It is no secret that the Montreal Canadiens have been linked to disgruntled Detroit Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin for a while now. However, the Canadiens are still not among the teams on Larkin's trade list, even after he expanded it to 10 clubs.
Although this is the case, the Canadiens have not given up on their pursuit of Larkin. Furthermore, one of Montreal's top Atlantic Division rivals are also being connected to Larkin.
"He’s indicated a willingness to waive his no-trade clause for 10 teams and may yet have to expand that list further to facilitate a deal that nets Detroit the right mix of assets in return. The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres are two teams not currently on his trade list that have interest," Johnston wrote.
Hearing that the Canadiens still have interest in Larkin is not difficult to understand. They need another star center, and he would form a perfect one-two punch with the currently sidelined Nick Suzuki if acquired by Montreal. Thus, it would not be surprising if the Canadiens continue to show interest in Larkin and hope that he eventually becomes open to a trade to Montreal.
It would certainly sting for the Canadiens to see Larkin get traded to the Sabres, though. The Sabres are one of the Canadiens' division rivals, so it would not be good for Montreal if they won the Larkin sweepstakes. However, as Johnston noted, Larkin does not have Buffalo on his trade list right now.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what will happen with Larkin.
Well, they never really had a chance to be cocky Tuesday night.
A brutal first period ultimately cost the Flyers as they fell to the Blue Jackets, 4-3, in overtime at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Kent Johnson scored the winner for Columbus on a 2-on-0 rush.
The Flyers erased a 3-0 deficit. Jamie Drysdale tied the game with 11 seconds left in regulation when the Flyers emptied their net for the extra attacker.
In the opening stanza, Tocchet’s club gave up more goals than it had shots. The Flyers were staring down a 3-0 hole with 6:16 minutes still left in the period. They surrendered the three goals in a span of just 2:46 minutes. They finished the period with only two shots.
The Flyers woke up in the middle stanza with a concerted push. Noah Cates tapped home a loose puck in the crease after Porter Martone fired a shot on net.
After the goal, Matvei Michkov had a couple of close looks right at the doorstep of the post. He couldn’t seem to corral the puck, though, for a deflection.
Trevor Zegras trimmed Columbus’ lead to one with 4:56 minutes to go in the third period.
The Flyers (3-7-4) have just 10 points over their first 14 games. Last season, Tocchet’s first as the team’s head coach, the Flyers had 17 points through 14 games (8-5-1).
This was the first of four matchups between the Flyers and Blue Jackets (5-5-0).
• Dan Vladar was unable to mask the Flyers’ mistakes like he has before. He made 11 saves on 15 shots.
He denied Columbus on a 2-on-0 rush in OT, but then had to face another one. The Blue Jackets capitalized on the second opportunity.
The Flyers were sloppy. The first 2-on-0 was a result of Michkov being stripped. On the second, Michkov, Cam York and Denver Barkey were all caught in deep.
Vladar had given up just four goals over his previous three starts. That was good for a 1.30 goals-against average and .953 save percentage.
But in the first period Tuesday night, Columbus struck three times.
The first goal was at 4-on-4. The Flyers lost Adam Fantilli in front when Noah Cates and Oliver Bonk both converged on Johnson.
Johnson added to the Blue Jackets’ lead with a deflection. Bonk committed a turnover in the defensive zone and the puck then found its way to Zach Werenski for a shot.
Fifty seconds later, Columbus made it 3-0. Denton Mateychuk skated into a shot after Drysdale and York lost a puck battle along the back boards.
Cam Talbot, the 39-year-old former Flyer, stopped 28 of 31 shots for the Blue Jackets.
• Hunter McDonald exited briefly with 5:54 minutes left in the second period. The rookie defenseman was favoring his shoulder after taking a hit behind the net from Mathieu Olivier.
McDonald, though, was able to return before the period ended.
He replaced Rasmus Ristolainen, who was out because of a reinjury to his left hand. More on his status here.
Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett remained out. Konecny has missed the last nine games because of a lower-body injury. Tippett has missed the last five with an upper-body injury.
• The Flyers are right back at it Wednesday when they visit the Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).
Matthew Tkachuk might not be the most aesthetically pleasing player to watch. He doesn't burn you with blistering speed or routinely rifle pucks into the top corner, but he outsmarts almost everyone.
With deft hands, incredible vision, and the ability to read and process the play faster than any teammate or opponent, Tkachuk is always in an advantageous position.
