"You want guys to be here. You want guys to want to be part of this team and part of this city," Chabot said after Tkachuk's departure. "We feel like we're on the verge of starting to make the playoffs and building something."
Chabot knows better than anyone how long it took to get here. Now he's been rewarded for his loyalty, becoming the 11th captain of the Ottawa Senators.
Before the 5 p.m. NHL roster deadline, the Florida Panthers assigned a slew of players to the Charlotte Checkers, including several who cleared waivers.
Among those joining the Checkers in the AHL after clearing waivers are Nathan Bastian, John Beecher, Sam Lafferty, Alexander Petrovic, Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, Kai Schwindt, and Donovan Sebrango.
Among those who did not require waivers were Marek Alscher, Cooper Black, Jack Devine, Kirill Gerasimyuk, Mikuláš Hovorka, Ludvig Jansson, Tyler Muszelik, Emil Pieniniemi, Samu Salminen, Matvei Shuravin, and Hunter St. Martin.
Finally, the Panthers released several players on PTO: William Bitten, Karsen Dorwart, Riese Gaber, Robert Mastrosimone, Liam McLinskey, and Nathan Smith.
As a result, the Panthers enter the season with 21 players on their roster: 12 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goalies. Brad Marchand starts the season on injured reserve, while Jonah Gadjovich is placed on the injured/non-roster list.
The Charlotte Checkers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season after losing to the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate. This followed the Checkers' loss in the Calder Cup Final during the 2024-25 season to the Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate.
With a mix of youngsters and veterans, the Checkers should once again be a playoff team capable of a long run. Last year, the Checkers' lineup was depleted due to the injuries the NHL club faced. The hope is that the Panthers' NHL lineup remains intact and they aren't as desperate to recall so many key figures from the Checkers.
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For St. Louis Blues fans, the deal they're watching is whether GM Alexander Steen pulls the trigger on a trade for Alexander Nikishin. But now, according to a recent report from Friedman, the Blues' pursuit of Nikishin could have direct implications on the Carolina Hurricanes' ability to acquire Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets.
Friedman believes that a deal between the Hurricanes and Jets would have happened already if Nikishin were willing to sign in Winnipeg. He stated that he is still under the impression that Nikishin is looking for a five-year deal carrying a $9 million AAV.
Nikishin reportedly isn't interested in signing in Winnipeg, which further narrows the trade destinations.
"St. Louis has been a consistent pursuer, and there are some who are surprised it hasn’t happened," said Friedman. "Nashville tried, but wasn’t close enough for what Carolina wants. The Hurricanes were disappointed the Rangers trade didn’t work out and made it clear they would move Nikishin at their own pace. They are motivated now, so we’ll see. Nikishin is a talented player, but has zero leverage under the CBA."
With the New York Rangers out of the mix, the Nashville Predators unwilling to part with the necessary pieces, and the Jets unable to convince Nikishin to sign in Winnipeg, the Blues are the only true contender to land the 24-year-old Russian defenseman.
Friedman mentioned that Nikishin has changed agents and has been granted permission to speak with other teams about a contract. He also mentioned that the Hurricanes could be looking to make a three-team trade.
Nikishin is a left-handed defenseman who took home the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in his rookie season. He posted 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games, finishing seventh in Calder Trophy voting.
While he primarily played on the left side for the Hurricanes, Nikishin can play on the right side of defense, giving him the ability to play with Philip Broberg on the top pair or on the left side of the second pair.
The 2020 third-round pick boasts a 6-foot-3 frame, strong two-way ability, and the offensive skills to run a power-play unit. Nikishin fits the Blues stylistically and in terms of age.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are probably the heaviest team in terms of the headlines and storylines going into opening night. They just acquired Kirill Marchenko in a blockbuster deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have nearly an entire new roster compared to last year, and many more.
But what can't be lost is that Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena marks Gavin McKenna's NHL debut. It's clear that the 18-year-old oozes confidence, but he has continued to put that attribute on display on the morning of the biggest game of his hockey career so far.
The Maple Leafs held an optional morning skate on Tuesday, featuring 12 players, many of whom were veterans. However, in preparation for his NHL debut, McKenna did not take the ice for the team's optional skate, which is something pretty routine for a young player, let alone a rookie gearing up for his first game in the league.
"He's got some swag," defenseman Chris Tanev said of McKenna after the session. "You know, he's very confident, very good player. So, I mean, I'm super excited for him. I mean, he's got - I think his parents are coming in tonight, and I'm sure he's got some other people. So, first NHL game, it's something that you should enjoy, and I'm sure he will tonight."
Left winger Easton Cowan, who made his NHL debut last year, laughed about McKenna's decision when asked about it.
"I can't comment on that," the 21-year-old said. "Maybe ask the older guys."
Even Leafs bench boss Jim Hiller got a kick out of McKenna not taking the ice for the morning skate. He admitted that he loved the decision he made, saying it truly speaks to how confident he is in himself.
"Yeah, you know what - I actually thought it was great," Hiller said. "I really did, because that's an optional skate. It's optional if you think you need it to get ready to play tonight. And when I heard he didn't go out, it didn't surprise me. He just has that way. He knows who he is. He knows what he has to do. And I think how he's adapted in a short amount of time just speaks to who he is and the confidence that he has in himself."
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