The Carolina Hurricanes don't have a ton of center depth in the pipeline, but the team is hopeful that they have a potentially big piece of the future in one of their prospects in particular.
Charlie Cerrato, the team's 2025 second-round pick, has been a riser for a few years now coming off back-to-back point-per-game seasons in the NCAA.
"Strong on faceoffs, strong two-way game, smart defensively, has a lot of skill and plays exactly like how we want to play," said Canes associate general manager Darren Yorke when he was drafted. "This is a guy that would fit right into our system.
Cerrato has been around the organization ever since capping off his two-year career at Penn State earlier this year, but this year is his first NHL training camp.
"Really excited, honestly," Cerrato said. "It's been good. Just being healthy and feeling good has been great. Learning the systems has been... there's a lot of mess ups, but that's what training camp is about. It's about learning and getting better and so I'm looking forward to going out there and working hard."
The young center has primarily spent his post collegiate time with the Chicago Wolves, but he only ever appeared in one AHL game, so for all intents and purposes, this year will be his first as a professional hockey player.
"I think the month I spent in Chicago was awesome," Cerrato said. "Just getting comfortable with a lot of the staff and a lot of the players."
And so Sunday night's preseason opener was his first real taste of the pros and you probably couldn't have picked a tougher opponent.
"It's gonna take him some time to learn just exactly how things roll, especially at this level," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour before Sunday's game. "This is going to be a big test for a guy like that, but the good news on that is that there's nowhere to hide. No matter who you're playing against, you're going to be playing against top NHL players. It's a great introduction into the league. A game that really doesn't matter how it shakes out, which I think is the best way to approach it. He has nothing to lose."
Facing off against what will essentially be the Florida Panthers' opening night lineup, Cerrato centered the Hurricanes' top line, playing 15:47 in the 6-3 loss.
Cerrato had a primary assist, a hit, a block and went 37.5% in the faceoff dot.
While none of that really jumps off the page, it's not a bad showing for a kid playing against an all NHL lineup.
And looking at some of the underlying numbers, Cerrato held his own pretty well on both sides of the ice.
The 21-year-old centerman had a 50% Corsi For, meaning the team generated just as many 5v5 shots for as against when he was on the ice, and his 54.84% xGF% means his looks his looks were more dangerous than his opponents.
And while his 5v5 faceoff numbers weren't great, he went three-for-three on power play draws, with one leading to a quick goal.
"Once you get out there, you kind of put the game face on and you just compete," Cerrato said. "So you're not too worried about who's lining up across from you. But stepping out there for warmups was a little shocking, but really cool. This is what it's all about. I was looking forward to going out there and proving it against guys that were Stanley Cup champs and really good players in the league."
His line, centering Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum, Carolina's top two forward prospects, was the Hurricanes' most dangerous and if all three wind up in the AHL this season, they should make for a dynamic trio.
"Two amazing players and they make my job really easy," Cerrato said.
Cerrato's first professional season is going to take place with the Chicago Wolves and the team is already planning on making him a big piece of the equation.
"It'll really be important for us to give two centermen, in particular Ivan Ryabkin and Charlie Cerrato, some big time looks," said Wolves coach Spiros Anastas. "It's going to be baptism by fire for those guys."
And Cerrato is ready for it.
"Just the small details I realized are so important when you get to the next level, Cerrato said. "That's the difference in making it to the NHL. So I think just focusing on that the last couple years of my development has been huge and going into my first training camp and first year of pros, that's going to be my approach too."
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The Blue Jackets will play their first preseason road game on Tuesday at KeyBank Arena. The game will start at 7 PM.
This game will again feature a prospect-heavy lineup against Buffalo. Eight forwards and one defenseman who played in last night's game against Detroit will be getting another look, however. Six NHL regulars will also be playing tonight, including new Blue Jacket Ryan Lomberg.
Buffalo, on the other hand, will be sending out a heavy NHL lineup, so this will be a good test for youngsters hoping to make a good final impression.
Also per CBJ PR,
"The Columbus Blue Jackets have reduced their training camp roster by four players, club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced today. The training camp roster now stands at 45 players, including 24 forwards, 15 defensemen, and six goaltenders."
"Columbus has loaned forward Max McCue to the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters. The Blue Jackets have also announced that forwards Roman Ahcan and Tate Singleton have been assigned to Cleveland on AHL contracts. The club has also returned forward Owen Griffin to the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm."
CBJ PR
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on BlueJackets.com and the Blue Jackets Mobile App.
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The Detroit Red Wings have already completed 25 percent of their abbreviated preseason schedule, opening up the exhibition slate with a 1-0 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday evening.
While the lineup consisted primarily of young players looking to secure a full-time roster spot, two notable absences stood out - both belonging to players essentially racing against the clock with the regular season rapidly approaching.
Former captain Dylan Larkin has yet to hit the ice after suffering an upper-body injury during a gym training session shortly before the start of Training Camp. Meanwhile, restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains without a contract.
Edvinsson participated in on-ice drills during Training Camp, but didn't skate in the club's scrimmages as he awaits a new deal.
Head coach Todd McLellan explained that essentially, Larkin is at the mercy of how quickly his body heals before he can return to the ice.
"With Larks, Mother Nature has to take care of that; he's hurt," McLellan said. "It's no different than if he had an injury in December or another time; he has to heal. We can't rush that, so Mother Nature is in charge of that.
We're hoping that he'll be ready to go, but if he isn't, then we move on."
He then pointed out that the business side of Edvinsson's situation, with the 23-year-old having emerged as Detroit's second-best defenseman behind Moritz Seider, isn't in his or the team's available players' hands.
"Simon, on the other hand, is the business side of it for two parties; they have to get involved and get things done," McLellan said." And they're working diligently at that. Really, both of them are out of control as coaches and out of the existing players' control.
We have to worry about what we worry about, and that's who we have right now."