When he finds himself in those positions, he's skilled enough to make a play that, more often than not, results in a goal for the Florida Panthers.
Through 12 games, the 28-year-old has scored four goals and 16 points. He's currently averaging an assist per game, ranking tied for seventh in the NHL. Ahead of tonight's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, coach Paul Maurice was asked about what makes Tkachuk such a great playmaker.
“It's his hands," Maurice started his well-thought-out answer. "He is so good in that department. I would say his brain first, but as it kind of informs what he does with his hands. He's one of the rare people that doesn't tip pucks. And I don't know, I'm just going to use my words. He doesn't tip pucks. He directs them. Like he's putting them in a place, and I've seen him do it."
Tkachuk's game has evolved so much since he made his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames in the 2016-17 season. When he first started in the NHL, Tkachuk was used as a net-front presence, using his 6-foot-2, 202-pound frame to make plays around the net. He was extremely effective because he could make plays in tight areas.
Since coming to Florida, Tkachuk looks to play in other areas. On the power play, the team uses Tkachuk on the right flank. He continuously threads passes into high-danger areas, looking for deflections or one-timers.
"One thing about Matthew is he's better this year than he's ever been," said Maurice. "He's faster than he's ever been. So he's improved. It's also the first summer in four where he actually got to train, because he was injured on the two others. He rehabbed, but he didn't train.
And then he put a lot of good work in this summer, so a little quicker. And in the game of hockey, we're talking about five or six inches. If you can create that, if you can find it, you can make that. These guys can make that play, and that's what we're seeing from him."
Tkachuk agreed with Maurice's claim, and the NHL EDGE skating data backs that up. He's recorded the third-highest skating speed of his career, and although he still ranks below the 50th percentile in every skating statistic, he's made improvements.
The Panthers will need Tkachuk to maintain this elite level of play to compete in the Atlantic Division.
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The Ottawa Senators open a five-game road trip Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET on TSN5). The Senators (8-4-0) enter the game sitting second in the Atlantic Division with 16 points, while the Golden Knights (8-4-1) are second in the Pacific with 17 points.
As it was against the New York Rangers on Saturday, it's a battle of two teams off to good starts, but now dealing with the loss of their top goalie.
Travis Green looks ahead to Tuesday's game against Vegas after Saturday's win over the New York Rangers (Senators YouTube).
The Senators appear to have made an interesting decision about their temporary number-one netminder.
After making his first start of the season in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the New York Rangers, Jonas Johansson will get the call again Tuesday. Or as Travis Green put it, "JoJo will go."
Johansson needed all of one start to displace Sam Ersson in the pecking order, at least for the time being, while Linus Ullmark recovers from an injury suffered against Florida last Wednesday.
Ullmark is expected to miss at leats another week, and because Ersson hasn't been all that reliable yet as his backup, Travis Green is just going to ride the hot hand for now.
The Senators are coming off a Saturday win against the Rangers, highlighted by Drake Batherson's third career hat trick. Batherson also assisted on Dylan Cozens' first goal of the season.
Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson and Michael Amadio also scored as the Sens bounced back from Thursday's 6-2 loss to San Jose.
Stützle continues his hot start with 16 points through 12 games, which is a 112-point pace. Batherson has also been producing, with six goals and 11 points over his last ten games.
On the injury front, Senators captain Thomas Chabot appears to be getting closer to returning. Chabot has resumed practicing in a regular jersey after suffering an injury earlier this month. William Eklund remains sidelined with an ankle injury suffered three weeks ago against Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are looking to snap a three-game losing streak where they've been outscored 14-5.
They're coming off Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tomas Hertl scored the Golden Knights' only goal before Adam Fantilli won it for Columbus on a power play in overtime.
Getting a point (and being able to defend a little) probably felt like a victory after they were clobbered in both of their previous two games, 6-2, by Tampa Bay and St. Louis.
Jack Eichel leads the Knights with 19 points through 13 games. Ex-Senator Mark Stone has 15. After missing two games, Mitch Marner returns to the lineup after his wife, Stephanie, gave birth to their second child last week.
Vegas had an unexpected development at Tuesday's morning skate when goaltender Carter Hart suffered an apparent injury. Just like Ullmark, Hart was hurt while making a save and slowly limped off the ice.
