After a day off on Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens were back in action, and only two groups remained. Group A included the NHL players (Jacob Fowler is considered an NHL player here) and Florian Xhekaj, Owen Beck, David Reinbacher, and Adam Engstrom. In contrast, Group B included players destined to play for the Laval Rocket or the Trois-Rivières Lions this season. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they’ve made it, but the youngster must see that as a positive sign.

However, coach Martin St-Louis downplayed the meaning of the four youngsters still being in Group A:

I think it was an opportunity to, you know, get some really good reps at the NHL pace, and I think that’s what we try to accomplish today. How they internalize that, I’m not sure; probably guys took it differently. For them, every day matters, no matter what group you’re in; there’s always an opportunity, and to me, it’s just that.

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Of course, it was put to the coach that the Habs currently have plenty of forwards on NHL contracts, and that could mean there are no surprises out of this camp, but he didn’t necessarily agree:

There are always surprises. Yes, contracts are part of it, but things can change. There are different ways to make room, but it always starts with the individual who must force our hand.

Clearly, it wasn’t the first time the coach said those words at camp because when Florian Xhekaj spoke to the media a few minutes later, he explained:

Yeah, they have a lot of guys here; obviously, I know that, and I mean, I don’t really care, in a sense, because I know I want to make the team, and everyone’s here to make the team. I think it’s like I’ve been saying: show up every day, show my skills, show what I bring and try to force their hand.

- Florian Xhekaj on being part of Group A

The younger Xhekaj certainly has the right attitude, and if some NHLers are too comfortable, he wants to unseat them. The question is, though, will the Habs brass be willing to make the moves to make it possible? That’s the real question. In two games so far, the power forward has certainly shown what he brings to the table and how the Canadiens could benefit from his presence, but the rest is out of his hands. He’s being realistic, though, and reminded members of the media that last year he got to this stage as well. He was still with the team when it went to Quebec City for an exhibition game.

As for those who found themselves in Group B, the coach remembers the days when he was in their shoes:

I definitely remember when they split teams, and I wasn’t on the NHL team, and you know, things can work out. Mentally, you’ve just got to be stronger than your feelings. It’s disappointing, but you've got to keep pushing; things can work out.

As for the fact that GM Kent Hughes said that he wouldn’t start the season with three goaltenders and that Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler and Samuel Montembeault are all in Group A, the coach said:

Monty’s been a pro; he was a pro last year. You know, when he didn’t see the net at the end of the season. Unbelievable teammate. He put a process in place this summer, and it’s been impressive to watch. He hasn’t forgotten how to play goal. Monty’s a really good goalie, and he’s had a strong camp so far.

Those comments lead to one conclusion: unless the Canadiens trade the Becancour native before the season starts, Fowler will likely have to go back to the AHL, even though he belongs in the NHL. According to the schedule provided to the media ahead of camp, there should be a scrimmage on Thursday, and that will be another opportunity for the young players to prove themselves and for the veterans to show why they deserve to keep their spot on the roster.

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The 2025-26 NHL season showed that a coaching change could happen at any time.

The Vegas Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the season and John Tortorella took the team to the Stanley Cup Final. He wasn't brought back after the run as the Golden Knights promoted American Hockey League coach Ryan Craig.

The New York Islanders fired Patrick Roy with four games and brought in Peter DeBoer, who will lead the team this season.

Tortorella, Cassidy (assuming the Golden Knights give permission), Kris Knoblauch and others are among the former coaches who could step in if a change needs to be made.

So which coaches could be on the hot seat this season? USA TODAY looks at four possibilities:

Todd McLellan, Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are still looking for a full-time general manager, and that person will determine McLellan's future. He has only been with the team for one-plus seasons of their 10-year playoff drought, but the Red Wings did fade down the stretch last season.

Sheldon Keefe, New Jersey Devils

New general manager Sunny Mehta kept Keefe on and gave him more scoring depth. As always, the Devils' success depends on Jack Hughes' health. Plus, is the goaltending strong enough? A slow start could spell trouble for Keefe.

Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets

Arniel has a built-in excuse for a slow start because award-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck didn't report to the team amid a trade request. But the Jets, even with Hellebuyck, went from the 2024-25 Presidents' Trophy to out of the 2026 playoffs.

Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators

Like Keefe, he has a new general manager (Chris MacFarland) who upgraded the team. Brunette showed an 18-point improvement in his second season, but he's in the final year of his contract.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who's on the NHL coaching hot seat during the 2026-27 season?

With two preseason games left to play, the Philadelphia Flyers have officially reached the halfway point of their 2026 training camp, and after the latest round of roster cuts, we have a pretty good idea of where everyone stands now.

Suffering back-to-back blowout losses to Washington and Boston on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, many of the bubble players did themselves no favors.

Many journeymen have already been shipped off to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms' training camp, and prospects like Ty Murchison and Hunter McDonald simply ran out of runway with the shortened training camp and preseason.