During his introductory press conference last week, Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff indicated that a new deal for Edvinsson is a "priority".
Neither player will be suiting up in Detroit's second preseason contest on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
Meanwhile, each passing day brings the Red Wings closer to their opening regular season contest on Oct. 2 against the New York Rangers at Little Caesars Arena.
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Jack Finley provides stability, bringing a calming two-way game for the St. Louis Blues, but if you asked coach Jim Montgomery, that isn't enough.
"Excellent penalty-killer, excellent defensively," said Montgomery. "He's got to learn about building the momentum of the game. There's no momentum tilts when he's on the ice."
It's a fair criticism for Finley, who, in 22 games with the Blues last year after being claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning, posted just two assists while averaging 11:00 of ice time.
He threw just 15 shots on goal in those 22 games, and the Blues were outscored 4-1 at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. Just five goals in total over a 22-game span. As Montgomery mentioned, he's not hurting the team in any way, but he isn't changing the game either.
"We're not going to give up anything, but we're not creating big hits, we're not creating momentum, we're not getting our fans in our home building into the game," Montgomery continued. "We've spoken to him about it - 'You're fighting for a spot, you've got to create some momentum for us.'"
With a 6-foot-6 frame, Finley has the tools to be a momentum shifter. The 24-year-old was a second-round draft pick of the Lightning in 2020 but has never really been a high-end point producer. In the AHL, his career high was 32 points in the 2023-24 season, and in the WHL before that, his best point total was 50 points in 60 games.
Expecting him to be a point-per-game player in the NHL is unrealistic, but Montgomery isn't asking him to do that. Finley can remain potent defensively while adding physicality to his game. He can serve as a sparkplug for his team when needed.
Finley's direct competition is Oskar Sundqvist and Pius Suter, two reliable veteran centers. Finley needs to stand out; he needs to do something better than they can.
If not, Finley will find himself on the trade market, on waivers, or back in the AHL. With two pre-season games remaining, Finley has little time to prove himself as he enters make-or-break territory.
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The Chicago Blackhawks played their first home preseason game on Monday night. This was also the first time that they used a lineup filled with NHL players in 2026-27.
One of those players, Bowen Byram, made his preseason debut with the Blackhawks. Chicago acquired Byram ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, and he's already making a good first impression.
In the Hawks' 4-3 win, Byram scored a hat trick, including the game-winning goal in overtime. Although it's an exhibition game that doesn't count, you can see the difference he brings to the offense of a team that sorely lacked that skill.
"He was great," Nick Lardis said of Byram after the game. "Scoring a hat trick as a defenseman is not easy; a hat trick for anyone in this league isn't easy. He's going to be a special player for us this year - one of the leaders on this team."
Lardis was the other goal scorer in the game, and someone who knows how to find the back of the net regularly. Having someone like Byram in the same lineup has to be a breath of fresh air, as all of the offensive-minded forwards on the team have a guy back there who can make incredible plays and even join the rush.
It was noticeable that the Blackhawks looked faster on Monday compared to recent seasons. Of course, they battled against a Wild team dressing mostly AHL players, but the team-speed is definitely improved. Having Byram out there for over a third of the game plays a role in that.
"He's been really good every day, he's a really good player," Jeff Blashill said of Byram after the game. "We have a ton of belief in him as a player, person, competitor, as a guy who is going to help our team. Whether he scored or didn't score, that wouldn't change the level of belief in him."
Blashill went on to say that he is a very talented defenseman who is just coming into his prime. He is now doing it on a team where he can be the number one guy who gets the big minutes at that position. In his previous NHL roles, Byram was behind stars like Cale Makar and Rasmus Dahlin, but now he gets to be the main number one on a team so desperate for that level of play from the back end.
As Lardis said, scoring hat tricks is hard. Byram may not do that again in the regular season. What he is going to do, however, is help move the puck north. The forwards will receive better breakout passes, and the team as a whole will spend less time in their own end while he's on the ice.
There is a desire to prove himself worthy of this role in the NHL, which is adding to his success. A lot was given up to acquire him, and then the extension is worth a lucrative amount of money. Living up to that is important to him, and it shows in his work ethic.
Byram has been paired up with Alex Vlasic since the start of training camp. Vlasic is more of a quiet (on the ice) two-way defenseman who is always looking to make the smart play. There is no flashy offensive flair to his game, but he is almost always in the right place at the right time in all three zones.
With Byram's ability to generate offense and tendencies to take more risks, having Vlasic as his defense partner fits like a glove.
"It's been good," Byram said of his game paired with Vlasic. "We have a natural chemistry. I've been saying it all camp, but he's a really good player. He's so big, he closes quick, and extends plays. That makes it easy when you play the puck more, you have more opportunities. I thought we did a decent job defending and breaking the puck out tonight."
If Byram is going to be as special as his talents suggest he is going to be, the Blackhawks needed to give him the perfect partner. With Alex Vlasic, the early signs are there that they have done so.
Although Byram had a hat trick, they were unable to get the power play going, mostly because they were only given one chance. Once that operation starts to click, the team will really start going offensively under his leadership from the defense.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in front of Patrick Kane #88 of the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Some more notable starters are seeing preseason action tonight for the Penguins after Bryan Rust and Kris Letang took the ice in Monday night’s win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will both be playing Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings’ preseason squad, according to the Penguins.
They’ll be joined by some familiar names in Rickard Rakell, Egor Chinakhov, Tommy Novak, Ilya Solovyov, Sam Girard and Artūrs Šilovs. Ville Koivunen is back for his first game action since signing his eight-year extension last month.
Joining them will be a few names from Pensburgh’s top 25 under 25 list, including Markus and Liam Ruck, Mikhail Ilyin, Finn Harding, Bill Zonnon and Tomas Galvas.
Other players to keep an eye on include winger Nick Robertson, who is appearing in his first action for the Penguins, as well as Rutger McGroarty, who is beginning his next campaign for a permanent NHL roster spot.
