The Chicago Blackhawks are going to be without Connor Bedard for at least a little while longer. He is progressing well, but neither side wants to rush things and risk making it worse at any point.
For now, it seems Frank Nazar will center the top line alongside Patrick Kane and Roman Kantserov in Bedard's place. For both Nazar and Kantserov, playing with a legend like Patrick Kane is an incredible opportunity early in their careers.
As far as Patrick Kane is concerned, playing with youth is a great way for him to stay fresh as well. We've seen plenty of aging superstars keep it going for longer than they otherwise would have because they played on lines with younger players.
After the first training camp practice, Kane spoke about what he is seeing from both Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov, starting with the former:
"I think he's a competitive kid," Kane said of Nazar. "He wants to win; he wants to do well; he wants to win games in practice; he wants to do well as a line, score goals, have that presence of mind, be in the moment, especially in practice."
For Kane, playing with a centerman like Nazar will be a treat. Nazar is not afraid to backcheck or get to the dirty areas in the offensive zone, and, like Kane, he is not afraid to pass or shoot. Both of them will be hard to defend because of their unpredictability.
"[I'm] excited to play with him and develop chemistry with him," Kane said. "[We're going to] have a good year."
Although neither Kane nor Nazar is afraid to shoot, they would both be considered pass-first types, which is why Roman Kantserov is the perfect young player to put on the other side of the line. He was one of the best KHL goal scorers last year and is trying to bring that ability to the NHL in his rookie season.
"I think he's got a lot of skill," Kane said of Kantserov. "He's very smooth. He speaks very good English; he wants to communicate too. He wants to know certain things about the game, the drills we're doing, or what I'm seeing on the ice."
Patrick Kane has been on some incredible lines throughout his career. He didn't play with Jonathan Toews at even strength much (outside of one season), but he had incredible years with guys like Artemi Panarin, Brandon Saad, Brandon Hagel, Alex DeBrincat, and many others. Now, he wants that for this line.
"As a line, we got more and more chemistry as the day went on," Kane said. "Things got better and better. I'm excited to keep building with them."
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The Vegas Golden Knights possess championship-caliber top-end talent with Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, but a projected total of 103.5 points demands more than star power. It requires Vegas to produce sustained regular-season excellence with one of the NHL’s oldest and most injury-sensitive cores.
Stone remains highly productive when available, delivering 73 points in only 60 games last season, but his recurring injury history makes projecting a full campaign dangerous. Vegas must also carefully manage veterans such as Alex Pietrangelo and William Karlsson, while Eichel, Marner and Tomas Hertl will be asked to carry an enormous offensive burden. It may take only one extended absence from that group to turn several regulation victories into overtime losses—or wins into losses.
Last Season’s Record Creates a Warning Sign
The Golden Knights finished 39-26-17 with 95 points last season, despite winning the Pacific Division and advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. Their 17 overtime and shootout losses were the most in franchise history, showing how often Vegas struggled to finish close games in regulation.
That postseason run may now be inflating the market’s evaluation of a team that was far less dominant throughout the regular season. Vegas caught fire following its late coaching change, closing 7-0-1 under John Tortorella before carrying that momentum deep into the playoffs. Replicating that short-term surge across an entire 82-game schedule is a much more demanding assignment.
Clearing 103.5 would require at least 104 points—a nine-point improvement from last season. That is a considerable jump for an aging roster entering another transition under Ryan Craig, who must establish his system, manage veteran workloads and maintain the urgency that followed Tortorella’s arrival.
Scoring Depth and Goaltending Remain Concerns
Vegas must also replace Pavel Dorofeyev’s team-leading 37 goals. Losing that production creates a significant hole beyond the established stars, particularly if Stone, Eichel or Hertl misses time. The Golden Knights should remain dangerous on the power play, but their five-on-five depth could become a problem when the schedule compresses or injuries force younger players into larger roles.
Goaltending presents another source of volatility. Vegas allowed 250 goals last season and lacked a clearly established No. 1 capable of consistently stealing games. Average goaltending may be enough for this roster to qualify for the playoffs, but surpassing 103.5 points likely requires above-average performance in net and better results in the numerous one-goal games that defined last season.
The Pacific Division should also offer fewer soft landing spots. Edmonton remains a contender, Los Angeles is difficult to play against, and improving teams in San Jose and Anaheim should reduce the number of seemingly automatic divisional points available to Vegas. A deeper conference also makes it harder to survive ordinary stretches without surrendering valuable ground.
The Golden Knights can finish approximately 47-28-7 for 101 points, comfortably reach the playoffs and remain a legitimate Stanley Cup threat while still cashing the Under. That projection already represents a six-point improvement over last season.
This is not a bet against Vegas’ postseason ceiling. It is a wager against an older, injury-sensitive roster improving by at least nine points while replacing its leading goal scorer, adjusting to another coach and receiving more dependable goaltending over six demanding months. The Golden Knights may again become extremely dangerous in April, but asking them to produce 104-plus points before then is setting the regular-season bar too high.
The Connor Hellebuyck trade saga took another turn Thursday, as it was reported that the Carolina Hurricanes remain interested in acquiring the star goaltender, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Per the report, Carolina has offered a package built around a first-round pick and standout young defenseman Alexander Nikishin, and that offer could still be on the table. Nikishin's situation adds an intriguing wrinkle to any potential deal.
The 24-year-old Russian defenseman remains unsigned as a restricted free agent and did not attend the first day of Hurricanes training camp after requesting a trade from Carolina this offseason, following a diminished role as the Stanley Cup playoffs wore on.
A former third-round pick in 2020, Nikishin wasn't considered a can't-miss prospect on draft day, and that history may be part of what's giving Winnipeg pause. He flashed real upside this past season, on pace for 30-point production, but the question for the Jets is just how low his floor could be if that offensive game doesn't translate consistently at the NHL level.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff made clear he isn't in any rush to finalize a deal, saying "I just want to get this right."
He also didn't shut the door on a potential Hellebuyck return to Winnipeg.
"Look, no doors are closed," Cheveldayoff said. "In my estimation, he's a player that's under contract for five years, but at the end of the day, that'll be his choice."
Cheveldayoff went a step further, reiterating that the organization still views Hellebuyck as one of their own regardless of how the situation unfolds.
"Connor Hellebuyck is a part of our family until he's not a part of our family," Cheveldayoff explained.
On paper, Nikishin is an appealing add as a six-foot-three, left-shot defenseman, who just finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting, but a top-four defenseman isn't necessarily what Winnipeg is looking for.