As a result, the Flyers' final roster, at least for opening night, is virtually set, with only the likes of Cole Knuble, Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, Helge Grans, Carl Grundstrom, Jacob Gaucher, and Nikita Grebenkin fighting for the last few spots.

With the roster now greatly reduced in size, we can take our first guess at some line combinations, too.

Forwards

Porter Martone - Trevor Zegras - Owen Tippett

Denver Barkey OR Alex Bump - Christian Dvorak - Matvei Michkov

Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Travis Konecny

Nikita Grebenkin OR Denver Barkey - Sean Couturier - Noel Acciari

Carl Grundstrom - Jett Luchanko - Cole Knuble

Zach Aston-Reese - Jacob Gaucher - Noah Powell

Nolan Foote - Jack Studnicka - Danila Klimovich

Garrett Wilson - Riley Thompson - Devin Kaplan

Rationale

This is more or less what I expect opening night to look like, depending on Denver Barkey (lower-body) and Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body). Carl Grundstrom, with his speed and versatility, is very clearly the 14th forward if the Flyers choose to go 14-7-2 for their roster distribution.

I don't see a fit for Alex Bump in the bottom-six, so it's top-six or bust in my eyes. His shaky camp thus far leaves his grip on a roster spot tenuous at best, though the injury situation currently works in his favor.

Jett Luchanko has had a quietly strong preseason and training camp, and while he will probably never be a high-flying scorer, he has shown capable of supporting more dynamic wingers with his speed and style of play. Mikael Granlund could be an interesting high-end comparison for him. If any of the centers have to miss time, Luchanko will be on the roster.

In the event of injury, expect Cole Knuble to be one of, if not the first man up. The number of wingers the Flyers have makes it a hard cut, but it's to no fault of his own. I've wondered that, if Barkey has to miss time, the Flyers utilize injured reserve to make a roster spot and give Knuble a few games of experience.

Everyone below that fifth line has been mostly unimpressive or shouldn't see an NHL game short of a calamitous rash of injury, though Noah Powell has raised his stock considerably in the last few weeks. If Powell continues to follow this upwards trajectory, he could be an interesting future fourth-liner with a laser of a shot to contribute some offense.

Defense

Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - David Jiricek

Simon Benoit - Oliver Bonk

Hunter McDonald - Helge Grans

Ty Murchison - Spencer Gill

Cam Dineen - Andrew Perrott

Rationale

To this point, nobody has stood out enough, good or bad, to win or lose a spot. David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk have both been spotty defensively, but Jiricek has the superior physical tools and talent, and his inability to pass back and forth from the AHL without requiring waivers works in his favor.

Simon Benoit is, for now, the seventh defenseman, though he has not exactly been impressive this preseason at either end of the ice. Hunter McDonald could usurp him by the end of the season, if not earlier, with a strong run of form in the AHL.

Ditto for Ty Murchison, who had a rough turnover in the loss to the Bruins on Tuesday that lead to a goal. For now, the edge goes to McDonald, whose physicality is virtually unmatched, even at the NHL level.

Objectively, Helge Grans is still alive in the fight for a roster spot, though I feel that Spencer Gill has been the strongest performer of all of the bubble defensemen throughout camp.

Losing two years of development to injury has hurt his case, though the 2024 second-round pick has shown capable of holding his own.

In our last depth chart, I mused that the Flyers would have Gill stay the entire season in the AHL to develop, but I no longer think it's outright impossible for him to play an NHL game this season if the circumstances necessitate it.

Game three of the Pittsburgh Penguins preseason slate is scheduled for later this evening as they head west to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. This will be the first of two road preseason games, with the second coming on Saturday in the preseason finale. Most importantly, the countdown to the regular season is now under a week with the Penguins set to take on the Philadelphia Flyers in just six days time. Until then, it’s roster battles galore as the preseason moves along.

Pens Points…

Tonight’s roster in Columbus doesn’t feature any of the big names, but given who will be making the trip, it will make for some interesting position battles to keep an eye on. Sergei Murashov is the only goalie of note chosen for the game so expect him to get all 60 minutes of action. [Pensburgh]

A good chunk of the Penguins opening night lineup is already set, but there are a few spots still on offer with more bodies competing for those spots than are available. Through two preseason games, some players have made a better case than others to grab one of those openings. [Pensburgh]

A handful of players we know will not be making the roster were cut from camp on Wednesday, though none were a surprise. Six players, all defensemen, were sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while fellow defenseman and 2026 draft pick Tomas Galvas was loaned back to his Czech club. [Pensburgh]

Another notable cut from the training camp roster was goaltender Taylor Gauthier. The longtime ECHL goalie with the Wheeling Nailers will be placed on waivers and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. [Trib Live]

Kaeden Korczak will be one of the new faces in a Penguins uniform this season after being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights. Still only 25 years old, Korczak is hoping to make an immediate impact with the Penguins and show he was worth taking the risk. [Penguins]

It’s starting to feel like now or never for Rutger McGroarty and he’s very aware the clock is ticking. Coming off a year where he battled injury but had a solid AHL campaign, the young forward is ready to prove he belongs as a full time NHL player. [PPG]