The roster for tomorrow's preseason game vs. Detroit has been announced ⬇️
McGroarty’s path to the 23-man roster might have gotten tougher Monday night thanks to strong play from Filip Hallander and Tristan Broz to go along with a highlight-reel goal from Avery Hayes.
Which players will end up on the Penguins’ active roster at the start of the regular season isn’t the only decision head coach Dan Muse and the front office will need to make this week. The Pens are also working on testing out new special teams combinations.
One change from Monday included adding Elmer Söderblom to the penalty kill, although Muse said after the game he hadn’t yet decided if Söderblom will maintain that role in the regular season.
Other notable takeaways from the win over the Sabres included some early chemistry between Bryan Rust and offseason addition Andrei Kuzmenko as well as strong play from goaltender Sergei Murashov ahead of what could be his first full-time season in Pittsburgh.
The biggest story from Monday night was arguably the lower-body injury that ended Ben Kindel’s night in the second period against the Sabres. Muse said when speaking to reporters after the game Kindel was still being evaluated.
The Penguins will hope for a positive injury update regarding Kindel, who was one of the best forwards on Monday’s ice prior to his injury, before the second game of the shortened preseason kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. ET.
The Penguins will then have just two more preseason matchups (Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres) before kicking off the regular season a week from Wednesday at the Philadelphia Flyers.
As the pre-season continues, one name to watch is Kirill Kudryavtsev. The 22-year-old defenceman has become a draft-day steal for the Vancouver Canucks after they selected him 208th overall in 2022. Four years later, Kudryavtsev has already won a Calder Cup and is now fighting for a spot on the opening-night roster.
Thanks to some impressive play in the AHL, Kirill Kudryavtsev has already suited up for Vancouver five times. Last season, he played in three games and picked up his first two career NHL assists. Entering his third pro campaign, Kudryavtsev's goal remains to become a full-time NHLer.
"That goal was for the last two years," said Kudryavtsev. "The main goal is just to make the team. It doesn't matter what time. It can be the opening night, or it can be February. Honestly, if I just get myself a spot on the team, that's the ultimate goal that I'm trying to achieve there."
As mentioned, Kudryavtsev picked up his first and second career assists last year. He recorded his first against the Anaheim Ducks on April 12, and his second two days later against the Los Angeles Kings. As Kudryavtsev explained in an interview with The Hockey News, getting on the scoresheet at the NHL level was a moment he won't soon forget.
"It's very exciting. Obviously, there is still a goal up ahead that I have to score, but to get the first point, it's just very nice. It lifts off lots of pressure. Don't have to think about, like, I play so many games now. I haven't had a point yet. All of that, just don't think about that. Now I can just play hockey and then help the team to win hockey games. Then if I score, I score. It's just a good bonus that I will have. But obviously it lifts a lot of unnecessary pressure that I could have in my head for not getting any points or anything."
While there were some special moments, last season was one of the hardest in Kudryavtsev's young career. He suffered a significant injury which sidelined him for two months. When asked about his injury, Kudryavtsev opened up about some of the challenges he faced while sidelined.
"I've never had an injury like that before. So it was the first time I was actually away from the team. Actually, just doing the rehab. Actually, it was hurting. It was kind of affecting my day-to-day life. So it was a new experience. The one experience I do not really want to go through again. It was dark times. It's really lonely. When the boys go on the road, you have to stay alone. Maybe you get like one or two other extra guys who are recovering with you. But it's really dark times. It gets in your head. You just have to sit there. You watch your teammates battle, play, have fun there, and you just keep watching that. Don't really want to go through that again. It was a tough experience. But it made me stronger. Maybe I appreciate the time when I'm on the team. Even though you have some bad days and you don't want to show up to the rink, you can start to think about how hard it was for those two months being away from hockey, and you kind of start to appreciate coming to the rink every day healthy."
Since joining the AHL, Kudryavtsev has had only one head coach: Manny Malhotra. The two have developed a strong relationship and could be reunited this year in the NHL. When asked about Vancouver's new head coach, Kudryavtsev spoke not just about how Malhotra helps on the ice, but off it as well.
"A great coach, amazing human being. He's very smart. It's a shame, honestly. He's so smart you can't hide anything from him. But no, he's just a great guy. He's always there for you if you need anything hockey-wise, off-ice stuff. He's there. He always helps you. You have any question about anything, about your life, about how to handle it. I have a girlfriend, for example, or my cat is sick, for example, you can come over to him. Or have a question about the defensive zone, or what am I doing in the offensive zone. He's always there to help. He's always there to help you in the game too. He's that kind of coach that he loves his style of the game, but if you like see something that you wanna adapt to the system to, he always listens to you. He might not adjust; he might adjust; you never know. I've never tried it, but he is a great coach. He helped me a lot. He made me a way stronger hockey player. He taught me lots of small things on the ice that I needed to grow in, and I still have lots of work to do on those small things. But he is helping me a lot, and really appreciate that."
If Kudryavtsev is going to become a full-time NHLer, he needs to keep developing his overall game. He has some intriguing tools, which is one reason he has been called up in each of the last two seasons. For Kudryavtsev, he was able to identify some areas of his game that need work and improve on them during the off-season.
"I'd say try to improve my shot a little bit more. Just so I can be more threatening from the blue line. I believe I'm a smart enough guy to get myself in those positions where I can have a good look at the net. But sometimes, my shot is not as threatening, so the guys can take it a little bit lightly. I feel like if I have a pretty good shot, people will have to respect me more. That will open up more seams in the passing lanes for me. That's where I can take advantage of the other teams because I know that I can find those passing lanes. So I've been trying to work on my shot, and then my all-around game, just my skill stuff. Obviously, the off-ice workouts, conditioning, all of that."