The Jets have consistently been among the league's best defensive teams in recent years, and their more pressing need is on the other side of the puck, specifically a top-six forward, a hole that's existed since they lost Nikolaj Ehlers to Carolina in free agency last offseason.
With five years remaining on Hellebuyck's contract, a resolution that keeps him in Winnipeg is still very much in play. But if Hellebuyck continues to push for a trade out of town, the Nikishin package is one that Cheveldayoff and the rest of Jets management are said to be discussing seriously.
There's also a secondary piece that could sweeten the pot for Winnipeg in goaltender Brandon Bussi. The late-career breakout at 28 years old, who recently signed a team-friendly three-year extension carrying a $1.9 million cap hit also has no trade protection. If Bussi were attached to a deal alongside Nikishin, it could make the return significantly more appealing for a Jets team weighing its options in net and along the back end.
For now, the situation remains fluid, with Cheveldayoff signaling patience while acknowledging that all avenues, including one that sends Hellebuyck to the defending Stanley Cup champions, remain open.
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Lost amid the fact that Chris Kreider spent his first practice with the Montreal Canadiens on the first line and that Oliver Kapanen was back on the second line was the fact that Team B's players face a lot of uncertainty. Martin St-Louis could have gone for all-veteran lines for that squad as well, but he chose not to, and that might be for a couple of different reasons.
He may want to give a real audition to a player like Florian Xhekaj, who finds himself skating on a line with Josh Anderson and Phillip Danault, who will be on the opening-night roster, no questions asked. Jake Evans and Alex Newhook have their spot guaranteed as well, but it would be rather surprising to see their linemate Brett Berard make it; at this stage, he looks like a placeholder.
St-Louis might also have wanted to send a message to the players who are, for now at least, likely to be the fringe players. That’s hardly likely to be Zach Bolduc, who’s fresh off signing a 4-year, $4.2 million cap-hit contract. The ones who will really have to fight for their NHL spots are likely to be Alexandre Texier and Kirby Dach. The former is under contract for two years at $2.5 million per year, while the latter could only get a one-year deal at $3.6 million from the Canadiens.
The Habs' unwillingness to sign Dach to a $4 million qualifying offer should have already sent a clear message to the Albertan. They did tender him the qualifying offer, but by making it a two-way contract, they essentially forced him not to accept it, and the message was clear: so far, you haven't shown us you are worth $4 million a year.
In the first round of the playoffs last season, Dach faced some serious backlash after one of his mistakes cost the Canadiens a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. St- Louis came to his rescue, refused to give in to the pressure to scratch him, and even publicly said he wouldn’t give up on a player who hasn’t given up on himself. The big winger repaid him with a tremendous performance in the next game, but then faded away, and by the end of the playoffs, he was on the fourth line.
At this stage, Dach shouldn’t take anything for granted; he needs to show the coach and the team that he hasn’t given up on himself. It would be rather surprising if GM Kent Hughes didn’t try to find a new home for the winger this past summer; it feels like he did but couldn’t find a trading partner, and if that’s the case, the Habs may be tempted to send an even louder message to Dach by sending him down to Laval, much like they did with Joel Armia when his performances weren’t up to scratch. Armia was 30 years old then, though; Dach is only 25 and was picked third overall in the 2019 draft, which may ultimately save him. Hughes may not be willing to roll the dice on losing a player he acquired at high cost, sacrificing Alexander Romanov to do so.
As for Texier, he didn’t cost anything to acquire, and when he signed with the Habs after agreeing to terminate his contract with the St. Louis Blues, he had to go through waivers. His debut with the Canadiens was impressive, and he spent time on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, while Juraj Slafkovsky skated alongside Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen; now Kreider is there.
The Canadiens have a legitimate top six, and the only spot that could open up is the second-line center role if a better option than Kapanen emerges, but Texier cannot play center. Where does that leave him? He doesn’t exactly play with the grit you’d want from a bottom-six player, and he’s not an energy guy either. At this stage, it very much feels like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, but we’ll see what he can show in this express training camp.
Of course, Montreal can always just stick to the 13 forwards that have an NHL contract, but if the younger Xhekaj shows that he’s ready to take the next step and that he could bring some of that grit, that sandpaper that was missing in the playoffs, the team may be forced to make a tough decision.
Florian Xhekaj semble avoir de réelles chances de percer l’alignement du Canadien cette saison. 👀
Il semble avoir pris du coffre tout en gagnant en rapidité. Il protège également très bien la rondelle, comme on peut le constater sur cette séquence. 👀⬇️
All eyes were on Matvei Michkov as Philadelphia Flyers training camp opened up on Thursday morning, and the Russian phenom delivered in ways even we reporters didn't foresee in advance.
Much has been made of the language barrier between Michkov, 21, and his teammates and coaches, dating back to his rookie year in 2024-25 with John Tortorella.
Teammate Egor Zamula and Flyers skating coach Slava Kuznetsov served as the de facto translators for Michkov that year, and Ivan Fedotov, and briefly, Andrei Kuzmenko, were the only other Russian speakers on the roster at the time.
Last season, the Flyers had a new head coach with Rick Tocchet, Fedotov was traded in the offseason, and Egor Zamula was jettisoned in January. Michkov did have Nikita Grebenkin with him, but Grebenkin is equally inexperienced and can't be relied on as a mentor the same way Zamula was with all his experience in North America.
Heading into a very important third NHL season with the Flyers, the language barrier and English-speaking ability were outstanding question marks for Michkov, but the youngster surprisingly put those concerns to bed out of the gate.
Michkov was requested for media availability from the Group A skaters on Thursday, and we were informed that the 21-year-old would speak only in English and draw on Kuznetsov, who stood off to the side, when needed. A surprise, to be sure, but it ended up being the biggest bright spot of the day by far, and it didn't even happen on the ice.
Michkov acknowledged the difficulty of speaking English during his availability, but it didn't deter him from giving honest answers and showing off some of his personality.
"I feel good, good summer. I work all time. Work and fun, 50-50," Michkov said with a smile. "I feel really good right now, and I think me ready in season."
The Russian phenom revealed in a recent interview that he's shed 30 pounds from this time last year, coming into training camp 2025 at 205 pounds, but coming into this year at 176. Michkov already feels the difference.