Another situation where you could say it’s now or never for the player is defenseman Owen Pickering. Drafted in the same first round as McGroarty, Pickering knows he has to make a statement and show he can play consistently at the highest level. [Trib Live]

NHL News and Notes…

One of the most controversial moves across the NHL this offseason was the Edmonton Oilers hire of Mike Babcock as the team’s new head coach. When asked his opinion on the matter, Oilers legend Mark Messier was not afraid to mince words on where he stands. [ESPN]

There’s going to be predictions made for every team as the season nears, some plausible and some going out on a limb. Doesn’t matter which team you are, they’re all hoping to make the good predictions come true. [Bleacher Report]

Already at the halfway point of the 2026 compressed NHL Preseason, the Anaheim Ducks hosted their rival Los Angeles Kings for their second game of the exhibition season on Wednesday night at Honda Center. 

The Ducks iced an NHL-heavy lineup in their exhibition opener against the San Jose Sharks (who did not) on Sunday, but their roster in this game was far more of a mixed bag and far more equal to that of their opponent. 

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Heading into the game, the player to watch may have been young Jayden Kurtz (18), who was three months removed from his draft and was tasked with first-pair deployment in his first outing on an NHL ice sheet, paired alongside Pavel Mintyukov to start.

Here’s how the Ducks lined up for this game:

Vatrano-Poehling-Sidorov

Mallot-Washe-Colangelo

Pitre-Procyszyn-Caulfield

Nesterenko-Gaucher-Traff

Mintyukov-Kurtz

Mitchell-Luneau

Smith-Warren

Lukas Dostal got the nod in the Anaheim crease for this game and stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced. He was opposed by Anton Forsberg, who saved 24 of 25. 

Game Notes

This game was a somewhat sloppy affair, as has become custom for preseason tilts with rosters such as these. Combined, the two clubs went 0 for 11 on the power play. Lack of finishing touch was apparent from Anaheim’s group, as on the handful of occasions they were able to generate quality looks, Forsberg made a key save on the doorstep. 

Tristan Luneau: From the Ducks’ perspective, this game was “The Tristan Luneau Show.” He led the team in even-strength TOI (18:57), over three minutes more than Pavel Mintyukov (15:03). He also led the team in power play TOI (5:51) and shorthanded TOI (3:20). 

He displayed every aspect of what can potentially make him a special player at the NHL level. His puck retrievals are now refined, he’s dictating pace when the puck is on his stick, manipulating defenders at the blueline and deep into the offensive zone, and on the defensive side of the puck, his gaps were precise, and his physicality was apparent in the small areas. 

Jayden Kurtz: After a pedestrian rookie camp and tournament, Kurtz made his NHL preseason debut and didn’t seem out of place. His instincts are present, as he has sophisticated weight on his first passes out of the zone, displays an effective gap against the rush, and gets his stick in lanes with consistency. 

He’s still a raw prospect, but this game showed the first flashes of what he can become at the highest level with a few more years of development under his belt. 

Cycle Offense: It’s too early to read into system or style tweaks, but an encouraging sign from this game came from extended cycle sequences when forwards like Frank Vatrano, Nikita Nesternko, Yegor Sidorov, etc. released higher in the offensive zone with possession, opening up new lanes and forcing defensemen to activate, ultimately creating disruption within the Kings’ defensive structure. 

Noah Warren: In his development, Warren has come leaps and bounds in terms of his stride and four-way mobility. He’s now a confident, effective, polished defender in every facet (rush, gap, coverage, angles, etc.). However, to have a true impact at the NHL level if/when he gets a shot with the Ducks, his puck skills and decision making under duress will need to reach a certain floor. He had shots and passes disrupted in precarious situations on multiple occasions in this game, and a simplification of his execution may be in order. 

The Ducks will be right back at it for Game 3 of their four-game preseason on Thursday evening, when they’ll head north to take on the San Jose Sharks. 

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The Senators hoped the stronger half of their split squad would take care of business at home Wednesday night.

Instead, a Toronto Maple Leafs lineup made up largely of players fighting for jobs came into Canadian Tire Centre and handed them a 4–2 loss.

It completed a sweep of the night for Toronto. Across town at Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs dressed most of their stars and beat Ottawa’s other group, 6–1.

The home game was much closer, but Ryan Tverberg broke a 2–2 tie with less than five minutes remaining, and Teddy Blueger added an empty-net goal.

After a scoreless first, Henrik Rybinski opened the scoring on the power play at 3:51 of the second, putting home a rebound at the side of the net. The goal was initially waved off because the puck seemed to go off the crossbar and straight out. But the replay clearly showed the puck entering the net.

Dylan Cozens answered less than three minutes later. He took the puck off Leafs defenceman Blake Smith and beat Anthony Stolarz with a wrist shot to tie the game.

Toronto went back in front midway through the third when Steven Lorentz redirected a Marshall Rifai shot past Linus Ullmark.