Ultimately, Kudryavtsev has put himself in a good position to start the year in the NHL. He has had a strong training camp and led the Canucks in ice time during their first pre-season game. If Kudryavtsev keeps developing his game, it won't be long before he becomes a permanent fixture on Vancouver's blue line.
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev (59) during a stop in play against the Los Angeles Kings in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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It may have been only a preseason tilt, but for Saint-Boniface and Trois-Rivières, it must have felt like much more. To see the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators play at the Colisée Vidéotron, the barn of the Habs’ ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Lions, must have felt surreal. The 4,500-seat arena was filled to the brim with hockey-crazed fans- or rather, Habs fans, I should say, as finding a Senators jersey was quite a challenge, but that was to be expected so deep in Canadiens’ territory. Holding the game in Saint-Boniface wouldn’t have made much sense with the arena so small, so they decided to play at Colisée Vidéotron, a 23-minute drive away. A bigger rink meant more fans could catch the action.
Still, the $250,000 Kraft Hockeyville prize money will go to the small arena; players’ dressing rooms and bathrooms will be improved, along with the boards, glass, and roof. According to Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc, who played there in his youth, that will be money well spent. Saint-Boniface is the 18th Kraft Hockeyville winner since the program began in 2006.
For a couple of Canadiens’ rookies, it was a big game for a different reason. After playing a great game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, David Reinbacher and Florian Xhekaj had earned the right to get another close look, this time with Martin St-Louis in the building, and neither of them disappointed.
On one of his first shifts, Reinbacher made a play that summed him up pretty well. With a Sens player skating at full speed toward him, the Austrian braced for impact and played the puck with poise, getting it to his forward safely for a zone exit. Safe and sound may not be the sexiest terms in hockey, but for a defensive defenseman, they are enviable traits.
After the game, Lane Hutson had nothing but praise for his partner on the night:
Yeah, he looked good; he’s easy to read off of; he killed a lot of plays; I thought he played great. It was fun to watch him.
As for the youngest Xhekaj, he didn’t get an assist on Jayden Struble’s goal, but it was his big hit deep in the zone that led to the defenseman getting the puck on his stick in space. Unsurprisingly, that wasn’t his only big hit either; he’s great on the forecheck and fears absolutely no one. Evaluating the forward, Martin St-Louis commented:
You know what he brings; he’s consistent in what you know he brings. He played a physical game again tonight; he skated, and he’s got a presence when he’s on the ice.
As for whether the sandpaper he brings might be something his team lacks, the coach agreed:
Of course, we always want to add sandpaper, and it’s not just one guy. Generally, I think we’re improving on that front; we’ll try to keep it up.
Asked if the youngster is able to walk the fine line between stepping up for his teammates and putting his team in trouble, the bench boss explained:
That’s part of playing a mature game, to not just be looking for that, but to be there, to be calculated. I think he does a good job of it, and Xhako (Arber Xhekaj) has improved a lot on that front. You’ve got to do the job, but without hurting the team.
As for the man himself, he had this to say about walking that line:
Obviously that’s something I’ve wanted to get better at, and I think I’ve been doing a really good job of that, so that’s good.
Old Habits Die Hard
It may only be the preseason, but in two games so far, the Canadiens have struggled in the middle frame. St-Louis today was talking about a lack of execution in the middle stanza, and he’s not wrong, but that’s something that plagued the Habs last season as well. Of course, consistency is one of the toughest things for a young team to achieve, but it has to come eventually.
In his post-game comments, Hutson also mentioned that he liked how the team played with the puck in the first and third frame. The players know about that issue, and sooner rather than later, they need to fix it.
Taking your foot off the pedal for the middle frame only makes it tougher to get the result ultimately. In the playoffs, unnecessarily depleting your energy can be costly. Last year, in the Eastern Conference final, the Habs looked flat and out of energy, and having to play two 7-game series beforehand certainly didn’t help.
The Curious Case Of Kirby Dach, Last Chance Edition?
Kirby Dach is skating on thin ice. This summer, he was submitted a qualifying offer, but it was for a two-way contract, a way for the team to get him under contract for less than the four million his qualifying offer provided for. Kent Hughes's decision to submit that kind of offer should have been a stern warning to the Albertan, but it doesn’t feel like it was.
He finished his evening with no points, one shot and a puzzling level of implication. Dach has the size and skills to be an impact player, but he plays like he's completely unaware of it. On the attack, when he gets closed up on the boards, he’s worryingly easy to dispossess, and he just doesn’t seem to have much fight. St-Louis has never been and will never be the kind of coach who will push one of his players under the proverbial bus, so it wasn’t a shock to hear him say that the Dach line gave him good hockey, that all three players were skating hard and that they had generally provided very good hockey.
However, at the start of training camp, St-Louis said he didn’t know what kind of role Dach would have on his team and that events would guide him. So far, looking at what has unfolded, it’s hard to see how the coach could believe a Dach who lacks engagement could be more useful to his team than, say, a Xhekaj (Florian) who plays with intensity for every second he spends on the ice.
The Canadiens now only have one game day left. On Saturday, they will take on the Senators again, but this time in a split-squad format, with one game in each city. It will be one last chance for players who still haven't secured a roster spot to convince the coach they belong.
From: @rookvania.bsky.social Sort of a two-part question: With camp still underway we don't know who will go to WBS yet, but who do you expect to be a player to follow closely down there? You mentioned Pickering as much improved, so maybe he fits that billing, but has anyone else surprised you or improved as much?
Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are obvious candidates, assuming neither makes the roster out of camp. They are likely to be WBS's top pairing and look pretty darn close to NHL-ready. In fact, I think they are NHL-ready and should probably be this team's third pairing, but that's highly unlikely this season because of a sheer numbers game.
But, otherwise, I'll throw a hat in the ring for a forward and a defenseman.
As far as forwards, I'd say Atley Calvert. This guy isn't talked about quite as much as some other guys like Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty and Tristan Broz, but I think he has the tools to be an effective NHLer one day. His versatility helps his cause, he's good on both sides of the puck, and he's relentless on the forecheck. He can also put the puck in the back of the net.