"I think this is so good for me. You know, I feel right now lighter, lighter right now on ice, and more speed. Every skill, more speed, better speed. This is hard work, too," Michkov added. "I eat right now just good food, but no fast food. You know, no sugar, but no... little bit, maybe day off. I like chocolate, but day off, just day off!"
That personality, even in broken English, will connect Michkov with fans and doubters alike just by organically communicating through us in the media.
He's able to, more or less, say what he really thinks, and on his own terms.
Michkov cleared a major mental and social hurdle
Matvei Michkov celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn images)
You can tell that Michkov listens intently and seeks to understand, even when he knows he may not.
For example, I asked Michkov what his experience was like training with Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev in Russia this summer. He recognized the players' names and nodded his head to show he understood, and asked Kuznetsov what "experience" meant.
"This is a good experience for me. Thank you Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev, messaged me, and so good guys, so good players," Michkov answered. "Just NHL guys who from in Russia, and we work the same. Hands, skills, a little bit skating, and this is good for me, too."
Michkov concluded his interview acknowledging his progress from Year 1 with Tortorella and the Flyers to today.
"I know now a little bit better English. My first years so hard for me. I stay in Philly zero level English, second year a little bit better, now a little bit better more," Michkov assessed. "This is my first interview in English. This is hard for me, guys, sorry. I feel much better now. You know, I think Philly, this is my second home, and I feel the same. My first and second home, I feel the same, same good, so good. Thank you everybody for support and the atmosphere."
It was a long time coming for Michkov, who braved the cameras, the language barrier, and the uncertainty to try something new.
This was a social hurdle Michkov needed to clear on his own terms, and doing so would only benefit him on and off the ice. He can communicate with his coaches and teammates better and ask questions when needed.
As a reporter, I've been there, too, learning to ask questions and assert myself. It's still a work in progress, so I can empathize.
But you can always control your effort and what you do, and Michkov put forth his best effort Thursday on and off the ice, impressing teammates, coaches, and media all the same.
"I think that's a big step for him. We encourage him to come out. I don't think he needs a translator all the time. We want to take the safety net out under him and I think he did a hell of a job," Tocchet said of Michkov after practice concluded.
"Going up to coaches on his own and things like that, we got to create that culture for him. He doesn't need people around him to tell, I think he knows. And it's the only way to learn, and he wants it. He wants to learn that way, too. It's good for us."
Earlier in the day, during the skating portion to end the Group A session, Michkov appeared to ask Denver Barkey and Jack Studnicka to lead off the second lap, and he did so keeping pace with his peers the whole way, even after blowing a tire on a tight turn around one of the nets.
"It's just the first day," Tocchet said. "But you can tell he's lighter and he looks stronger skating, like the stride's longer. You watch the laps, when guys start getting tired, their stride is choppier, and his was still elongated. That's a good sign."
By all accounts, Michkov passed his first tests of Flyers training camp with flying colors.
Of course, with only four preseason games and a shorter training camp overall, it will be up to Michkov to keep it going into the season and make his progress count for something, but a major breakout for the Flyers seems likelier than ever after Day 1.
As the players get ready for Day 2 of camp, some news and notes to know!
The Penguins are looking to repeat last year’s success of making the playoffs but know it won’t come easy. [Tribune Review]
This power ranking isn’t buying in, Pens check in at No. 23. [Sportsnet]
It’s going to be an uphill climb for youngsters like Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes and Owen Pickering to crack the opening night NHL roster but all are going to put their best foot forward in hopes of earning a spot. [The Athletic $]
More notes and observations from yesterday’s first day of camp. [Post-Gazette]
All the best wishes and vibes for Dave Molinari, who had a positive piece of news in a recent update in his ongoing battle with cancer. He’s been brave to document it all and put his story out there, we’re all hoping he gets to write a very happy ending. [Substack]
Sidney Crosby sent in a video about Marc-Andre Fleury that was touching for Fleury’s QMJHL Hall of Fame ceremony. [Reddit]
Crosby is about to become the longest tenured captain in NHL history in his 20th season. [Reddit]
Jason Spezza confirms 20-year old defenseman Tomas Galvas will get a look in training camp and head back to Czechia for the season if he doesn’t make the NHL roster. [X – Pens Inside Scoop]
Elmer Soderblom got bumped to the last practice group after being late yesterday. We’ll have to see how long he stays there. [X – Josh Yohe]
Up in Toronto, 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna started training camp on a line with William Nylander and John Tavares. Sounds decent. [NHL]
David Pastrnak didn’t have to rehab anything this summer for a first time in a while, which could lead to an even bigger season than normal. [NHL]
The family of Arizona State player Matthew Mayich, now on life support after a team workout gone wrong, is speaking out with frankly more strength and grace than I’d have in the situation. They’re asking for visibility and prayers, so that’s the least we can do. [Sportsnet]
Jets players sound a lot more sad than angry about Connor Hellebuyck deciding to leave them high and dry. [TSN]
Five long-time NHL officials have retired and won’t be back this season. Profiling them here. [Scouting the Refs]
Columbus coach Rick Bowness didn’t mince words with his displeasure about two unnamed players coming into camp in subpar shape after very directly being told what programs they were supposed to work over the summer. [TSN]
Even if the relative course the Pittsburgh Penguins are charting isn't entirely clear to some, it doesn't change the fact that, after three years out, the team made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
In some respects, the unexpected postseason berth put the Penguins in a tough spot organizationally. They want to get younger and allow some youth to start showing up at the NHL level, but they are also aware that they're good enough to stay relevant in the playoff race.
At the end of the day, the organization - as defenseman Erik Karlsson put it - is in a bit of a "weird" place right now, but the goal is and always will remain sustained contention. And the Penguins, from management on down to the players, believe they are progressing toward that.
"I think the group that we had here last year and the guys that are still here this year, I feel, have a lot more to give," Karlsson said. "I think that the young guys that we have coming in are taking the right steps forward. And, obviously, the guys that we've had here that have been around for a long time, we know what we're going to get from those guys, and they're going to keep contributing and be a big part of this team."
The thing with the Penguins' youth is that several of them should be good enough to help propel the team back to sustained contention, so their transition to the NHL roster shouldn't necessarily be as development-focused once they make the final jump. But the blend of that youth and the team's longtime veterans in Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell is the somewhat tricky part to navigate.
Then, you have the new players coming in. The Penguins added forwards Nick Robertson, Hendrix Lapierre and David Gustafsson and defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk, Declan Carlile and Kaedan Korczak in the offseason, all of whom figure to be either locks or solidly in the mix for roster spots.