Knights head coach Ryan Craig confirmed that Adin Hill would start against the Senators. Hill was trampled Thursday in St. Louis, where he allowed six goals on 31 shots.
"No update. (Hart) left the morning skate. He’s being evaluated. He’s in good hands," Craig said. "We’ve got a plan here moving forward either way. We’ll be ready for tonight."
According to Jesse Granger from The Athletic, if the Knights have to call up a goalie it would likely be Cameron Whitehead, who grew up in Orleans and has never played in the NHL. In the AHL with Henderson this season, Whitehead has been popping in his first three games, posting a 1.72 goals against average and a .944 save percentage.
Project Senators Lineup
Fabian Zetterlund – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux Warren Foegele – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson Ridly Greig – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio Nick Cousins – Stephen Halliday – Andre Burakovsky
Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub Tyler Kleven – Jordan Spence Nikolas Matinpalo – Carter Yakemchuk
Jonas Johansson Sam Ersson
Projected Vegas Lineup (Credit: Hannah Kirkell, The Hockey News)
Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner Trevor Connelly – Tomáš Hertl – Braeden Bowman Marc Gatcomb – Nic Dowd – Jonas Røndbjerg
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore Jeremy Lauzon – Noah Hanifin Ville Heinola – Rasmus Andersson
This season, NHL teams will have select nights when they will be wearing special jerseys called the Hometown Remix. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be having nine of such themed games this season still to come, four of which in November.
The Jersey Nerds revealed on social media what they believe each special uniform will look like, leaking the possible jersey designs for the Hometown Remix themes. With that, the Maple Leafs' special look was also on display.
According to Jersey Nerds, Toronto will be wearing a beige or off-white jersey as the base color, as well as dark blue accents on the sleeves around the elbow area and at the waist. The logo would also be altered to the Maple Leaf that matches the new design at center ice at Scotiabank Arena.
The Leafs go vintage white, the Capitals return to their Pre-Reebok roots, the Kings bring back the purple, and the Penguins go back to the double blue! pic.twitter.com/WbzYqoqkzA
The Maple Leafs' first Hometown Remix night and debut of their new jersey takes place on Nov. 7, a Saturday night affair against the Montreal Canadiens. One week later they'll wear them again versus the Edmonton Oilers, and then against the Los Angeles Kings on the 19th and Philadelphia Flyers on the 30th to round out November.
They'll wear those jerseys twice in December, against the Anaheim Ducks on the 13th and Tampa Bay Lightning on the 19th. They'll host the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 18 for another Hometown Remix night, and finish it off with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 8 and the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 16.
All games in which Toronto will wear the Hometown Remix uniform will happen at home, of course.
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On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets find themselves in a must-win situation as they take on the Florida Panthers, looking to put an end to their five-game losing streak.
It marks Winnipeg’s longest skid since January, when the club dropped 11 consecutive games. Before that, the Jets’ last stretch of at least five straight losses came in March 2024, when they lost six in a row. Extended slumps have been uncommon for Winnipeg, and the team will be eager to put this one behind them as quickly as possible.
Tuesday’s matchup could present an opportunity to do just that as the Jets have enjoyed considerable success against Florida in recent years, winning six of their last eight meetings dating back to December 2022. That includes their most recent encounter on January 31, when Winnipeg secured a 2-1 victory with Eric Comrie between the pipes.
This time around, another backup goaltender is expected to get the call, with Clay Stevenson to make his fourth start of the season. The 27-year-old faces another challenging assignment but has shown he can handle the pressure. The Drayton Valley, Alberta native should have a reasonable opportunity to keep the Panthers in check, considering Florida owns the 11th-worst in the NHL with a 2.83 goals per game average.
Stevenson has also impressed in recent appearances, holding his own against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes with a 34-save performance after turning aside 29 shots against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first start and win of the season. Through three starts, he owns a respectable 3.08 goals-against average and will look to give Winnipeg the goaltending it needs to get back on track.
The Jets offense will hope to bail out their goaltender as they have rarely this season. After managing just one goal at the Heritage Classic versus the Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg now ranks fourth-worst in the NHL in scoring, averaging only 2.45 goals per game.
The club will be hoping to take advantage of a Florida team expected to start Akira Schmid, who has surrendered at least three goals in four of his six starts this season and allowed five goals on 30 shots in his lone career start against Winnipeg when playing for the New Jersey Devils in 2023.