Ottawa replied just 41 seconds later, courtesy of Hoyt Stanley. The young defenceman gathered a loose puck, patiently pulled it to his backhand and beat Stolarz to make it 2–2.

Stanley was the Sens top pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, which isn't quite as impressive as it sounds. He was a fourth-round pick because the Sens had traded away their first three picks. But that slick goal won't hurt Stanley's stock with Senators’ evaluators.

Tverberg settled things at 15:43 of the third, beating Ullmark with a snap shot from the left faceoff circle. Blueger added some insurance, scoring into the empty net with eight seconds remaining. Ullmark finished with 20 saves for Ottawa, while Stolarz made 19 for Toronto.

The Senators will get one more split-squad night Saturday, when they face the Montreal Canadiens in simultaneous games in Ottawa and Montreal. Both start at 7 p.m. That will be the club's preseason finale. The regular season begins Oct. 3.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

It was a rough night for an undermanned Senators squad in Toronto on Wednesday night.

With the Maple Leafs dressing all their top players, they didn't have much trouble with the Senators, defeating them 6-1 at Scotiabank Arena. John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic all had three points for Toronto, while Tim Stützle had the only marker for the Senators

Stützle gave the Senators an early lead at 6:35 of the first period. Carrying the puck down the left wing, he cut across the crease and tucked a slick backhand past Sergei Bobrovsky. Andre Burakovsky and Christian Kyrou picked up the assists.

The lead lasted just 70 seconds. Jake McCabe tied the game before John Tavares put Toronto ahead to stay late in the first on a two-on-one with William Nylander. Jack Roslovic added a power-play goal in the second before former Senator Zack MacEwen and defenseman Morgan Rielly stretched the lead to 5-1.

Auston Matthews completed the scoring in the third, ripping one off the post and ending Leevi Meriläinen's night.

Meriläinen, who didn't have an NHL-caliber defence in front of him, was under siege all night, allowing all six goals before Jackson Parsons replaced him in the third.

The Senators went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Leafs went 1-for-3.

The Sens had chances to make the score more respectable. Bobrovsky robbed Stützle on a one-timer from close range. Kasper Halttunen struck iron twice on the same shift.

The Senators did have Stützle, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Michael Amadio, Burakovsky and Tyler Kleven in the lineup, but most of the rest of their roster was made up of players fighting for NHL jobs.

Carter Yakemchuk got the toughest assignment of the group. The Sens effectively threw him into the deep end to see if he would sink or swim. Yakemchuk led the Sens with 25:29 of ice time against a skilled Toronto lineup and had a difficult night. It was a reminder that the role he played Wednesday is a big step up from the limited, well-insulated minutes he saw during his brief NHL looks last season.

It was a rough night in both cities for the Senators. Their more experienced group also lost at home, falling 4-2 to Toronto’s other split squad, which featured a heavy load of AHL players.

The Sens will close their preseason Saturday night with two simultaneous games against Montreal, one at home and one on the road.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

The Pittsburgh Penguins' positional battles are in full swing, and with two pre-season games remaining, things are getting down to the wire.

For Thursday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the lineup is largely prospect-heavy, with the forward unit, especially, comprised of players in heavy competition for precious NHL roster spots. 

It hasn't been an easy camp for anyone, as players, coaches, and management alike are navigating the challenges of a shortened camp. But the Penguins' staff has continuously reminded the players that their window is shorter this year to make an impression.

"The coaches are making sure we know that, when you blink, camp's going to be over," Hayes said after Monday's 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres to open the pre-season. "You don't want to regret anything, you kind of want to attack every day with the mindset that you don't know what's coming tomorrow. So, you just gotta attack every day with 100 percent."

And, given some new updates to the team's injury situaion, there may be even more opportunity for some guys to crack the NHL roster out of camp.

It was already announced earlier this week that center Blake Lizotte and forward Oliver Okuliar are out week-to-week with upper- and lower-body injuries, respectively, and forward Justin Brazeau skated with the team Thursday but is day-to-day. But to add to the mayhem, the Penguins also updated Ben Kindel's status.

Previously day-to-day with a lower-body injury sustained during the first period of Monday's game, Kindel was downgraded to week-to-week on Thursday and is still undergoing testing and evaluation to determine the extent of the injury. 

So, with Lizotte and Kindel - both centers - unlikely to be ready for the season-opener on Sept. 30 against the Philadelphia Flyers, that opens up some space for a few younger centers to make an impression.

Penguins Provide Injury Update On Ben KindelPittsburgh is already facing a littany of forward injuries just one week into the pre-season

The likely frontrunners? Filip Hallander, Hendrix Lapierre, and Tristan Broz.

Lapierre, 24, was acquired from the Washington Capitals for a third- and a fifth-round pick this summer and has not yet lived up to his offensive ceiling in his short NHL career. He has 13 goals and 47 points in 158 career NHL games, but the Penguins believe there is more to untap, and he has looked good in the early days of camp. 