As for the new guys coming in, they recognize both the talent that the Penguins have up-and-coming and the talent that has been in Pittsburgh for the better part of the last two decades.
"There's a lot of veterans but also a lot of younger guys that I've played against and known," Robertson said. "It's good to be in that mix. They've got a bit of excitement from the younger guys and, obviously, a lot of experience from the older guys. It's a unique team, and I'm very happy to be a part of it."
Korczak, who came over from the Vegas Golden Knights this summer in exchange for defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, has been part of a Stanley Cup-winning culture for the last several years. He recognizes a winning culture because he's been part of it.
In the Penguins and GM Kyle Dubas, he sees an organization that is working its way toward the Cup conversation again, and he wants to be part of the young crop of players who helps accomplish that. He is signed with Pittsburgh for four more seasons at $3.25 million.
"Just talking with Kyle and the coaches, it's exciting to be part of that group that's going to, hopefully, bring that next step to the organization," Korczak said. "You obviously have those guys that can lead you. You've got some Hall-of-Famers here that can show us the way.
"So, I'm really excited for the opportunity to be a part of this young group, and hopefully they lead us to a Stanley Cup here one day."
So, what is the plan for the 2026-27 season? Well, that was made pretty clear by Dubas at the end of last season, when he said that this team doesn't plan to take any steps back. They want to build on their playoff run from last season, and they believe they have at least some of the youth talent to help them keep progressing.
Whether they are Cup contenders again this season or a bit farther into the future remains to be seen, and there is still work to be done and talent that needs to be added in order for them to sustain winning ways.
Regardless, the most basic goal for the players and the organization remains the same as it always is each and every year.
"If everything goes according to plan, I think - hope - that we're going to be a step better than we were even last year," Karlsson said. "That's obviously the goal. That's what we're operating from right now, and we'll see what the future brings."
Day one of training camp is in the books for the New York Rangers, and after months of speculation, we got our first breadcrumbs about what the opening-night roster could look like.
Here’s all you need to know from the first day of training camp
Gabe Perreault, Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière reunite:
Mike Sullivan went back to a winning formula on Thursday, reuniting Gabe Perreault, Mika Zibanejad, and Alexis Lafrenière on a line.
For a stretch late in the 2025-26 season, these three forwards found success playing alongside each other and provided the Rangers with consistent offensive production they had not gotten all year long.
Perreault is slated to take on a larger top-six role as he heads into his first NHL season and by the looks of the team’s first practice, it appears as if he’ll indeed start the season as a top-six forward.
“We thought they had pretty good chemistry, so I think just from a common sense standpoint, it would make sense to maybe see where it goes,” Sullivan said.
The case to pair Zibanejad with Pavel Dorofeyev is certainly enticing and could be explored as camp progresses, but the fact that he started training camp playing with Perreault and Lafrenière may be a sign of things to come, and Sullivan confirmed that he wants to keep the same lines and defensive pairings for at least a couple of days.
“I'd like to give them a couple of practices, maybe a couple inter-squads, and see where it goes. I think it's obvious we started there for a reason,” Sullivan said. “We'll learn along the way, and we'll figure out based on what we see, based on some of the conversations we have with the players involved, we'll get their feedback also, and then we'll try to make the best decisions for the team.”
J.T. Miller centers line with Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand:
After thriving playing alongside Jack Eichel in Vegas, Pavel Dorofeyev opened up camp with J.T. Miller as his new center.
Miller fluctuated from the wing to center last season, but playing his natural position down the middle is more beneficial to him, and having Dorofeyev on the wing could help him recapture his offensive game.
“J.T. is a versatile guy,” Sullivan said. “I think his playmaking ability is probably undervalued. He sees the ice pretty well, I think he has an ability to distribute the puck. I think J.T. brings a physical element to the downlow-grind game that I think he can drag his linemates into a little bit, so they can create some offense in different ways.
“I think Pav is a guy that could obviously score goals, and so we wanted to see what that looks like.”
Oliver Bjorkstrand, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Rangers this offseason, complimented Miller and Dorofeyev, as Sullivan praised Bjorkstrand’s ability to score goals.
While Dorofeyev played on the right side during Thursday’s practice, Sullivan has plans to try out Dorofeyev at both right and left wing.
“I know he can play both,” Sullivan said of Dorofeyev. “From talking to him, talking to some of his former coaches, I know he can play both sides. I think a lot of it is going to come down to what we think is the best fit based on the combinations that we put together.
“So we're going to explore different options to figure out how we can create the balance that we think is necessary to win consistently, but also to set players up for success, him included. I would anticipate probably seeing him on both sides throughout the course of the next couple of weeks.”
Will Cuylle Set To Play A Third-Line Role:
The Rangers’ third line on Thursday consisted of Will Cuylle, Noah Laba, and new addition Eeli Tolvanen, with Taylor Raddysh also filling in.
Sullivan felt that last season Cuylle played his best hockey in a third-line role playing alongside Noah Laba, and now that the Rangers have added more depth to their top-six forward unit, it gives them the ability to utilize Cuylle on the bottom six, a position that he’s better suited to thrive in.
“I thought Will Cuylle played some of his best hockey with Laba last year,” Sullivan emphasized. “When you put a guy like Will on the third line, so to speak, it creates I think, a scoring threat, a physical presence, more balance through our lineup that makes us harder to play against. You potentially get more advantageous matchups. I think there are advantages to having balance. Will Cuylle with Laba, it strengthens that top nine as opposed to that top six.”
Tolvanen signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Blueshirts late in the offseason, and he provides an element of speed and physicality to a line that is centered around those two traits.
This newly assembled line brought a strong physical presence on Thursday, specifically shown on a hit delivered by Cuylle on Lafrenière.
Joe Veleno and Tye Kartye create a speedy fourth line:
Sullivan looks to be prioritizing speed on the fourth line with a duo of Joe Veleno and Tye Kartye.
The Rangers went out and signed Veleno to a one-year, $1.2 million contract, and based on the team’s first practice, it appears as if he’s the frontrunner to land the fourth-line center role.
Kartye mostly played on the third line after being claimed off waivers in February, and he provided an instant spark to the team.
Sullivan noted the increase in speed to the bottom-six forward unit, specifically provided by Veleno and Kartye.
“I think we got faster in the bottom six in particular,” Sullivan said. “Veleno, he can really skate. We added Tye Kartye at the end of the year. Tye could really skate, he’s a dog on the bone with the puck.”