Winnipeg Jets' expected line combinations for Sunday, October 25 vs. Montreal:
Connor-Scheifele-Perfetti
Iafallo-Björck-Vilardi
Rosén-Lowry-Mercer
Koepke-Barron-Niederreiter
Samberg-Pionk
Ferraro-Salomonsson
Fleury-DeMelo
Stevenson
Healthy Scratches: Bauer, Lambert
Injured: Morrissey, Namestnikov, Bjugstad
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The New York Rangers got bad news early in the season: Igor Shesterkin was injured and ruled out for the rest of the year, leaving a gaping hole in their crease. In the days that followed, the team’s associate director of player personnel, Garth Joy, and goalie scout Scott Clemmenson attended games at the Bell Centre. The Montreal Canadiens have three NHL-caliber goaltenders, but unfortunately, Samuel Montembeault, seen as the most likely to be moved, got injured in practice days before Shesterkin and hasn’t played since then. He skated on Tuesday morning, but he wasn't in full gear.
The Rangers urgently needed help in front of the net and bet on 38-year-old veteran James Reimer, signing him to a PTO with their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack. He made a good impression, winning his only game with them 2-0 against the Providence Bruins on Friday, October 23. As a result, the Rangers signed him to a one-year deal, and on Monday night he made his debut with the Broadway team. Things didn’t go as well as he had hoped, though; he was in net for only 20 minutes and surrendered three goals on eight shots. The Rangers lost to the Los Angeles Kings 6-3. Where does that leave New York?
They have no interest in trading for a goaltender on a long-term contract, since Shesterkin will be back next season and under contract for another six years. Jonas Korpisalo is also injured and considered week-to-week, but he’s not a starter. Meanwhile, Renaud Lavoie said Montembeault was expected back in two weeks, and Jacob Fowler has been on fire for the Habs.
The American has almost made it impossible for Kent Hughes to send him back to the Laval Rocket. Fowler has proven his worth, and the team oozes confidence when he plays. At this stage, sending him away would be puzzling, to say the least. Hughes hasn't wanted to keep three goaltenders, but he hasn’t found fair value for Montembeault on the trade market. Now, though, both the Canadiens and the Rangers find themselves in a pickle. Neither is in a position of strength, which could make both teams more likely to compromise. Unless, of course, the Rangers are confident that Reimer will bounce back. They will likely give him the chance, but he won’t have much of a leash. The Canadiens should keep tabs on that situation, at the very least.
LAS VEGAS -- Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart left Tuesday's morning skate with an apparent injury after making a butterfly save during a 2-on-1 drill.
Hart immediately skated off the ice slowly with a noticeable limp, raising concerns about his availability moving forward.
The Golden Knights did not immediately provide details about the nature or severity of the injury.
“No update. He left morning skate. He’s being evaluated. He’s in good hands,” the head coach said. “We’ve got a plan here moving forward either way. We’ll be ready for tonight.”
The coach also confirmed that Adin Hill will start Tuesday night's home game against the Ottawa Senators at T-Mobile Arena.
Hart, 28, has started eight games this season, compiling a 4-3-1 record with a 2.76 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. He has stopped 176 of 198 shots, including a 26-save performance in a 2-1 overtime victory over Los Angeles.
He most recently made 18 saves in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss at Columbus.
Hill, 30, enters Tuesday's game with a 4-1-0 record, a 2.95 goals-against average and .882 save percentage in five starts this season. The veteran netminder was instrumental in leading Vegas to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2023, going 11-4 with a 2.17 GAA, two shutouts and a playoff-best .932 save percentage during that postseason.
Hill is coming off a difficult outing Thursday in St. Louis, where he surrendered six goals on 31 shots in a 6-2 loss. His championship pedigree gives Vegas an experienced option in net as the Golden Knights await further evaluation of Hart's injury.
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart (79) tracks the rebound of his save against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena.
Drew Doughty isn’t ready to call it a career just yet. In fact, as the Los Angeles Kings defenseman approaches his 37th birthday on Dec. 8, retirement still feels a long way off.
Doughty, a 19-year NHL veteran, finds himself in the final year of his eight-year, $88 million contract. But while the end of that deal brings questions about his future, Doughty believes he still has plenty left in the tank.
“I think I can play until over 40,” Doughty told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti. “I believe I can. I’ve just got to stay healthy. The want to do it hasn’t dropped, so, until I lose that, I’m not going to retire.”
