With those seven players heading back to junior, 17 players remain in camp and are expected to take part in the Flames’ main training camp activities beginning this week.
The roster will continue to take shape as Calgary’s coaching staff and management work through the next stage of preseason evaluations.
Following the Detroit Red Wings' prospect tournament, and with training camp and the preseason on deck, the organization will have plenty of young players getting a crack at the main roster.
With Detroit undergoing a changing of the guard, there's a real chance a few of these names make the jump all the way to the NHL sooner rather than later. Last season, three rookies made the opening night roster in Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Axel Sandin-Pellikka. This time around we're looking at three more youngsters who could make the opening night roster.
Carter Bear
The Red Wings' 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft has quickly established himself as one of the organization's most promising prospects and is expected to make the jump to professional hockey next season.
After gaining valuable experience in preseason games, Bear returned to the Everett Silvertips and helped lead the team to its best record in franchise history while shifting his game from primarily offensive to a more physical style. Although his regular season production dipped slightly to 77 points in 53 games, he showed his scoring ability in the playoffs with 22 points in 18 games.
At six foot, 187 pounds, Bear has become more effective physically and around the net without sacrificing his playmaking and scoring skills, making him a strong candidate to begin next season with Detroit.
Nate Danielson
Danielson, the former ninth overall pick back in the 2023 NHL Draft, posted seven points in 28 games as a rookie before a season-ending lower-body injury in February, and will look for a steadier role in his second full crack at the NHL.
The good news for Detroit is that the injury is not expected to linger into the new season, with Danielson expected to be fully healthy heading into training camp. Given that he's already tasted NHL action and shown he can handle the speed and physical demands of the league, along with his ability to play down the middle, Danielson may hold a slight edge over other prospects competing for a full-time role, and a strong camp could be enough to lock down a permanent spot in Detroit.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
He wouldn't be a new name on the Red Wings roster but the 20-year-old has a better chance than ever to make a lasting run at the NHL level. Through his first nine games with Detroit to begin the season, Brandsegg-Nygård recorded an assist and tied for the team lead in hits with 28, while averaging roughly 12 and a half minutes of ice time per night.
He would go on to play five more games with the Red Wings to close out the season, but the bulk of his year was spent in the AHL with the record breaking Grand Rapids Griffins.
Brandsegg-Nygård experienced his share of highs and lows in his first full North American professional season, but he found his footing as the year went on. He finished with 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 60 games with Grand Rapids, and carried that momentum into the postseason, posting four goals and four assists for a point per game pace during the Griffins' disappointing eight game playoff run.
The hope is that he can put it all together, arrive at training camp and the preseason with solid work behind him, and crack the lineup on a full time basis, finally making his impact felt at the NHL level.
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With training camps kicking off around the NHL, a former Philadelphia Flyers forward who had enjoyed an impressive end to the 2025-26 season has finally landed with a new team.
After adding Noel Acciari, and with the expected continued development of rookies like Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey, the Flyers had no real need to add another depth forward this summer.
That, of course, meant that they had to let go of some established depth forwards, including Rodrigo Abols, Garnet Hathaway via trade, and Luke Glendening.
Hathaway and Glendening were two veterans who played a pivotal fourth-line role for the Flyers down the stretch, and while Hathaway ended up in Florida, Glendening remained unsigned throughout free agency despite his positional versatility and faceoff prowess.
On Wednesday, that changed, though, as the former Flyers forward agreed to a professional tryout with the Stanley Cup contending Tampa Bay Lightning, reuniting with his former club after a one-year break split between New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Glendening, 37, played 158 regular season games with the Lightning between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, scoring 14 goals, four assists, and 18 points while adding a goal and an assist in 10 playoff games.
Glendening found his form after joining the Flyers late last season via waiver claim from New Jersey, scoring two goals, three assists, and five points in 18 regular season games down the stretch, and adding another goal in the Flyers' 10 playoff games.
Previously, the Flyers and GM Danny Briere left the door open for the veteran to return, but ultimately, as we now know, the two sides went in separate directions, especially with the Flyers having little need to add more bodies at the forward position in training camp.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 24: Ville Koivunen #41 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
This is one of those days where I have a few thoughts bouncing around but I am not sure any of them are enough for a full, dedicated article. So you’re getting a bunch of random thoughts just emptied out of my head for your consumption as the Pittsburgh Penguins open training camp.
1. Does anybody need a strong camp more than Ville Koivunen?
The most surprising, and some might say shocking, Penguins move of the offseason was actually one of their last moves when they signed Ville Koivune, after just 47 NHL games and only two goals, to an eight-year, $32 million contract.
Given everything that’s happened over the past couple of weeks, and especially the past few days in the lead-up to the start of the new CBA, it’s starting to make a little more sense, and honestly doesn’t look quite as baffling (and while it shocked me, I never quite saw it as THAT baffling and could see the thought process behind it). Given the buyout rules, where the cap is going in the coming seasons, what player contracts are starting to look like, and all Koivunen needs to do to make it worth it, it’s still a relatively low-risk, potentially high-reward deal.
EVEN WITH THAT, there are no good optics in the short-term for him showing up at camp, not earning a spot on the roster, and being sent to the American Hockey League after signing an eight-year deal.
Maybe it’s for that reason that he already has a spot “locked” in. And maybe, given the current depth at forward, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he did get sent down at the start (because they do have a lot of good players at forward), but it still wouldn’t look great. Sometimes optics stand out more than facts and reality, but that still matters.
Everybody has talked about what a good offseason he has had. His underlying numbers this past season were some of the best on the team. There is reason to like him. But it is time to start turning all of that into tangible results on the scoreboard.
2. The goalies will dictate the season and where it goes
In terms of the forwards and defense, I see this roster looking pretty similar to the one the Penguins were using in 2025-26. The forwards are pretty good, and pretty deep. I don’t love the defense, but Erik Karlsson can still be an impact player and I do think there is a chance this current group will defend better than last year’s (I like Declan Carlile as a potential under-the-radar steal; Trevor van Riemsdyk is a legitimately good defensive player; I am intrigued by what Kaeden Korczak can do in a potentially bigger role).
But going into the season with two young, still very unproven goalies is a GIGANTIC wild card that could take this thing in any number of directions.
