Utah’s plans for its blue line have taken a significant hit before the regular season even begins.
Maveric Lamoureux is expected to miss the next four to six months after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, the Utah Mammoth announced Monday.
The 22-year-old defenseman suffered a shoulder dislocation during training camp and underwent a procedure to repair the injury Monday, according to general manager Bill Armstrong. The recovery timeline puts Lamoureux on track to potentially return around the All-Star break.
Lamoureux had been competing for a full-time NHL role and was viewed as one of the young defensemen pushing for a spot on Utah’s opening-night roster. Instead, he’ll begin the season on injured reserve.
The 6-foot-6, 196-pound right-shot defenseman was originally selected No. 29 overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was the third first-round selection made by Arizona that year, joining Logan Cooley and Conor Geekie.
Lamoureux turned professional shortly after the Coyotes relocated to Utah, making his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season. He has spent much of his development with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, where he appeared in 65 games last season and recorded five goals and 20 points.
He also appeared in five NHL games for Utah in 2025-26, registering one assist.
Through 107 career AHL games, Lamoureux has seven goals, 33 points and 123 penalty minutes. He has added four points — one goal and three assists — in 20 NHL appearances, along with 44 penalty minutes.
With Lamoureux now sidelined for a large portion of the season, Utah will have another opening to fill on defense.
Andrew Peeke and Nick DeSimone could see increased opportunities, while 2023 first-round pick Dmitri Simashev will have another chance to establish himself. Prospects Tomas Lavoie, Artem Duda and Gregor Biber are also looking to make the jump from Tucson to Salt Lake City.
The Mammoth open their 2026-27 season Oct. 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 20: Gabriel Landeskog #92 and Taylor Makar #16 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate their 4-1 win against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on September 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images)
To celebrate the start of the 2026-27 season, we are recording our final thoughts and predictions as we are set for the first Colorado Avalanche puck drop tomorrow night. Will any of our predictions come true?
Let’s start easy: Who will score Colorado’s first goal of the season?
Jackie: I feel like this is going to be a big year for Cale Makar, so he’s going to be the one to start the team off.
Matthew: I think Brock Nelson scores the first Avs goal this season.
Brennan: It would be perfect to see T.J. Hughes score the first goal, with as much work he has put in over the summer.
Jess: I’ll throw Nazem Kadri out there; seeing him score the first goal after being traded back to Colorado last season would be so much fun.
Adrian: My original answer was Logan O’Connor, but he won’t be playing in game one. Since that was my unconventional pick, I’ll pivot to the most conventional pick. It will be Nathan MacKinnon, but I’ll make it bold by saying it comes on the first power play of the season.
Which trophies (if any) will the Avalanche win in the 2026-27 season?
Matthew: Nathan MacKinnon will win another Rocket Richard Trophy, much to the chagrin of Montréal Canadiens fans (again).
Jess: I think Makar has a good shot at another Norris this year, and I agree with MacKinnon winning the Rocket Richard as well.
Jackie: Continuing the theme of a big year for Cale Makar would mean he’s in line to win his third Norris trophy.
Brennan: I agree with Jackie have to say that Makar will get the Norris.
Adrian: I predict that Brock Nelson will, in fact, win the Selke this year and that the goalie tandem will repeat as Jennings winners as well. All of that, minus major scoring and MVP awards, will mean Jared Bednar finally earns a Jack Adams this time.
Which youth movement candidate will score the most points in burgundy and blue?
Matthew: As much as I want to believe it’ll be T.J. Hughes, I’m going for Fedor Svechkov.
Brennan: If Zachary L’Heureux can stay in the lineup and stay healthy, I think he is shaping up for a career year.
Jess: I’ve been impressed by T.J. Hughes through camp and preseason; I think there’s a good chance he’ll score quite a bit this season.
Adrian: I’m gonna say T.J. Hughes for most points from the youth movement, especially considering he’s seemingly going to get power-play opportunities. L’Heureux for most penalty minutes.
Jackie: I’m going real bold and believe it will be Taylor Makar.
Surprise team to make and/or miss the playoffs?
Matthew: Choosing one team from each conference on this question – Chicago and Columbus make the playoffs, while Anaheim and Florida miss the playoffs.
Brennan: Ottawa will make the playoffs, and just in the Wild Card, but in the top three of the Atlantic with Brady gone. Nashville is in a position to make a jump into the playoffs with six former Avalanche players on the roster as well.
Jess: I think Utah will finally get into the playoffs this year, by way of either a Wild Card spot or the third spot in the Central Division. I think there’s a chance the Kings miss the playoffs, but I also don’t see them bottoming out and being as bad as some other bottom teams in the Western Conference. Out in the Eastern Conference, I think the Islanders make it this year, and the Senators end up missing.
Adrian: I think the Blackhawks will steal a wildcard spot, but mostly because of how bad the Pacific will look, in my opinion. I think the Central will earn both wild-card spots by year’s end.
