The St. Louis Blues opened the preseason with a 2-1 shootout loss against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday.

The Blues were 0-for-3 in the shootout (Dalibor Dvorsky, Justin Carbonneau, Dylan Holloway), and Sam Steel’s only goal in the first round proved to be the difference. Carbonneau’s power-play goal was the only goal for the Blues.

Here are some observations from the game:

* Binnington looked strong – Not that it’s any surprise, but Jordan Binnington looked like he was in mid-season form.

His save on Steel pushing from his right to left on a backdoor play in the first period was the best save of his 19 after facing 20 shots through two periods.

Jordan Binnington in mid-season form already but what else did you expect? pic.twitter.com/NI73DrRg8a

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 20, 2025

He only allowed a Mavrik Bourque goal at 14:33 of the second period off a one-time slap shot from the left point and rebound in front.

His puck-handling was smooth, a strength of Blues goalies transitioning pucks to the defensemen for smoother zone exits. A good sign.

Colten Ellis, who took over for Binnington in the third, made a tremendous save on Adam Hryckowian with just over three minutes remaining to keep the game 1-1.

Colten Ellis makes the SAVE OF THE GAME!!! #stlbluespic.twitter.com/z16IZhKfIj

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 21, 2025

Blues goaltending depth is anything but little.

* Carbonneau didn’t look out of place – Besides the power-play goal the 2025 first-round puck scored, the 18-year-old had some particularly good shifts in the first period with linemates Dylan Holloway and Dalibor Dvorsky, making a couple subtle plays off the walls enabling Holloway to get some strong looks at the goal.

It’ll be interesting to ask, but his goal looked like a combination look-off from the left circle after taking a point pass from Logan Mailloux 50 seconds into the second period to feeding Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who was positioned at the left side of the post.

Justin Carbonneau was our first-round pick for a reason. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/zMX2VzqUle

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 21, 2025

This kid has such a good shot that should only get better and more assertive as he matures and gets the reps at this level, but I was impressed with some of the puck-making decisions he made.

* Walker/Toropchenko still got it – Nathan Walker, who just signed a two-year extension on Thursday, and Alexey Toropchenko will – and should be – a staple on the Blues’ fourth line this season and they exhibited some of those traits in this game with good, strong sticks, breaking plays up, killing plays and at the end of the first period, drawing a penalty with an extended zone time shift.

Walker showed why again he is a fan favorite, getting into a scrap just 4:21 into the game with Hryckowian.

That line, along with 2022 third-round pick Kaskimaki, handled itself well in the small areas of the ice.

Kaskimaki did have one hiccup on an ill-advised play in overtime that was picked off in the middle of the ice on an outlet that led to Carbonneau's penalty. He will be seeing that one in video.

* Mailloux looked sharp – What I like about Mailloux is his no-hesitation putting pucks to the net from the point, and being precise. He did a solid job in that area on Saturday.

But what stood out for the 22-year-old was such a strong, defensive play he made in overtime when the Blues were killing a penalty, with Carbonneau in the box for tripping, killing a play that ended with the Stars only getting one shot during a 4-on-3, and that defensive stick was a large reason why the Blues were able to kill it off.

It shows the confidence the coaching staff has in putting the defenseman in those situations to see what he can do, and it was truly a moment that will be shown to him through video on what to do correctly, and do well.

Mailloux, who was second behind Philip Broberg (26:15) in time on ice at 25:29, didn’t have any shots on goal, but his willingness to get pucks there, whether they get knocked down or not creating rebounds, should be a benefit for the forwards when he’s on the ice to get to the front of the net.

* Broberg, Holloway were strong – Holloway made his return to the lineup for the first time since tearing the abductor muscle off his hip on April 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins playing with Carbonneau and Dvorsky, finishing with a forward-high 22:09 of ice time and one shot on goal.

Broberg looked like he's taken his game to the next level. He looked smooth, assertive and was a great complement on a pair with Mailloux, leading the Blues with a team-high four shots on goal, including a couple of poised plays to the backhand in the middle of the ice. A strong showing.

* Some of the young guys looked the part – There were plenty of young players in this game, and there will be teaching moments off of it for the coaching staff, and the second period was a strong example of the Blues playing too much in their end, getting hemmed in and not making smarter decisions with the puck.

The Stars outshot the Blues 12-4 in the second and 13-4 in the third (34-15 for the game) in large part to the Blues not being able to manage pucks well enough at times and another reason was not being good enough on face-offs. The Blues won just 15 of 46 on the dot and were chasing the puck a lot as a result.

The Chicago Blackhawks have some interesting prospects to watch this season. One of them is goaltender Drew Commesso, as the 23-year-old will be looking to take another step forward in his development.

Commesso just completed his second season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford Ice Hogs, and it was a solid year for the Norwell, Massachusetts native. In 39 games for the AHL squad on the year, he posted an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.54 goals-against average. He then followed that up with a 4-3 record, a 2.35 goals-against average, and a .926 save percentage in seven playoff games for Rockford this spring.

With numbers like these, there is no question that Commesso demonstrated good promise this past campaign. Now, he will be looking to build off that during the 2025-26 season.

Right now, the Blackhawks currently have Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom as their NHL goaltenders. While this is the case, it would still be significant if Commesso can take that next step and give the Blackhawks another solid option to consider for their NHL roster. This is especially so if the Blackhawks end up dealing with more injury trouble between the pipes at all this campaign.

Of all the players on the ice for the first on-ice session of the Senators' training camp, few players have more to prove than Fabian Zetterlund.

The Swedish winger arrived at the 2025 NHL trade deadline for Zack Ostapchuk and a 2025 second-round pick, carrying expectations to provide quality depth and secondary scoring for one of the lowest-scoring five-on-five teams in the league.