Everybody loves Sergei Murashov’s upside, and he has been great at every level since coming over to North America. But it’s still just upside with him at this point, and the AHL isn’t the NHL. He’s still a young goalie, and young goalies are still completely unpredictable. His ceiling is high. His floor is low. There’s a gigantic empty space he could fit in.
Arturs Silovs has had his moments, but consistency has not been his calling card in the NHL.
If these two guys put it all together and show they are ready for the big-time on a full-time basis, I could see a scenario where this team is not only back in the playoffs, but that it’s ceiling is a little higher than last year’s team and a higher than a lot of people are expecting.
If they are not ready for that? Or if they struggle? You might very well end up in a position to get the top-five pick you are still searching for.
3. Egor Chinakhov and Nicholas Robertson intrigue me more than any other veteran players in camp
I know what Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are going to do this season.
I have a pretty good idea as to what Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are going to do.
The fourth line guys are what they are, and I know what they are.
There are a lot of unknowns with the younger players like Ben Kindel, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Bill Zonnon, Harrison Brunicke, Tomas Galvas, and the goalies, but that is the nature of the beast with young players. Some of them will become NHL players. A couple might be really good NHL players. You might get lucky and one becomes an All-Star. Some will be a hit, most will strike out. As smooth Jimmy Apollo once said, “when you’re right 52 percent of the time, you’re wrong 48 percent of the time.”
But Chinakhov and Robertson remain the most intriguing mysteries to me because they have some NHL track record, have shown some ability to be good NHL players, and they have very obvious NHL talents, but they are still very much unknowns.
Chinakhov is oozing with talent and top-line ability, and he really put it all together in the second half of the 2025-26 season after being acquired in the trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Was it a real improvement, or just a short-term flash? Can he still take a star turn? If he can, that changes some math for you in the short-term and long-term.
It is a similar question for Robertson, who has some very real NHL skills, and has scored goals at a top-line rate per minute, but has never really had an opportunity to show if that can translate into something more.
Is 30 goals out of reach for Chinakhov?
Is 20 out of reach for Robertson?
I don’t think either is out of reach, but neither one is guaranteed to reach those levels. They are not quite as big of a wild-card as the goalies, but they remain wild-cards for what the team’s success level and ceiling is.
4. Which veteran is going to get waived?
After last year’s training camp we see Ryan Graves and Danton Heinen get waived.
Matt Dumba and Philip Tomasino followed not long after during the season.
Given the forward depth it, where they legitimately have 17 or 18 players that could play on the NHL roster, it seems likely that somebody is going to get waived by the conclusion of camp.
I suppose a trade is still possible, but I just don’t know where that comes from at this point.
5. Sidney Crosby contract prediction
This is just a guess. It is just a prediction. But I say he signs a one-year, $8.7 million extension by the end of camp and does this every year from now until his eventual retirement. I do not believe he has any interest in playing elsewhere. I also believe he means it when he says it is all just about how he feels physically.
The Golden Knights enter the 2026–27 season with Stanley Cup expectations but several important questions. Vegas still boasts an imposing veteran core led by Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo, yet talent alone will not determine how far this team advances.
A coaching transition, the loss of Pavel Dorofeyev’s goal production and lingering concerns surrounding health and goaltending create three defining storylines.
Ryan Craig must establish his identity with a veteran roster, secondary scorers must ease the burden on the stars and the Golden Knights must keep their core healthy.
How Vegas answers those questions could separate another championship run from an early postseason exit.
Can Craig successfully manage an aging, win-now roster?
Craig inherits a veteran team facing enormous expectations and offering little patience for transition. His challenge extends beyond installing a system. He must earn the confidence of Eichel, Marner, Stone and Pietrangelo while keeping the roster fresh for the postseason. Craig’s management of minutes, accountability and adversity will reveal whether the coaching change supplies renewed energy or creates an uncomfortable adjustment period.
That balancing act will become especially important when the inevitable losing streaks, injuries and lineup decisions arrive. Veterans accustomed to defined roles may be asked to accept reduced minutes, different line combinations or altered special-teams responsibilities. Craig must make those adjustments without disrupting the chemistry of a group that believes it remains capable of winning another championship.
He also must determine how aggressively to incorporate younger players. Vegas needs additional speed and energy, but developing inexperienced contributors can be difficult when every defeat creates pressure. If Craig can preserve the team’s veteran strengths while building greater pace, flexibility and internal competition, the transition could extend the Golden Knights’ championship window. If the team struggles to adapt, the coaching change may become the season’s dominant issue.
Where will the secondary scoring come from?
Eichel and Marner give Vegas elite offensive creators, but replacing Dorofeyev’s 37 goals will require a collective response. Ivan Barbashev, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson and Victor Olofsson must deliver reliable production, while younger forwards such as Braeden Bowman may need to accept larger roles. If Vegas becomes too dependent upon its stars and power play, injuries or difficult playoff matchups could expose its forward depth.
Dorofeyev supplied more than finishing ability. His presence forced opponents to respect another dangerous shooting option beyond the established stars, creating space elsewhere in the lineup. Without that threat, opposing coaches may be able to concentrate their best defensive pairings and checking forwards against Vegas’ top line.
The Golden Knights therefore need balanced 5-on-5 production, particularly from their middle six. Hertl must continue creating offense around the net, Barbashev must complement skilled linemates with physicality and finishing, and Karlsson must remain a dependable two-way contributor. Olofsson’s shot could also become valuable on the power play. A breakout season from Bowman or another younger forward would make the lineup deeper and less predictable. Vegas doesn't need one player to replace all 37 goals, but it cannot afford prolonged scoring droughts when its top forwards are contained.
Can the core remain healthy - and goaltending stabilize?
Stone’s two-year extension confirms that Vegas still considers its captain central to another championship pursuit, but his availability remains critical. His 73 points in 60 games last season demonstrated both his value and the concern surrounding his durability.
Stone influences far more than the scoresheet. His defensive anticipation, puck retrieval and ability to create takeaways help Vegas control possession and dictate matchups. When he is unavailable, the Golden Knights lose a top-six scorer, penalty-killing option and emotional leader. Managing his workload - along with those of Pietrangelo, Karlsson and other veterans - will require careful planning throughout the longer regular season.
The Golden Knights also need stability in net after injuries disrupted Adin Hill and Carter Hart. A capable tandem can protect both goaltenders from excessive workloads, but only if each remains healthy and establishes a dependable rhythm. Frequent injuries or inconsistent performances would place greater pressure on the defense and force Vegas to chase games offensively.
