Arttu Piiparinen may not be ready for the NHL just yet, but the Vegas Golden Knights are giving their 2026 first-round pick an early glimpse at what it will take to get there.
Piiparinen, selected 29th overall in June's NHL Draft, has been invited to join the Golden Knights for training camp after beginning the 2026-27 season with Tappara in Liiga.
The move shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise, even if some might view it as an early look for an 18-year-old defenseman who is still developing. Vegas wouldn't have invested a first-round pick in Piiparinen without believing there was significant potential to work with, and bringing him into camp gives the organization an opportunity to begin that process firsthand.
More importantly, it gives Piiparinen an opportunity to experience the NHL environment before he's expected to make the jump permanently.
He has already appeared in one game for Tappara this season after recording three assists, eight penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating across 29 regular-season appearances with the club last year. His numbers are hardly the most important part of this particular opportunity; the real value comes from spending time around an NHL organization and seeing what the next level actually looks like.
That includes working alongside players such as Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone, veterans who have spent years learning how to prepare, recover and maintain themselves through the demands of an NHL season.
Piiparinen isn't going to become a finished product simply by spending a few weeks around those players, but the lessons can extend well beyond the ice. How veterans approach nutrition, recovery, off days, preparation and the daily grind of an 84-game season can provide a young player with an education that isn't available in a traditional development setting.
For Piiparinen, however, the biggest lesson may come from the pace of the game itself.
The defenseman has earned attention for his ability to move the puck and help his team exit the defensive zone under pressure, but NHL forechecking presents an entirely different challenge. The forwards closing in will be faster, stronger and more experienced, leaving less time to identify an outlet, make a decision and execute the play. Don't make the play in time and risk getting crushed.
That is precisely the type of pressure Piiparinen needs to experience.
He won't make the Opening Night roster, but the training camp experience can give him a much clearer understanding of the standard required to eventually become an NHL regular. Every practice, shift and conversation provides another piece of information he can take back to Finland and incorporate into his development.
There is no need for Vegas to rush him.
At this stage, the opportunity itself is what matters.
The Senators have unveiled their 57-man roster for their 2026-27 training camp.
Camp began Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre and Bell Sensplex and it's composed of seven goaltenders, 18 defencemen and 32 forwards. Players reported for medicals on Wednesday morning, with on-ice practices beginning on Thursday.
Some interesting wrinkles this year will be the camp's brevity and the removal of fitness testing.
Senators winger Drake Batherson says he never doubted he would get an extension done with Ottawa.
The regular season is already less than two weeks away and this is the year the league moves to an 84-game schedule. So they've shortened the preseason (amen) and the Sens will cram in five exhibition games on three dates.
With 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies all on one-way NHL deals, job openings are already scarce to non-existent. Now players on the bubble will also see very little game action to make an impact on evaluators.
Carter Yakemchuk represents one of the few fluid situations. He's easily in the club's top seven, but to stay in the NHL, he'll need to crack the top six. The Sens aren't likely to keep a waivers-exempt, 20-year-old first-rounder in Ottawa to sit in the press box most nights. He needs to play.
Also, as part of the new CBA which starts today, fitness testing is no longer allowed. So you won't see any TV shots of players riding bikes to the point of exhaustion or parting ways with their breakfast.
The Senators say their camp roster features 13 former first-round draft picks and 27 players who were Ottawa selections in NHL drafts. 14 players were signed as free agents, 12 were obtained in trades, two are at camp on professional tryouts (PTO), and two are on amateur tryouts (ATO).
Twenty-five (25) of the camp’s players appeared in at least one game with the Senators during the 2025-26 season while another six (6) players dressed for other NHL clubs. Of the 29 players who were invited to recent rookie camp and tournament, 20 players were invited to training camp.
One new face is Vadim Zherenko, a 25-year-old Russian goalie who's spent the past four years in Springfield of the AHL. With Leevi Meriläinen the third man on the depth chart and on a one-way deal, he may need to be exposed to waivers at some point. That would leave Jackson Parsons and Kevin Reidler to man the fort in Belleville.
Zherenko gives Belleville some serious AHL experience if the Sens decide it's needed.
2026-27 Senators Training Camp Roster (Projected NHL players in bold)
The Colorado Avalanche probably aren't going to look quite as unstoppable as they did a year ago.
And that's okay.
After a 121-point regular season, a Presidents' Trophy and a stretch in which Colorado looked almost untouchable, the Avalanche have set an extraordinarily high bar for themselves. Anything short of that kind of dominance is going to invite questions, second-guessing and, inevitably, a little bit of panic.