Jackie: The New York Rangers will make the playoffs and the Buffalo Sabres will miss.
Guess a big-name player who will get traded in-season?
Matthew: Connor Hellebuyck gets his wish and finally gets traded out of Winnipeg…and lands in Utah.
Brennan: Hellebuyck, but he will go to an Eastern Conference team based in the U.S.
Adrian: Quinn Hughes is headed to New Jersey, right?
Jess: Not to jump in and give the exact same answer, I think Hellebuyck gets traded this season and lands in Buffalo; that’s the location that’s been widely talked about when discussing him getting traded since the NHL draft.
Jackie: Now that things are moving in Columbus, I’ll say the Blue Jackets revisit the Zach Werenski situation that was supposedly smoothed out over the summer and trade him by the deadline.
Who will win the Stanley Cup?
Matthew: After sixty years, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally end the drought, and the jeers of “1967” will be replaced with cheers of “2027”!
Brennan: Do I dare say the Canes repeat (and of course I would love to see the Avs take it).
Jess: I’ll be an unashamed homer and take Colorado; for a more fun, underdog pick, seeing Buffalo go all the way would be really fun
Adrian: The Colorado Avalanche will win the Stanley Cup on the back of a dominant commitment to defense and netminding. Defense wins championships.
Jackie: For some reason, I’m feeling the Washington Capitals.
What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments!
The Ottawa Senators have their new captain, and in a lot of ways, they couldn't have made a more fitting choice.
The Senators announced Thomas Chabot as their new captain at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, handing the "C" to the longest-serving player on the roster and someone who has been around for the organization's long climb back to relevance.
Chabot takes over the captaincy left vacant when Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in June after requesting a move. Tkachuk had served as the Sens' captain for the previous five seasons.
There were certainly other strong candidates.
Jake Sanderson has already emerged as Ottawa's No. 1 defenceman and figures to be one of the faces of the franchise for years. Tim Stützle is entering his seventh season in Ottawa and is one of the club's most important players. And Claude Giroux brings more leadership experience than just about anyone in the NHL.
All three of those men will wear the A as alternate captains this season, but Chabot's connection to this organization runs deeper than anyone else's.
The 29-year-old has played his entire NHL career with the Senators. He has appeared in 569 regular-season games, scoring 78 goals and adding 257 assists for 335 points. Last season, Chabot had seven goals and 31 points in 57 games.
He may no longer be Ottawa's No. 1 defenceman, pounding out 30 minutes of ice time every night, but Chabot is still a very important No. 2 and a major part of the Sens' top four.
More importantly, nobody on this roster has lived through more of the Senators' ups and downs than Chabot.
He was here before the rebuild began. He was here through the messiest parts of it, when playoff hockey seemed a long way off and the Sens were regularly near the bottom of the NHL standings.
And when there wasn't much tangible evidence that better days were coming, Chabot bought in anyway.
In September 2019, at age 22, he signed an eight-year, $64-million contract to remain in Ottawa. At the time, the Senators were coming off a 64-point season and had just finished 31st overall.
Chabot didn't wait for the rebuild to succeed before committing to it. Chabot set a template for other young players in the core.
He then stayed through all of it: the losses, the coaching changes, the ownership change and all the seasons when spring hockey was something other teams played.
Now he's still here as the Senators prepare for a third consecutive playoff push.
Chabot's ability to communicate well in both English and French gives the Senators a captain who can comfortably represent the organization on both sides of the Ottawa River. That's significant for a franchise that has long talked about strengthening its connection with hockey fans in Gatineau and western Quebec.
Chabot will succeed past captains Laurie Boschman (1992-93), Gord Dineen, Mark Lamb and Brad Shaw (1993-94 rotation), Randy Cunneyworth (1994 to 1998), Alexei Yashin (1998-99), Daniel Alfredsson (1999 to 2013), Jason Spezza (2013-14), Erik Karlsson (2014 to 2018) and Brady Tkachuk (2021 to 2026).
If there's one question attached to Tuesday's announcement, it's what happens beyond the next two seasons.
Chabot is entering the seventh season of the eight-year contract he signed in 2019. His $8-million-a-year deal runs through the 2027-28 season, after which he can become an unrestricted free agent at age 31.
The Senators have had more than their share of captains leave the organization over the years, and they've just watched it happen again with Tkachuk.
The last thing they would want is to name Chabot captain in 2026 and find themselves facing another major captaincy decision two years from now because he's headed elsewhere. That suddenly becomes a little more interesting when you're putting the "C" on his sweater.
Chabot was asked about that on Tuesday and said that Ottawa feels like home, speaking with pride about settling in as a member of this community.
“We’ve always said it. Ottawa feels like home,” Chabot said. “We bought our first house here. We started our family here. Becoming captain here is a huge honour.”