Craig may need to prioritize rest over short-term results, particularly during demanding stretches of the schedule. Vegas possesses championship-caliber talent, but its ceiling will depend upon having its most important players available - and its goaltending settled - when the postseason begins.
PHOTO CAPTION
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight (30) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 08: Mackenzie Blackwood #39 and Scott Wedgewood #41 of the Colorado Avalanche hug after the team defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4 at Ball Arena on March 08, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s here, the new hockey sesson has arrived!
But first, before the games are played, every contracted player in the organization must gather for three days of training camp and for four preseason games before the 2026-27 season drops the puck on September 30th. Here is the expected roster comprised of 56 players hoping to make the Colorado Avalanche roster.
How real is the youth movement?
The biggest storyline on the new season concerns all the young forwards who could make the opening night roster. But before we get to that point, I’m keeping an eye on their usage at camp and in preseason. Of course the period before the games count is time for experimentation and no line or role is set in stone. Still, there are a lot of hints offered on how the organization views a player by how they are utilized in training camp. We’ll find out their place on day one of on-ice activity.
What are the roles for the veterans?
On the opposite side of the spectrum, it will be fascinating to see the early thoughts on how to utilize the incoming veterans, Jaden Schwartz and the first full season of the second Nazem Kadri era, in particular. The assumption is Schwartz was brought in to help anchor Brock Nelson’s line, which would likely lend Kadri to center the third line. If those assumptions are incorrect then we’ll see what Jared Bednar has in mind for his line construction.
Is everyone actually healthy?
Attendance has been strong at captain’s skates but there’s always a few curiosities leading to health questions. Cale Makar had been easing in and skating on his own away from the group for the most part. Jared Bednar remarked in his opening press conference that Makar is dealing with a new lower-body injury and might not participate right away in camp. Nathan MacKinnon was missing for all pre-camp gatherings but did skate with his teammates once two days before the start of training camp. Bednar said there was a handful of lingering issues from the offseason so attendance at camp might be an interesting topic to follow.
Colorado Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar provided some updates on injuries heading into training camp pic.twitter.com/evuN4avPXt
This is the first fall under the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has increased the regular season slate by two games to 84. In exchange, preseason was shortened by a week and reduced to a maximum of four exhibition games. Will we see an Avalanche squad full of older veterans rejuvenated due to this extra rest or will they stumble out of the gate with a lack of cohesive preparation? Gauging energy and cohesion will be an early temperature check.
How are the goaltenders shaking out?
This one isn’t just for the Colorado Avalanche with the Lumberyard duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood as the Colorado Eagles have their very own interesting tandem set for this season with the entrenched Trent Miner and top prospect Ilya Nabokov now in the fold. I’m watching to see how their playing time is split especially with the lessened opportunity to get in just the four exhibition games. Four solid goalies in an organization is a good problem to have but the aim is probably to have a starter for each team identified by puck drop on the regular season.
What do you want to hear about from training camp? Let us know in the comments!
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 14 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #14.
Let's take a look.
Ray Whitney - 2001-2003 - Drafted by San Jose in 1991.
Whitney played 151 games as a Jacket and was the Captain for one. During the one year he was the Captain, he scored 24 goals and totaled 76 points, which set a CBJ record. Ray Whitney is the best player to have worn #14 for the Blue Jackets.
When Ray Whitney was traded to the Blue Jackets, the 28-year-old had already played 528 games in the NHL spanning 10 seasons. But he had never played a full 82-game season; he only averaged 53 games a year. So, when the CBJ traded for him in 2001, fans were as excited as ever for the fledgling franchise. They were getting a goal-scorer and a relatively young playmaker.
After his time with Columbus, he went on to play for another 10 years and a total of 1,330 games. He played a total of 22 seasons in the NHL and had over 1,000 points. He would retire in 2015.
In a game at Nationwide Arena in November 2001 against the St. Louis Blues, Whitney scored this goal, which is still a legendary goal in CBJ history. The radio call from play-by-play icon George Matthews, with his partner Bill Davidge, still gives me chills.
Greg Mauldin - 2004 - Drafted by Columbus in 2002.
Played 6 games for Columbus and had no points. He went on to play 30 more NHL games after leaving Columbus.
Mauldin left for Europe in 2012, where he played in Switzerland, Russia, Germany, and Norway. He played until 2024 before retiring.
Raffi Torres - 2009-2010 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2000.
Torres played 111 games for the Jackets and had 51 points. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on March 3, 2010.
Torres retired on November 5, 2016.
Grant Clitsome - 2011-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2004.
He played 93 games for Columbus and had 36 points before being put on waivers on February 26, 2012.
On June 1, 2016, Clitsome retired after suffering a serious shoulder injury.
Blake Comeau - 2013-2014 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2004.
Comeau played 79 games and had 21 points for the CBJ. In the summer of 2014, he left in free agency to join the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He would go on to play 909 games in the NHL and retired during the 21-22 season.
Dean Kukan - 2015-2022 - Kukan is undrafted out of Volketswil, Switzerland.
Dean Kukan made his NHL debut in March of 2016 after playing the majority of the season with the Lake Erie Monsters. After playing in 8 games near the end of the season, he was sent back to Lake Erie and would help the Monsters win their first-ever Calder Cup. He had 5 points in 17 playoff games.
Kukan would bounce up and down between Columbus and Cleveland until 2022. He would play a total of 153 games for the CBJ and total 30 points. He excelled in the minors, though. He played in 142 games for Lake Erie/Cleveland and totaled 59 points as a fairly skilled two-way defenseman.
After the 2022 season, Kukan made the decision to return to Europe. He returned to his home country of Switzerland to play for his original club, the ZSC Lions, on a five-year contract.
Kukan is also routinely chosen to represent the Swiss in international competitions. He played in the 2025 IIHF World Championships, where he scored 9 points in 10 games. He also played in 5 games for Switzerland at the 2026 Olympics.
Gustav Nyquist - 2020-2023 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2004.
Nyquist played 200 games as a Jacket before being traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2023. During his time in Columbus, which included a missed season due to injury, he scored 43 goals and had 117 points.
After being traded to the Wild, he would leave that summer and sign with the Nashville Predators in 2023 on a two-year deal. On 1 March 2025, he was traded back to the Wild to finish the season. On 2 July 2025, Nyquist signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets. He is currently unsigned.