For Doughty, the goal is simple: finish his career on his own terms, and ideally, do it all in Los Angeles.
The Kings selected him No. 2 overall in the 2008 NHL Draft, and he has since become one of the franchise’s greatest players, winning two Stanley Cups and a Norris Trophy while spending his entire career with the organization.
With general manager Ken Holland hoping to sign him to an extension before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July 2027, Doughty has made it clear he’s willing to be flexible to make that happen.
“I feel like I’m performing better than I have in my past two seasons. So, I think that I’ll take a team-friendly deal and stay in L.A. That’s my plan,” Doughty said.
And what’s keeping him going at this stage of his career? The answer hasn’t changed.
“The Stanley Cup, that’s what motivates me,” he said. “I love being around my teammates. When I retire, I’ll be crying like a baby, I’ll tell you that much. I just love the game of hockey. I love the families that we create in hockey, and I love the competition the most. And to try to get a Cup.”
At nearly 37, Doughty knows the end will come eventually. But as long as the desire is still there, he has no plans to let the game go.
On October 27, 1995, 31 years ago today, the Detroit Red Wings did something the NHL had never seen before.
Coach Scotty Bowman rolled out the Russian Five, marking the first time any team in history had used five Russian players on the ice together in an NHL game. The group was elite, headlined by Sergei Fedorov, who was joined by standout talents in Vladimir Konstantinov, Slava Kozlov, Slava Fetisov and Igor Larionov. The five had come together only days earlier, when Detroit acquired Larionov in a trade that sent Ray Sheppard to San Jose.
Detroit went on to blank the Calgary Flames 3-0, with Kozlov and Larionov each scoring and the unit generating 15 of the team's 25 shots on goal.
The Russian Five would go on to score 117 of Detroit's 325 goals in the 1995-96 season, a year in which the Red Wings won an NHL-record 62 games but fell to Colorado in the Western Conference Final. Later in 1997, Detroit would go on to sweep the Philadelphia Flyers for their first Stanley Cup in 42 years.
Of the five, Fedorov became the true superstar as the Hall of Fame forward recorded 483 goals and 696 assists for 1,179 points in 1,248 NHL games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and, this past season, had his No. 91 retired by the Red Wings.
Larionov, known as "The Professor," recorded 169 goals and 475 assists for 644 points in 921 NHL games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008. Kozlov was the youngest of the five but still put together a great career, posting 853 points in 1,182 NHL games, with the later part of it spent with the Buffalo Sabres and Atlanta Thrashers.
On the blue line, Fetisov was the veteran of the group with the former captain of the Red Army playing for the New Jersey Devils before coming to Hockeytown. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001 after recording 36 goals and 192 assists in 546 NHL games.
Konstantinov was the group's enforcer, with a hard-hitting style that earned him the nicknames "Vladiator," "Vlad the Impaler" and "the Red Shark" from media and fans. He finished his career with 47 goals and 128 assists for 175 points in 446 games and led the league in plus-minus (+60) in 1995-96. Tragedy struck six days after the 1997 Stanley Cup win, when Konstantinov was critically injured in a limousine crash that ended his career.
Detroit dedicated the following season to Konstantinov and swept Washington to repeat as champions in 1998. Captain Steve Yzerman put the Cup in Konstantinov's lap, and Fetisov and Larionov pushed his wheelchair on the victory lap.
The five changed how North Americans viewed Russian players and how puck possession was taught, leaving a legacy that still shapes the game today.
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Tonight, the Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth square off in what could be a tone-setting matchup.
As it stands, the Wild and Mammoth are in first and second place in the Central Division, respectively. The Wild hold an 8-3-2 record with 18 points, while the Mammoth sit second with an 8-4-0 record and 16 points.
The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche sit not far behind, but with how the Wild and Mammoth have started the season, we could see these two teams fighting it out for first place all season.
While this game won't determine who is better going forward, it could be a momentum-building win.
The Wild made the playoffs and won a series last year, but they have higher aspirations this year. As for the Mammoth, they finally broke into the playoff picture but were defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round.
The two teams have had success this season, but in different ways, which makes tonight's fixture so intriguing.
The Wild have been potent defensively, ranking third in the NHL in goals allowed. They allow the seventh-fewest shots on goal, and although their penalty kill has had struggles of late, they rank tied for 15th. Much of their success can be attributed to their defensive structure, especially since they haven't had Brock Faber at all this season, but they can also point to goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who's been outstanding.