While there's no guarantee of anything this far away from Chabot's next contract, you'd have to think the Senators wouldn't have made this decision without feeling comfortable about Chabot's desire to remain in Ottawa beyond his current deal.
And Chabot's own words earlier this month certainly sound like those of a player who remains invested in what has been built here.
"You want guys to be here. You want guys to want to be part of this team and part of this city," Chabot said after Tkachuk's departure. "We feel like we're on the verge of starting to make the playoffs and building something."
Chabot knows better than anyone how long it took to get here. Now he's been rewarded for his loyalty, becoming the 11th captain of the Ottawa Senators.
Before the 5 p.m. NHL roster deadline, the Florida Panthers assigned a slew of players to the Charlotte Checkers, including several who cleared waivers.
Among those joining the Checkers in the AHL after clearing waivers are Nathan Bastian, John Beecher, Sam Lafferty, Alexander Petrovic, Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, Kai Schwindt, and Donovan Sebrango.
Among those who did not require waivers were Marek Alscher, Cooper Black, Jack Devine, Kirill Gerasimyuk, Mikuláš Hovorka, Ludvig Jansson, Tyler Muszelik, Emil Pieniniemi, Samu Salminen, Matvei Shuravin, and Hunter St. Martin.
Finally, the Panthers released several players on PTO: William Bitten, Karsen Dorwart, Riese Gaber, Robert Mastrosimone, Liam McLinskey, and Nathan Smith.
As a result, the Panthers enter the season with 21 players on their roster: 12 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goalies. Brad Marchand starts the season on injured reserve, while Jonah Gadjovich is placed on the injured/non-roster list.
The Charlotte Checkers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season after losing to the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate. This followed the Checkers' loss in the Calder Cup Final during the 2024-25 season to the Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate.
With a mix of youngsters and veterans, the Checkers should once again be a playoff team capable of a long run. Last year, the Checkers' lineup was depleted due to the injuries the NHL club faced. The hope is that the Panthers' NHL lineup remains intact and they aren't as desperate to recall so many key figures from the Checkers.
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For St. Louis Blues fans, the deal they're watching is whether GM Alexander Steen pulls the trigger on a trade for Alexander Nikishin. But now, according to a recent report from Friedman, the Blues' pursuit of Nikishin could have direct implications on the Carolina Hurricanes' ability to acquire Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets.
Friedman believes that a deal between the Hurricanes and Jets would have happened already if Nikishin were willing to sign in Winnipeg. He stated that he is still under the impression that Nikishin is looking for a five-year deal carrying a $9 million AAV.
Nikishin reportedly isn't interested in signing in Winnipeg, which further narrows the trade destinations.
"St. Louis has been a consistent pursuer, and there are some who are surprised it hasn’t happened," said Friedman. "Nashville tried, but wasn’t close enough for what Carolina wants. The Hurricanes were disappointed the Rangers trade didn’t work out and made it clear they would move Nikishin at their own pace. They are motivated now, so we’ll see. Nikishin is a talented player, but has zero leverage under the CBA."
With the New York Rangers out of the mix, the Nashville Predators unwilling to part with the necessary pieces, and the Jets unable to convince Nikishin to sign in Winnipeg, the Blues are the only true contender to land the 24-year-old Russian defenseman.
Friedman mentioned that Nikishin has changed agents and has been granted permission to speak with other teams about a contract. He also mentioned that the Hurricanes could be looking to make a three-team trade.
Nikishin is a left-handed defenseman who took home the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in his rookie season. He posted 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games, finishing seventh in Calder Trophy voting.
While he primarily played on the left side for the Hurricanes, Nikishin can play on the right side of defense, giving him the ability to play with Philip Broberg on the top pair or on the left side of the second pair.
The 2020 third-round pick boasts a 6-foot-3 frame, strong two-way ability, and the offensive skills to run a power-play unit. Nikishin fits the Blues stylistically and in terms of age.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are probably the heaviest team in terms of the headlines and storylines going into opening night. They just acquired Kirill Marchenko in a blockbuster deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have nearly an entire new roster compared to last year, and many more.
But what can't be lost is that Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena marks Gavin McKenna's NHL debut. It's clear that the 18-year-old oozes confidence, but he has continued to put that attribute on display on the morning of the biggest game of his hockey career so far.
The Maple Leafs held an optional morning skate on Tuesday, featuring 12 players, many of whom were veterans. However, in preparation for his NHL debut, McKenna did not take the ice for the team's optional skate, which is something pretty routine for a young player, let alone a rookie gearing up for his first game in the league.
"He's got some swag," defenseman Chris Tanev said of McKenna after the session. "You know, he's very confident, very good player. So, I mean, I'm super excited for him. I mean, he's got - I think his parents are coming in tonight, and I'm sure he's got some other people. So, first NHL game, it's something that you should enjoy, and I'm sure he will tonight."
Left winger Easton Cowan, who made his NHL debut last year, laughed about McKenna's decision when asked about it.