Broz - turning 24 on Oct. 10 - is a responsible two-way center who can also put the puck in the back of the net. Injuries have limited him to playing in just one NHL game in the last season-plus, but his effectiveness in all three zones, his hockey smarts, and his ability to impact five-on-five play as well as both special teams units puts him in a nice position to, perhaps, take on third- or fourth-line duties for the Penguins momentarily.

Then, there's Hallander, who has been the standout among the fringe players in camp. His 2025-26 season was cut short just 14 games in because of a blood clot, but he looks the part and, like Broz, offers a valuable two-way skillset that can benefit the Penguins with two bottom-six centers out. He plays the wing more than he plays center nowadays, but the Penguins have options - as well as a solid, reliable player - in Hallander. 

Pre-Season: Rust Leads Way As Penguins Defeat Sabres, 4-1The Penguins earned a victory in their first pre-season tilt Monday.

Those three players probably have the inside track to NHL minutes and spots on the roster when combining performance and positional need. However, don't discount a few others from making a big enough impression during Thursday's tilt that they could force the Penguins' hand. 

The guy next in line very well could be Hayes, who scored five goals in 16 games for the NHL club last season. He scored an impressive goal in the pre-season opener when, with only a few ticks left on the second-period clock, he forced a turnover behind the Buffalo goal, circled just above the goal line, and sniped one over the right shoulder of goaltender Alex Lyon to give Pittsburgh back the momentum and its two-goal advantage. 

"Momentum" is a term that comes to mind with Hayes's game, and that extra effort is noticed by teammates and coaches, too. 

A-very good time to bring back the Avery puns 🙂‍↕️ pic.twitter.com/uXHxSXD3op

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 22, 2026

"It's the goal, but it was the time of the goal, too," head coach Dan Muse said. "Obviously, when you can get a massive momentum swing like that right before you go into the locker room. Even within that sequence, though, you saw him getting in on the hunt, getting in on the forecheck, that's a big part of his game.

"That kind of tenacious, puck-pressure, never-quit player - that's when he's at his best."

And there's also Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen. McGroarty has put together a solid camp, has improved his skating a bit, and is determined to stick at the NHL level, which has been evident in his work ethic at practices and in games. He scored a late goal in Pittsburgh's 7-4 loss against the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday and will get another opportunity to make an impression Thursday.

So, too, will Koivunen, who missed his first scheduled pre-season tilt after he sustained a facial injury during practice earlier this week. Koivunen is set to be in the lineup Thursday as well, and given his eight-year contract extension and the work he put in during the summer, he will also have a pretty good shot.

Father Of Penguins' Forward Andrei Kuzmenko Dies In Tragic Wildlife AttackThe Penguins confirmed the news, first reported by Russian outlet REN TV, on Thursday

"He's shown that he's put in the work in the summer," Muse said. "He looks stronger, but he's also showing that. I think he's stronger on pucks. The work that he put in over the summer has been noticeable, so I'm excited to see it here in a game."

Of course, guys like Elmer Soderblom - who has had an excellent camp - and Brazeau cannot be left out of the equation, either, even if they might seem to be locks more so than the others. At least, in Soderblom's case. But among young forwards scratching and clawing their way to the NHL, these six seems to be best-positioned to potentially crack the roster for opening night.

Thursday's game against Columbus - which will feature each player mentioned aside from Lapierre, who is limited to two pre-season games because of his "veteran" status of 100 or more games played - can be streamed on the Blue Jackets' website and listened to on the Penguins' flagship station, 105.9 The X.

Pittsburgh Penguins At Columbus Blue Jackets Preview: Lineup, Where To WatchThis is a preview for Thursday's pre-season game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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Joe Veleno is a player who is well positioned to take on a big role for the New York Rangers. 

Over the offseason, the Rangers signed Veleno to a one-year, $1.2 million contract. 

Veleno, coming off a season with the Montreal Canadiens in which he played 61 games, was in search of an expanded role, and the Rangers presented him with that opportunity.

“I think the opportunity and having a bigger role,” Veleno said about why he decided to sign with the Rangers. “Not to say that obviously Montreal was great and the deep run and being part of a winning team. I just feel like there's a lot of potential here too. I think you look on paper and some of the depth that was talked about during the offseason obviously made it a little bit more interesting to want to come here.”

“I think there's a good opportunity here to be really competitive this year, push for a playoff spot, and that's what kind of made it a little bit more exciting.”

Despite being touted as a player with high offensive upside going into his draft year in 2018 when he was selected in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings, that side of his game has not quite translated at the NHL level. 

However, Veleno expanded his two-way game during the 2025-26 campaign with the Canadiens, which helped earn him a spot on the team’s penalty kill. 

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis built trust in Veleno because of his strong two-way play over the course of the season, ultimately helping grow his overall role with the team. 

“I realized it last year, although my offensive numbers weren't where they wanted to be by any means, I think still having the coach's trust to put me in situations, I kind of knew my role,” Veleno said. “I knew that you know we were a team that lacked a lot of physicality and a lot of defensive habits. 