But there is a danger in judging this team solely by what happens between October and April. The Avalanche don't need to be the best team in the NHL for 82 games. They need to be the best team in the NHL when the games matter most, and that distinction is important heading into the 2026-27 season.
Colorado's regular season last year was remarkable, particularly the first half. The Avalanche became the first team in NHL history to suffer only two regulation losses through their first 40 games, establishing themselves as one of the most dominant teams the league had ever seen over that stretch.
Eventually, however, the season became more complicated. The losses started to pile up more regularly, Colorado limped into the Olympic break, returned a little sluggish and then went through another stretch of uneven hockey before the postseason arrived.
The Avalanche still handled business when the playoffs began, sweeping Los Angeles before eliminating Minnesota in five games. Then came Vegas, and suddenly all of that regular-season dominance felt like a distant memory.
That's why expecting another 121-point season from Colorado may be missing the bigger picture. The Avalanche don't necessarily need to replicate last year's regular-season performance to have a successful season. If anything, there is an argument that the team would be better served by entering the postseason healthy, structurally sound and equipped to handle the teams that have given it problems in recent years.
A 4-2 win and an 8-1 win both count for two points. Nobody remembers how loudly the goal horn sounded in November when the Stanley Cup is being handed out in June.
There were warning signs in Colorado last season, even during stretches when the team looked nearly invincible. Puck management was one of them, while defensive breakdowns were another. Turnovers in dangerous areas repeatedly put pressure on the goaltenders, and Scott Wedgewood came up with more than his share of big saves to keep Colorado afloat. Mackenzie Blackwood did the same after arriving in the second half of the season.
That was a significant reason the Avalanche finished with the William M. Jennings Trophy.
The power play was another concern. Colorado's man advantage struggled badly before the Olympic break before finding its footing afterward, only to become an issue again once the playoffs began.
Those aren't exactly the flaws of an indestructible hockey team, and another problem became impossible to ignore once Colorado reached the postseason: its struggles against teams capable of clogging up the ice, disrupting passing lanes and making life miserable in front of the net.
Dallas has done it. Vegas has done it. Those teams have helped eliminate Colorado from the postseason five times during the post-COVID era.
If the Avalanche are going to finally get through that type of opponent, they need more than speed and skill. They need some bite.
That's where Zach L'Heureux could become particularly important.
Joe Sakic addressed that need by acquiring the forward from Nashville in the deal that sent Jack Drury to the Predators and brought Fedor Svechkov to Colorado. L'Heureux brings an element the Avalanche have been missing for years: someone who can make opponents uncomfortable without sacrificing his ability to contribute offensively.
He's physical, competitive and difficult to play against, but he can also score. That combination could matter considerably more in April and May than it does in November.
Colorado's depth also creates an interesting variable. On paper, the Avalanche may not appear quite as deep as they were last season, but there are plenty of ways that could change over the course of an 82-game schedule.
If Parker Kelly builds on his first season in Colorado, that helps. If Logan O'Connor returns to form, that helps. If Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas stay healthy and produce at the level they're capable of, that changes the equation entirely. And if the goaltending remains as reliable as it was last season, Colorado has a foundation it can build around.
Then there are the wild cards. Fabian Lysell and Fedor Svechkov represent two relatively inexpensive options with legitimate upside. If either player earns a larger role and provides more than expected, the Avalanche suddenly have another layer of depth that wasn't necessarily accounted for when the season began.
That's how an NHL roster changes. It's rarely about whether every player performs exactly as expected; it's about finding a few players who give you more than anticipated.
So if Colorado doesn't win by five or six goals every other night, don't panic. If the Avalanche don't win the Presidents' Trophy, that doesn't automatically mean something has gone wrong, and if they don't finish with another franchise-best point total, it shouldn't overshadow what they're actually trying to accomplish.
Because the regular season is only the beginning.
The real test comes when the ice gets tighter, the hits get harder and opponents have seven games to figure out how to take away everything that makes Colorado dangerous. That's where the Avalanche have to be better.
They need to protect the puck, defend more consistently, make their special teams hold up, get dependable goaltending and have enough physicality to keep teams like Dallas and Vegas from dictating the terms of a playoff series.
Most importantly, they need to arrive at the postseason healthy.
If they can do that while maintaining the speed, skill and offensive firepower that made them so dangerous last season, Colorado's Stanley Cup window remains wide open. But it isn't an endless window.
Cale Makar's new eight-year contract carries a $20.4 million annual cap hit beginning after this season. Nathan MacKinnon isn't getting any younger, and the core that has carried this franchise for years is entering another season with the same objective.
The Avalanche don't need to prove they're the best team in hockey in October. They need to prove it come playoff time.