"I can't comment on that," the 21-year-old said. "Maybe ask the older guys."
Even Leafs bench boss Jim Hiller got a kick out of McKenna not taking the ice for the morning skate. He admitted that he loved the decision he made, saying it truly speaks to how confident he is in himself.
"Yeah, you know what - I actually thought it was great," Hiller said. "I really did, because that's an optional skate. It's optional if you think you need it to get ready to play tonight. And when I heard he didn't go out, it didn't surprise me. He just has that way. He knows who he is. He knows what he has to do. And I think how he's adapted in a short amount of time just speaks to who he is and the confidence that he has in himself."
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But there’s a difference between looking ready for the NHL and being ready to stay there.
For Suniev, starting the season with the Calgary Wranglers doesn’t have to be viewed as a setback. In fact, it could be an important part of making sure he’s ready when his next opportunity comes.
“I just try to do my best every game, obviously work hard on the ice, do what my coaches need from me and also, not forgetting to play my game and using my shot,” Suniev explained about his approach during preseason.
Now, entering his second professional season, he has already shown he can produce at the AHL level and that his offensive skill can translate against NHL competition.
The next step is consistency.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Flames aren’t sending Suniev to the AHL because he lacks talent. If anything, his preseason made it pretty clear that the talent is there.
Rather than sitting in the NHL lineup and potentially playing limited minutes, Suniev can go to Calgary’s top affiliate, play a major role, work on the details Huska and the coaching staff want to see and continue developing his offensive game.
That doesn’t mean the door to the NHL is closed.
Quite the opposite.
If Suniev continues to produce while becoming more reliable without the puck, the Flames will have another decision to make. And considering the offensive holes on this roster, it’s hard to imagine the organization ignoring a player who is producing and showing he’s ready.
Suniev is close. Very close.
But being close and being ready to stay in the NHL are two different things.
The Flames are likely betting that a little more development now will give Suniev a better chance of making a permanent impact when his next opportunity arrives.
After the preseason he just had, there’s plenty of reason to believe that opportunity won’t be far away.
Alas, the NHL lost a great rivalry. | Getty Images
Hi, I got tired of seeing every hockey site posting “BOLD predictions for each NHL team” that weren’t very bold. Truly, they were mostly just lists of “this completely realistic thing could happen but my editor required that I make it sound bold,” and then they slapped “bold” on the headline for some rote, click-baity reason.
So I made my own list, for catharsis. Kindly disregard.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: Pat Verbeek is such a tough salary negotiator that he spends the entire season trying to fit his 23-man roster under the cap.
Calgary Flames: The Flames miss the playoffs. Bold!
Edmonton Oilers: After being suspended for projecting individual players’ TikToks on the hot tub big screen, Mike Babcock is replaced as head coach by Mark Messier, who promptly awards himself with the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Los Angeles Kings: Pete Laviolette is fired by his seventh franchise, replaced by Darryl Sutter who guides them to a Stanley Cup.
San Jose Sharks: Ryan Warsofsky is replaced by Pete Laviolette.
Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle remains captain, but laments that his best-performing years were when he was required to be clean shaven before showing up to work.
Vegas Golden Knights: Praised for always going above and beyond, Vegas puts a bunch of guys on LTIR and acquires Connor Hellebuyck. But this achievement pales in comparison to ensuring Bruce Cassidy remains unemployed.
Vancouver Canucks: With performance and attendance dwindling, the Canucks announce a rebrand based around a new logo featuring an orange and black orca whale skating downhill in the shape of a hockey rink.
Atlantic Division
Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin is traded. Bold! But the Wings still extend their franchise-record playoff drought to 11 seasons.
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres miss the playoffs, because Buffalo is a cruel, cursed sportstown.
Boston Bruins: Warning that he won’t re-sign when his ELC expires in three years, James Hagens requests a trade. Also: Mired in a five-game losing streak, Hampus Lindholm and Elias Lindholm get in a bloody fight in practice, tearing the locker room apart.
Montreal Canadiens: Noah Dobson wins the Norris Trophy.
Florida Panthers: Brady and Matthew Tkachuk combine for 50 goals and 200 PIM. Bold!
Ottawa Senators: The LeBreton Flats arena plan falls through yet again, and the Senators announce a plan to share a state-of-the-art arena in Hamilton with the Hammers.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning make the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews and his teammates return from their Phoenix preseason junket without harassing any security guards.
Metropolitan Division
New Jersey Devils: Sunny Mehta — not to be confused with the late, longtime Alfred A. Knopf publisher Sonny Mehta — is fired as GM and replaced by Lou Lamoriello. Chris Lamoriello is named assistant GM, Martin Brodeur is named interim head of player nutrition.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Every single American on the team demands a trade to a U.S. market where there is less pressure.
Washington Capitals: Alex Tuch outscores Jordan Kyrou by four goals, but they are separated by 26 in plus/minus.