Gus Nyquist and his family still live in the Columbus area.
Joseph LaBate - 2025 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2011.
LaBate played a total of six games for the Blue Jackets during the 2024-25 season. He originally signed a PTO with the Cleveland Monsters, but in November, the CBJ signed him to a one-year deal, which allowed him to play for Columbus.
LaBate signed a one-year deal with Vancouver this past offseason.
There are 14 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena.
Drake Batherson is staying in Ottawa for the long haul.
The Hockey News' Steve Warne and co-host Gregg Kennedy break down Batherson’s eight-year, $82-million contract extension, including the timing, trade protection and why his commitment matters after a turbulent summer for the Senators.
Also discussed:
Batherson’s new deal: Is $10.25 million per season a fair price, and could the contract eventually become a bargain?
The NHL’s salary explosion: How offer sheets, a rising cap and massive young-player contracts could affect Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub and other Senators.
An unusually short training camp: With few roster openings and limited preseason action, do Ottawa’s bubble players have any real opportunity?
The end of fitness testing: Why the NHL’s new training-camp rules have left some coaches concerned.
Ottawa’s prospects shine: Jaxon Cover’s seven-point weekend headlines an impressive showing that also included Kasper Halttunen, Christian Kyrou and others.
Goaltending questions: Cam Talbot lands in Columbus, while Ottawa must decide whether to begin the season with Linus Ullmark, Samuel Ersson and Leevi Meriläinen.
That's all in this episode of Sens Nation, the official Senators podcast of The Hockey News.
On Thursday, training camp officially begins for the Philadelphia Flyers, and for some, the next two weeks will be an important inflection point in their careers.
Opening night is less than two weeks from now, with the Flyers starting their season against the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins in a playoff rematch on Sept. 30.
By then, the Flyers will have played four preseason games and cut their roster in half, going from 46 players to the allotted 23 they'll begin the season with.
This is all to say that anyone fighting for a roster spot, or anyone fighting to prove themselves to head coach Rick Tocchet and the coaching staff, isn't going to have a whole lot of time to make it happen. Every practice session and preseason game will be of great importance.
But, not everyone has to prove their skills on the ice. For some, it's about everything else.
Matvei Michkov
At the age of 21, Matvei Michkov already has 114 points in 161 games and quickly established as one of the Flyers' premier forwards, despite the fact that he averaged just 14:50 of ice time last season and 15:45 in his NHL career to date.
As we all know by now, the Russian phenom joined up with the Flyers last training camp at a weight much higher than he should've been (205, according to his own words), but Michkov now claims to be 176 pounds and at 10% body fat, acknowledging that he can already feel the difference.
This will go a long way towards getting back in the good graces of Tocchet and the Flyers. If Michkov is truly rejuvenated and in the best shape of his NHL career, Year 3 should be the best one yet, considering he now has two full seasons of experience to draw on.
Of course, Michkov will need to show his progress on the ice and in the weight room throughout training camp if he is to assume a top-six role under Tocchet.
If that test is passed, it will be a massive relief for all parties involved.
David Jiricek
The Flyers have high hopes David Jiricek, the sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft, will take a step forward and prove that he is ready for the NHL limelight.
The 22-year-old is no longer waivers-exempt and will have to be exposed to the other 31 NHL teams if the Flyers deem he has to spend more time in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
On the other hand, is spot on the roster is the most obvious for the taking, with Noah Juulsen now out of the picture and leaving a third-pair vacancy behind Jamie Drysdale and Rasmus Ristolainen.
There are a few boxes Jiricek will need to check, primarily in regards to decision-making and defending, but the puck skills and shooting ability are there. Even if Jiricek begins as a power play specialist, it's a starting point that opens the door for him to grow into an expanded role from there.
Jiricek is on his third NHL organization since being drafted, and it's likely now or never to establish himself as an every-day NHL player. With the Flyers, he has the best possible opportunity to make it happen.
Jett Luchanko
Jett Luchanko has already played eight NHL games for the Flyers. (Photo: Eric Canha, Imagn Images)
To preface, Jett Luchanko probably won't and shouldn't be expected to stick on the NHL roster out of the gate as he did the previous two seasons; it's not the best thing for his development.
That said, though, Luchanko is probably as healthy as he's been in a long time after undergoing a procedure to correct a nagging injury, which has considerably improved his already good skating - his No. 1 trait as a player.
The 20-year-old former 13th overall pick needs only to make the decision a hard one for the Flyers and show that he will be gunning to make this roster in the near future.
In my first edition of the Flyers' depth chart, I noted that I expect the Flyers to bring Luchanko up first if any of their centers go down with an injury, especially if the injury is significant. That allows for more reps for one of their most talented forward prospects.
With a strong training camp performance, Luchanko can re-establish himself as a premier prospect in the system and set himself up for a strong first professional season.
At full strength and with a shortened training camp, Luchanko should show the Flyers his best hockey yet.
The Montreal Canadiens' training camp opened on Wednesday, but there were no on-ice sessions scheduled, unlike previous years, and thanks to the new CBA, players didn’t have to face grueling physical tests. On Wednesday, all they had to do was undergo medical tests. While they were doing that, coach Martin St-Louis was back in the conference room fielding questions from the media.
The bench boss made it clear he’s happy the camp is streamlined and won’t last as long as it did before; St-Louis wants to hit the ground running. From the start, we’ll see the 57 players invited to camp split into three teams: A, B, and C.
On Thursday, Team A will hit the ice first at 10:30 AM and will feature the players who will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. Team B, who’ll practice at 11:50 AM, will feature the players who will take on the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday evening. As for Team C, it will take to the ice at 1:00 PM,
While the coach was very forthcoming last season in telling the media that Kirby Dach would be starting camp as the second-line center, he made no such declaration this time around. St-Louis played it safe, saying his team has some good depth and some options. He didn’t go as far as naming those options, but one can imagine they include Oliver Kapanen, Kirby Dach, and Alex Newhook. Despite how last season's playoffs ended, it would be surprising if they considered Jake Evans. What is the pilot looking for in a second-line center? That he was willing to share:
You have to be pretty good on draws. Guys who play center usually need a good computer and to complement other players; there’s not just one thing. Suzuki is our first center; there’s no debate on that, but looking at the other spots in the lineup, I don’t see it as: this is the first line, this is the second line, this is the third line. I don’t see it that way. I think we have a lot of depth, and of course some lines have more opportunities to provide offence, while others are relied on more to contribute defensively, but that doesn’t mean they don’t play offensively and our top guys don’t play defensively. So, you ask me what I want from a center who perhaps plays with more offensive players: I want him to have a balanced game, to be able to do pretty much everything on the ice.