His .918 save percentage ranks eighth in the NHL, and he's tied for first with seven wins. As for the Mammoth, they haven't been as sharp defensively, but they've made up for it offensively. Karel Vejmelka has won six games this season but has only posted an .878 SP.
As a team, the Mammoth allow 3.33 goals per game (tied for 22nd) but do an effective job limiting shots on goal, ranking third. Their penalty kill has struggled, ranking 29th in the NHL. The Wild average 3.15 goals per game (14th in the NHL) and fire the third most shots on goal (31.3). With the seventh-ranked power play, the Wild could take advantage of the Mammoth.
But the same goes for the Mammoth. Offensively, they rank fifth in goals per game (3.83), fourth in shots on goal (30.4), and have the NHL's best power play, converting on 38.1 percent of their man advantages.
The Mammoth's top unit consists of Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, and Mikhail Sergachev. They move the puck quickly, boast heavy shots, and always look to create numerical advantages, especially 2-on-1s.
The Mammoth are 4-1-0 at home to start the season and are coming off a 5-4 overtime comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tonight's matchup should be riveting, with little to separate the two clubs. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. CST at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
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After a day off on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins returned to practice Tuesday in anticipation of their next tilt Thursday, when they host the Utah Mammoth.
And, given what their injury situation was prior to the day off, there was a sight for sore eyes.
Center Ben Kindel, who experienced a vasevagal episode on the team plane shortly after takeoff from Salt Lake City International Airport on Oct. 20 that prompted an emergency landing, was back on the ice for practice. The 19-year-old was full-contact, and he was working on a second line alongside Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, who were also both out of the lineup for Saturday's 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators but skated Sunday.
It's only been one week since Kindel was hospitalized. Now, he is back on the ice, and he is grateful to be back.
"I've kind of just been getting back to normal. Obviously, a couple of weird days, but it feels normal now just being back with the guys. So, just excited for the rest of the year."
Kindel said he started working out a day or two after returning to Pittsburgh that Wednesday and that he started more intensive training over the weekend. Tuesday marked his first day back on the ice, although he had ample opportunity to get off-ice work in.
In recalling the experience, Kindel didn't reveal anything that wasn't already known to the public through GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's press conference as well as the team's official press release. But he's ready to put it in the past.
"I wouldn't say it's that tough. For me, it's in the past now," Kindel said. "It's out of my head. Can't control what happened, just got to move forward. That's where my head's at, just looking to move forward now. So, I'm definitely not dwelling on anything or have anything holding me back coming into this weekend."
Prior to his medical episode, Kindel had two goals and four points in nine games on the season, and he was a staple as the team's third-line center. Even in the two games that Kindel missed - Saturday's game and Thursday's 4-0 rout of the Florida Panthers - there was a fair amount of lineup shuffling that occurred, particularly within the middle-six.
The Penguins were coming off of a four-game winless road trip before Kindel's incident, and they have won both games since. Hendrix Lapierre and Elmer Soderblom reentered the lineup, and young forwards Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes pitched in during Saturday's win. Lapierre centered the second line in both games, and he and Ville Koivunen have developed some chemistry and were, arguably, the team's best line in those two contests.
So, that's a combination that will likely stick Thursday on the third line. Tommy Novak has been working on the first line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell and has seen some success there, so Kindel took Novak's regular spot between Chinakhov and Malkin.
Of course, the Penguins practice again Wednesday, so these are not necessarily combinations that will stick. However, it is something to watch, given how the other lines have developed together in the games Kindel missed.
"You don't have a lot of these days where you get multiple practice days in a row, so it was an opportunity for us today to see some things," head coach Dan Muse said following Tuesday's practice. "We've still got to check some boxes in terms of some of the guys that are coming back, just in terms of how they're progressing, and I think that can dictate things a little bit for lines.
"But that was a thing today. Obviously, Geno and Chinny have played together in the past. I think 'Lappy' and 'Koivy' have been playing well together - very well together - so you got some pairs there that we're looking at and building some lines off of, but we'll take it a practice at a time here."
Of course, some things could change over the next couple of days. Kindel does have a very small sample size playing with Chinakhov and Malkin from last season, and he did see a brief stint in the top-six on Crosby's wing as well. It seems he may finally be getting another opportunity to be elevated in the lineup, should the combinations stick and everyone be ready to go Thursday.