Training camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs is nearly here, and with all the new faces around the organization, the roster and management, the lead-up to the 2026-27 season will be interesting.
It'll be an opportunity for new players to become accustomed to each other and build chemistry. It's also a chance for players to leave a good first impression on the ice with new head coach Jim Hiller. And for some, that early impression of the coach means more than for others.
Here are four players on the Maple Leafs who must have a great training camp to solidify their spots on the NHL roster. Especially for opening night on Sept. 29 against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.
Emil Andrae, D
Emil Andrae was the main get when Toronto traded Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 5-foot-9 defenseman backs himself as a mobile player who likes to move the puck. That's a defenseman that the Leafs could've used in last year's back end as they struggled to move the puck out of their own zone efficiently.
The 24-year-old Swede has played a total of 107 career games, 61 of which came last year. Andrae averaged 15:20 of ice time per game, scoring two goals and 13 points, and finishing second on the team in plus-minus with a plus-15.
Easton Cowan, LW
Easton Cowan isn't really at risk of losing a job on the Maple Leafs' NHL roster. But how many minutes he gets throughout the year remains unclear.
If the Maple Leafs were in contention for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Cowan's young career to this point could look completely different. He wouldn't have received as much ice time or opportunity if the team had more to play for and had maintained their veteran players rather than trading them at the deadline (Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Nic Roy). Cowan didn't get an opportunity in the NHL just because some veterans got traded, but it definitely gave him some room in the lineup.
Nonetheless, with Hiller now overlooking the lineup, he'll need to prove that he's more than a player who benefited from a team that had little to play for. He's already a middle-six player on the team, but can he propel himself to a constant second-liner with a good first impression?
Dakota Joshua is another player who has a spot in Toronto's lineup. But his role is a little less solidified than Cowan's, per se.
He's projected to be the fourth-line left winger for opening night, with training camp still to happen between now and then. But for any fourth-line player, they can be taken out of the lineup the second the coach doesn't feel like they are fulfilling the role or having an impact on the game.
Joshua's challenge in camp is to show that he is a useful player who can be physical with his 6-foot-3 frame. If he can be that heavy player, as well as put up 10-plus goals in the year, that would be acceptable.
With all the bottom-six additions to the Maple Leafs this off-season, Steven Lorentz appears to be the odd man out in terms of the 12 forwards to dress for opening night.
Lorentz, 30, will be competing for a regular spot on this roster just as much as anyone else will be going into 2026-27. Training camp is the opportunity for him to showcase himself to Hiller and the rest of the coaching staff. It's the chance for him to set himself apart from his peers and those also jostling for a fourth-line role.
He has to show that he can do a little more than skate the length of the ice each shift. The fallout with Calle Jarnkrok was that he didn't provide many dimensions other than being an option on the penalty kill. Lorentz can't fall into that realm.
As a 6-foot-4 forward, he should be able to be a little more physical and bring some energy. With that, he's got decent speed and can make plays offensively, notching 18 points last season on an average of 11:52 per game.
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Trevor Lewis never had the chance to play for his hometown team.
For most of his 17-year NHL career, that team simply didn't exist.
The Utah Mammoth played their inaugural season in 2024-25, the same season Lewis was preparing to close the book on a career that saw him win two Stanley Cups, play more than 1,000 NHL games and establish himself as one of the most accomplished hockey players Utah has ever produced.
Now, though, Lewis finally has a place within his hometown club.
Just not in uniform.
The Utah native has joined the Mammoth staff as a part-time video scout and youth and amateur hockey ambassador, bringing nearly two decades of NHL experience back to the state where his love for the game began.
“Trevor Lewis fell in love with the game of hockey right here in Utah,” Mammoth president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “He went on to win two Stanley Cups over the span of his 17-year NHL career, retiring as the most accomplished player ever from this state.”
Lewis retired following the 2025-26 season, ending a career that began when the Los Angeles Kings selected him 17th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. He spent the bulk of his career in Los Angeles, helping the Kings capture the Stanley Cup in 2012 and again in 2014.
His résumé extends well beyond those championships.
Lewis played 1,034 NHL games, the most in league history by a player from Utah, and finished second among Utah-born players with 237 career points. His draft position also remains the highest ever for an NHL player from the state.
Those accomplishments now give Lewis a unique perspective to bring into the Mammoth organization.
His role will extend beyond video scouting and hockey operations. Lewis will also work to help grow youth and amateur hockey throughout Utah, returning to the same community where his own journey in the sport began.
For a state whose hockey profile has grown considerably in recent years, having one of its most accomplished players involved at the grassroots level gives Lewis an opportunity to influence the game long after his playing career has ended.