- St-Louis on what he needs from a second-line center
Given how short the camp is, the first player that the Habs try in that position may very well be the one St-Louis sees as the frontrunner right now. We’ll see when the three groups hit the ice on Thursday.
Unsurprisingly, St-Louis was also asked about the possibility of playing Arber Xhekaj as a forward, and you could tell that’s not his first choice. He said he wouldn't be afraid to do it, especially if Xhekaj wasn’t going to play as a defenseman on a given night and the Habs had injuries up front, but he added that he’s first and foremost a defenseman and could still improve in that role.
As things stand, the Habs are set to practice at the CN Sports complex in Brossard on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Monday, Team A will be practising in Trois-Rivières, while Teams B and C will be in Brossard. The players will have a day off on Tuesday, then return to practice in Brossard on Wednesday the 23rd, Thursday the 24th, Friday the 25th, and Saturday the 26th.
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 13: Carter Sanderson #62 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings with teammates during the first period of the 2026 NHL Prospect Camp at Belfor iced rink inside Little Caesars Arena on September 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) Carter Sanderson | Getty Images
The Penguins get to work today officially for the start of the franchise’s 60th season. Pens Points is back to catch up on news and notes for the occasion.
The top storylines we’re tracking for the start of camp, which just so happens to be about the exact same questions as last year. [PensBurgh]
And here’s the opening camp roster with an early schedule through the weekend. [PensBurgh]
Sidney Crosby hasn’t signed a contract extension yet, but is feeling no rush to do so with his agent and the team handling talks. [Tribune Review]
A look at the philosophies and personality behind how Kyle Dubas works at re-shaping the Penguins. [Post-Gazette]
The Penguins have signed a deal with US Steel to jump on board as the team’s new helmet sponsor. Perhaps wisely it’s only for a promotional sticker and not for the manufacture of said equipment. [Penguins.com]
Cheers to former Penguin Ryan Reaves, who announced his retirement yesterday after 16 NHL seasons and 962 career games. [TSN]
With Reaves hangin’ the skates up, only three players remain for next season in the NHL who don’t wear a visor with that rule grandfathered in. Can you guess without clicking (answer below) [Reddit]
Speaking of grandfathered equipment changes, there’s only one new rule change for players in the NHL in 2026-27: any player who makes their NHL debut this season and beyond are required to wear a neck guard. Such protection remains optional for all players who already have played at least one prior NHL game. [Toronto Sun]
A list of players who must clear waivers for the first time in 2026-27 in order to be sent to the AHL. Pittsburgh entries: goalie Taylor Gauthier and forward Ville Koivunen. [Puck Pedia]
Good guy Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t forget his billet family, reaching out to invite them to be included with his QMJHL Hall of Fame proceedings. [CBC]
Former Penguin Jordan Staal has extended his contract in 2027-28 with Carolina for a $4.9 million cap hit with up to $5.1 million (!) more in performance bonuses. [Hurricanes.com]
New Utah teammates Vincent Trocheck and Logan Cooley have a long history dating back to their days in Pittsburgh. [NHL.com]
After shoulder surgery last month, Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins has failed a physical and isn’t expected back ‘anytime soon’. The Blue Jackets have recently added 39-year old goalie Cam Talbot to join Jet Greaves in net. [X – Portzline]
Mat Barzal’s status for the start of the regular season is in question after the announcement he won’t be skating at all for the next two weeks due to ‘inflammation’. (The Pens and Islanders don’t meet for the first time until January though, if you were wondering). [Islanders.com]
Drew Doughty is the new captain of the LA Kings. [NHL.com]
Connor Hellebuyck, who made a trade request public, decided not to show up to the start of Winnipeg’s training camp. The Jets have now suspended Hellebuyck, who won’t be getting paid in the regular season until he reports to the Jets or gets that trade in a situation that might get even uglier and messier in the coming weeks. [Sportsnet]
A handful of players got polled at media day about hot topics around the NHL like expansion, trade requests and what coach they would like to play for. [The Athletic $]
Trivia answer from above – the three remaining visor-less players signed to the NHL this year: Ryan O’Reilly, Zach Bogosian and Jamie Benn.
The Islanders open training camp — which are now shorter than past camps per the new CBA — with news that Mathew Barzal will not skate for all of it “due to aggravation of a prior injury that has caused some inflammation.”
So we are starting the season with Barzal out, and on Health Watch. That’s, that’s a bummer, man.
Islanders News
Here is the Isles’ PR statement announcing Barzal’s status, which amusingly includes the uncharacteristic and unattributed line, “There is nobody more committed than Mathew to getting his body to the level where he thrives on the ice.“ [Isles]
Here’s the full training camp roster. No alarms and no surprises, please—oops, too late. [Isles]
The beatwriters try to add a bit more context on Barzal. [Newsday | Post]
Andrew Gross also got the ol’ “5 questions” treatment as the Isles begin camp. [Newsday]
Or call it a “bevy” of questions from Sears. [Post]
Kashawn Aitcheson spent some time this summer training with Bo Horvat, the new captain who will presumably one day be cashing some on-ice checks that Aitcheson writes, so to speak. [Isles]
The Islanders are doing another season of their docuseries (more on that below). [Newsday]
So yes, On The Island, Season 2 has begun. This one covers Kyle Palmieri’s offseason recovery and the Single Malte draft. (Does not cover Anders Lee’s departure, alas.) The prospects’ interactions with kids is pretty heartwarming, too. The title references a scout who’s been here nearly 50 years, who’s dad (passed away in 1979) helped convince Bill Torrey to pick Mike Bossy (How have we not heard this before? Have we heard this before?). Also, Eric Boulton looking like your beer league teammate and Trent Klatt like Ray Liotta:
Elsewhere
Ooooh the drama in Winnipeg escalates, as Connor Hellebuyck does not report to camp, gets suspended. (Come on, man. Understand that your position and the huge contract you signed just a couple years ago might take a while to trade.) [NHL]
In totally unrelated news, fellow trade requestor Dylan Larkin will miss the start of Red Wings training camp due to an injury with “no timeline.” [NHL]
Gabriel Landeskog is old school, says he’s not sure all these trade demands are good. [Sportsnet]
The Leafs have enlisted a couple former first-overalls, a future free agent and a robot, to help mentor Gavin McKenna. [NHL]
But one of them, Auston Matthews, is totally committed to the Leafs, I swear. [NHL]
Here’s the jukebox treatment on why Matthews is still a Leaf and will be one forever, I swear. [Sportsnet]
Brent Burns has a new beard and is 57 games away from matching Phil Kessell’s ironman record. [NHL]
A general primer on the Houston or Austin expansion situation, including info on the multi-club owner. [ESPN]
The Boston Bruins exceeded most expectations last season by winning 45 games and earning 100 points to make the playoffs after finishing with the NHL’s fifth-worst record the year before.