Regardless of how it all shakes out, however, Kindel is ready to pounce on the opportunity to get back out there and help the team continue to string some wins together.
"I'm just going try and do whatever I can to help the team," Kindel said. "Obviously, if I get an opportunity to play with Geno and Chinny, that would be awesome. They're both great players offensively, and hopefully, we can see what we can do, if that is a line.
"Wherever they put me, I'm just happy to go out there and try and do my best wherever and help the team win."
On Tuesday, New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that the newcomer will make his season and team debut in a tough matchup against the red-hot Dallas Stars.
It will be Hellebuyck's first start since April 13, when he made his final appearance as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in which he allowed six goals on 38 shots. The Stars enter Tuesday having won their last five straight games and will look to make it six versus the Devils.
The Michigan native has solid career numbers against Dallas, though they have soured of late. In 32 career meetings, Hellebuyck is 14-12-6 with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Over his last seven matchups with the Stars, however, the 33-year-old has just one win, with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .876 save percentage.
Now Hellebuyck gets a fresh start in New Jersey. The Devils acquired him in a six-asset trade package that sent Dawson Mercer, recent 12th overall pick Alexander Command, depth center Nick Bjugstad, depth goaltender Nico Daws and a pair of draft picks to Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck finished his tenure with the Jets with a 345-208-55 record, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 625 games. He leads the franchise in nearly every major goaltending category, including games played, wins, losses, overtime losses, shutouts, time on ice, goals-against average and save percentage.
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DALLAS (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made his debut for the New Jersey Devils when the veteran goaltender started against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
The start came four days after the 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy winner was traded to New Jersey after his suspension by the Winnipeg Jets for failing to report to training camp. His last NHL action prior to Tuesday came on April 13, a 6-2 loss at Vegas.
A fifth-round draft pick in 2012 by Winnipeg, Hellebuyck is fifth on the U.S.-born goaltenders list with at least 345 career wins. Among U.S.-born goalies with 300 or more career starts, his .916 save percentage going into Tuesday ranked fourth and 2.58 goals-against average ranked sixth.
“Sitting at home for so long was getting to me. For myself, I’m just really excited to play hockey again,” Hellebuyck said Saturday, when he spoke to reporters a day after the trade. “I’m joining a very skilled group. They brought me for a certain specific role. I’m really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.”
Hellebuyck was skating in Michigan before the trade was completed and went through one practice and Tuesday’s optional morning skate. He has five seasons left on a seven-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million.
He started Tuesday opposite No. 2 Dallas goaltender Casey DeSmith. The Stars’ No. 1 goalie, Jake Oettinger, was Team USA’s third-string goalie at the Olympics behind Hellebuyck and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and didn’t see any game action.
It wasn’t that long ago that Alexander Georgiev was the guy in net for the Colorado Avalanche. He was winning games, made the All-Star Game and played a huge role for a team with Stanley Cup hopes.
Now he has no job.
Georgiev enjoyed some success in Colorado. He tied for the NHL lead with 40 wins in 2022-23, then led the league outright with 38 victories the following season.
Of course, the numbers weren’t always great. His save percentage dropped to .897 in 2023-24, and things plummeted the following year.
After struggling in Colorado, Georgiev was traded to the San Jose Sharks, hoping a change of scenery would help him get back on track.
It didn’t.
He finished his time with the Sharks with a .875 save percentage and a 3.88 goals-against average across 31 appearances.
After a brief stint in Buffalo, Georgiev eventually headed back to Russia and joined Spartak Moskva in the KHL. And honestly, he looked better.
He finished the regular season with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 24 appearances.
His playoff run wasn’t quite as successful, as he went 1-4 in five appearances, but he still managed to post a .918 save percentage.
So, it’s not like Georgiev completely forgot how to stop pucks.
The bigger question is whether NHL teams believe he can do it consistently over here again.
Is Another NHL Chance Coming?
The season is already a month old and Georgiev remains out of the picture. The New York Rangers might need an extra hand as well as the Edmonton Oilers, but Mike Babcock would likely have him run out of town if we’re being honest.
The end of his NHL tenure, as far as we know, was rather bad. So you can’t blame teams for wanting to avoid Georgiev like the plague or I guess if you want to use a recent example, COVID-19.
For now, the former Avalanche starter remains homeless in the NHL, and with the season already underway, the clock is ticking on his chances of getting back.