“Being able to tap into the mind and championship experience of someone who cares so personally and so deeply about the continuous growth of hockey in Utah, and who knows what it would mean to bring a Stanley Cup to the fans here, is both a rare opportunity and a natural fit for us,” Armstrong said.
Lewis never got to wear the jersey of Utah's NHL team.
But after spending 17 years building a career that made him one of the state's hockey pioneers, he now gets to help build what comes next.
The Anaheim Ducks have reached an agreement to sign left wing Cutter Gauthier to a six-year, $81 million contract extension ($13.5 million average annual value), securing his place with the team through the 2031-32 NHL season.
Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers before being acquired by Anaheim via trade for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round selection in early 2024. Last season, Gauthier tallied 41 goals and 69 points as the Ducks' leading scorer. His offensive production helped lead Anaheim to its first playoff appearance since 2018, ending an eight-year postseason drought.
"We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time," said Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 15. "He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player."
Gauthier’s contract was finalized in the final hours of the previous NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Under the new CBA, which took effect at midnight, teams can now offer a maximum of seven years to re-signing players and six years to free agents. The updated agreement also changes the structure of signing bonuses and limits how much can be paid upfront, reducing the prevalence of front-loaded contracts.
"This is a very exciting day for my family and I," Gauthier said in a statement. "I'm so pleased to be able to sign long-term with the Ducks and be part of what I believe is a great future."
Kent Hughes has done it. The Montreal Canadiens have signed all their players, but it took longer for Arber Xhekaj. The big defenseman only put pen to paper on the eve of training camp, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The question everyone is asking is: why did it take all summer for that kind of deal?
After this season, both parties will be right back where they started since, once again, Xhekaj, who will then be 26, will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. In the past, Hughes had always signed the Ontarian and Jayden Struble to two-year pacts; what’s different this time around?
Given the logjam on the blueline and the fact that eventually someone will have to go, perhaps Hughes wanted to make Xhekaj’s contract more attractive in a potential trade. After all, if he were traded during the season, the team that acquires him wouldn't just be buying one year of his services, since he would remain under team control at season's end. The Habs had no issue signing Zachary Bolduc to a deal that walked him straight to free agency at age 27, but it’s a much longer deal. Or the hulking defenseman may feel he’s worth more than $1.5 million and doesn’t want that to be his salary for the next two seasons; that’s also a possibility.
Now that the deal is signed, however, Xhekaj has another chance to prove he belongs on the Canadiens for the long haul. According to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie, Kaiden Guhle will miss the start of the season and won’t be available to play until perhaps November. That gives Xhekaj runway to make the sixth-defenseman role his own.
What’s different this season? Well, as we heard at the golf tournament, Derek Lalonde will bring a fresh set of eyes to the defensive structure and the penalty kill. Perhaps he’ll like what he sees from Xhekaj and will be willing to give him a fair audition on the PK. His presence might also be good news for the blueliners, since he could teach them a thing or two about their role. While he wasn’t a defenseman himself in his playing days, Lalonde was a netminder who had the opportunity to watch defensemen’s play up close.
Whether he’s pleased with the outcome of the negotiations or not, Xhekaj must approach training camp as another chance for a fresh start and find a way to make himself essential to the Canadiens. That starts with playing a safe, consistent game and knowing when to use the rough stuff. Making good reads and making good decisions on the ice will be key to securing a regular spot in the lineup. His teammates love Xhekaj and love having him in the lineup; they’ve said it time and time again. He needs to get the coaching staff to feel the same.
Heading into their 2026 rookie camp, the Philadelphia Flyers had one message for their prospects, especially with a shorter training camp and preseason: "Get noticed."
The more experienced players, like Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey didn't need to hear that twice, though they took it upon themselves to take the extra practice time seriously anyway.
For other players, it's already been decided that they will head back to junior hockey, and for a much smaller group, now is the time to make an impression.
With two Rookie Series games against the New York Rangers over the weekend, the prospects who could conceivably make the Flyers' NHL roster in the next few years had their first chances to make an impression, and from those games and the camp overall, we can begin to assess the trajectories of those with the most at stake.
Winner: Cole Knuble
Cole Knuble was a bit of a wildcard heading into rookie camp, as he had joined the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the tail end of last season, scoring a goal, two assists, and three points in seven games.
Before that, the 22-year-old former fourth-round pick starred at the University of Notre Dame for three years, scoring 21 goals and 70 points across his last 70 collegiate games.
Knuble, the son of former Flyers forward Mike, only played in one of the Rookie Series games against the Rangers, and that was all he needed to open some eyes.
Featuring on the top line alongside Alex Bump and Jett Luchanko, Knuble was consistently making things happen, using his legs to advance the play and crashing into bodies on the forecheck despite his modest 5-foot-10, 192-pound build.