“We had our star players that took over a lot of the games offensively, but (I) just found a niche and a way to contribute, and I kind of took on that role and embraced it. Took a lot of pride into penalty killing and doing the hard things that not a lot of guys want to do… I want to carry that on over to here and have that responsibility (on the penalty kill), and hopefully be a big part of it.”

To go along with his expanded defensive skill set, Veleno proved to be a reliable presence on the faceoff dot, setting a career-high in his faceoff percentage by raising his efficiency to 51.6%. 

With the Rangers looking to put their top-six forward unit in more situations where they can thrive offensively, Mike Sullivan is hoping for the bottom-six forward unit to match up against the opposing team’s top lines if needed. 

“Our hope is that we can maybe take J.T. and Mika out of those (defensive) situations and deploy them in a more advantageous situation offensively to try and take advantage of their strengths as a group,” Sullivan said.

Through the first week of training camp, Veleno has slotted in as the Rangers’ fourth-line center on a line with Tye Kartye. 

By the looks of training camp practices, it appears as if Veleno is essentially a lock to earn that fourth-line center role, previously held by Sam Carrick before he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in March.

Sullivan plans to deploy Veleno in a similar manner to the way St. Louis did in Montreal, as he envisions the 26-year-old forward playing penalty killing and a two-way role that goes above and beyond the typical fourth line center. 

“He will without a doubt be a big part of the penalty kill,” Sullivan said of Veleno. “I think he’s also a guy that has shown his ability just with his defensive conscious, we can put him in defensive situations to play against other team’s top players if we need him to. I think the biggest thing that allows him to do that is his size and his skating ability. He can really skate, so I think that is a great attribute as a defensive player… I’m excited to work with Joe. I think he can play a real important role for us.”

For a few tense hours, Philadelphia Flyers fans collectively held their breath as Dan Vladar went down holding his arm just 13 minutes into his preseason debut after a minor collision in the crease that preceded a goal.

That overshadowed everything else in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, but good news would be on the way shortly thereafter.

By Wednesday morning, the cause for concern dramatically decreased. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet declared his starting goalie "day-to-day."

"I think we dodged a bullet," Tocchet said of Vladar and his injury Wednesday. "He's in good spirits today."

For a game-ending injury, that's about as encouraging news as the Flyers and Flyers fans can get.

Vladar's injury happened with 6:29 left in the first period, when he lurched forward to try and collect a rebound, lost his stick, and took light contact to his arm from Bruins forward Tanner Jeannot, who was skating by the net.

The Flyers later confirmed it to be an upper-body injury and subsequently announced that he would not return to the game, leaving mop-up duty to Aleksei Kolosov.

Given that Vladar, 29, just signed a five-year, $27.5 million extension after leading the Flyers to their first playoff berth since 2020 with 29 wins in 52 appearances and 51 starts, the sight of him disappearing down the tunnel was enough to make the fanbase groan "here we go again" in unison.

However, it is worth noting that, while Tocchet wasn't going to guarantee that Vladar would be available for the season opener against Pittsburgh on Sept. 30, it is certainly within the realm of possibilities here.

Another small silver lining of note: the Flyers sent goalie prospect Carson Bjarnason down to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms with just two preseason games left to go, and two healthy goalies remaining in Kolosov and newcomer Joseph Woll, who made his unofficial Flyers debut against Washington in Hershey on Monday.

Tocchet said Wednesday he would be "very comfortable" giving Woll some early burn to start the season, and the Flyers can always bring Bjarnason back at any time to give Woll or Kolosov a night off for one of the remaining preseason games, but again, we're talking about a matter of a week.

It would be simpler to just keep Bjarnason on the roster and avoid yo-yoing him back and forth between Voorhees and Allentown as the Phantoms get started with their training camp.

That's all to say that, yes, it certainly seems that the Flyers avoided a worst-case scenario with their No. 1 goalie, and this situation only reinforces the wise move to get Vladar some legitimate support in Woll earlier this summer.

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Last season, Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka was one of three rookies to make the Detroit Red Wings' opening-night roster.

He ultimately appeared in 68 games during the 2025-26 NHL season, recording seven goals and 14 assists while posting a minus-20 rating.

After returning to the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins, he appeared in eight Calder Cup Playoff games, recording one goal and three assists.

Sandin-Pellikka has already made his presence felt during the Red Wings' preseason, scoring on a powerful shot in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The goal showcased the shot that has fans excited about his potential to become a consistent offensive threat at the NHL level.

🚨SANDIN-PELLIKKA!!!🚨

31 seconds after Appleton makes it 2-1 Axel Sandin-Pellikka makes it 3-1 with a beauty of a shot!!!#LGRW#GoGRGpic.twitter.com/PjKNW0vzZT

— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) September 23, 2026

Upon his return to North America after spending the summer in his native Sweden, Sandin-Pellikka said he believes last season's experience will serve him well going forward.

"I'm excited; having that experience and being here that first year is going to help a lot," he said. "Just experience-wise, knowing what's going on all the time and how we play over here, it's a lot easier to adapt. I feel like I've gotten stronger, and I'm excited." 