Unfortunately, that production failed to materialize.

Zetterlund's two goals and five points in 20 games are well-documented. His numbers were a constant source of messageboard and talk radio fodder over the offseason.

General manager Steve Staios and the organization were certainly unfazed by Zetterlund's surface stats, rewarding the 26-year-old with a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $4.25 million.

If Zetterlund was concerned about the pressures placed on him, he refused to let it show. When he arrived for a one-on-one interview following his group's gruelling on-ice skating session on the second day of training camp, Zetterlund was all smiles.

It is the most engaging and comfortable that I have seen him be since arriving last March.

"The body is fresh. (My mind) is fresh," said Zetterlund enthusiastically. "I want to start the season well, and that's been one of my main focuses the whole summer. Now I'm here, and I feel ready."

During his exit interviews with the coach and general manager, Zetterlund listened to their feedback and constructive criticism before acknowledging that their respective sentiments aligned with his own.

"I know what I want to do better, and they pointed out the same things," Zetterlund remarked. "So, that's what I've been working on. I feel fresh, ready, and quick out there. Strong and hungry.

"Overall, (I need to) be a prick out there," the winger said while outlining what the organization asked him to work on. "I need to be hard to play against every day, and be strong on the puck. I need to hold on to it, use my shot, and hit the net more."

Zetterlund's preparations for the 2025-26 campaign began back home in Sweden, where he trained and spent most of his free time enjoying the company of friends and family.

The winger returned to Ottawa on September 1st to participate in Brady Tkachuk's organized 'Captain's Skates', providing himself with an extra three weeks to skate and build chemistry and camaraderie with his teammates ahead of the opening of camp.

The hope is that the experience will benefit Zetterlund this season, but what should really help him is his familiarity with the coaching staff and the team's systems and structure.

"I know exactly what to do out there," Zetterlund stated. " Structurally, our system is easy, and I've been playing for (26 games, including the postseason) now.

"I know exactly where to go and how to handle things out there. Now it's just up to me to do it."

What may also help Zetterlund is that he experienced a similar stretch of poor production after being dealt from New Jersey to San Jose at the 2023 trade deadline. Zetterlund was a younger player trying to establish himself as an NHL regular at the time. Nonetheless, in the 22 games after the deadline, he was held goalless while adding only three assists.

The winger followed that stretch up by having the most productive campaign of his NHL career in 2023-24. Zetterlund played in each of San Jose's 82 games and led the team with 24 goals and 204 shots. His 44 points trailed only Mikael Granlund (60) and William Eklund (45).

When asked whether he could draw any parallels between his two post-trade deadline stretches, or whether the experience and success of his first full season in San Jose could serve him well now, Zetterlund expressed a preference to focus on the future.

"That's the past," the winger affirmed. "I forgot about that, but I'm just looking forward to a new season and being with the Ottawa Senators from the start. It's gonna be fun."

When Zetterlund joined the Senators, it was obviously exciting to join a team that was on the verge of clinching its first postseason berth in eight years. Under the surface, however, the Swede arrived at a challenging time.

At the time of the trade, the collection of forwards playing in the Senators' top nine was playing really well, relegating Zetterlund to a fourth line role that afforded him time to acclimatize to his new surroundings.

He would eventually get opportunities on the power play and to play with the team's more skilled players, but the goals and points did not come.

The encouraging part is that Zetterlund's underlying numbers were incredibly strong.

Of the forwards on the team who logged more than 200 five-on-five minutes, only Brady Tkachuk, a noted volume-producing machine, generated a higher rate of shots (iCF/60), shots on goal (shots/60), and individual expected goals (ixG/60) than Zetterlund per NaturalStatTrick. The problem was that his five-on-five shooting percentage (3.13%) was the fifth-lowest on the team, ahead of defencemen like Nik Matinpalo, Nick Jensen, Artem Zub and Travis Hamonic.

When I told Zetterlund about how strong some of his analytics were and whether he felt like he was creating a high volume of chances, he deflected and expressed a desire for the team's success.

"I don't know what to say," he admitted. "I try to work hard every shift out there. It doesn't matter if the puck goes in or not.

"I still want to help the team win. That's the most important thing. We had a good stretch last year, and we want more (success) this year for sure. I want to produce. I want to be a goal scorer, of course. But when the puck doesn't go in, you're going to do other stuff out there to help the team, and that's what I'm trying to bring every day. It's just a bonus if the puck goes in."

As a career 9.6 percent shooter, it is reasonable to believe that Zetterlund's shooting percentage will normalize. When it does, it will provide some of the incremental gains this organization is looking for to help this team rise in the Atlantic Division.

By Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Group C kicked off Saturday's training camp session, and there wasn't as much systems work compared to Friday's session. Instead, we got to see a fair amount of line rushes and a lot of odd-man rush opportunities. 

Filip Hallander skated on a line with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust during drills and looked just as comfortable as he did on Friday. Speaking of Rakell, he had a great practice and was showcasing his one-timer throughout the 90-minute session. He was one of the only players to beat goaltender Sergei Murashov during those drills. 

Rakell's hoping to have another big season after finishing with 35 goals and 70 points last year, since the 2026 Olympics are on the horizon. He wants to make Team Sweden after playing for his country during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“It’s huge for me," Rakell said after practice. "For the Penguins, for me to have a better season than last year, it was important for me to have a good summer and just try to improve all the things I wanted to improve from last year. Obviously, getting a chance to play in the Olympics… never really had a chance before, so that would be cool for me and a great motivator for this year.”

Outside of Rakell, Murashov stood out again, which shouldn't surprise anyone. He's been a total freak in the crease and the best goaltender at camp so far. Sometimes it feels like he's not even trying when making some saves because of how natural everything looks to him. 