Knuble's rapid ascent and ceaseless motor are reminiscent of former Flyers forward Bobby Brink, who improved considerably over the years and made himself a third-line staple before being exchanged at the 2026 trade deadline for David Jiricek as the Flyers sought to clear their logjam of wingers and make room for Porter Martone.
If Knuble's arrow continues to point upwards, a Brink projection is certainly possible and would be a phenomenal outcome for the Flyers, who are in need of some more mid- and late-round hits from their drafting.
Loser: Devin Kaplan
On the other side of the coin, Devin Kaplan already has some NHL experience and a full pro season under his belt, but was far less noticeable than his peers.
Kaplan, 22, is heading into a contract year and scored just five goals, eight assists, and 13 points in 49 games with the Phantoms last year, and while he does project as more of a grinder than anything else, Noah Powell was considerably more noticeable in that regard.
It was a disappointing initial showing from the 2023 third-rounder, who was impressive this time last year, but not so much this time around.
Kaplan does deserve some grace as he shakes off the rust coming back from a season-ending injury and subsequent surgery, but the combination of the Flyers' overall glut of wingers and the strong performances from Knuble and Powell don't bode well for his future prospects with the organization.
Kaplan will have another chance to draw some eyes when training camp officially opens Thursday.
Winner: Carson Bjarnason
Deservedly so, Egor Zavragin is always a hot topic when Flyers prospects are being discussed, but we often forget that draft classmate and fellow goalie Carson Bjarnason was picked ahead of him in the same year.
After four seasons with the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings, including three as the starter, Bjarnason turned pro last year, playing in 32 games for the Phantoms.
The 21-year-old's results were mixed, as a strong start faded into a skid, and Bjarnason eventually played two games for the ECHL Reading Royals, going 1-1-0 with a 3.57 GAA and .881 save percentage.
In the AHL, Bjarnason ultimately finished with a 14-11-7 record while playing second-fiddle to Aleksei Kolosov, posting a 3.43 GAA and .877 save percentage.
But, it's worth noting that the Phantoms dealt with tons of roster turnover losing Emil Andrae, Barkey and Bump, as well as injuries to Bonk, Kaplan, and Ty Murchison. Reinforcements in the forms of David Jiricek, Boris Katchouk, Powell, Knuble, and Jack Berglund didn't arrive until the season was long lost.
Bjarnason should have a more stable environment around him in 2026-27, and he put some doubts to bed with a very good full game against the Rangers over the weekend. The former second-rounder was beaten only twice, and both goals came on the power play.
Look for Bjarnason to get some preseason ice time as he continues to build on a strong start to camp.
Losers: Veteran defensemen
We're going a little off the cuff here, but Bonk, Ty Murchison, Spencer Gill, Brek Liske, and Maksim Sokolovskii were all impressive this past week in their own ways.
For older Flyers like Nick Seeler and Rasmus Ristolainen, the time has come for them to begin watching the rearview mirror a bit. Murchison wore the 'C' in the first game against the Rangers this weekend and already got some NHL games last year, and Bonk, after making his NHL debut and playoff debut to finish the season, was as impressive as he needed to be in a camp of this nature.
Seeler no longer has trade protection and has just two more years left on his contract. A transition to No. 7 defenseman, especially after Simon Benoit's contract expires next summer, seems likely with Murchison continuing to ascend.
As for Ristolainen, the trade rumors never really went away, and he now has Bonk and Jiricek pushing him for a roster spot and ice time with Gill and Liske still on the way.
If both Bonk and Jiricek look the part and convince Flyers brass that they can handle expanded workloads and added responsibilities, that could very well start the countdown on Ristolainen's tenure in Philadelphia.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 13: Luke Evangelista #77 of the Nashville Predators skates the puck during the third period of the game against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
A five-year extension for Luke Evangelista:
Luke Evangelista’s 5-year extension kicks in for the 2027-28 NHL season.
“The Devils will play their first of four preseason games, starting Sunday, Sept. 20, and there’s plenty to follow as the regular season approaches. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on as the preseason gets underway.” [Devils on the Rush]
Hockey Links
A flurry of deals:
Cutter Gauthier, six years x $13.5M AAV with Anaheim
The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Justin Sourdif to an eight-year, $50.8 million contract. Sourdif’s contract will carry an average annual value of $6.35 million.