Jaroslav Chmelař and Matt Rempe rotated for that last fourth-line spot.
Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson make up the second defensive pairing:
When the Rangers acquired both Durzi and Pettersson this summer, it was widely speculated that they would be paired together.
That was the case on Thursday. Durzi and Pettersson made up the Rangers’ second pairing behind Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov.
Sullivan and Chris Drury emphasized the Rangers’ need for a puck-moving defensemen that is exactly what Durzi and Pettersson provide.
“You look at our defense core, adding Marcus Pettersson, adding Durzi. We tried them together out there today, and I thought they looked really good,” Sullivan said. “I think both of them have an ability to move the puck, go tape-to-tape, I think that is really going to help us.
“Exiting out of our end, maybe getting out a little bit cleaner. If we can get the puck in motion, if we can get the puck with speed, I think it should help us off the rush. I think these guys are good players that will make our group stronger back there.”
Alberts Šmits being given a real shot to make the NHL roster:
During Wednesday’s press conference, Sullivan made it abundantly clear that Šmits will be given a real opportunity to make the Rangers’ opening-night roster.
"Yes, he has a chance to make the team,” Sullivan said of Šmits. “We have to make sure that we do the right thing for him.”
Sullivan put his words into action, placing Šmits on the third defensive pairing alongside Braden Schneider.
If this is an indication of anything, it is that the 2026 fifth overall pick is seriously being looked at to fill a roster spot come Sept. 29 in Boston to kick off the regular season.
“I thought he had a pretty strong first day. I think the thing that jumps out at me right away is just his physical stature. He's big and strong, winning puck battles, but when he passes the puck, he snaps it hard, which I think is a very evident thing with NHL players.That’s one thing I noticed right away being on the ice with him, he snaps pucks. It's on and off his tape. We obviously had him paired with Schneids today. I thought he had a good first day. I thought he didn’t look out of place by any stretch.”
Matthew Robertson, who’s Šmits’ main competition for that third-pairing left-handed defensemen spot, was paired with Scott Morrow as alternates, but given Robertson’s role with the Rangers last season, all indications point toward him still having an edge over Šmits for now.
Rangers Open To Carrying Three Goalies To Start The Season:
The Rangers’ backup goaltending position is up for grabs, with Dylan Garand and Joonas Korpisalo competing for that spot.
The retirement of Jonathan Quick left a void for the backup spot behind Igor Shesterkin, and despite Dylan Garand making a strong impression when he was called up from the American Hockey League at the tail end of the 2025-26 campaign, the Rangers still went out of their way to acquire Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins.
While there still may be a competition between Garand and Korpisalo for the rights to backup Shesterkin, Sullivan hasn’t ruled out carrying both goalies on the roster to open up the season.
“Is that an option that is on the table for us, yes,” Sullivan said of the Rangers potentially carrying three goalies on the roster. “It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. I think it's very manageable in the short term. I don't think it's in the best interest of the guys in the long term for obvious reasons.”
Korpisalo practiced with the Rangers’ main group, consisting mostly of NHL players on Thursday, while Garand practiced with most of the players expected to play for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
It's no mystery that Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson are eligible to sign extensions, and each player may have a vastly different path in front of them.
But regardless of what those eventual paths are, the Penguins are not too worried about neither player being signed up to this point.
After day one of training camp Thursday, Penguins' assistant general manager Jason Spezza spoke on a variety of topics, including Crosby and Karlsson. Like general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas emphasized in the spring, Spezza said the situations for both players will sort out in due time.
"We've communicated with [Karlsson] where we're at as a team, and we want to continue to see growth. And I think he wants to see that as well. So, there's been great conversation transparency around his situation.
"We think a lot of Erik. I think he's enjoyed his time here, and we've enjoyed having him. So, those situations will play themselves out as the year goes."
As for Crosby, who is entering his 22nd season and is currently on one of the best bargain contracts in the NHL at $8.7 million average annual value?
"With Sid, I think it's a unique situation, but it's also a situation other great players at his level have gone through," Spezza said. "And, at his age, he probably wants to see how he feels. I think Sid is going to play for a long time if he continues to see things this way. Where that falls into the contract, I think it's less of a concern for us internally and, probably, for him at this point. And he probably wants to see how he feels.
"And I can understand it as a guy who played later into my career. You want to kind of see how you feel, and you want to play at a certain standard. And I think that's probably where Sid is at right now So, there's not really a concern on our end or on his at this point, and like I said with Erik, we try to be transparent with the guys and have conversations with them. And I think everyone knows Sid's situation here. So, he's gonna make sure he's feeling good before anything gets done."
During season ticket deliveries Tuesday, Crosby clarified the situation with his contract, saying that he's letting Dubas and agent Pat Brisson handle it. He also said that he feels good but, realistically, knowing when to hang up the skates is different for every player, and trying to project when that will be is a futile exercise.
"I wouldn't say there's a hard timeline," Crosby said to reporters covering the event. "I think it's something that I'll let them discuss. And, at this point in my career, it's hard to project how long I'm going to play for, but I think it's just something that I'll see what happens there."
While Crosby's contract situation with the Penguins feels certain to resolve with an extension at some point, the same is not the case for Karlsson.
When asked about his future Thursday, Karlsson offered some clarity with a dash of uncertainty woven in, specifying that extension talks have not occurred between him and the Penguins up to now. But he also implied that he's comfortable entering the season and seeing where the team is at before coming to any final determination on his future with the Penguins, who are in an interesting position organizationally.
"I think that the situation is pretty given on what it is and what it's not," Karlsson said. "I have one year left. Our team is in a weird stage, I think. So, we'll see how it goes this year."
He added: "I'm enjoying my time right now, you know? I'm 36 years old, feel really good. Got a lot of years left in me. The future is not something that I've really thought about.
He added: "I know where I'm at. I know I feel good enough that it's not something that I think I have to worry about. I'm going to stay in the present. I'm very focused on what I can control in the moment right now, and I'm looking forward to that."
The Buffalo Sabres were one of the NHL’s best teams last season, finishing first in the Atlantic Division before beating the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series. Buffalo lost to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2, but long-suffering Sabres fans wanted to see them end their decade-and-a-half playoff drought, and they did that..
And here at TheHockeyNews.com, we've been breaking down the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series we call “Know Your Enemy”. In each of these files, we’re focusing on how Buffalo played against each East team, in addition to how they’re likely to fare against the team this season. And in this file, we’re analyzing the New York Islanders.