The Penguins don't want to rush his development, which is why it's still highly likely that he starts the season in Wilkes-Barre. Getting him the bulk of the starts in WBS this year should be the goal before he's potentially NHL-ready next year. 

Group A

The Sidney Crosby group was next up on Saturday, and outside of Crosby being his usual self, Owen Pickering had himself a really good day. He looks to be faster and has more command of his skating compared to last season. Pickering was paired with Harrison Brunicke again for a lot of drills, especially with Crosby and Ville Koivunen, and never looked out of place. 

Speaking of Brunicke, he talked about his pairing with Pickering after practice and likes how the pair is developing. 

"I think good," Brunicke said. "We are taking it each day, just learning and growing together, so it's been a lot of fun. We're creating some chemistry here and looking to keep progressing."

This is a pair that fans could see down the line in the NHL once both players are NHL-ready. 

Forward Aidan McDonough has flown a little under the radar since camp started on Thursday. He has showcased some strong puck skills and has an underrated release when he has time and space to use it. He should give the WBS Penguins solid depth for the 2025-26 season after he was signed to an AHL deal. He had 10 goals and 16 points in 16 games for the Charlotte Checkers last season.

Finally, Erik Karlsson was having the time of his life on Saturday. He was into the practice like it was a regular-season game and was shouting so loud that people in the other rink could probably hear him. Karlsson was paired a lot with Parker Wotherspoon for the second straight day, which could be a sign that they will be on the top pair to start the season.

Group B

The Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang group rounded out Saturday's training camp practice, and once again, goaltender Arturs Silovs was the biggest standout. He was locked in during the 90-minute practice and made some outstanding saves during a swath of different drills. His positioning continues to really shine in this camp. 

Outside of Murashov, Silovs has been the best goaltender at camp thus far and is in the driver's seat to be Tristan Jarry's backup this year. Jarry and Blomqvist have both been totally fine at camp, but the former two have been locked in since Thursday. 

'There's No Place I'd Rather Be': Tomasino Eager To Prove Himself In Pittsburgh This SeasonAfter a third consecutive season of missing the playoffs, the long offseason was a grueling one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Players were eager to get back in action, and some knew they were going to have to come into training camp this season with a purpose.  

Towards the end of the session, Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Mantha took turns firing slap shots that turned into goals when the group was doing a 3v3 drill with one net set up along the left side of the boards and another on the right side. It was very fast-paced and only involved a few skaters at a time, but the shots drew some oohs and ahhs from the crowd. 

The Penguins will have an off day on Sunday before playing their first game of the preseason on Monday against the Montreal Canadiens. There will be a morning skate for the players who will play in that game before they fly to Montreal. 

The next training camp practice will start at 8:45 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

---

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Ryan O'Reilly, with one tooth missing, was grinning ear to ear when talking about what it's been like to have center Brady Martin at Nashville Predators training camp. 

The 18-year-old was drafted by the Predators fifth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, and after a busy summer, is locked in on earning a spot on the Predators roster. 

O'Reilly, entering his 18th NHL season, has been enticed by Martin's skill, energy and overall positive attitude. 

"It's fun getting to know him [Martin]," O'Reilly said. "It takes me back to when I was young and I was excited to be at NHL training camp. He's got a lot of energy and always has a smile on his face. It's fun to see." 

O'Reilly remembers that similar excitement, but said there's a wide skill gap between Martin and himself when he was 18, in that Martin is better. 

"He's a lot better than I was at that age," O'Reilly chuckled. "He skates a lot better and I kind of ran on the ice a bit." 

That's been an area of Martin's game that he's been improving on over the summer. He said that he worked a lot off the ice, mainly with a track coach, to transition that explosiveness to the ice. 

It was the skill that Martin believed he "sharpened" the most this offseason. 

"We just did a lot of explosive exercises off the ice and worked a little bit of skating too," Martin said. 

Martin's ability to battle for the puck stuck out to O'Reilly as well. His strength on the stick is what played into his draft stock. In juniors, he was a bigger player who was hard to take the puck off of. 

"He's [Martin] very strong on the stick just in those little battles and pushing on him," O'Reilly said. "When I was younger, that was something that could've given me a leg [up] in being strong on pucks...you can tell he's got that strength. That farm boy strength." 

Martin's abilities on the puck were put to the test in Friday's scrimmage as he went up against 6-foot-6-inch Michael McCarron. 

"He's tough. He's a big boy," Martin said on facing McCarron. "It's tough to beat him, but it's just about taking little tips and seeing what he does and trying to beat him. It's a good challenge." 

While Martin and McCarron faced off earlier this week, they both play a critical role in bringing up the Predators' center depth. Both likely could play significant roles down the middle in bringing up the center depth in the bottom six. 

The effort is led by O'Reilly, who will likely center the first line at the start of the regular season. 

However, in the first week of training camp, Martin is looking to showcase his skills and continue proving that he's deserving of a spot on this season's roster. 

"I'm just going out there and working my tail off in every opportunity I get," Martin said. "I'm just trying to work hard and show the coaches what I have to bring." 

At 24 years old, Nico Daws may not have experienced it all, but he has been around long enough to have a clear understanding of the business side of hockey. 

After Saturday afternoon's practice, the young goaltender spoke to The Hockey News, reflecting on this being his fifth training camp with the New Jersey Devils organization. Over the years, he played 98 American Hockey League (AHL) games and 52 NHL games. 

In his second professional season, Daws was named to the 2022-23 AHL All-Star Classic. In 2024, he shined under the lights of MetLife Stadium, making 45 saves in the Devils' 6–3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL Stadium Series. 

Looking back on his first few years, he spoke about maturity. 