It was an impressive turnaround by the B’s, but now the hard part has arrived. Can they build on that success and maintain their status as a playoff team?
The Atlantic Division figures to be ultra competitive, especially with the Florida Panthers — who were decimated by injuries last season — healthy again and having a better roster after trading for Brady Tkachuk.
The Bruins also have an improved roster, but is it enough to get the franchise into the playoffs? Let’s break down five burning questions that will define the Bruins’ upcoming season.
How much of an impact will JJ Peterka make offensively?
The Bruins needed another top-six forward this summer to take some of the scoring burden off David Pastrnak. Pastrnak has tallied 100-plus points each of the last four seasons. No other Bruins player has eclipsed the 70-point mark during that span.
The B’s paid a steep price — two first-round picks — to get JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in a draft day trade in June.
Peterka had a bit of a disappointing 2025-26 season with the Mammoth, but he still tallied a respectable 25 goals with 22 assists in 82 games. He also plays with a lot of speed — something the B’s have sorely lacked in recent years. Can he take the next step and become a 30-goal, 70-point player in Boston?
“He’s got an elite shot,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters at the draft in June. “Probably gives us another look on the elbows in a power-play situation. His power-play minutes dipped a little bit last year. His 5-on-5 production has been really good. Plays both wings. Could probably play with a couple different types of centers, help drive a line, but also complement the better guys in situations that we’re certainly trying to improve.”
Peterka has scored 25-plus goals in each of the last three seasons. He should be able to get to 30-plus if he plays with Pastrnak on the Bruins’ top line. Pastrnak is one of the league’s top goal scorers, but he’s also a tremendous playmaker. His 71 assists last season ranked sixth among all players and set a new career high.
The potential for Pastrnak and Peterka to be a very effective duo is high. If that happens, the Bruins should be much better equipped to score goals in the playoffs (assuming they qualify). They averaged just 1.25 goals over the last four games of their 2026 first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.
Is there a No. 1 center on the roster?
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Fraser Minten signed a seven-year extension last last week.
The biggest weakness on the Bruins’ roster remains the lack of a No. 1 center. They haven’t had one since Patrice Bergeron retired in 2023.
Elias Lindholm was supposed to be a top-six center when he signed a seven-year, $54.25 million contract as a free agent in 2024, but he has been a huge disappointment so far. He is, at best, a No. 3 center right now. Pavel Zacha is coming off a great 2025-26 campaign during which he set career highs with 30 goals and 65 assists, but he’s entering the final year of his contract. Is he even part of the team’s long-term plans?
Maybe a younger center such as Fraser Minten or James Hagens could step into the No. 1 role at some point, but that’s unlikely to be this coming season. Hagens has far more offensive upside than Minten, but he only has four games of NHL experience at the moment.
No. 1 centers almost never get to free agency anymore. So teams must draft and develop them, or find one on the trade market, which is obviously expensive to pull off.
The Bruins cashed in two first-round picks to acquire winger J.J. Peterka at the 2026 NHL Draft. If no one shows No. 1 center potential this season, the B’s might have to make another major move to bring in that kind of player. If you look at the last 15 teams that won the Stanley Cup, nearly all of them had a bonafide No. 1 center (and some of them had two).
Is Jeremy Swayman a top-five goalie again?
Swayman really struggled in the 2024-25 season after missing all of training camp due to a contract dispute. But to his credit, he bounced back with a fantastic 2025-26 campaign that resulted in him being voted a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time in his career.
The Bruins were a poor defensive team for much of last season, but they still overcame those mistakes and reached the playoffs largely because of Swayman’s brilliance in net. He finished with a 31-18-4 record, a .908 save percentage and a 2.71 GAA. But the real story can be found in the analytics below:
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There were reasons to believe that his disappointing 2024-25 season would be an outlier. He had been a very good goalie before that. But can Swayman play at a top-five or even top-three level going forward on a consistent basis?
The Bruins will need that kind of performance from him if they’re going to make the playoffs in a very competitive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. It’s a lot to ask of Swayman, but it’s the reality based on the construction of the roster. The Bruins don’t have enough elite offensive talent to get away with average or worse goaltending for long stretches of the regular season or in the playoffs.
Which young player(s) will step up and play bigger role?
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
James Hagens is poised for a larger role as a rookie in 2026-27.
Fraser Minten had a very good first full season as an NHL player last year and posted 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 82 games, while also shining defensively and playing a meaningful role on the penalty kill. After signing a seven-year, $50.4 million extension last week, how much improvement will we see from him next season? Can he hit the 25-goal mark? He might end up being the first-line center, which is a big responsibility for a 22-year-old but the B’s don’t have a ton of options for that role. The Bruins outscored opponents 23-7 when Minten and Pastrnak played together at even strength last season. It would be wise of Sturm to go back to that duo to begin the season.
Hagens also could make a meaningful impact as a rookie. He’s a great skater, his playmaking skills are top tier and his shot is both powerful and accurate. He got some NHL-level experience (two regular season games, three playoff games) last season, which will definitely help him entering camp. Hagens played on the wing for Boston, where his defensive responsibilities would be less than if he played center. But long term, it would be best for both Hagens and the Bruins if he shifted to center ice at some point. Hagens’ impressive offensive skill set could make him a key component of Boston’s power play, too.