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Not only did Sandin-Pellikka tally in Detroit's win over the Penguins, but forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, who also made the Opening Night roster last season, scored twice. 

According to head coach Todd McLellan, both Sandin-Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygård are in a far better position than they were at this point last year, and they have every right to feel confident. 

"Progress": Dylan Larkin Skates In Red Wings Practice, But Not Quite Ready To Play Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin was on the ice for the first time this fall, and has made strides per Todd McLellan.

"He should be confident and feel good," McLellan said. "We went through Axe's progression and how he finished in Grand Rapids, and we said he and (Brandsegg-Nygård ) should come back confident - coming back and feeling good, way better than last year at this time.

He handled the puck, made some really good plays, defended fairly well," he continued. "So, he's where he should be. Just have to keep pushing away and believing in himself, and it'll take over." 

Sandin-Pellikka was selected by the Red Wings in the first round (17th overall pick) of the 2023 NHL Draft, and is entering the second year of his three-year deal carrying a $940,833 salary cap hit. 

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MONTREAL (AP) — George Gillett Jr., who was a former majority owner of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and part owner of soccer's Liverpool FC, has died. He was 87.

The Canadiens confirmed Gillett’s death in a release Wednesday. No cause of death was given.

Gillett bought the Bell Centre, then the Molson Centre, and a majority stake in the Canadiens for $275 million on Jan. 31, 2001, with the help of $140 million in loans from two banks and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, the province’s pension fund manager.

Gillett owned the Canadiens, one of the Original Six franchises making up the NHL, until agreeing to sell the team and arena to the Molson family on June 20, 2009. The sale was approved by the NHL’s board of governors in December of that year.

“George Gillett’s passion for the Montreal Canadiens and commitment to the city of Montreal were demonstrated throughout his tenure as owner of the storied franchise from 2001 to 2009," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "He guided the Canadiens through a significant chapter in their history that included preparations for their Centennial Celebration, which honored the franchise’s rich legacy and seminal place in our game.

“George was a friend whose company I always enjoyed, whose counsel was wise, and whose energy was contagious. His contributions to the hockey world left an enduring mark, and his legacy will continue to be felt throughout the game for years to come."

Canadiens owner, president and chief executive officer Geoff Molson echoed Bettman's remarks in a statement.

“George immersed himself in the Montreal community and was appreciated by everyone in the organization. We sincerely appreciate his contributions to the Montreal Canadiens during his time as owner.”

Gillett, along with fellow American Tom Hicks, owned English soccer giant Liverpool from 2007 to 2010.

Born on Oct. 22, 1938, in Racine, Wisconsin, Gillett rose to prominence as the founder of Brook Creek Management Corp., a portfolio management firm. An avid skier, he once owned the Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts in Colorado.

In 1966, he bought a 20% stake in the Miami Dolphins and became the then-AFL team’s business manager. Two years later, he sold his share and with two partners bought the Harlem Globetrotters, reviving that team with a marketing push. They sold the Globetrotters in 1975.

He also had got into NASCAR in 2007 after buying controlling interest in a team from Ray Evernham. Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) two years later merged with Petty Enterprises to become Richard Petty Motorsports. He sold his share after the 2010 season.

Gillett is survived by his wife of 59 years, three sons, eight grandchildren and a step-granddaughter.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

The Senators had no shortage of injuries on their blue line last season.

At one point, it forced them to bring up two rookies on the same night. Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan both jumped in a car and drove all night to make their NHL debuts in an important game in Detroit back in March.

The injury bug didn't let up in the postseason either as both Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson were knocked out of their first-round loss to Carolina

As they prepare for their second night of preseason action, Sanderson and Zub are both unavailable again.

The circumstances are different. Sanderson missed the end of the first-round playoff series against Carolina with a concussion, but head coach Travis Green described the current issue keeping him out of Wednesday’s games as minor.

Zub's injury is a much bigger deal.

He's still recovering from the injury he suffered in Game 1 against the Hurricanes, and Green said he now does not expect the defenceman to be ready for the start of the regular season.

To make matters worse, Jordan Spence and Jorian Donovan are also unavailable Wednesday, so the Sens need all hands on deck for their split-squad games against Toronto. 

The Senators opened their preseason Monday with a 3–2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. On Wednesday, they’ll divide the roster between Canadian Tire Centre and Scotiabank Arena, with both games against the Maple Leafs starting at 7 p.m.

In Ottawa, William Eklund, Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund remained together at the morning skate. Stephen Halliday centred Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins, while Ridly Greig skated between Sammy Blais and Tyler Boucher. Blake Montgomery, Ryan Suzuki and Xavier Bourgault made up the fourth line.

Thomas Chabot was paired with Hoyt Stanley on defence, with Ben Hutton alongside Cameron Crotty and Tomas Hamara alongside Djibril Touré.

Linus Ullmark and Samuel Ersson were the goaltenders in the home group. Chabot will play, but he's on standby and could leav at any moment to be with his wife Marion, who's expecting their first child any day now.