"I feel like my first few years, I kind of had that feeling of Do I really belong?" he explained. "You are so young, and guys are older, but now I am coming into myself more and having a lot more confidence in my game and as a person, too. It's been nice." 

Daws has experienced the highs and lows that any developing player experiences throughout their career, but with age comes comfortability.

"Obviously, it takes a while to get your game comfortable at this level, and being able to do it on a consistent basis," he said. "There are so many hard lessons you have to learn. I feel like I have learned a lot of them, but obviously, there is still a lot of room to grow and areas to improve in. 

"I feel really good about where I am at right now." 

Daws is entering camp understanding that the Devils' goaltending tandem will be veterans Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen. The 6-foot-4 netminder wasn't surprised to see Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald sign Allen in free agency, saying the 35-year-old is a great goalie and a great person. 

This leads to an unknown for Daws and his future in New Jersey. He will require waivers to be assigned to the Utica Comets (AHL). If the Devils need Daws' services at any point during this season, there is a risk that another NHL team could claim him and take on his contract. 

"Whatever happens, happens," Daws said when asked if he thinks about getting claimed off waivers. "My job stays the same. That is all I am focused on: making sure I am ready to go when the season starts."

His response aligns with his easy-going and adaptable personality, which reporters have come to appreciate.   

While there were some struggles last season in Utica, Daws showed well in the four games he started for the Devils last season, earning a 3-1-0 record with a .939 save percentage and a 1.60 goals-against average. For the 2025-26 season, he is on a one-way deal at $850,000 at the NHL level.  

"At the end of the day, you gotta play as good as you can," he said. "You don't always have control of where you end up or what happens. That is just the realistic side of pro hockey. You have to be able to put your head down and work through the circumstances, no matter what."

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced its starting goaltender for Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg.

Cal Petersen will get the start between the pipes for Minnesota in Winnipeg for the Wild's first preseason game.

Petersen, 30, was signed on a one-year deal worth $775,000. He went 13-15-3 with a 3.14 goals-against average (GAA) and .885 save percentage (SV%) in 31 games last season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL.

The native of Iowa has played in 106 NHL games in his career across six seasons. He is 46-44-10 with a 2.96 GAA, .903 SV% and has four shutouts.

He was signed as some extra insurance if Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt get injured. Wallstedt will back him up on Sunday in Winnipeg.

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Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

'You Guys Know I Like Minny' Kirill Kaprizov Gives His Stance On Contract SituationST. PAUL, Minn - On Thursday Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov was given the chance to talk about the recent reports that came out about him rejecting an 8-year, $128 million contract extension.

- Minnesota Wild training Camp Updates: Nico Sturm Back Skating, Zeev Buium Out.

- What Is New On The Kirill Kaprizov Contract Situation.

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- Is It Time To Panic: Kirill Kaprizov Contract Extension Situation.

- Marc-Andre Fleury Signs Professional Tryout With The Pittsburgh Penguins.

After months of waiting for the right offer in the UFA market this off-season, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk signed a PTO with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

It was puzzling to see Grzelcyk go unsigned after he put up a career-high 39 assists and 40 points last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not to mention that he is 31 years old with multiple seasons left in the tank to be a serviceable D-man for any team that wants him.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that, despite coming off a one-year, $2.75-million contract and a great season, Grzelcyk received an offer from a Western Conference team to sign a one-year contract worth $1 million. Ultimately, the blueliner rejected the offer.

Even though he signed a PTO with Chicago, LeBrun added that four destinations could be interested in Grzelcyk’s services, depending on how training camp and pre-season go for each team, and for Grzelcyk.

Here’s a ranking of which team would make the best fit for Grzelcyk.

1. Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche currently have a hole on the left side of their defense. Although that hole won’t last for long because defenseman Samuel Girard is expected to return from his lower-body injury for opening night of the regular season.

Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a fit for Grzelcyk on Colorado’s back end. There’s an opportunity for him in the bottom four of that D-corps. With Girard, Josh Manson and Brent Burns likely safe in their spots, that leaves one more spot free.

Grzelcyk would have to compete with D-man Sam Malinski for that final spot. Malinski is a right-handed defenseman, giving the edge to Grzelcyk in terms of pairing positions. Furthermore, Grzelcyk has plenty more NHL experience and effectiveness compared to Malinski, who has played just 99 NHL games at the age of 27.

However, there would be no need to kick Malinski to the curb, as he’d still be an asset to Colorado’s defense. While Burns has been a great D-man for most of his career, he is now 40 years old and naturally on the decline. Malinski could find consistent ice time filling in for the aging Burns. 

2. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks seem like a team that could likely take Grzelcyk on a one-year deal following camp and pre-season. Chicago has one of the younger teams in the NHL, and bringing on someone with Grzelcyk’s experience certainly couldn’t hurt the team’s chances at being more competitive this season. However, there is a tradeoff that goes with being more competitive with him on the roster.

Grzelcyk will be taking a spot on the team that could go to a younger defenseman. That could hinder the development plans of the Blackhawks’ young D-core, including Alex Vlasic, Ethan Del Mastro, Wyatt Kaiser, Kevin Korchinski and Nolan Allan, who all play on the left side.

3. Ottawa Senators

It seems unlikely that the Ottawa Senators would be the ones to sign Grzelcyk, but it's not impossible. One half of Ottawa’s defense seems to be set in stone. That would include Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub. Outside of them, Nick Jensen, Jordan Spence, Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo are a bit lower on the depth chart, but still solid NHL defensemen.

With this roster, it’s tough to find a regular spot for Grzelcyk, but there is an opportunity there. For instance, Jensen, 34, is coming off a serious hip surgery in the off-season. That leaves some question marks about the near future of his health and spot on the team.