Harding is the defenseman I'd keep an eye on. I think this guy is going to be a solid, reliable NHL defenseman, and if you're looking for a success story in development in the Penguins' pipeline, it's him. He went from a longshot seventh-round pick in 2024 to, easily, one of the top defensemen in Pittsburgh's system, and it's apparent why when you watch how effective he is in all three zones. He's a smart player and a good all-around blueliner.
He's improved his skating and mobility quite a bit, too, which was an area he self-identified last season that he wanted to work on. He's the purest form of a student of the game.
From: @Jeffs_Penguins on X Not the players who looked the best or most "flashy" but who are the Young Penguins that looked like they had Hockey IQ or showed the Hockey brain to be NHLers at the very short Training CampFinn Harding was the 1 that impressed me most in Prospect games w/ his Hockey IQ
Since you've already named Harding, I won't get into detail with him even though I agree entirely.
The two who have stood out to me so far from an IQ standpoint are Broz and Chase Pietila. Broz is not the flashiest or most exciting player, but there are few players in the whole of the Penguins' organization who play as clean a game as Broz. He's never out of position, always makes the right reads on plays, and has excellent offensive instincts in-zone.
I personally think this guy's ceiling as an NHLer is a bit undersold, to be honest, but even if he only turns out to be a good fourth-line center, his smarts in all three zones are evident. Other guys in the room will tell you that, too. He's a very cerebral player.
And same goes for Pietila. I think Pietila plays a pretty similar game to Harding with some added physicality and not as high an offensive ceiling. But there's a reason he got the second-most minutes during the Penguins' first pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, and it's because his processing is already up to NHL speed. His decision-making is quick, his breakouts are solid, and his defensive posture is impressive.
I think both he and Harding will be solid, reliable NHL defensemen, even if their ceilings are probably bottom-pair. They both have the brains and the defensive instincts to stick at the NHL level.
From: @TheAud25 on X Has Solovyov's skating improved?
Solovyov stayed in Pittsburgh all summer to train, and it shows. I do think his skating has improved marginally, but I'm not sure it's something that will distinguish or differentiate him, either.
There is a healthy competition between him, Ryan Graves, Jake Livanavage, Harrison Brunicke, and Owen Pickering for what will, presumably, be the seventh and final defensive spot on the NHL roster. Three of those guys are still better skaters.
Solovyov makes up for his shortcomings in mobility in other aspects of his game, and the coaching staff recognizes this. However, I'm not sure the skating itself will hurt his chances of securing a spot as much as the fact that they have three higher-upside players knocking on the door.
From: @GenoMalkCHIN on X Late to the party but what do you think the reasoning was to trading Wotherspoon and how do you think it could impact the team? Was it for the young guys? I thought he complemented EK v well. Was kinda bummed to see that trade.
I think the decision to trade Wotherspoon came down to two things: Vegas coveted him, and the Penguins, essentially, traded for a young, cost-controlled Wotherspoon comparable. Korczak makes $325 million for more years.
Yes, Wotherspoon had a breakout career year for the Penguins last season and complemented Erik Karlsson well, but realistically, he's probably not a regular top-pairing left defenseman. His play also tailed off in the back half of the season. There's a decent chance that, 29, had a career year with the Penguins, and Kyle Dubas simply capitalized off of that perceived maximum value.
In the grand scheme of things, I don't predict it's a loss that the Penguins - on paper, anyway - should feel that greatly, especially with three additional solid defensive defensemen in Trevor van Riemsdyk, Declan Carlile, and Kaedan Korczak. One of those guys is bound to play well enough with Karlsson.
From: @The_Gas_Man_01 on X just how big is the gap between an NHLer, a borderline player, and an AHL or lower guy? and can you spot the difference?
I love this question. In a broad sense, yes, I think you can typically spot the difference between these tiers, although the gap between an NHLer and an AHLer is quite substantial. Players will tell you it's the biggest jump for a reason, and if you tune in to an AHL game, you'll see why: things happen so very much faster at NHL speed, and the ones who are able to process plays at NHL speed are the ones who will make it.
That - for me, anyway - is the differentiating factor between an NHL regular and someone who is borderline and always being caught between levels. If someone can make quick, correct decisions against NHL competition on both sides of the puck consistently, they will make it as an NHLer. If not, they are bound to be career AHL All-Stars.
And, well, I do think there's quite a gap between an AHL All-Star and a regular AHL player, too. Typically, for forwards, production is the name of the game when examining that. For defensemen, I'd say it's how well they handle themselves at both ends of the ice.
All that said, some guys - like Pickering - simply take longer than others to fully develop, and spotting that difference is a bit more nuanced. A year ago, I may have been hesitant to call Pickering an NHLer because his processing and his footspeed simply weren't up to NHL speed. After a year of growth, both of those things have changed, and he looks far more ready.
Some guys can adapt with experience annd runway, some get it right away, and some never adapt. At the end of the day, though, it's all about that processing and decision-making.
From: @TheGM42 on X Is there a possibility that some of the free agent signings are released or traded before the opening of the season to make room for the youth movement?
From @JGardonis on X Out of the 6-7 forwards fighting for one roster spot, how many are waiver exempt?
From: @cocaine-ewok.bsky.social Do you expect any trades prior to opening night?
All of these questions are cut from a similar cloth, so I'll answer them together, starting with the second one: McGroarty, Hayes, Broz, Calvert, Brunicke, and Pickering are all waivers-exempt, and whether or not anyone will admit this, that does play a role in roster decisions, especially when so many players aren't exempt.
As far as trades, there's always a small possibility. But trades are difficult to execute during camp because - especially for guys on the fringes of rosters - why would teams surrender assets for a player when they may be able to get them at no cost at the end of camp? Unless a particular fringe player is coveted by an organization and they want to ensure they snag said player, most trades don't happen during camp.