In Toronto, Tim Stützle centred Andre Burakovsky and Drake Batherson. Shane Pinto skated between Philip Tomasino and Michael Amadio, with the remaining lines featuring Luke Ellinas, Eskild Bakke Olsen and Kasper Halttunen, and Oskar Petterson, Philippe Daoust and Hayden Hodgson.

Tyler Kleven and Carter Yakemchuk were paired on defence, as were Samuel Bolduc and Nikolas Matinpalo, and Scott Harrington and Christian Kyrou. Leevi Meriläinen and Jackson Parsons were the goaltenders in that group.

Zub’s absence, however long it will be, creates an opening on the right side of the Sens defence and another opportunity for the 20-year-old Yakemchuk to make his case. He has had some uneven moments in camp, but the numbers suggest he'll begin the year in Ottawa.

The Senators will split into two groups again on Saturday for simultaneous games against Montreal, bringing their five-game preseason to a close. Wednesday will give Green a look at how some of his lower-end players handle bigger minutes and, as opportunity knocks, which defensemen will respond best.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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Following their 7-4 preseason victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday evening, the Detroit Red Wings returned to the ice Wednesday morning at the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena.

Joining them for the first time this fall was former captain Dylan Larkin, who had missed Training Camp and the first two exhibition games while recovering from an off-ice injury sustained shortly before Camp began. 

Dylan Larkin is back on the ice. #LGRW#RedWingspic.twitter.com/huSRuQ9zxP

— Michael Whitaker (@mwhitaker_89) September 23, 2026

Larkin, who participated in multiple drills with his teammates, isn't ready to return to game action just yet, but has made strides forward in the eyes of head coach Todd McLellan. 

Dylan Larkin taking part in board battle drills pic.twitter.com/ExonN6X6xg

— Michael Whitaker (@mwhitaker_89) September 23, 2026

"Progress, simple as that," McLellan said following the skate. "He's been able to progress enough off the ice in the workout room. The trainers felt good (enough) to let him go. He stayed out for the whole practice; I thought it would be just a portion of it." 

"Good progress." 

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Head coach Todd McLellan confirmed that Larkin would not play in Detroit's home preseason opener on Thursday evening against the Buffalo Sabres, but that there was "a chance" that he could play on Saturday in their preseason finale. 

“There's a chance, we’ve got to be smart with it, but there’s a chance,” McLellan said. “I don’t know what the odds are, but there is a chance.”

Larkin, who reached the 30-goal plateau for the fifth straight campaign in 2025-26, sent shockwaves throughout the organization and fan base when he requested a trade over the summer despite having five years left on his contract.

Former GM Steve Yzerman confirmed shortly after the NHL Draft in late June that Larkin had requested a move, but noted there were no guarantees the request would be granted. 

Todd McLellan: Larkin Must Heal, Edvinsson Situation ‘Business Side’Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan provided updates on injured forward Dylan Larkin, while pointing out Simon Edvinsson's contract situation is out of his control.

Nearly three months later, Larkin remains with the Red Wings, albeit without the captaincy he'd held since early 2021 as the official successor to Henrik Zetterberg. 

During a press conference last week alongside interim GM Shawn Horcoff, Larkin explained he wasn't ready to reveal why he asked for a trade or whether he still wanted to move on. 

Following their final pair of preseason games, the Red Wings open the regular season at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 2 against the visiting New York Rangers. 

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The Minnesota Wild have begun to reduce their roster, making five cuts.

The organization announced they have assigned defensemen Stevie Leskovar and Jack Peart and goaltender Chase Wutzke to the Iowa Wild, while releasing defenseman Mike Koster and goaltender William Rousseau from their professional tryouts.

Koster and Rousseau will report to Iowa Wild training camp.

Leskovar is a 6-foot-3, 22-year-old left-handed defenseman. The Wild drafted him in the sixth round (174th overall) of the 2024 NHL draft. Leskovar has played six AHL games, spending most of the 2025-26 season in the ECHL.

Peart is also a 23-year-old defenseman, but he stands 5-foot-10 and was drafted in the second round (54th overall) of the 2024 draft. He enters his third full season in the AHL, recently posting four goals and 15 points in 61 games. 

Wutzke was also drafted in the 2024 draft, selected in the fifth round (142nd overall). He enters his first full AHL season after playing 47 games in the WHL last year. He played one AHL game last year and six ECHL games to end the 2025-26 season. 

Charlie Stramel, Hunter Haight Face Final Audition As Wild Take On StarsTop prospects Charlie Stramel and Hunter Haight get one last preseason opportunity to impress the Wild as Minnesota takes on the Stars tonight in Dallas.

Koster, a 25-year-old defenseman, now joins the Iowa Wild training camp and was originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019. The 25-year-old played 13 games in the AHL last year with Iowa, but skated in 38 games in the ECHL. 

Rousseau also split time between the AHL and ECHL last year, predominantly playing in the ECHL. The 23-year-old goalie was undrafted and signed after completing a career in the QMJHL. 

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