New York Rangers: After years of disappointing everyone by simply existing, the sadsack Rangers franchise finally folds. All their historical statistics are transferred to the Winnipeg Jets, except for the 1994 Stanley Cup, which is returned to the Edmonton Oilers franchise.
Philadelphia Flyers: Kevin Kurz files multiple articles about the team in the opening week, including another “Why I Joined The Athletic” thought piece.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Egged on by local media, Penguins fans spend the entire 84-game season complaining that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang do not get enough respect, while Mario Lemieux laments that he needs to rethink whether he wants to be a part of it all.
New York Islanders: The Drive for Five…regular season wins continues into November.
Carolina Hurricanes: NHL fans are reminded that this team won the Stanley Cup, and it turns out it’s their second in this century.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane returns to one of his old franchises and manages to avoid a drunken tussle with a cab driver.
St. Louis Blues: With both franchises in self-deluding late-season playoff pushes, the Blues swap a 7th defensemen to the Islanders for a fourth-line forward, each team raving about the new acquisition’s “veteran presence.”
Colorado Avalanche: ESPN names Ray Bourque the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the 21st Century.
Winnipeg Jets: What prediction can you possibly give a team who already has everything?
Utah Mammoth: Anders Lee reaches 20 goals for the 10th time in his career at age 36.
Dallas Stars: Despite doing almost everything right for about a decade, GM Jim Nill continues to have to push the rock uphill.
Minnesota Wild: Not getting quite enough media praise, Bill Guerin is awarded an Emmy for his performance as Jimmy McNulty on The Wire.
Nashville Predators: Former GM Barry Trotz looks at the current Predators and looks at the current Islanders and mutters, through tears, “Why…why did we ever do any of this?”
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 2 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena.
Let's take a look at who all has worn #2, and where they are now.
Anders Eriksson - 2004-2007 - Drafted by Detroit in 1993.
Eriksson played 145 games for Columbus and had 50 points after signing with Columbus in 2006.
He retired in 2011 after returning home to play in Sweden.
Kris Russell - 2008 - Drafted by Columbus in 2005.
Russell played 288 games in Columbus and had 79 points. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on November 11, 2011, in exchange for Nikita Nikitin.
He went on to play 912 NHL games and total 254 points. After playing 6 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell retired in 2022.
Nate Guenin - 2011 - Drafted by the New York Rangers in 2002.
Guenin played 3 games for the Jackets and had zero points. After his time in Columbus, he went on to play for Anaheim and Colorado.
The former Ohio State Captain returned to the school and was an asst. coach for a season.
"Guenin is a defensive defenseman with a good reach. Enjoys playing a physical game and has the size to wreck opponents. Owns alright skating ability and a decent outlet pass." - Elite Prospects
Radek Martínek - 2012 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1999.
Martínek played 7 games for Columbus and had one goal. Martínek suffered a season-ending concussion against the Detroit Red Wings on October 21, 2011, and also lost teeth and broke his leg. He returned to the NHL in 2013 and played 26 more games before retiring.
"Martínek is a defenseman who plays a well-rounded game. Owns solid passing ability and has a good slapper. However, he is very prone to injury." - Elite Prospects
Andrew Bodnarchuk - 2016 - Drafted by Boston in 2006.
Bodnarchuk played 16 games as a Blue Jacket and totaled two points.
He left for Europe in 2018 and still plays there today. Bodnarchuk plays in Germany's second-tier league, DEL2, for EC Kassel Huskies.
"Bodnarchuk is known as a defenseman with a solid all-around game. Moves the puck well and has a hard shot. A hard worker and quality teammate, he plays bigger than his size would indicate. Also has fine skating ability and agility." - Elite Prospects
Andrew Peeke - 2020-2024 - Drafted by Columbus in 2016.
Peeke played 218 games and totaled 42 points for Columbus before being traded to the Boston Bruins on March 8, 2024. Many CBJ fans were upset by this trade, seeing that former GM Jarmo Kekäläinen had just signed him in September of 2022 to a three-year extension. He was traded during the first year of his new deal, and no one liked that.
Peeke played 77 games for the Bruins last season.
Elite Prospects said of Peeke, "Big, mobile defenseman with great vision and hockey sense. Possesses a hard, accurate shot, but needs to use it more. Smooth skater but has room for improvement in his acceleration with the puck. Reads plays well in his own end and has a well-rounded understanding of the defensive game. Starting to play a gritty game, but that will take time to develop. Physical game is definitely ripening."
Jake Christiansen - 2025 - Undrafted out of West Vancouver, British Columbia.
Christiansen played in a career-high 68 games for Columbus last season and totaled 8 points. He has played 112 games over four years. Before last season, Christiansen spent most of his time playing for the Cleveland Monsters. He's currently the Monsters franchise leader for points by a defenseman.
Christiansen will most likely be the 6th/7th defenseman during the 26-27 season and is signed through 2027. So, he will be looking to have a good year and earn a nice, big contract.
NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 20: New Jersey Devils Matyas Melovsky #57 warms up before a game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on September 20, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For players not on the bubble, camp is less about making the team, but leaving an impression. Here are three prospects who did that this year.
Ethan Edwards
The 24-year-old defenseman looked confident in the preseason, even scoring a highlight goal off a nice feed drifting down into the slot. Throughout camp, Edwards appeared every bit a defender who could potentially hold his own on the bottom pairing of a NHL roster. After call-ups last season only to sit in the press box, this seems to be the year for Edwards to earn some games at the NHL level as a mid-season call-up. I wrote a few weeks ago that Edwards needed to become a top call-up option this season, and the young defender certainly made strides to be just that in camp.
While Edwards has never been a top offensive contributor during his career, the left-handed defender did pot ten goals for Utica last season, a career high dating all the way back to his time with the St. Albert Sabres U15 team in the AMBHL in 2015-16. The newly found offense is encouraging, but his poise and transition game will always be Edwards’s bread and butter. A strong start to his Utica campaign, especially with Seamus Casey’s injury, should put Edwards in a good position to play some games with the Devils this season.
Matyas Melovsky
The aforementioned feed to Edwards in the slot in the Rangers game was all due to the puck battle win behind the net by Matyas Melovsky.
Melovsky was excellent, winning puck battles, and setting up plays, earning points in just about every contest. Take a look at these metrics from his last preseason game.
Melovsky had a decent rookie campaign for Utica scoring 10 goals and 26 points in 55 games for an offensively-starved Comets roster. With better players his year, Melovsky has a chance to thrive, and if the 22-year-old center continues the momentum built up from camp, we should see him in some games for the Devils soon.
Mikael Diotte
With all the depth on the Devils blueline, Mikael Diotte was a bit of an afterthought coming into camp. The 6’3” 22-year-old defenseman scored one goal and added 7 assists in 53 games for Utica last year after missing most of his first professional season due to injury. As the top right-handed defenseman in Utica after Seamus Casey, Diotte’s job coming into camp was to get noticed and he did that, throwing hits, transitioning the puck, and playing steady defense.
Diotte still has a long way to go to becoming a full time NHL defenseman, and an ill-advised pinch in one of the preseason games shows there are still growing pains, but the talent that led to the Devils signing him out of the QMJHL were evident in camp this year, and I would not be shocked to see Diotte get a limited call-up opportunity late in the season. That’s not something I expected to write coming into camp, so Diotte did well for himself, and certainly warrants more attention in Utica this year.
Your Thoughts
Honorable mentions to Ben Steeves and Amadeus Lombardi, who also had strong camps. Lombardi, as expected, seems to have made the New Jersey Devils opening night roster. As I showcased here in an all too-early forecast of Utica’s potential lines, Lombardi making the Devils out of camp always appeared to be the most likely scenario, but he still had to earn his spot and he did that with a strong performance showcasing his speed and skill. Congratulations, Amadeus.
Anyone else surprise you in camp this year? Post your comments below.
The Calgary Flames have finalized their opening night roster for the 2026-27 NHL season.
The roster comes with a few notable storylines, including Jonathan Huberdeau beginning the season on injured reserve as he continues his recovery from hip resurfacing surgery.
Huberdeau’s absence leaves a significant hole in Calgary’s lineup to start the season, but the Flames will have plenty of new faces looking to help fill the void.
Suniev was assigned to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers after putting together an impressive training camp and preseason. He scored three goals in his first two preseason games and consistently looked like an impactful player when given an opportunity.
There is plenty of intrigue on the blue line, particularly with Zayne Parekh and Simon Nemec among the younger defencemen looking to carve out significant roles.
Gridin’s inclusion is another interesting development after he impressed during preseason, while Brennan Othmann and Maxim Tsyplakov also earned spots after strong pushes for NHL jobs.
At the same time, Suniev’s assignment shows just how competitive the forward group became toward the end of camp.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Injury Reserve
Jonathan Huberdeau
Huberdeau’s status will be one of the first things to watch once the season gets underway.
The Flames will enter the 2026-27 season with a mix of veteran leadership, young players looking to establish themselves and several new pieces trying to make an immediate impact.
And while Suniev won’t be there on opening night, his strong preseason has put his name firmly into the conversation for a call-up down the road.
Initial cap-compliant NHL rosters were due on the eve of the 2026-27 season, Sept. 28, at 2 pm PST. The Anaheim Ducks submitted theirs, which currently includes 16 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders. They placed forward Troy Terry (hip) on Injured Non-Roster, as he’s expected to miss the first 2-3 months of the season, and defenseman Ian Moore (lower body) on Injured Reserve. Moore is 11 days into a 2-4 week estimated recovery time.
The day before rosters were submitted, the Ducks placed defenseman Travis Mitchell and goaltender Laurent Brossoit on waivers for purposes of reassignment to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. Both cleared waivers on Monday and were assigned.