“There’s always a possibility for a sudden change of heart, but as we have this conversation as a group of insiders, I do not believe Hellebuyck will report to the opening of training camp. If that is the case, that forces the Jets to respond. That response will likely come Wednesday or Thursday.” [TSN]
“With training camps opening up this week, I caught up with over two dozen NHL superstars to get their takes on vital and trivial issues. Some of hockey’s biggest names discuss NHL rule changes they’d like to see; how an 84-game regular season will impact them; how they feel about the current state of fan culture; as well as their offseason life highlights and what they’d name a new expansion team in Houston or Austin, Texas.” [ESPN]
“Will Adam Fantilli sign a contract in time? When will Quinn Hughes sign an extension? What will happen to Connor Hellebuyck? This week, The Athletic asked its staff for one burning question facing each NHL team heading into training camp, and those were just a few of the enticing storylines we heard about in response. With camps opening this week and the preseason around the corner, here’s what we have our eyes on.” [The Athletic ($)]
Neck protection:
The NHL has released its 2026-27 rule book and there's only one change for this year:
All players with 0 NHL games experience must wear neck protection starting this season, even in warmups.
For players with at least 1 NHL game experience, neck protection remains optional.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 21: A young fan cheers for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes on December 21, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin training camp in earnest on Thursday, followed by preseason action. Before any pucks drop, a few Penguins players were spotted around Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods on Tuesday, delivering tickets to season ticket holders by continuing a yearslong tradition.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said the event has helped shape his view of Penguins fans, adding that the support they have given him and the team over the years has meant a lot.
“Every time we [deliver season tickets], you recognize the pride people have, and hearing their stories [about] how long they’ve had tickets for or how they got connected to going to games, it’s fun to hear that, but you always feel the support. That’s the main thing,” Crosby said. “I think it’s a pretty cool event we’ve been able to do for a long time and it doesn’t ever get old.”
Several other players hit the streets as well, including defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Egor Chinakhov.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 13: Luke Evangelista #77 of the Nashville Predators celebrates after a goal during the third period of the game against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Devils acquired winger Luke Evangelista a few weeks ago, one of the first questions that I asked was whether or not the Devils should sign him to a contract extension.
If you’ve been paying attention to what’s going on around the league, there has been a flurry of contract extensions across the NHL. Yesterday was the last day for teams to sign players for a maximum of eight years, and we saw a few of those deals with Drake Batherson extending in Ottawa, Noah Ostlund in Buffalo, and Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif in Washington DC. So it was only to wonder if any of the Devils pending free agents would put pen to paper, as Jackson wrote about earlier this week.
Sunny Mehta didn’t quite go the full eight years of term with Evangelista, but late Tuesday night, he did get Evangelista to agree to terms on a new five year contract. The deal is for $36.25M total ($7.25M AAV). The deal will begin with the 2027-28 season and will be tacked on to the final year of his current $3M AAV deal.
The contract breakdown is as follows: 2027-28: $9,700,000; 2028-29: $8,260,000; 2029-30: $6,120,000; 2030-31: $6,085,000 & 2031-32: $6,085,000.
According to PuckPedia, the deal is signing bonus heavy, with roughly 75% of it coming in bonuses ($27.915M). There is also relatively light trade protection over the final three years of the deal with a 7-team no-trade list in 2029-30, a five team no-trade list in 2030-31, and a three team list in 2031-32. The deal is also buying out three years of UFA.
My initial reaction was that it seems a little high given some of the recent comparables. Evangelista secures a bigger AAV than Fraser Minten (7x$7.2M) who really just has the one full NHL season to speak of and plays a premium position. He comes in higher than Connor McMichael (6x$6.75M), although he does have a higher scoring rate for his career.
After taking a step back though and looking at it again, I think it’s just where the NHL is going nowadays and getting a top six winger under $10M is probably a bargain at this rate. Especially when you’re buying out three years of unrestricted free agency beginning in 2029-30.
We’re seeing more and more teams make those long-term bets on their young players that they envision being part of their core. When your options are sign the player now or pay more for the same player a year from now, I get why teams are being proactive when it comes to signing their own. The salary cap is only continuing to increase and yesterday’s price isn’t today’s price.
Evangelista has 253 games of NHL experience, so it’s not a pure gamble like, say, what the Sabres are doing with Ostlund and his 68 games of experience. Granted, we don’t know how he’s going to fit in yet with THIS Devils team since he has yet to play a game for the Devils. But if he fits in well, that contract would’ve only gotten more expensive next summer if he put up another 56 point season playing out his current deal.
I view this bet as being similar to the ones that Mehta (or more specifically, Bill Zito) made in Florida with players such as Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, and others. Florida was proactive in getting their supporting cast locked up on manageable deals and it paid off in a big way on the back end of those deals when those players became key contributors on their Stanley Cup championship teams. I also look at the market in general and acknowledge that UFA isn’t going to be the answer. Especially when players like the aforementioned Batherson remove themselves from the equation by forgoing UFA and signing long-term in Ottawa.