4. New York Islanders

At this point, the New York Islanders are supposed to be a team that is looking to develop young players, especially after drafting defensemen Matthew Schaefer and Kashawn Aitcheson, as well as right winger Victor Eklund, in the first round of the 2025 draft. However, there isn’t an issue with bringing on a veteran or two to guide the youngsters.

The only issue with that ideology is that the Isles are overflowing with veteran defensemen. Even with the subtraction of Noah Dobson, New York still has Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield and Tony DeAngelo. Not to mention Ethan Bear and Adam Boqvist, who are still in the defensive mix, even if they’re given AHL roles this season.

The truth is, on the Islanders, there isn’t much room for Grzelcyk to be an effective, everyday NHL player.

5. Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks are in a great place with the hire of Joel Quenneville and the wave of excellent players between the ages of 20 and 25. On left defense, Olen Zellweger, Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov carry the load, and they’re all showing great promise to be top-pairing D-men one day.

The Ducks have a loaded abundance of young defensemen that they likely won’t want to be tinkered with, at least when the direction they’re heading is considered. It’s not to say that Grzelcyk wouldn’t have an impact on the team, but Anaheim seems to be set. Grzelcyk would be more fitting as a trade deadline acquisition rather than a committed acquisition at this point in the year.

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Oftentimes, when an NHL coach is fired or removed from their role in any fashion, it’s natural to immediately look for candidates who are next in line to take that job. The obvious picks are outside hires who have NHL experience and who are one or two years removed from an NHL coaching position.

However, there is another path for a team’s brass to go down when it comes to narrowing down a coaching search, and that path leads them to the AHL. All the great coaches once coached in the American League at some point.

 In fact, 21 of the 32 coaches in the NHL have coached in the AHL at some point in their careers. That includes Stanley Cup winners Paul Maurice, Jon Cooper, Joel Quenneville and more.

Here’s a list of AHL coaches who could earn a promotion to the NHL in the near future, in no particular order.

Manny Malhotra, Abbotsford Canucks

Manny Malhotra is coming off a Calder Cup championship in his first year as a professional head coach. He led the Abbotsford Canucks to their first championship since the franchise moved to Abbotsford in 2021.

It’s not uncommon for AHL coaches who win championships to get some time as an NHL bench boss. Sheldon Keefe is an example of that when he was with the Toronto Marlies and was promoted to the Toronto Maple Leafs just a couple of seasons later.

It may seem unlikely for Malhotra to get promoted to the Vancouver Canucks, considering Adam Foote was just hired. However, it doesn’t mean other teams around the league aren’t taking note of his accomplishments in the minors.

Geordie Kinnear, Charlotte Checkers

Geordie Kinnear has been a head coach in the AHL for a long time now. He’s been the bench boss for the Springfield Thunderbirds and the Charlotte Checkers for nine seasons. The 52-year-old is coming off his best season with the Checkers, leading them to the Calder Cup final.

Aside from last season’s fourth-place finish in the regular season and final appearance, Kinnear was the man behind a few other solid campaigns with Charlotte. Since the 2021-22 season, Kinnear’s team has put up a minimum winning percentage of .590.

Trent Vogelhuber, Cleveland Monsters

Trent Vogelhuber, the youngest head coach on this list, has had an impressive start to his short coaching career. After missing the playoffs in his first year, he made the AHL post-season in back-to-back seasons to get to this point.

Due to his leadership behind the bench, the Cleveland Monsters have been a promising team for the past two years, and look to continue that reputation for 2025-26. It may be a matter of time before an NHL team recognizes the young prodigy in Cleveland.

Blue Jackets’ Jet Greaves To Challenge For Starting Gig: AHL Goaltenders To Make The ShowThe goaltender is arguably the most important position in hockey. It is believed that without a great goalie between the pipes, a team has little chance of winning silverware, let alone hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Karl Taylor, Milwaukee Admirals

Since becoming the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals in 2018-19, Karl Taylor has been as consistent as any coach in the AHL. Aside from the 2019-20 season, when the AHL playoffs were cancelled due to COVID-19, Taylor’s Admirals have qualified for the playoffs every year. It’s a shame because in that cancelled season, Milwaukee had a 41-14-8 record, dominating the league.

Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz might be keeping one eye on Taylor and his success in the minors, especially considering Andrew Brunette's tenure with the team so far. Furthermore, Taylor has taken the Admirals to the third round of the playoffs for three straight years. It’s only a matter of time before he can make a breakthrough in the post-season.

Ryan Mougenel, Providence Bruins

Ryan Mougenel could be on the cusp of a strong season with the Providence Bruins. Several great players could be suiting up for Providence this year, including Fraser Minten, Alex Steeves, Fabian Lysel, Michael DiPietro, Matej Blumel, Matthew Poitras, and more.

Mougenel should be in line to have one of his best seasons as the Bruins’ bench boss. Up to this point, he has been solid with three straight 40-plus win seasons and three consecutive playoff appearances.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.  

The NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is just about here, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re almost done with our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Buffalo player this coming season.

We’ve moved through Buffalo’s goalies, blueliners, and most of the top-four lines of forwards. And in this file, we’re examining the expectations for right forward Tyson Kozak. The 22-year-old only broke into the NHL this past season, so Sabres fans should be cautious in what they expect him to do in ‘25-26. But let’s get to our breakdown of what Kozak can be counted on to deliver this year:

Player Name: Tyson Kozak

Position: Center

Age: 22

2024-25 Key Statistics: 21 games, three goals, five points, 10:29 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$775,000

2025-26 Expectations: Kozak was a seventh-round pick (193rd overall) in 2021, so it’s a minor miracle and a major credit to him that he’s risen through the ranks and is likely to start the season on Buffalo’s NHL roster. He’s spent the majority of the past two seasons with the Sabres’ American League affiliate in Rochester, N.Y., averaging 42 games, six goals and 12 points per season. So this is not someone who is suddenly going to experience a points surge at the NHL level.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Can First-Year Sabre Live Up To Expectations For His Star NHL Dad?The NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is almost upon us, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re close to the end of our player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for every Sabres player during this coming season.