I wouldn't rule out trades happening early in the season, though.
And, also, while I do think there's a difference between overcrowding and creating competition so players have to earn spots - I think the Penguins are teetering on the former - the young players do need to earn spots. If they show Penguins' brass that they should be on the NHL roster and leave no room for questions, they will be on the NHL roster.
Which is where waivers come in. Yes, I absolutely do think the Penguins are willing to exercise waivers on some players, and I think that will happen by the end of camp. We saw it with Graves last year. I would not be surprised to see a guy like Justin Brazeau end up there if other guys show out better.
From: @Retiredcrayon on X Since Hayes announced retirement, could we get some insight on his impact on the room last year? He seemed like a gem.
Ask any guy in that locker room, and they will tell you just how incredible a teammate and how incredible a human Hayes is. It's very rare that a veteran player who is virtually always scratched and never plays is that integral to a locker room, but Hayes was truly that much of a glue guy, which is the reason he stuck around all year.
I think a perfect example of this is when Ryan Shea told me Hayes was the one who thought to invite Ben Kindel on a trip with some other teammates, including Shea and Connor Dewar, over the Olympic break. He's a standup guy and a standup teammate, and that's not an easy thing to maintain when things aren't going your way on the ice. He could have pouted and shut himself off like many others do in that situation, but he didn't.
Read Muse's and Letang's quotes about Hayes, and that will tell you everything you need to know. He wasn't always the most chipper guy with media depending on the day and the circumstances, but he was a world-class person and teammate and a huge presence in that room. I wish him the best in retirement.
From: @genocrisp on X will anyone of the younger guys bleach part of their hair and dye it gray to stand in solidarity with salt-n-pepper sidney
I can't say for certain. What I will tell you is that Sid seems perfectly comfortable embracing the gray.
From: @Jason_Shetler on X Do you advocate pizza for breakfast?
Generally, no. For a while, I had a health condition that didn't allow me to eat red pizza, and I still can't have a ton of it before not feeling great.
That said, breakfast pizza is legit. As in, pizza with some alfredo sauce, eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, cheese... the whole deal. Give me a good actual breakfast pizza any day of the week.
From: @rsoback94 on X Bold prediction for where they finish and playoff result?
I think there are a lot of possible outcomes for this team, as is well-documented in media.
But I think folks are underselling them by a good margin.
So many people say last year's playoff berth was a "fluke," and maybe when looking at the bigger picture, that's true to an extent. But as far as the team itself being fluky, I very much disagree with that assessment.
This was a top-three five-on-five offensive team, it was an upper-half defensive team until about the last month and a half, it had the highest degree of difficulty in schedule post-Olympics and still made it despite that and despite not having 87 for most of that stretch, and it didn't at all ride what was below-average goaltending for most of the year.
Despite losing Anthony Mantha, they added Andrei Kuzmenko and Nick Robertson, who should account for that deficit. Kindel is a year older and stronger. They added three pretty good defensive defensemen. They have a wildcard situation in net but with a promising Sergei Murashov this time.
I think this team, on paper, is better than last year's. Carolina and Washington are the two best in the division, but I'd say the Penguins finish third, and I think they beat the Capitals in a first-round series.
Hutson got an audition last season with the Capitals, recording 10 points in 14 games after spending two seasons at Boston University. He's Lane Hutson's brother and shows the same skill level. He'll get opportunites with Rasmus Sandin out.
4. Anton Frondell, Chicago Blackhawks
He was named the best forward at the world junior championships after winning a gold medal with Sweden. Frondell played in Sweden's top league and had 12 points in nine games with Chicago at the end of last season. He'll get his share of ice time, especially with Bedard out early.
The Maple Leafs are giving the 2026 No. 1 overall pick a chance for early success. He has been skating with John Tavares and William Nylander in training camp and is on the second power play unit.
The Sharks jumped up to No. 2 in the 2026 draft during the lottery and grabbed a player who was in the mix for first overall. Stenberg played in the top Swedish league, getting 33 points in 43 games. He also was a standout in the world junior championships, especially in the gold medal game.
A Flyers player has never won the Calder Trophy, and he could be the first. Martone got solid NHL experience at the end of the 2025-26 season after finishing his junior hockey career. He played nine regular season games, recording 10 points. Then he played two round of the playoffs, finishing with five points in 10 games. He's built for the NHL at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds.
Others to watch: Roman Kantserov, Blackhawks; James Hagens, Bruins; Konsta Helenius, Sabres; Viggo Bjorck, Jets; Ilya Protas, Capitals.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) tends net in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on September 21, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Back on PPG Paints Arena ice for the first time since April, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their preseason slate with a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Sergei Murashov got the nod in goal and pitched a shutout, stopping 13 shots, in his 30 minutes of action before Joel Blomqvist took over. Connor Dewar, Bryan Rust, Avery Hayes, and Elmer Soderblom were the goal scorers. [Pensburgh]
Pens Points…
It will be a quick turnaround for the Penguins with the Detroit Red Wings coming to town for the second preseason game later tonight right back at PPG. It will an entirely different roster suiting up for the Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin along with twin brothers Liam and Markus Ruck. [Penguins]
It’s pretty remarkable, that even over two decades into his NHL career, Sidney Crosby remains one of the best hockey players on the planet. NHL Network has Crosby ranked at No. 12 on their annual list of the 50 best players in the league. [Pensburgh]
If you’re going to get injured, might as well do so before the season starts to lessen the impact of how many games you’ll miss. It was announced on Monday that Blake Lizotte is going to be week-to-week with an upper-body ailment. [Pensburgh]
With fewer preseasons games to make your case for the Penguins roster, every time out will be important and those lineup battles started to take shape last night against the Sabres and will continue through the week as the preseason rolls along. [Penguins]
After posting a career season in 2025-26, Justin Brazeau is back for an encore with the Penguins this season, but his job is anything but locked down at the moment, and he’ll once again have to earn his place in the Penguins lineup with a strong preseason. [Trib Live]
There was some shuffling along with blue line this offseason for the Penguins, with a few familiar faces leaving for other opportunities with new faces coming in to take their place. One of those new faces is Trevor van Riemsdyk who brings a strong, veteran presence to the back end. [Penguins]
Former Penguins forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement from hockey on Monday following a 12-year NHL career. After spending two seasons with the Penguins, Hayes signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL last month but has decided to retire after only five games. [Trib Live]
NHL News and Notes…
Sam Steel could have opted to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but instead has decided to reup with the Dallas Stars a year early with a new four-year contract extension that will begin next season. [Sportsnet]
There will be some big names up for the Calder Trophy this season, including top overall pick Gavin McKenna. Outside of the preseason front runners, there are some under the radar rookies who could put together big seasons and spoil the coronation. [The Hockey News]
The Boston Bruins returned to the playoffs in the 2025-26 NHL season after a disastrous 2024-25 campaign that saw the Original Six franchise finish with the league’s fifth-worst record.