The Islanders didn’t have an impressive off-season, but they still have some excellent pieces – most notably, young stud defenseman Matthew Schaefer. How will the Sabres fare against the Isles? Here’s this writer’s best guess:
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: January 20 at Islanders; February 3 at Buffalo; March 21 at Islanders
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The short answer to this question is a firm ‘yes, absolutely the Sabres should beat the Islanders – and they should sweep them as they did last season’.
Why? Because, for starters, Buffalo’s lineup is far deeper and more talented than the Isles’ is, as the Islanders are still trying to transition into a new era for the team. Isles GM Mathieu Darche has made some inroads in building a new team for a new generation, but there’s still plenty of work that needs doing on Long Island, and we don’t see the Islanders making the playoffs in 2026-27.
The Sabres have all of their games against the Isles in an eight-week period, and two of those games will come on the road for Buffalo. At that point in the year, the Sabres will have no excuse for not taking it to the Islanders. They need to snuff out any possible signs of life from the Isles, and they need to do it with authority.
Otherwise, we’re going to get to the end of the regular season, and Buffalo will be looking up at the standings, wondering why they didn’t finish with home-ice advantage – or why they may miss the playoffs altogether this year. The difference between standings position can come down to only two or three teams, and if the Sabres are squandering points against teams they ought to beat every time out, they could come to rue the day they took their foot off the gas and squandered their season.
The Islanders aren’t a pushover by any means, but their lack of depth and their aged players aren’t going to carry them to the top of the league. Thus, the Sabres should be beating the Isles each and every game, and that includes beating them in their three clashes this season.
J.T. Miller will captain a Rangers squad that has undergone a number of roster changes over the past few months.
J.T. Miller was measured. Thursday, after all, was just the first day of training camp for the Rangers, and it’ll take weeks’ and months’ worth of games to change the franchise’s trajectory. There were no playoff declarations. No bold proclamations that the Blueshirts are better than last year after an offseason of change. No dissection of roster moves by the front office to overhaul parts of the roster, even.
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“We’re not gonna get ahead of ourselves,” Miller, now back in his old No. 10 jersey, said.
But, Miller admitted, this all “seems like a nice reset for us.” A time for the Rangers to “turn the past from last year.” His injury-filled campaign of 2025-26 started in the preseason and continued with three stints of missed time — and two trips to injured reserve — during the regular season. His 17 goals and 53 points marked his fewest in both categories since 2018-19 with the Lightning. And it all unfolded during his first year as captain, stepping into the elevated role and trying to not force himself to do more than he normally would.
This year, the Rangers will get a chance to move past their dismal 77-point campaign of last year. It’ll be different from the start, with no Vincent Trocheck (traded in the offseason) and no Artemi Panarin (traded before the Olympic roster freeze) here at this training camp. But at the crux of it all, of course, will be Miller, who gets a chance to move past his own woes of 2025-26 while occupying a critical role as the second-line center — skating alongside dynamic acquisition Pavel Dorofeyev for now — with Trocheck now in Utah.
New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) shoots on goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“It was a lot last year,” Miller said. “Just a little bit of distraction everywhere, it seemed like, around our team. Obviously with The Letter coming out, I was hurt a lot of the year, I was at the Olympics — just a busy season, and I feel like it’s kinda hard to evaluate.
“But certainly not satisfied and saying that that’s the standard for myself. I mean, we didn’t get to where we want to be, and I took a lot of ownership of that. I just feel fresh right now. I feel good. And I’m excited that we get another crack at it this year with a fresh slate.”
The stakes will always be high for Miller. That’s the pressure that comes with the “C” sewn on his chest, just as it did for Jacob Trouba and Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Callahan and Mark Messier and all the other past Blueshirts captains. Miller said he expects more from himself as a leader this year. He said he learned from mistakes last season, which quickly spiraled into selling at the trade deadline and a reality where president and general manager Chris Drury dropped The Letter 2.0.
Miller spent time at both center and wing last year in the 68 games he did appear in, and when the Rangers’ first group — with mostly NHL players — skated Thursday, Miller, 33, was positioned between Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Dorofeyev collected more than 30 goals the past two seasons with the Golden Knights. He was the draft-day splash by the Blueshirts, the hyped acquisition during a public retool who could be the missing piece that tips the Rangers toward being a playoff team in April.
J.T. Miller will captain a Rangers squad that has undergone a number of roster changes over the past few months. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Head coach Mike Sullivan said that Miller’s play-making ability with the puck is “probably undervalued by some,” and Sullivan expressed a belief in Miller being able to serve as the Rangers’ second-line center, indirectly doubling as a belief that his skill set can complement Dorofeyev if they break camp still paired together.
“He has the ability to distribute the puck,” Sullivan said of Miller. “I think J.T. brings a physical element and a down-low game, a grind game that I think he can drag his linemates into a little bit so they can create some offense different ways. I think [Dorofeyev is] a guy that obviously can score goals, and so we wanted to see what that looks like.”
That role will only add to the pressure facing Miller this season. To the expectations that he can avoid the struggles from last year reappearing again and becoming a norm for his second Blueshirts stint. For one day, those stakes faded with the arrival of a new training camp, where “vibe” and “excitement” and anything else that described palpable energy were the buzzwords of his press conference that captured the emotion of the Rangers’ entire session.
“I feel very hungry,” Miller said. “I mean, after a year like last year, I just think in general I think I’m naturally competitive — I’d like to be better, I want the team to play better, I want better results.”
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) defends Adam Pelech (3) during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in East Meadow, NY.
“I asked him, ‘What do you think? It’s done?’ ” Sorokin recalled Thursday. The “it” was Varlamov’s career. “He said, ‘No, I will come back.’ First thing he said.”
Somehow, some way, Varlamov looks on track to resume playing hockey games this season. He took the ice Thursday as the Islanders opened training camp, and if you didn’t know any better, you would have been unable to tell what he’d been through over the 22 months that have elapsed since he last took part in an NHL practice or game.
Varlamov never had a timeline for his return. As far as he knows, there’s no precedent for what he’s doing.
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) defends Mathew Highmore during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Research by The Post turned up one professional athlete to undergo a partial knee replacement and return to competing at an elite level: Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn. As for NHLers or professional athletes in team sports, we could find no comparable examples.
“The type of surgeries I’ve done, people [are] doing it, but not professional hockey players able to do it and try to come back,” Varlamov said. “That was kinda like a crazy idea. Very risky idea. I took a risk.”