Marat Khusnutdinov enjoyed a breakout 2025-26 season, tallying career highs of 15 goals and 18 assists. His scoring production, speed and versatility made him a valuable player. Can he take another step offensively and hit the 20-goal mark, or was last season’s scoring uptick more a product of luck and an unsustainably high shooting percentage (19.2 percent)?
Matthew Poitras has shown potential at both the NHL and AHL levels in recent seasons. Can he show enough consistency offensively to earn a regular role for the Bruins?
Unless the B’s make an in-season move for a veteran forward, one (or multiple) of these young players will need to play a larger role in 2026-27.
How does the blue line logjam shake out?
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Mason Lohrei is entering the final year of his contract.
The Bruins have nine defensemen signed to one-way contracts: Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Mason Lohrei, Will Borgen, Connor Clifton, Jonathan Aspirot, Jordan Harris and Henri Jokiharju.
It’s nice to have so much depth, but there’s not enough ice time for all of these guys. Frederic Brunet, the Bruins’ top defenseman prospect, has also earned a chance to make the team after a strong 2025-26 season for the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Brunet, and the nine players listed above, are all waiver-eligible, which makes figuring out this logjam even more difficult.
“I think the competition is going to play out,” Sweeney said at a press conference Wednesday when asked about the blue line. “Clearly, we had an eye toward the fact that Charlie wasn’t going to start the year for six games. … You could run into injury troubles, last year we did, and we tested that pretty quickly. We’re in a good spot there. Will we have to make a move? Time will tell in that sense, in how the players play, how their health is. At some point in time, we will have to get to the waiver question and make smart decisions as a result.”
We know McAvoy, Lindholm, Zadorov and Borgen are likely going to make up the top four. Aspirot, who played well alongside McAvoy last season, could again be a consistent part of the lineup. Clifton was signed in free agency and probably will get every opportunity in camp and the preseason to be on the third pairing (maybe second pairing during McAvoy’s six-game suspension to start the season) come Opening Night.
So where does that leave Lohrei, Harris and Jokiharju? Lohrei is in the final year of his two-year deal with a salary cap hit of $3.2 million. Jokiharju has two more years left on his contract with a $3 million cap hit. He was a healthy scratch in four of the six playoff games versus the Sabres. Harris returned in free agency on a one-year deal after missing most of last season due to injury.
If the Bruins could trade Lohrei or Jokiharju and thus clear some cap space and maybe get an asset in return, that would be ideal. If there aren’t any trades to be made, it will be fascinating to see how this logjam plays out.
Jun 1, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) skates during the practice during media day for the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
We made it, folks. It’s less than two weeks to Opening Night, there’ll be an actual hockey game involving some NHL players by the end of the weekend, and before we know it we’ll be marveling at a banner being hung in the Lenovo Center rafters—which may look different if promotional materials sent out to fans and photo shoots are any clue:
As things begin Thursday and members of the media will get their first real chance to chat with members of the team before things kick into high gear, here are a couple of the storylines to keep your eye on as they take the Wake Competition Center ice.
Alexander Nikishin Missing
It shouldn’t be a surprise following the blurb that Pierre LeBrun dropped earlier this week that Nikishin won’t be on the ice to start camp. Truthfully, without any sort of contract to play, there’s no reason for him to risk injury and get on the ice.
So after the fanfare to get him over from Russia to his debut in the 2025 playoffs and then a good but not great rookie season, the two sides continue to be at a stalemate. It’s one of those situations where you truly see both sides. Nikishin and his camp see some of new contracts that young players have been signing and feel they should be getting commiserate value. The Hurricanes have the leverage though, cause no other team can sign him and he couldn’t plead his case to an arbitrator. Perhaps if he had come over to the United States earlier he’d be in a position to where he could do that, instead the Canes are understandably in a mode of not wanting to sink a lot of money when the potential is there but hasn’t fully shown itself.
As for the desire of the Nikishin side to get a trade, again the Canes have most of the leverage. While they know he may not be a great fit for them they know his value and aren’t going to just give up on him. The sole leverage the Nikishin camp has is not having any promise to sign long term to a new team, thus decreasing his value.
What does this mean now that hockey is actually starting? Really, not much. As much hype as Nikishin had coming in, no one a) expected the team to trade for K’Andre Miller last summer and b) that turn out to be one of the best moves they could have made. The Canes’ blue line looks more solid than it did when Nikishin arrived, and thus there are several young defensemen who’ll be battling to take that spot as well as depth pieces the Canes signed. We’ll see if a deadline forces movement, because in the end Nikishin loses in that he’s in the United States and not earning anything.
Stable Roster
Besides Nikishin how stable is the Canes roster? They lost all of one person from last year’s Cup winning team—Frederik Andersen who is already out with injury for Edmonton. They filled that spot from within as Pyotr Kochetkov comes back to the team fully healed from lower body surgery this past winter and with the chance in the last year of his deal to really cash in—either with the Canes or someone else as he’ll be a UFA next year. Beyond that, everyone that lifted the Cup for the Canes is back, and this is reflected in the Training Camp roster released by the team on Wednesday.
Camp is going to see two groups of players take the ice, and there’s no mixing of the groups. One group is your defending Cup Champs, the other is the group of players that will likely start the season in either Greensboro or Chicago.
So, the only chance players will have to really show what they can do with the main players is before and during the four Pre-Season games. On those days, the camp changes from the major/minor league rosters to game/non-game skaters. That’s likely where we’ll get some sort of clue of any player that has impressed.
Competition for open spots
Despite the amount of stability, the fact remains that there is at least one open spot available to players to start the year, and perhaps two depending on what happens with Nikishin.
The spot is the one belonging to Seth Jarvis. While he’s been spotted on the ice doing some drills before formal camp, there’s still every indication he’ll miss the first couple months of the season so his shoulder can finally be 100%. After a performance that won him a spot in the Four Nations, the Olympics, and hero of the Stanley Cup Game Two, he’s earned the right now to sit back and make sure he’s 100% for hopefully another long run.
Thus, the question is how the lines will be shaken up while Jarvis recovers? Will the team bring up a Bradley Nadeau to give some time, build a true enforcer fourth line with the likes of Nicholas Deslauriers, give Jesperi Kotkaniemi one last real chance to impress so they may be able to fetch a good price for him on the trade market, or all of the above? It also makes one wonder how the lines will be constructed, as Jarvis had been shuffled between the Aho and the Staal lines, and it’s difficult to see the Stankoven line being broken up at least to start.