The turnaround was powered by many different players. David Pastrnak tallied his fourth straight 100-point season. Morgan Geekie scored a career-high 39 goals. Charlie McAvoy posted a career-high 61 points. Young forwards such as Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdnov showed improvement.
But no player made a more significant impact than Jeremy Swayman.
The 27-year-old goalie had a bounce-back season. He was voted a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time in his career, earned a spot on Team USA’s Olympic gold medal-winning roster and established himself as an elite goaltender.
Swayman posted a 31-18-4 record with a .908 save percentage and a 2.71 GAA. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but the analytics painted a very different (and more favorable) picture.
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If the Bruins are going to make it back to the playoffs in the upcoming campaign, they’ll need great goaltending again. They did not defend at a high level on a consistent basis last season. The B’s ranked 27th in shots against, 27th in scoring chances against and 29th in high-danger chances allowed in all situations, per Natural Stat Trick. They also went to the penalty kill a league-high 278 times. Swayman helped the Bruins overcome these defensive issues. He bailed out his teammates’ mistakes a lot.
Maybe the Bruins’ defense will be better this season. They added defensemen Will Borgen and Connor Clifton in the offseason. Hampus Lindholm is healthy. Frederic Brunet could inject some youth and playmaking ability on the back end. But relying on Swayman to overcome worrisome defending again and again is not an ideal strategy for long-term success.
The Atlantic could be the most competitive division in the league this season. Six of the eight teams, including the Bruins, have a realistic shot at the playoffs.
Four of the top eight teams in goals scored last season were in the Atlantic — Lightning (No. 4), Sabres (No. 5), Canadiens (No. 7), Senators (No. 8) — and that doesn’t include the Panthers, who are healthy again after being decimated by injuries a year ago. They also added top-six forward Brady Tkachuk in the offseason. The crazy amount of offensive skill in the Atlantic will make goaltending even more important for a team like the Bruins.
Even though the Bruins finished 10th in goals scored last season, you could still argue that they do not have the offensive firepower to win high-scoring games on a consistent basis, and therefore will need great goaltending again. The B’s scored the second-most goals above expected last season, per MoneyPuck. Several players had a career-high shooting percentage. It’s fair to wonder if last season’s surprising scoring uptick was an outlier and if a regression is coming.
We did see a steep regression in the playoffs. The B’s scored an average of 1.25 goals over the last four games of their first-round series versus the Sabres. They needed Swayman to be almost perfect to win that series, and he gave them a chance, including a brilliant performance in a Game 5 overtime win on the road. The regular season is not the playoffs, but it would be foolish to just assume that Boston’s offensive improvement from last season will continue.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Swayman and David Pastrnak celebrate a playoff win.
Swayman posted great numbers while playing a career-high 55 games last season. Only eight goalies played more games than him. Karel Vejmelka of the Utah Mammoth was the only goalie to appear in 60-plus games.
Managing Swayman’s workload to keep him fresh but also maximize his production will be an important task for head coach Marco Sturm and his staff. He was asked about it last week.
“We’ll see, time will tell,” Sturm said at a press conference. “He had a pretty good run last year, and that’s why there’s a lot of nights we even talk about who’s going to be in net the other night or the next night. Sometimes we had to go with him because he was pretty hot for a while, so hopefully he’s going to have stretches like this again, regardless of who’s going to be the backup, a veteran or a young kid like Mikey [Michael DiPietro].
“We just want to give him the best opportunity, and hopefully he’s going to have another year like this, like he had last year for us, and get us a lot of good saves and a lot of points on the board.”
If the Bruins had gotten better and more consistent performances from backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo, maybe they wouldn’t have had to play Swayman in 55 games. Korpisalo tallied a lackluster .894 save percentage and a 3.15 GAA in 31 games played (28 starts). He had a few good stretches throughout the regular season, but overall, he wasn’t reliable enough.
Korpisalo was traded to the New York Rangers in July, and the new backup is expected to be Michael DiPietro, who excelled for the AHL’s Providence Bruins each of the previous three seasons and won the league’s MVP award last year.
DiPietro has more than earned his chance to be an NHL-level goalie. And if he can consistently give the Bruins a chance to win games while Swayman gets much-needed rest, it will significantly increase their chances of reaching the playoffs.
There are a lot of factors that will have to go right for the Bruins to make the playoffs from an ultra competitive division. One thing that has to go well is goaltending. Swayman needs to be the foundation of the team’s success. When he’s playing at the top of his game, the rest of the team gets a huge lift.
Luckily for the Bruins, Swayman has shown in the past that he’s capable of shouldering that kind of pressure. The B’s need that to continue if they’re going to build on last season’s success and get back to the second round of the playoffs.
Victor Olofsson left Las Vegas looking for a fresh start. A little more than a year later, after stops in Colorado and Calgary, he has found himself right back where it all began.