While Kozak will probably be in the press box as a healthy scratch, an injury, trade or underperforming player will open up a spot for Kozak to be a night-in, night-out player for Buffalo. And yes, there’s still a possibility he’s sent back to Rochester this year. 

Certainly, Kozak’s modest salary this season – he’s actually taking a pay cut on a three-year contract – makes him easier for Buffalo’s management to keep around at the NHL level. But imagining he’s any more than a fourth-liner is imagining that many things will have to go wrong for the players above Kozak on the Sabres’ depth chart.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Fourth-Liner Malenstyn May Be Entering Final Season In BuffaloWe’re almost at the start of the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re nearing the conclusion of our exclusive player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Sabres player this coming season.

Kozak barely got 10 minutes a night from Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff last season, so it’s difficult to envision that number suddenly surges to even 14 or 15 minutes a night is a serious stretch. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Kozak isn’t going to be a physical menace or a net-front presence for the Sabres. He’s got Father Time on his side right now, but that doesn’t mean he’lll be a needle-mover in any regard. 

The Sabres have more than their share of fourth-line talents and young prospects, so the competition Kozak is facing is going to challenge him to either step up or step out of the way. He’s likely to get opportunities to prove himself a capable NHLer, but Kozak is on the clock at the same time. He needs to assert himself as being worthy of playing in hockey’s top league, or he’ll be an AHLer for many years to come.

Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton has two options: make the NHL roster out of camp, or return to the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL.

If it were up to the 19-year-old, he wouldn't play a game in the WHL ever again.

But that's not how it works. Catton must impress the Kraken coaching staff throughout training camp and the pre-season, and then he'll have nine games to prove he deserves to stay in the NHL. So far, Catton is off to a good start. 

"I’ve liked them. And I think Catton has looked good," said coach Lane Lambert when referring to Catton's line, which features Jared McCann and captain Jordan Eberle. 

The adjustment to the NHL game is different, but Catton is staying true to his game and playing with a new level of intensity. 

"I think it's a lot different," said Catton when adjusting to the NHL game. "I'm not going to go into a battle with Larsson and outmuscle him. If anything, I have to be quicker or try to get the puck before him, little things like that."

Catton also attributes his early success in training camp to his linemates. Saying their veteran presence, combined with their skill, has made the transition easier than he expected. 

"Helps when I'm on a line with two really good players. They always make plays and stuff, and even communicate with me about where I need to be. It's been great playing with them, and they've shown me a lot in two days. It's pretty cool playing on a line with Jordan Eberle and McCann, so I'm just cherishing that. I think they are really smart hockey players, and I have an ability to make plays too, and in two days, I think we have good chemistry. It's been fun."

The first step for Catton is to impress in the upcoming pre-season games so he can earn his nine-game call-up. If he can do so in both, he could very well spend the 2025-26 season in the NHL.

Kraken's Berkly Catton Entering Camp Stronger And More ConfidentBerkly Catton is entering his second rookie camp and training with the Seattle Kraken, but this time around, his intentions are greater, hoping to earn a roster spot. 

NHL training camps are off and running, and no podcast could be happier about it than The Hockey Show!

Not only is the new season basically here, but there are also plenty of interesting storylines to follow regarding several of the league’s top players and teams.

While discussing the biggest stories happening around the NHL, The Hockey Show hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period on the show this week.

Among the topics they got into were Kirill Kaprizov’s contract situation in Minnesota, the future of Connor McDavid in Edmonton and where goaltender Carter Hart may end up now that he is allowed to sign with an NHL team.

They also discussed whether Sidney Crosby could be traded by Pittsburgh to a Stanley Cup contender at some point, and L.A. Kings legend Anze Kopitar announcing that this season will be his last in the league.

This week’s wins and fails included a durag appearance in a preseason game, a goalie scoring on himself during a prospect showcase and the Islanders players finally being able to grow out their facial hair.

You can check out the full episode and interview in the videos below:

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Prepare For Launch - Jan. 25 2016 - Vol. 69 Issue 10 - Tim Campbell

THE FIRST GLANCE AT THE 2015-16 salary cap accounting holds something of a double take near its bottom. Is that really the Winnipeg Jets racing the likes the Arizona and Nashville to the salary floor?

The answer is yes, temporarily, and mostly by design.

The Jets are on track to go into the off-season with the most available cap space of 30 teams, all of which may be needed to solve issues that grow more urgent with each passing game.

Winnipeg may not have the most prominent pending free agents come July 1 – hello, Steven Stamkos, Eric Staal, Anze Kopitar and David Backes – but its combined list of those in the final years of contracts is the stickiest of situations.

Captain Andrew Ladd and Dman Dustin Byfuglien head the list. Both are UFAs on July 1 if they can’t find an extension with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Shrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLThe NHL's recent CBA changes could lead to a longer AHL pre-season, following the NHL cutting down on exhibition games. 

And coming out of their entry-level deals are defenseman Jacob Trouba and centers Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry. Goalie Michael Hutchinson is also an RFA.

After their first playoff berth since the 2011 relocation (and their first as a franchise since 2007), the team opted to give roster spots to young players (Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrew Copp, even Alex Burmistrov) instead of bringing in older free agents, allowing Cheveldayoff to orchestrate this enviable amount of cap space. But does he have enough to satisfy everyone?