As noted, the Ducks’ roster includes 15 healthy forwards, one of whom is newly acquired AJ Greer, who only skated on the first day of training camp before sustaining an upper-body injury. He participated in the first portion of Monday’s practice in a red non-contact jersey.
Drew Helleson hasn’t played or practiced since he left the Ducks’ preseason opening game against the San Jose Sharks with a lower-body injury on Sept. 20.
With Terry, Moore, Greer, and Helleson presently unavailable, the Ducks have 14 healthy forwards and five healthy defensemen on the roster they submitted to the league, rendering it very much an initial “season-opening” roster and not an “opening night” roster. The landscape of the depth chart could be altered by the time the puck drops on their season on Friday, when they’ll head to Las Vegas for a rematch of their second-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
After an offseason that included several previously significant roster pieces finding new homes, the roster the Ducks submitted on Monday includes four rookies (Judd Caulfield, Nikita Klepov, Roger McQueen, Tyson Hinds), three of whom (Caulfield, Klepov, McQueen) have yet to make their NHL debuts, and another player (Tristan Luneau) who has only played 14 career NHL games but just missed rookie eligibility due to playing six or more games in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Along with Greer, the Ducks roster also includes 2026 free agent additions Jeff Malott (30) and Nick Jensen (36), bringing the total number of roster players yet to wear a Ducks sweater in the regular season up to five.
In net, the Ducks are expected to run back the same tandem they ended the 2025-26 season with: starter Lukas Dostal and backup Ville Husso. Brossoit is the clear-cut third goalie in the Ducks’ organizational depth chart, and the likely first call-up should an injury in the crease occur.
The crux of the current roster as it pertains to the Ducks’ opening night in Las Vegas is the health statuses of Greer and Helleson. Both players are listed as “day-to-day,” with head coach Joel Quenneville stating both are aiming for an opening night return to game action. Both are eligible for placement on IR retroactively, meaning the team wouldn’t have to reassign anyone to the AHL if they intend to recall a player from San Diego.
If Greer is unavailable for Friday’s game, judging by Monday’s practice lines, all three of McQueen, Caulfield, and Klepov would likely make their NHL debuts. If Helleson isn’t available by Friday, the Ducks will likely recall a defenseman unless they intend to ice a rare 13F/5D lineup. Mitchell (nine career NHL games), Noah Warren (zero career NHL games), and Stian Solberg (zero career NHL games) are the defensemen most likely to get the nod, potentially adding yet another new face to the roster.
As stated, the Ducks’ opening night roster is an immense unknown at this point in time. The team will train off-ice on Tuesday, followed by back-to-back practices on Wednesday and Thursday, before flying to Vegas for Friday’s season opener.
The 2026-27 NHL regular season officially begins Tuesday, and the Minnesota Wild will have to wait just a little bit longer before beginning their season Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.
Minnesota enters the season with expectations considerably higher than they were a year ago.
The Wild finished last season with 104 points before defeating the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, their first series victory since 2015. Their run ended against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round.
Now, with Quinn Hughes entering his first full season in Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy leading the offense and several young players pushing for larger roles, the Wild will look to take another step.
Before the puck drops Thursday, here are five bold predictions for the Wild's 2026-27 season.
Hughes will win his second Norris Trophy and become the first player in Wild history to win the award.
The 26-year-old had 53 points in just 48 regular-season games after being acquired by Minnesota last December. He then added 15 points in 11 playoff games.
Now Hughes gets an entire season in Minnesota.
He will quarterback the Wild's top power-play unit and should once again play massive minutes at even strength. With Kaprizov, Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek among the weapons around him, Hughes has everything he needs to put together another huge offensive season.
The contract situation will follow Hughes throughout the year, but on the ice, expect him to remind everyone why Minnesota paid such a massive price to acquire him.
Prediction: Hughes wins the Norris.
2. Jesper Wallstedt Takes Over As The Wild's No. 1 Goaltender
Filip Gustavsson will begin the season on injured reserve after undergoing offseason hip surgery, opening the door for Jesper Wallstedt.
Prediction: Wallstedt won't give the job back.
The 23-year-old has been viewed as Minnesota's goaltender of the future since the Wild selected him 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. This season will be the year he establishes himself as the goaltender of the present.
Gustavsson will eventually return, and Minnesota will still have two capable goaltenders. But by the end of the season, Wallstedt will have started more games and established himself as the Wild's No. 1 option heading into the playoffs.
There might not be a player on Minnesota's roster with a better opportunity to dramatically outperform last season than Maxim Shabanov.
Shabanov recorded five goals and 18 points in 44 games with the New York Islanders as an NHL rookie last season before signing with Minnesota this summer.
But his opportunity with the Wild is completely different.
Shabanov spent training camp getting looks alongside Kaprizov and has an opportunity to play a significant offensive role. He has the skill to create offense, and playing with Minnesota's best players should give him significantly more opportunities than he had last season.