The former Colorado Avalanche forward is once again a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, returning to the organization he left in free agency after the 2024-25 season. What followed was a whirlwind stretch that included 60 games in Colorado, the birth of his second child, a trade to Calgary and, ultimately, another opportunity in the desert.
Olofsson's wife, Taylor, gave birth to the couple's second child during the Olympic break. Just over a week later, Olofsson was on the move, joining the Flames in the trade that sent Nazem Kadri back to Colorado.
Before that trade, Olofsson had put together a productive season with the Avalanche. He scored 11 goals and added 14 assists for 25 points in 60 games, including the first hat trick of his NHL career on Oct. 28.
Olofsson after recording his first hat trick as an NHL player. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing - Imagn Images
His time in Calgary was considerably shorter. Olofsson finished with two goals and four assists in 18 games before free agency provided a familiar opportunity.
Vegas signed him to a one-year contract on July 1, bringing him back to the organization where he first experienced playoff hockey.
“I had a great time here last time around,” Olofsson told Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Danny Webster. “When the opportunity came, it felt like an easy choice. It was nice and quick. Happy to be back.”
There is also a new set of wheels waiting for him.
Cadillac of Las Vegas recently shared a photo of Olofsson picking up a brand-new Cadillac Escalade, posing alongside presumably the salesman.
What better way to celebrate a return to the city of “lost wages” than by buying a brand-new car?
The Escalade is new. The opportunity in Vegas isn't.
A special congratulations to Victor Olofsson on the purchase of his Cadillac Escalade! Thank you for allowing Cadillac of Las Vegas to be part of your journey. ✨ pic.twitter.com/p8nzzAVtR6
Olofsson's first stint with the Golden Knights began with plenty of promise. He scored three goals in his first four games before a lower-body injury in October forced him to miss nearly two months.
This time, the circumstances could be different.
“I was a little bit in and out there the last time I was here,” Olofsson said. “I had a lot of good looks and chances, too, so we’ll see what happens this year. I’m ready for whatever and I’m excited.”
That is perhaps the biggest difference between Olofsson's first run with Vegas and his return. He has experienced another NHL organization, another trade and another season of trying to establish himself in a new environment.
Colorado was supposed to be a significant part of that next chapter.
Instead, Olofsson's time with the Avalanche ended before he could see the season through, with the veteran forward eventually becoming part of the trade that brought Kadri back to Denver.
Still, his 25-point season in Colorado gave him another productive stretch offensively, while his time in Vegas had already shown him what it is like to play for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
That experience appears to have remained important to him.
“The guys in the room, a lot of guys have won it one time and came close last year, too,” Olofsson said. “That’s the ultimate goal.”
For Olofsson, that goal was a major reason the decision to return to Vegas came together so quickly.
“That’s why I wanted to come back, too, was to win the Cup,” Olofsson said. “It’s always a team that’s in contention every year.”
Olofsson began his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres after being selected 181st overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He spent six seasons in Buffalo, including a 28-goal campaign in 2022-23, before eventually moving on to Vegas.
Since leaving Buffalo, Olofsson has played for Vegas, Colorado and Calgary, giving him three different stops before ultimately bringing him back to the Golden Knights. His chapter with the Avalanche lasted just one season, but it became another part of an NHL career that has taken several unexpected turns.
Now, after everything that has changed since he first left Vegas, Olofsson has another opportunity with an organization he already knows and a goal that has remained the same: winning the Stanley Cup.
And if his return to the desert needed one final touch, a brand-new hot rod isn't a bad way to start the next chapter.
WINNIPEG, CANADA - MARCH 26: Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Winnipeg Jets skates during second period action against the Colorado Avalanche at Canada Life Centre on March 26, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets met at Canada Life Center in Downtown Winnipeg for a preseason matchup. Winnipeg held on to a 3-1 win, but against an Avalanche squad that sent just 8 opening-night-roster-level players.
Things got off to a slow start, as this one definitely played out like a preseason game, with both squads not sending a full onslaught of talent onto the ice. Eventually, Gabriel Vilardi opened the scoring, with an assist from Isak Rosen and Vladislav Namestnikov.
Zachary L’Heureux couldn’t play the puck effectively along the boards; it got caught behind the net, and once Christian Wolanin got it in the corner, two Jets converged on him. Isak Rosen won the puck, found Vilardi in the slot, and he fired it home.
Winnipeg’s next mark came off the stick of Cole Perfetti, who did well to wait patiently at the back door as the Jets went low to high, found a streaking Mark Scheifele, and got it over to Perfetti for an easy goal. That made it 2-0 Jets after two periods of play.
Dylan Demelo’s point blast gave Winnipeg a commanding 3-0 lead in the third period, and Brett Kulak and Fabian Lysell finally helped Georgii Merkulov earn Colorado’s lone goal of the evening, bringing us to our final score of 3-1 Jets.
I was happy to see that Fabian Lysell had an apple on Colorado’s lone tally. His arrival in Colorado has some interesting dynamics, but his skill is clear. I noticed at camp that Bednar was pretty active in communicating with Lysell, and if that can foster some maturity in Fabian, he could end up panning out.
Netminder Ilya Nabokov’s stat line wasn’t great, letting in two goals on just five shots. The group in front of him did well to limit the opportunities, but he couldn’t have done much on Perfetti’s goal. I’d imagine he’ll keep getting ice time throughout the preseason so management can get a feel for his current capabilities in the North American game.
Only four of the players that were featured tonight for the Avalanche played in preseason game number one. It’s pretty common for the big guns not to travel for a road preseason game, so I’d expect more NHL usuals to be featured on Friday when the Jets come to Ball Arena.
Upcoming
The Avalanche will get back to Colorado and, as mentioned, welcome the Winnipeg Jets to Ball Arena on Friday at 6:30 p.m. MT.
Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!
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