The answer appears to be no, unless he can realize some extraordinary hometown discounts. That’s not likely to happen or even be proposed.

The Jets reside in the NHL’s smallest market yet are solidly a middle-revenue team and have said repeatedly they will spend at the appropriate time. That time is upon them, but when it comes to the inevitable choices, they won’t be easy.

Fitting the puzzle together almost surely starts with Ladd and Byfuglien, two clear leaders in the room.

Ladd, who just turned 30, is coming out of a five-year, $22-million deal that was good value for the Jets. He was their leading scorer last season and has given the team nothing but 20-plus goal years plus leadership. Ladd is seeking a healthy raise and reportedly six years in likely his last big chance at a major contract score.

Byfuglien, who turns 31 in March, is also coming out of a five-year deal, his worth $26 million and paying him $6 million in this final season. That contract was also good value for the team, given the big man’s in-game impact, especially once he got past conditioning issues in earlier Winnipeg seasons. His ask is reportedly eight years and $55 million.

Exclusive: Dale Hawerchuk’s Heartfelt Reflections on Winnipeg, Shared Before His PassingThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Five-and-a-half months after the negotiation window opened, however, no extensions had been agreed upon. Only a few dribs of information had emerged as Cheveldayoff has held fast to his policy of refraining from comment, whether on proposal, progress or pothole.

Neither veteran appears to be unaffordable, but the matter of longer terms does seem to be of issue, including some serious skepticism that a big commitment to Byfuglien through age 39 would be wise.

If agreements aren’t possible by the Feb. 29 trade deadline, expect Cheveldayoff to simply deal, since the Jets are in no position – given their consensus unattractiveness to free agents – to let either walk.

The Jets' approach seemed to be that a lot of effort can still go into the two months prior to the trade deadline.

Another element to the picture is some history.

As former GM of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, Cheveldayoff was a member of the Atlanta Thrashers family long enough to know how waiting too long resulted in a costly outcome for the franchise when it finally traded Ilya Kovalchuk in early 2010. He will be mindful of making the same error, especially since such mistakes have ramifications that ripple long into the future.

If all of that didn’t inject enough uncertainty into the Jets’ situation, then the Trouba situation will.

The 2012 first-rounder, who turns 22 in February, has reportedly put a big proposal on the table for the max eight years and more than $56 million. It appears to have been a non-starter for Winnipeg, due to the price or Trouba’s shaky start to the season, or both, and so the sides have reportedly decided to adjourn the matter to the off-season.

Former Jets Goaltender Expected To Miss Significant Time Once AgainFormer Winnipeg Jets backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit faces another lengthy absence with new injury.

If no bridge deal is found for Trouba, his raise will be substantial, possibly enough to make either Ladd or Byfuglien impossible to fit.

The math is fuzzy at this stage because none of the deals was yet done and the league’s cap for 2016-17 is not concrete. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the December GM meetings that the new number is projected to “be somewhere between where it is now and up $3 million, in that range.”

Could Trouba be moved? The interest would be high, but that scenario seems less likely than Ladd or Byfuglien given Trouba’s age and upside.

Beyond the trio, whose starting-point proposals totaled more than $152 million in commitments, Scheifele and Lowry in particular are poster players for the Jets draft-and-develop scheme. They both have earned raises, in bridge deals or not. Their increases figure to be less jolting in terms of headlines, but given their ages (22), both are integral figures in the culture and blueprint that Cheveldayoff is trying to execute.

The outcomes for Cheveldayoff and his pending free agents are very difficult to predict. The only easy call is that you won’t find the Jets in the race to the salary floor come next fall.

BULL OR BEAR MARKET?

Of the top 10 impending UFAs based on their 2015-16 cap hits, we see three getting pay bumps this summer, while the rest take a shave or get the same

Early Takeaways From Jets Training Camp: Groups, Players To Watch, Position BattlesBreaking down the early takeaways of Winnipeg Jets Training Camp including storylines from each group, position battles to watch and prospects to keep an eye on.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- After three training camp practices, the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars kick off the preseason slate with the first matchup on Saturday at 6 p.m. from American Airlines Center in Dallas (stlblues.com, blues app, ESPN+, 101 ESPN).

“Once you get into game action, it’s a big difference,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Practice is set up, you know what the drill is you know what the purpose is. And we expect them to execute. If they’re not executing what we’re giving them, that’s a real fire alarm for us. But the in-games, now we see instincts, and now we see the guys that can make plays offensively, guys that are getting what we want in the structure without the puck.”

The Blues will get their first looks from a number of players, including defenseman Logan Mailloux, acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on July 1 for Zack Bolduc.

Mailloux will be paired on defense with Philip Broberg as the featured unit for the visitors as well as quarterback the first power play unit.

“I’m excited; he skates extremely well,” Mailloux said of Broberg. “It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to, kind of get out there, play with him and feel it out.

“I’m ready to get going here tonight. It’s always good to get back after it after the summer, especially a new place, so I’m excited. … I’m focused on getting here, making an impact, whatever way that is.”

Montgomery said they want to get Malloux running so they can process what information to relay after seeing him in games since this will be his Blues debut.

“We’ve got to get him up and running, we’ve got to get him playing in our systems so we can give him feedback and start doing video with him,” Montgomery said. “So then the things that we like, ‘This is what we like, this is what you’re doing, and here’s areas that we want to do this in our structure.’”

- - -

The featured Blues line will include 2023 first-round pick Dalibor Dvorsky centering a line with 2020 first-round pick Dylan Holloway and 2025 first-rounder Justin Carbonneau.

It’s a continuation of early camp where the younger first-round picks get looks with older, more established NHL players.

“It’s an opportunity for them to play with a high-end player in the NHL and see if they can think and play at the same pace as him,” Montgomery said.