Going from five goals to 25 would be a massive jump.
That's why it's a bold prediction.
4. David Spacek Becomes A Full-Time NHL Defenseman
David Spacek entered training camp on the outside looking in.
Spacek, 23, was one of Minnesota's most consistent players throughout camp and survived the Wild's final round of cuts. With Brock Faber beginning the season on injured reserve, Spacek will get an opportunity to remain around the NHL club.
The prediction here goes beyond simply sticking around until Faber returns.
Spacek will play well enough when his opportunity arrives that the Wild eventually have a difficult time taking him out of the lineup.
John Hynes praised Spacek's strength, puck movement, breakout ability and consistency during training camp. Those are traits that should translate well to the NHL.
By the end of the season, Spacek will no longer be viewed as a prospect trying to make the Wild. He'll be an NHL defenseman.
Minnesota finally broke through last spring. Now it takes another step.
The Wild hadn't won a playoff series in a decade before eliminating Dallas last season. They ultimately ran into Colorado in the second round, but that postseason gave Minnesota's core something it hadn't previously experienced together.
A deep playoff run.
This roster isn't perfect. Minnesota lost offensive production during the offseason and will need players such as Shabanov, Danila Yurov and Bobby Brink to help replace it.
But the Wild also get a full season of Hughes alongside a core featuring Kaprizov, Boldy, Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon.
Then there is Wallstedt, who could give Minnesota another difference-maker if he takes the step many have been waiting for.
The Central Division won't make anything easy, and Minnesota will have to go through some of the NHL's best teams to get there.
But that's what makes it bold.
Prediction: For the first time since 2003, the Wild will play in the Western Conference Final.
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According to Elliotte Friedman, "The Oilers considered a Stevenson trade before going with Devon Levi. His new teammates are raving about the ex-Sabre. It just never got off on the right foot for him in Buffalo, and it’s hard to imagine Levi with a better opportunity to make a massive impact on a good team."
This is excellent news for the Edmonton Oilers, since Levi almost wasn't going to be the player the organization went after. Apparently, they had their sights on Clay Stevenson, who just joined the Winnipeg Jets.
In his latest written 32 Thoughts column, Friedman asks, "The biggest question in the Hellebuyck saga is this: Does Clay Stevenson convince Winnipeg to ease their desire to get a goalie in any trade?"
The Oilers might have been thinking the same thing when they revamped their goaltending this offseason. Keeping only Tristan Jarry, Edmonton moved on from Connor Ingram, traded for Levi, and picked up Frederik Andersen via free agency. It was clear the Oilers felt they needed to make a change.
Friedman reports that GM Stan Bowman looked at Stevenson.
Oilers Went Levi, Jets Can Now Trade Hellebuyck
Ultimately, the Oilers chose Levi, and the Jets picked up Stevenson on waivers from the Washington Capitals on Monday, giving them a goaltender who could play in a solid tandem with former Oiler Stuart Skinner. It will be interesting to see if this triggers a blockbuster involving Connor Hellebuyck. It's also fascinating to wonder if Levi would have been part of any trade the Sabres and Jets made at the NHL Draft, given that the Jets were looking for a goaltender to come back as part of the deal.
Friedman believes Winnipeg had Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as their target, so perhaps not.
Hellebuyck still hasn't reported to camp, and it doesn't appear that he will. "If Stevenson convinces Winnipeg he’s legit, that’s a way to change focus and ease the stalemate."
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The Winnipeg Jets have their opening-night roster set.
Winnipeg finalized its 23-man group Monday, with a late waiver claim helping settle the final few roster decisions ahead of Friday's regular-season opener against the Boston Bruins.
The Jets claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals, adding the 27-year-old to a crease that will begin the season with Stuart Skinner as its starter. The move resulted in Domenic DiVincentiis being assigned to the Manitoba Moose, while forward Brayden Yager was also sent to the AHL as Winnipeg got down to its 23-man limit.
Photo by Terry Lee/USA Today
Stevenson brings limited NHL experience but strong numbers from his most recent opportunity. He went 3-1-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in four games with Washington last season, while spending the majority of the year with the AHL's Hershey Bears.
Defencemen Elias Salomonsson and Garrett Brown and forward Walker Duehr were designated as Injured Non-Roster on the final list.
Salomonsson has been dealing with a shoulder injury, while Brown and Duehr have been sidelined with lower-body injuries.
With those moves complete, Winnipeg will begin the season carrying 13 forwards, eight defencemen and two goaltenders. Seventeen of the 23 players have previously suited up for the Jets.
Among those sticking around are 18-year-old Viggo Björck, Brad Lambert and defenceman Tyrel Bauer. Björck, selected eighth overall by Winnipeg in June, earned a roster spot just months after hearing his name called at the NHL Draft, while Bauer is in position to make his NHL debut after spending the past several seasons developing with Manitoba.