A risk that might give him his career back.
“I wasn’t ready to retire,” Varlamov said. “Mentally, I wasn’t there. Definitely, some days it was in my mind when things were not going well. Rehab, we had a lot of setbacks, pushbacks. I was thinking, maybe this is it, I won’t be able to come back. But you wake up the next morning and just tell yourself that you’re not ready to retire. I’m not there yet, I guess.
“I still have a lot of respect and love for the game. I want to be around this team. This team is looking great with the younger guys now coming in, older guys. So this is very exciting, the whole thing. I pushed myself. I had a lot of motivation also, because the team is looking good. I want to be part of it longer.”
On a practical, hockey level, the implications for the Islanders are hard to fully unpack. General manager Mathieu Darche acknowledged that keeping three goaltenders on the active roster is a possibility, with Vitek Vanecek under contract, as well as Sorokin and Varlamov. Coach Pete DeBoer said that with an 84-game schedule, the Islanders will want close to 30 games from their backup goaltender, and given the club’s history of overusing Sorokin, they ought to be wary about doing so again.
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov speaks with the media during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in East Meadow, N.Y. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The nature of what Varlamov is trying to do makes it impossible to predict how this will go. One thing is obvious from Thursday, though: The Islanders, as an organization, are in a little bit of awe over the fact that he has gotten this far.
“It’s almost inspiring to our guys,” Darche said.
“When I got here and I heard about the surgery he had undergone, I was not counting on seeing him at all,” DeBoer said.
“I wanna say he’s probably the first in history to do it,” JG Pageau told The Post. “That’s pretty cool, and it’s all in his honor to be able to do that.”
There are still so many steps to go. Varlamov needs to get through camp and the preseason with no setbacks. If he does make it as far as a regular-season game, every period will be a test.
But he has come so far already. It took until the beginning of March for him to truly feel he would have a chance to play. He upped his skating from three times a week to four or five, successfully pushing to get into a couple of AHL games at the end of Bridgeport’s season — a massive, confidence-boosting step.
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov looks on during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in East Meadow, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I feel like if I didn’t play those two games, there’s no chance the team would give me a chance to be part of this training camp,” Varlamov said.
He did, and now he’s here. If you could ever award the Masterton Trophy on the first day of the NHL’s calendar, this would be the time.
“I don’t want to jump ahead of things,” Varlamov said. “I’m just taking one day at a time and what’s the best thing I can do to be a better teammate? Just [be] the best version of yourself today. I can only control what’s happening today. I can’t think what’s gonna happen in 2-3 weeks. It’s not in my control.
“What I’m gonna play, how many games I’m gonna play, maybe I’m not gonna play. Who knows, right? We have a lot of good goalies here. I’m just focusing on today.”
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- It’s very uncommon for the opening of training camp
to showcase so many of the NHL players in one group and so many of
the prospects in the other.
Normally,
players are split up, mixed and matched until camp gets whittled down
to the end and those that are going to make the opening night roster.
But
with training camp this year lasting less than two weeks, and as St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery said, “four preseason games and we
have five
practices,” there is no time for formalities with the regular
season opener just 15 days away and the first preseason game on Saturday against the Dallas Stars.
The
Blues opened camp Thursday at Centene Community Ice Center with two
groups, and it was clear which was more established than the other:
The
Blues (37-33-12 last season) are not opening camp on this day looking
to get in a month’s worth of work. They’re banking that players
are all in shape, they’re all in hockey sense and that they’re
all beyond the pond hockey days.
Thursday’s
opening drills were more designed for things they would be doing a
couple weeks into camp, or even on the cusp of the season opening.
“By
the end of our fourth exhibition game, all we have is four games and
we have five practices. The feeling-out process that you used to have
in camp is gone,” Montgomery
said.
“Guys have to be on their toes, they’ve got to be ready, they
have to push each other, and we’re trying to put the lines that we
think might have a chance to start game one together right away.
“Our
objective
today was working on being a much harder team offensively getting to
the blue paint. We scored seven goals in the scrimmage. That I
thought was very successful. I thought we were creating more chaos. I
thought the energy and the pace was pretty good. I thought guys (had)
second and third effort. We started with 1-on-1 battles and right
away, guys were digging in and they were into it and they were
pushing each other to be better. I thought it was a very productive
Day 1.”
And
that’s why Group A pretty much resembled what a lineup will look
like on opening night against the Stars in Dallas on Oct. 2.
“Well
with my thinking, the Thomas line speaks for itself the way they
finished and they scored two goals out there today, so they picked up
kind of where they left off; they looked really good,” Montgomery
said.
“The second line, McTavish for us is a top-six player, McMichael
has played in the middle six his entire career and Buchy has played
pretty much. So let’s put those three together, see what kind of
chemistry we have today. I thought they did some good things
offensively. Defensively, we haven’t touched a thing yet. They got
scored against, but we still haven’t worked on our D-zone coverage
yet because just first day of camp. Third line that we had with the
Dvorsky line, I didn’t really notice, I wasn’t coaching that
team. I didn’t see an impact in the game. Fourth line looked really
good. ‘Torpo’ was flying, ‘Sutes’ is always supporting and
this Johnston, you can see how smart a player he is and very vocal on
the bench.
“A
couple of the D-pair that stood out for me. Fowler and the Carlo pair
were excellent, poise, gaps were really good and I thought Lindstein
and Parayko did a really good job on my bench as well.”
This
wasn’t an off-season where Montgomery and the coaching staff could
plan out this longer, drawn-out training camp. It was more compacted
and challenging to fit many things into a smaller window.
“There’s
a combination of things that influence the way it was. It was shoring
up what we didn’t think were strengths that should be strengths,
being hard at the offensive blue paint, being hard at the defensive
blue paint,” Montgomery
said.
“You’ll see that tomorrow. Committing battles in practices and
competition in those areas was important for us to get to those areas
and create the habits that we need. You saw a lot of driving back
posts today, you saw a lot of speed trying to get at the net. That’s
why we were doing all those 3-on-1s, 3-on-2s. And then the other
thing is the shortened … like I said, we’ve got four games, five
practices. That’s nine times on the ice together before we have our
team meeting before we have three practices before we play our first
game at Dallas. So there’s no time to waste. Once we get past this
CBA three-hour rule, we’re going to start having double video
sessions. It’s going to be more like NFL training. Those are things
that we’ve worked on so that we can be prepared in a three-week
camp and a 13-day camp.”