- - -

Defenseman Theo Lindstein, also a 2023 first-round pick (No. 29) will make his Blues debut as well and be paired with Matthew Kessel.

Montgomery’s thoughts seem to be a little mixed through the first three days.

“Really poised with the puck,” the coach said. “Kind of plays the game in a rocking chair. We’d like to see a little more playing on his toes, killing plays defensively.”

- - -

The Blues held their first scrimmage of the preseason prior to the game group going on the ice, and it finished 1-0 for Team White over Team Blue on a goal by defenseman Michael Buchinger.

The teams played a 30-minute game.

Montgomery said there was plenty to like.

“Really liked the pace, and I saw players making plays offensively and defensively, especially defensively,” Montgomery said. “That’s the hardest part of your game to get down because guys are skating all summer and they’re all skating and playing with the puck and trying to make plays offensively. But defensively getting the structure back in, getting back on pucks, I was really happy with.”

As for any players that stood out?

“I thought [Dylan] Peterson and [Jakub] Stancl of non-(roster players) that played last year, they jumped out,” Montgomery said. “I think of the vets, [Jimmy] Snuggerud caught my eye quite a bit, [Pius Suter] caught my eye a bit, [Nick] Bjugstad, especially in the defensive end doing good stuff.”

There was one instance where Mathieu Joseph getting in the way and blocking a shot from the left point drew stick taps and cheers from teammates of the White team.

“Guys are already sacrificing, playing to a Blues identity that we think is our blue collar work ethic,” Montgomery said. “I’m glad you brought him up because I thought he was really good out there today.”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Dylan Holloway-Dalibor Dvorsky-Justin Carbonneau

Alexey Toropchenko-Nathan Walker-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Simon Robertsson-Matthew Peca-Nikita Susuev

Antoine Dorion-Adam Jecho-Matt Luff

Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux

Theo Lindstein-Matthew Kessel

Lukas Fischer-Will McIsaac

Jordan Binnington is projected to start in goal; Colten Ellis is projected to be the backup.

- - -

Stars Projected Lineup:

Adam Erne-Radek Faksa-Nathan Bastian

Colin Blackwell-Sam Steel-Mavrik Bourque

Oskar Back-Justin Hyrckowian-Kole Lind

Emil Hemming-Antonio Stranges-Arttu Hyry

Vladislav Kolyachonok-Nils Lundkvist

Trey Taylor-Alexander Petrovic

Kyle Capobianco-Gavin White

Remi Poirier is projected to start in goal; Antoine Bibeau is projected to be the backup.

Nick Bjugstad Is Healthy, Feeling Good About Getting Back To Past Numbers For Blues MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- For Nick Bjugstad, last season was one to forget for the newly-signed St. Louis Blues veteran center. News And Notes From Day 2 Of St. Louis Blues Training Camp MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Day 2 of St. Louis Blues training camp found coach Jim Montgomery a little more boisterous – and animated – towards his players. Former Blues Defenseman Remains Without A Contract; Isn't Forcing ItFormer St. Louis Blues defenseman Ryan Suter is still without a contract, but the longtime NHLer isn't forcing a deal. Young Rising Blues Forward: "I Want To Be A Top Player In This League One Day" MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Don’t mistake Dylan Holloway the wrong way. The St. Louis Blues forward is beyond grateful to be healthy and skating 100 percent for the first time since what turned out to be an ugly injury that derailed a fantastic first season in the Gateway City.

After three days, forward prospect Nikita Grebenkin has been the one constant in Philadelphia Flyers training camp, flashing his intriguing potential at seemingly every turn.

During Saturday's scrimmage session, Grebenkin, 22, was again paired with veteran center Sean Couturier and fellow Russian Matvei Michkov.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick has the puck skills to play ball with Michkov, and he's got the size and snarl to play a complementary power forward's game, especially down low.

Grebenkin's ability to protect and hold onto pucks is something that's stood out to Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet so far as he continues to make an earnest push for an NHL roster spot.

"I'm really close with Craig Berube, he had him in Toronto, and he said [Grebenkin's] a really sticky guy down low, comes up with loose pucks half-ice down," Tocchet said of Grebenkin Saturday. "I see that. There's some flashes out there, even the rookie camp.

"He's gonna have to be the same way, be a real good hockey player down low, because that's his gift, right? I've heard his skating isn't that great. I don't think it's that bad. I saw him in the neutral zone skating, so I don't think he's a bad skater at all. He can get up and down the ice, but I like his half-ice game around the net.

"Can he get those greasy goals for us? Can he complement other types of players? That's another thing. There's a lot to like about the kid, for sure."

And, again, it's only training camp and right out of rookie camp, but it's hard to imagine Grebenkin doing much more than he already has so far to insert himself into NHL roster conversations.

Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Receives Mystery Advice from Alexander Ovechkin Ahead of NHL PushNikita Grebenkin is gearing up for his push to make the Philadelphia Flyers out of training camp this fall, and he's gotten some advice from Washington Capitals star and NHL legend Alexander Ovechkin on how to do it.

It should say a lot that Grebenkin is getting lots of burn next to Couturier and Michkov, who played with each other extensively for the Flyers already last season.

The defensive game will ultimately be the golden question, but Grebenkin is more experienced than Michkov at the professional level. Whether that puts him further ahead or means he has more bad habits to undo remains to be seen.

One advantage Grebenkin does have over players like Jett Luchanko and Alex Bump, for example, is that he's better suited to a bottom-six, chip and chase, grind and cycle game, given his size, attitude, and style of play.

Right now, the 22-year-old should be earmarked for a role with the Flyers, perhaps as the fourth-line left wing, but nothing is set in stone until the dust settles next month.