At the end of the day, I’m not surprised that Mehta doubled down on the bet he previously made by acquiring Evangelista in the first place. This deal only reaffirms his belief in said player.
That’s how I’m looking at this deal. Perhaps you are looking at it differently. Please feel free to leave a comment below, and thanks for reading.
The Pittsburgh Penguins set their sights on winning a fourth consecutive Prospects Tournament on Tuesday but fell just short.
They lost to the Dallas Stars' prospects 3-1 in the championship game on Tuesday morning. Liam Ruck was the Penguins' lone goal scorer.
Despite the loss, there are still a lot of positives to take away from this tournament. With that in mind, here are five observations from the three games.
1. Tomas Galvas was the Penguins' best player
This really shouldn't be a debate. Galvas was everywhere in this tournament, showcasing his strong skating, ability to generate offense at will, and being a one-man breakout.
He scored the tournament's best goal on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings by corralling the puck in the defensive zone, beating one defender, then beating another after crossing into the offensive zone. He soon found himself one-on-one with the goaltender and sent the puck top shelf with a beautiful backhand shot.
He also scored a wonderful shootout goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday to keep the Penguins alive. He made a beautiful deke to his backhand and didn't miss.
Galvas finished the tournament with one goal (and a shootout goal), making it look easy. I'm still skeptical that he'll crack the opening-night lineup, but he still had a wonderful tournament. Keep an eye on him.
2. Stock up for Brayden Edwards
Brayden Edwards quietly had a strong season with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers in 2025-26 and carried that momentum into this year's Prospect Tournament.
He finished the tournament with two goals, and they were both fun. His first goal came against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, when he shot the puck and followed his own rebound to bury it. It came right at the end of the power play.
His second goal came against the Red Wings on Sunday when he unleashed a beautiful one-timer to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead.
Brayden Edwards gives the Penguins the lead!
Great patience by Atley Calvert to find the open teammate in the slot. Pierce Mbuyi gets the secondary assist. pic.twitter.com/sj23qkdDph
Even though he didn't score against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, he still wreaked havoc and generated chances. He was one of the Penguins' most consistent forwards at this tournament, and he'll have the chance to make an impression in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year.
Apr 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; North Dakota Fighting Hawks defenseman Jake Livanavage (4) passes in the first period against the Wisconsin Badgers in the semifinals of the NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
3. Harrison Brunicke and Jake Livanavage struggle
It wasn't the best showing for the two defensemen.
Brunicke didn't look very comfortable out there and sometimes tried to do a little too much. Now, it's only two games, and I'm sure he's going to have a much better camp and preseason, but I was left wanting more, especially after how great he was for WBS in the playoffs.
Livanavage struggled in the defensive zone and was sometimes caught out of position. He also wasn't pushing the pace of play like I thought he would.
That said, he'll have plenty of time to iron things out, especially since he's expected to start the season in WBS and be a major contributor.
4.All three goaltenders played well
The Penguins started three different goaltenders in the three games, and all three played exceptionally well.
Carter Casey played on Saturday and made some timely saves throughout, even though the Penguins were by far the better team. He also stepped up when he needed to in the shootout.
Xavier Wendt got Sunday's game and settled in really nicely. Like Casey on Saturday, he made the saves he needed to make and helped lock things down in the third period after the Penguins took a 4-3 lead.
Matvei Nikonovich started Tuesday's game and was one of the Penguins' best players. He stayed cool, calm, and collected in the crease and showed good agility. He also did everything he could to keep the Penguins within striking distance in the third period.
Casey will spend the 2026-27 season with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, while Wendt will be with the WHL's Tri-City Americans. The OHL's Barrie Colts selected Nikonovich in the CHL Import Draft.
It took Ilyin a bit to get going in this tournament, but he was everywhere on Tuesday.
He helped set up the first goal by winning a battle behind the net and getting the puck to Markus Ruck, who knew where his brother Liam would be for an easy goal.
He spent a lot more time in the offensive zone and looked more engaged overall. It was a nice end to the tournament for him.
Misc. thoughts
- Pierce Mbuyi's shot is filthy, and he's not afraid to use it. He's going to have a great season with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL.
- Bill Zonnon was fantastic during this tournament. He may not have scored, but he was great in all situations, whether it was 5v5, the power play, or the penalty kill. He's going to have a big season in WBS, and it won't be long before he's with the Penguins full-time.
Alex Newhook never really got to see what he could become in Colorado.
The Avalanche drafted him 16th overall in 2019, and by 2022, he was a Stanley Cup champion. He was still a young player trying to find his footing, though, and doing that on a team with Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and plenty of other established forwards wasn't exactly an easy task.