One
noticeable omission: the VO2 fitness testing that, well, nobody cares
to do but know it was always a must.
“The
coaches were really happy,” Montgomery
said laughing.
“Thank God I didn’t have to do the VO2 max this year. You would
like to have fitness testing just because … these athletes are so
well-conditioned now. It’s not an issue now like it was in the 70s
where camp was six weeks long so you can get in shape to start the
season. Now they have their own nutritionists, strength and
conditioning coaches, they have speed and acceleration coaches, so
they’re well-prepared. The thing is mentally, what you like about
having testing is the guys know they’ve got to come and they take
great pride in it, so they want to do well on the test to show
everyone I’m ready to go. We don’t have that option, but the ice
speaks for itself. Didn’t see a lot of guys hovering over sticks.
That was not an easy practice. First day of camp, there’s nerves
that are going because everybody wants to show well. So you usually
can tell just by skating, and you’ll see a bag skate at the end of
practice tomorrow that will kind of try and look for that.”
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The Buffalo Sabres face a number of challenges as they open their 2026-27 training camp on Thursday, with the most challenging being whether they can recover from the offensive deficit created by the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram.
After not making any additions to their forward group over the summer, the Sabres are relying heavily on a trio of first-round selected youngsters in Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich to show some growth. One of the advantages they all possess is their ability to play both center and on the wing effectively. Something that head coach Lindy Ruff may have determined before the start of camp.
Sabres sign Ostlund to eight-year contract extension
"You always plot it out. Does it change during camp? It's possible, I would like to start (Tage) at center, but knowing that even in the playoffs, he ended up on the wing, and had a couple great nights," Ruff said. "You go back to that four-month run; he was in the middle of the ice for us that whole time. I mean, inside some games, there were games where, Ostlund and (Ryan)McLeod stepped in and played center. He played a little bit of wing, which will again happen for sure."
With a shorter exhibition schedule, many NHL clubs are putting together line combinations that they plan to use during the regular season. If Thursday’s practice is any indication, the Sabres plan to start the season with Thompson at center, as he played the middle with Peyton Krebs and Josh Doan. Helenius played the right side and McLeod on the left on a line with center Josh Norris, Östlund played pivot on a line with Zach Benson and Jack Quinn, while Kulich skated on left wing with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn.
The club will practice on Friday and hold the Blue and Gold Scrimmage on Saturday morning at Key Bank Center.
The Chicago Blackhawks held their first practice of 2026 Training Camp on Thursday at Blackhawks Ice Arena. Most of the players have been skating there for a couple of days now, but Thursday was the first official skate.
There are some new names, including Ian Cole, Bowen Byram, Cole Smith, Jordan Greenway, and Roman Kantserov. Of course, Patrick Kane is back as well. Connor Bedard is still out as he continues his comeback from shoulder surgery, which will leave a hole in the lineup for a little while longer.
Right off the bat, there were some line combinations forming. Jeff Blashill had them skating like this:
Kantserov-Nazar-Kane
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Lardis
Donato-Moore-Teravainen/Mangiapane
Smith-Greene-Greenway/Slaggert
Vlasic-Byram
Kaiser-Levshunov
Cole-Rinzel
Korchinski-Del Mastro
Knight
Soderblom
With Bedard out, Frank Nazar skated as the top-line center. Playing with Patrick Kane, a franchise icon, and Roman Kantserov, a superstar KHL goal scorer, is a great opportunity for Nazar while they wait for the captain to return.
Anton Frondell skated as the second-line center. Even before Bedard hurt his shoulder, the plan was for both Nazar and Frondell to operate as centers coming into camp. So far, the Blackhawks are sticking to that plan. If it works, they will be much deeper in the long-run than if they were forced to become wingers.
Skating with Frondell were Tyler Bertuzzi and Nick Lardis. For Frondell, that's two goal-scoring wingers to help him with that transition to the middle of the ice.
The bottom-six forward group is where things get interesting. Andrew Mangiapane and Landon Slaggert each rotated in and out with Teuvo Teravainen and Jordan Greenway, respectively. Ryan Donato, Oliver Moore, Cole Smith, and Ryan Greene were part of that bottom-six group as well.
When Bedard comes back, that will push a third player from this group out of the top-12. There are injuries and inconsistencies that will play a factor in these decisions throughout the year, but it is going to be a revolving door.
It should be noted that AJ Spellacy, who was incredibly noticeable at the Prospect Showcase and appears to be NHL-ready, did not skate with the NHL group on day 1 of training camp. Although he is a candidate to make his NHL debut at some point in 2026-27, it is not likely to come out of camp.
Sacha Boisvert, who played in the NHL a little bit at the end of last season but was less noticeable at the Prospect Showcase, is also likely to be in the AHL.
For Spellacy, this is a chance to dominate in the AHL and force the team to have no choice but to call him up. For guys like Boisvert and Marek Vanacker, playing in the AHL will be a great opportunity to advance their skills.
On defense, Alex Vlasic was paired with Bowen Byram to form the new top pair. If Byram's offensive game continues to improve, this could be an outstanding two-way pair that the Blackhawks can use against anyone.
Wyatt Kaiser and Artyom Levshunov, who skated together a lot last season, were back together while Ian Cole was paired with Sam Rinzel. The extra pair consisted of Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro. The Blackhawks are likely to carry a 7th defenseman, which should be Korchinski, while Del Mastro may be destined for waivers/AHL time.
In goal, it is Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom. Some are expecting Drew Commesso to get his chance, but he is with the non-NHL group for now. Due to the two-way contract that he has, becoming a one-way contract at the same time that Soderblom becomes a free agent, expect this to be the mold for the 2026-27 season. Adam Gajan is projected to back up Commesso in the AHL.
Both Jeff Blashill and Kyle Davidson admitted after practice that the NHL group that skated today is likely where the opening day lineup is coming from.
With training camp being so short, it will take a lot longer than that for someone from the non-NHL group to earn their way up. Spellacy, Boisvert, and Vanacker may not like hearing that, but they will get some good work in with the Rockford IceHogs to boost their confidence and prepare for when their name is called.
For Spellacy specifically, he can go to Rockford and play so well that the decision makers decide it is finally time to play him over an NHL forward who isn't as impactful as him.
On Friday, each group will practice again. On Saturday, the non-game group will have a practice at Blackhawks Ice Arena, followed by the game group having a morning skate. Then, the game group will make their way up north for that night's preseason tilt against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena.
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