Short lead up
If you’re thinking that we’re going from zero to hockey in a very short time, you’re not wrong. This is going to be the first season of the 84 game schedule. This was done to bring the NHL back to the setup where you play your division four times, the other division three, and the other conference twice. To commit to playing two more regular season games the players asked for concessions in the preseason which—my guess is—the owners weren’t too upset about giving up.
This means a much shorter Training Camp, two less preseason games, and—much to the dismay of coach Rod Brind’Amour—no more fitness test.
Joking aside, we’ve seen the result of a reduced camp and preseason in the other big contact sport—the NFL—and while you can’t blame the players for wanting to reduce the grind, you can’t help but to think it’ll hit the Hurricanes the hardest of all the teams because of how late they played AND they were spending the time celebrating their Cup win. It’ll be interesting to hear how Brind’Amour speaks of the drills and camp with significantly less time to get his team ready to defend their crown.
The short leadup is probably also going to lead to a rush of information once camp is over. Normally the end of camp carries a four or five day break before the season opens, but this season the Canes play their last preseason game on Saturday, September 26th then open the season on Tuesday, September 29th. Thus once the final horn sounds next Saturday, expect the social media build to be fast and furious.
The tallest order on the Anaheim Ducks’ late-summer “to do” list has been completed, and just in the nick of time. On Tuesday evening, the team announced they’d signed star forward Cutter Gauthier to a six-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $13.5 million.
The timing of this signing was significant because not only was this contract signed hours before the expiration of the previous CBA, which limited aspects like maximum number of years and bonus structures, but pen was put to paper two days before the Ducks were set to open their 2026 training camp, thus avoiding a fourth contract negotiation in four years with a high-profile RFA extending into camp.
This will be yet another pivotal year in the Ducks’ build toward true contention, as they’ll now hand the majority of responsibility over to their young, blossoming core and battle the repercussions of losing several key contributors to their successes a year ago.
The Ducks released their training camp roster and details on Wednesday morning, and they’re inviting 48 players, including 29 forwards, 14 defensemen, and five goaltenders.
Training camp will both raise and answer several questions for the team as it pertains to the upcoming 2026-27 season. Here are the top storylines to follow ahead of this relatively compressed training camp and preseason:
Who Will Start the Season as LaCombe’s Partner?
Jackson LaCombe is far and away the Ducks’ No. 1 defenseman, and in some views, their only “good” blueliner. He’s their all-situations ice time leader, and his eight-year, $9 million AAV contract kicks in this season. His partner for 861 minutes at 5v5 in the 2025-26 season, Jacob Trouba, has a new home with a division rival after signing a four-year contract with the San Jose Sharks when he hit unrestricted free agency on July 1, leaving the role as “Jackson LaCombe’s Partner” and “Top Pair Defenseman” up for grabs.
There are several question marks surrounding each of the four candidates up for the role heading into training camp, and the lineup will likely remain a fluid situation on the blueline well into the season.
Drew Helleson (25) is a long-time close friend of LaCombe, but he had his struggles at 5v5 last season, and the pair didn’t have spectacular numbers in their 320 minutes together. The only NHL acquisition the Ducks made on the blueline was Nick Jensen (35), who’s coming off of a knee injury and his days as a top-four defenseman are likely in the rearview. Tristan Luneau (22), although technically not a rookie, is projected to play his first full season at the NHL level. Inserting him directly into a top-pair role, regardless of how talented he is, may be ill-advised.
Ian Moore (24) may be the frontrunner for the position, as it currently stands. He has the skating ability, IQ, and habits to become a modern-day shutdown defender in head coach Joel Quenneville’s system. Though he surprisingly finished the year as a fourth-line right winger, he played 92 minutes alongside LaCombe in 2025-26, and the pair accounted for 60.6% of the expected goals at 5v5.
How Many Rookies Will Make the Opening Roster?
From their forward group, the Ducks lost top-six pieces Mason McTavish and Chris Kreider, while Troy Terry is slated to miss the first 2-3 months of the upcoming season. Off the blueline, they lost Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, Radko Gudas, and Olen Zellweger.
Due to the sizable (to say the least) contracts signed by Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov, and Cutter Gauthier, the front office wasn’t able to meaningfully replace those players during the offseason. However, after an elongated rebuild, the Ducks’ pipeline is teeming with players desperate for a crack at making the opening night roster and filling a supplemental scoring need.
The two most notable and highest-profile in that group of players looking to make their NHL debuts and make an immediate impact at the sport’s highest level are Roger McQueen (10th overall in 2025) and Nikita Klepov (15th in ’26). McQueen is fresh off a successful yet relatively unproductive freshman season in the NCAA with Providence College, but brings a pro-ready frame, skill set, and habits. The Ducks surprisingly signed Klepov to an ELC, so he’s either destined for the NHL or OHL in 2026-27. He has an abundance of skill and tenacity in every facet, but has never played against professionals in his career.
The Ducks will likely need one of, or both, these players to make an immediate impact to mitigate some of what was lost in the offseason and what they’ll be without early in the regular season. Relying on rookies to contribute off the bat can be a dangerous gamble, but the Ducks have had success in this realm in the recent past with Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke.
Will Frank Vatrano Earn Back Trust?
The Ducks signed veteran forward Frank Vatrano to a three-year contract extension in the winter of 2025, and the first year of said extension didn’t go as anticipated in the slightest. After averaging 26 goals and 48 points through his first three seasons with the organization, he hit an unexpected speed bump in 2025-26.
While dealing with a new coach and system that aren’t quite conducive to his play style, Vatrano suffered a significant shoulder injury and dealt with an off-ice personal situation. Once a meaningful piece of the Ducks’ present and future, Vatrano finished the season with just nine points (5-4=9) in 50 games.
Much like the case with Klepov and McQueen, there will be openings in the Ducks’ top nine heading into the season, as they’ll be without half of their top six from a year ago, at least to start the year, until Troy Terry returns from injury. If Vatrano can bounce back in any meaningful way and to any extent, coupled with internal growth from the young core and a rookie or two making an impact, there’s a real possibility the Ducks’ forward group can make up for the losses of McTavish and Kreider in the aggregate.
Vatrano has proven that when placed in a position to succeed, he can provide his team with instant, depth scoring while impacting play with a high motor and forechecking prowess.
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
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