Now, Newhook is getting paid for the player he has become since leaving Denver.
The Montreal Canadiens signed the former Avalanche forward to a four-year, $22.2 million contract extension Tuesday. The deal carries a $5.55 million annual cap hit beginning with the 2027-28 season.
Newhook with the Stanley Cup in 2022. Credit: Marj J. Rebilas - USA Today
Newhook spent three seasons in Colorado and showed plenty of promise. There were nights when his speed and skill stood out, and you could see why the Avalanche had taken a chance on him in the first round.
The bigger role, however, was hard to come by.
Colorado was trying to win, and the team was simple too stacked to give a young forward top-line minutes and let him work through the growing pains that come with developing in the NHL. Newhook had to make the most of the minutes he received while playing behind some of the league's best players.
Eventually, Colorado decided a change made sense for both sides.
The Avalanche traded Newhook to Montreal on June 27, 2023, receiving a first-round pick, a second-round pick and prospect Gianni Fairbrother in return.
Two years later, the decision looks different when viewed through Newhook's career.
Montreal has given him the kind of opportunity that was difficult to find in Colorado. He's been able to play a bigger role, see more offensive situations and grow into a more important piece of the Canadiens' lineup.
An ankle injury suffered in November limited Newhook to 42 games, but he still finished with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. Once the playoffs began, he became an even bigger factor.
Newhook scored seven goals and added three assists in 19 games, helping Montreal reach the Eastern Conference Final. The Canadiens eventually lost to the Carolina Hurricanes, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
That run was another glimpse of what Newhook can bring when he's given the chance to play a bigger part.
Montreal clearly saw enough.
The new contract keeps Newhook with the Canadiens through the 2030-31 season, taking him through his prime and giving the organization a long-term piece to build around.
And at 25 years old, the Canadiens are betting that there is still another step coming.
It was only a matter of time. After the Ducks freed up $6.5 million in cap space by terminating Chris Kreider's contract last week, it was clear was that general manager Pat Verbeek's contract negotiations with Cutter Gauthier's camp were close to reaching a conclusion.
On Tuesday evening, the Ducks announced that they had signed Gauthier to a six-year, $81 million contract extension. This makes him the second-highest paid player on the team behind Leo Carlsson's $18 million AAV. The extension also buys one year of unrestricted free agency.
Getting Gauthier signed before the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which kicks in on Sept. 16, allowed the Ducks to front-load his contract with signing bonuses that would not been possible to structure under the new labor deal. Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, about $69.5 million of the $81 million is comprised of signing bonuses. Gauthier’s camp reportedly declined an offer of four years at a $13 million AAV last month.
Mar 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier (61) is congratulated after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
“We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time,” Verbeek said in a club statement. “He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player.”
“This is a very exciting day for my family and me,” Gauthier said in the same club statement. “I’m so pleased to be able to sign long term with the Ducks and be part of what I believe is a great future.”
Carlsson’s big-money offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, along with Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and Cale Makar’s monster contract extensions, have changed the financial landscape for players like Gauthier. Even “smaller” deals like that of the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov or the Boston Bruins’ Fraser Minten, in combination with the continued rising of the salary cap, have put the ball in the players’ court when it comes to collecting larger salaries moving forward.
With Gauthier signed, the Ducks have now completed the biggest tasks on their offseason checklist. Their minimal amount of cap space remains a concern, but they'll find some short-term relief by placing Troy Terry (out 2-3 months after hip surgery) on LTIR. A shortened training camp and preseason leaves little time for major preparations, but the Ducks' season opener is also fortunately later than most of the league. A strong start to the season, much like last year, could help give them some cushion as they vie for a second consecutive playoff appearance.
With the American Hockey League season set to commence in a few weeks' time, former San Jose Sharks prospect Thomas Bordeleau has signed with the Rochester Americans on an AHL-level contract.
Bordeleau left the Sharks organization after requesting a trade. At the time, he told THN's Kristy Flannery that "I definitely enjoyed my time in San Jose, but it was time for a fresh start for me." That fresh start came after he was unable to break into the Sharks' lineup for multiple seasons.
After half a season with the New Jersey Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, Bordeleau was traded to the St. Louis Blues organization and was sent to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. He never appeared in an NHL game during the 2025-26 season and became an unrestricted free agent when the Blues opted to not issue a qualifying offer to him.
At 24 years of age, it seems unlikely that Bordeleau will break into the NHL anytime soon, as he was unable to secure a two-way contract for this season. A strong performance at the AHL level could catch the attention of the Americans' affiliate, the Buffalo Sabres, but it'll take quite a bit for that to happen.
